"The ignorant attitude of the administrative personel (probably influenced by the IT depts. unwillingness to learn mac's for some biased reason) shows their competence in the field."
Or they just realize that you can buy software for a Mac that won't run on a PC, or vice versa. That's where the problems start happening. That has nothing to do with how ignorant or non-ignorant the IT staff is. It's just the reality of mixing computers.
"To say the least, that's not going to be good for business"
How exactly? Walmart has to compete, therefore service is better and/or price is lower. Benefit: Consumer. Netflix has a large competitor, therefore service gets better and/or price is lowered. Benefit: Consumer. Somebody'll probably win. So what? The competition is where the good stuff happens.
"If Walmart/Microsoft/Intel/*AA joins the party, then it'll automatically become a bad thing."
Just out of curiosity, how do you know those are the only options? Why can't it be that this software trips over a patent they have or some other issue? I mean seriously, isn't it odd that they're not showing us the Cease and Desist letter? Isn't it odd that they're not explaining what the issue is? For all we know, MS just wants them to stop the shipment of the product because they're not using the (R) term properly.
I'm not defending Microsoft here. Far from it. I'm just sick of all these paranoid theories that pop up with the most minimal of information. We already get this type of sensationalism from CNN. Do we need it on Slashdot too?
"It could be something as simple as a product naming/trademark issue."
Man I wish I had mod points right now. Everybody's ready to assume the worst, when the real problem could just as easily be what the parent poster described.
Honestly, is it so hard to reserve judgement until the facts are out?
"I mean, if their monopoly power and deep pockets and hordes of lawyers don't stop an opposing product, it might actually have to succeed on it's MERITS!"
Or they just don't want customers thinking that MS is at fault when really it's the PC emulator that's to blame. Sony used a similar argument when it tried to shoot down the PSOne emulator for Mac.
(note: Playing Devil's Advocate doesn't mean I'm supporting MS's position.)
"PS: All of this is on the assumption that it's not downloaded, because if it is then this whole argument is moot since the article is moot."
I find it interesting that they're assuming that a small file = no game content. Textures are the memory hogs, not the mesh of the map. The textures were probably on the disc and they just sent down the vertices. 128k can hold a LOT of vertex co-ordinates. Gee, imagine them trying to keep map sizes small so you could easily transmit them over the internet and store them on small memory cards. 128k, though, is a lot of characters to say "okay, you can play this map."
"I think the point was that Microsoft is misrepresenting this as a "feature" when in reality all you're doing is downloading a code that lets you access the levels that are already on your disc."
Assuming that MS (actually this'd be Activision) never ever makes a downloadable map, then I'd say you're right. However, it's really not that clear. 8 blocks (roughly 128k, if I did my math right. Corrections appreciated.) is a LOT of information to say "okay, unlock this map."
So what can be stored there? Well, I have Lightwave running right now. I made a mesh with 10,000 polygons, saved it, and zipped it up with Winzip. I got a 130k file with 10,000 polygons in it. I'm not sure how many polygons are in a map, but it strikes me that 10,000 could define a pretty decent level. Now that's just Lightwave's format. I imagine game meshes would have an even slimmer format.
Okay, so we've got enough polygons to play with. What about the rest? Why couldn't the textures etc be on the disc? You don't need megs and megs of space to create a map. It's not in the XBOX's best interests when they have 8 meg memory cards to splurge on large map download.
Personally, I think they did download the levels. The comparison between the size of a map and a save game is not apples to oranges, especially if the game reserves a number blocks so that it always has n save game slots available.
" If no on in your company has been hit with a virus, it's not Outlook you should admire; it's the sysadmin, the firewall, the filtering software on the mail server, etc., but definitely not Outlook."
I *was* the sysadmin. Acting one anyway. I'm not one by training, but I was able to take it over when the full-time sysadmin left. It was my mailserver. The firewall wasn't doing anything to prevent virus ridden emais. Incidentally, the mailserver was an Exchange server. It's what I had available to me. (I'm by no means a competant Linux admin. The only Linux server I built was rooted within a month. Never happened with my locked down IIS server...)
That's besides the point tho, seeing as how you're wrong. Firewalls don't protect your inbox from virus riddled emails. The mailserver didn't have any filtering software on it. Never needed it. Plenty of viruses attempted to land on people's machines, and I educated them well enough to know when not to open the contained attachements. None of those auto-opening viruses worked because I turned off Outlook's ability to do so.
So yes, you're right. You can admire me for the work I put into making sure viruses weren't a threat to my company. The successful work done on that, however, was on Outlook's end. Not on the server end of it.
"Give me a break. Microsoft screwed its customers by allowing access by default. That has to be the most brain dead security decision in history."
Yes, you are absolutely right. That's why I closed it all down. MS didn't do everything wrong, but they did pick exploitable defaults. Was never arguing that.
"I don't think they would be getting any heat if they has simply said "Plus new level(s) will be unlockable with X-Box Live!", instead of saying that it was brand new and downloaded."
You realize that this entire argument suddenly goes moot when they do make a new downloadable map.
"if you switch to reverse view while he's in the car and look through the windshield, or if you switch to car first-person view and hit the side (drive-by) view, he's just sitting there. not even touching. the car just rocks back and forth and squeaks."
That's one thing that bugs me about the media. they post that there are prostitutes in the game, but they fail to mention that if you don't know what a prostitute is, this game doesn't teach you.
"C'mon now. Most slashdotters don't realize that this speech was scripted. They think Gollum just started going off and MTV just couldn't cut to commercial quick enough."
I heard that one animator's wrist caught on fire during that!
"Well, its a stupid non-problem to fix. Whats wrong with wires? Cheaper to implement, fix, replace."
That problem's not so stupid. That little wire can be a huge PITA.
1.) They break. 2.) They get tangled 3.) That same cable that 'helps keep the headset on your head' actually is the biggest cause of it being suddenly removed from your head. 4.) Every phone uses a different adapater, Bluetooth (in theory) should run on any phone.
As I said, the problem's not so stupid. There are benefits to going wireless with it. It isn't the greatest thing since sliced bread, but it's not really that bad. I know I'd like one. My apartment gets bad reception unless I can leave my phone in one good spot. I'd have a little more freedom with the BT headset. (too bad they're ridiculously expensive.)
"I don't know if its the way its being reported or if its actually true but it seems Linux is get more and more chosen over M$."
If I installed a copy of Linux at work, it'd make front page news. Do you really want to develop your impressions of the computer world by what's posted on Slashdot?
Slashdot Mirror
"Isn't "QBASIC Programming for Dummies" a bit redundant?"
Q.) What'd the farmer say when he couldn't find his tractor?
A.) He said: "Where's my tractor?"
Man, I hope whoever modded the previous post gets around to mine. I should be at +5 in no time!
"Could this stuff, if produced cheaply enough in the next 20 years, be the end-all of condoms?"
Yeah because Slashdotters are all in immediate danger of unwanted pregnancies.
"Cathy, huh... I'm betting you come directly from a Dilbert cartoon."
Oh wow! Am I really talking to a woman here? Pity I caught you on this particular week of the month.
"The ignorant attitude of the administrative personel (probably influenced by the IT depts. unwillingness to learn mac's for some biased reason) shows their competence in the field."
Or they just realize that you can buy software for a Mac that won't run on a PC, or vice versa. That's where the problems start happening. That has nothing to do with how ignorant or non-ignorant the IT staff is. It's just the reality of mixing computers.
"To say the least, that's not going to be good for business"
How exactly? Walmart has to compete, therefore service is better and/or price is lower. Benefit: Consumer. Netflix has a large competitor, therefore service gets better and/or price is lowered. Benefit: Consumer. Somebody'll probably win. So what? The competition is where the good stuff happens.
"If Walmart/Microsoft/Intel/*AA joins the party, then it'll automatically become a bad thing."
"Go to a bar, or club, or party, and pick up a fuckin' girl! Then you will see the stupidity of your network gaming marathon."
If you lived here in Portland, you'd prefer network games over the local women. They come straight from a Cathy cartoon.
"would you have any input (or horror stories!) that could help to ensure we have not overlooked anything?"
Don't bring anybody you have hopes of being romantically involved with.
"First, don't name it a Network Gaming Marathon. Some gamers might see the "marathon" and avoid your event."
Or they'll see 'Marathon' and think "Oh yeah, like anybody has a Mac."
"Microsoft is doing one of the following:"
Just out of curiosity, how do you know those are the only options? Why can't it be that this software trips over a patent they have or some other issue? I mean seriously, isn't it odd that they're not showing us the Cease and Desist letter? Isn't it odd that they're not explaining what the issue is? For all we know, MS just wants them to stop the shipment of the product because they're not using the (R) term properly.
I'm not defending Microsoft here. Far from it. I'm just sick of all these paranoid theories that pop up with the most minimal of information. We already get this type of sensationalism from CNN. Do we need it on Slashdot too?
"It could be something as simple as a product naming/trademark issue."
Man I wish I had mod points right now. Everybody's ready to assume the worst, when the real problem could just as easily be what the parent poster described.
Honestly, is it so hard to reserve judgement until the facts are out?
"I mean, if their monopoly power and deep pockets and hordes of lawyers don't stop an opposing product, it might actually have to succeed on it's MERITS!"
Or they just don't want customers thinking that MS is at fault when really it's the PC emulator that's to blame. Sony used a similar argument when it tried to shoot down the PSOne emulator for Mac.
(note: Playing Devil's Advocate doesn't mean I'm supporting MS's position.)
"=) very nice...oh you please send me more info sendmespam@hotmail.com"
Send one to me too. My email address is *@hotmail.com.
"PS: All of this is on the assumption that it's not downloaded, because if it is then this whole argument is moot since the article is moot."
I find it interesting that they're assuming that a small file = no game content. Textures are the memory hogs, not the mesh of the map. The textures were probably on the disc and they just sent down the vertices. 128k can hold a LOT of vertex co-ordinates. Gee, imagine them trying to keep map sizes small so you could easily transmit them over the internet and store them on small memory cards. 128k, though, is a lot of characters to say "okay, you can play this map."
"I think the point was that Microsoft is misrepresenting this as a "feature" when in reality all you're doing is downloading a code that lets you access the levels that are already on your disc."
Assuming that MS (actually this'd be Activision) never ever makes a downloadable map, then I'd say you're right. However, it's really not that clear. 8 blocks (roughly 128k, if I did my math right. Corrections appreciated.) is a LOT of information to say "okay, unlock this map."
So what can be stored there? Well, I have Lightwave running right now. I made a mesh with 10,000 polygons, saved it, and zipped it up with Winzip. I got a 130k file with 10,000 polygons in it. I'm not sure how many polygons are in a map, but it strikes me that 10,000 could define a pretty decent level. Now that's just Lightwave's format. I imagine game meshes would have an even slimmer format.
Okay, so we've got enough polygons to play with. What about the rest? Why couldn't the textures etc be on the disc? You don't need megs and megs of space to create a map. It's not in the XBOX's best interests when they have 8 meg memory cards to splurge on large map download.
Personally, I think they did download the levels. The comparison between the size of a map and a save game is not apples to oranges, especially if the game reserves a number blocks so that it always has n save game slots available.
" If no on in your company has been hit with a virus, it's not Outlook you should admire; it's the sysadmin, the firewall, the filtering software on the mail server, etc., but definitely not Outlook."
I *was* the sysadmin. Acting one anyway. I'm not one by training, but I was able to take it over when the full-time sysadmin left. It was my mailserver. The firewall wasn't doing anything to prevent virus ridden emais. Incidentally, the mailserver was an Exchange server. It's what I had available to me. (I'm by no means a competant Linux admin. The only Linux server I built was rooted within a month. Never happened with my locked down IIS server...)
That's besides the point tho, seeing as how you're wrong. Firewalls don't protect your inbox from virus riddled emails. The mailserver didn't have any filtering software on it. Never needed it. Plenty of viruses attempted to land on people's machines, and I educated them well enough to know when not to open the contained attachements. None of those auto-opening viruses worked because I turned off Outlook's ability to do so.
So yes, you're right. You can admire me for the work I put into making sure viruses weren't a threat to my company. The successful work done on that, however, was on Outlook's end. Not on the server end of it.
"Give me a break. Microsoft screwed its customers by allowing access by default. That has to be the most brain dead security decision in history."
Yes, you are absolutely right. That's why I closed it all down. MS didn't do everything wrong, but they did pick exploitable defaults. Was never arguing that.
"I don't think they would be getting any heat if they has simply said "Plus new level(s) will be unlockable with X-Box Live!", instead of saying that it was brand new and downloaded."
You realize that this entire argument suddenly goes moot when they do make a new downloadable map.
"if you switch to reverse view while he's in the car and look through the windshield, or if you switch to car first-person view and hit the side (drive-by) view, he's just sitting there. not even touching. the car just rocks back and forth and squeaks."
That's one thing that bugs me about the media. they post that there are prostitutes in the game, but they fail to mention that if you don't know what a prostitute is, this game doesn't teach you.
... as long as they're against MS.
"Call me a curmudgeon, but I don't think that speech was very clever OR funny."
You ****ing curmudgeon.
"A dark day for slashdot, this is."
Uh ohhhhh Spaghettios.
"C'mon now. Most slashdotters don't realize that this speech was scripted. They think Gollum just started going off and MTV just couldn't cut to commercial quick enough."
I heard that one animator's wrist caught on fire during that!
"It's "pixel pushing pinheads""
I heard "pin dicks".
"Well, its a stupid non-problem to fix. Whats wrong with wires? Cheaper to implement, fix, replace."
That problem's not so stupid. That little wire can be a huge PITA.
1.) They break.
2.) They get tangled
3.) That same cable that 'helps keep the headset on your head' actually is the biggest cause of it being suddenly removed from your head.
4.) Every phone uses a different adapater, Bluetooth (in theory) should run on any phone.
As I said, the problem's not so stupid. There are benefits to going wireless with it. It isn't the greatest thing since sliced bread, but it's not really that bad. I know I'd like one. My apartment gets bad reception unless I can leave my phone in one good spot. I'd have a little more freedom with the BT headset. (too bad they're ridiculously expensive.)
Nope, but I'm glad you showed that to me!
Cheers
"I don't know if its the way its being reported or if its actually true but it seems Linux is get more and more chosen over M$."
If I installed a copy of Linux at work, it'd make front page news. Do you really want to develop your impressions of the computer world by what's posted on Slashdot?