That may be it, most of the ones that suck have a "muddy" blurry appearance. Could be from the scaling, like how I can trick my laptop to display 800x600 games fullscreen, but it's ug-ly.
The good TV ads seem to be trying to win you over, or at least interest you whie exposing you to thier product. Web ads seem to work on the idea of forcing an "exposure" on you. Targeted advertising may be a bit better, but there is only so much one can do with a banner or an email compared to a TV spot.
true enough, I can use just about any monitor with a tower or cube (thinking of snarfing a cube off ebay..).
I still really don't see, making a side-by side comparsion, superior quality; but I've seen LCDs that have quality just as good as any CRT. They're just the minority IMHO (I've seen blurry Sony units and clear sony units (just to name a decent brand)). The Apple screens that I've seen are good, and some Sony.
But the main benefit of keeping the crt models would be price, if you can get a good enough Mac under 1000, that will help dispel some of the image of the Mac as expensive.
The point of all this rambling is, methinks they're on the right track keeping some crts in the lineup.
... but most LCD's have lousy picture quality compared to CRTs. Apple's LCDs are pretty good, but I don't really see the point in paying 2x the price (on the screen) to get a smaller footprint. But some will.
I think a main reason we still get 20+ spams a day is not that they're effective, but that they're very cheap. In conparsion to other forms of advertising, the cost of spam is trivial.
Any type of computer based advertising has a high annoyance factor. Most of us grew up with ad-less computers, so why should we submit to it now? In contrast, most TV has always been a advertising vehicle, so we don't mind as much when we get hit with TV ads.
Ahem, I mean on the desktop (referring to the multitude of interface choices with Linux). i.e. he wants to be able to buy any brand out there and expects it to act exactlY (or very close to) the same as whatever other PC he's seen/used.
For example, you can probably find the e-mail app on any particular system without too much problem, but set an average end user who is used to outlook down in front of a Linux pc or a Mac or just replace outlook with eudora, and see if they don't start calling for help.
And such an interface wouldn't be that hard to do. (probably beyond my skills, but within the grasp of the community) We would just have to pick or build apps that are extremly simple and consistant for the easy modes.
Such app would not appeal to the rest of the community, so modified versions of popular existing apps may be the best way.
You could start with just about any of the modern distros and modify it to support these ideas. The installer would stille be a sticky point, but the users we are speaking of would have problems installing just about any current OS; so they are more likely to get it preinstalled or call in help.
You like choice. I like choice. Jim-Bob consumer does *not* like choice, it's confusing.
People who just want a computer as an appliance (as opposd to an all purpose tool), are more comfortable when there is ONE way to do things that they can learn and won't change with the next update.
Try doing support for a non-geek user who's OS just got changed. Every little interface difference is a point of confusion, because they only know the steps that they must perform instead of the concepts behind them (that allow us to move from system to system and still have a clue).
It's the difference between rote and conceptual knolwedge.
An old environment for DOS (ok, actually started elsewhere, but the later DOS version is what I'm talking about).
It had three levels of interface. The first was very simple, a few big icons for the most basic apps, everything fullscreen. Intermediate level had a full screen file browser open to it's equilvalent to "My Documents" where there were templates for each app. Then you had the full motif-inspired interface, basiclly all the interface ideas of win95 long before win95.
Please mod parent -1 troll. I have a Dishplayer (500 i think). With an annual agreement, I was getting a monthly charge for the PVR and webtv (that I didn't use). I had the monthly charge taken off, and now I can only get the 15 minute "free preview" of PVR on what was already recorded.
Since when can 98 not use USB mice? My ole 98 laptop doesn't know about this apparantly. You're right about the memory though, you had to tweak to prevent problems with 512 or more ram & it didn't take adventage of it even then.
If it's anything like Dish's PVR system, you pay out the arse for the PVR-equipped reciever, then you must pay every month for them to turn the feature on. If you don't subscribe to the feature, you don't record or watch what you've already recorded.
Put down the driver, buddy. Unless things have changed recently, cables boxes are booby-trapped to disable themsleves if opened without a special tool. Most certainly it will be obvious that the box has been tapmered with, ensuring a friendly "adjustment" to your bill.
All this is to circumvent people from, "enchacing" thier channel lineups.
Don't mess with the stuff you have to give back to the cable co. (Now,a hot unit is another matter entierly, not that I'm advocating obtaing stolen merchadise. *cough*)
Actually I've seen low number far below 50% of the average. For example in HL, an older game, I've ran scores like 35 min 110 max. The average is still close to the sync rate, but in those scenes with large areas & lots of entites, games still slow down.
I don't really even care about staying at 85 fps, but going below 30 is irritating.
*bell have already been selling phone lists, then selling you the "telemarkter blocking" feature to block out the very people they sold the list to. To the people with the real power, privacy just gets in thier way. Coming soon: 1984, new corporate flavor!
They want to do what the airlines do: sell more tickets than seats on the plane. The airlines get away with it by just using unutilized space on other flights (offer you the next ride out & a freebe ticket voucher).
They sell access at X up / Y down, knowing they don't have anywhere near that much bandwith to give out. Most users don't notice/bitch, because just about anything is better than dial-up.
This is exactly why you don't see many people ripping out thier T*s for a cable modem, that much reliable bandwidth just isn't that cheap.
It may not have been officialy stated, but the people (at least the party members, and they weren't as worried about the proles;-/) knew what the deal was.
They knew not to say anything when they're coworkers vanished. They knew not to do things like keep diaries, or stay out of sight for too long. They may not have known all that was happening, but they knew what crimethink was asn what happened when someone stood out too much.
Also note that the votes no longer seem to reflect peoples feelin on issues. The majority of people will vote for whoever thier party/religous/social leader tell them to vote for. After all, who wants to throw thier vote away? (note sarcasm in last sentence)
In that case, it should be legal under the EULA. The above sections were all about preventing MS code from being "caught" in a OSS license. On the Windows side, to run a.net app you need the framework on the system. One could simply release thier software without distrubting the framework, and rely on users to DL it from MS. Since Mono seems to serve that purpose, there shouldn't be any problem.
In section 3.1(b) it says if you use the distributables (i.e runtimes or sample code), it cannot be OSS.
In 3.1(a), it seems to say that you cannot use redistributables if your program will operate on a non-Windows platform.
(a) If you are authorized and choose to redistribute Sample Code, Redistributable Code, VC Redistributables, or Limited Use Redistributable Code (collectively, the "Redistributables") as described in Section 2, you agree: (i) except as otherwise noted in Section 2.1 (Sample Code), to distribute the Redistributables only in object code form and in conjunction with and as a part of a software application product developed by you that adds significant and primary functionality to the Redistributables ("Licensed Product"); (ii) that the Redistributables only operate in conjunction with Microsoft Windows platforms; (iii) not to use Microsoft's name, logo, or trademarks to market the Licensed Product; (iv) to display your own valid copyright notice which shall be sufficient to protect Microsoft's copyright in the Product; (v) not to remove or obscure any copyright, trademark or patent notices that appear on the Product as delivered to you; (vi) to indemnify, hold harmless, and defend Microsoft from and against any claims or lawsuits, including attorney's fees, that arise or result from the use or distribution of the Licensed Product; (vii) otherwise comply with the terms of this EULA; and (h) agree that Microsoft reserves all rights not expressly granted.
You also agree not to permit further distribution of the Redistributables by your end users except: (1) you may permit further redistribution of the Redistributables by your distributors to your end-user customers if your distributors only distribute the Redistributables in conjunction with, and as part of, the Licensed Product and you and your distributors comply with all other terms of this EULA; and (2) in the manner described in Section 3.2.
(b) If you use the Redistributables, or the "Sample Code" or "Redistributable Code" portions of the SDK Software (as described in Section 4.2(b) (all of the foregoing referred to in this paragraph as the "Licensed Software"), then in addition to your compliance with the applicable distribution requirements described for the Licensed Software, the following also applies. Your license rights to the Licensed Software are conditioned upon your (i) not incorporating Identified Software into or combining Identified Software with the Licensed Software or a derivative work thereof; (ii) not distributing Identified Software in conjunction with the Licensed Software or a derivative work thereof; and (iii) not using Identified Software in the development of a derivative work of the Licensed Software. "Identified Software" means software which is licensed pursuant to terms that directly or indirectly (A) create, or purport to create, obligations for Microsoft with respect to the Licensed Software or derivative work thereof or (B) grant, or purport to grant, to any third party any rights or immunities under Microsoft's intellectual property or proprietary rights in the Licensed Software or derivative work thereof. Identified Software includes, without limitation, any software that requires as a condition of use, modification and/or distribution of such software that other software incorporated into, derived from or distributed with such software be (1) disclosed or distributed in source code form; (2) be licensed for the purpose of making derivative works; or (3) be redistributable at no charge.
A friend of mine has had a Dazzle USB for like 2 years. It's a nice little curvy box with composite + audio and s-video i/o and a usb connection. I dunno if it works on a Mac, but I dont see any reson why it wouldn't. (unless they were just bone-headed and didn't make drivers)
Newer models have DV connections & the USB product is now sold as the lower end (MPEG-1) solution.
We (the US) are squandering our technology leadership role as fast as we can. We ship out the programming to get it cheap (all the while seducing upcoming techies with the promise of a programmer shortage that doesn't exist). We lock everything down with so many laws that innovation is fast becoming the least profitable means of business. We're becoming a litigation based economy, and that can't survive indefinitely.
The lawyers will be first against the wall when the revolution comes.
The commercials are spot on-- Windows sucks, its pointlessly difficult to use and unreliable. The people aren't losers-- its the operating system (And anyone who puts up with it) that's a loser.
I can understand the unrelibale part, but difficult to use? How? There isn't even that much difference between the two GUIs (as one was a rip of the other anyway). Your programs are under, oddly enough, Programs. The explorer follows the same concepts as every other OS.
And your little jab at windows users betrays your own prejudices. Be prejudiced, fine, just stop with the lame excuses for hating windows users.
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That may be it, most of the ones that suck have a "muddy" blurry appearance. Could be from the scaling, like how I can trick my laptop to display 800x600 games fullscreen, but it's ug-ly.
The good TV ads seem to be trying to win you over, or at least interest you whie exposing you to thier product. Web ads seem to work on the idea of forcing an "exposure" on you. Targeted advertising may be a bit better, but there is only so much one can do with a banner or an email compared to a TV spot.
But the main benefit of keeping the crt models would be price, if you can get a good enough Mac under 1000, that will help dispel some of the image of the Mac as expensive.
The point of all this rambling is, methinks they're on the right track keeping some crts in the lineup.... but most LCD's have lousy picture quality compared to CRTs. Apple's LCDs are pretty good, but I don't really see the point in paying 2x the price (on the screen) to get a smaller footprint. But some will.
Any type of computer based advertising has a high annoyance factor. Most of us grew up with ad-less computers, so why should we submit to it now? In contrast, most TV has always been a advertising vehicle, so we don't mind as much when we get hit with TV ads.
For example, you can probably find the e-mail app on any particular system without too much problem, but set an average end user who is used to outlook down in front of a Linux pc or a Mac or just replace outlook with eudora, and see if they don't start calling for help.
Such app would not appeal to the rest of the community, so modified versions of popular existing apps may be the best way.
You could start with just about any of the modern distros and modify it to support these ideas. The installer would stille be a sticky point, but the users we are speaking of would have problems installing just about any current OS; so they are more likely to get it preinstalled or call in help.People who just want a computer as an appliance (as opposd to an all purpose tool), are more comfortable when there is ONE way to do things that they can learn and won't change with the next update.
Try doing support for a non-geek user who's OS just got changed. Every little interface difference is a point of confusion, because they only know the steps that they must perform instead of the concepts behind them (that allow us to move from system to system and still have a clue).It's the difference between rote and conceptual knolwedge.
It had three levels of interface. The first was very simple, a few big icons for the most basic apps, everything fullscreen. Intermediate level had a full screen file browser open to it's equilvalent to "My Documents" where there were templates for each app. Then you had the full motif-inspired interface, basiclly all the interface ideas of win95 long before win95.
Please mod parent -1 troll. I have a Dishplayer (500 i think). With an annual agreement, I was getting a monthly charge for the PVR and webtv (that I didn't use). I had the monthly charge taken off, and now I can only get the 15 minute "free preview" of PVR on what was already recorded.
Since when can 98 not use USB mice? My ole 98 laptop doesn't know about this apparantly. You're right about the memory though, you had to tweak to prevent problems with 512 or more ram & it didn't take adventage of it even then.
If it's anything like Dish's PVR system, you pay out the arse for the PVR-equipped reciever, then you must pay every month for them to turn the feature on. If you don't subscribe to the feature, you don't record or watch what you've already recorded.
Is there anyone with half a brain cell left in the patent office? These people should be prevented from breeding.
All this is to circumvent people from, "enchacing" thier channel lineups.
Don't mess with the stuff you have to give back to the cable co. (NowI don't really even care about staying at 85 fps, but going below 30 is irritating.
*bell have already been selling phone lists, then selling you the "telemarkter blocking" feature to block out the very people they sold the list to. To the people with the real power, privacy just gets in thier way. Coming soon: 1984, new corporate flavor!
They want to do what the airlines do: sell more tickets than seats on the plane. The airlines get away with it by just using unutilized space on other flights (offer you the next ride out & a freebe ticket voucher).
They sell access at X up / Y down, knowing they don't have anywhere near that much bandwith to give out. Most users don't notice/bitch, because just about anything is better than dial-up.This is exactly why you don't see many people ripping out thier T*s for a cable modem, that much reliable bandwidth just isn't that cheap.
They knew not to say anything when they're coworkers vanished. They knew not to do things like keep diaries, or stay out of sight for too long. They may not have known all that was happening, but they knew what crimethink was asn what happened when someone stood out too much.
Also note that the votes no longer seem to reflect peoples feelin on issues. The majority of people will vote for whoever thier party/religous/social leader tell them to vote for. After all, who wants to throw thier vote away? (note sarcasm in last sentence)Hmmmmm, VB/C#/J# code running on Linux, wierd.
In 3.1(a), it seems to say that you cannot use redistributables if your program will operate on a non-Windows platform.
You also agree not to permit further distribution of the Redistributables by your end users except: (1) you may permit further redistribution of the Redistributables by your distributors to your end-user customers if your distributors only distribute the Redistributables in conjunction with, and as part of, the Licensed Product and you and your distributors comply with all other terms of this EULA; and (2) in the manner described in Section 3.2.And today the kids are spending thier time trying to get the lastest wall or aim hack so they can be "teh winnar", sad.
Newer models have DV connections & the USB product is now sold as the lower end (MPEG-1) solution.
The lawyers will be first against the wall when the revolution comes.
And your little jab at windows users betrays your own prejudices. Be prejudiced, fine, just stop with the lame excuses for hating windows users.