If you want "insight into the culture" of a nation, might I suggest you read their literature, listen to their music or learn about their history. Reading a two page article by an Egyptian kid regarding a Linux installfest and saying you "learnt" something is idiotic - it probably means you had common misconceptions that you would not have if (you guessed it) you had read their literature, listened to their music or learnt about their history.
Anyway, from your posting history it appears you are a pretty succesful "first post" troll who simply failed it, so I guess I'll HAND.
I routinely have orders shipped from the US, the UK and France to Portugal and Greece using English, Portuguese and Greek credit cards. Never had a problem. Also, nobody in the EU would use the term "export" while talking of intra-communitary trade. You do not "export" anything within the EU. If ONE store refused to send you something, blame them, there's thousands out there that do not care where you are as long as you pay postage.
I'm sorry, but WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? If you do.Net development in Windows, you use VS. You have no alternative. It's not "not a lot of fun", it's impossible. Also, why the hell someone will think that coding C# in vi or emacs as oposed to the beauty that is VS is better, well, you got me. If you think emacs is "more productive" than VS, well, I disagree, but then again who am I to argue. Say what you will about Microsoft but their development tools are brilliant.
Care to explain why running VS.Net under Windows to compile a.net app "ain't half as productive" as running a beta CLS that doesn't emulate all APIs of.net and probably never will? Also, the "J2EE platform" is easy to use as it is, many people think it's easier than anything out there bar python scripts but perhaps you could qualify your opinion...
Look, people are using the drivers and they are COMPLAINING about the drivers. They are MORE THAN 50% SLOWER than 32-bit nvidia drivers and people are getting very impatient with nvidia because the drivers CONSTANTLY crash their systems. The drivers exist but they are ALPHA matterial. Just look around in the forums and you'll see.
No they are not. Farcry runs like CRAP under Winex, installs using a hacked installer and misses a lot of effects that are there in the Windows version.
Xinerama works fine with the latest drivers. I don't know about FSAA, but the options are there. The 16-bit mode thing is true, although it hasn't bothered me yet. Maybe you should try the latest drivers?
I STRONGLY suggest you read around about the problems people are having with Nvidia's 64 bit drivers before investing your money. True, ATI have NO 64 bit drivers but perhaps that should tell you that perhaps it is too early for you to get a 64-bit system. They are unstable and run at half the speed. Now, if that is "good enough" for you, fair enough, but I'd much rather wait for a couple to six months so that things settle down on the 64 bit arena.
This is a valid question, to which there is a valid answer. There are a lot of people out there (myself included) who use Linux as their main desktop, only booting to Windows to play the occasional game. Now, if I can play a game in Linux (native like UT2004 or under winex) I do, and when I do, I want to have comparable features to Windows. So, whereas I did not buy my 9800 Pro so that KDE refreshes windows faster, the fact that I could use it to play the couple of games that exist in Linux is a bonus.
Anyhow, the original poster is wrong and therefore this discussion is irrelevant.
ATI have had 3d drivers for some time now. They work fine with me (ATI 9800 Pro), although you will need to patch the drivers if you want to run Suse 9.1. Also, the fact that nvidia provide 64 bit Linux drivers does not automatically mean they are any good. And just so you don't have any doubt: they are not. So, yes, you are wrong, and whoever modded you up to +5 Insightful, does not really follow ATI Linux.
Could the drivers be better? Oh yes. Are they up to nvidia's standard? No. But they ARE listening, and since the last update you can play winex games with hardware acceleration, so there's no problem there...
Xandros 2.0 (at least the Business edition I've been using) run the 2.4.24 kernel with some patches backported to the kernel. ACPI is working fine on 2.4.24, no tinkering required.
I think you have a problem in understanding the concept of the phrase "in my opinion". Also, this part of your argument:
I can tell you that LCD does not come close to CRT for image quality.
is ABSOLUTELY laughable, and will be enjoyed in all eternity by generations of slashdotters. Have you even sat in front of a modern 19'' TFT monitor? Say what you want of "blurry graphics in FPS games", but as far as image quality, LCD have ABSOLUTE clarity. Digital to digital cannot be worse than Digital to analog to digital to analog, can it? Well, maybe it can be, I'm no expert. But sure, your $100 no-name 19'' monitor is "better" than my colour calibrated, DVI connected $1000 19'' TFT.
Also, to get this conversation done with: I play a game or two for a couple of hours a week. I don't like hardcore FPS games although I still enjoy them (FarCry is the last one I played). The game looks fine on my monitor IN MY OPINION. Please argue THAT, not what you think I say. And yes, FOR ME, the blurriness improves the gameplay. Jesus Christ, is it so hard for some people to accept others' OBJECTIVE opinion?
I OWN a TFT monitor and I think I am qualified enough to make a statement on how well it handles games. I have been playing games on it for about a year. So, yes, I can make commentary that is informed, although whether it is useful or not obviously is in the eye of the beholder. I bet you're one of these "hardcore gamers" who see a difference between 100FPS and 110FPS, well, to each their own I guess.
Also, I have been reading your "comment" again and again trying to see how my not being fanatical of FPS games disqualifies me from having an informed opinion, and I could only reach the conclusion that you, sir, had had a hard day and had wanted to vent off some steam. May I suggest yelling to your boss next time rather than trolling a public forum?
And I haven't had a problem with it. Granted, I'm not a "pro" gamer, and I don't really like FPS games, but gaming on an LCD monitor is more than OK for me. I haven't really noticed any "ghosting" as such, except on games set on dark areas (Half Life and Halo were noticeable in a couple of areas, and that's it). I realise that, in effect, I am playing the game at more or less 25fps (my calculations might be off, I apologise in advance), but the motion blur - if that is the correct term - actually makes games more enjoyable. Also, for strategy / games, playing on my 191T is an absolute dream...
The reason is that since the seas around the area are full of ancient artifacts, the Greek government would like to avoid everyone diving in and getting a piece of the action. Licenced archaeologists are able to do research, however.
I actually have that disk (I preordered) and I always meant to play Master Quest, although if the only benefit is that the game is harder, I'm not sure I'll finish it this time around since I don't have the free time I had five years ago...
I have been playing games for about twentyfive years. I have played thousands of games on many platforms. Most of them I don't even remember, some of them I played a lot, and a few I have finished. Having that in mind, finishing Ocarina of Time was the most memorable experience I've ever had playing a game. Actually, I only remember playing that game on my N64 (I somehow missed Goldeneye and I only remember frustrating attempts to jump on a snow stage on Mario 64)...
One of those days I'll boot up Ocarina on Time on my Gamecube and I'll go through the experience again...
First of all I apologise for having put you in my foes list but your "don't like it use Windows" retoric hit a nerve. More to the point, I guess your point of view is valid regarding what you think Linux is. Actually, Linux is just a kernel. By saying you use GNU/Linux, actually, you make a statement that says "my kernel is Linux and I use Free software". My argument is that not everyone who uses Linux uses it because Microsoft are evil or because they subscribe to the GNU philosophy. Some, myself included, use it because it allows me to run 90% of the programs and games I used to run in Windows with the added advantage of being a Unix, and therefore familiar, geeky and better looking. I actually run a version of Linux that has several proprietary extensions to KDE (Xandros), which probably would make you turn blue but it makes my life easier so, I guess it's irrelevant.
My point throughout the discussion with you has been that neither Debian nor Linus can define what the OS is. It is up to the distros and, ultimately the customers. In the greater scheme of things, which means paying customers, Debian, and therefore their philosophy, are irrelevant. Or rather, "Free" is not a selling point, and it can never be since for most people Windows and Office is free (came with the machine), is familiar territory and ultimately, people do not care about the nuances of GNU vs BSD vs proprietary. They want something that works. And Debian puts prerequisites to that, such as "well, it would work but our philosophy prohibits us from distributing binary drivers". Irrelevant.
The key word is "legally". Mplayer uses codecs that are "borrowed" from a Windows installation and you therefore infringe upon at least Microsoft's EULA's licence. Also, I'm pretty sure DRM does nto work.To the vast majority of people those two factors are irrelevant but I'm pretty sure Desktop Linux distributions would really want to avoid any legal "gray areas" and just play by the rules.
Slashdot Mirror
Anyway, from your posting history it appears you are a pretty succesful "first post" troll who simply failed it, so I guess I'll HAND.
I routinely have orders shipped from the US, the UK and France to Portugal and Greece using English, Portuguese and Greek credit cards. Never had a problem. Also, nobody in the EU would use the term "export" while talking of intra-communitary trade. You do not "export" anything within the EU. If ONE store refused to send you something, blame them, there's thousands out there that do not care where you are as long as you pay postage.
1. Your TV is multisystem and correctly handles the PAL signal. AFAIK, you are in the minority
2. Your DVD handles the conversion from PAL to NTSC and what you see on your TV is a converted signal.
From conversations with American friends, I believe you have succeeded with a fluke where others have spent lots to have acceptable results.
I'm sorry, but WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? If you do .Net development in Windows, you use VS. You have no alternative. It's not "not a lot of fun", it's impossible. Also, why the hell someone will think that coding C# in vi or emacs as oposed to the beauty that is VS is better, well, you got me. If you think emacs is "more productive" than VS, well, I disagree, but then again who am I to argue. Say what you will about Microsoft but their development tools are brilliant.
Care to explain why running VS.Net under Windows to compile a .net app "ain't half as productive" as running a beta CLS that doesn't emulate all APIs of .net and probably never will? Also, the "J2EE platform" is easy to use as it is, many people think it's easier than anything out there bar python scripts but perhaps you could qualify your opinion...
Look, people are using the drivers and they are COMPLAINING about the drivers. They are MORE THAN 50% SLOWER than 32-bit nvidia drivers and people are getting very impatient with nvidia because the drivers CONSTANTLY crash their systems. The drivers exist but they are ALPHA matterial. Just look around in the forums and you'll see.
No they are not. Farcry runs like CRAP under Winex, installs using a hacked installer and misses a lot of effects that are there in the Windows version.
Xinerama works fine with the latest drivers. I don't know about FSAA, but the options are there. The 16-bit mode thing is true, although it hasn't bothered me yet. Maybe you should try the latest drivers?
I STRONGLY suggest you read around about the problems people are having with Nvidia's 64 bit drivers before investing your money. True, ATI have NO 64 bit drivers but perhaps that should tell you that perhaps it is too early for you to get a 64-bit system. They are unstable and run at half the speed. Now, if that is "good enough" for you, fair enough, but I'd much rather wait for a couple to six months so that things settle down on the 64 bit arena.
Are you running an Opteron or Athlon64 system?
Why use 10 words when you can use 100?
Anyhow, the original poster is wrong and therefore this discussion is irrelevant.
Could the drivers be better? Oh yes. Are they up to nvidia's standard? No. But they ARE listening, and since the last update you can play winex games with hardware acceleration, so there's no problem there...
Xandros 2.0 (at least the Business edition I've been using) run the 2.4.24 kernel with some patches backported to the kernel. ACPI is working fine on 2.4.24, no tinkering required.
is ABSOLUTELY laughable, and will be enjoyed in all eternity by generations of slashdotters. Have you even sat in front of a modern 19'' TFT monitor? Say what you want of "blurry graphics in FPS games", but as far as image quality, LCD have ABSOLUTE clarity. Digital to digital cannot be worse than Digital to analog to digital to analog, can it? Well, maybe it can be, I'm no expert. But sure, your $100 no-name 19'' monitor is "better" than my colour calibrated, DVI connected $1000 19'' TFT.
Also, to get this conversation done with: I play a game or two for a couple of hours a week. I don't like hardcore FPS games although I still enjoy them (FarCry is the last one I played). The game looks fine on my monitor IN MY OPINION. Please argue THAT, not what you think I say. And yes, FOR ME, the blurriness improves the gameplay. Jesus Christ, is it so hard for some people to accept others' OBJECTIVE opinion?
Also, I have been reading your "comment" again and again trying to see how my not being fanatical of FPS games disqualifies me from having an informed opinion, and I could only reach the conclusion that you, sir, had had a hard day and had wanted to vent off some steam. May I suggest yelling to your boss next time rather than trolling a public forum?
And I haven't had a problem with it. Granted, I'm not a "pro" gamer, and I don't really like FPS games, but gaming on an LCD monitor is more than OK for me. I haven't really noticed any "ghosting" as such, except on games set on dark areas (Half Life and Halo were noticeable in a couple of areas, and that's it). I realise that, in effect, I am playing the game at more or less 25fps (my calculations might be off, I apologise in advance), but the motion blur - if that is the correct term - actually makes games more enjoyable. Also, for strategy / games, playing on my 191T is an absolute dream...
I don't think it worked.
The reason is that since the seas around the area are full of ancient artifacts, the Greek government would like to avoid everyone diving in and getting a piece of the action. Licenced archaeologists are able to do research, however.
I actually have that disk (I preordered) and I always meant to play Master Quest, although if the only benefit is that the game is harder, I'm not sure I'll finish it this time around since I don't have the free time I had five years ago...
One of those days I'll boot up Ocarina on Time on my Gamecube and I'll go through the experience again...
You take the ipod with you to your friend's house and you update the ipod there. Simpler, isn't it?
How is that different to every other distribution under the sun?
My point throughout the discussion with you has been that neither Debian nor Linus can define what the OS is. It is up to the distros and, ultimately the customers. In the greater scheme of things, which means paying customers, Debian, and therefore their philosophy, are irrelevant. Or rather, "Free" is not a selling point, and it can never be since for most people Windows and Office is free (came with the machine), is familiar territory and ultimately, people do not care about the nuances of GNU vs BSD vs proprietary. They want something that works. And Debian puts prerequisites to that, such as "well, it would work but our philosophy prohibits us from distributing binary drivers". Irrelevant.
The key word is "legally". Mplayer uses codecs that are "borrowed" from a Windows installation and you therefore infringe upon at least Microsoft's EULA's licence. Also, I'm pretty sure DRM does nto work.To the vast majority of people those two factors are irrelevant but I'm pretty sure Desktop Linux distributions would really want to avoid any legal "gray areas" and just play by the rules.