I refuse to buy anything that imposes DRM or copy protection. If I can't purchase a version of my favorite DVD region free, then I don't buy it. Period. If you don't like the way things are, change them by starting with your purchasing power.
it happened to me a while ago. And I got out of IT all together for a while. Right now I am working like a dog, back in IT, saving as much money as I can. The simple satisfaction I get from beating a challenging video game helps a lot. It is the satisfaction of completing something that does it. But I do feel your pain...
Considering he voted against the expansion of school desegregation plans and the establishment of legalized abortions and was in favor of school prayer, capital punishment and states' rights.
Doesn't really gel with my politics. Sounds like a hillbilly to me. But what do I know.
That is right; the PSP must be a superior product. The DS is a stupid toy gimmick for only blind mutes. We should put them in cereal boxes for those people who ride the short bus. I bet they will like that.
How about we take the DS and put little messages on them and drop them over the starving children in Africa, with gimmicky statements like "cheer up! just try not to think about food!"
I think Sony might be on to something here. On the other hand, the PSP is just a boring old game system. Maybe if they had made it a little more gimmicky they could even outsell the DS: http://news.punchjump.com/article.php?id=1223
This isn't about life or death. This is about securing your systems so that intruders stop causing your machine to share its resources.
You shouldn't compare life/death to a computer virus. Those are two completely different issues. Would you rather someone be put to death for stealing a loaf of bread or just have to pay for the bread? The punishment has to fit the crime.
And in this case, these guys drew attention to the inability of Microsoft to clean up their act. How is that criminal?
Nothing was stolen. And if someone wants what I have badly enough they can have it. I really don't care. Actually, you can have everything I own. It doesn't mean anything to me.
If you want to stop this from happening then learn a valuable lesson. Windows will always fall victim to these types of attacks. Switch your OS.
They force people to build more secure systems. How is this wrong? People like this are keeping software developers on their toes. I say good on them...
we aren't already doing this. Doesn't it make sense for broadcasters to stream their content anyway?
I don't have cable; I don't even have a TV. I wouldn't mind watching a little news or a new show if I could stream it on my machine. Hell, put ads in too. It is just another outlet for your content. This means more viewers. What is the big deal?
My wife will be replaced with a robotic replica of her when the technology is available. Except the replica will be of her now, and not in the future. She is young now and it wouldn't make sense making a replica of an old woman.
I am really curious to know how this pans out. Personally, I wouldn't work for anyone else anyway, but I would much rather be involved with a system like this than an authoritative dictatorship. That is what has always turned me away from the old-world style corporations.
Some people need others telling them what to do, and others work better on their own. Ok, I had to stop myself from being a jerk right there...
I wonder what the real motivation behind this was though?
Thank you for your informative response. I wasn't aware that I was a fool, but thanks to you I now know the truth and can live a better life.
If graphics are all that matter to you then you should buy a PC. After all, a PC will always have better looking games than any console? Or maybe you forgot?
Do you need exclusive games? Ok, then let me suggest that you buy any of the consoles, or a PC. I am certain that these options will also provide you with a plethora of exclusive games as well.
You are correct, low prices do not mean better games. But neither do high prices. Remember, excellent games existed before the XBox 360.
As for being uninformed, I should let you know that I actually built the XBox 360. That's right. I work for Microsoft and still, even I wouldn't buy one. Yeah, yeah, that's it. See I am not a consumer at all. I work for the company that makes this system. You shouldn't buy our system. How's that for uninformed?
Of course, I can not end this post without thanking you first. This post was actually an experiment. I was trying to see if I could get someone, much like you, to reply and say something nasty. So think about it. I actually controlled your mind by presenting my post. How does it feel to know that your emotions have been manipulated by someone smarter than you?
2. Doesn't offer anything that I can't get from a cheaper system
3. High price doesn't mean better games
4. It is developed by Microsoft
we, as consumers, control the market. It is our duty to stop this from continuing. If we keep buying things like this, for these prices, then things will stay like this and only get worse.
But then again, most of these systems cost more when they are introduced. Their prices eventually drop. This is just Microsoft imposing the early adopter tax on those willing to make the purchase.
And those that do? Well, they are wasting their money. But it is their money to waste.
I read this story, and the post on/. this morning, so I thought I would copy you guys on this:
From: motherlessgoat
How did we become like this? Some guy in Japan wrote a bot for the game Lineage II and goes around mugging other players and taking their crap. Well, the guy who wrote the bot started selling his "winnings" on a Japanese auction site for real money. Then he was arrested for stealing!!! GIVE ME A BREAK!!!
It's time to get real folks. Let's start with the obvious problem with this situation:
Who on Earth would pay real money for pixilated crap? I know this is becoming popular now a-days. In fact, I recently read an article about this. How in these virtual worlds you could be a rich king and live the best life, even though you share a one bedroom apartment with your mother and her lesbian lover. Hi Dad!
Any takers for the "decline of Western civilization" theories here? Is this really what freedom is all about? Is this what we are all working so hard for? Is this something we should ignore? Is it like porn or drugs and we should just turn the other cheek when we hear about it?
Why are we having our public law enforcers tracking these guys down? The guy build a software bot and let it loose within the confines of the game. According to the game architecture this is completely legal. If this was such a big deal, why didn't the makers of Lineage II stop this from happening. Shouldn't they take responsibility for things like this? Why did the guy who built the bot take the heat?
This is probably what upsets me the most. And we see this all the time. Remember when MP3s were the big rage? Or downloading movies from Limewire? Why should the government enforce a company's copyright? Don't you think that is a waste of tax payer dollars? Shouldn't those companies take responsibility for protecting their assets?
I don't know about the rest of you, but I actually care what happens to my tax dollars. And I for one can't stand to see it abused like this. This mindset must change. But how? It's called reform and there are plenty of people trying to change things. It is ok to question your government, your laws, and your traditions.
Just wanted to add this. A new client of mine, with a couple thousand internal users, has just blocked all access to outside webmail.
Now, hmmm think about that logic. Webmail services like Gmail, Hotmail, or Yahoo! have serious virus scanning / filtering. These guys are waiting until they "patch" all the machinese before they unblock webmail access.
I understand their goal, but get real. If anything, the internal users would be better off using external webmail than the internal exchange servers until these systems are patched...
I have to use the old Winders from time to time for various clients here and there, and belive me, I really do understand why people use it. But I still don't understand why we tolerate this shoddy mess.
Most of the clients I have worked for, that still use Windows, made the decision to stick with MS because of one person in their company. I see this all the time. Some micro-junky who carries a lot of weight. This is really bizarre to me.
I was once involved with a product evaluation effort involving an MS server component and several alternates. These words were actually spoken in a meeting: "why don't we just pick the MS one and get this whole process over with? That is the only one that our CTO will authorize anyway."
And that type of thinking has to stop. So in that particular situation I made a scene and got everyone to complete the actual analysis. It took several months and we finally ended up recommending a 3rd party product. It was successfully accepted by the CTO and staff.
I think that there are a lot of people out there that are too afraid to stand up for something they know is right. This mentality has to end.
If you don't make decisions for yourself, somebody else will.
The truth is that Windows is a security risk. And in order to use Windows you are required to run several applications (on some server or your own client) to keep it secure.
It's not my fault that people are willing to put up with crap. It just amazes me. Regardless if you, or other users, are using Windows because you chose it, or it chose you, the fact of the matter is that it is insecure and requires you to run extra software just to keep it clean.
Now, you can go off and cry about it. But do like the rest of us and wake up. There is no god, santa clause, nor is there a secure version of windows.
I should also add that I didn't choose Linux because it is the easiest. By no means. I chose it because it eliminated my spyware / virus worries. I don't stay up late at night reinstalling my system every three months because I forgot to patch something.
At least you are trying to put an end to your fantasy...
Millions of people believe in god, but that doesn't make god real. Deal with it.
The truth is that Windows is a security risk. And in order to use Windows you are required to run several applications (on some server or your own client) to keep it secure.
The logic doesn't add up. Why would you voluntarily use an OS that requires you to run resource hog supporting apps just to get your work done?
Hasn't everyone learned already? This is just plain dumb. Windows is always going to be vulverable to these threats.
I was talking to a friend the other day, and I told him that I wouldn't run anything other than Linux. And that Windows would never be installed on a computer that I owned. He thought I was some sort of hippy or hacker.
But think about it, in order to run Windows, you have to have virus & spyware software running. There is no getting around it.
So now you have all of these apps running, eating up your resources, just so you can surf the web and download pr0n. It just doesn't make sense to me.
All of the pieces are coming into place. The world will crumble before me. With this book, and the power of AJAX I will rule!
But seriously, so when is MS going to sue these guys and the DOD target these enemy combatants???
lol, well, I wouldn't be surprised. Did I tell you about this guy that I read about recently? He was arrested for swinging a knife in front of his father. So he went to jail for a year because he was convicted for "terrorist threats". THE DUDE WAS DRUNK...
I mean come on, haven't we all got drunk and swung a knife in front of our fathers and threatened to... oh wait... must focus on AJAX rootkits!
Slashdot Mirror
I refuse to buy anything that imposes DRM or copy protection. If I can't purchase a version of my favorite DVD region free, then I don't buy it. Period. If you don't like the way things are, change them by starting with your purchasing power.
it happened to me a while ago. And I got out of IT all together for a while. Right now I am working like a dog, back in IT, saving as much money as I can. The simple satisfaction I get from beating a challenging video game helps a lot. It is the satisfaction of completing something that does it. But I do feel your pain...
Considering he voted against the expansion of school desegregation plans and the establishment of legalized abortions and was in favor of school prayer, capital punishment and states' rights. Doesn't really gel with my politics. Sounds like a hillbilly to me. But what do I know.
It is amazing how much money I have earned. When I start feeling bad for the other players I just hop in my Lotus and the day brightens right up!
All this does is stir up attention and it doesn't provide any benefit to anyone. What is the deal?
oops gimmicks! damn you /.!!!! damn you!!!
That is right; the PSP must be a superior product. The DS is a stupid toy gimmick for only blind mutes. We should put them in cereal boxes for those people who ride the short bus. I bet they will like that.
How about we take the DS and put little messages on them and drop them over the starving children in Africa, with gimmicky statements like "cheer up! just try not to think about food!"
I think Sony might be on to something here. On the other hand, the PSP is just a boring old game system. Maybe if they had made it a little more gimmicky they could even outsell the DS: http://news.punchjump.com/article.php?id=1223
This isn't about life or death. This is about securing your systems so that intruders stop causing your machine to share its resources.
You shouldn't compare life/death to a computer virus. Those are two completely different issues. Would you rather someone be put to death for stealing a loaf of bread or just have to pay for the bread? The punishment has to fit the crime.
And in this case, these guys drew attention to the inability of Microsoft to clean up their act. How is that criminal?
Nothing was stolen. And if someone wants what I have badly enough they can have it. I really don't care. Actually, you can have everything I own. It doesn't mean anything to me.
If you want to stop this from happening then learn a valuable lesson. Windows will always fall victim to these types of attacks. Switch your OS.
They force people to build more secure systems. How is this wrong? People like this are keeping software developers on their toes. I say good on them...
Fortunately for me, my wife is not a nerd. I don't know how I fooled her into marrying me, but I did! lol
/.
So I am certain she will never read
we aren't already doing this. Doesn't it make sense for broadcasters to stream their content anyway?
I don't have cable; I don't even have a TV. I wouldn't mind watching a little news or a new show if I could stream it on my machine. Hell, put ads in too. It is just another outlet for your content. This means more viewers. What is the big deal?
My wife will be replaced with a robotic replica of her when the technology is available. Except the replica will be of her now, and not in the future. She is young now and it wouldn't make sense making a replica of an old woman.
I am really curious to know how this pans out. Personally, I wouldn't work for anyone else anyway, but I would much rather be involved with a system like this than an authoritative dictatorship. That is what has always turned me away from the old-world style corporations.
Some people need others telling them what to do, and others work better on their own. Ok, I had to stop myself from being a jerk right there...
I wonder what the real motivation behind this was though?
Thank you for your informative response. I wasn't aware that I was a fool, but thanks to you I now know the truth and can live a better life.
If graphics are all that matter to you then you should buy a PC. After all, a PC will always have better looking games than any console? Or maybe you forgot?
Do you need exclusive games? Ok, then let me suggest that you buy any of the consoles, or a PC. I am certain that these options will also provide you with a plethora of exclusive games as well.
You are correct, low prices do not mean better games. But neither do high prices. Remember, excellent games existed before the XBox 360.
As for being uninformed, I should let you know that I actually built the XBox 360. That's right. I work for Microsoft and still, even I wouldn't buy one. Yeah, yeah, that's it. See I am not a consumer at all. I work for the company that makes this system. You shouldn't buy our system. How's that for uninformed?
Of course, I can not end this post without thanking you first. This post was actually an experiment. I was trying to see if I could get someone, much like you, to reply and say something nasty. So think about it. I actually controlled your mind by presenting my post. How does it feel to know that your emotions have been manipulated by someone smarter than you?
So, thank you and have a nice day!
1. It costs too much
2. Doesn't offer anything that I can't get from a cheaper system
3. High price doesn't mean better games
4. It is developed by Microsoft
we, as consumers, control the market. It is our duty to stop this from continuing. If we keep buying things like this, for these prices, then things will stay like this and only get worse.
But then again, most of these systems cost more when they are introduced. Their prices eventually drop. This is just Microsoft imposing the early adopter tax on those willing to make the purchase.
And those that do? Well, they are wasting their money. But it is their money to waste.
I read this story, and the post on /. this morning, so I thought I would copy you guys on this:
a ge_ii
From: motherlessgoat
How did we become like this? Some guy in Japan wrote a bot for the game Lineage II and goes around mugging other players and taking their crap. Well, the guy who wrote the bot started selling his "winnings" on a Japanese auction site for real money. Then he was arrested for stealing!!! GIVE ME A BREAK!!!
It's time to get real folks. Let's start with the obvious problem with this situation:
Who on Earth would pay real money for pixilated crap? I know this is becoming popular now a-days. In fact, I recently read an article about this. How in these virtual worlds you could be a rich king and live the best life, even though you share a one bedroom apartment with your mother and her lesbian lover. Hi Dad!
Any takers for the "decline of Western civilization" theories here? Is this really what freedom is all about? Is this what we are all working so hard for? Is this something we should ignore? Is it like porn or drugs and we should just turn the other cheek when we hear about it?
Why are we having our public law enforcers tracking these guys down? The guy build a software bot and let it loose within the confines of the game. According to the game architecture this is completely legal. If this was such a big deal, why didn't the makers of Lineage II stop this from happening. Shouldn't they take responsibility for things like this? Why did the guy who built the bot take the heat? This is probably what upsets me the most. And we see this all the time. Remember when MP3s were the big rage? Or downloading movies from Limewire? Why should the government enforce a company's copyright? Don't you think that is a waste of tax payer dollars? Shouldn't those companies take responsibility for protecting their assets?
I don't know about the rest of you, but I actually care what happens to my tax dollars. And I for one can't stand to see it abused like this. This mindset must change. But how? It's called reform and there are plenty of people trying to change things. It is ok to question your government, your laws, and your traditions.
For any of you still interested, here is the article about the guy who wrote the bot and how he got arrested: http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7865
You can read motherlessgoat's post here: http://youvstheworld.com/virtual_muggings_in_line
Just wanted to add this. A new client of mine, with a couple thousand internal users, has just blocked all access to outside webmail.
Now, hmmm think about that logic. Webmail services like Gmail, Hotmail, or Yahoo! have serious virus scanning / filtering. These guys are waiting until they "patch" all the machinese before they unblock webmail access.
I understand their goal, but get real. If anything, the internal users would be better off using external webmail than the internal exchange servers until these systems are patched...
No you cannot have my 300$, and no I will not give you a little less only to upgrade later.
This is like people buying a sports car just so they can look cool. The car doesn't actually get them anywhere faster, but it sure looks flashy!
I remember some of the older systems that tried crap like this. They were too expensive and they flopped too.
I have to use the old Winders from time to time for various clients here and there, and belive me, I really do understand why people use it. But I still don't understand why we tolerate this shoddy mess.
Most of the clients I have worked for, that still use Windows, made the decision to stick with MS because of one person in their company. I see this all the time. Some micro-junky who carries a lot of weight. This is really bizarre to me.
I was once involved with a product evaluation effort involving an MS server component and several alternates. These words were actually spoken in a meeting: "why don't we just pick the MS one and get this whole process over with? That is the only one that our CTO will authorize anyway."
And that type of thinking has to stop. So in that particular situation I made a scene and got everyone to complete the actual analysis. It took several months and we finally ended up recommending a 3rd party product. It was successfully accepted by the CTO and staff.
I think that there are a lot of people out there that are too afraid to stand up for something they know is right. This mentality has to end.
If you don't make decisions for yourself, somebody else will.
Now, you can go off and cry about it. But do like the rest of us and wake up. There is no god, santa clause, nor is there a secure version of windows.
I should also add that I didn't choose Linux because it is the easiest. By no means. I chose it because it eliminated my spyware / virus worries. I don't stay up late at night reinstalling my system every three months because I forgot to patch something.
At least you are trying to put an end to your fantasy...
Millions of people believe in god, but that doesn't make god real. Deal with it.
The truth is that Windows is a security risk. And in order to use Windows you are required to run several applications (on some server or your own client) to keep it secure.
The logic doesn't add up. Why would you voluntarily use an OS that requires you to run resource hog supporting apps just to get your work done?
Hasn't everyone learned already? This is just plain dumb. Windows is always going to be vulverable to these threats.
I was talking to a friend the other day, and I told him that I wouldn't run anything other than Linux. And that Windows would never be installed on a computer that I owned. He thought I was some sort of hippy or hacker.
But think about it, in order to run Windows, you have to have virus & spyware software running. There is no getting around it.
So now you have all of these apps running, eating up your resources, just so you can surf the web and download pr0n. It just doesn't make sense to me.
All of the pieces are coming into place. The world will crumble before me. With this book, and the power of AJAX I will rule!
But seriously, so when is MS going to sue these guys and the DOD target these enemy combatants???
lol, well, I wouldn't be surprised. Did I tell you about this guy that I read about recently? He was arrested for swinging a knife in front of his father. So he went to jail for a year because he was convicted for "terrorist threats". THE DUDE WAS DRUNK...
I mean come on, haven't we all got drunk and swung a knife in front of our fathers and threatened to... oh wait... must focus on AJAX rootkits!
is there any other way? lol