If you really want to compare Roger Wilco to Xbox Live voice chat, then you're on crack.
They are nowhere close. Xbox Live voice has things like team chat and proximity chat built in. You don't have to screw around with anything- they just works.
I played huge amounts of on-line games on the PC for years and years. Now that I am on the Xbox, I think that my $50 Live subscription is the best $50 I have ever paid for gaming. You don't really understand it until you use it.
Then when you use it, the thought of going back to PC style on-line gaming doesn't sound too good. More junk servers, more cheaters, more griefers, more stuff to piss you off. (Notice I used 'more...')
I love being able to jump into a Halo 2 game, where people are ranked somewhat near me. Where the chance of having an idiot come out and try to ruin the game is low, because it affects his ranking, or will get him banned. Where the server host is chosen automatically by figuring who has the best connection. Where if the server host drops, the game pauses, a new server host is chosen, and we continue on where we left off (minus the guy who dropped.)
You may not understand Xbox Live. But I think it is by far the best thing going in on-line gaming.
And RTFA- the rig he is talking about costs a lot of money. If you can't legitimize paying $50 to get your $149 console on-line...then you've got the wrong hobby.
I am thrilled about the expansion of the Xbox 360. I'll be buying one no matter what...but the idea that I can stream my pictures and music to my Xbox from my PC sounds great. I am planning on buying a new speaker system just for the music that is streamed over. My wife doesn't like the idea yet, but she is going away to visit some friends next weekend, and that is a good time to add some in-wall speakers....
I know there are methods to stream the content now- but I am not going to put any effort into my current Xbox, when the new one comes out in about 4 months.
Plus, I'm lazy, and I think I will like their implementation more than having to screw around with any sort of add-ons.
As long as the parents don't know about it (the ones who have NOT bought the 360), it doesn't matter.
V-chip is just a marketing scheme. Its intention may have been something else, but the end product is just for marketing.
I have methods on my TV and cable box to block adult content, but I have no idea how to use them. My fear is that I will set them up to block the kids out, but then I'll never figure out how to watch the late-night sex shows on HBO.
Well, I recently finished Chem I as a 'continuing education' student. Meaning, I was too stupid to go through college when I was younger (went in the Army instead, which for me was a better choice) so now I am in college 20 years later.
But the point is- it took me long enough to cram the current Periodic Table into my feeble brain, that I don't think I could even begin to look at a different one. I will be lucky to squeak by the next Chem class, so anything different would kill me.
(Actually, I lie. I am one of those 'old' people in class who actually does their homework, and gets straight 'A's all of the young kids hate me. It is amazing what can happen in school when you are more interested in learning, than banging the chick next to you. I would be interested in banging the chick next to me, but I am 20 years too old for her...so I guess learning will have to suffice.)
Dreamweaver is to programming, what Microsoft Word is to 'writing.' There is a big difference between the tool, and the activity.
But Dreamweaver is a damn good environment to layout any type of work that will be on the web. In fact, we're all sitting here reading Slashdot- which could easily have been layed out in Dreamweaver.
Or just about any other website you can think of...For instance, Yahoo!, Amazon, CNN - all of them could have been done in Dreamweaver. If you don't consider those projects to have programming behind them, then I don't really understand your definition of 'programming.'
If you don't use a program like Dreamweaver to layout your pages, that's okay. But there is a good chance you are wasting a lot of time...
All of the programming I do startes out in a graphic environment, whether that is Visual Studio, or Dreamweaver.
I really have no need to 'program' boxes, fonts, text areas, etc. (Which of course don't exist in a CLI anyway...)
But using something like Visual Studio you get to draw out your 'forms' and make them look pretty. Then double-click an object to put in the corresponding code.
Of course most projects require about 99% of your time in code-view- but that 1% in design view would probably take me 5-20 times longer if I was using code to lay things out.
I thought the best line from the article was:
Unix culture values code which is useful to other programmers, while Windows culture values code which is useful to non-programmers.
I've never seen it written so succinctly- but that is basically it. I only value two things when creating a program:
A- can a neophyte use it...preferably, someone who doesn't even really understand the purpose of the program.
B- will it be easy for me to come back and modify it.
I stopped worring about 'efficiencies' and 'cycles' years and years ago. It is so nice to live in an era where it is nearly impossible for me to tax the hardware.
But that's me...maybe you're doing some video editing, or rendering, or something like that. But when I am mostly dealing with data storage and retrieval, nothing should take over a few milliseconds.
Okay, I have to answer- with a shameless plug and a short story.
I run a site called InsideWoodland.com (in my sig). So far I've written about 70 stories. Each one takes me about 8 hours to do- with photos, interview, etc. This is a major chunk of my free time.
This is my main 'hobby', I spend a lot of time working on it, and a lot of time talking about it. Everyone I talk to wants to know why I am doing it, and most importantly, 'how much money do you make.' I haven't made a single dime. Monetary rewards were never my focus. (Although I do have an area where people can advertise, but nobody has done it yet, and I don't really push it.)
My real reward is just the knowledge that people really do read my stories, and look at my pictures. AND, I get to make other people 'famous' along the way.
The only people who have really understood this yet, were the gang-banger types that I met at low-rider car show while doing a story.
While a guy is telling me that he has devoted the last 4 years of his life, and $50,000 into his car- he has no problem understanding that I am doing something just because I enjoy it. But sadly, most 'normal' people just think I am a nut for not trying to make money.
I have looked into Adsense, but my traffic is to small since the website is tightly targeted (people in my small town). And, I don't like the way the ads look.
My only real goal is to somehow make a little bit of money to pay for my hosting fees. And if I paid for my current hosting fees, the first thing I would do is upgrade my hosting plan, to make the site perform better- even if it did end up costing me more money.
So yes, there are people out there who set up websites just for fun, and not for the money. So if this is a good thing, why do so many people tell me I am stupid for doing it?
Remote desktop more than "doesn't suck." I think it is pretty damn awesome.
I use it all the time to connect to my desktop- so rather than trying to keep my laptop in sync with my desktop, for mail and junk like that- I just connect to my desktop and I never worry about syncing.
It's also fast.
But, since day 1 I have thought that if there is a security hole, it will be a BIG one. If they can connect, then they own everything...
Most of the exploits are written AFTER the patches come out. Most exploit writers just look at the patch, see what it fixes, and then figure out the vulnerability. So the patches don't really need to be released immediately. (This is the practical reality, of course there are others who find this plan to be horrible, but it works for me.)
I really like this once a month patch cycle. I get an idea that maybe they plan the patches a little better, and test them more.
Maybe EA should have done that with Battlefield 2, instead of trying to rush a patch out.
I am one of those people who will buy the console, even if it has a bad design- I don't really care.
BUT- I will be happier with it if it looks cool, and sits in my cabinet and makes a statement other than 'I have a geeky video game console.'
A little style would help.
Also in the article, they talked about the functional design- the controllers, laying out the box, etc. etc. I would like to think that when I open this sucker up on day 1, I will take it out and think, 'Ohh...THAT's cool!'
I have purchased 5 or 6 different digital cameras. And by no means do I make a choice based on the appearance of the camera. But my current camera has METAL body, and doors. (and it is black) It just makes me like the camera a little bit more. Now when I pick up my previous camera- which took pretty good pictures also, I think, "Damn, this thing feels cheap!"
One design on my computer I don't like- the optical drives are made to look like slot-loaders- they have a fairly thin black line on the front. I bought the system on-line, and when I opened it up I was pretty disappointed. Not that slot-load drives are any better, but they are cooler.
So I guess I am a whore for style, but it still wouldn't stop me from buying anything.
Journalism (and everything else we do) is based on stereotypes.
Stereotypes are our brains way of being more efficient. Once we learn a few things about people, we can attempt to pigeonhole others who appear similar, to be the same as the stereotype.
It is efficient because we don't need to do a complete analysis everytime we come across a different person.
Gender roles are largely stereotypical. Women will be more 'caring, nurturing and (insert other stereotype here)'
This allows us to make assumptions, and we can spend more time analyzing the differences.
It's like JPEG compression for human psychology.
Our brains just can't handle RAW mode all the time.
I don't think that your grandparent was saying that "if you ever make a copy of anything, for any reason, you're a pirate..."
I think that the grandparent was saying that a lot of people on Slashdot attempt to legitimize all circumvention of copy protection by claiming it is for backing up their purchased media.
We (your grandparent and I) believe that is false. Only a miniscule amount of the circumvention/copying is for the purpose of archiving. The huge majority is for out and out piracy. But, taking the high moral road just makes it sound better...
As a relatively big fan of many Microsoft products...(hey, it's how I make a living!)
Any attempt to incorporate software like Gator into Windows, or an attempt to allow software like Gator greater control...will mean I am no longer a card-carrying member of the fan club.
Seriously, I have spent way too much time cleaning that junk off of my daughter's computer. The MS anti-spyware program works well now, but if they disable it for their 'partners' it will royally suck.
I have a PocketPC, and I use it for the typical organizer stuff, and a lot of e-mail via the WiFi. My calendar, address book, etc are on it.
But I also have some SD cards with games, and some with music. So when I am on the plane, I can sit there and work on my expenses (on Excel) and listen to music on one device.
Then when I'm done lying about how much cash I used, I can play a game of Age of Empires...
The number one reason I use firewalls...(instead of just IPSEC and good security practices..)
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. Which you have to adhere to if you are a good sized credit card processor.
Our old security model was tight, very tight. But the PCI people didn't like the way we handled attempted intrusions. We just blocked all of the ports with IPSEC.
They needed the packets dropped in the way that a firewall handles them.
Same result, but they pretty much insist on firewalls.
So...if you are a big credit card processor, you need to have a firewall...even if it doesn't actually improve your security.
Furry Wookie- this is not pointed at you directly...but at something you said which sounds like what a ton of other people are saying:
"...take control of your life..."
A lot of the MS vs. (everyone else) debate sounds like this.
My life? How is an anti-spyware tool on my computer going to really affect my life? Or how is my computer going to help me take control of my life?
My computer is just a stupid, noisy, power-sucking box that sits on the floor. I am the one that gives it life, not the other way around. Whatever operating system it runs doesn't really affect my life at all- I just use the thing.
Just like the hedge trimmers I bought last weekend- I went to the store, bought some, and used them. It wasn't a decision that would affect my life- just those few moments as I trimmed the bushes.
My whole point is...don't confuse a computer with real life. Real life is about people, love, adventure, relationships, hardships and successes.
Computers are about reading e-mail, and surfing for porn.
Good point...just a few days ago I was talking to a friend who has a business that right now is specializing in HIPPA compliance.
My daughter's orthodontist also has an open wireless link- I assume they also must be HIPPA compliant.
They are either clueless (my friend who does this compliance work says that all of the people who call him are) or they have good security- or, the two things are completely separate.
We have people in my organization who have two computers on their desk. One is connected to an internal/secure network- and the other one goes to the outside. They aren't even allowed to use a KVM switch...they are completely separate.
I've got a handheld (Dell Axim) and frequently when I am out and about, I'll turn it on to see what networks are open.
The other day I was eating my lunch near some businesses, and I found 4 networks...3 of which were completely open.
I sat there and checked my e-mail while I ate lunch...not a big deal.
Then I went into one of the businesses (that is the reason I was out in front eating) and I saw a big 'free wireless networking' sign on their counter. And this was a physical therapy clinic...
Slashdot Mirror
If you really want to compare Roger Wilco to Xbox Live voice chat, then you're on crack.
They are nowhere close. Xbox Live voice has things like team chat and proximity chat built in. You don't have to screw around with anything- they just works.
I played huge amounts of on-line games on the PC for years and years. Now that I am on the Xbox, I think that my $50 Live subscription is the best $50 I have ever paid for gaming. You don't really understand it until you use it.
Then when you use it, the thought of going back to PC style on-line gaming doesn't sound too good. More junk servers, more cheaters, more griefers, more stuff to piss you off. (Notice I used 'more...')
I love being able to jump into a Halo 2 game, where people are ranked somewhat near me. Where the chance of having an idiot come out and try to ruin the game is low, because it affects his ranking, or will get him banned. Where the server host is chosen automatically by figuring who has the best connection. Where if the server host drops, the game pauses, a new server host is chosen, and we continue on where we left off (minus the guy who dropped.)
You may not understand Xbox Live. But I think it is by far the best thing going in on-line gaming.
And RTFA- the rig he is talking about costs a lot of money. If you can't legitimize paying $50 to get your $149 console on-line...then you've got the wrong hobby.
I am thrilled about the expansion of the Xbox 360. I'll be buying one no matter what...but the idea that I can stream my pictures and music to my Xbox from my PC sounds great. I am planning on buying a new speaker system just for the music that is streamed over. My wife doesn't like the idea yet, but she is going away to visit some friends next weekend, and that is a good time to add some in-wall speakers....
I know there are methods to stream the content now- but I am not going to put any effort into my current Xbox, when the new one comes out in about 4 months.
Plus, I'm lazy, and I think I will like their implementation more than having to screw around with any sort of add-ons.
As long as the parents don't know about it (the ones who have NOT bought the 360), it doesn't matter.
V-chip is just a marketing scheme. Its intention may have been something else, but the end product is just for marketing.
I have methods on my TV and cable box to block adult content, but I have no idea how to use them. My fear is that I will set them up to block the kids out, but then I'll never figure out how to watch the late-night sex shows on HBO.
God forbid I miss those...
Well, I recently finished Chem I as a 'continuing education' student. Meaning, I was too stupid to go through college when I was younger (went in the Army instead, which for me was a better choice) so now I am in college 20 years later.
But the point is- it took me long enough to cram the current Periodic Table into my feeble brain, that I don't think I could even begin to look at a different one. I will be lucky to squeak by the next Chem class, so anything different would kill me.
(Actually, I lie. I am one of those 'old' people in class who actually does their homework, and gets straight 'A's all of the young kids hate me. It is amazing what can happen in school when you are more interested in learning, than banging the chick next to you. I would be interested in banging the chick next to me, but I am 20 years too old for her...so I guess learning will have to suffice.)
No...Dreamweaver is not 'programming.'
Dreamweaver is to programming, what Microsoft Word is to 'writing.' There is a big difference between the tool, and the activity.
But Dreamweaver is a damn good environment to layout any type of work that will be on the web. In fact, we're all sitting here reading Slashdot- which could easily have been layed out in Dreamweaver.
Or just about any other website you can think of...For instance, Yahoo!, Amazon, CNN - all of them could have been done in Dreamweaver. If you don't consider those projects to have programming behind them, then I don't really understand your definition of 'programming.'
If you don't use a program like Dreamweaver to layout your pages, that's okay. But there is a good chance you are wasting a lot of time...
Actually, a mildly funny comment.
All of the programming I do startes out in a graphic environment, whether that is Visual Studio, or Dreamweaver.
I really have no need to 'program' boxes, fonts, text areas, etc. (Which of course don't exist in a CLI anyway...)
But using something like Visual Studio you get to draw out your 'forms' and make them look pretty. Then double-click an object to put in the corresponding code.
Of course most projects require about 99% of your time in code-view- but that 1% in design view would probably take me 5-20 times longer if I was using code to lay things out.
I thought the best line from the article was:
Unix culture values code which is useful to other programmers, while Windows culture values code which is useful to non-programmers.
I've never seen it written so succinctly- but that is basically it. I only value two things when creating a program:
A- can a neophyte use it...preferably, someone who doesn't even really understand the purpose of the program.
B- will it be easy for me to come back and modify it.
I stopped worring about 'efficiencies' and 'cycles' years and years ago. It is so nice to live in an era where it is nearly impossible for me to tax the hardware.
But that's me...maybe you're doing some video editing, or rendering, or something like that. But when I am mostly dealing with data storage and retrieval, nothing should take over a few milliseconds.
Okay, I have to answer- with a shameless plug and a short story.
I run a site called InsideWoodland.com (in my sig). So far I've written about 70 stories. Each one takes me about 8 hours to do- with photos, interview, etc. This is a major chunk of my free time.
This is my main 'hobby', I spend a lot of time working on it, and a lot of time talking about it. Everyone I talk to wants to know why I am doing it, and most importantly, 'how much money do you make.' I haven't made a single dime. Monetary rewards were never my focus. (Although I do have an area where people can advertise, but nobody has done it yet, and I don't really push it.)
My real reward is just the knowledge that people really do read my stories, and look at my pictures. AND, I get to make other people 'famous' along the way.
The only people who have really understood this yet, were the gang-banger types that I met at low-rider car show while doing a story.
While a guy is telling me that he has devoted the last 4 years of his life, and $50,000 into his car- he has no problem understanding that I am doing something just because I enjoy it. But sadly, most 'normal' people just think I am a nut for not trying to make money.
I have looked into Adsense, but my traffic is to small since the website is tightly targeted (people in my small town). And, I don't like the way the ads look.
My only real goal is to somehow make a little bit of money to pay for my hosting fees. And if I paid for my current hosting fees, the first thing I would do is upgrade my hosting plan, to make the site perform better- even if it did end up costing me more money.
So yes, there are people out there who set up websites just for fun, and not for the money. So if this is a good thing, why do so many people tell me I am stupid for doing it?
Remote desktop more than "doesn't suck." I think it is pretty damn awesome.
I use it all the time to connect to my desktop- so rather than trying to keep my laptop in sync with my desktop, for mail and junk like that- I just connect to my desktop and I never worry about syncing.
It's also fast.
But, since day 1 I have thought that if there is a security hole, it will be a BIG one. If they can connect, then they own everything...
Replying to your sig:
When Linux became the great guiding light, leading them all to use Slashdot as their holy place.
So why do you spell out words like 'brutal' and 'violence' but self-censor 'fucked'?
Most of the exploits are written AFTER the patches come out. Most exploit writers just look at the patch, see what it fixes, and then figure out the vulnerability. So the patches don't really need to be released immediately. (This is the practical reality, of course there are others who find this plan to be horrible, but it works for me.)
I really like this once a month patch cycle. I get an idea that maybe they plan the patches a little better, and test them more.
Maybe EA should have done that with Battlefield 2, instead of trying to rush a patch out.
I am one of those people who will buy the console, even if it has a bad design- I don't really care.
BUT- I will be happier with it if it looks cool, and sits in my cabinet and makes a statement other than 'I have a geeky video game console.'
A little style would help.
Also in the article, they talked about the functional design- the controllers, laying out the box, etc. etc. I would like to think that when I open this sucker up on day 1, I will take it out and think, 'Ohh...THAT's cool!'
I have purchased 5 or 6 different digital cameras. And by no means do I make a choice based on the appearance of the camera. But my current camera has METAL body, and doors. (and it is black) It just makes me like the camera a little bit more. Now when I pick up my previous camera- which took pretty good pictures also, I think, "Damn, this thing feels cheap!"
One design on my computer I don't like- the optical drives are made to look like slot-loaders- they have a fairly thin black line on the front. I bought the system on-line, and when I opened it up I was pretty disappointed. Not that slot-load drives are any better, but they are cooler.
So I guess I am a whore for style, but it still wouldn't stop me from buying anything.
Journalism (and everything else we do) is based on stereotypes.
Stereotypes are our brains way of being more efficient. Once we learn a few things about people, we can attempt to pigeonhole others who appear similar, to be the same as the stereotype.
It is efficient because we don't need to do a complete analysis everytime we come across a different person.
Gender roles are largely stereotypical. Women will be more 'caring, nurturing and (insert other stereotype here)'
This allows us to make assumptions, and we can spend more time analyzing the differences.
It's like JPEG compression for human psychology.
Our brains just can't handle RAW mode all the time.
I don't think that your grandparent was saying that "if you ever make a copy of anything, for any reason, you're a pirate..."
I think that the grandparent was saying that a lot of people on Slashdot attempt to legitimize all circumvention of copy protection by claiming it is for backing up their purchased media.
We (your grandparent and I) believe that is false. Only a miniscule amount of the circumvention/copying is for the purpose of archiving. The huge majority is for out and out piracy. But, taking the high moral road just makes it sound better...
You're completely wrong-
South Africa does have a very high percentage of people with AIDS, but nowhere near 60%.
The number I found was 21.5%. Which is still amazingly high, but only about one third the total you mentioned.
As a relatively big fan of many Microsoft products...(hey, it's how I make a living!)
Any attempt to incorporate software like Gator into Windows, or an attempt to allow software like Gator greater control...will mean I am no longer a card-carrying member of the fan club.
Seriously, I have spent way too much time cleaning that junk off of my daughter's computer. The MS anti-spyware program works well now, but if they disable it for their 'partners' it will royally suck.
And then I'll have to eat crow for quite a while.
But would you buy a car without a radio?
I have a PocketPC, and I use it for the typical organizer stuff, and a lot of e-mail via the WiFi. My calendar, address book, etc are on it.
But I also have some SD cards with games, and some with music. So when I am on the plane, I can sit there and work on my expenses (on Excel) and listen to music on one device.
Then when I'm done lying about how much cash I used, I can play a game of Age of Empires...
This was probably the best story I have read about the game industry. I wish it were over, so I could read the whole thing.
As far as the short-sighted publishers. I get some of my work rejected from time to time (most of the time, but that is the way it goes.)
Once something is picked up, and popular. I *really* want to go back to the people who rejected it, and shove it into their faces.
But then I realize, that maybe they will pick up the next thing I do, and I don't want to burn any bridges.
But god, it would be nice to be big enough to tell them to shove it.
The number one reason I use firewalls...(instead of just IPSEC and good security practices..)
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. Which you have to adhere to if you are a good sized credit card processor.
Our old security model was tight, very tight. But the PCI people didn't like the way we handled attempted intrusions. We just blocked all of the ports with IPSEC.
They needed the packets dropped in the way that a firewall handles them.
Same result, but they pretty much insist on firewalls.
So...if you are a big credit card processor, you need to have a firewall...even if it doesn't actually improve your security.
Furry Wookie- this is not pointed at you directly...but at something you said which sounds like what a ton of other people are saying:
"...take control of your life..."
A lot of the MS vs. (everyone else) debate sounds like this.
My life? How is an anti-spyware tool on my computer going to really affect my life? Or how is my computer going to help me take control of my life?
My computer is just a stupid, noisy, power-sucking box that sits on the floor. I am the one that gives it life, not the other way around. Whatever operating system it runs doesn't really affect my life at all- I just use the thing.
Just like the hedge trimmers I bought last weekend- I went to the store, bought some, and used them. It wasn't a decision that would affect my life- just those few moments as I trimmed the bushes.
My whole point is...don't confuse a computer with real life. Real life is about people, love, adventure, relationships, hardships and successes.
Computers are about reading e-mail, and surfing for porn.
Good point...just a few days ago I was talking to a friend who has a business that right now is specializing in HIPPA compliance.
My daughter's orthodontist also has an open wireless link- I assume they also must be HIPPA compliant.
They are either clueless (my friend who does this compliance work says that all of the people who call him are) or they have good security- or, the two things are completely separate.
We have people in my organization who have two computers on their desk. One is connected to an internal/secure network- and the other one goes to the outside. They aren't even allowed to use a KVM switch...they are completely separate.
So- who knows...hopefully they have it together.
Oh no....
Now you'll see spam, more spam, and notifications of Slashdot responses.
You also will see all of the errors that are automatically e-mailed.
Some people have an over-inflated sense of the worth of their 'private' communications.
If you could do me the favor of deleting some of the spam, I would appreciate it.
Thanks-
That first table sounds like something the Shakers might make...which is considered to be art.
Ha ha (really!)
As soon as I saw the Dogs Playing Poker, I thought that was funny...and I put myself in that category.
Then I saw your post, and I am SQUARELY in the category.
But like you said, there is a market...and I do have fun doing it, and I get paid well.
So overall, I'm just fine with painting on velvet, if it lets me get paid for what I enjoy doing.
I'd rather do this than be one of those guys who thinks he's an artist...just because nobody else understands him.
I've got a handheld (Dell Axim) and frequently when I am out and about, I'll turn it on to see what networks are open.
The other day I was eating my lunch near some businesses, and I found 4 networks...3 of which were completely open.
I sat there and checked my e-mail while I ate lunch...not a big deal.
Then I went into one of the businesses (that is the reason I was out in front eating) and I saw a big 'free wireless networking' sign on their counter. And this was a physical therapy clinic...