To answer your question of "Why pay corporate IT to stand up an expensive piece of software, the database, servers, update software, etc. when you can just pay a service provider $XXX per month to maintain it instead?"
Because I would not trust my institutional data to any of these 'Web 2.0' companies yet.
Not that I think they want to steal it, or that they would give it away. Either of those would be okay since I work in education anyway.
But do I want to invest the time, effort and money into a company who has a really good chance of failing in 3 years? Do I want to go through this entire exercise of converting to another 'platform' to store my data in a few years?
No, I don't.
Just think of all the times you have heard American companies accused of thinking short-term. Trying to make a quick buck today, instead of looking toward the future. Well TFA pretty much describes that exact scenario. Just throwing your data at a startup is fine if your business is selling gift baskets. But if the data is important to your institution, then moving slow and being sure of the integrity of data is far, far more important.
I *highly* recommend Rainbow Six Vegas. One of the best shooters I have played in a long time.
GRAW2 pales in comparison, but the 'co-op campaign' mode (using 'campaign' very loosely) is a lot of fun with friends over Live.
R6V might even be my favorite shooter EVAR!
Well, I can tell you how to help this 4 year Slashdot reader who is NOT a Linux guru:
Make Audible.com work on Linux
Make Dreamweaver work on Linux
Make Premiere work on Linux
Make Fireworks work on Linux
That's what is keeping me from switching...I don't really care about Office, but those 3 programs (and Audible.com) are what I use all the time.
I have an Ubuntu disk right in front of me, and a computer which is hobbling along in XP. It would be great to just do the install, but I can't- since it would take my productivity down to about zero.
Money aside (honestly, I don't care about the money aspect either) I was a Gamefly subscriber for a while and I ended up not liking it.
It seemed like I was always in a rush to send the games back, just to get a new one. This was driving me nuts, like some sort of false pressure I had.
On the other hand, I bought Rainbow Six Vegas a few months ago- whenever it came out. I played through the campaign (awesome) then my friends and I played a lot of multi-player. We eventually got bored of it, and I put it away for a while.
Then the new map packs came out, and now we have had a resurgence of interest over the last few weeks. (We ARE going to beat Terrorist Hunt on Wartown tonight...!)
If I had used GameFly, I would have sent the game back, and I would not have been able to play it now.
I'm not sure how the install works on a Treo, but on my phone it was pretty easy. I went to their site, entered my phone number into a form...they sent me a text message with a link to the program. It downloaded, then started installing. During install they recognized my connection and then I was at the start page. It took about 5 minutes or so.
Your Treo has a smaller screen than an iPhone...and to somewhat quote you;
An iPhone has a smaller screen than my PC- and an iPhone is good...why?
Different strokes. Personally I don't use a Treo, I use a Samsung M1, which has an even smaller screen. I don't mind the screen size at all. I like the standard clamshell form-factor of the phone. I also like the fact that I can get data at least twice as fast on Sprint's network vs. using an iPhone on AT&T.
My point was not that the iPhone is bad. My point is that people get so excited about new things and they put on blinders to any other possibilities. Opera Mini is a very good browser.
If you watch iPhone commercials it seems that Apple is trying to give you the idea that they have the only phone based browser on the market that has the reduced-view to expanded-view feature. They aren't- in fact, Opera Mini will run on a phone you may already own!
People ooh and ahh over the iPhone's ability to view a web page in a very 'shrunk-down' format, then expand the text/graphics of the proper area to fill the screen and become legible. Opera Mini had this feeature for a while, and it works great.
Quite a while prior to the Wii being released, Microsoft had the Xbox Live Arcade. They have been courting the 'casual' crowd for a while. They have had some success with it, (not as much as Nintendo) and it should not be forgotten.
When I was sick feverish stupor a few weeks ago, I played Catan for about 20 hours over a two day period. I played Luxor 2 this morning, and I am looking forward to some Bomberman tonight.
Nintendo fans are like Apple fans. They assume that their favorite company comes up with every concept they market. For instance, people who think that the browser on the iPhone is something wonderful and new have never seen Opera Mini.
The main difference with Nintendo right now is that they are PRIMARILY going after the casual market.
Xbox Live games are generally (almost always) user-hosted.
In Halo they do a lot of very cool things to make this work well. One of the most noticable is the 'pause' screen you get when the host drops.
The host (determined by Bungie) may drop during a game. You will see the entire game freeze and go to the score screen. Hang on a few seconds and the game will poll the remaining players to determine the best host. That person will take on hosting duties and the game will continue.
Much nicer than the game disappearing.
Sorry if I sounded like a smart-ass, I didn't know you were new to the service...
FPSs are like driving games, they don't really require much of a story. Usually people who want 'a really good story' in an FPS don't really play FPSers.
For one thing, FPSs have a lot of trial and error. On my 29th attempt to kill 3 guards in a tower, I don't need to hear the same narration, or see the same cut-scenes. I just want to head-shot those bastards and move on to kill somebody else.
Here's an article more to the point: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18829448/. It's a story of the top 5 WEAPONS in first person shooters. Now that is something much nearer and dearer to my heart. (Although the story doesn't list shotguns, flak cannons, or rocket launchers.)
You keep trying to say that I feel that gamers don't like the Wii. I didn't say anything like that at all. All I did say was that NON gamers like the Wii.
Your logic is poisoned by your obvious emotional ties to the issue.
I'm not being elitist. I'm not saying that 'gamers' are better than 'non-gamers'.
BUT, I did think that the general audience on Slashdot would know that my use of the word 'gamer' means 'a videogame enthusiast: someone who frequently plays videogames.'
My point was that people who do not play videogames frequently (non-gamers) enjoy playing the Wii. While *I* prefer the 360.
As a generality, I only praised the Wii by pointing out that many non-gamers like it. As far as any negative points made, I only mentioned my own feelings. This is far from elitist.
When I first started playing the Wii, I thought, 'amazing...' Then I started to look for something deeper, more challenging. I didn't find it.
My 360 is the console I expect to be playing far into the future, while the Wii will be relegated to being the console that non-gamers have fun with at parties.
I play a LOT. And at the very most I need to change out my batteries once a week.
I just use the standard el-cheapo rechargables from Walmart. They give me a lot of play time- at least 20 hours. I've never timed it, but I know I get a lot out of them. That includes using the headset.
What is he problem with stock wireless controllers?
I've got 3 wireless, and 1 wired controller. The wireless controllers NEVER have any sort of problem. The wired controller has a problem all the time...the stupid wire.
Of course they offer Zune links...they NEED to be the ones to start the ball rolling.
If I had a Zune, I would be pissed if they didn't.
When Apple put up its first iPod links- before iPods were everywhere...was this some sort of cheap push? No, it is just an attempt to build up an infrastructure.
At what point is it okay in your mind for them to put up Zune links? 5 million sold? 10 Million?
Do you believe that any product that does not sell enough units should be completely ignored?
My wife would actually watch these cinematics! The game gave you the option to replaly them once they were unlocked. This was the first time she was even remotely interested in this sort of thing.
Slashdot Mirror
To answer your question of "Why pay corporate IT to stand up an expensive piece of software, the database, servers, update software, etc. when you can just pay a service provider $XXX per month to maintain it instead?"
Because I would not trust my institutional data to any of these 'Web 2.0' companies yet.
Not that I think they want to steal it, or that they would give it away. Either of those would be okay since I work in education anyway.
But do I want to invest the time, effort and money into a company who has a really good chance of failing in 3 years? Do I want to go through this entire exercise of converting to another 'platform' to store my data in a few years?
No, I don't.
Just think of all the times you have heard American companies accused of thinking short-term. Trying to make a quick buck today, instead of looking toward the future. Well TFA pretty much describes that exact scenario. Just throwing your data at a startup is fine if your business is selling gift baskets. But if the data is important to your institution, then moving slow and being sure of the integrity of data is far, far more important.
Did you try clicking on any of the screenshots?
The link goes straight to PNGs.
http://images.tomshardware.com/2007/10/25/windows_server_2008_reviewed/08_initial_config.png
You perfectly summed up the point I wanted to make.
I think that the "realism" isn't worth it. Go out and create DX7 games that are fun
Back when DX7 was new, people thought it was a stupid waste of time...and 'fun' games in DX7 would be better.
This same same thought will be put out here in 10 years when people complain about all of the emphasis on eye-candy in DX22.
Graphics need to move forward just as much as the rest of the game does. DX10 isn't a problem. In fact, in 3 years it will appear quaint.
I was all excited about getting a nice projector for home.
I got it, set it up, and hooked up my Xbox for Gears of War.
I got so sick I had to take the projector back. Now I play on a 32" tv from about 7 feet back, and anything larger than that makes me feel like crap.
I *highly* recommend Rainbow Six Vegas. One of the best shooters I have played in a long time. GRAW2 pales in comparison, but the 'co-op campaign' mode (using 'campaign' very loosely) is a lot of fun with friends over Live. R6V might even be my favorite shooter EVAR!
Well, I can tell you how to help this 4 year Slashdot reader who is NOT a Linux guru: Make Audible.com work on Linux Make Dreamweaver work on Linux Make Premiere work on Linux Make Fireworks work on Linux That's what is keeping me from switching...I don't really care about Office, but those 3 programs (and Audible.com) are what I use all the time. I have an Ubuntu disk right in front of me, and a computer which is hobbling along in XP. It would be great to just do the install, but I can't- since it would take my productivity down to about zero.
I'm looking for the same thing, only I need it to run under windows.
I'm looking for something web-based, allowing clients to enter tickets, and programmers to respond to them.
Any ideas?
If you didn't need the Xbox, then it wouldn't be a peripheral.
Money aside (honestly, I don't care about the money aspect either) I was a Gamefly subscriber for a while and I ended up not liking it.
It seemed like I was always in a rush to send the games back, just to get a new one. This was driving me nuts, like some sort of false pressure I had.
On the other hand, I bought Rainbow Six Vegas a few months ago- whenever it came out. I played through the campaign (awesome) then my friends and I played a lot of multi-player. We eventually got bored of it, and I put it away for a while.
Then the new map packs came out, and now we have had a resurgence of interest over the last few weeks. (We ARE going to beat Terrorist Hunt on Wartown tonight...!)
If I had used GameFly, I would have sent the game back, and I would not have been able to play it now.
I'm not sure how the install works on a Treo, but on my phone it was pretty easy. I went to their site, entered my phone number into a form...they sent me a text message with a link to the program. It downloaded, then started installing. During install they recognized my connection and then I was at the start page. It took about 5 minutes or so.
Your Treo has a smaller screen than an iPhone...and to somewhat quote you;
An iPhone has a smaller screen than my PC- and an iPhone is good...why?
Different strokes. Personally I don't use a Treo, I use a Samsung M1, which has an even smaller screen. I don't mind the screen size at all. I like the standard clamshell form-factor of the phone. I also like the fact that I can get data at least twice as fast on Sprint's network vs. using an iPhone on AT&T.
My point was not that the iPhone is bad. My point is that people get so excited about new things and they put on blinders to any other possibilities. Opera Mini is a very good browser.
If you watch iPhone commercials it seems that Apple is trying to give you the idea that they have the only phone based browser on the market that has the reduced-view to expanded-view feature. They aren't- in fact, Opera Mini will run on a phone you may already own!
People ooh and ahh over the iPhone's ability to view a web page in a very 'shrunk-down' format, then expand the text/graphics of the proper area to fill the screen and become legible. Opera Mini had this feeature for a while, and it works great.
Quite a while prior to the Wii being released, Microsoft had the Xbox Live Arcade. They have been courting the 'casual' crowd for a while. They have had some success with it, (not as much as Nintendo) and it should not be forgotten.
When I was sick feverish stupor a few weeks ago, I played Catan for about 20 hours over a two day period. I played Luxor 2 this morning, and I am looking forward to some Bomberman tonight.
Nintendo fans are like Apple fans. They assume that their favorite company comes up with every concept they market. For instance, people who think that the browser on the iPhone is something wonderful and new have never seen Opera Mini.
The main difference with Nintendo right now is that they are PRIMARILY going after the casual market.
Xbox Live games are generally (almost always) user-hosted.
In Halo they do a lot of very cool things to make this work well. One of the most noticable is the 'pause' screen you get when the host drops.
The host (determined by Bungie) may drop during a game. You will see the entire game freeze and go to the score screen. Hang on a few seconds and the game will poll the remaining players to determine the best host. That person will take on hosting duties and the game will continue.
Much nicer than the game disappearing.
Sorry if I sounded like a smart-ass, I didn't know you were new to the service...
The fact that you mention 'servers' pretty much negates everything else you said.
FPSs are like driving games, they don't really require much of a story. Usually people who want 'a really good story' in an FPS don't really play FPSers.
For one thing, FPSs have a lot of trial and error. On my 29th attempt to kill 3 guards in a tower, I don't need to hear the same narration, or see the same cut-scenes. I just want to head-shot those bastards and move on to kill somebody else.
Here's an article more to the point: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18829448/. It's a story of the top 5 WEAPONS in first person shooters. Now that is something much nearer and dearer to my heart. (Although the story doesn't list shotguns, flak cannons, or rocket launchers.)
So are you saying EVERYONE is a gamer?
Then what is the point of using a word to classify different people?
You keep trying to say that I feel that gamers don't like the Wii. I didn't say anything like that at all. All I did say was that NON gamers like the Wii.
Your logic is poisoned by your obvious emotional ties to the issue.
I'm not being elitist. I'm not saying that 'gamers' are better than 'non-gamers'.
BUT, I did think that the general audience on Slashdot would know that my use of the word 'gamer' means 'a videogame enthusiast: someone who frequently plays videogames.'
My point was that people who do not play videogames frequently (non-gamers) enjoy playing the Wii. While *I* prefer the 360.
As a generality, I only praised the Wii by pointing out that many non-gamers like it. As far as any negative points made, I only mentioned my own feelings. This is far from elitist.
I have had the exact opposite experience.
When I first started playing the Wii, I thought, 'amazing...' Then I started to look for something deeper, more challenging. I didn't find it.
My 360 is the console I expect to be playing far into the future, while the Wii will be relegated to being the console that non-gamers have fun with at parties.
OR, you have crap batteries.
I play a LOT. And at the very most I need to change out my batteries once a week.
I just use the standard el-cheapo rechargables from Walmart. They give me a lot of play time- at least 20 hours. I've never timed it, but I know I get a lot out of them. That includes using the headset.
What is he problem with stock wireless controllers?
I've got 3 wireless, and 1 wired controller. The wireless controllers NEVER have any sort of problem. The wired controller has a problem all the time...the stupid wire.
Of course they offer Zune links...they NEED to be the ones to start the ball rolling.
If I had a Zune, I would be pissed if they didn't.
When Apple put up its first iPod links- before iPods were everywhere...was this some sort of cheap push? No, it is just an attempt to build up an infrastructure.
At what point is it okay in your mind for them to put up Zune links? 5 million sold? 10 Million?
Do you believe that any product that does not sell enough units should be completely ignored?
Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath- awesome cinematics. Looked incredible.
My wife would actually watch these cinematics! The game gave you the option to replaly them once they were unlocked. This was the first time she was even remotely interested in this sort of thing.
I loved it too.
The only problem I had with Perfect Dark Zero is that the maps would go from 'too big' to 'enormous' with just a few people added.
Great concept, but as you said, flawed execution.