This statistic is worthless, because it ignores people who don't use Windows at home, but check slashdot at work on their Windows workstations (like me).
Apple doesn't have "their own hardware", their x86 platform is a plain Intel motherboard, just like the majority of x86 desktops and laptops out there, including the Toshiba laptop they tested it on.
As long as you're on an Intel mobo, drivers are a non-issue, except the video. So far there's only an Intel driver, but the final x86 OS X will most likely include universal ATI and NVIDIA drivers, just like PowerPC OS X has. Again, no issue here. The only roadblock is the DRM.
Apple aren't stupid, they don't put their "won't run on non-Macs" DRM in the kernel, or any other open sourced part of the system. It's all in Aqua's core.
What's the deal with Apple Lossless? Couldn't Apple just pick up FLAC instead of inventing their own proprietary codec from scratch?
Oh wait, Apple can't support open formats, because they couldn't lock you into their multimedia platform (QuickTime/iTunes) with them. Silly me.
And before you ask, no, AAC, MPEG4 and H.264 are NOT open formats. They're all patent-encumbered.
Now, I admit that in terms of video codecs, until Theora becomes stable there's not many good open ones out there, but as far as audio codecs go, Apple has no excuse.
Piracy has never been "relatively non-existant". Sure there wasn't massive-scale p2p, but the simple act of borrowing a disc from a friend or coworker was a common practice back in those days.
Bullshit. Just having an Intel-based motherboard will already cover almost everything. And unless Apple continues to use a custom video BIOS, video will be a non-issue.
allofmp3 is most likely run by the Russian mob. Even if they claim they pay loyalties, it can't be true because they couldn't possibly have all those contracts with the big record companies.
The truth is they found a loophole in Russian copyright laws (last time I checked it's well described on their site, in not too nasty terms of course), and are exploiting the hell out of it. Besides Russia is a pirate heaven anyway, where copyright laws basically go unenforced, like in all Asian countries but Japan.
AFAIK just because it's legal in Russia doesn't make it legal here. And even if I'm wrong, allofmp3 is basically pay-for-piracy, which is ethically worse than just p2p.
That doesn't sound good to me. This could easily end up like a videogame version of the music industry.
Nintendo: "Want a videogame contract? Sign here. We'll give you enough money to create a game. You are entitled to 0.02% of profits, and we keep full ownership of everything you create for 20 years, but your game will be marketed and distributed by us so I'll sell a lot because of our massive media exposure!!" Developper: "Sure!" (a few years later) Developper: "Hey wait, the game is selling millions yet I'm barely making enough money to live!" Nintendo: "Dumbass. Now excuse me while I'll be laughing all the way to the bank."
Castle Wolfenstein? You mean Wolfenstein 3D. Castle Wolfenstein was a C64 game IIRC, not made by id Software. You are probably confused by the Wolfenstein 3D sequel called Return to Castle Wolfenstein, which had no relation with the C64 game despite the name.
First of all, the Lost and Desperate Housewives downloads are US-only. So for everywhere else than the US, Apple offers basically zero content to use for their hot new video iPod right now.
Second of all, hey, and what's coming up, Apple? Pixar shorts? Probably through some Disney contract, huh? Just like how those two shows come from a Disney-owned station. Hey wait, don't tell me Disney is the ONLY company you have a video content contract with??!!
Yeah, this definitely sounds like Apple rushed it out.
Both DivX and H.264 are implementations of the MPEG4 algorithms, so they are roughly the same in terms of quality and efficiency.
Dunno if Apple will release an utility to convert DVDs, but if they don't I predict someone will whip up one pretty fast. H.264 already has open source encoders and decoders available, in fact mplayer could already read H.264 Quicktime files when Apple released them.
Slashdot Mirror
This statistic is worthless, because it ignores people who don't use Windows at home, but check slashdot at work on their Windows workstations (like me).
You could customize far more and for instance make flat chested female
Wait, how is that a good thing?
Or maybe they'll do both: lawyers with frickin' DRM lasers on their heads!
Apple doesn't have "their own hardware", their x86 platform is a plain Intel motherboard, just like the majority of x86 desktops and laptops out there, including the Toshiba laptop they tested it on.
As long as you're on an Intel mobo, drivers are a non-issue, except the video. So far there's only an Intel driver, but the final x86 OS X will most likely include universal ATI and NVIDIA drivers, just like PowerPC OS X has. Again, no issue here. The only roadblock is the DRM.
Apple aren't stupid, they don't put their "won't run on non-Macs" DRM in the kernel, or any other open sourced part of the system. It's all in Aqua's core.
What's the deal with Apple Lossless? Couldn't Apple just pick up FLAC instead of inventing their own proprietary codec from scratch?
Oh wait, Apple can't support open formats, because they couldn't lock you into their multimedia platform (QuickTime/iTunes) with them. Silly me.
And before you ask, no, AAC, MPEG4 and H.264 are NOT open formats. They're all patent-encumbered.
Now, I admit that in terms of video codecs, until Theora becomes stable there's not many good open ones out there, but as far as audio codecs go, Apple has no excuse.
No, AAC is patent-encumbered.
FYI Martin Mystery and Totally Spies are French, not American.
Western != American
What I always say about this: if it costs more than the current game consoles, it's too much.
Though I guess I might have to change my reasonning soon, seeing Sony and Microsoft appear to be aiming quite high in their next generation...
Unless closed drivers bother you, nVidia is the only sane choice. Just pick up the cheapest one you can find.
Piracy has never been "relatively non-existant". Sure there wasn't massive-scale p2p, but the simple act of borrowing a disc from a friend or coworker was a common practice back in those days.
Bullshit. Just having an Intel-based motherboard will already cover almost everything. And unless Apple continues to use a custom video BIOS, video will be a non-issue.
No, Quake 4 still uses OpenGL.
I bet you were confused by the recommended specs mentionning a "DirectX 9.0c compatible 3D card". Doom III had those same retarted specs, too.
Would you mind telling me where you read that? I've looked all over but never saw mention of a Linux port.
It's the rocket launcher from Quake 3.
I can't imagine ATI faring as well against nVidia under Linux.
Fuck ATI.
Not to mention VMWare is a lot more costly than Crossover Office.
You got me on the "loyalties", but I never said anything about benefits.
Anyway you're just a fucking AC, so you're not in a very good position to speak about being taken seriously.
allofmp3 is most likely run by the Russian mob. Even if they claim they pay loyalties, it can't be true because they couldn't possibly have all those contracts with the big record companies.
The truth is they found a loophole in Russian copyright laws (last time I checked it's well described on their site, in not too nasty terms of course), and are exploiting the hell out of it. Besides Russia is a pirate heaven anyway, where copyright laws basically go unenforced, like in all Asian countries but Japan.
AFAIK just because it's legal in Russia doesn't make it legal here. And even if I'm wrong, allofmp3 is basically pay-for-piracy, which is ethically worse than just p2p.
That doesn't sound good to me. This could easily end up like a videogame version of the music industry.
Nintendo: "Want a videogame contract? Sign here. We'll give you enough money to create a game. You are entitled to 0.02% of profits, and we keep full ownership of everything you create for 20 years, but your game will be marketed and distributed by us so I'll sell a lot because of our massive media exposure!!"
Developper: "Sure!"
(a few years later)
Developper: "Hey wait, the game is selling millions yet I'm barely making enough money to live!"
Nintendo: "Dumbass. Now excuse me while I'll be laughing all the way to the bank."
No thanks.
Castle Wolfenstein? You mean Wolfenstein 3D. Castle Wolfenstein was a C64 game IIRC, not made by id Software. You are probably confused by the Wolfenstein 3D sequel called Return to Castle Wolfenstein, which had no relation with the C64 game despite the name.
You've just answered yourself: Disney distributes and markets their movies. That 1.99$ iTunes download counts as distribution, no?
And yes, I knew Jobs is the CEO of both Apple and Pixar. No doubt he pushed the idea. But Disney is still in the picture.
First of all, the Lost and Desperate Housewives downloads are US-only. So for everywhere else than the US, Apple offers basically zero content to use for their hot new video iPod right now.
Second of all, hey, and what's coming up, Apple? Pixar shorts? Probably through some Disney contract, huh? Just like how those two shows come from a Disney-owned station. Hey wait, don't tell me Disney is the ONLY company you have a video content contract with??!!
Yeah, this definitely sounds like Apple rushed it out.
Both DivX and H.264 are implementations of the MPEG4 algorithms, so they are roughly the same in terms of quality and efficiency.
Dunno if Apple will release an utility to convert DVDs, but if they don't I predict someone will whip up one pretty fast. H.264 already has open source encoders and decoders available, in fact mplayer could already read H.264 Quicktime files when Apple released them.
These games are all Windows-only, so I don't see your point.