I've since used RealAlternative, and with media player classic, it's Way more functional than anything Real offers.
RealAlternative however cannot upload songs to Minidisk players, iPods and other players that require some kind of non-standard way of getting songs onto them. I don't find it more functional.
I would like for ms to come out with a add they makes fun of apples hardware lock down and to say that are os runs on just about any hardware made in the past few years.
Apple would have to be considered as a competitor by Microsoft before that would happen.
Honestly would you rather have your boxy OEM loud-as-hell and not very sleek Dell or a shiny iMac or Mac Mini/Cinema Display out in the living room? The one in the common living space is going to get the most use.
Black tends to fade in better with entertainment systems than white (unfortunately the new iMacs, which would be a good equilivant don't come as just a computer, so it's a bit sucky for connecting to your entertainment system).
Another thing, why would you have a PC/Mac in your sittingroom?
Well, I suppose one is to play games (You'd probably run Windows or Linux (I play a lot of Windows games using vanilla wine) for this, you may as well go with a standard PC, since all the hardware would be supported by Windows (I do believe certain pieces of hardware on Macintels lack Windows drivers and Linux support).
Another is to play movies, the only disadvantage with using MacOSX though is that you can't get the legal ones from say Sky's movie/series download service as it's windows only (I wonder if it works under Wine).
It's why the sunflower iMac G4 did so well; people didn't mind it out where it could be seen.
But my point still holds: today's Macs are cheaper than yesterday's PCs.
I don't know, the quality of hardware that come with Macs isn't that good compared to the equivalent PCs shown. There are plenty of posts all over Slashdot showing the Mac hardware is not that great -- And for what, to just save 50-100USD?
I can't really say different OEMs have the same case designs or style, they all look really different to me in the stores.
What I think is going to be the downfall of this, though, is the temptation just to pile on colors and nick nacks. Right now the PC market uses a very safe palette.
I have seen computers in the stores come in every color these days, dark and light, metalic, shiny and even rough.
Every time they try to do something cool, like a pulsing light to simulate sleep mode, they royally screw up because they do not understand that the purpose is not effect, but affect.
I do think my computers do that nicely actually.
Even the most hardened PC user admits that 'architectural details' on the mac are more affective than the lame attempts on most PCs.
I can admit that having a computer in a monitor is quite space saving, but the bland look? No.
What this means is that the OEMs will attempt to use these details as selling points, but they won't be authentic.
Well, Lenovo just came out flat and said they wouldn't do it. I wouldn't doubt Dell deciding against it too and others.
The best example of this is sony, the only OEM that is pushing style, and charging for it.
I often found Sony's designs, like the vaio to look quite flimsy. Interestingly enough, many of the engineers for the Vaio, apparently work for Apple now.
Overall PC users want cheap computers, not cute ones.
That really depends on the user in my opinion, I certainly do not want a beige box or bland box. My heart is actually started to get quite set on these glowy type of cases.
For decades we've had to listen to FUD about Macs being 'pretty but not powerful'
What the hell is pretty about white bland boxes?
News flash, PCs have had better cases for years (it's been many years since I've seen a beige/bland looking PC in the stores). I even prefer the ones pre-built computers come in, which are in the stores these days.
Those OEMs couldn't "beautify" anything if their life depended on it. If they could, they'd already do so. The best they can do is steal Apple's 3 year old designs.
I don't recall seeing any bland PC case designs in the stores for the last few years.
imitation is the sincerest form of flaterry, and apple's excellence in design has forced microsoft to think more broadly about the user's experience. its nice to see them broadening their horizons -- even if ever so slightly.;-}
You know, I haven't seen a home computer for many years in shops that didn't come in some nice styled case. They wern't Macs either.
Seriously Microsoft sticking thier noses in another business, just makes me laugh. If they honestly think PCs should be sexy, why not design them yourselves.
I actually like PC hardware more, because I can decide what I want it to look like. I certainly don't like that white-cream non-sense Apple likes to use.
Fact is, if you've got a PC, you've got a choice. If you get a system that comes in a case you don't like, you can change it. Apple is not about customisability, it's not about being different, it's about everything looking like the same bland style.
The fact is Microsoft can't do this, they can't sell the PC's sex appeal themselves because they don't have Apple's employees. Why doesn't the Ipod have a replacable battery? Because it would make the design look ugly. Having a little latch or a big screw on the case? ick. But instead they have this beautiful white case that while you can't open, you don't want to. It's something Sony never really was able to reach, even the Rio wasn't that beautiful. But Apple knows how to do it.
I never liked the look of things produced by Sony Vaio's engineers (many of which work for Apple now), nor did I ever find the Mac that 'sexy' to be honest.
But so Microsoft just can't understand "beautiful" cases, they feel the need to tell others how to do it.
I believe they're suggesting certain styles, such as with the power button, because on some cases, it's not immidiately obvious where the power button is.
I guess it boils down to "Those who know, do. Those who don't, teach".
I find that disrespectful to all the good teachers out there.
This "Industrial Design Toolkit" screams "we're afraid of Apple". MS obvisously wants to strongarm the OEMs into creating simulacrums of Apple's product design philosophy. It works for Apple because there's really only one person at the top: Steve Jobs. Never mond the fact that Apple hardware and software visually mesh, with the design itself being clean and elegant, if not minimalist.
Or maybe, just maybe, they want to see themed computers, because they do actually look better. Plus if the style is unified, it's less work for the user to figure out how to turn on the machine.
I see absolutely nothing wrong with suggesting that OEMs try to build cases using certain styles.
So, where are you buying a license to Mac OS X for x86? As it currently the stands, the only way to get it is bundled with a computer, and that's a single-computer license.
Believe it or not, not everyone runs MacOSX on their Macintels.
have an issue with Zoo Tycoon right now, not recognizing the CD.
You might want to report that on Wine HQ's AppDB. Sometimes someone does go out of their way to test issues and may post a workaround, or even contribute a patch that would solve your problem.
Anyway, Ubuntu trolling aside, I think the reason there's no real wireless support is because they won't put in programs like NdisWrapper, which is often the fastest and easiest way to get wireless running on Linux. And why don't they include NdisWrapper? Their free software guidelines don't allow it; it doesn't matter how convenient it may be for the end-user, if it's patented, involves binary blobs, or anything else that would restrict its freedom, it can't go in. That's the same reason you can't get MP3, DVD, or Flash support out of the box; first is patented, second requires "illegal" decryption software, and third is proprietary software.
Ubuntu comes with the necessary ndiswrapper module pre-installed, but it needs the ndiswrapper-utils package to get it working. There is also a graphical interface to using ndiswrapper which you can use.
Note: for Ubuntu 6.06, ndiswrapper-utils is included on the standard installation CD. You can install the package from the CD and skip to section 2.2...
Can you back up that there are millions of Windows users and a couple of "hunderts" of OS X users that have that problem? I don't use Windows much, but OS X seems to get the right resolution for everything. And if it doesn't, you can easily change it in system preferences. With Linux, I have to:
*snip*
On Kubuntu, I do these extremely intensive steps:
[K button]-> [System settings] -> [Display]
Now I can view my current settings, and if I want to modify anything, I hit the [Administrator mode] button, that gives me a admin password prompt, which in turn would give me access to make any modifications I wanted.
Your logic entices me, sir. The GNU Image Manipulation Program is a game now? I find this very interesting and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
But the Mac is more primitive than most Linux distros.
You can't even do simple copy-replace functions in the finder. Never-mind the complete lack of customization in a GUI (editing configuration files and rebooting the system to see GUI changes verses a GUI configuration panel under KDE?) or lack of ability to-do some things that aren't really 'advanced' easily (typing a secret command 'defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles YES' into the console, then killing finder and restarting finder verses going to 'view' -> 'show hidden files' from the drop down menu in Konqueror)...
people have a perception of quality when it comes to Apple produc ts.
I've seen better portable ovens, which are far cheaper actually... They also don't make annoying whining noises either.
They will pay more for it because they understand that it works better, and their IPOD was so dam cool.
Yeah, I really find it cool, I love how you're forced to use their music organisation software to copy music over to it, rather than just copying directly from a folder.
but many people will go Mac.
There needs to wide-spread knowledge of what a Mac is first. Where I live, the people that do know Windows, may have heard about Linux, but most have never heard about Apple before, ever.
Sure its trying to copy Itunes
You should try Amarok, it's a lot better in my opinion.
Microsoft does not make software will everyone in mind. They dont care what people need from their software...
At least you can change most things (from a technical perspective) you don't like in Windows, and you don't need to reboot for codecs or restart for different UI settings.
they design it, how they feel you should use it. Maybe thats why it takes them so long to code an os. They dont listen to the people yelling at the door... they ignore them and make whatever they want, and whatever the MPAA/RIAA want them to do.:)
Actually, I'd say that is what Apple is doing, not Microsoft. Microsoft give you the flexibility to customize Windows, have you ever tried changing defaults of Macs? It's damn hard sometimes, from editing hidden, secret configuration files to recompiling binaries (just to turn off some annoying UI stuff I hate). Then there is that really closed DRM they make, which really appeases the RIAA and MPAA, the costs of the songs they sell on ITMS brings them more profit than if you bought a CD.
The fact that vista is 32bit is the last straw. Microsoft cant progress us into the future because they're a lame duck. They're holding back 64bit because the average user can get away with 32bit and 4gigs ram max, and a cripple ware os.
Not many people need more than 4GB RAM... Which is generally the major reason why one would usually want to use 64bit.
Slashdot Mirror
You're not forced to install Firefox with Real either, it's optional.
Theres always links!
- Groupwise
- Mono
- EDirectory
- Identity manager
- Real basic (commercial)
I'm sure they braught other stuff, but this is just off the top of my head.Another thing, why would you have a PC/Mac in your sittingroom?
Well, I suppose one is to play games (You'd probably run Windows or Linux (I play a lot of Windows games using vanilla wine) for this, you may as well go with a standard PC, since all the hardware would be supported by Windows (I do believe certain pieces of hardware on Macintels lack Windows drivers and Linux support).
Another is to play movies, the only disadvantage with using MacOSX though is that you can't get the legal ones from say Sky's movie/series download service as it's windows only (I wonder if it works under Wine).
And 'generic' PCs still sold well.
News flash, PCs have had better cases for years (it's been many years since I've seen a beige/bland looking PC in the stores). I even prefer the ones pre-built computers come in, which are in the stores these days.
You should visit non-Apple stores more often.
Apple does not provide glowly cases, nor Roomy basic cases(hey, I have servers -- sue me), nor can I get cheap cases (which I might add, some do not look too bad). I can even get Apple's look.
Fact is, if you've got a PC, you've got a choice. If you get a system that comes in a case you don't like, you can change it. Apple is not about customisability, it's not about being different, it's about everything looking like the same bland style.
I never liked the look of things produced by Sony Vaio's engineers (many of which work for Apple now), nor did I ever find the Mac that 'sexy' to be honest.
I believe they're suggesting certain styles, such as with the power button, because on some cases, it's not immidiately obvious where the power button is.
I find that disrespectful to all the good teachers out there.
I see absolutely nothing wrong with suggesting that OEMs try to build cases using certain styles.
On Kubuntu, I do these extremely intensive steps:
[K button]-> [System settings] -> [Display]
Now I can view my current settings, and if I want to modify anything, I hit the [Administrator mode] button, that gives me a admin password prompt, which in turn would give me access to make any modifications I wanted.
The funny thing is... Cedega doesn't run half of the games I run under normal Wine.
You can't even do simple copy-replace functions in the finder. Never-mind the complete lack of customization in a GUI (editing configuration files and rebooting the system to see GUI changes verses a GUI configuration panel under KDE?) or lack of ability to-do some things that aren't really 'advanced' easily (typing a secret command 'defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles YES' into the console, then killing finder and restarting finder verses going to 'view' -> 'show hidden files' from the drop down menu in Konqueror)...
I've seen better portable ovens, which are far cheaper actually... They also don't make annoying whining noises either.
Yeah, I really find it cool, I love how you're forced to use their music organisation software to copy music over to it, rather than just copying directly from a folder.
There needs to wide-spread knowledge of what a Mac is first. Where I live, the people that do know Windows, may have heard about Linux, but most have never heard about Apple before, ever.
You should try Amarok, it's a lot better in my opinion.
At least you can change most things (from a technical perspective) you don't like in Windows, and you don't need to reboot for codecs or restart for different UI settings.Actually, I'd say that is what Apple is doing, not Microsoft. Microsoft give you the flexibility to customize Windows, have you ever tried changing defaults of Macs? It's damn hard sometimes, from editing hidden, secret configuration files to recompiling binaries (just to turn off some annoying UI stuff I hate). Then there is that really closed DRM they make, which really appeases the RIAA and MPAA, the costs of the songs they sell on ITMS brings them more profit than if you bought a CD.
Not many people need more than 4GB RAM... Which is generally the major reason why one would usually want to use 64bit.