I work in a government office, and thanks to new regulations everyone needs to get a passport to head south to the US (I'm in Canada) There were lines of folks for hours. I saw at least 4 PSP's, 1 DS. I'd say if I see someone out and about sitting with a handheld, it's about 60% PSP, 40% DS. I wonder if Canadians have a higher uptake of PSP?
FWIW, I have a PSP and a DS, right now I get way more use out of the PSP (Vice City, LocoRoco, etc) but I think both systems are pretty good. They should look at doing something to reduce the cost of it however to keep up with the big N (hmm sounds just like PS3 vs Wii)
Regardless of what side you feel is right, you'd have to be blind to not realize that there are groups out there on BOTH sides that will do what they can, moral or not, to find proof saying they're right and the others are wrong. I have no doubt that big business gets scientists to say (via grants or whatever) what they want, just like I have no doubt that there are special interest groups that do the exact same or try to (a bit harder I'll admit if you don't have the billions the oil industry has)
Hence why your always best to investigate BOTH sides, then come up with the truth, which is usually in the middle. Never take anything at faace value.
Why should you have to go through all that? Why do we have to jump through hoops just to have music on our computer? Sure CD's are cheap, but I don't want to have to burn a CD if I buy a track, just to rerip it. I also agree with the 192kbps point... why not increase the quality of the music for those that want it?
The benefit is if you do buy an HDTV in the future, you'll have a movie that will make it (somewhat) worth buying. as apposed to buying it then.. why buy it on DVD when you can buy it (and watch it currently) on BluRay/HD-DVD, and be somewhat more future proof (or so goes the saying, if Blu Ray or HD-DVD dies then you can at least still watch them on your player, until it dies too)
Ultima - Died thanks to EA who could'nt do anything right with it Wing Commander - Died again thanks to EA, not sure why they had to let it Command & Conquer (however a TRUE new C&C is coming down the pipes) Mechwarrior - so deserving of a new one Descent - Loved the first, and apparently Freespace was pretty good Duke Nukem - what more can be said? x Quest Series - Good job Sierra 2D Sidescrollers - I hope Nintendo sees the success of New SMB and makes more 2D based Mario games.
As someone that would love a PS3 but can't even justify a Wii right now, I completely agree, right now it would appear Sony will be #3. However to those saying Sony is going to die, I just want to know... why did Nintendo not die last round when they were "arguably" #3, when Sony will "arguably" be #3 this round? Each generation is a battle, not the complete war. To say Sony is dead now is pretty damn early. Everyone was proclaiming the death of Nintendo last couple of years, and they apparently are still alive. Sony's in a dip, but they're not dead yet (as much as you may want them to be so Microsoft can take their spot).
And no, answers like "good will" from Nintendo, "Sony's a Rootkit" are not answers that mean much for 90% of the world. Nintendo wasn't always the poster child for good business relations either ya know...
Canadian here... I probably could but without a car getting shipments are a pain (UPS for example is on the far end of the city... already used up my mooching rights with car capable friends for Christmas presents:P)
futureshop is sold out online currently. I think Canada got barely any, considering I see nothign of what you Americans are talking about:(.
Futureshop, Bestbuy, EBGames where I live are all sold out. I know, I keep asking. I can't get my hands on one, as much as I want to. Sadly I don't think I will probably even be able to get a Wii (or another game for PS2) for several months now, so all works out I guess...
Our old Cabletron hubs (the name escapes me now it was awhile ago... man I'm getting old) had the enviromental module with a nice LCD display that showed, amongst other things, temperature of the unit. The thing was quite large, larger then a Cisco 6509 we have now.
One of the times our AC died, the commisionaires that were looking at it said our temperature monitoring unit was obviously wrong since it showed the wrong temperature. I went to look at our thermastat and it was fine... then he pointed out what our "temperature monitoring unit" was.... our central cabletron hub that managed the network for like 500 users. Had a bit of trouble explaining that it's primary purpose was not just to show the damn temperature!
Probably a you had to be there, but got a few good chuckles over it.
A month after installing an almost $1 million dollar server / SAN setup in our eastern office they discovered that it was directly underneath a water pipe.. of course they only discovered that when it burst, destroying all of the still new equipment overnight.
Our office sent them an umbrella as a gift as our "splash guard":P Reading your story reminded me of that.. ahh good times!
Personally for those of us that like the idea of an all in one device, I think the PSP is great. I just picked one up about a month ago, and I wish I got it sooner. Yeah I like my DS... has some good games. But I'm not going to take my DS to work, on the train, etc etc.. I'll take my PSP, where I can watch movies (well not at work!) and listen to music as well. Yeah I know a lot of people like dedicated devices, a game unit, an MP3 Player, etc etc... but I like limiting what I carry around with me. And the PSP feels much more solid and well less kiddiesh then the DS.
Both have their place, but right now I'm really enjoying my PSP more then the DS... in fact my game library for DS is now about half what my PSP library is, and I've had a DS since almost day 1.
"You can install a base system with just X and the standard X11 binaries, and edit up a nice 'Tab Window Manager' menu for them, and add shortcuts to.twmrc for all the icons they will use."
Hmmm that's not a bad idea... I've always thought it good to get away from the "bar" interface (be it a start button, dock, whatever) Having tabs thta say something like "Browse Web" "Read Email" "Write Letter" "Play Games" would be good in situations where "simple is best"
Missing the point here... going with what your saying, there's no need for government computers to be wiped, because all data is free and wild? Wow really, well I hope you complain the next time there's a news report about this saying to leave the poor government alone. No. Just no. How do you deal with email retention policies? Privacy laws that may dictate you keep all records of email, "deleted" or otherwise, for xyz years? If you care about your data, and it's your job to care about data, you don't give it to a 3rd party "personal email storage" company. You take care of it yourself and have backups that you can get at whenever you need, not rely on someone you don't have an SLA with.
Someone screws up the email server at Google not much you can do... someone screws up your corporate email server you can deal with it and fix it.
BZZT wrong. Sure if your some small company then ya maybe not a big deal. However as a Government or major Enterprise level organization, storing our email, which may contain personal information on the citizens of the country / shareholder information, on a server that we have no direct control over, is beyond stupid, from both privacy and a "that would make the front page of a newspaper in a bad way"
Oh look Google got sued for xyz and as such are forced to shut down their email servers until it's straightened out... good thing we use them for all our email! Not likely to happen any time soon but doesn't mean it can't.
I have been "out of the loop" on this, but I remember at one point there was also talk about how Windows Mobile 5 devices (or higher) would actually require SIGNED certificated code to be run... meaning an additional cost from some company like Verisign or somesuch. It was at about that point that I said screw it and stopped caring about developing for the windows mobile platform. Hopefully it has changed since then.
That isn't funny, I seriously doubt we'll have XP rolled out on all 2600 desktops here before Spring. I know of several companies that are just starting now. It's not uncommon to wait for everyone else to find it's faults, and at least a Service Pack or two.
Actually I believe you have misunderstood me. I'm not saying the rules of a GM do over ride with REAL laws, but I do see a conflict, one that the MMO producers will lose. Yes, the MMO makers will have to modify their rules to allow personal ownership of virtual property, which in of itself opens floodgates of issues (data backup retention, passing on of ownership, ingame theft, loss of item due to wear and tear isn't considered "fair", etc etc). The Government is saying it is ok to trade goods for money if they were to pass a law like this, which would in fact create legal gold / credit / gil farmers stateside.
In my personal view, essentially the MMO world will have to either - remove any ability to trade goods between players / somehow lock an account to an individual so that their virtual economy can never be of value in the real world. - Close up shop as the legal issues would cripple them (what next, anti-grief laws?) - just "deal" with it, and watch subscribers plumet (if I'm paying $15 a month to play, AND being taxed... I just won't flippin play)
Like some others said, we players could then post business expenses by playing these games, maybe cause the government to spend more money on this silliness then what they take in (ya right, wishful thinking)
My question now, is where THE HELL IS THE GAME?? We've now taken a "game" and made it very "un game" like. WAY TO GO government!
I seriously wonder if in 30 years it will be illegal to have a game where you can deathmatch against friends or risk going to jail.
Little 8 year old Johnny, who plays a game, who's virtual assets are in fact owned by the company that runs the MMO, has to pay tax, on stuff he doesn't own? With no physical attributes?
Last I remember, most MMO's it's against the ToS to trade for real money, so doesn't this law go against the ToS?
Fine tax me, and watch the mmo market burn. I ain't payin tax on stuff I don't own.
To a point yes... but honestly by default you don't need all these... and Microsoft is all about dumbing down the options to make it easier on the user right? No "what parts of windows do you want installed" type questions anymore, it just installs what it feels you want. So off the top of my head I'd say have Sleep, Lock, and Shutdown. Corporate enviro that needs reboot? (I know we do) have a GPO to re-enable it. Or an option under Control panel or w/e. Like tfa said, at the very least do you need both a Lock and Switch User? If you lock the computer, why not have your switch user option on that screen?
As much as I agree with you... this is slashdot. Where an eextra e in a news summary means that 3/4 of the comments will be talking about the frackin e, and no mention as to what the actual article is about. I could care less if you did, in fact, call it a Tracy, but around these parts, you better just nod your head and go with the flow.
This post has been intentionally mis-spelled for your amusment.
Yes... just like all those that bought the XBox to "stick it to Microsoft" really hurt them. Sony would love to sell each and every one of these, don't fool yourself. Sony will make a unit regardless of if you buy it at least initially. If it sells they loose $300. If not, they loose what.. $1000? (no sale of unit, plus loss)
I hope by wanting Blu Ray (however it's spelt) to fail, your also not supporting HD-DVD right? Blu Ray failing hurts more then Sony, they're just one of the partners in that.
Slashdot Mirror
I work in a government office, and thanks to new regulations everyone needs to get a passport to head south to the US (I'm in Canada) There were lines of folks for hours. I saw at least 4 PSP's, 1 DS. I'd say if I see someone out and about sitting with a handheld, it's about 60% PSP, 40% DS. I wonder if Canadians have a higher uptake of PSP?
FWIW, I have a PSP and a DS, right now I get way more use out of the PSP (Vice City, LocoRoco, etc) but I think both systems are pretty good. They should look at doing something to reduce the cost of it however to keep up with the big N (hmm sounds just like PS3 vs Wii)
Both?
Regardless of what side you feel is right, you'd have to be blind to not realize that there are groups out there on BOTH sides that will do what they can, moral or not, to find proof saying they're right and the others are wrong. I have no doubt that big business gets scientists to say (via grants or whatever) what they want, just like I have no doubt that there are special interest groups that do the exact same or try to (a bit harder I'll admit if you don't have the billions the oil industry has)
Hence why your always best to investigate BOTH sides, then come up with the truth, which is usually in the middle. Never take anything at faace value.
Or maybe that's just me...
I'd say offer it for maybe 5 cents extra, call it the enhanced edition. Not everyone cares about it so offer both.
Why should you have to go through all that? Why do we have to jump through hoops just to have music on our computer? Sure CD's are cheap, but I don't want to have to burn a CD if I buy a track, just to rerip it. I also agree with the 192kbps point... why not increase the quality of the music for those that want it?
The benefit is if you do buy an HDTV in the future, you'll have a movie that will make it (somewhat) worth buying. as apposed to buying it then.. why buy it on DVD when you can buy it (and watch it currently) on BluRay/HD-DVD, and be somewhat more future proof (or so goes the saying, if Blu Ray or HD-DVD dies then you can at least still watch them on your player, until it dies too)
Ultima - Died thanks to EA who could'nt do anything right with it
Wing Commander - Died again thanks to EA, not sure why they had to let it
Command & Conquer (however a TRUE new C&C is coming down the pipes)
Mechwarrior - so deserving of a new one
Descent - Loved the first, and apparently Freespace was pretty good
Duke Nukem - what more can be said?
x Quest Series - Good job Sierra
2D Sidescrollers - I hope Nintendo sees the success of New SMB and makes more 2D based Mario games.
Well I got Karam to burn...
As someone that would love a PS3 but can't even justify a Wii right now, I completely agree, right now it would appear Sony will be #3. However to those saying Sony is going to die, I just want to know... why did Nintendo not die last round when they were "arguably" #3, when Sony will "arguably" be #3 this round? Each generation is a battle, not the complete war. To say Sony is dead now is pretty damn early. Everyone was proclaiming the death of Nintendo last couple of years, and they apparently are still alive. Sony's in a dip, but they're not dead yet (as much as you may want them to be so Microsoft can take their spot).
And no, answers like "good will" from Nintendo, "Sony's a Rootkit" are not answers that mean much for 90% of the world. Nintendo wasn't always the poster child for good business relations either ya know...
Canadian here... I probably could but without a car getting shipments are a pain (UPS for example is on the far end of the city... already used up my mooching rights with car capable friends for Christmas presents :P)
:(.
futureshop is sold out online currently. I think Canada got barely any, considering I see nothign of what you Americans are talking about
Futureshop, Bestbuy, EBGames where I live are all sold out. I know, I keep asking. I can't get my hands on one, as much as I want to. Sadly I don't think I will probably even be able to get a Wii (or another game for PS2) for several months now, so all works out I guess...
Our old Cabletron hubs (the name escapes me now it was awhile ago... man I'm getting old) had the enviromental module with a nice LCD display that showed, amongst other things, temperature of the unit. The thing was quite large, larger then a Cisco 6509 we have now.
One of the times our AC died, the commisionaires that were looking at it said our temperature monitoring unit was obviously wrong since it showed the wrong temperature. I went to look at our thermastat and it was fine... then he pointed out what our "temperature monitoring unit" was.... our central cabletron hub that managed the network for like 500 users. Had a bit of trouble explaining that it's primary purpose was not just to show the damn temperature!
Probably a you had to be there, but got a few good chuckles over it.
A month after installing an almost $1 million dollar server / SAN setup in our eastern office they discovered that it was directly underneath a water pipe.. of course they only discovered that when it burst, destroying all of the still new equipment overnight.
:P Reading your story reminded me of that.. ahh good times!
Our office sent them an umbrella as a gift as our "splash guard"
Personally for those of us that like the idea of an all in one device, I think the PSP is great. I just picked one up about a month ago, and I wish I got it sooner. Yeah I like my DS... has some good games. But I'm not going to take my DS to work, on the train, etc etc.. I'll take my PSP, where I can watch movies (well not at work!) and listen to music as well. Yeah I know a lot of people like dedicated devices, a game unit, an MP3 Player, etc etc... but I like limiting what I carry around with me. And the PSP feels much more solid and well less kiddiesh then the DS.
Both have their place, but right now I'm really enjoying my PSP more then the DS... in fact my game library for DS is now about half what my PSP library is, and I've had a DS since almost day 1.
"You can install a base system with just X and the standard X11 binaries, and edit up a nice 'Tab Window Manager' menu for them, and add shortcuts to .twmrc for all the icons they will use."
Hmmm that's not a bad idea... I've always thought it good to get away from the "bar" interface (be it a start button, dock, whatever) Having tabs thta say something like "Browse Web" "Read Email" "Write Letter" "Play Games" would be good in situations where "simple is best"
"Sure if your some small company then ya maybe not a big deal. However as a Government or major Enterprise level organization, "
I hardly call that totally against.
Missing the point here... going with what your saying, there's no need for government computers to be wiped, because all data is free and wild? Wow really, well I hope you complain the next time there's a news report about this saying to leave the poor government alone. No. Just no. How do you deal with email retention policies? Privacy laws that may dictate you keep all records of email, "deleted" or otherwise, for xyz years? If you care about your data, and it's your job to care about data, you don't give it to a 3rd party "personal email storage" company. You take care of it yourself and have backups that you can get at whenever you need, not rely on someone you don't have an SLA with.
Someone screws up the email server at Google not much you can do... someone screws up your corporate email server you can deal with it and fix it.
BZZT wrong. Sure if your some small company then ya maybe not a big deal. However as a Government or major Enterprise level organization, storing our email, which may contain personal information on the citizens of the country / shareholder information, on a server that we have no direct control over, is beyond stupid, from both privacy and a "that would make the front page of a newspaper in a bad way"
Oh look Google got sued for xyz and as such are forced to shut down their email servers until it's straightened out... good thing we use them for all our email! Not likely to happen any time soon but doesn't mean it can't.
I have been "out of the loop" on this, but I remember at one point there was also talk about how Windows Mobile 5 devices (or higher) would actually require SIGNED certificated code to be run... meaning an additional cost from some company like Verisign or somesuch. It was at about that point that I said screw it and stopped caring about developing for the windows mobile platform. Hopefully it has changed since then.
That isn't funny, I seriously doubt we'll have XP rolled out on all 2600 desktops here before Spring. I know of several companies that are just starting now. It's not uncommon to wait for everyone else to find it's faults, and at least a Service Pack or two.
Actually I believe you have misunderstood me. I'm not saying the rules of a GM do over ride with REAL laws, but I do see a conflict, one that the MMO producers will lose. Yes, the MMO makers will have to modify their rules to allow personal ownership of virtual property, which in of itself opens floodgates of issues (data backup retention, passing on of ownership, ingame theft, loss of item due to wear and tear isn't considered "fair", etc etc). The Government is saying it is ok to trade goods for money if they were to pass a law like this, which would in fact create legal gold / credit / gil farmers stateside.
In my personal view, essentially the MMO world will have to either
- remove any ability to trade goods between players / somehow lock an account to an individual so that their virtual economy can never be of value in the real world.
- Close up shop as the legal issues would cripple them (what next, anti-grief laws?)
- just "deal" with it, and watch subscribers plumet (if I'm paying $15 a month to play, AND being taxed... I just won't flippin play)
Like some others said, we players could then post business expenses by playing these games, maybe cause the government to spend more money on this silliness then what they take in (ya right, wishful thinking)
My question now, is where THE HELL IS THE GAME?? We've now taken a "game" and made it very "un game" like. WAY TO GO government!
I seriously wonder if in 30 years it will be illegal to have a game where you can deathmatch against friends or risk going to jail.
Little 8 year old Johnny, who plays a game, who's virtual assets are in fact owned by the company that runs the MMO, has to pay tax, on stuff he doesn't own? With no physical attributes?
Last I remember, most MMO's it's against the ToS to trade for real money, so doesn't this law go against the ToS?
Fine tax me, and watch the mmo market burn. I ain't payin tax on stuff I don't own.
To a point yes... but honestly by default you don't need all these... and Microsoft is all about dumbing down the options to make it easier on the user right? No "what parts of windows do you want installed" type questions anymore, it just installs what it feels you want. So off the top of my head I'd say have Sleep, Lock, and Shutdown. Corporate enviro that needs reboot? (I know we do) have a GPO to re-enable it. Or an option under Control panel or w/e. Like tfa said, at the very least do you need both a Lock and Switch User? If you lock the computer, why not have your switch user option on that screen?
As much as I agree with you... this is slashdot. Where an eextra e in a news summary means that 3/4 of the comments will be talking about the frackin e, and no mention as to what the actual article is about. I could care less if you did, in fact, call it a Tracy, but around these parts, you better just nod your head and go with the flow.
This post has been intentionally mis-spelled for your amusment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc_Associat ion
Really? Just Sony? Ya your right, I never heard of those other pipsqueek companies before either..
Yes... just like all those that bought the XBox to "stick it to Microsoft" really hurt them. Sony would love to sell each and every one of these, don't fool yourself. Sony will make a unit regardless of if you buy it at least initially. If it sells they loose $300. If not, they loose what.. $1000? (no sale of unit, plus loss)
I hope by wanting Blu Ray (however it's spelt) to fail, your also not supporting HD-DVD right? Blu Ray failing hurts more then Sony, they're just one of the partners in that.
Sweet to hear some official word, thanks Blizzard :D