The title the post is in accurate. They are avoiding the "consumer" desktop not desktops altogether. Per the article they are still committed to developing desktops for the corporate market. This is a logical move as corporate environments tends to be a much more controlled (more current hardware and managed upgrade schedules anyone) and profitable to support than the wild west of consumer desktops and clueless users . . .
Hopefully the moderators will correct this very missleading title.
If p2p providers can be found guilty for inducing "children" what about Movie and Music producers who promote questionable messages with certain types of filmsor music.
If a neutral type of technology can be outlawed because it may be used for bad purposes, how can this type of inducing media be protected under free speech? I guess it's okay if Smith and Wesson makes the guns so long as they don't hire Bob Marley or license his song?
So would a film that portrays a fictional p2p service in a positive light also be illegal? What if it portrayed in a negative light? (probably ok) What if someone *gasp* downloaded the film via p2p? (definitely not ok--unless it's Farenheit 9/11;)
. . . the not so faint scent of hypocrisy wafts up from below . . .
The way I see it, the future probably will lie in Massive-multiplayer.
There are two key issues here: variety/compelling nature of online games and the socio-economic elements.
The advantage and future of Massive-multiplayer games lies in the fact that they have a longer life than your average stand alone game. For one, the story never ends (i.e. the company overseeing the game can continually extend the goals and story with patches and updates, ala FFXI). In addition MMORPGs introduce a human element where you can actually meet individuals who can have a conversation with you as opposed to the ritualistic "talk to this character multiple times until I determine that I have exhausted his/her script)". This makes for interesting game play time and time again.
On the other hand David Wong is right that the market size for such games will always be small. Why? Because they require a commitment on the part of those who play. I have a number of friends who play these games but I never have because I would have to commit to be on regularly, otherwise they get too far ahead/too advanced and it's not very fun to play.
Secondly, because they are designed for long-term continuous play you have to play them, and play them and play them. On one hand this is good for the game companies as they have a dedicated group of gamers, however, for time-strapped professionals it's not easy to consistently ensure you get the required amount of time in every week.
Thirdly, and just as importantly, these games tend to be subscription based which frankly is just not as palatable as a one shot purchase--this also has a limiting effect on teens, college students and other cash concious groups without a generous bankroll. Consider the success of consoles, one of the key factors in purchasing one of these is the fact that you had a friend whose parents would bankroll 50 games a year and you could borrow the ones your friend wasn't using. You can't do that here.
Lastly, the social elements that make MMORPGs and other multiplayer games while sufficient to sustain the interest of the more socially inept, are no substitution real human social interaction. There is something fundamentally unhealthy about people who end up getting married as an outgrowth of their EverQuest characters' virtual fling.
This is news? I downloaded those exact drivers from the ATI site 2 months ago (exact same driver version for XFree 4.3). No telling how long they were there before I got them. In fairness to ATI at least get the release date information correct before implying that they have been taking forever to respond. The poster should say, I just discovered that these drivers were released, not say they were released today. They weren't. Not news, no definitely not.
I don't know where you do your shopping, but I bought a pack of 8 Rayovac Ni-MH AA at the local Target for $18--not on sale. That makes them about $4.40 a pair, not too much more than Akalines. These are 1800 mAh, which, while not quite as long lasting as akalines, works plenty long more most uses and doesn't leave me perpetually running to the recharger, like when I used use NiCd.
Instead of rehashing what's already been written in so many comments I thought I'd write a drama. ACT 1: Somewhere. Judge Jackson - You are not innovative. Bill Gates - You are the government you don't understand innovation Steve Ballmer - You tell him Bill. Judge Jackson - Whether I do or not is immaterial, this is a loaded gun. Bill Gates - We will continue to innovate. Judge Jackson - As a Judge I have the right to shoot you. Bill Gates - We will continue to innovate. (Raises the weapon) Judge Jackson - This will kill you. Bill Gates - No matter, we will triumph we are creative. Steve Ballmer - So innovative it doesn't matter what you do. Judge Jackson - I'll show you innovation. Bill Gates - We innovate, we do things that no one else has ever done to the software industry. Judge Jackson - I currently also have the ability to spur similar innovation. Bill Gates - What you do matters little, we will continue to innovate. Ed Muth - we are creative. Steve Ballmer - Even if you order us not to innovate we will innovate. Bill Gates - We cannot stifle our creative genius. Ed Muth - Oh Yeah. Steve Ballmer - Oh Baby. Ed Muth - Alright. Judge Jackson - You have never been innovative or creative. Bill Gates - We will continue to innovate Judge Jackson - Innovate this . . . Ed Muth - Oh boy Stevie, I guess the gun was loaded. Steve Ballmer - Gee, I never imagined a result like this. Ed Muth - Me neither. Steve Ballmer - What do we do now? Ed Muth - I don't know. Steve Ballmer - uhhhh.....? Judge Jackson - Dance! (Commences Firing) ! ! ! ! ! (Watching Eddie and Stevie under Fire) Judge Jackson - Now that's what I call innovation. THE END
Slashdot Mirror
The title the post is in accurate. They are avoiding the "consumer" desktop not desktops altogether. Per the article they are still committed to developing desktops for the corporate market. This is a logical move as corporate environments tends to be a much more controlled (more current hardware and managed upgrade schedules anyone) and profitable to support than the wild west of consumer desktops and clueless users . . .
Hopefully the moderators will correct this very missleading title.
So would a film that portrays a fictional p2p service in a positive light also be illegal? What if it portrayed in a negative light? (probably ok) What if someone *gasp* downloaded the film via p2p? (definitely not ok--unless it's Farenheit 9/11 ;)
. . . the not so faint scent of hypocrisy wafts up from below . . .
The way I see it, the future probably will lie in Massive-multiplayer.
There are two key issues here: variety/compelling nature of online games and the socio-economic elements.
The advantage and future of Massive-multiplayer games lies in the fact that they have a longer life than your average stand alone game. For one, the story never ends (i.e. the company overseeing the game can continually extend the goals and story with patches and updates, ala FFXI). In addition MMORPGs introduce a human element where you can actually meet individuals who can have a conversation with you as opposed to the ritualistic "talk to this character multiple times until I determine that I have exhausted his/her script)". This makes for interesting game play time and time again.
On the other hand David Wong is right that the market size for such games will always be small. Why? Because they require a commitment on the part of those who play. I have a number of friends who play these games but I never have because I would have to commit to be on regularly, otherwise they get too far ahead/too advanced and it's not very fun to play.
Secondly, because they are designed for long-term continuous play you have to play them, and play them and play them. On one hand this is good for the game companies as they have a dedicated group of gamers, however, for time-strapped professionals it's not easy to consistently ensure you get the required amount of time in every week.
Thirdly, and just as importantly, these games tend to be subscription based which frankly is just not as palatable as a one shot purchase--this also has a limiting effect on teens, college students and other cash concious groups without a generous bankroll. Consider the success of consoles, one of the key factors in purchasing one of these is the fact that you had a friend whose parents would bankroll 50 games a year and you could borrow the ones your friend wasn't using. You can't do that here.
Lastly, the social elements that make MMORPGs and other multiplayer games while sufficient to sustain the interest of the more socially inept, are no substitution real human social interaction. There is something fundamentally unhealthy about people who end up getting married as an outgrowth of their EverQuest characters' virtual fling.
This is news? I downloaded those exact drivers from the ATI site 2 months ago (exact same driver version for XFree 4.3). No telling how long they were there before I got them. In fairness to ATI at least get the release date information correct before implying that they have been taking forever to respond. The poster should say, I just discovered that these drivers were released, not say they were released today. They weren't. Not news, no definitely not.
No, that's already patented? I can hear the lawyers howling already!
I don't know where you do your shopping, but I bought a pack of 8 Rayovac Ni-MH AA at the local Target for $18--not on sale. That makes them about $4.40 a pair, not too much more than Akalines. These are 1800 mAh, which, while not quite as long lasting as akalines, works plenty long more most uses and doesn't leave me perpetually running to the recharger, like when I used use NiCd.
Instead of rehashing what's already been written in so many comments I thought I'd write a drama. ACT 1: Somewhere. Judge Jackson - You are not innovative. Bill Gates - You are the government you don't understand innovation Steve Ballmer - You tell him Bill. Judge Jackson - Whether I do or not is immaterial, this is a loaded gun. Bill Gates - We will continue to innovate. Judge Jackson - As a Judge I have the right to shoot you. Bill Gates - We will continue to innovate. (Raises the weapon) Judge Jackson - This will kill you. Bill Gates - No matter, we will triumph we are creative. Steve Ballmer - So innovative it doesn't matter what you do. Judge Jackson - I'll show you innovation. Bill Gates - We innovate, we do things that no one else has ever done to the software industry. Judge Jackson - I currently also have the ability to spur similar innovation. Bill Gates - What you do matters little, we will continue to innovate. Ed Muth - we are creative. Steve Ballmer - Even if you order us not to innovate we will innovate. Bill Gates - We cannot stifle our creative genius. Ed Muth - Oh Yeah. Steve Ballmer - Oh Baby. Ed Muth - Alright. Judge Jackson - You have never been innovative or creative. Bill Gates - We will continue to innovate Judge Jackson - Innovate this . . . Ed Muth - Oh boy Stevie, I guess the gun was loaded. Steve Ballmer - Gee, I never imagined a result like this. Ed Muth - Me neither. Steve Ballmer - What do we do now? Ed Muth - I don't know. Steve Ballmer - uhhhh.....? Judge Jackson - Dance! (Commences Firing) ! ! ! ! ! (Watching Eddie and Stevie under Fire) Judge Jackson - Now that's what I call innovation. THE END