... writing out code while crying. Most of the sods I had to talk to today, other departments and what not, tell me 'kurt vonnegut who?' The fist of death may make an unscheduled arrival today. Arg.
Actually, I have no idea if there is one or not. Last night, as I was toasting the memory of Ford with his favorite drink, Jaggerbombs, I tried to rally the bar to go down and hold a vigil. Sadly, this didn't happen.
If we are going to play the stereotype game, let me inject a thought here. When I meet someone who says "I play WoW" I immediatly lump them in the pile of "junkies, addicts, and freaks". Really, 40% of all WoW players are addicts, and addicts are inherently untrusty folks because their addiction over powers their reason.
Additionally, WoW reinforces the computer geek stereotype... people leading solitary lives, sheltered from the sun, staring at their monitors. Zero human contact; all lost in a fictional realm.
Side question, have everyone seen the Wizards of the Coast new paper ad campaign? "If you're going to sit around and pretend to be an elf all night long, you might as well do it with friends." Gotta love it.
Don't forget, no matter how bad D&D might get, LARPRs are a thousand times worse. *smirk*
Since asthma killed more people in 2001 than died in 9/11, I would suggest that we should lose as many or fewer of our rights as Americans, than we do in our reaction to asthma.
A lot of people object when I make this argument, but other than ad hominem attacks nobody ever refutes it or explains why it's wrong.
Ok.. first off.. the bottom sentence - why it's wrong: equivocation. I would argue your fixation on the relation to death and rights loss is incorrect. I have never read a legitimate pro rights loss explanation that cites "the us government is doing this because X number of people died, but wouldn't have if X-1 people died". The explanation is always "terrorism prevention" or because of the act itself. If you continue and claim asthma prevention is linked to a sliding scale for rights loss, then I say this is clearly a case of apples to oranges.
Side note, I agree with Tshirthell.com when they put forth the notion "Asthma's sexy". *grin*
I fly all the time, and I live in one of the blue states most likely to be affected by terrorism, but I do not worry about terrorism at all because I am not stupid.
I am confused here. Worry about terrorism period is stupid, or worrying about terrorism to the point of paralysis is stupid? I would advocate the latter, and believe the former is pretty incorrect. I think people SHOULD be worried about terrorism. And virus out breaks. And unsafe products. And crime. And drugs. And gangs. etc. To not worry is just foolish. The world is not a kind place, and ignoring problems do not solve problems. Again, I am not advocating one should be SO worried about terrorism that a person cannot operate a normal everyday life, but to keep it on the mental radar with all the other worries of life isn't that bad of a thing.
In fact it's clearly the people least likely to be affected by terrorism who are clamoring for our rights to be taken away because of it.
Which people? Republicans? I would say that the federal, state, and local employees that actually INTERACT with terrorists are the ones clamoring for rights erosion. Joe Sixpack problem is not. It would seem reasonable that the folks who deal face to face with Ahmed "dynamite strapped to my chest" Jihad would like as much information as possible. At the same time it is Joe Sixpack's responsibility that the feds don't go overboard. Checks and balances - gotta love'em.
I realize that asthma is not as politically exploitable as terrorism, and the American press fixates on it whenever the JonBenet story dies down, but the alarmism of the press is one reason why Americans are incapable of correctly assessing risk.
I would agree with you here. The media has always been alarmist in nature, though something's get blown out of proportion. The connection between sensationalism and the press is fairly well documented. Second, I would say we need to split hairs on the term 'Americans'. I cannot comment on Joe Sixpack's risk assessment abilities, and quiet frankly don't give a damn. Now Joe is substantially different than the federal employees who deal with risks Joe only reads about. I would say their news sources are slightly more complete, timely, and germane than E!, Fox News, or the New York Times.
Recap: death counts and rights loss are not linked on a slider bar. Asthma's sexy. Being concerned about terrorism is not stupid. Being paralyzed by the fear of terrorism is. The news is alarmist. Who cares about Joe Sixpack's threat assessment abilities. Federal employees who deal with Ahmed "I'm a terrorist" Jihad don't get their information from Fox News.
You know what, FINE. Let the tykes have their laptops, PDAs, blackberrys, uber-graphing machines, and so on. That's fine. I have accepted the children of today have access to a vast array of technology I did not back in the day ( minimum seven years ago ). When I was going through public education I was grinding out math problems with wooden pencils, learning the dewy decimal system for research with physical books, and writing essays on paper (sans spell check). Now kids are tied to technology, having more complex class earlier, and coming out of high school with IT certifications (it's happening in a neighboring school district). It took a large quantity of alcohol to get over the hump that these kids will be faster at some things, will climb the work ladder faster than I can, and will probably be my boss one day. That's fine because I have one ace up my sleeve: the almighty power switch. The Borg like dependency on technology might let them have an edge on me, but the moment I flip that switch they are dead in the water.
I have seen this Achilles heel on multiple occasions, but here's one good example. It was my senior year of college (a few years back), and I was assigned a presentation with a snarky little prick still in high school, taking college credits, for a general studies class. He was irritated on my lack of "accessibility", the turn around time it took for emails (he treated them as a variant of IM), and my fondness of doing library research. He expected all of our data to be found on the web, crammed into a power point, and rattled off. I grew tired of his constant bitching, and tasked him with making the power point. Three weeks later he made a stunning power point: animations, colors, and all the bells and whistles. I printed off a copy "just incase", and headed to class. The classroom's PC went down before we started and I smiled when the brick thudded in his pants. He vehemently wanted to switch days, but the teacher told us he would downgrade us for the lack a visual. I smiled and said that wasn't a problem, and started the twenty minute presentation. The kid didn't say much which initially confused me. I asked him after class what the problem was (figuring he was sulking because of the lost presentation). He said he didn't know the material! I laughed, but realized he wasn't kidding. I was shocked to find out the weeks of research I was handing him (and the written paper), which he had to READ to distill the power point, never actually stuck. He went over the material to grind into a power point, but did not comprehend the depth. He smoothly rehearsed the power point slides, but once that crutch was gone he was toast.
Again I say, let them have their technology. Let them paint themselves into a corner. Technology fails and with it the house of cards these kids call an "education". I have versatility on levels they scoff at, and when the lights go out I'll be smiling in the dark next to the switch with my pencil grinning from ear to ear.
It's funny that you mention this. I was chatting over lunch with an associate about how I was berated in by an english teacher once at college for playing RTS. His comment was something about the desensitizing nature of the games - I throw waves upon waves of troops against my opponent completely ignoring the causalities of war.
Of course this being college, I pondered the topic, freaked out a bit, and eventually calmed down. It's a freaking game.
Now addressing your aspect about how games are lacking real world actions - yeah that would be nice at some level but really I play games to escape from reality and not mimic it. I would rather not, as a mayor of my simcity, have to deal with clamidia outbreaks, famine, AIDS, resource scarcity, and so on. I want to build a freaking city alright! Lord knows what sort of environmental impact I had on the terrain when I shaped it to my needs, paved over almost all of it, and so on. Don't care, don't care, don't care.
Side note, during lunch we also discussed the genocidal nature of RPGs. I have cooked a few papers on the topic of my character wiping out whole warrens/maps/games worth of kobolds, goblins, and orcs. Once I left a single kobold alive after visiting his people's three-levels-deep home with my +2 vorpol sword of freedom. He was in the corner and was pretty damaged. I glanced around at the blood soaked walls of his people, and felt a pang of pity. Then I noticed I would roll up a level if I killed him. A second later his head rolled along the floor. Yeppie! I leveled up! So this is what Chris Columbus must have felt.
... and I approve this virus. I was the third district republican congressman from Nebraska. More importantly I was the Husker's football coach. I attempted to run for state governor recently on the coattails of my fame as a coach. I am a 'promise keeper' and I side with Jack Thompson on the overly abundant evidence that videogames lead to kids killing kids. Additionally I believe that pr0n leads to rape, dehumanization, kiddie molestation, and sexual deviance. Clearly as an aging football coach from a generally backwards red state I wrote this virus.
Lord knows I usually violate this criticism as much as the next, but really the 'ch' in tortured? Additionally, I will gripe about the 'ly' addition to physically and mentally, and the apostrophe in 'what is'.
If he gets extradited to the USA I am worried he might be tortured physically and mentally, and what's all this 60 years in prison bullshit? He will be Kevin Mitnik and Mordechai Vanunu all rolled in to one.
Interesting.. My Ipod using associates didn't tell me of this (or they were not informed). Interesting.. I guess that would lead to some interesting options when buying a used IPod off ebay or something..
Actually the ripping of cds to the gigabeat's pretty quick. I throw in a full cd, hit transfer, and in about 3 minutes it's done. Ripping, encoding, and everything. I have everything set up for a bit above average ripping (128 is not enough for me) just to check anything odd sounding. So far all is good.
Thanks for the tip on the Ipods though.. I might have to force a few friends to investigate.
Ok.. let me clarify.. when you transfer the mp3 to the gigabeat, the software encodes it... I guess this is to prevent the user from plugging in the player to some other PC's usb and transferring the music off. Now if you use the software to sync your pc with your player the music on the player is decoded in proper mp3 format on the pc... essentially they are forcing you to use their software... as far as I understand this is the same way an IPOD works.. one has to use Itunes to send music to it and to get it off.. you can't go around willy-nilly plugging the player into any pc and transferring music off.
- Propitary encoding of all files onto the player - so one has to go through gigaroom, Windows Media Player 10, or napster (lord knows we wouldn't want to share anything)
I think you (and Toshiba) lost 99% of potential Slashdot buyers with this one.
Yeah, well it's no better or worse than Itunes/Ipod. At least all the files are still mp3 and not some strange Apple creation. *shrug* Though you can sync up your PC from the gigabeat which copies everything to the PC in non-propitary format ala mp3.
So I'm a digital leper at any local store with my MP3 player - the Toshiba Gigabeat.
List of great features: - 10gig for $170.00 (mine). --- Also comes in 20 and 40 gigs (maybe a 60 too). --- Soon to be released is a Video Gigabeat - a large screen for data, pictures, and all other things. - 16 hour battery life --- internal battery so no need to buy batteries --- charges vis usb connections too - USB2.0 makes transferring files fast. - An independent docking station - no more plugging in wires - Slim - Works with Windows Media 10 for file storage - Operates as an external hard drive if needed - The Gigaroom software takes a whole CD and transfers it to the gigabeat in about 3 minutes --- users can change the quality of the ripping - The button controls on the '+' makes navigating easy - Equalizer settings - about 10 of them with the option for user settings - www.mygigabeat.com - www.gigabeat.com
Detractors: - Toshiba's Gigaroom software that comes with it is kinda difficult to use at first, but it gets better - Propitary encoding of all files onto the player - so one has to go through gigaroom, Windows Media Player 10, or napster (lord knows we wouldn't want to share anything) - All accessories - like a case - required me to go through the web to get it.. but that's more the fault of those evil Ipods *shakes fist in the general direction of Apple * - The earbud head phones that come with it are painful to wear (for me). Sony's $8.00 earbuds work like a charm.
So yeah, I am fairly jazzed about my player, though I hate the fact I can't just wander into WorstBuy or Compusa to find accessories. Actually I think I confused a WorstBuy employee when he couldn't get over the fact that I don't have an IPod. *shrug* It's their issue.
If you are looking for a solid player as an option to the Ipod wagon, serious check this out.
I am curious on what they will offer for undead classes (if that is the route they are going)? I hear W.O.W. allows for different types of 'undead' classes - rouges, fighters, and wizards - so I wonder what type of post apocalypitic undead are available? Clearly the are the 'shambler' type - scout or fighter? Perhaps some sort of 'undead' medic? Maybe a radioactive zombie with aura effects? Clearly I am going to have to consult my zombie survival guide to help find out what might be.
Move over toy dogs (yeah, Doodles, Puggles, and the like I am talking to you), we have a new winner for fashion accessories - the hairy lobster! I am going to start selling tote bags, bejeweled clothing, and of course blinged-out cooking ware! Now when Ms. Paris Hilton's pet dies she can consume it instead of burying it in her backyard's mass grave.
--- Obligatory crack: Joan Rivers: Oh, look who's coming down the red carpet. It's Paris! Oh, oh, she brought her new pet Mr. BoJangles - her bearded clam! Ryan Seacrest: Ahm, Joan... if the internet or E! has taught me anything, it is Paris's clam is NEVER bearded. Always shaved for a good shot. I think that is her furry lobster.
The Packard Bell wasn't quite *mine*, but my mother's. She ran a business and bought the machine for slighly under $5,000. This puppy ran Windows 3.11 and DOS 6.2. The significance was at the time this is the first PC I was required to fix, update, and troubleshoot. Additionally it was the first PC that forced me to learn the ins and outs of an OS (DOS), but that was becaues I wanted to play Wolfenstein and Doom on it. Oh that little beast did wonders for her business and the laser jet printer rarely was at a stand still.
Now the 133 was the first PC I bought with my own money. At the time I was working as an after school care child-watcher for our church's elementary school. Yup... I actually DROVE to the Gateway factor to pick it up and dropped $2,999.96 on it. Wow I thought I was the shit then. 1.9 gigs of HD space, 64 mb of RAM, 8 mb videocard, 14.4 internal modem, and a 19inch monitor! I rearranged our kitchen table to hook everything up, with a crowed of friends around me ohhing and ahhing over the speed and beauty of the machine. I was the first one to continue my campaign of no-macs... everyone else had Macs and was bandwagoning them as the PC killers... becauase all the schools had them.. ptah I said.. Look at me! I can play full fledged games like Dark Forces! I was the king pimp at that point. Then I learned the joys of upgrading hardware with a bit more ram... wooh... then I dumped the machine and proceeded to make my own... ah.. and then the monkey never left my back and my machine has gone through multiple upgrades and updates...
Sadly, I just ended up finding (and throwing out) my WIN 3.11 and DOS disks just recently... oh.. and I am still using my original Altec Lansing speakers and sub from my 133... *sigh* those were the days.
Hypothetically speaking... suppose we do find a previously undiscovered 'sense'... like this electro-thing-a-ma-jiggie... Just imagine the impact on say the legal system! Quite a bit of personal law is based on a sense... good touch versus bad touch, ogling, assault, battery, and so forth... I wonder how the legal system would take such a system shock to update all the laws or revamp them...
Yeah, yeah, yeah.. I know it will probably never happen, but this is a great time to point out the almost non-perceived bed rocks of the system.. the five senses and how we use them to interact with each other (for good or ill)..
Oh greatest news of all! With this RFID tag being so small I now have a solution for tracking all my RFID tags.. I tried to adhere two RFID tags together, but that was way too bulky. Now I can have wafer thin tags on my bulkier, older tags, and I finally know where any of my RFID tags are at any point of the day! Oh joys of joy!
Additionally, as I am thinking about this new miracle invention, I also have a way of tagging all my M&Ms and Skittles.. yeah! I will soon find out who has been eating my Skittles in my apartment.. *angry fist shaking*
Slashdot Mirror
... writing out code while crying. Most of the sods I had to talk to today, other departments and what not, tell me 'kurt vonnegut who?' The fist of death may make an unscheduled arrival today. Arg.
no.. it is: Goooooooooooo biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig reeeeeeeeeed! go! big! red! sheesh..
That's un-possible!
Here's the google map link. Enjoy it.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=3202+Woolw orth+Avenue,+omaha,+ne&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=41.245829,- 95.958989&spn=0.002307,0.005783&t=k&om=1&iwloc=add r
Side note, Omaha also is the birth place of Malcom X.
I prefer replicants to avatars.
Cue me up some "Buster Friendly".
If we are going to play the stereotype game, let me inject a thought here. When I meet someone who says "I play WoW" I immediatly lump them in the pile of "junkies, addicts, and freaks". Really, 40% of all WoW players are addicts, and addicts are inherently untrusty folks because their addiction over powers their reason.
Additionally, WoW reinforces the computer geek stereotype... people leading solitary lives, sheltered from the sun, staring at their monitors. Zero human contact; all lost in a fictional realm.
Side question, have everyone seen the Wizards of the Coast new paper ad campaign? "If you're going to sit around and pretend to be an elf all night long, you might as well do it with friends." Gotta love it.
Don't forget, no matter how bad D&D might get, LARPRs are a thousand times worse. *smirk*
Expert: 40 Percent of World of Warcraft Players Addicted
Since asthma killed more people in 2001 than died in 9/11, I would suggest that we should lose as many or fewer of our rights as Americans, than we do in our reaction to asthma.
A lot of people object when I make this argument, but other than ad hominem attacks nobody ever refutes it or explains why it's wrong.
Ok.. first off.. the bottom sentence - why it's wrong: equivocation. I would argue your fixation on the relation to death and rights loss is incorrect. I have never read a legitimate pro rights loss explanation that cites "the us government is doing this because X number of people died, but wouldn't have if X-1 people died". The explanation is always "terrorism prevention" or because of the act itself. If you continue and claim asthma prevention is linked to a sliding scale for rights loss, then I say this is clearly a case of apples to oranges.
Side note, I agree with Tshirthell.com when they put forth the notion "Asthma's sexy". *grin*
I fly all the time, and I live in one of the blue states most likely to be affected by terrorism, but I do not worry about terrorism at all because I am not stupid.
I am confused here. Worry about terrorism period is stupid, or worrying about terrorism to the point of paralysis is stupid? I would advocate the latter, and believe the former is pretty incorrect. I think people SHOULD be worried about terrorism. And virus out breaks. And unsafe products. And crime. And drugs. And gangs. etc. To not worry is just foolish. The world is not a kind place, and ignoring problems do not solve problems. Again, I am not advocating one should be SO worried about terrorism that a person cannot operate a normal everyday life, but to keep it on the mental radar with all the other worries of life isn't that bad of a thing.
In fact it's clearly the people least likely to be affected by terrorism who are clamoring for our rights to be taken away because of it.
Which people? Republicans? I would say that the federal, state, and local employees that actually INTERACT with terrorists are the ones clamoring for rights erosion. Joe Sixpack problem is not. It would seem reasonable that the folks who deal face to face with Ahmed "dynamite strapped to my chest" Jihad would like as much information as possible. At the same time it is Joe Sixpack's responsibility that the feds don't go overboard. Checks and balances - gotta love'em.
I realize that asthma is not as politically exploitable as terrorism, and the American press fixates on it whenever the JonBenet story dies down, but the alarmism of the press is one reason why Americans are incapable of correctly assessing risk.
I would agree with you here. The media has always been alarmist in nature, though something's get blown out of proportion. The connection between sensationalism and the press is fairly well documented. Second, I would say we need to split hairs on the term 'Americans'. I cannot comment on Joe Sixpack's risk assessment abilities, and quiet frankly don't give a damn. Now Joe is substantially different than the federal employees who deal with risks Joe only reads about. I would say their news sources are slightly more complete, timely, and germane than E!, Fox News, or the New York Times.
Recap: death counts and rights loss are not linked on a slider bar. Asthma's sexy. Being concerned about terrorism is not stupid. Being paralyzed by the fear of terrorism is. The news is alarmist. Who cares about Joe Sixpack's threat assessment abilities. Federal employees who deal with Ahmed "I'm a terrorist" Jihad don't get their information from Fox News.
Clear as mud, right?
You know what, FINE. Let the tykes have their laptops, PDAs, blackberrys, uber-graphing machines, and so on. That's fine. I have accepted the children of today have access to a vast array of technology I did not back in the day ( minimum seven years ago ). When I was going through public education I was grinding out math problems with wooden pencils, learning the dewy decimal system for research with physical books, and writing essays on paper (sans spell check). Now kids are tied to technology, having more complex class earlier, and coming out of high school with IT certifications (it's happening in a neighboring school district). It took a large quantity of alcohol to get over the hump that these kids will be faster at some things, will climb the work ladder faster than I can, and will probably be my boss one day. That's fine because I have one ace up my sleeve: the almighty power switch. The Borg like dependency on technology might let them have an edge on me, but the moment I flip that switch they are dead in the water.
I have seen this Achilles heel on multiple occasions, but here's one good example. It was my senior year of college (a few years back), and I was assigned a presentation with a snarky little prick still in high school, taking college credits, for a general studies class. He was irritated on my lack of "accessibility", the turn around time it took for emails (he treated them as a variant of IM), and my fondness of doing library research. He expected all of our data to be found on the web, crammed into a power point, and rattled off. I grew tired of his constant bitching, and tasked him with making the power point. Three weeks later he made a stunning power point: animations, colors, and all the bells and whistles. I printed off a copy "just incase", and headed to class. The classroom's PC went down before we started and I smiled when the brick thudded in his pants. He vehemently wanted to switch days, but the teacher told us he would downgrade us for the lack a visual. I smiled and said that wasn't a problem, and started the twenty minute presentation. The kid didn't say much which initially confused me. I asked him after class what the problem was (figuring he was sulking because of the lost presentation). He said he didn't know the material! I laughed, but realized he wasn't kidding. I was shocked to find out the weeks of research I was handing him (and the written paper), which he had to READ to distill the power point, never actually stuck. He went over the material to grind into a power point, but did not comprehend the depth. He smoothly rehearsed the power point slides, but once that crutch was gone he was toast.
Again I say, let them have their technology. Let them paint themselves into a corner. Technology fails and with it the house of cards these kids call an "education". I have versatility on levels they scoff at, and when the lights go out I'll be smiling in the dark next to the switch with my pencil grinning from ear to ear.
I agree.. Granted lame.. maybe effen off topic.. but troll? I guess I rolled the dice to on the mashing of 'overlord' 'dragon highlord'.. so it goes.
It's funny that you mention this. I was chatting over lunch with an associate about how I was berated in by an english teacher once at college for playing RTS. His comment was something about the desensitizing nature of the games - I throw waves upon waves of troops against my opponent completely ignoring the causalities of war.
Of course this being college, I pondered the topic, freaked out a bit, and eventually calmed down. It's a freaking game.
Now addressing your aspect about how games are lacking real world actions - yeah that would be nice at some level but really I play games to escape from reality and not mimic it. I would rather not, as a mayor of my simcity, have to deal with clamidia outbreaks, famine, AIDS, resource scarcity, and so on. I want to build a freaking city alright! Lord knows what sort of environmental impact I had on the terrain when I shaped it to my needs, paved over almost all of it, and so on. Don't care, don't care, don't care.
Side note, during lunch we also discussed the genocidal nature of RPGs. I have cooked a few papers on the topic of my character wiping out whole warrens/maps/games worth of kobolds, goblins, and orcs. Once I left a single kobold alive after visiting his people's three-levels-deep home with my +2 vorpol sword of freedom. He was in the corner and was pretty damaged. I glanced around at the blood soaked walls of his people, and felt a pang of pity. Then I noticed I would roll up a level if I killed him. A second later his head rolled along the floor. Yeppie! I leveled up! So this is what Chris Columbus must have felt.
Repeat after me folks - it's just a game.
... will be the first to welcome our masked Dragon Over(high) Lords...
A "bullfrog"?!?! That's a funny name. I woulda called it a Chazwazzer!
No one yet knows who wrote this or why."
Lord knows I usually violate this criticism as much as the next, but really the 'ch' in tortured? Additionally, I will gripe about the 'ly' addition to physically and mentally, and the apostrophe in 'what is'.
If he gets extradited to the USA I am worried he might be tortured physically and mentally, and what's all this 60 years in prison bullshit? He will be Kevin Mitnik and Mordechai Vanunu all rolled in to one.
In case anyone was wondering how Columbia stacks against their rig, check out:
http://www.top500.org/
Here's the November 2005 list:
http://www.top500.org/lists/2005/11/TOP10_Nov2005. pdf
It shows Columbia with:
51.87 Rmax (teraflops/second).. It also states that it moved from #3 ranking to #4.
I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day.
-- Dean Martin
(Ok, so I had to throw in a Nick Cage quote from 'Leaving Las Vegas' - call it a two-fer Friday special!)
Interesting.. My Ipod using associates didn't tell me of this (or they were not informed). Interesting.. I guess that would lead to some interesting options when buying a used IPod off ebay or something..
Actually the ripping of cds to the gigabeat's pretty quick. I throw in a full cd, hit transfer, and in about 3 minutes it's done. Ripping, encoding, and everything. I have everything set up for a bit above average ripping (128 is not enough for me) just to check anything odd sounding. So far all is good.
Thanks for the tip on the Ipods though.. I might have to force a few friends to investigate.
Ok.. let me clarify.. when you transfer the mp3 to the gigabeat, the software encodes it... I guess this is to prevent the user from plugging in the player to some other PC's usb and transferring the music off. Now if you use the software to sync your pc with your player the music on the player is decoded in proper mp3 format on the pc... essentially they are forcing you to use their software... as far as I understand this is the same way an IPOD works.. one has to use Itunes to send music to it and to get it off.. you can't go around willy-nilly plugging the player into any pc and transferring music off.
I think you (and Toshiba) lost 99% of potential Slashdot buyers with this one.
Yeah, well it's no better or worse than Itunes/Ipod. At least all the files are still mp3 and not some strange Apple creation. *shrug* Though you can sync up your PC from the gigabeat which copies everything to the PC in non-propitary format ala mp3.
So I'm a digital leper at any local store with my MP3 player - the Toshiba Gigabeat.
List of great features:
- 10gig for $170.00 (mine).
--- Also comes in 20 and 40 gigs (maybe a 60 too).
--- Soon to be released is a Video Gigabeat
- a large screen for data, pictures, and all other things.
- 16 hour battery life
--- internal battery so no need to buy batteries
--- charges vis usb connections too
- USB2.0 makes transferring files fast.
- An independent docking station - no more plugging in wires
- Slim
- Works with Windows Media 10 for file storage
- Operates as an external hard drive if needed
- The Gigaroom software takes a whole CD and transfers it to the gigabeat in about 3 minutes
--- users can change the quality of the ripping
- The button controls on the '+' makes navigating easy
- Equalizer settings - about 10 of them with the option for user settings
- www.mygigabeat.com
- www.gigabeat.com
Detractors:
- Toshiba's Gigaroom software that comes with it is kinda difficult to use at first, but it gets better
- Propitary encoding of all files onto the player - so one has to go through gigaroom, Windows Media Player 10, or napster (lord knows we wouldn't want to share anything)
- All accessories - like a case - required me to go through the web to get it.. but that's more the fault of those evil Ipods *shakes fist in the general direction of Apple *
- The earbud head phones that come with it are painful to wear (for me). Sony's $8.00 earbuds work like a charm.
So yeah, I am fairly jazzed about my player, though I hate the fact I can't just wander into WorstBuy or Compusa to find accessories. Actually I think I confused a WorstBuy employee when he couldn't get over the fact that I don't have an IPod. *shrug* It's their issue.
If you are looking for a solid player as an option to the Ipod wagon, serious check this out.
I am curious on what they will offer for undead classes (if that is the route they are going)? I hear W.O.W. allows for different types of 'undead' classes - rouges, fighters, and wizards - so I wonder what type of post apocalypitic undead are available? Clearly the are the 'shambler' type - scout or fighter? Perhaps some sort of 'undead' medic? Maybe a radioactive zombie with aura effects? Clearly I am going to have to consult my zombie survival guide to help find out what might be.
Viva the Undead Revolution!
Oblig: All your brain are belong to us.
Move over toy dogs (yeah, Doodles, Puggles, and the like I am talking to you), we have a new winner for fashion accessories - the hairy lobster! I am going to start selling tote bags, bejeweled clothing, and of course blinged-out cooking ware! Now when Ms. Paris Hilton's pet dies she can consume it instead of burying it in her backyard's mass grave.
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Obligatory crack:
Joan Rivers: Oh, look who's coming down the red carpet. It's Paris! Oh, oh, she brought her new pet Mr. BoJangles - her bearded clam!
Ryan Seacrest: Ahm, Joan... if the internet or E! has taught me anything, it is Paris's clam is NEVER bearded. Always shaved for a good shot. I think that is her furry lobster.
Now the 133 was the first PC I bought with my own money. At the time I was working as an after school care child-watcher for our church's elementary school. Yup... I actually DROVE to the Gateway factor to pick it up and dropped $2,999.96 on it. Wow I thought I was the shit then. 1.9 gigs of HD space, 64 mb of RAM, 8 mb videocard, 14.4 internal modem, and a 19inch monitor! I rearranged our kitchen table to hook everything up, with a crowed of friends around me ohhing and ahhing over the speed and beauty of the machine. I was the first one to continue my campaign of no-macs... everyone else had Macs and was bandwagoning them as the PC killers... becauase all the schools had them.. ptah I said.. Look at me! I can play full fledged games like Dark Forces! I was the king pimp at that point. Then I learned the joys of upgrading hardware with a bit more ram... wooh... then I dumped the machine and proceeded to make my own... ah.. and then the monkey never left my back and my machine has gone through multiple upgrades and updates...
Sadly, I just ended up finding (and throwing out) my WIN 3.11 and DOS disks just recently... oh.. and I am still using my original Altec Lansing speakers and sub from my 133... *sigh* those were the days.
Hypothetically speaking... suppose we do find a previously undiscovered 'sense'... like this electro-thing-a-ma-jiggie... Just imagine the impact on say the legal system! Quite a bit of personal law is based on a sense... good touch versus bad touch, ogling, assault, battery, and so forth... I wonder how the legal system would take such a system shock to update all the laws or revamp them...
Yeah, yeah, yeah.. I know it will probably never happen, but this is a great time to point out the almost non-perceived bed rocks of the system.. the five senses and how we use them to interact with each other (for good or ill)..
Additionally, as I am thinking about this new miracle invention, I also have a way of tagging all my M&Ms and Skittles.. yeah! I will soon find out who has been eating my Skittles in my apartment.. *angry fist shaking*