To add that, everyone forgets that Sony is overpriced in ALL electronics categories. Sometimes, far more than a few hundred dollars. Sony is simply the more expensive brand in electronics. They don't compete on price... that doesn't mean people don't buy Sony... they do.
As for the high end console wars, I don't think Wii should even be in contention. It's 360 vs PS3 and no one knows who will come out on the top. Even a suitable 360 bundle is about 500 bucks plus.
As for Wii, I don't see myself playing overnight swinging around like a monkey. It's perfect as a second entertainment system, but for me to switch from PC to console for serious gaming... it's either 360 or PS3.
Is this for real? I have read this thread but I would never have imagined it gets that bad. Back home in India the education system has more than enough flaws but schools are schools and there is definitely no police presence.
I am surprised and horrified at this. No wonder there is so much difference in pricing between good school areas and others as far as housing goes. Does the US have good boarding schools or other kinds of schools that are popular elsewhere?
I have always wondered how the best high school graduates compare across education systems. After all, while the national averages are important, how well the best are trained is also an important metric.
Especially, I have always been curious how the US system compares to the system back home (I am Indian) at the top end. Considering, that the IIT entrance exams would be cleared only by the absolute best students graduating from high school... can anyone compare how the questions here http://www.123iitjee.com/free_downloads.htm would compare to the level of math and science that the absolute best students in the US or other western countries have.
PS: On a second note... the papers can be fun to solve so long after high school.
This is the obligatory Gandhi reference. You don't need an armed population to resist the government. You just need everyone to stand up and say no together.
Don't forget there have been completely unarmed large scale civilian protests against armed armies that have been successful - vis a vis Gandhi. As he said it - Firing at unarmed civilians will break the resolve of the most in-humane army... everyone has some conscience.
You are right that love, peer admiration, fun etc are motivations and I am not saying that motivations beside career success do not exist.
Yes, you could have a system parralel to capitalism where the reward is something else instead of money. In fact, in capitalism, several rewards go along with money. Fame, admiration etc. However, money makes a common reward that appeals to all of us... it represents success in a material form.
That is why capitalism works more than any other system. Yes, it does use money as the primary reward, and I guess a similar system that would use another system of reward might be possible but I can't think of a reward more universal than money right now.
In any case, any such system needs those few who have achieved greater heights in some form. They become the role models. In industry and growth... the CEO's are the role models. Those people who love to excel in the business arena aspire to become like them. And the super rich are a role model for all of us... because ultimately being rich, in our society, also means being successful. Money IS one of the main forms of rewards in our society.
A Bill Gates forming a Microsoft in his life time inspires millions to greater coorporate success. And along with Art, Culture and Love... Coorporations and Industries remain a primary source of social growth.
>>Why do 10% of the people own and control 90% of the resources?
Actually, for capitalism to work it is important that those 10% uber rich exist. It is that dream the other 90% spend their life working hard for. One of the reasons that Capitalism works over more Socialist models is that it is able to motivate individuals to work harder and better. It does that because the millions see the potential to become like the 10% rich guys and know that they too can do it.
If the money was equally divided, where would be the motivation to work better? Who would be the role models? The rags to riches stories? All of which are an integral part of a capitalistic society. The ability to dream big.
Of course, on the other hand, some controlling mechanisms to make sure that big dreamers can actually achieve greatness and that the 10% super rich do not take total control and block others off need to exist. That is what Government is there for!
What you are forgetting is that the end consumer doesn't really care for those numbers. PS3 only has to appear significantly better than the 360.
All Sony has to accomplish is the consumers going - "oooh... it's also a Blu Ray DVD Player" and "Guys, it's much faster than XBox" and "Look at how many cool games there are on it". In the end, a single major title on PS3 that is not on other consoles could make it a success as could a significant number of DVD releases on Blu Ray.
In the end, it's a risky deal for Sony but they do have some chance for success despite the high cost and the cost vs benifit analysis that you are talking about.
You forget the biggest thing the PC has above consoles... I don't have to buy another device!!!.
I can spend the 600$ on hardware that would make my games look so much better and at the same time make my life easier on so many other levels too.
But then, I am just a PC Gaming fan.
While I understand the concept that Game Companies should focus on games, I for one am excited about the possibility of someone finally getting it right and integrating the living room into a single device. One can just let one's imagination run with the possibilities of that scenario.
Controlling devices in your house by doing stuff with in a game for example?:)
I don't believe there is anything immoral about engaging an entity that has opposing views to yours. Historically, engagement has always been more successful in bringing reform than total disengagement. If you want to bring reform with China, engaging with them in various ways - ppl to ppl... culturally... technologically... etc would be a better option.
Note how in most cases a policy of disengagement has only delayed reform. (Iran/Iraq/North Korea). If you leave out underhanded and political engagement, which may or may not be benificial, cultural engagement is always helpful.
Access to search engines such as google, even in a limited way, is definetely a form of engagement. After all, even the US govt engages China in trade accross the board. I am sure... several areas of trade must see similar strictures that are unacceptable to the west but commonplace in China.
I wonder if someday we'll have these guys flying in from accross the ocean and micro-missiles taking them down from the other coast. Wonder what warfare will be like in a century... considering that 1906 didn't even have flight yet.
-buzzzz
Slashdot Mirror
To add that, everyone forgets that Sony is overpriced in ALL electronics categories. Sometimes, far more than a few hundred dollars. Sony is simply the more expensive brand in electronics. They don't compete on price... that doesn't mean people don't buy Sony... they do.
As for the high end console wars, I don't think Wii should even be in contention. It's 360 vs PS3 and no one knows who will come out on the top. Even a suitable 360 bundle is about 500 bucks plus.
As for Wii, I don't see myself playing overnight swinging around like a monkey. It's perfect as a second entertainment system, but for me to switch from PC to console for serious gaming... it's either 360 or PS3.
Is this for real? I have read this thread but I would never have imagined it gets that bad. Back home in India the education system has more than enough flaws but schools are schools and there is definitely no police presence.
I am surprised and horrified at this. No wonder there is so much difference in pricing between good school areas and others as far as housing goes. Does the US have good boarding schools or other kinds of schools that are popular elsewhere?
I have always wondered how the best high school graduates compare across education systems. After all, while the national averages are important, how well the best are trained is also an important metric.
Especially, I have always been curious how the US system compares to the system back home (I am Indian) at the top end. Considering, that the IIT entrance exams would be cleared only by the absolute best students graduating from high school... can anyone compare how the questions here http://www.123iitjee.com/free_downloads.htm would compare to the level of math and science that the absolute best students in the US or other western countries have.
PS: On a second note... the papers can be fun to solve so long after high school.
This is the obligatory Gandhi reference. You don't need an armed population to resist the government. You just need everyone to stand up and say no together.
Don't forget there have been completely unarmed large scale civilian protests against armed armies that have been successful - vis a vis Gandhi.
As he said it - Firing at unarmed civilians will break the resolve of the most in-humane army... everyone has some conscience.
Can't believe no one brought this up before!!!
You are right that love, peer admiration, fun etc are motivations and I am not saying that motivations beside career success do not exist.
Yes, you could have a system parralel to capitalism where the reward is something else instead of money. In fact, in capitalism, several rewards go along with money. Fame, admiration etc. However, money makes a common reward that appeals to all of us... it represents success in a material form.
That is why capitalism works more than any other system. Yes, it does use money as the primary reward, and I guess a similar system that would use another system of reward might be possible but I can't think of a reward more universal than money right now.
In any case, any such system needs those few who have achieved greater heights in some form. They become the role models. In industry and growth... the CEO's are the role models. Those people who love to excel in the business arena aspire to become like them. And the super rich are a role model for all of us... because ultimately being rich, in our society, also means being successful. Money IS one of the main forms of rewards in our society.
A Bill Gates forming a Microsoft in his life time inspires millions to greater coorporate success. And along with Art, Culture and Love... Coorporations and Industries remain a primary source of social growth.
-buzzzz
Statistics based Bargains on eBay:
http://www.honesty.com/
>>Why do 10% of the people own and control 90% of the resources?
Actually, for capitalism to work it is important that those 10% uber rich exist. It is that dream the other 90% spend their life working hard for. One of the reasons that Capitalism works over more Socialist models is that it is able to motivate individuals to work harder and better. It does that because the millions see the potential to become like the 10% rich guys and know that they too can do it.
If the money was equally divided, where would be the motivation to work better? Who would be the role models? The rags to riches stories? All of which are an integral part of a capitalistic society. The ability to dream big.
Of course, on the other hand, some controlling mechanisms to make sure that big dreamers can actually achieve greatness and that the 10% super rich do not take total control and block others off need to exist. That is what Government is there for!
-buzzzzz
Statistics based Bargains on eBay:
http://www.honesty.com/
What you are forgetting is that the end consumer doesn't really care for those numbers. PS3 only has to appear significantly better than the 360.
... it's also a Blu Ray DVD Player" and "Guys, it's much faster than XBox" and "Look at how many cool games there are on it". In the end, a single major title on PS3 that is not on other consoles could make it a success as could a significant number of DVD releases on Blu Ray.
All Sony has to accomplish is the consumers going - "oooh
In the end, it's a risky deal for Sony but they do have some chance for success despite the high cost and the cost vs benifit analysis that you are talking about.
You forget the biggest thing the PC has above consoles... I don't have to buy another device!!!. I can spend the 600$ on hardware that would make my games look so much better and at the same time make my life easier on so many other levels too. But then, I am just a PC Gaming fan.
While I understand the concept that Game Companies should focus on games, I for one am excited about the possibility of someone finally getting it right and integrating the living room into a single device. One can just let one's imagination run with the possibilities of that scenario.
:)
Controlling devices in your house by doing stuff with in a game for example?
I don't believe there is anything immoral about engaging an entity that has opposing views to yours. Historically, engagement has always been more successful in bringing reform than total disengagement. If you want to bring reform with China, engaging with them in various ways - ppl to ppl... culturally... technologically... etc would be a better option.
Note how in most cases a policy of disengagement has only delayed reform. (Iran/Iraq/North Korea). If you leave out underhanded and political engagement, which may or may not be benificial, cultural engagement is always helpful.
Access to search engines such as google, even in a limited way, is definetely a form of engagement. After all, even the US govt engages China in trade accross the board. I am sure... several areas of trade must see similar strictures that are unacceptable to the west but commonplace in China.
Give Google a rest.
I wonder if someday we'll have these guys flying in from accross the ocean and micro-missiles taking them down from the other coast. Wonder what warfare will be like in a century... considering that 1906 didn't even have flight yet. -buzzzz