I can vouch for this. The drug reps get paid a great sum of money to go to the local doctors (upwards of 80k when all the benefits are included -- car, health insurance, etc...) and give them lotsa stuff. I never had to pay a dime for school supplies, the drug reps always gave my father pens/pads/notebooks/sacks/calculators/(whatever you want here). Hell, we rarely had to make dinner. The drug reps came by every day and dropped off food.
The number of samples they give doctors is absolutely gross (think cabnets full), and they dont mind giving you more. With all the samples they give out its amazing that they have the balls to charge as much as they do. However, I never have to pay the horrid drug prices that everyone else does (if i took any drugs):)
How about just going to the front desk and asking for stamps? Or go to a packaging store and ask for stamps?
As for 'storing every persons photo in every self service machine' that souunds a little extreme (it would be a bitch to manage), and if you really dont want to deal with having you picture taken everywhere, use the internet to purchase all the stuff you need.
True, but thats what they must accept (military id, prison ID, Student ID(so long as it has a birthdate)(really any government or likewise sponsored institution that gives photo id's with birthdate on it). I dont like turning customers down myself, but turning a customer down is much better than accepting the form of id only to find out that it was some underage kid from corporate who goes around and makes sure people do their job.
As of now, America is too focused on the result, the building of "tools" for us to use later (the answer from every teacher when asked "whats the use for this stuff"). We need to focus more on the ideas; the practical use of math (not counting change to teach addition). I just wish every elementary school taught high school physics. That should solve our problem.
Which is why they are very strict. The testers know that you arent on the road, so they look for minor reasons to fail you. I had a harder time parking in their test than in the real world (they had the space as the smallest space possible).
Sony's consoles always used the "zerg strategy". They have always pumped out more ass than any system. Sony has always been big on volume; whereas, Nintendo has always been on the side of quality. They few games that you can play for years and never get bored of.
Id rather have 10 extremely innovative games that I will never get tired of than have 923810293 versions of Vroom Vroom Racing/Random XYZ RPG/Beat 'em Up Fighting Game.
This is a very small number compared to the demand for this item, but with production costs rumored to be twice the asking price, Sony can't afford to let one PSP sit in inventory.
If everything goes as planned, and the PSP has a successful launch, Sony will begin to produce over 700,000 units a month, with a year 2005 ending total of 10 million PSPs worldwide
Ok! Lets do a little bit of math here
10 million psp units...
each costs $200...
Cost to produce rumored to be twice as much as cost to produce...
10,000,000 * 200(1) = $2,000,000,000
(1) (twice $200 = $400; $400 - $200 = $200; $200 = net loss per psp)
Im not a marketing genius, but losing two BILLION dollars for a product (not even including shipping costs to distributors, nor does this include the marketing costs that must be associated with the psp) is not chump change. Sony is putting a lot of trust in their psp, and I find it very risky espically when they have a history of underperforming and putting a lot of hype into their products.
"but ultimately the Wild West must give way to governance and control."
Last I checked, the internet has performed so well because of its decentralized, "stupid" protocol. If Mr. Goss (Head CIA dude) decides to screw around with the way the basics of how the internet works (this is about the only way you can decentralize and take away relative anominity from the internet) most every protocol/program/service/hardware developed will go out the window (I dont think any firm will be happy with this).
I guess this is what happens when you have asshat politicans who care more about power and control than freedom and common sense.
Oh, I'm well aware that you could purchase the movies, but the main selling point of DivX was throw away movies, and if you havent figured it out yet I was using those examples to disprove a point that DivX failed mainly because it dialed home. Quit staring at the grain of sand and take a look at the beach.
Steam offers its consumers a HELL of a lot
No going to fileplanet, or any other site, to get patches. Steam does it for you (this alone makes steam worth it)
No having to worry about cds. Steam doesnt need them
Automatic download of all mods
Friends list
FAST FAST FAST server updating (WON was slow as balls)
I can play the game at any computer through my account.
I used to hate steam, but it has come a LONG LONG way from its early days.(The earliest versions of steam were buggy piles of shit that should have never been released).
Which is exactly the problem halflife 2 will have 70 years from now. Those who want to play it wont be able to because of different architecture (who honestly thinks we are gonna use silicon chips 70 years from now, or if microsoft will even be around, or if they will even support old modes). Besides, there will be a crack out that will get around this authentication (if there isnt one already)
You dont have to pay Valve every time you want to play HalfLife 2.
You dont have a lower quality product that has less features than the "full product"
You dont have to go out and buy a special piece of propietary equipment required to play Halflife 2.
Steam is a much better solution to copy protection than any of the "cd protection" schemes now. (I still have problems playing WCIII due to its protection, and that game was released three years ago...).
How is this any different than Blizzard banning people from battle.net for using third party programs? How is it different than VAC? How is Valve checking for a pirated version different than any company checking your computer for "illegal third party programs"? They arent modifying the computers. They are only banning them from playing via steam.
Why anyone would patch their game to make it "no cd", or in this case "no steam", is beyond me. It isnt exactly forbidden knowledge that you cant play online if the game files differ from the most current, and any previous, version of the game. If you dont like steam, just dont buy the damn game, and go back to the other wonderful "protections" that game designers place on their games
Who would really give a damn about halflife 2 in seventy years? Who of us will be ALIVE in seventy years? Besides, some people will probably find a way to get around the validation before you get tired of the single player.
i'm certain that you can expect a not-insignificant patch the first time you launch the client.
See, now thats a BAD thing. Betas are supposed to fix these things BEFORE the game gets released.
When a game goes gold they cant fix new bugs that are found and magically place them on the disk:P. Be happy that they will have a patch come out instead of letting you discover the bug yourself.
I work in a store that uses a touch screen menu. You would be suprised how many people are intimidated by it. Even though the design is very simple, people still come to me and ask for help on how to use it. People will be intimidated by computers no matter how simple or easy to use it is. The best way is to have an optical scan system (someone mentioned it earlier). In leon county (florida) we use a optical scan system, and all of our recounts were exactly the same (only two were thrown out for double voting). Screw this high tech voting. They just need to keep it simple.
if i had the option of going to jail for a year or possibily getting off, id choose the latter. Besides, if it will take years for him to go to trial, precedents could be set or new laws exhonarating all those who commited these "crimes" could pass.
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The number of samples they give doctors is absolutely gross (think cabnets full), and they dont mind giving you more. With all the samples they give out its amazing that they have the balls to charge as much as they do. However, I never have to pay the horrid drug prices that everyone else does (if i took any drugs) :)
How about just going to the front desk and asking for stamps? Or go to a packaging store and ask for stamps? As for 'storing every persons photo in every self service machine' that souunds a little extreme (it would be a bitch to manage), and if you really dont want to deal with having you picture taken everywhere, use the internet to purchase all the stuff you need.
Copyright law in the united states is life of creator + 50 years. So there is no hope for no copyright
True, but thats what they must accept (military id, prison ID, Student ID(so long as it has a birthdate)(really any government or likewise sponsored institution that gives photo id's with birthdate on it). I dont like turning customers down myself, but turning a customer down is much better than accepting the form of id only to find out that it was some underage kid from corporate who goes around and makes sure people do their job.
They will need another government issued state ID. Credit cards and whatnot would not be accepted.
As of now, America is too focused on the result, the building of "tools" for us to use later (the answer from every teacher when asked "whats the use for this stuff"). We need to focus more on the ideas; the practical use of math (not counting change to teach addition). I just wish every elementary school taught high school physics. That should solve our problem.
Which is why they are very strict. The testers know that you arent on the road, so they look for minor reasons to fail you. I had a harder time parking in their test than in the real world (they had the space as the smallest space possible).
Id rather have 10 extremely innovative games that I will never get tired of than have 923810293 versions of Vroom Vroom Racing/Random XYZ RPG/Beat 'em Up Fighting Game.
If everything goes as planned, and the PSP has a successful launch, Sony will begin to produce over 700,000 units a month, with a year 2005 ending total of 10 million PSPs worldwide
Ok! Lets do a little bit of math here
10 million psp units...
each costs $200...
Cost to produce rumored to be twice as much as cost to produce...
10,000,000 * 200(1) = $2,000,000,000
(1) (twice $200 = $400; $400 - $200 = $200; $200 = net loss per psp)
Im not a marketing genius, but losing two BILLION dollars for a product (not even including shipping costs to distributors, nor does this include the marketing costs that must be associated with the psp) is not chump change. Sony is putting a lot of trust in their psp, and I find it very risky espically when they have a history of underperforming and putting a lot of hype into their products.
Last I checked, the internet has performed so well because of its decentralized, "stupid" protocol. If Mr. Goss (Head CIA dude) decides to screw around with the way the basics of how the internet works (this is about the only way you can decentralize and take away relative anominity from the internet) most every protocol/program/service/hardware developed will go out the window (I dont think any firm will be happy with this).
I guess this is what happens when you have asshat politicans who care more about power and control than freedom and common sense.
In Florida they are bastards with the drivers test. Very very very very strict. If you barely scrape a curb and nick a cone, you fail.
Steam offers its consumers a HELL of a lot
No going to fileplanet, or any other site, to get patches. Steam does it for you (this alone makes steam worth it)
No having to worry about cds. Steam doesnt need them
Automatic download of all mods
Friends list
FAST FAST FAST server updating (WON was slow as balls)
I can play the game at any computer through my account.
I used to hate steam, but it has come a LONG LONG way from its early days.(The earliest versions of steam were buggy piles of shit that should have never been released).
Which is exactly the problem halflife 2 will have 70 years from now. Those who want to play it wont be able to because of different architecture (who honestly thinks we are gonna use silicon chips 70 years from now, or if microsoft will even be around, or if they will even support old modes). Besides, there will be a crack out that will get around this authentication (if there isnt one already)
You dont have to pay Valve every time you want to play HalfLife 2.
You dont have a lower quality product that has less features than the "full product"
You dont have to go out and buy a special piece of propietary equipment required to play Halflife 2.
Steam is a much better solution to copy protection than any of the "cd protection" schemes now. (I still have problems playing WCIII due to its protection, and that game was released three years ago...).
Why anyone would patch their game to make it "no cd", or in this case "no steam", is beyond me. It isnt exactly forbidden knowledge that you cant play online if the game files differ from the most current, and any previous, version of the game. If you dont like steam, just dont buy the damn game, and go back to the other wonderful "protections" that game designers place on their games
Who would really give a damn about halflife 2 in seventy years? Who of us will be ALIVE in seventy years? Besides, some people will probably find a way to get around the validation before you get tired of the single player.
See, now thats a BAD thing. Betas are supposed to fix these things BEFORE the game gets released. When a game goes gold they cant fix new bugs that are found and magically place them on the disk :P. Be happy that they will have a patch come out instead of letting you discover the bug yourself.
I work in a store that uses a touch screen menu. You would be suprised how many people are intimidated by it. Even though the design is very simple, people still come to me and ask for help on how to use it. People will be intimidated by computers no matter how simple or easy to use it is. The best way is to have an optical scan system (someone mentioned it earlier). In leon county (florida) we use a optical scan system, and all of our recounts were exactly the same (only two were thrown out for double voting). Screw this high tech voting. They just need to keep it simple.
if i had the option of going to jail for a year or possibily getting off, id choose the latter. Besides, if it will take years for him to go to trial, precedents could be set or new laws exhonarating all those who commited these "crimes" could pass.