My gaming rig is in the basement hooked up to the gigabit LAN port of my wireless AC router. My thin, light, cool and quiet laptop is now my gaming rig right on the couch while we watch TV or whatnot.
In the same vein, if my kids want to play a game I have a cheap, quiet small form factor PC hooked up to the TV with some 360 controllers plugged into it, same deal. Stream away. No noise, no heat, and the gaming rig stays nice and cool (and comparatively dust-free in the unfinished portion of my basement.
Worth a look, especially since you mentioned you're a Steam user already.
Shards of Dalaya is an absolute blast to play. Sure it's got dated graphics by WoW's standards... but the storyline, loot, zones, is 100% unique and much more fun than the game it was derived from.
Winter's Roar may have been halted 14months ago, but it came back with a vengeance (a legal one, I might add) a few months later, as Shards of Dalaya.
Incentives for getting friends etc to play is a nice touch, too. It all adds a unique experience (pun intended) to MMORPG'ing.
Not to mention that the development staff is also working on a new, standalone MMORPG, called Dawntide.
I can appreciate your point about the DS; however, I am fully content to use a mouse for 95%+ tasks on my computer. If you tell a person that has never used a computer that the mouse moves the pointer, they will grasp that concept, I would think, as fast as the stylus version.
The mouse is more effective, and better suited for fine-point manipulation than a touch screen. I work on touch screen POS systems all day, and when I'm setting them up I use a keyboard and mouse from my desktop, because it's faster and easier. The software we run on them has large enough buttons that fine point manipulation isn't required (the OS is another story altogether); but unless your OS is specifically designed for touch screens, using said touch input is a major pain, even when calibrated properly.
Beside that, the mouse is the lazy man's input device. I don't have to move my arm at all to use a mouse, the same can not be said for a 15"+ touch screen.
So yes, the DS is awesome, but I would say it's because it's whole interface was developed for touch. PC's really aren't totally in line with that statement.
Since when does Microsoft do what would be logical? They've got the majority of the world by the short ones, as it were, at the moment. They're trying to scare people away from the "SLOW, DUMB, BAD,...free..., ahem LOUSY" alternative.
If they can drill it into people's minds that Free (beer + speech) Software = Bad Software; people will continue to fork over hundreds of dollars for thier proprietary software. (Or pirate it, which MS itself has addmitted they don't mind so much, as long as people become dependant on MS software.)
OO.o is my office suite, yeah it's a bit slow... but as someone already pointed out: It's an OFFICE SUITE! Waiting 5 to 10 extra seconds isn't gonna kill you! The act of actually opening a document once OO.o is running is nigh-instant. I'll take OO.o for a few hundred less per install over Office any day.
Actually, you're wrong. All my work is done with a wrist strap on, granted no mat, but I work on concrete, not carpet or linolium. So, yeah, way to make blanketed assumption!
I have had horrendous experiences with ASUS and Gigabyte, and have been trying to figure out what company's mobos to use. If ECS actually tests each board prior to shipping it, it would make sense then to reason there would be less D.O.A. boards and less RMA'ing needed.
I do part-time tech support / trainign in my off time from my fulltime job, as I'm sure many/. readers also do.
Geek Squad et al do a wonderful job marketing their services, and BestBuy slaps a "Authorized for Geek Squad Installation" sticker on practically anything that can be used near a computer. They thereby get the Joe and Janes of the world to pay steep charges for simple installation of gizmos and peripherals, virus removal etc.
And it's quite simply: Brilliant
I have made my pricing significantly lower than Geek Squad (the only real, read:advertising, competitor in my city), but high enough that in 3 hours of work, I can make more than a full day at my full time job.
All this and I have a steady flow of new customers. People fear technology: just ask the lady I'm teaching to scan her photos in, write word documents, send email, and use the web. $55/hr to teach stuff I can do in my sleep, and they think it's a bargain!
Fact of the matter: it is a bargain, compared to a community college course, or having Geek Squad do a house call to upgrade / get rid of malware / etc.
A lot of people like the little guy, too and would rather pay an independant guy... clip-on tie and black and white Beetle or not.
What do you think? Is Disney destined to fade to black...
Fade to Black.... Fade to Black.....Brilliant! A Full length 2-D Disney Animated film about METALLICA! Duh, how stupid could they be not to see this? It was right there in front of them the whole time!
1) Start with aging rockers
2) add a healthy dose of dwindling animation empire
3) make up some story, I mean, any story will do, really, it's METALLICA after all!!
4)... stand there scratching your head wondering, "Where's my profit?"
It's early and I think I'm funny, so I must apologize.
1) Write a step by step guide to something anyone can do.
2) Slap a LiveCD version of Linux on the back page
3) ???? (okay, only added for effect, I admit)
4) Profit!!
It could get Linux into the hands of some total neophytes that might not care if it's "Not Windows!!11!one!!" and just be pleased as pie to be operating a computer at all!
More power to him, IMO. (and I think the choice of distro is great for newbies, Mandrake Move is great for beginners.)
Re:Glad I'm not a Californian anymore
on
Tinfoil Hat House
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
No state income tax: Check
No sales tax: Check
Voted best state to live in based on quality of life: Check
One of the top spots in the U.S. for small to mid size tech businesses: Check
Beautiful flora and fauna: Check
3 Cities on the "100 Best places to live" list:Check
Yeah, N.H. is pretty lame... I guess.
Re:Glad I'm not a Californian anymore
on
Tinfoil Hat House
·
· Score: 3, Funny
That sounds just like New Hampshire...
Just without my own personal gold mine.
or a bonus $1,000 a year...
"Honey, we're moving to Alaska!"
*smack*
"Honey... recent developments seem to imply that we're staying in N.H."
Those ~5-8 mb files are like shooting BB's down an aircraft hanger!!
Seriously, if I had "Internet2" at my disposal, I could most certainly find something more productive (6 CD Linux install in a few seconds? Yes please.)or at the very least more illegal to do with it than download a lot of crappy music!
So will Tiger(Woods) be featured praising Tiger(OSX) on Tiger(direct.com)? Of course the version of Tiger that Tiger would be selling, using Tiger's namesake would have to be...
ouch
My head just *twitch* Tiger *twitch* errr exploded.
Yes, but they don't tell them they're working for Microsoft. They use a third party.
And the Linux admins they hire to do it, cost significantly more than the Windows admins they hire to do it. You know, in a double blind, salary comparison... of... uh... nosepicking sysadmins.
Realistically, it doesn't matter much that they aren't x86. To me at least. I'm sure Linux will be running on it in no time.
Besides, they're aiming for the PDA market, which doesn't have x86 compatibilty as it stands anyhow.
I wonder if this technology will be adapted to the PC market in any way, shape or form. With such low power consumption, they are a fanless CPU, and a fanless power supply would probably be feasible I imagine. True silent computing sounds good to me... or is that doesn't sound...?
In any case, it is very cool tech, literally, and figuratively speaking.
Again, a media industry claiming a "loss" of n-dollars. Let's go down to Steve on location who is going to sum this up for us, Steve? "Well it seems we've come to a conclusion, Hypothetical "losses" are just stupid." "Back to you in the studio, Chip."
So yeah, joking aside, a 4% hypothetical loss, which likely is less than a 1% loss is probably not worth investing the money to establish a new anti-pirating technology. I mean, who pirates a DVD *instead* of buying it? I would imagine most people get "early releases" pirated, then go out and buy the real thing. At least that's what a friend told me.*looks around nervously*
Now audio CDs, well they have a much higher Hypothetical Loss(tm) percentage, so I can see them justifying such an investment.
It all comes down to them just pissing away what little PR they have left, bit by bit.
So he's an otherwise healthy 18 year old? And kiddie games are out of the question eh?
What do healthy 18 year olds like?
Pr0n of course!! So make a webpage with math problems, and if he gets it right, he gets a pr0n pic. This would take all of 15 minutes to write the html for (okay maybe 45minutes if you get distracted by the Pr0n), and would be a simple incentive system.
Okay, okay, so it doesn't have to be nudie pics, but seriously, some sort of quickly made webpage with multiple problems that have an appealing reward might be useful (mp3 plays, or if he gets a high enough score you'll take him to dinner or something... if it's a fun outcome, it should be a positive experience for him, and he just might learn something too.
If you take my advice on the MP3, just promise not to tell the RIAA it was my idea! *adjusts his foil hat*
Slashdot Mirror
Steam in-home streaming. I use this every day.
My gaming rig is in the basement hooked up to the gigabit LAN port of my wireless AC router. My thin, light, cool and quiet laptop is now my gaming rig right on the couch while we watch TV or whatnot.
In the same vein, if my kids want to play a game I have a cheap, quiet small form factor PC hooked up to the TV with some 360 controllers plugged into it, same deal. Stream away. No noise, no heat, and the gaming rig stays nice and cool (and comparatively dust-free in the unfinished portion of my basement.
Worth a look, especially since you mentioned you're a Steam user already.
lat=43.128418
lon=-71.444092
Per Google maps, anyhow...
http://www.shardsofdalaya.com/
Shards of Dalaya is an absolute blast to play. Sure it's got dated graphics by WoW's standards... but the storyline, loot, zones, is 100% unique and much more fun than the game it was derived from.
Winter's Roar may have been halted 14months ago, but it came back with a vengeance (a legal one, I might add) a few months later, as Shards of Dalaya.
Incentives for getting friends etc to play is a nice touch, too. It all adds a unique experience (pun intended) to MMORPG'ing.
Not to mention that the development staff is also working on a new, standalone MMORPG, called Dawntide.
I can appreciate your point about the DS; however, I am fully content to use a mouse for 95%+ tasks on my computer. If you tell a person that has never used a computer that the mouse moves the pointer, they will grasp that concept, I would think, as fast as the stylus version.
The mouse is more effective, and better suited for fine-point manipulation than a touch screen. I work on touch screen POS systems all day, and when I'm setting them up I use a keyboard and mouse from my desktop, because it's faster and easier. The software we run on them has large enough buttons that fine point manipulation isn't required (the OS is another story altogether); but unless your OS is specifically designed for touch screens, using said touch input is a major pain, even when calibrated properly.
Beside that, the mouse is the lazy man's input device. I don't have to move my arm at all to use a mouse, the same can not be said for a 15"+ touch screen.
So yes, the DS is awesome, but I would say it's because it's whole interface was developed for touch. PC's really aren't totally in line with that statement.
So the server met its.... Waterloo... ?
Gah! I just said that, didn't I?
Alas, poor Karma, I knew thee well.
Since when does Microsoft do what would be logical? They've got the majority of the world by the short ones, as it were, at the moment. They're trying to scare people away from the "SLOW, DUMB, BAD,...free..., ahem LOUSY" alternative.
If they can drill it into people's minds that Free (beer + speech) Software = Bad Software; people will continue to fork over hundreds of dollars for thier proprietary software. (Or pirate it, which MS itself has addmitted they don't mind so much, as long as people become dependant on MS software.)
OO.o is my office suite, yeah it's a bit slow... but as someone already pointed out: It's an OFFICE SUITE! Waiting 5 to 10 extra seconds isn't gonna kill you! The act of actually opening a document once OO.o is running is nigh-instant. I'll take OO.o for a few hundred less per install over Office any day.
Also works for me on Dapper.
Retail3-Linux 2.6.15-23-386 #1 PREEMPT Tue May 23 13:49:40 UTC 2006 i686 GNU/Linux
So it possibly could be an issue with the i686...
Actually, you're wrong. All my work is done with a wrist strap on, granted no mat, but I work on concrete, not carpet or linolium. So, yeah, way to make blanketed assumption!
I was thinking the same thing.
I have had horrendous experiences with ASUS and Gigabyte, and have been trying to figure out what company's mobos to use. If ECS actually tests each board prior to shipping it, it would make sense then to reason there would be less D.O.A. boards and less RMA'ing needed.
Saving me time and money? I'll take three!
I do part-time tech support / trainign in my off time from my fulltime job, as I'm sure many /. readers also do.
Geek Squad et al do a wonderful job marketing their services, and BestBuy slaps a "Authorized for Geek Squad Installation" sticker on practically anything that can be used near a computer. They thereby get the Joe and Janes of the world to pay steep charges for simple installation of gizmos and peripherals, virus removal etc.
And it's quite simply: Brilliant
I have made my pricing significantly lower than Geek Squad (the only real, read:advertising, competitor in my city), but high enough that in 3 hours of work, I can make more than a full day at my full time job.
All this and I have a steady flow of new customers. People fear technology: just ask the lady I'm teaching to scan her photos in, write word documents, send email, and use the web. $55/hr to teach stuff I can do in my sleep, and they think it's a bargain!
Fact of the matter: it is a bargain, compared to a community college course, or having Geek Squad do a house call to upgrade / get rid of malware / etc.
A lot of people like the little guy, too and would rather pay an independant guy... clip-on tie and black and white Beetle or not.
... I am in the wrong business!
Thanks to this little piece of trivia, I am going to begin my new profession!
Now to just go call Acme and order my new "Credit Card Fraud Kit"!!
Financial Independence here I come!!
What do you think? Is Disney destined to fade to black...
... stand there scratching your head wondering, "Where's my profit?"
Fade to Black.... Fade to Black.....Brilliant! A Full length 2-D Disney Animated film about METALLICA! Duh, how stupid could they be not to see this? It was right there in front of them the whole time!
1) Start with aging rockers
2) add a healthy dose of dwindling animation empire
3) make up some story, I mean, any story will do, really, it's METALLICA after all!!
4)
It's early and I think I'm funny, so I must apologize.
Well, can you blame him?
I only wish I had thought of it.
1) Write a step by step guide to something anyone can do.
2) Slap a LiveCD version of Linux on the back page
3) ???? (okay, only added for effect, I admit)
4) Profit!!
It could get Linux into the hands of some total neophytes that might not care if it's "Not Windows!!11!one!!" and just be pleased as pie to be operating a computer at all!
More power to him, IMO. (and I think the choice of distro is great for newbies, Mandrake Move is great for beginners.)
No state income tax: Check
No sales tax: Check
Voted best state to live in based on quality of life: Check
One of the top spots in the U.S. for small to mid size tech businesses: Check
Beautiful flora and fauna: Check
3 Cities on the "100 Best places to live" list:Check
Yeah, N.H. is pretty lame... I guess.
That sounds just like New Hampshire...
Just without my own personal gold mine.
or a bonus $1,000 a year...
"Honey, we're moving to Alaska!"
*smack*
"Honey... recent developments seem to imply that we're staying in N.H."
'nough said.
Those ~5-8 mb files are like shooting BB's down an aircraft hanger!!
Seriously, if I had "Internet2" at my disposal, I could most certainly find something more productive (6 CD Linux install in a few seconds? Yes please.)or at the very least more illegal to do with it than download a lot of crappy music!
Jigga Watts of processing pow3r!!
Comedy gold.
So will Tiger(Woods) be featured praising Tiger(OSX) on Tiger(direct.com)? Of course the version of Tiger that Tiger would be selling, using Tiger's namesake would have to be...
ouch
My head just *twitch* Tiger *twitch* errr exploded.
Yes, but they don't tell them they're working for Microsoft.
They use a third party.
And the Linux admins they hire to do it, cost significantly more than the Windows admins they hire to do it. You know, in a double blind, salary comparison... of... uh... nosepicking sysadmins.
Yeah, that's it!
Realistically, it doesn't matter much that they aren't x86. To me at least. I'm sure Linux will be running on it in no time.
Besides, they're aiming for the PDA market, which doesn't have x86 compatibilty as it stands anyhow.
I wonder if this technology will be adapted to the PC market in any way, shape or form. With such low power consumption, they are a fanless CPU, and a fanless power supply would probably be feasible I imagine. True silent computing sounds good to me... or is that doesn't sound...?
In any case, it is very cool tech, literally, and figuratively speaking.
Again, a media industry claiming a "loss" of n-dollars.
Let's go down to Steve on location who is going to sum this up for us, Steve? "Well it seems we've come to a conclusion, Hypothetical "losses" are just stupid."
"Back to you in the studio, Chip."
So yeah, joking aside, a 4% hypothetical loss, which likely is less than a 1% loss is probably not worth investing the money to establish a new anti-pirating technology. I mean, who pirates a DVD *instead* of buying it? I would imagine most people get "early releases" pirated, then go out and buy the real thing. At least that's what a friend told me.*looks around nervously*
Now audio CDs, well they have a much higher Hypothetical Loss(tm) percentage, so I can see them justifying such an investment.
It all comes down to them just pissing away what little PR they have left, bit by bit.
So he's an otherwise healthy 18 year old? And kiddie games are out of the question eh?
What do healthy 18 year olds like?
Pr0n of course!!
So make a webpage with math problems, and if he gets it right, he gets a pr0n pic. This would take all of 15 minutes to write the html for (okay maybe 45minutes if you get distracted by the Pr0n), and would be a simple incentive system.
Okay, okay, so it doesn't have to be nudie pics, but seriously, some sort of quickly made webpage with multiple problems that have an appealing reward might be useful (mp3 plays, or if he gets a high enough score you'll take him to dinner or something... if it's a fun outcome, it should be a positive experience for him, and he just might learn something too.
If you take my advice on the MP3, just promise not to tell the RIAA it was my idea! *adjusts his foil hat*
Imagine a beowulf cluster of octopi/octopodes C.N.S.... okay screw it, but still, that's some amazing "circutry".
I didn't expect to learn about octopus nervous systems today, but that's just cool.
1) The dam that gets constantly maintained is obviously the most leak prone.
2) The dam that is only repaired when a major leak occurs is clearly a superior implement of water retention.
Everyone thank Microsoft for pointing out an obvious mistake in our logic! THANK YOU MICROSOFT!!!
*sigh*