Fortunately, there are serious competitors like Cubase and ProTools.
Exactly. And Logic and Digital Performer. There are so many good options.
My main point is that these applications are more powerful than Microsoft Word - which is just a word processor. They are used for more demanding jobs - but they are still reliable, quite easy for even the novice to learn, but still provide enough depth for power users to do everything they want. I'd say the same about Final Cut Pro and Photoshop - dead simple to use and learn, but more than powerful enough for advanced users.
None. I'm just talking about software in general - user interfaces, reliability, power, etc.
Somehow other (smaller) companies have been able to make software that is powerful and reliable enough for professionals to rely on - and yet have good user interfaces that make them easy to use (despite being complex pieces of software) for many years. Professionals in fields like publishing, graphics and audio really rely on their software to make a living, and would not put up with Microsoft's standards.
But even in the word processing field, others have done better than Microsoft. Heck, the text editor in Pagemaker even does pretty well against Word. And that's not even the main purpose of the software!
Most non-MS software is even worse than Microsoft software, to be blunt.
You must be using some seriously messed-up software.
Even among the big closed-source names, Adobe photoshop kicks butt over anything Microsoft produce. Then there's all the pro audio or 3D graphics software which is amazing. Even more amazing is how tiny independent Mac developers have been doing a better job than microsoft for a couple of decades. Or the software you could get for the Amiga. Very little of this is Open Source, but there are/were tons of amazing third-party apps.
For geeks, we are a lot more invested in computers and software. I dislike Microsoft's lack of innovation, for example. Many slashdotters are also more keenly aware of their eploitation of users and developers, and their unvarnished greed.
However, the bulk of the population does not have the same perspective - they don't care much about innovation, and are not aware of how much Microsoft has exploited others. but the majority of the population still doesn't like Microsoft.
Why? I'd say the main reason is that their shit doesn't work properly, and it's really expensive. Many are forced into using Microsoft products by their workplace, other believe that there is no alternative. They see glossy Microsoft ads promising freedom, but then they have to use microsoft products every day, and the experience is the opposite of freedom and happiness. It's difficult to use interfaces, and stuff that just breaks. It's losing their work to some inexplicable error. Even if the error is the fault of a third-party application, the whole computer is branded "Microsoft Windows." Literally, even hardware is sold with Windows stickers on it! They know that microsoft is a huge corporation, and can't understand why they make such a shitty thing. After all, the other things they buy - cars, TVs, stereos - mostly work well and fulfill the desired tasks. but there you have Microsoft promising the world, but it's just a pain in the ass, and doesn't make anything easier.
I think that people now just have lowered expectations of Microsoft, to avoid disappointment. It's a survival mechanism. Around the Windows 95 days, people probably thought that Microsoft could bring some small happiness into their lives - far fewer people used computers back then. But now nearly everybody has to use them every day, so they can't be optimistic - they know it's going to be a shitty experience. And they can't do anything about it. If you got a lemon of a car, you could get furious, maybe file a lawsuit, or contact Consumer Reports complaining about shoddy merchandise. But with Windows, that is pointless. Start screaming about microsoft's shoddy merchandise, and people are like "Yeah, that's what Windows is like. Didn't you know?"
Put simply, if Microsoft were a car company, they would have been run out of business years ago.
Back in the day, when I used to regularly attend student protests, and take part in various other anti-government activities, I made it a point to never carry ID with me.
But how does that make you a troublemaker? That just makes you a good citizen. I was talking about "blow the whitehouse up" or "mafia crime boss" or "republican party lobbyist" kind of troublemakers.
If you can't produce one, then maybe you're someone that law enforcement might want to know about.
But then again, maybe you're just someone who forgets things or leaves them at home. Maybe you're a victim of pickpockets. Perhaps you put on the wrong pants.
It's not going to help law enforcement be more efficient if they go around interrogating everybody who forgets or loses their ID card. Actual troublemakers will probably be sure to have ID at all times.
That's my brain, you insensitive clod! Are you suggesting it overflows? I don't see how this is possible, as I've never managed to get it more than half-full.
It's not so much about the government interfering with "Scientific decisions" - which seems absurd, as scientists generally don't make political decisions. It's more about politicians interfering with science itself. Like all this bullshit over banning stem cell research.
It's also about politicians distorting and lying about the reports and findings of scientists. That is just as abhorrent when the politicians are distorting intelligence reports, or financial ones. So no, it's not a double standard. The politicians should be condemned whenever they distort and lie about stuff.
I've known about PRAM for many years now. I was hoping by 2007 I wouldn't have to know about it, as it would be made obsolete - and I would no longer have to "zap the PRAM" when things start acting funky. Sigh.
Any person that calls themselves a Christian but hates homosexuals, Muslims, non-Christians, liberals, etc. is sorely deluding themselves.
How are they deluding themselves? They are Christians if they believe in a Christian God. Remember, the Bible contends that we are all sinners. So, there's nothing about being a hateful sinner that precludes one from also being Christian.
Ob-Futurama:
Vandal #1: "I don't know which I like more: Smashing cars or smashing faces." Vandal #2: "Well, lucky you don't gotta decide tonight. Now come on, we got church tomorrow."
Look this game does not represent Christianity, or the qualities of its followers.
Not true. It obviously represents the qualities of a certain subset of Christians. Are you suggesting that the people who made/buy this game are not Christians?
I don't agree with those that say that this is a criminal stunt by Sony and deserves punishment in some way.
Is anyone saying it was a criminal act? I see lots of people saying it was unethical, that it is sleazy, and that perhaps such behavior should be banned. I don't see anyone saying it actually is criminal.
Slashdot Mirror
Glass cannot defeat mighty Wiimote! You need a steel plate in front of the TV.
Oh wait, I mean... Word!
Exactly. And Logic and Digital Performer. There are so many good options.
My main point is that these applications are more powerful than Microsoft Word - which is just a word processor. They are used for more demanding jobs - but they are still reliable, quite easy for even the novice to learn, but still provide enough depth for power users to do everything they want. I'd say the same about Final Cut Pro and Photoshop - dead simple to use and learn, but more than powerful enough for advanced users.
Is this one of those recursive initialisms like GNU?
RPM's Painfully Mutable
RPM's Pretty Mindwarping
RPM Perpetually Mangles
Somehow other (smaller) companies have been able to make software that is powerful and reliable enough for professionals to rely on - and yet have good user interfaces that make them easy to use (despite being complex pieces of software) for many years. Professionals in fields like publishing, graphics and audio really rely on their software to make a living, and would not put up with Microsoft's standards.
But even in the word processing field, others have done better than Microsoft. Heck, the text editor in Pagemaker even does pretty well against Word. And that's not even the main purpose of the software!
A few years? Dude, Defender's been out on other platforms for 26 years now. Besides, I think gamers are expecting a little more by now.
Damn, I thought that number was a score, and I was winning.
You must be using some seriously messed-up software.
Even among the big closed-source names, Adobe photoshop kicks butt over anything Microsoft produce. Then there's all the pro audio or 3D graphics software which is amazing. Even more amazing is how tiny independent Mac developers have been doing a better job than microsoft for a couple of decades. Or the software you could get for the Amiga. Very little of this is Open Source, but there are/were tons of amazing third-party apps.
However, the bulk of the population does not have the same perspective - they don't care much about innovation, and are not aware of how much Microsoft has exploited others. but the majority of the population still doesn't like Microsoft.
Why? I'd say the main reason is that their shit doesn't work properly, and it's really expensive. Many are forced into using Microsoft products by their workplace, other believe that there is no alternative. They see glossy Microsoft ads promising freedom, but then they have to use microsoft products every day, and the experience is the opposite of freedom and happiness. It's difficult to use interfaces, and stuff that just breaks. It's losing their work to some inexplicable error. Even if the error is the fault of a third-party application, the whole computer is branded "Microsoft Windows." Literally, even hardware is sold with Windows stickers on it! They know that microsoft is a huge corporation, and can't understand why they make such a shitty thing. After all, the other things they buy - cars, TVs, stereos - mostly work well and fulfill the desired tasks. but there you have Microsoft promising the world, but it's just a pain in the ass, and doesn't make anything easier.
I think that people now just have lowered expectations of Microsoft, to avoid disappointment. It's a survival mechanism. Around the Windows 95 days, people probably thought that Microsoft could bring some small happiness into their lives - far fewer people used computers back then. But now nearly everybody has to use them every day, so they can't be optimistic - they know it's going to be a shitty experience. And they can't do anything about it. If you got a lemon of a car, you could get furious, maybe file a lawsuit, or contact Consumer Reports complaining about shoddy merchandise. But with Windows, that is pointless. Start screaming about microsoft's shoddy merchandise, and people are like "Yeah, that's what Windows is like. Didn't you know?"
Put simply, if Microsoft were a car company, they would have been run out of business years ago.
But how does that make you a troublemaker? That just makes you a good citizen. I was talking about "blow the whitehouse up" or "mafia crime boss" or "republican party lobbyist" kind of troublemakers.
You don't play Voltron, Voltron plays you. For a chump. In a pimpmobile. With a daffodil.
But then again, maybe you're just someone who forgets things or leaves them at home. Maybe you're a victim of pickpockets. Perhaps you put on the wrong pants.
It's not going to help law enforcement be more efficient if they go around interrogating everybody who forgets or loses their ID card. Actual troublemakers will probably be sure to have ID at all times.
That's my brain, you insensitive clod! Are you suggesting it overflows? I don't see how this is possible, as I've never managed to get it more than half-full.
You idiot! They'll use sharks with frikkin lasers on their heads.
You got it all wrong. That's not an overflow bit. That's Voltron. I write all my dates in Year/Month/Voltron format.
Yeah, it sure beats the math that's cut with sugar or laxatives.
It's also about politicians distorting and lying about the reports and findings of scientists. That is just as abhorrent when the politicians are distorting intelligence reports, or financial ones. So no, it's not a double standard. The politicians should be condemned whenever they distort and lie about stuff.
I've known about PRAM for many years now. I was hoping by 2007 I wouldn't have to know about it, as it would be made obsolete - and I would no longer have to "zap the PRAM" when things start acting funky. Sigh.
Damn, I've been doing it backwards all these years. I must be a dyslexic Christian.
How are they deluding themselves? They are Christians if they believe in a Christian God. Remember, the Bible contends that we are all sinners. So, there's nothing about being a hateful sinner that precludes one from also being Christian.
Ob-Futurama:
Vandal #1: "I don't know which I like more: Smashing cars or smashing faces."
Vandal #2: "Well, lucky you don't gotta decide tonight. Now come on, we got church tomorrow."
Not true. It obviously represents the qualities of a certain subset of Christians. Are you suggesting that the people who made/buy this game are not Christians?
How do they levitate it? Does it stop working if I hold it in my hand, preventing it from being in mid-air?
Stupider? Bah! This website's as lousy as it is brilliant!
Is anyone saying it was a criminal act? I see lots of people saying it was unethical, that it is sleazy, and that perhaps such behavior should be banned. I don't see anyone saying it actually is criminal.