We've had the Indian math guy and a science guy, but where's the angry grammar Nazi guy?
Oh nevermind, probably wandering about this very moment at Slashdot.
I'll sell you 256 meg of RAM for $3000! It's super-awesome! It's so good, it'll turn your computer into solid diamond! Diamonds have the best framerate of all gemstones!
Your point is well-taken. More money does not always = better components, but usually this is the case when you're buying seperate components. It's all about knowing the product and its maker, as with anything. Getting premium RAM is different from getting good RAM is different from getting bad RAM (forgive the mathematical-style sentence) also.
Anyway, I used the same logic as you about RAM at first. I bought two cheap sticks (512 + 512), but I found I was disappointed (they cost about 60 USD or around there) from what I expected (went from 225 MB on a laptop). My more knowledgeable friend assured me that buying one really good stick of 512 was much better than 2 cheap ones. From my experience with it, he was right. That may not hold true in all cases, however (the RAM I got was about 140 for one stick).
It's true; you get so much more from assembling your own computer than just money. Not only can you get the parts that you want, but you have an idea of what you're getting as a whole and the quality of your system.
RAM is always my favorite bitch in packaged systems. The memory size, I find, can mean very very little. There are 512 MB sticks that are fast, and there are 512 MB sticks that are slow. It's just that simple. The companies that make these built-for-sale systems want to spend as little money on "up-to-spec" components as they can. You can buy a stick of 512 for something like 50 bucks if you want to. But it follows that a smart self-assembling buyer will reason that more expensive RAM (100+ USD) is better and really awesome RAM is even better.
Almost every component is like that. Video cards, hard drives, cooling, audio and other PCI's; and, probably most importantly, upgradeability (ie motherboard features) are all important things that mostly are money savers in the mind of package sellers. If they can get cheaper RAM that runs OK and still charge their high prices, they WILL.
By ordering your own components, you're matching them with each other to get the performance/price balance that you REALLY want. Additionaly, you know what to expect (!) with your system. If a packaged system seems to be doing something weird (running slower than expected, pausing, not booting, making noises) you really can't know what's wrong with it until you tear it apart and experiment with the components you think may be a problem. But with a system that you arranged, you'll have a really good idea of what everything SHOULD be doing and will know much more easily what could be the problem. I wish I could express more of the many advantages of arranging your own system, but I just can't seem to grasp them right now.
They are not magic education boxes. If someone wants to learn something, they can learn it just as well, if not better, on a computer (internet) as from published material (providing the internet has the material needed for learning whatever). If the students do not want to learn, they will neither do well with or without computers. They will play games and get distracted on computers or force-read given material (if they read it at all).
Of course a computer can easily be distracting to even those who do want to learn, but the principle stands. Expecting someone to learn simply by giving them computer access is about as silly as expecting to them learn simply by giving them books.
It does seem incredibly ambitious to offer FREE hosting basically 'forever' for practically anything. Just imagine a year from now if this site had really caught on as a media nexus, and say there were a few millions users (possibly even more). Most of these users probably will not host large files (.iso's, long videos etc.), but some inevitably will.
Even using Bittorrent to offset some bandwidth for very popular content, I'd say they'd be spending a VERY pretty penny on bandwidth alone. Who knows how much data could be stored on their servers at that time. And it's not unreasonable to assume that it can only grow larger as time passes. So where is the money coming from? Or has someone in clueless land become head of a committee somewhere?
Besides all that, how are they going to regulate potentially huge amounts of files? How are they keeping everything legal? Is someone reviewing uploaded files for copyright/patent infringements? Just some things to consider...
To be fair, console graphics are not usually up to snuff with even below-state-of-the-art (ie "not a 6800 Ultra") for long at all. The PC graphics, in addition, are generally more customizable (especially with console commands). A knowledgable PC user with a decent video card can find a VERY comfortable balance between performance and pristine image glory. The consoles are basically limited in this area, and the graphics are usually capped at a point to where they won't interfere with performance (usually this level of 'compromise' is notably 'lower' than that on a gamer box with a video card).
However, that doesn't mean people necessarily are that picky about graphics. I am, and, although I'm not against playing a console game, I'd much rather play that game on my PC and meddle with the graphics options and the console to get my fix. Also PC games have more options as far as distribution/extras go. For example, Starcraft. On N64, it had all the SP missions and many multiplayer maps. On the PC, you got the SP missions, multiplayer maps, the ability to get and CREATE more SP and MP maps, the potential for mods, and just numerous little perks that you don't get with a console. That may have changed with recent consoles (haven't owned anything past Playstation 1 and N64), but I'm willing to bet that there are definite advantages other than graphics.
The advantage with the consoles is what you mentioned - the games. Especially fighter-style games (Tekken, Mortal Kombat, Killer Instinct etc.) come to my mind because I find them very entertaining, especially with multiplayer.
When I finished watching Constantine, I found it amazing that I had not heard of such 'blasphemy' (I live in the South) beforehand. I found the movie very enteraining, but the idea that someone is condemned to hell for one crime, the idea that a person so condemned (and a smoker and alcoholic) could be an exorcist, the showing of heretical texts, Gabriel (one of the few named angels in the Bible) disobeying the orders of God, visiting hell temporarily by sitting in a chair (!) to commune with the dead (!!) -- all of this I found shockingly out of sync with what the fundamentalist crowd preaches.
Like I said, I couldn't believe that I had not heard it condemned before I saw it. Ironically, I visited a few Christian movie review sites, and they actually praised the movie and encouraged people to go see it! I am a Christian myself, and I don't understand this at all. If I was one of those ultra-fundamentalist guys, I would much rather someone see a movie about evolution than someone watch and potentially take seriously some silly movie with monster demons and heretical texts that seems to portray a Christian viewpoint. I dunno, I guess they didn't much pay much attention since the themes were more Catholic than anything else.
I know what you mean. I live in the South in an ultra ULTRA-conservative area (central Mississippi). I myself am a religious person and have certain beliefs, but the audacity of some of these people is simply sickening. Their arrogance is so repulsive. They even turn me off because their job should be to witness by example, by humility and patience. But they visciously attack and demonize even the stupidest things. I can see why many people outright despise anyone associated with religion. Then again there are people that are like this with or without associations to religion.
I'm just thankful that there are people like you that will at least be mindful that some people have differing opinions. I know a LOT of non-religious people, and many of them are my friends. If I pester them and confront them about my faith, they would probably detest me. I just respect their beliefs as they respect mine.
Anyway, a little more on-topic, I kinda doubt that IMAX would cancel movies just because of crazy fundamentalist concerns. Even down here, businesses are not likely to throw away money for such things. There are probably other factors that are causing the cancellation of these movies. And what is the deal with the last example? I kinda sorta somewhat understand the first two.
European countries use "." and "," reverse from the US in that respect. Most other countries pro bably do as well. I'll leave someone else to Google or Wiki an article about it.
the kind of backwards, illogical thinking the RIAA has taken on about customers. They hunt down those who share music, but, while I question their methods and intentions sometimes, I can understand that (although they easily go too far). But then they turn right around and view even their most loyal, paying customers as the same people who share files, and they create a system where honest customers are paying for the misdeeds of non-customers.
I know in high school they do all this "one person can ruin your privileges" bullshit, but this is the real world with real customers. Treat everyone like a guilty party in a high school, and you may hear some whining parents, but if you do that in the business world, you're screwing yourself over because the customers can bite back.
Even besides that, DRM on paid-for music just doesn't make logical sense. If someone is going to buy your music instead of getting it for free elsewhere, there's not much chance they're one of those 'evil pirate' people. DRM may not bother all customers, but it will bother some. Why create headaches for paying customers? Are you really so afraid they're going to maybe give it to their friend? Is your DRM going to stop that in the first place?
As StarWreck said, the only logical thing to do in a situation where you have people infringing your copyright so easily is to make it as easy and painless for the paying customer as possible. Don't restrict them. Don't hold a knife to their back. Don't threaten them. Just treat them like you would anyone else that walked up to you with money.
Slashdot Mirror
We've had the Indian math guy and a science guy, but where's the angry grammar Nazi guy? Oh nevermind, probably wandering about this very moment at Slashdot.
Your sig seems to be appropriate advice here for the French.
In French, rouge is red.
Your point is well-taken. More money does not always = better components, but usually this is the case when you're buying seperate components. It's all about knowing the product and its maker, as with anything. Getting premium RAM is different from getting good RAM is different from getting bad RAM (forgive the mathematical-style sentence) also.
Anyway, I used the same logic as you about RAM at first. I bought two cheap sticks (512 + 512), but I found I was disappointed (they cost about 60 USD or around there) from what I expected (went from 225 MB on a laptop). My more knowledgeable friend assured me that buying one really good stick of 512 was much better than 2 cheap ones. From my experience with it, he was right. That may not hold true in all cases, however (the RAM I got was about 140 for one stick).
RAM is always my favorite bitch in packaged systems. The memory size, I find, can mean very very little. There are 512 MB sticks that are fast, and there are 512 MB sticks that are slow. It's just that simple. The companies that make these built-for-sale systems want to spend as little money on "up-to-spec" components as they can. You can buy a stick of 512 for something like 50 bucks if you want to. But it follows that a smart self-assembling buyer will reason that more expensive RAM (100+ USD) is better and really awesome RAM is even better.
Almost every component is like that. Video cards, hard drives, cooling, audio and other PCI's; and, probably most importantly, upgradeability (ie motherboard features) are all important things that mostly are money savers in the mind of package sellers. If they can get cheaper RAM that runs OK and still charge their high prices, they WILL.
By ordering your own components, you're matching them with each other to get the performance/price balance that you REALLY want. Additionaly, you know what to expect (!) with your system. If a packaged system seems to be doing something weird (running slower than expected, pausing, not booting, making noises) you really can't know what's wrong with it until you tear it apart and experiment with the components you think may be a problem. But with a system that you arranged, you'll have a really good idea of what everything SHOULD be doing and will know much more easily what could be the problem. I wish I could express more of the many advantages of arranging your own system, but I just can't seem to grasp them right now.
0wn3d.
Of course a computer can easily be distracting to even those who do want to learn, but the principle stands. Expecting someone to learn simply by giving them computer access is about as silly as expecting to them learn simply by giving them books.
Even using Bittorrent to offset some bandwidth for very popular content, I'd say they'd be spending a VERY pretty penny on bandwidth alone. Who knows how much data could be stored on their servers at that time. And it's not unreasonable to assume that it can only grow larger as time passes. So where is the money coming from? Or has someone in clueless land become head of a committee somewhere?
Besides all that, how are they going to regulate potentially huge amounts of files? How are they keeping everything legal? Is someone reviewing uploaded files for copyright/patent infringements? Just some things to consider...
However, that doesn't mean people necessarily are that picky about graphics. I am, and, although I'm not against playing a console game, I'd much rather play that game on my PC and meddle with the graphics options and the console to get my fix. Also PC games have more options as far as distribution/extras go. For example, Starcraft. On N64, it had all the SP missions and many multiplayer maps. On the PC, you got the SP missions, multiplayer maps, the ability to get and CREATE more SP and MP maps, the potential for mods, and just numerous little perks that you don't get with a console. That may have changed with recent consoles (haven't owned anything past Playstation 1 and N64), but I'm willing to bet that there are definite advantages other than graphics.
The advantage with the consoles is what you mentioned - the games. Especially fighter-style games (Tekken, Mortal Kombat, Killer Instinct etc.) come to my mind because I find them very entertaining, especially with multiplayer.
Like I said, I couldn't believe that I had not heard it condemned before I saw it. Ironically, I visited a few Christian movie review sites, and they actually praised the movie and encouraged people to go see it! I am a Christian myself, and I don't understand this at all. If I was one of those ultra-fundamentalist guys, I would much rather someone see a movie about evolution than someone watch and potentially take seriously some silly movie with monster demons and heretical texts that seems to portray a Christian viewpoint. I dunno, I guess they didn't much pay much attention since the themes were more Catholic than anything else.
I'm just thankful that there are people like you that will at least be mindful that some people have differing opinions. I know a LOT of non-religious people, and many of them are my friends. If I pester them and confront them about my faith, they would probably detest me. I just respect their beliefs as they respect mine.
Anyway, a little more on-topic, I kinda doubt that IMAX would cancel movies just because of crazy fundamentalist concerns. Even down here, businesses are not likely to throw away money for such things. There are probably other factors that are causing the cancellation of these movies. And what is the deal with the last example? I kinda sorta somewhat understand the first two.
From the Department of Redundancy Department.
European countries use "." and "," reverse from the US in that respect. Most other countries pro bably do as well. I'll leave someone else to Google or Wiki an article about it.
I know in high school they do all this "one person can ruin your privileges" bullshit, but this is the real world with real customers. Treat everyone like a guilty party in a high school, and you may hear some whining parents, but if you do that in the business world, you're screwing yourself over because the customers can bite back.
Even besides that, DRM on paid-for music just doesn't make logical sense. If someone is going to buy your music instead of getting it for free elsewhere, there's not much chance they're one of those 'evil pirate' people. DRM may not bother all customers, but it will bother some. Why create headaches for paying customers? Are you really so afraid they're going to maybe give it to their friend? Is your DRM going to stop that in the first place?
As StarWreck said, the only logical thing to do in a situation where you have people infringing your copyright so easily is to make it as easy and painless for the paying customer as possible. Don't restrict them. Don't hold a knife to their back. Don't threaten them. Just treat them like you would anyone else that walked up to you with money.
Plead. Just in case some don't know or aren't sure.