Already in the works. Try Orion's Arm for an "open-source" sci-fi universe. Some very interesting concepts there, though none of it's aimed at film or television.
Stop spreading your FUD. You don't need a 2Ghz machine to run a word processor. A 350Mhz Pentium II will run Open/Microsoft Office just fine, assuming you have enough memory.
Thank you for saving me the embarassment of a -1 Redundant. You took the words right out of my mouth.
If this guy has a 2+GHz machine that chokes on a friggin word processor, then I'd say he needs to shut down some other high-power apps running in the background, or maybe quit burning DVDs while typing up docs.
>> Barring these things, most average users will stick with the status quo. In fact, many users never use a program on their computer that did not come pre-installed.
I call bullshit.
I second that. How many times have any of us had to come to the rescue of techno-illiterate friends or family who had "tried to install this really cool new game/app but it just wouldn't work"? (NB: This usually turns out to be crapware, pawned off on an unsuspecting newbie, but that's beside the point.)
In fact, I don't personally know anyone who never uses any programs that didn't come preinstalled, even among my family members who don't understand the concept of remembering what folder they saved a file in so as to quickly find it later.
Me: "What folder did you put it in?"
Them: "Um, I dunno... what's a folder?")
Me: "Ok, what did you name the file, we'll find it that way."
Them: "Name? Uh, I just clicked 'Save'. Wasn't I supposed to?"
Me: [head explodes]
Point is, usually one of the first things new (inexperienced) users try to do is install a game they borrowed from a friend or found in the $10 bargain bin at Wal-Mart.
I am bombarded with advertising in every facet of life. Why do I have to be force-fed even more ads during my favorite form of escapism?
I couldn't agree more. And here's something else to think about...
Ok, games now have ads. As long as the ads make sense for the game, it won't be to intrusive for most players. BUT, not all game styles/genres are condusive to "natural"-feeling advertising, the most notable being fantasy games such as Warcraft, LOTR, Diablo, D&D, etc. Real-word advertising just doesn't work in those types of games. So they'll be created less often, because they don't generate the ad revenue like contemporary or near-future games (or even far-future... anyone remember the Pepsi ad in one of the Alien movies?).
So, ad-based games == less fantasy, more "real-world" games. It also means that any sci-fi game will have to be set in a fictional world that's takes place in a direct future of Earth where the products might still make sense (eg. the Alien movies' timeline)... which means that more imaginative distant-galaxy-type sci-fi gameworlds won't be created.
Another poster in this discussions suggested that the ads might spur creativity in games. I see the exact opposite happening.
Because in Earth-based biology females traditionally care for the young (at least in mammalian organisms). So, breasts are required for feeding the young. And since these "aliens" are invented by Earthly mammals, well, you get the idea.
But what I'd like to know, is why the hell to egg-laying aliens in sci-fi have breasts?! On Earth, egg-laying organisms don't nerse their young! WTF?!
Oh the A-10 can be missing, yes MISSING 35% of it's aircraft and still fly home safely
Not quite. The "35%" that you quote is of the aircraft's total wing area, including rear aelerons. So, the "Warthog" (actually Thunderbolt II, the pilots nicknamed it Warthog) can sustain a loss of up to 35% of its total lifting surface area and still stagger home.
The same is not true of the other designs, which have been forced to compete in competitive markets.
All of my examples (and yours, of UNIX) have done well in the market for over twenty years. The Space Shuttle has not, in my opinion.
And people wonder why NASA should be dismantled and replaced with a privatized, competetive space industry. It is only through competition that the other products mentioned underwent such vast improvements over the years, especially Unix and automobiles.
NASA has no competition here in the U.S. That lack of competition, combined with the ever-shrinking budget allocated by our gov't overlords, will always hold back the American space industry.
For better or worse, commercialization is the only way to really get anything done in this country.
If I get a complimentary CD containing an MP3 of myself singing an old Eagles tune at a local bar on kareoke night (shuddup, I was drunk!), can the RIAA sue me for it?!
I mean, technically it was a "cover" of an Eagles tune, complete with samples of the original music...
SP2 only "breaks" versions of ZoneAlarm from 5.0.590 and back, while the latest version of ZoneAlarm, 5.5.062 works just fine in SP2.
As for WordPerfect, from MS' page containing broken programs: Users may download WordPerfect Office 11 Service Pack 2 to correct this issue.
There's already a fix from Corel, so no problem there. Get the update, and continue using WordPerfect as you were.
As for Norton Anti-Virus, SP2 breaks NAV 2003, but Norton Anti-Virus 2005 is available as a prelacement/upgrade. If you're still not convinced on this, go here for more info on NAV.
Really, try to get a grip and do some objective investigation before going off on a wild rant.
I have Automatic Updates set to inform me of new available updates, then it gives me a description of what it does, before I choose whether or not to download and install the update.
This works remarkably well (for me anyway), and it's so simple to do.
Slashdot Mirror
Already in the works. Try Orion's Arm for an "open-source" sci-fi universe. Some very interesting concepts there, though none of it's aimed at film or television.
You're thinking of Data. But to confuse one for the other is quite understandable...
McCoy: "You a Vulcan, son? I don't see no pointed ears."
Data: "No sir. I am an android."
McCoy: "Almost as bad..."
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Run
Many people forget that there are TWO locations in the registry where programs store their auto-startup strings. Sneaky bastards...
Thank you for saving me the embarassment of a -1 Redundant. You took the words right out of my mouth.
If this guy has a 2+GHz machine that chokes on a friggin word processor, then I'd say he needs to shut down some other high-power apps running in the background, or maybe quit burning DVDs while typing up docs.
The consumer-drone sheeple strike again.
...when Liberals and Conservatives discover they share a common ancestry. [shudder]
I call bullshit.
I second that. How many times have any of us had to come to the rescue of techno-illiterate friends or family who had "tried to install this really cool new game/app but it just wouldn't work"? (NB: This usually turns out to be crapware, pawned off on an unsuspecting newbie, but that's beside the point.)
In fact, I don't personally know anyone who never uses any programs that didn't come preinstalled, even among my family members who don't understand the concept of remembering what folder they saved a file in so as to quickly find it later.
Me: "What folder did you put it in?"
Them: "Um, I dunno... what's a folder?")
Me: "Ok, what did you name the file, we'll find it that way."
Them: "Name? Uh, I just clicked 'Save'. Wasn't I supposed to?"
Me: [head explodes]
Point is, usually one of the first things new (inexperienced) users try to do is install a game they borrowed from a friend or found in the $10 bargain bin at Wal-Mart.
Great, just what I need, a manic-depressive CPU.
I couldn't agree more. And here's something else to think about...
Ok, games now have ads. As long as the ads make sense for the game, it won't be to intrusive for most players. BUT, not all game styles/genres are condusive to "natural"-feeling advertising, the most notable being fantasy games such as Warcraft, LOTR, Diablo, D&D, etc. Real-word advertising just doesn't work in those types of games. So they'll be created less often, because they don't generate the ad revenue like contemporary or near-future games (or even far-future... anyone remember the Pepsi ad in one of the Alien movies?).
So, ad-based games == less fantasy, more "real-world" games. It also means that any sci-fi game will have to be set in a fictional world that's takes place in a direct future of Earth where the products might still make sense (eg. the Alien movies' timeline)... which means that more imaginative distant-galaxy-type sci-fi gameworlds won't be created.
Another poster in this discussions suggested that the ads might spur creativity in games. I see the exact opposite happening.
brain.... ...hurts...
Yeah, neither do primates!
Oh, wait...
But what I'd like to know, is why the hell to egg-laying aliens in sci-fi have breasts?! On Earth, egg-laying organisms don't nerse their young! WTF?!
Aaaand there we have it. The new catch-phrase for all that is pretentious and pointless.
"Tits on a squid." Couldn't have said it better myself.
Didn't the Jetsons already have this? :)
And where the hell's my fold-up flying car...
You're right, it doesn't. However, a 50% loss rate (two terminal failures out of a fleet of four) does not bode well for the remaining two.
If half of all 747's fell out of the sky due to defects, and materials fatigue from overuse beyond their expected lifespans, would YOU get on one?
Not quite. The "35%" that you quote is of the aircraft's total wing area, including rear aelerons. So, the "Warthog" (actually Thunderbolt II, the pilots nicknamed it Warthog) can sustain a loss of up to 35% of its total lifting surface area and still stagger home.
All of my examples (and yours, of UNIX) have done well in the market for over twenty years. The Space Shuttle has not, in my opinion.
And people wonder why NASA should be dismantled and replaced with a privatized, competetive space industry. It is only through competition that the other products mentioned underwent such vast improvements over the years, especially Unix and automobiles.
NASA has no competition here in the U.S. That lack of competition, combined with the ever-shrinking budget allocated by our gov't overlords, will always hold back the American space industry.
For better or worse, commercialization is the only way to really get anything done in this country.
I mean, technically it was a "cover" of an Eagles tune, complete with samples of the original music...
Basically, the same way Metallica came into such massive popularity.
Oh irony, how very ironical thou art! :)
So... how long 'til they raise the Yamato from the ocean floor and make it space-worthy?
ZoneAlarm
Norton Anti-Virus
SP2 only "breaks" versions of ZoneAlarm from 5.0.590 and back, while the latest version of ZoneAlarm, 5.5.062 works just fine in SP2.
As for WordPerfect, from MS' page containing broken programs:
Users may download WordPerfect Office 11 Service Pack 2 to correct this issue.
There's already a fix from Corel, so no problem there. Get the update, and continue using WordPerfect as you were.
As for Norton Anti-Virus, SP2 breaks NAV 2003, but Norton Anti-Virus 2005 is available as a prelacement/upgrade. If you're still not convinced on this, go here for more info on NAV.
Really, try to get a grip and do some objective investigation before going off on a wild rant.
Review before download.
I have Automatic Updates set to inform me of new available updates, then it gives me a description of what it does, before I choose whether or not to download and install the update.
This works remarkably well (for me anyway), and it's so simple to do.
Your parents? :)
Ack! I'm a Yank and even I can't stomach that piss. Gimme some Yeungling Lager (homebrewed here in PA) or LaBatt Ice from up north instead.