The "x" rating of DVD burners is an entirely different beast from the "x" rating for CD-R burners. In other words, a 1x DVD writer is not the same as a 1x CD writer.
I'm not sure what the equivalency rating is. I think a 1x DVD is equivalent to a 4x CD, so this would be the equivalent of 64 CD burners for the raid, not 4.;)
Unless you're talking about an MPAA raid instead of an RIAA raid. Then you'd be correct.
Kids software is notoriously incompatible with actual Windows installations. You're as likely to be fighting with it running Windows XP as you are with Lindows!
The idea is that a console without protection is a console that any idiot with a compiler and a CD burner can make games for. If your console gets flooded with a shitload of crappy indy games on the store shelves, your console dies (ref: Atari 2600).
Reading the Penny Arcade rant about copy protection inspired me to write my own rant, illustrating the economic absurdity of utilizing copy prevention technology. The link is here.
Unfortunately, people who use MSN as their ISP are forced to use MS LookOut as their e-mail client because the SMTP servers require "Secure Password Authentication" support, and none of the clients you have listed support it.
An animal doesn't just one day decide "today, I'm going to evolve." One post talks about how the Bombadier Beetle could have evolved, but describes the process as if the beetle is making the decisons--"today I'm going to make these vaginations deeper, tomorrow I make this special chemical."
Okay, how's this: I hate Epson! I bought their Perfection 1250U and have had ZERO PROBLEMS WITH IT!! What kind of self-resepecting company makes products that are easy to install and use?
The page actually states that the closure is temporary, while the GPL violations are remedied. There is absolutely nothing on that page to indicate that the software is being permanently discontinued.
Are we supposed to be mad at the Evil Corporation(tm) for violating the GPL, or dancing in the streets because Epson is taking proactive steps to remedy said GPL violations? Please, Slashdot, tell me how I'm supposed to think!
The lack of native support is supposed to be one of the selling points of using XUL (e.g. "you don't have to worry if the OS supports it.") However, this only reinforces bad design principles.
For example, let's say your application is a Playstation game. You cannot simply change a few API calls to get the game working on the Dreamcast--the Dreamcast controller does not have the same number of buttons!
This leaves you with two options:
1. Shoe-horn it and lose some functionality. Fast, but makes the Dreamcast version inferior.
2. Redesign the UI with the Dreamcast in mind to support the analog stick/trigger buttons.
Using XUL is essentially choosing the first option and leaving the XUL libraries to handle the "shoehorning." Given the choice, it is almost always beneficial (from a usability standpoint, not necessary financially) to redesign the UI with your target platform in mind.
Sure, there is initial appeal to having your application look the same on all platforms. Who really wants to write the same application N times? However, cross-platform consistency isn't necessarily a good thing.
Each platform has its own quirks with how it should behave. For example, menus in Windows are expected to be static (that is, they stay visible after the user releases the mouse button), while Macintosh menus tend to be rubber-band (menu disappears when user releases mouse button). In Windows, a menu action simply happens while on Macintosh, the selected menu item flashes several times.
I could go on and on with the differences between the Windows and Macintosh platforms (to say nothing of UNIX!). The point is that an application that acts differently from every other program is an application that is harder to learn. Users are forced to keep two sets of expectations, which completely defeats the purpose of using a cross-platform GUI!
Yes, you can tweak the UI so that it looks more like the host operating system. This is a thin veneer, however, as the emperor's proverbial clothes come into view when the OS theme is changed.
It makes sense that the UI should be abstracted from the rest of the application, but XUL is not the answer.
"Boy bands" is actually a misnomer--groups like N'Sync or Backstreet Boys are, in fact, vocal groups because they do not play instruments.
Those so-called "Live" performances? The first half is spruced up karaoke, the last half is lip synced (as the vocal groups' vocal chords start to give out).
Thus, if you try to hijack a concert, you'll just be singing your song with N'Sync music blaring in the background and your band playing instruments that aren't even plugged in. And nobody wants that.
why isn't there a reference server or a client API or something? They can't seriously expect entrants to implement the entire client from this spec without a server for debugging!
Can we please call a moratorium on the use of the Underpants Gnomes bit? This is getting as bad as "All your base," and at least AYBABTU had a string of funny photoshops to give it some merit!
Or you can get the SP-90 and flash it with the SP-250's firmware. All the advanced features, except you don't get a backlight. Oh, and it's like $30 cheaper.:)
Slashdot Mirror
No, no, no.
;)
The "x" rating of DVD burners is an entirely different beast from the "x" rating for CD-R burners. In other words, a 1x DVD writer is not the same as a 1x CD writer.
I'm not sure what the equivalency rating is. I think a 1x DVD is equivalent to a 4x CD, so this would be the equivalent of 64 CD burners for the raid, not 4.
Unless you're talking about an MPAA raid instead of an RIAA raid. Then you'd be correct.
Nathan
Actually #1 was Titanic. :) You nailed the others, though.
Nathan
It's the cripple.
It's himself.
The butler did it.
Nathan
XP Home Edition: $99
Paint Shop Pro 7.0: $99
MSN8: $21.95/mo (free to existing MSN members)
Photoshopping together some fake Longhorn screens to get your 15 minutes of fame: Priceless!
Nathan
Kids software is notoriously incompatible with actual Windows installations. You're as likely to be fighting with it running Windows XP as you are with Lindows!
Nathan.
I don't think it's optional. Nathan
The idea is that a console without protection is a console that any idiot with a compiler and a CD burner can make games for. If your console gets flooded with a shitload of crappy indy games on the store shelves, your console dies (ref: Atari 2600).
Nathan
Reading the Penny Arcade rant about copy protection inspired me to write my own rant, illustrating the economic absurdity of utilizing copy prevention technology. The link is here.
Nathan
Anyone care to post a mirror for those of us who cannot view the site thanks to workplace filters?
Nathan
Unfortunately, people who use MSN as their ISP are forced to use MS LookOut as their e-mail client because the SMTP servers require "Secure Password Authentication" support, and none of the clients you have listed support it.
Score one for vendor lock-in!
Nathan
Who says he's talking about the Peter Jackson version of Return of the King? ;)
* Starts humming 'Frodo of the nine fingers, and the ring of dooooom....'
Nathan
An animal doesn't just one day decide "today, I'm going to evolve." One post talks about how the Bombadier Beetle could have evolved, but describes the process as if the beetle is making the decisons--"today I'm going to make these vaginations deeper, tomorrow I make this special chemical."
Nathan
Nathan
To get those vetetables, nuts, beans, and whatnot, millions upon millions of insects, arachnids, and other small creatures must be mass-slaughtered.
What, you'll cry over a horse but not over a horsefly?
I disrespect your blatant hypocrisy.
Nathan
Okay, how's this: I hate Epson! I bought their Perfection 1250U and have had ZERO PROBLEMS WITH IT!! What kind of self-resepecting company makes products that are easy to install and use?
I DEMAND SHODDY WORKMANSHIP!
Nathan
The page actually states that the closure is temporary, while the GPL violations are remedied. There is absolutely nothing on that page to indicate that the software is being permanently discontinued.
Nathan
Are we supposed to be mad at the Evil Corporation(tm) for violating the GPL, or dancing in the streets because Epson is taking proactive steps to remedy said GPL violations? Please, Slashdot, tell me how I'm supposed to think!
Nathan
The lack of native support is supposed to be one of the selling points of using XUL (e.g. "you don't have to worry if the OS supports it.") However, this only reinforces bad design principles.
For example, let's say your application is a Playstation game. You cannot simply change a few API calls to get the game working on the Dreamcast--the Dreamcast controller does not have the same number of buttons!
This leaves you with two options:
1. Shoe-horn it and lose some functionality. Fast, but makes the Dreamcast version inferior.
2. Redesign the UI with the Dreamcast in mind to support the analog stick/trigger buttons.
Using XUL is essentially choosing the first option and leaving the XUL libraries to handle the "shoehorning." Given the choice, it is almost always beneficial (from a usability standpoint, not necessary financially) to redesign the UI with your target platform in mind.
Nathan
Sure, there is initial appeal to having your application look the same on all platforms. Who really wants to write the same application N times? However, cross-platform consistency isn't necessarily a good thing.
Each platform has its own quirks with how it should behave. For example, menus in Windows are expected to be static (that is, they stay visible after the user releases the mouse button), while Macintosh menus tend to be rubber-band (menu disappears when user releases mouse button). In Windows, a menu action simply happens while on Macintosh, the selected menu item flashes several times.
I could go on and on with the differences between the Windows and Macintosh platforms (to say nothing of UNIX!). The point is that an application that acts differently from every other program is an application that is harder to learn. Users are forced to keep two sets of expectations, which completely defeats the purpose of using a cross-platform GUI!
Yes, you can tweak the UI so that it looks more like the host operating system. This is a thin veneer, however, as the emperor's proverbial clothes come into view when the OS theme is changed.
It makes sense that the UI should be abstracted from the rest of the application, but XUL is not the answer.
Nathan
"Boy bands" is actually a misnomer--groups like N'Sync or Backstreet Boys are, in fact, vocal groups because they do not play instruments.
Those so-called "Live" performances? The first half is spruced up karaoke, the last half is lip synced (as the vocal groups' vocal chords start to give out).
Thus, if you try to hijack a concert, you'll just be singing your song with N'Sync music blaring in the background and your band playing instruments that aren't even plugged in. And nobody wants that.
Nathan
why isn't there a reference server or a client API or something? They can't seriously expect entrants to implement the entire client from this spec without a server for debugging!
Nathan
A DS-3 is essentially a T-1 on steroids. Instead of only having 24 64k channels, a DS-3 has 672 64k channels.
So if the ISP is selling you 24 channels of the DS3 and calling it T1, then you're getting a T1. Quitcherbitchin.
Nathan
Can we please call a moratorium on the use of the Underpants Gnomes bit? This is getting as bad as "All your base," and at least AYBABTU had a string of funny photoshops to give it some merit!
Thank you,
Nathan
The steps to flash the firmware can be found here . The basic gist:
Nathan
Or you can get the SP-90 and flash it with the SP-250's firmware. All the advanced features, except you don't get a backlight. Oh, and it's like $30 cheaper. :)
Nathan