I'm sure there's plenty of other programmers on this site. . . did anyone else get that e-mail from MS about some programming competition where you can win an XB360 or a Palm Pilot? Something about making AI for a game if I understand it.
It sounds sorta cool, but I'm not sure I'll have much time with all my other extracurriculars and school.
"Back in 2004, Microsoft announced that Longhorn would automatically detect a computer's graphics capability and show one of three GUIs"
Back in 2004 MS announced a lot of features that didn't make it into Longhorn. Maybe this isn't one of them, but still - with all the feature cuts, what's the benefit of upgrading other than looks?
"I can't be the only one who'd pay to use a gmail that -didn't- scan my email, a google desktop that -doesn't- send my documents to google, etc, etc..."
ALL mail providers scan your e-mail - Hotmail, Yahoo!, AOL. . . you've got to be the only one on/. to not know that - come on!
And Google Desktop doesn't send your documents to Google if you tell it not to.
But anyways, no, I don't know of any other desktop search tools - I don't use desktop search.
Well then why are there still gamers running Win2k?
And FYI there is no reason why Halo 2 should need any spectacular hardware - it runs fine on a 7-year-old console, why shouldn't it work on a decent new PC? I'd say anyone with a 64+ MB graphics card should be ready to rock.
I'd be more than willing to buy Halo 2 PC - but not if it requires Vista. I'd rather have Steve Ballmer throw his chair at me than pay him for shitty products. I'd gladly pay for the decent ones like their keyboards and Halo, though.
You're probably not a gamer then - a lot of hardcore gamers pay big bucks for really souped-up PCs that would blow the Xbox/360 to pieces.
Plus, the hardware requirements shouldn't be that heavy since the original Xbox didn't really have anything fancy in it by today's standards. Also, many laptops now have gaming capabilities - so road warriors addicted to Halo can play on-the-go. It'd be handy for LAN parties.
Can someone please explain why information sharing (the Internet) is a good idea? Can someone please explain why making your files available to others (the Internet, file-sharing programs like BitTorrent) is a good idea?
And can someone please explain to parent why it's a good idea to RTFA? It specifically says, "If a consumer chooses to use it, the new "Search Across Computers" feature will store copies of the user's Word documents, PDFs, spreadsheets and other text-based documents on Google's own servers".
If you don't want Google searching your files, quit your bitching and select "No, thanks, don't upload my files" or whatever.
This is something the user has to enable on his/her own. It's not like they're going to post all your important docs online without your consent. If you're worried about it, just make sure the damn checkbox isn't checked.
I think this is one of the biggest problems with people criticizing open-source.
You misunderstand us, my friend. It's only a select few of us who want to make "users switch from MS to free stuff". We don't care what you use, we just want people to realize that there are other options.
Too many people bitch and moan about how much MS software freezes and other things, and so we tell them that Linux is more stable (because, at least in my experience, it is). Some people might complain about the graphics tools that come with Windows and Office, and so we tell them about GIMP (which, undeniably, is MUCH more powerful than anything that comes with Windows or Office). People get pissed at IE for all its problems, we point them to Firefox or Mozilla.
Not that we want these people to switch if what they're using works for them, but we don't want to have to listen to their bitching and complaining about how IE sucks, how they hate having to reformat Windows, how WinXP and Office are so expensive, etc.
I'm more than happy with The GIMP, but if you're willing to shell out an extra $600 or so for Photoshop (which appears to be its going price) just because it has CMYK, I have no problem with that - certainly that price tag is way too high for my liking, but I'm not buying it so that's not my problem. . .
And as far as what you said about usability goes. . . we're programmers, not usability experts. MS and other software companies actually have experts that advise on how to make software easy to use. Many OS projects don't have that, and many never will.
Why?
"Usability isn't that difficult". Says you. Says me, and a million other programmers. Do you see the problem with this thinking? It's human nature. "Well it's easy for me to use." Of course, as a programmer, MY interface makes sense to me. It's never going to get fixed because the people who see it as a problem don't want to fix the code, and the people who are willing to fix the code don't see it as a problem.
I haven't used anything with a touchscreen in a while, but I don't remember any Palm Pilots or tablet PCs that can register two points of contact at once - it must be doing something special to recognize that they're touching the screen in two places.
Actually, Apple practically invented the whole handheld PC industry with the Newton. It wasn't a "pre-existing technique", they had it first.
Plus, I believe that prior art is not subject to copyright law, so things like the Palm Pilot, the Nintendo DS, and other things are exempt.
Not that I agree with Apple doing this. Part of the reason that they do this is probably because of their past when they got totally screwed over by MS, and they just don't want it to happen again.
And Sony has no right to govern the contents or usage of anyone's computer, whether that person is stealing music or not.
Slashdot Mirror
It's a cool idea they've got letting you download games with a subscription. . . anyone know if they'll let you download home-cooked games/mods?
It sounds sorta cool, but I'm not sure I'll have much time with all my other extracurriculars and school.
Are you saying that politicians are human? I've seen the pictures - John Kerry is more like a Frankenstein.
Profitable? Heh. Tell that to Infinium Labs.
Software companies still support Win2k, though, don't they? Certainly they won't drop XP support simply because Vista's out there now.
Back in 2004 MS announced a lot of features that didn't make it into Longhorn. Maybe this isn't one of them, but still - with all the feature cuts, what's the benefit of upgrading other than looks?
ALL mail providers scan your e-mail - Hotmail, Yahoo!, AOL. . . you've got to be the only one on /. to not know that - come on!
And Google Desktop doesn't send your documents to Google if you tell it not to.
But anyways, no, I don't know of any other desktop search tools - I don't use desktop search.
I have a feeling MS is trying to rally support for Vista. Which, to me, shows how much Vista will suck.
And FYI there is no reason why Halo 2 should need any spectacular hardware - it runs fine on a 7-year-old console, why shouldn't it work on a decent new PC? I'd say anyone with a 64+ MB graphics card should be ready to rock.
I'd be more than willing to buy Halo 2 PC - but not if it requires Vista. I'd rather have Steve Ballmer throw his chair at me than pay him for shitty products. I'd gladly pay for the decent ones like their keyboards and Halo, though.
Halo 2 for Xbox didn't need DX10; why should Halo 2 PC?
Actually I'm pretty sure it's called "Hot Silicon".
Not everyone cares how it looks. I still like playing the original Halo PC and the original Counter-Strike and DOD.
You're probably not a gamer then - a lot of hardcore gamers pay big bucks for really souped-up PCs that would blow the Xbox/360 to pieces.
Plus, the hardware requirements shouldn't be that heavy since the original Xbox didn't really have anything fancy in it by today's standards. Also, many laptops now have gaming capabilities - so road warriors addicted to Halo can play on-the-go. It'd be handy for LAN parties.
That would be SWEET if they did.
I wouldn't count on it, though - now that Bungie is owned by MS, I'm willing to bet that they're dead set on preventing it from running on Linux.
I hope they do, though - I'd buy it. I love Halo, I just don't like Windows.
And can someone please explain to parent why it's a good idea to RTFA? It specifically says, "If a consumer chooses to use it, the new "Search Across Computers" feature will store copies of the user's Word documents, PDFs, spreadsheets and other text-based documents on Google's own servers".
If you don't want Google searching your files, quit your bitching and select "No, thanks, don't upload my files" or whatever.
This is something the user has to enable on his/her own. It's not like they're going to post all your important docs online without your consent. If you're worried about it, just make sure the damn checkbox isn't checked.
You misunderstand us, my friend. It's only a select few of us who want to make "users switch from MS to free stuff". We don't care what you use, we just want people to realize that there are other options.
Too many people bitch and moan about how much MS software freezes and other things, and so we tell them that Linux is more stable (because, at least in my experience, it is). Some people might complain about the graphics tools that come with Windows and Office, and so we tell them about GIMP (which, undeniably, is MUCH more powerful than anything that comes with Windows or Office). People get pissed at IE for all its problems, we point them to Firefox or Mozilla.
Not that we want these people to switch if what they're using works for them, but we don't want to have to listen to their bitching and complaining about how IE sucks, how they hate having to reformat Windows, how WinXP and Office are so expensive, etc.
I'm more than happy with The GIMP, but if you're willing to shell out an extra $600 or so for Photoshop (which appears to be its going price) just because it has CMYK, I have no problem with that - certainly that price tag is way too high for my liking, but I'm not buying it so that's not my problem. . .
And as far as what you said about usability goes. . . we're programmers, not usability experts. MS and other software companies actually have experts that advise on how to make software easy to use. Many OS projects don't have that, and many never will.
Why?
"Usability isn't that difficult". Says you. Says me, and a million other programmers. Do you see the problem with this thinking? It's human nature. "Well it's easy for me to use." Of course, as a programmer, MY interface makes sense to me. It's never going to get fixed because the people who see it as a problem don't want to fix the code, and the people who are willing to fix the code don't see it as a problem.
(It's a pretty sweet video - a guy on a goped races a 2001 Trans Am with a 150hp shot of nitrous. . . and wins.)
When I said "handheld PC" I meant like most (or at least many) of today's handhelds, where you use your finger or a stylus to "write" on it.
Clippy: It looks like you're riding a couch! Would you like to use the couch-riding wizard?
I haven't used anything with a touchscreen in a while, but I don't remember any Palm Pilots or tablet PCs that can register two points of contact at once - it must be doing something special to recognize that they're touching the screen in two places.
Plus, I believe that prior art is not subject to copyright law, so things like the Palm Pilot, the Nintendo DS, and other things are exempt.
Not that I agree with Apple doing this. Part of the reason that they do this is probably because of their past when they got totally screwed over by MS, and they just don't want it to happen again.
And Sony has no right to govern the contents or usage of anyone's computer, whether that person is stealing music or not.
Hmmm. . .
That's called the "iTouch".
Yeah but I gotta say the rainbow-colored Windows flag isn't much better.