It's just a question of maybe 5 years or less until there will be software patents in the EU. Software patent supporters like Microsoft or SAP have way too much influence on EU politicians.
Those EU suckers give a fuck about what EU citizens think or want.
If I was building a HTPC, I'd use Linux, 'cause it's highly customizable since you can strip it down the way you need it. I think Windows is totally inappropriate for HTPCs especially 'cause of all that DRM shit.
the K-this and K-that names - it's childish and unprofessional
But the K indicates that a particular app is written for KDE and that's a practical hint for KDE users as it means a certain level of integration with the desktop environment used.
If I have to choose between two apps which have nearly the same functionality (theoretically speaking), as a KDE user, I'd chose the one written for KDE containing a K in it's name.
-DBS
Cultural differences?
on
KDE 4 Screenshots
·
· Score: 4, Interesting
You know Slashdot is american based when you read all the negative comments about KDE.
Over here in Germany it's enormously popular.
Must be some kind of clash of civilizations...
I'm using it, too, as I like the integration of apps and window manager. On the negative side, the high level of integration can be security problem as Windows shows.
I pretty much liked it. Hope, the other episodes will be available online as well.
Especially Moss is a funny character, reminds me of some geeks I know and a bit of myself. He and Jen make a good team for some nice jokes (e.g., when she's pretending to talk to someone on the phone and he wants to plug it in afterwards).
I don't like the third main character, even don't remember his name, since he seems a bit overacted.
Their boss talking to the computer ("Hello?" - Pause - "Helloho?") is hilarious as well. His stupidity reminds me of General Melchett from Black Adder.
Altogether, I've got hundreds of games for my Playstation (One), Amiga 500, C64, Plus/4 and my PC, but all in all there's only four games I play regularly:
Especially, Turrican II by Factor 5 and Katakis by Rainbow Arts are the definition of "computer game" to me. Besides, the best games ever made were released in the mid-eighties and early-nineties, the "golden age" of computer gaming.
Here in Germany we've already got similar laws which are a lot stricter than in the US since computer games have a very negative image here.
Brutal games are "indexed". If you want to buy them you have to ask for them and show your identity card. Furthermore, it's not allowed to present these games in places that can be accessed by children and teenagers. So in usual dvd or computer game stores you can only get them from "under the table" (German expression).
Violent games get an "FSK 18" or "Keine Jugendfreigabe" rating, which means, it's strictly _prohibited_ to sell them to under-eighteens. But it's allowed to promote them publicly.
Games that use symbols prohibited by German constitution (such as swastikas like in Wolfenstein 3D), anything else related to Nazi Germany or are EXTREMELY brutal (like Man Hunt) get "beschlagnahmt" which comes very much close to a complete ban. Only difference to a ban is you are allowed to own them privatly although it's illegal to import them to Germany.
So, since it's common sense, that violent content has to be kept away from kids, in Germany no one really understands the debate going on about this issue in the US.
In contrast to the US, violent content is considered to be much more harmful to kids than sexual content.
Terraforming on Mars is possible. But it would take probably at least a couple of centuries.
What's needed on Mars is a stable atmosphere so that liquid water can be kept on the planetary surface instead of getting lost in space.
Creating a stable atmosphere can be accomplished by bacteria that have to be imported to Mars. They will produce the gases needed to "build" an atmosphere. The more of these bacteria exist on Mars the more gases are produced and the atmosphere gets more stable.
There's an interesting highly scientific article somewhere on the web, but unfortunately I lost the link. While anybody was watching the latest Mars missions, obviously nobody noticed this article, which has been around for at least two years or so...
The GP2X from some korean company will _officially_ ship with a Linux-SDK based on SDL lib, so anyone can start coding games. They go the other way in contrast to any other console vendor out there.
Although the GP2X is not as powerful as the PSP, I consider buying one, 'cause it'll be a great start into console game development.
1. Star Wars Ep4 2. Star Wars Ep4 3. Star Wars Ep4 4. Star Wars Ep4 5. Star Wars Ep4 6. Star Wars Ep4 7. Star Wars Ep4 8. Star Wars Ep4 9. Star Wars Ep4 10. Star Wars Ep4
I think, you nobody can deny that some stuff Microsoft produces is quite good. I pretty much liked the Visual BASIC IDE and the DirectX 8.1 SDK that just stunned me: All the tons of example code both in C++ and Visual BASIC and the countless pages of detailed documentation that came with it.
But nonetheless I chose to dump Microsoft and use Linux instead. Because it's not about the technical side of things. Microsoft is a company that acts unethical. Think of software patents, DRM, Trusted Computing, FUD campaings against Open Source, their close-to-be-criminal business methods to fight rivals and potential rivals.
These are not the values I expect from a powerful company like Microsoft to represent. And that's why I'm not using Microsoft software.
During my studies in history I've learned that history _never_ repeats itself. Simply because if there's a situation _similar_ to one from the past there are a lot of factors that are simply completely different.
ESR, RMS... AFAIK Linus' full name is Linus Benedict Torvalds. We should start to call him LBT from now on.
John Carmack's middle name begins with D (couldn't find the full name), so that makes him JDC.
So, if JDC talks about the Doom port to the OS initiated by LBT and releasing source code under the GPL created by RMS and is totally ignoring ESR, no non-geek will understand a word...
Probably no one here notices the mistake because I guess only few people here know that "das" ist German for neuter "the".
But if you use the word "keyboard" in German (although then, Germans think of the music instrument), then "das" is right, because the "keyboard" used in German is neuter.
Slashdot Mirror
It's just a question of maybe 5 years or less until there will be software patents in the EU. Software patent supporters like Microsoft or SAP have way too much influence on EU politicians.
Those EU suckers give a fuck about what EU citizens think or want.
Maybe you want to visit www.finetunes.de. It's german-based but it provides an english frontend. Payment is handled through Firstgate.
-DBS
If I was building a HTPC, I'd use Linux, 'cause it's highly customizable since you can strip it down the way you need it. I think Windows is totally inappropriate for HTPCs especially 'cause of all that DRM shit.
-DBS
Yeah, maybe games are easily portably then, but actually, I don't want to see my games running on Windows...
-DBS
Waahh, untrue prejudice! On the other side... "Looking for Freedom" is a great party song.
-DBS
Not until the GNOME guys release some disgusting KDE cartoons...
-DBS
But the K indicates that a particular app is written for KDE and that's a practical hint for KDE users as it means a certain level of integration with the desktop environment used.
If I have to choose between two apps which have nearly the same functionality (theoretically speaking), as a KDE user, I'd chose the one written for KDE containing a K in it's name.
-DBS
You know Slashdot is american based when you read all the negative comments about KDE.
Over here in Germany it's enormously popular.
Must be some kind of clash of civilizations...
I'm using it, too, as I like the integration of apps and window manager. On the negative side, the high level of integration can be security problem as Windows shows.
-DBS
Maybe the notorious GVU?
Regards,
-DBS
I pretty much liked it. Hope, the other episodes will be available online as well.
Especially Moss is a funny character, reminds me of some geeks I know and a bit of myself. He and Jen make a good team for some nice jokes (e.g., when she's pretending to talk to someone on the phone and he wants to plug it in afterwards).
I don't like the third main character, even don't remember his name, since he seems a bit overacted.
Their boss talking to the computer ("Hello?" - Pause - "Helloho?") is hilarious as well. His stupidity reminds me of General Melchett from Black Adder.
-Dennis B. Schramm
Altogether, I've got hundreds of games for my Playstation (One), Amiga 500, C64, Plus/4 and my PC, but all in all there's only four games I play regularly:
Starcraft (PC/Win98)
Katakis (C64)
Turrican II (Amiga 500)
Chaos Engine (Amiga 500)
Especially, Turrican II by Factor 5 and Katakis by Rainbow Arts are the definition of "computer game" to me.
Besides, the best games ever made were released in the mid-eighties and early-nineties, the "golden age" of computer gaming.
Regards,
Dennis B. Schramm
AFAIK, Transmeta was the first x86 processor maker to support Trusted Computing, so it's a bad choice:
u le
r s/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trusted_Platform_Mod
According to an unofficial member list, VIA is a member of the Trusted Computing Group.
http://www.againsttcpa.com/tcpa-members.html
Acoording to the offical list, it's not, so I'm a bit unsure about VIA.
https://www.trustedcomputinggroup.org/about/membe
Regards,
Dennis B. Schramm
Here in Germany we've already got similar laws which are a lot stricter than in the US since computer games have a very negative image here.
Brutal games are "indexed". If you want to buy them you have to ask for them and show your identity card. Furthermore, it's not allowed to present these games in places that can be accessed by children and teenagers. So in usual dvd or computer game stores you can only get them from "under the table" (German expression).
Violent games get an "FSK 18" or "Keine Jugendfreigabe" rating, which means, it's strictly _prohibited_ to sell them to under-eighteens. But it's allowed to promote them publicly.
Games that use symbols prohibited by German constitution (such as swastikas like in Wolfenstein 3D), anything else related to Nazi Germany or are EXTREMELY brutal (like Man Hunt) get "beschlagnahmt" which comes very much close to a complete ban. Only difference to a ban is you are allowed to own them privatly although it's illegal to import them to Germany.
So, since it's common sense, that violent content has to be kept away from kids, in Germany no one really understands the debate going on about this issue in the US.
In contrast to the US, violent content is considered to be much more harmful to kids than sexual content.
Regards,
-DBS
I guess the guy (not Bill, the other one ;-P ) was fired the next day. I feel kind of sorry for him since it wasn't his fault.
-Dennis B. Schramm
Look at "Download Song"! They even outsourced recording to India!!!
Terraforming on Mars is possible. But it would take probably at least a couple of centuries.
What's needed on Mars is a stable atmosphere so that liquid water can be kept on the planetary surface instead of getting lost in space.
Creating a stable atmosphere can be accomplished by bacteria that have to be imported to Mars. They will produce the gases needed to "build" an atmosphere. The more of these bacteria exist on Mars the more gases are produced and the atmosphere gets more stable.
There's an interesting highly scientific article somewhere on the web, but unfortunately I lost the link. While anybody was watching the latest Mars missions, obviously nobody noticed this article, which has been around for at least two years or so...
Regards,
Dennis B. Schramm
The GP2X from some korean company will _officially_ ship with a Linux-SDK based on SDL lib, so anyone can start coding games. They go the other way in contrast to any other console vendor out there.
Although the GP2X is not as powerful as the PSP, I consider buying one, 'cause it'll be a great start into console game development.
Regards,
Dennis B. Schramm
1. Star Wars Ep4
2. Star Wars Ep4
3. Star Wars Ep4
4. Star Wars Ep4
5. Star Wars Ep4
6. Star Wars Ep4
7. Star Wars Ep4
8. Star Wars Ep4
9. Star Wars Ep4
10. Star Wars Ep4
Man, that was easy!
-Dennis B. Schramm
What else do you expect from them?
;-P
Apart from that: This Microsoft-Linux black and white scheme makes life so much easier and clearer in this confused and globalized world.
I think, you nobody can deny that some stuff Microsoft produces is quite good. I pretty much liked the Visual BASIC IDE and the DirectX 8.1 SDK that just stunned me: All the tons of example code both in C++ and Visual BASIC and the countless pages of detailed documentation that came with it.
But nonetheless I chose to dump Microsoft and use Linux instead. Because it's not about the technical side of things. Microsoft is a company that acts unethical. Think of software patents, DRM, Trusted Computing, FUD campaings against Open Source, their close-to-be-criminal business methods to fight rivals and potential rivals.
These are not the values I expect from a powerful company like Microsoft to represent. And that's why I'm not using Microsoft software.
Regards,
Dennis B. Schramm
During my studies in history I've learned that history _never_ repeats itself. Simply because if there's a situation _similar_ to one from the past there are a lot of factors that are simply completely different.
Regards,
Dennis B. Schramm
ESR, RMS... AFAIK Linus' full name is Linus Benedict Torvalds. We should start to call him LBT from now on.
John Carmack's middle name begins with D (couldn't find the full name), so that makes him JDC.
So, if JDC talks about the Doom port to the OS initiated by LBT and releasing source code under the GPL created by RMS and is totally ignoring ESR, no non-geek will understand a word...
Regards,
Dennis B. Schramm
Probably no one here notices the mistake because I guess only few people here know that "das" ist German for neuter "the".
But if you use the word "keyboard" in German (although then, Germans think of the music instrument), then "das" is right, because the "keyboard" used in German is neuter.
Regards,
Dennis B. Schramm
As far as I know, the Model M were built from 1985 until 1990 (see Wikipedia article). So how can the poster own a Model M from 1984?
Regards,
Dennis-Bendert Schramm
"The EFF also lists four alternative music services which sell unrestricted files."