yet just as closed minded as the college described in the article.
Apparently the guy that purchased the Macs I described in the original post, or an open minded Mac user must have had mod points, because I was modded "flamebait".
'Nuf said.
PS - there is sarcasm contained in this and the original post.
You must have either a short memory or you missed out on all the fun. NamesDirect suffered a massive meltdown of its DNS servers a few years back, leaving hundreds of thousands of domains in the dark for a week or more
I guess I did miss out! I've never used their DNS, opting to use the servers my employer uses.
That's a most unfortunate event but I hope Namesdirect has learned their lesson, and that others have learned from it too. Technology can fail, but the failure to address an issue with one's customer is inexcusable.
This goes to show why Wikipedia should never be trusted as the only source for information.
Sinbad made an appearance on Leo LaPorte's "Screen Savers" program on ZDTV back around 1999 or 2000. ZDTV was the predecessor to TechTV a/k/a G4. During the interview, Sinbad mentioned he had a T1 line in his house in LA. Leo, who at that point was just getting comfortable with DSL, was green with envy, as were most tech junkies on the set.
So, while his career may not be at its zenith, I learned from that interview that he is a closeted geek and really enjoys tech stuff. I wouldn't be surprised if he reads/. from time to time.
I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of other registrar/hosts do things like this to "help out" what's left of their customer base!
If I may put in a plug for my registrar - Namesdirect, a/k/a Mydomain.com. I've been with them for eight years, smooth and stable operation. Recently had a problem transferring a domain name from 1&1internet to Mydomain, but after an email and phone call, they straightened it out.
While I have no experience with the registrars mentioned here, I think the problems described are bound to happen when a business tries to sell its product or service too cheap. This is why I won't deal with Godaddy. Their Superbowl ads might be interesting, but those come with a huge cost, and I think that money would be better spent on the business infrastructure, rather than flashy "cool" advertising. I just think back to all the dot coms that advertised on the Superbowl in 1999 - almost every one disappeared by 2001.
A lot of designers still use Macs because they've always used Macs - simple as that.
You got that right.
I used to work for a small publishing firm that had Macs in the customer service department. The Macs were used for maintaining the subscription database using an application from a small time developer. The guy that made the decision to buy Macs to do this job was biased in favor of Macs just because they weren't PCs. The Macs sucked at maintaining this type of data and were tossed out shortly after I started there.
The graphics department was all Macs of course, and for good reason. Back then, Pagemaker, Photoshop and other graphics apps weren't available or ready for the PC platform. Today, the graphics people still use Macs, even though the current state of PC apps is every bit as good as the Mac versions, and some of the graphics guys even told me that. It's just that they feel PCs are souless, corporate machines, and everyone knows, graphics people are so hip and progressive yet just as closed minded as the college described in the article.
"and Viacom's product is now less valuable because thousands or millions of people have already seen it." Actually, this tends to make it more valuable. At least in some cases.
According to my attorney, who is a total Luddite, when I mentioned this suit to him at lunch today, he first thought was to ask how Viacom would show they were damaged. Google/Youtube will claim the showing of clips gave greater value to the plaintiff, so, even though they may lose on the copyright beef, Viacom will not be cashing any big checks if Google's attorneys play it right.
I'm no lawyer, but I pay for one and he's damned good too.
If you want Linux to be mainstream-friendly, one of the absolute must-haves is that the user must NEVER EVER EVER, any any circumstances, have to either (1) edit a text config file by hand, or (2) use the command line.
No exceptions, no "most of the time" situation, no "power users only" weasel words. Config files and command lines are OK for developers, but not for mainstream users -- end of story.
I'll get flamed for it, but I speak the truth.
No flames from me, because you've nailed it.
Those of us involved in the tech world/business sometimes lose sight of the fact that non-tech users are not the least bit interested in what's under the hood. Just like their automobile, they want to sit down, hit the switch and go. Out of 199 million vehicles on the road, how many drivers do work on their own car? I'd guess it to be a tiny fraction.
I break down users (not techies) into a couple of categories: knowledgeable users who fully understand the apps they use, and how to navigate around the file structure, be it Mac or Windows. In the other camp, there are those who struggle when anything is the least bit out of line - an app that opens is asking to do an update, or Windows is asking to update or some such thing. At that point, their fragile confidence falls apart and their on the phone to the help desk.
Some Linux distros expect users to be more than just knowledgeable; they must be ready to open the hood and get their hands a little dirty. It's good that GUIs exist to minimize this, but, for all the disdain for anything that comes out of Redmond, MS has tried to make the computer more of an appliance than a tool for tinkerers. Subjectively, most would agree they haven't done that, but they (and Macs) are a lot closer to that goal than any Linux distro is yet.
2007-03-08
TaxGeek06d, a major release with *numerous* bug fixes, more extensive testing based on the IRS PATS (Participants Acceptance TeSting) test input suite, improvements to the user interface, and more supported forms, has been released. Several additional forms have been introduced as well.
TurboTax and Taxcut, the two apps with the largest combined user base, have both had significant "bugs" since their inception. They do provide a mechanism for updates each time the app starts up and these are from established publishers.
While I like open source apps, this is one I'm passing on. I admit, tax stuff makes my eyes glaze over, but the big guys have had a lot of years to get it right and I'd prefer not to be a beta tester where the IRS is involved. That's a battle I'd rather not have to fight.
I see your comments have been modded "insightful", and deservedly so.
Maybe when the entire nation is wired with fiber from end to end downloading might make sense. But even on the Comcast 8Mbps service I'm on, there's no way I'm tying up my connection to download possibly a 9GB movie. Subjectively, what movie in recent years would be worth it?
In the time it would take me to download and burn to disc, I could make the trip to the local Blockbuster three times over.
You get it alright, it's those infatuated with the thought of downloading that don't. Hey, if anyone wants a sample of what it'll be like, just fire up your usenet reader and find a movie file to download. Make sure you have your lunch and dinner standing by.
But because the movie industry is losing SO much cash hand over foot we now have to purchase the special rental copies from suppliers at roughly £40 a copy. We can`t afford to buy as many dvd` - so they lose more money. Go figure...
Well, in this case, you should be blaming the Screen Actors Guild or whatever unions control talent. The rental versions cost more because a big chunk of the additional money goes to the actor's unions (SAG, etc). This was negotiated years ago when the unions realized what a cash cow videotape movies for home use was. The studios have to honor the contract to keep from getting sued.
I find CompUSA has always had a much wider selection of computer parts like video boards, drives, networking gear, etc. And their sale prices are often excellent. For example their hard drive sale prices are usually very competitive with the best mail order prices. Ditto for memory and video boards. I think their downfall was getting into home theatre gear like flat screen TVs and such.
I would agree with your comments. They took their eye off the ball. But, they must have seen a growing softness in the component business, which drove them to expand into the all encompassing consumer electronics market.
Here in the Boston area, computer "shows" used to be a big deal. Now, there's just one or two that continue to attract a crowd of any size. The smaller shows have disappeared. The reason - online purchasing of components and the fact that very good machines can be bought for about the same price as a custom build. I'm not talking about the smokin' hot gamer machine with the $500 video card and 4 GB of RAM. I'm referring to the fast 64-bit PC, capable of running Vista without modification. Personally, I used to build machines for friends, relatives and a former employer, but in recent years, it's just as cost effective to buy them pre-built.
Competing in the general consumer market selling TVs in a store called "CompUSA" didn't help them at all.
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,529208,00.html
That was the first article I found. Find the rest yourself. Good comeback, "find the rest myself."
Just to point out a few things about the "quote": the article was written in July 2001 - that's before September 11. The USA's perception of the world has changed dramatically since then, wouldn't you agree? It was also only six months into Bush's presidency. Not much had happened at that time, except for China shooting down a US Naval aircraft. And, I have to mention that the Guardian is as a left-wing, USA-hating paper as there is in the UK. Sorry, your opinion falls apart because you're clueless, but you're in good company here.
I love the political articles here on/. because they bring out the best the left has - brainless, uninformed, the-truth-just-doesn't-matter crowd. Makes for good reading.
We have to stand up to Iran because they're a bunch of potential mass murderers? Why, yes, we and other free nations need to stand up to the Iranian clerics and president because they have told us what they're going to do. Or should we not believe them? See, once upon a time, there was this fellow from Austria, a civil service clerk named Adolph, who wrote a little book called "Mein Kampf" where he described his vision of the world and how he would change it. No one took him very seriously. By May 18, 1945, much of the world realized what he had done and realized we should have listened.
By standing up to them, I mean pressuring the clerics and government officials of Iran to stop what they're doing. I don't want to see the US or any country involved in another hot war. But, it will be by their hand if war comes. Besides, what's wrong with pressure? The US President gets it all the time from all corners. Let them feel the heat too.
As for the "we don't give a shit" comment, you are wasting your time demanding an exact quote. No I'm not, asking for him to cite a source shows the fellow has done some research, not just shot from the hip or continuing to spread misconceptions. I provided quotes from, of all sources, Al-Jazeera, a news agency hardly considered friendly to the West, and the US in particular. They reported Ahmadinejad's words when they could have buried them.
We have clearly shown that we only use the U.N. when it is to our advantage to do so, and we'll happily use treaties to browbeat other countries, while ignoring our own obligations under the same treaties.
The US provides 60% of the UN's operating budget. If anyone is entitled to use it to their "advantage", it's the US. Personally, I'd be in favor of reducing our contribution to 10% and letting the despots of third world countries that populate that rat's nest run it into the ground. A few years ago Syria's representatives were heading up a human rights committee. Syria, the country that supports mindless terrorism in charge of human rights - egad.
For further information, read your Chomsky (rather than selected, out-of-context quotes from David Horowitz), and look up the definition of the term "American Exceptionalism". Ah, where did I quote Horowitz? I don't mean to disrespect Mr. Horowitz, but while he was smoking hemp and being a good left-winger, I was already more than half-way through my Masters in American history at Boston College. His conversion to conservatisim is the result of doing something many college students fail to do - question the nonsense being taught by professors who couldn't exist in the real world. I had my share of them, and I managed to bust down much of their nonsense at a time when Vietnam made damn near everyone a left-winger.
Oh, it's no big deal, at least in your world. Where is that, by the way?
Why can't Iran do all the things that the U.S. do all the time?
They do, don't they?
Iran has freedom of the press....well, if you only read the government approved press,sure.
Iran has freedom of religion.... sure, if you're Muslim..otherwise, you're dead.
Iran has freedom to assemble with your friends....as long as they all agree with the Mullahs.
Iran has freedom for women to be educated, manage their own lives and.... hmmm...never mind.
Can you quote a source where a US Government official has said "we don't give a shit about international treaties"? I'd like to see it, because it doesn't exist. See, some treaties would deny the US its sovereign powers, and give more power to the fine leaders of Iran, like President Ahmadinejad who says Israel should be wiped off the map. Can you offer a link to a quote where Bush, Cheney or any government official ever said "we don't give a shit...?" If the US refuses to be part of any treaty preventing the "militarization" of space, it's in our best interest because it must mean Iran or other non-democratic states will have more power.
What is the problem with Iran investing in nuclear research and space technologies? Oh nothing, as long as the deaths of millions of people is not a problem for you. Letting them "invest" in the methods to kill millions is something responsible leaders and their citizens in such "terrible" societies like the US shouldn't allow.
The U.S. is still the only country to use a nuclear weapon on another country, so I'd highly recommend they stop their own "posturing" until they get some credibility. What posturing is the US doing? Standing up to, by their own words, a bunch of potential mass murderers? It may be time the US helps Iran with it's nuclear program by testing a US built nuke in the desert and televising it to the Iranian people. Maybe they'd find their gonads and start removing the mullahs and Ahmadinejad from power with extreme prejudice. The people of Iran are under a crushing thumb and deserve better.
Gotta disagree--the free 3 months of XM in my car got me hooked, and after I had it for a while my wife *had* to have it. We both have long commutes, and having the selection it offers is well worth the money to us. It's like cable tv--I'm not paying for commercial free so much as paying for selection.
Couldn't agree more. I was commuting 70 miles per day when I first tried it out. I got a portable XM radio and installed it in my car. Completely changed my drive. I bought a Chrysler in 2006 that had a Sirius radio built in, but instead, upgraded the radio to a Pioneer unit with XM, along with heavier speakers. While the XM portion didn't have all the features of the portable, I love having a non-commercial alternatives and other great stuff like MLB baseball.
Some think sat radio may not last, and I'm afraid I'm in that camp too. I do believe they will top out on the number of subscribers. The merger probably won't happen, because FCC rules prevent such a mergeer from taking place. They may change, but don't hold your breath.
What advantage do you get from playing with a playstation? It seems many people here assume that if it's got a computer in it, it's educational.
Strong thumbs?
Raising three kids has shown me that while I appreciate the tech-iness of some of the toys out there, when they were small, the kids are quite happy playing with the basics - blocks, dolls, small Matchbox-type cars and even green plastic Army men. It wasn't until the two oldest hit their teen years did tech stuff become interesting to them. My soon-to-be 10 year old daughter has surprised me by being an avid player of "Nintendogs", and I understand some of her friends are intense users too. So equal opportunity in gaming has arrived! But, she also has a collection of Barbies and a couple of American Girl dolls and she's quite content to be developing her imagination playing quietly with them.
Methinks tech toys work best for older kids, but the ones aimed at the younger crowd are a solution in search of a problem.
Slashdot Mirror
Apparently the guy that purchased the Macs I described in the original post, or an open minded Mac user must have had mod points, because I was modded "flamebait".
'Nuf said.
PS - there is sarcasm contained in this and the original post.
I guess I did miss out! I've never used their DNS, opting to use the servers my employer uses.
That's a most unfortunate event but I hope Namesdirect has learned their lesson, and that others have learned from it too. Technology can fail, but the failure to address an issue with one's customer is inexcusable.
Sinbad made an appearance on Leo LaPorte's "Screen Savers" program on ZDTV back around 1999 or 2000. ZDTV was the predecessor to TechTV a/k/a G4. During the interview, Sinbad mentioned he had a T1 line in his house in LA. Leo, who at that point was just getting comfortable with DSL, was green with envy, as were most tech junkies on the set.
So, while his career may not be at its zenith, I learned from that interview that he is a closeted geek and really enjoys tech stuff. I wouldn't be surprised if he reads /. from time to time.
If I may put in a plug for my registrar - Namesdirect, a/k/a Mydomain.com. I've been with them for eight years, smooth and stable operation. Recently had a problem transferring a domain name from 1&1internet to Mydomain, but after an email and phone call, they straightened it out.
While I have no experience with the registrars mentioned here, I think the problems described are bound to happen when a business tries to sell its product or service too cheap. This is why I won't deal with Godaddy. Their Superbowl ads might be interesting, but those come with a huge cost, and I think that money would be better spent on the business infrastructure, rather than flashy "cool" advertising. I just think back to all the dot coms that advertised on the Superbowl in 1999 - almost every one disappeared by 2001.
You got that right.
I used to work for a small publishing firm that had Macs in the customer service department. The Macs were used for maintaining the subscription database using an application from a small time developer. The guy that made the decision to buy Macs to do this job was biased in favor of Macs just because they weren't PCs. The Macs sucked at maintaining this type of data and were tossed out shortly after I started there.
The graphics department was all Macs of course, and for good reason. Back then, Pagemaker, Photoshop and other graphics apps weren't available or ready for the PC platform. Today, the graphics people still use Macs, even though the current state of PC apps is every bit as good as the Mac versions, and some of the graphics guys even told me that. It's just that they feel PCs are souless, corporate machines, and everyone knows, graphics people are so hip and progressive yet just as closed minded as the college described in the article.
They could try, but when the artists they claim to be protecting start to scream for the heads of the lawyers, things would change.
It would only take a 20 - 30% drop in a short period to get their attention. The trick is getting the boycott organized and getting publicity.
Actually, this tends to make it more valuable. At least in some cases.
According to my attorney, who is a total Luddite, when I mentioned this suit to him at lunch today, he first thought was to ask how Viacom would show they were damaged. Google/Youtube will claim the showing of clips gave greater value to the plaintiff, so, even though they may lose on the copyright beef, Viacom will not be cashing any big checks if Google's attorneys play it right.
I'm no lawyer, but I pay for one and he's damned good too.
No flames from me, because you've nailed it.
Those of us involved in the tech world/business sometimes lose sight of the fact that non-tech users are not the least bit interested in what's under the hood. Just like their automobile, they want to sit down, hit the switch and go. Out of 199 million vehicles on the road, how many drivers do work on their own car? I'd guess it to be a tiny fraction.
I break down users (not techies) into a couple of categories: knowledgeable users who fully understand the apps they use, and how to navigate around the file structure, be it Mac or Windows. In the other camp, there are those who struggle when anything is the least bit out of line - an app that opens is asking to do an update, or Windows is asking to update or some such thing. At that point, their fragile confidence falls apart and their on the phone to the help desk.
Some Linux distros expect users to be more than just knowledgeable; they must be ready to open the hood and get their hands a little dirty. It's good that GUIs exist to minimize this, but, for all the disdain for anything that comes out of Redmond, MS has tried to make the computer more of an appliance than a tool for tinkerers. Subjectively, most would agree they haven't done that, but they (and Macs) are a lot closer to that goal than any Linux distro is yet.
Not if I have to drop that $40 to find out that I'm only getting $100 or so back.
but you get to write off the $40 as "Tax prep fees".
TurboTax and Taxcut, the two apps with the largest combined user base, have both had significant "bugs" since their inception. They do provide a mechanism for updates each time the app starts up and these are from established publishers.
While I like open source apps, this is one I'm passing on. I admit, tax stuff makes my eyes glaze over, but the big guys have had a lot of years to get it right and I'd prefer not to be a beta tester where the IRS is involved. That's a battle I'd rather not have to fight.
You have to be F***ing kidding.
This could lead to the birth of a new industry.
Damn glad I don't have to change that light bulb.
I see your comments have been modded "insightful", and deservedly so.
Maybe when the entire nation is wired with fiber from end to end downloading might make sense. But even on the Comcast 8Mbps service I'm on, there's no way I'm tying up my connection to download possibly a 9GB movie. Subjectively, what movie in recent years would be worth it?
In the time it would take me to download and burn to disc, I could make the trip to the local Blockbuster three times over.
You get it alright, it's those infatuated with the thought of downloading that don't. Hey, if anyone wants a sample of what it'll be like, just fire up your usenet reader and find a movie file to download. Make sure you have your lunch and dinner standing by.
But because the movie industry is losing SO much cash hand over foot we now have to purchase the special rental copies from suppliers at roughly £40 a copy. We can`t afford to buy as many dvd` - so they lose more money. Go figure...
Well, in this case, you should be blaming the Screen Actors Guild or whatever unions control talent. The rental versions cost more because a big chunk of the additional money goes to the actor's unions (SAG, etc). This was negotiated years ago when the unions realized what a cash cow videotape movies for home use was. The studios have to honor the contract to keep from getting sued.
My mom owned a three woks and I often wondered why she needed so many. Who knew she was an undercover techie ?
I would agree with your comments. They took their eye off the ball. But, they must have seen a growing softness in the component business, which drove them to expand into the all encompassing consumer electronics market.
Here in the Boston area, computer "shows" used to be a big deal. Now, there's just one or two that continue to attract a crowd of any size. The smaller shows have disappeared. The reason - online purchasing of components and the fact that very good machines can be bought for about the same price as a custom build. I'm not talking about the smokin' hot gamer machine with the $500 video card and 4 GB of RAM. I'm referring to the fast 64-bit PC, capable of running Vista without modification. Personally, I used to build machines for friends, relatives and a former employer, but in recent years, it's just as cost effective to buy them pre-built.
Competing in the general consumer market selling TVs in a store called "CompUSA" didn't help them at all.
Good comeback, "find the rest myself."
Just to point out a few things about the "quote": the article was written in July 2001 - that's before September 11. The USA's perception of the world has changed dramatically since then, wouldn't you agree? It was also only six months into Bush's presidency. Not much had happened at that time, except for China shooting down a US Naval aircraft. And, I have to mention that the Guardian is as a left-wing, USA-hating paper as there is in the UK. Sorry, your opinion falls apart because you're clueless, but you're in good company here.
I love the political articles here on /. because they bring out the best the left has - brainless, uninformed, the-truth-just-doesn't-matter crowd. Makes for good reading.
Why, yes, we and other free nations need to stand up to the Iranian clerics and president because they have told us what they're going to do. Or should we not believe them? See, once upon a time, there was this fellow from Austria, a civil service clerk named Adolph, who wrote a little book called "Mein Kampf" where he described his vision of the world and how he would change it. No one took him very seriously. By May 18, 1945, much of the world realized what he had done and realized we should have listened.
By standing up to them, I mean pressuring the clerics and government officials of Iran to stop what they're doing. I don't want to see the US or any country involved in another hot war. But, it will be by their hand if war comes. Besides, what's wrong with pressure? The US President gets it all the time from all corners. Let them feel the heat too.
As for the "we don't give a shit" comment, you are wasting your time demanding an exact quote.No I'm not, asking for him to cite a source shows the fellow has done some research, not just shot from the hip or continuing to spread misconceptions. I provided quotes from, of all sources, Al-Jazeera, a news agency hardly considered friendly to the West, and the US in particular. They reported Ahmadinejad's words when they could have buried them.
We have clearly shown that we only use the U.N. when it is to our advantage to do so, and we'll happily use treaties to browbeat other countries, while ignoring our own obligations under the same treaties.
The US provides 60% of the UN's operating budget. If anyone is entitled to use it to their "advantage", it's the US. Personally, I'd be in favor of reducing our contribution to 10% and letting the despots of third world countries that populate that rat's nest run it into the ground. A few years ago Syria's representatives were heading up a human rights committee. Syria, the country that supports mindless terrorism in charge of human rights - egad.
For further information, read your Chomsky (rather than selected, out-of-context quotes from David Horowitz), and look up the definition of the term "American Exceptionalism".Ah, where did I quote Horowitz? I don't mean to disrespect Mr. Horowitz, but while he was smoking hemp and being a good left-winger, I was already more than half-way through my Masters in American history at Boston College. His conversion to conservatisim is the result of doing something many college students fail to do - question the nonsense being taught by professors who couldn't exist in the real world. I had my share of them, and I managed to bust down much of their nonsense at a time when Vietnam made damn near everyone a left-winger.
Oh, it's no big deal, at least in your world. Where is that, by the way?
Why can't Iran do all the things that the U.S. do all the time?They do, don't they?
Iran has freedom of the press....well, if you only read the government approved press,sure.
Iran has freedom of religion.... sure, if you're Muslim..otherwise, you're dead.
Iran has freedom to assemble with your friends....as long as they all agree with the Mullahs.
Iran has freedom for women to be educated, manage their own lives and.... hmmm...never mind.
Can you quote a source where a US Government official has said "we don't give a shit about international treaties"? I'd like to see it, because it doesn't exist. See, some treaties would deny the US its sovereign powers, and give more power to the fine leaders of Iran, like President Ahmadinejad who says Israel should be wiped off the map. Can you offer a link to a quote where Bush, Cheney or any government official ever said "we don't give a shit...?" If the US refuses to be part of any treaty preventing the "militarization" of space, it's in our best interest because it must mean Iran or other non-democratic states will have more power.
What is the problem with Iran investing in nuclear research and space technologies?Oh nothing, as long as the deaths of millions of people is not a problem for you. Letting them "invest" in the methods to kill millions is something responsible leaders and their citizens in such "terrible" societies like the US shouldn't allow.
The U.S. is still the only country to use a nuclear weapon on another country, so I'd highly recommend they stop their own "posturing" until they get some credibility.
What posturing is the US doing? Standing up to, by their own words, a bunch of potential mass murderers? It may be time the US helps Iran with it's nuclear program by testing a US built nuke in the desert and televising it to the Iranian people. Maybe they'd find their gonads and start removing the mullahs and Ahmadinejad from power with extreme prejudice. The people of Iran are under a crushing thumb and deserve better.
Mostly just to honk off anonymous cowards........
Ah yup.....been to Maine
... need online pr0n too.Well, there's no American Idol there, so why not?
Nice going slashdotters.
Couldn't agree more. I was commuting 70 miles per day when I first tried it out. I got a portable XM radio and installed it in my car. Completely changed my drive. I bought a Chrysler in 2006 that had a Sirius radio built in, but instead, upgraded the radio to a Pioneer unit with XM, along with heavier speakers. While the XM portion didn't have all the features of the portable, I love having a non-commercial alternatives and other great stuff like MLB baseball.
Some think sat radio may not last, and I'm afraid I'm in that camp too. I do believe they will top out on the number of subscribers. The merger probably won't happen, because FCC rules prevent such a mergeer from taking place. They may change, but don't hold your breath.
Strong thumbs?
Raising three kids has shown me that while I appreciate the tech-iness of some of the toys out there, when they were small, the kids are quite happy playing with the basics - blocks, dolls, small Matchbox-type cars and even green plastic Army men. It wasn't until the two oldest hit their teen years did tech stuff become interesting to them. My soon-to-be 10 year old daughter has surprised me by being an avid player of "Nintendogs", and I understand some of her friends are intense users too. So equal opportunity in gaming has arrived! But, she also has a collection of Barbies and a couple of American Girl dolls and she's quite content to be developing her imagination playing quietly with them.
Methinks tech toys work best for older kids, but the ones aimed at the younger crowd are a solution in search of a problem.