Don't forget Progressive Scan output, and at least Dolby Prologic surround sound.
I should hope so, every console since the Dreamcast has supported those features.
I don't think it would be too much to ask that they guarante every game will support at least dolby digital 5.1, and 480p in 16:9. With the occasional 720p and 1080i titles where the developers feel it's appropriate.
I'll give you the date and the imperial system. But are you telling me you move your switch down for on and up for off? That makes no sense at all. Also driving on the right side of the road makes more sense; it places the driver on the left side of the car meaning the right hand (since most people are right handed) can be used for performing more articulate tasks such as shifting, tuning the radio and adjusting the HVAC. You're living in a world of left-handed drivers!
Maybe your ISP cut you off because there were insufficent funds to pay last months bill... The bank sent you an email to notifiy you of the problem but...
That's great, except for one thing, Halo didn't support Xbox Live. The only Multiplayer supported by Halo was either split screen or system link over a LAN. No bots either, so if you split your screen to play with a friend, it was just the two of you and a big empty level. XBL didn't show up until the console had been out for a year or so, Halo being a launch title couldn't have supported it simply because it didn't exist yet.
Halo 2 supported Xbox Live Multiplayer, but that came well after Halo 1 had cemented itself as a system seller.
Nowhere did I say I NEEDED a "monstrous gas guzzler" I drive a small-ish Toyota Pickup now. The reason I got rid of the Subaru for the pickup was due to a few nasty snow storms we got last winter. Working in IT when I get a call that I need to come in to re-start something that went down, I better damn well be able to get there (particuarly since I work for a 3-shift manufacturer). There were a few nights that I litterally couldn't get the Subaru out of the driveway and basically I had to call in and tell them that I wouldn't be able to make it in until the plow came by (which can sometimes be days during heavier storms since they put all their efforts into the highways and tend to neglect the back roads). Bad snow storms seem to always come hand in hand with snowy roads and IT problems. My employer made it clear that I needed to be more reliable in such situations or they would find someone else who was. In all honesty I'd much rather drive my subaru then the pickup, but I'd rather keep my job then the Subaru.
I completely agree that most people can get by with a FWD sedan. But honestly if you live on a road where you can't rely on the plow coming through after a big storm for a few days I'd rather having something in the garage that I knew I could get to work, the grocery store, the hospital... etc. reguardless of the weather.
The Xbox seems to get 2 "traditional" Adventure games a year
2006 - The Da Vinci Code
2006 - Dreamfall: The Longest Journey
2005 - Myst IV Revelation
2005 - Still Life
2004 - CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
2004 - Syberia II
...
It's not surprising that most if not all of them are availble on the PC as well. I played through both Still Live and Syberia (1) on the Xbox and while I enjoyed the games in terms of their storytelling and puzzles controling them was a chore. Having played throught the first three Myst games on the PC renting Myst IV for the Xbox prompted me to return the game that day simply because the crap-tastic 480p resultion didn't do justice to the beautiful environments I was used to seeing on a high resolution PC monitor. Most of these games are just more appropriate with a mouse as opposed to analog sticks.
Depending on your definition of "adventure" game though there are OTHER titles available on consoles that lend themselves much more towards joypad control. Advent Rising, Beyond Good & Evil, and Indigo Prophecy come to mind. Then of couse you have the adventure horror games that depending on your definition fit the bill as well. Games like Fatal Frame or Silent Hill.
Well I suppose it all depends on what you collect. Collecting is a desease of sorts. I collect all sorts of things, My largest collection is of DVDs. Always double dipping for the newest ultra limited special collectors edition box set. But I can usually hock the older version on eBay and some $$ back. Lately I've been good on keeping up with the news and I can get rid of the older versions before the newers one even hit the market. I had the complete Cowboy Bebop DVD set... I had found the discs on sale when I first got it and bought it for about $70 total. When I heard they were re-release it remixed in surround sound I sold the collection on eBay hoping to get $50 or $60 but wound up going all the way to $110. And unlike beanie babies I can watch my DVDs meaning I and my friends get enjoyment out of my addiction.
Another example is a card game that I collect called Killer Bunnies. Similar to Magic but there are only small number of rare cards, the rest are part of standard booster packs so there are no surprises. When the rare cards first come out they're usually pretty easy to find. They can be found on eBay between $4 and $10 a piece (a lot for a card to a non collector I know). However it would seem that the value of such cards increases as time goes on. The first two rare "Omega" cards I have and purchased for $10 a piece I've seen up for auction on eBay recently for over $175 a piece. This might seem silly to some people but I still play with those cards. To me using those things is just as much fun as trying to complete the collection.
Some collectors will go out of their way and pay any price to complete their collection but I find with a bit of research, digging, and patience you can find what you're looking for without making worthless investments.
Halo wan't bundled with the Xbox 1 ouside of a very limited edition run of green consoles sold no where near the Xbox launch. You seem to assume that Halo sold well because there was nothing else on the Xbox to play. If anything it was Halo that got people to go out and buy an Xbox. Exactly how did the game reach #2 on the list if the Xbox only had Halo worth playing and the only reason people bought Halo was because there was nothing else to play? What do you think got people to buy an Xbox in the first place? It certainly wasn't MS's reputation.
You seem to be forgetting that a number of early Xbox 1 titles are on that top 100 list, games like Project Gotham Racing, Dead or Alive 3, Splinter Cell, and a few others (some of the best games in their respective franchises IMO). I personally can't stand the Halo series (or FPSs in general) yet I still amazingly found quite a few good games to play around the Xbox 1 launch. To this day I don't have a copy of Halo, yet I have about 30 titles for the Xbox console.
I'd have to argue with your arbitray % designation for SUV use.
You're forgetting that not everyone lives in sunny urban america. I myself live in NH where it Snows pretty heavily during the winter months. I'd like to see you try to drive a Prius (or any small front wheel drive sedan for that matter) through 18" of snow. My last car was a Subaru it was a heck of a lot better then a FWD car but even IT wasn't all that great because it had next to nothing for ground clearance. Honestly if I had a family of 5 and needed something that can get you around in the winter months without fear of getting stuck and stranded the most obvious choice is an SUV. Heck there are lots of roads around here that arn't even paved, sure you can drive your eco-sedan down them but you'll be in the shop replacing parts every other month because the suspensions just weren't built for that kind of road.
People in my area have been driving SUVs and other trucks long before the "fad" ever started simply because it's the most worthy vehicle for driving in this area. I would imagine that a lot of New England is like that, perhapse some points to the west of that, Canada, Alasaka, etc.
Those of you who complain about SUVs and "Gass guzzlers" seem to forget that not every one lives in California. I live in NH and without my 4x4 there'd be a slim chance of getting to work or the grocery store safely or at all during the thick of the winter months. I used to own a Subaru as the best middle ground I could find between winter worthyness and eco-friendlyness but AWD does little good when it's got next to nothing for ground clearance. Now I drive a small-ish Toyota Pickup, not because I WANT to (believe me I'd much rather have my Subaru) but because where I live I'd loose my job or possibly my life without a rugged winter vehicle.
Becides working in IT if I got a call late one night that something had gone down and I need to come in to restart it I'd probably loose my job with the excuse that It will have to wait till the following day when the next plow truck is scheduled to hit my road so I can get out of my driveway. In-fact that was what prompted me to trade the suby in for the pickup there were a few nights the snow was just too high for my car to plow though and my employer was getting aggrivated with my lack of reliabiliy in such situations.
Now if I had a family I'd absolutly be using an SUV over some front wheel drive minivan or station wagon, even AWD models arn't that great because of ground clearance issues. They DO have a point and purpose... I'm not saying ALL SUV drivers do but some of us live in areas where we don't have much of a choice. Just because some schmuch decided they look cool with big chrome wheels doesn't mean the reast of us are driving them for the same reason.
oh please... They wouldn't know a real video game if they were playing one.
If anything Leo from the Screen Savers was the best tech journalist I've ever seen. He took tasks and tech well beyond my own knowledge and explained it in terms simple enough that even my one step away from computer illiterate mother could understand without much of a problem.
If you gave him a segment on a Today Show or Good Morning America I guarantee you'd start seeing computer literacy levels rising throughout the country.
I get your point and I agree with you but I honestly doubt you'll EVER see "WGA" problems on anything but a Windows machine. WGA stands for "Windows Genuine Advantage" it's software that Microsoft makes you install if you ever want to download updates. It essentially determines if your copy of windows is pirated or not. Paul Thurrott (from TFA) is talking about how WGA THINKS he's using a pirated copy of windows even though he actually purchased it.
For the time he spend to post all this (which is 1/2 not rue as best) he could just boot ANY live CD distro - being it SUSE, or Ubuntu, and try by himself.
Exactly how can I boot any live CD distro? I know nothing of Linux I don't know what SUSE is I don't' know what Ubuntu is (though I assume they're different "brands" of distros). I don't know where to get a "live CD" and I until the helpful first response to my post I didn't even know who I could ask.
What are you trying to say: that because Windows is one and only, everything you read about it is up-to-date, unbiased, and complete? From outlets you trust to ask for your money???
No that's not even close to what I was implying. I've been using windows for years. In highschool I didn't have a computer at home but I was able to use Windows machines at school. In college I got a laptop (provided by the school) again Windows only... Now that I have a career I have a computer at work... again a Windows only machine. I bought a desktop for home use since my laptop is now aging. It came pre-loaded with Windows.
I've been using Windows machines all my life. I know the websites that have good information about windows products and I know the websites that have garbage funded by Microsoft. I know people that I can talk and trust on advice about Windows products and I know people who I wouldn't trust as far as I could throw them. I've picked up these gems and created my blacklist over years of experience with a Windows machine.... NO, I DON'T TRUST WHAT EVERYONE SAYS but I've been using Windows long enough that I know who I DO trust and who I DON'T. I know NONE of that for Linux.. I can search and find information but how do I know I'm not getting skewed information from some fanboy of a particular linux distro? I don't know which sources to trust and which sources I shouldn't. It took me years to build up that knowledge in the Windows world... how can I expect it to go quicker in the Linux world, especially when there are so many different options in terms of distros and interface layers etc.
My point is that the few times I've decided to look into it and start asking questions I beat into the ground by know-best elitists who simply don't understand how little I know about Linux and I either get scoffed at or thrown vague suggestions so over my head that they're useless.
You're right though, I probably COULD find the time to learn all that I need to if I really wanted to. But as someone who doesn't actually have any problems with their windows machine what benefit does it actually serve? People always site: security, reliability, bugs, etc. I've never had a problem with mal-ware or viruses, I have up-times lasting weeks to months and even then shutting down because of software or hardware installs as opposed to crashes. And yeah I do run into the occasional bug but it's never dramatically effected me, and I'd find it hard to believe that Linux is completely bug free itself. So YES I COULD but WHY SHOULD I? What is it at the end of this road that will be worth all the time and energy except to say that I did it?
I can understand why he still sticks with Windows. It's probably similar to the reason I've stuck with Windows. I'm not a PC gamer. There's very few tasks I do in WinXP that I couldn't do in Linux (or a Mac OS at that). The problem is it's just too much damn work to get there. Sure Linux might be free but my time is just as valuable as money and the time cost required to make the switch to linux is more then what they charge for windows in $$s.
I don't know anything about Linux... nothing at all. before I'd even get started I'd have to do research into what the best distribution for me is. before I even do that I need to find outlets online that I trust to provide me with a useful comparison of the different distributions as well as making sure it's up-to-date, unbiased, and complete.
Then I'd need to determine if all of my hardware actually supports Linux. If it fails this test it's probably not even worth it. My 5 year old laptop isn't exactly upgradeable and My desktop's got fairly new hardware which I'm not too keen on replacing if I need to.
If I get past the hardware hurdle then I'd need to do some research on how to install it. What new commands do I need to learn? how do I install hardware drivers (since they're not just plug and play like Windows where everything auto-magic-ly works). Is there a specific order I need to get my hardware up and running? What happens if I run into problems? I need to find places where can I get help. How do I get online to ask for help if Linux isn't up and running yet? Even if I have a 2nd computer how do I transfer data between the two if one doesn't have drivers for the communication outlets (NIC, CD, etc.) yet?
Now that I get past installing it I need to completely re-learn all the quirks of the OS where settings are hidden, what the right click menus look like. Even if I can customize it THAT would take a considerable amount of time learning HOW to customize it.
Now I need to find alternative software, Open Office instead of MS office, GIMP instead of Photoshop, etc. etc. etc. some are apparent others I'm not so sure. I do a whole lot of burning do they make Nero for Linux? what about video editing? I do that on occasion. What kind of Micro-controller tools are available or will I have to dual boot windows just to flash my pic chips and debug/compile my MCU code?
Once I've found all my new software I need to re-learn how to use all of those programs. And even after all of that I STILL have to use Windows at work making those old habits really die hard.
90% of the time Windows works fine for me. I've had fantastic up-time with XP SP2 (it's amazing how well your PC runs if you don't visit trashy web-sites and don't constantly install random garbage software). I know how to use Windows and I never have to worry about software or hardware compatibility. As long as there's a square hole for my square peg I just plug it in and it works, I don't even have to bother with drivers.
There's no good reason for me to switch other then for the sake of switching. I'm not adverse to the proposal but it's a whole mountain of labor just to get to where I already am... Security is not a compelling reason, I have a strong (linux based) firewall and use Firefox instead of IE. I keep a virus scanner running regular checks. and I can't even remember the last time my PC crashed (I'm working on an uptime of about 32 days right now, and the last re-boot was because of a power outage).
If I knew of a good resource to help someone like me; without any Linux knowledge at all, get up and running then I'd probably set aside some free time to at least ATTEMPT a dual boot... but as it is right now it's just too much work and without a compelling reason, not worth wasting my free time.
After all of that it would seem going to Apple would be an easier option then Linux... but then I'd have to buy a new computer, one more expensive then the computer I already own (provided it has comparable power). And then the argument comes back again... why waste the $$ and time just to get back to where I already am?
Well I think they keep pumping out the PS3 articles so we have someone other then Microsoft to make fun of for a change... After-all, variety is the spice of life!
I agree, I think it's pretty useless to have BT support in a browser. I use a stand alone client and I think any browser based implementation would just feel clunky, cheap, and short on features.
The only merit I can see is for people who arn't normally BT users who might want to grab a torrent once in a great while. it would save them from having to seek out, and install a client for just one file.
At the same time anyone using an alternative browser like Opera probably already has a BT client installed or at very least wouldn't mind installing one to grab a file they wanted. BT support would make more sense for a browser like IE where most of it's users are too lazy to install another program (or at least can't be trusted to do so).
huh, I never thought about how a blind person my be experiencing my pages... and I've almost always used vertical bars to separate navigation links! Even still my page seems to pop up earlier in the "Accessible" search, probably because it conforms to W3C strict.
Anyone know of any resources for improving your sites for the visually impaired, or even some sort of tool that will let me experience my sites as a blind person would... it might help for some perspective.
And here I thought I was getting the best accessibility by simply ensuring compatibility across browsers. I guess there's almost always something more we can do.
Thankfully I've got plenty of space in my AV rack currently it holds: A full sized surround sound Marantz reciever, a Psyclone Compoent video switch, An Acoustic Research powercleaner, An Xbox 360, A slim PS2, A Gamecube, 2 Xbox 1s, A Sega Saturn, A Sega Dreamcast, and a PSOne. and I've got enough space left over tha I could fit a Wii and a PS3 if I wanted to.
With all the console capable of standing vertically now it helps with space for a lot of people though. All of my stuff is horizontal but I know a few people who were able to keep their PS2 and add a 360 to their AV rack by positioning them both verticle.
Slashdot Mirror
I don't think it would be too much to ask that they guarante every game will support at least dolby digital 5.1, and 480p in 16:9. With the occasional 720p and 1080i titles where the developers feel it's appropriate.
I'll give you the date and the imperial system. But are you telling me you move your switch down for on and up for off? That makes no sense at all. Also driving on the right side of the road makes more sense; it places the driver on the left side of the car meaning the right hand (since most people are right handed) can be used for performing more articulate tasks such as shifting, tuning the radio and adjusting the HVAC. You're living in a world of left-handed drivers!
Maybe your ISP cut you off because there were insufficent funds to pay last months bill... The bank sent you an email to notifiy you of the problem but...
That's great, except for one thing, Halo didn't support Xbox Live. The only Multiplayer supported by Halo was either split screen or system link over a LAN. No bots either, so if you split your screen to play with a friend, it was just the two of you and a big empty level. XBL didn't show up until the console had been out for a year or so, Halo being a launch title couldn't have supported it simply because it didn't exist yet.
Halo 2 supported Xbox Live Multiplayer, but that came well after Halo 1 had cemented itself as a system seller.
Nowhere did I say I NEEDED a "monstrous gas guzzler" I drive a small-ish Toyota Pickup now. The reason I got rid of the Subaru for the pickup was due to a few nasty snow storms we got last winter. Working in IT when I get a call that I need to come in to re-start something that went down, I better damn well be able to get there (particuarly since I work for a 3-shift manufacturer). There were a few nights that I litterally couldn't get the Subaru out of the driveway and basically I had to call in and tell them that I wouldn't be able to make it in until the plow came by (which can sometimes be days during heavier storms since they put all their efforts into the highways and tend to neglect the back roads). Bad snow storms seem to always come hand in hand with snowy roads and IT problems. My employer made it clear that I needed to be more reliable in such situations or they would find someone else who was. In all honesty I'd much rather drive my subaru then the pickup, but I'd rather keep my job then the Subaru.
I completely agree that most people can get by with a FWD sedan. But honestly if you live on a road where you can't rely on the plow coming through after a big storm for a few days I'd rather having something in the garage that I knew I could get to work, the grocery store, the hospital... etc. reguardless of the weather.
- 2006 - The Da Vinci Code
- 2006 - Dreamfall: The Longest Journey
- 2005 - Myst IV Revelation
- 2005 - Still Life
- 2004 - CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
- 2004 - Syberia II
- ...
It's not surprising that most if not all of them are availble on the PC as well. I played through both Still Live and Syberia (1) on the Xbox and while I enjoyed the games in terms of their storytelling and puzzles controling them was a chore. Having played throught the first three Myst games on the PC renting Myst IV for the Xbox prompted me to return the game that day simply because the crap-tastic 480p resultion didn't do justice to the beautiful environments I was used to seeing on a high resolution PC monitor. Most of these games are just more appropriate with a mouse as opposed to analog sticks.Depending on your definition of "adventure" game though there are OTHER titles available on consoles that lend themselves much more towards joypad control. Advent Rising, Beyond Good & Evil, and Indigo Prophecy come to mind. Then of couse you have the adventure horror games that depending on your definition fit the bill as well. Games like Fatal Frame or Silent Hill.
Well I suppose it all depends on what you collect. Collecting is a desease of sorts. I collect all sorts of things, My largest collection is of DVDs. Always double dipping for the newest ultra limited special collectors edition box set. But I can usually hock the older version on eBay and some $$ back. Lately I've been good on keeping up with the news and I can get rid of the older versions before the newers one even hit the market. I had the complete Cowboy Bebop DVD set... I had found the discs on sale when I first got it and bought it for about $70 total. When I heard they were re-release it remixed in surround sound I sold the collection on eBay hoping to get $50 or $60 but wound up going all the way to $110. And unlike beanie babies I can watch my DVDs meaning I and my friends get enjoyment out of my addiction.
Another example is a card game that I collect called Killer Bunnies. Similar to Magic but there are only small number of rare cards, the rest are part of standard booster packs so there are no surprises. When the rare cards first come out they're usually pretty easy to find. They can be found on eBay between $4 and $10 a piece (a lot for a card to a non collector I know). However it would seem that the value of such cards increases as time goes on. The first two rare "Omega" cards I have and purchased for $10 a piece I've seen up for auction on eBay recently for over $175 a piece. This might seem silly to some people but I still play with those cards. To me using those things is just as much fun as trying to complete the collection.
Some collectors will go out of their way and pay any price to complete their collection but I find with a bit of research, digging, and patience you can find what you're looking for without making worthless investments.
Halo wan't bundled with the Xbox 1 ouside of a very limited edition run of green consoles sold no where near the Xbox launch. You seem to assume that Halo sold well because there was nothing else on the Xbox to play. If anything it was Halo that got people to go out and buy an Xbox. Exactly how did the game reach #2 on the list if the Xbox only had Halo worth playing and the only reason people bought Halo was because there was nothing else to play? What do you think got people to buy an Xbox in the first place? It certainly wasn't MS's reputation.
You seem to be forgetting that a number of early Xbox 1 titles are on that top 100 list, games like Project Gotham Racing, Dead or Alive 3, Splinter Cell, and a few others (some of the best games in their respective franchises IMO). I personally can't stand the Halo series (or FPSs in general) yet I still amazingly found quite a few good games to play around the Xbox 1 launch. To this day I don't have a copy of Halo, yet I have about 30 titles for the Xbox console.
I'd have to argue with your arbitray % designation for SUV use.
You're forgetting that not everyone lives in sunny urban america. I myself live in NH where it Snows pretty heavily during the winter months. I'd like to see you try to drive a Prius (or any small front wheel drive sedan for that matter) through 18" of snow. My last car was a Subaru it was a heck of a lot better then a FWD car but even IT wasn't all that great because it had next to nothing for ground clearance. Honestly if I had a family of 5 and needed something that can get you around in the winter months without fear of getting stuck and stranded the most obvious choice is an SUV. Heck there are lots of roads around here that arn't even paved, sure you can drive your eco-sedan down them but you'll be in the shop replacing parts every other month because the suspensions just weren't built for that kind of road.
People in my area have been driving SUVs and other trucks long before the "fad" ever started simply because it's the most worthy vehicle for driving in this area. I would imagine that a lot of New England is like that, perhapse some points to the west of that, Canada, Alasaka, etc.
Those of you who complain about SUVs and "Gass guzzlers" seem to forget that not every one lives in California. I live in NH and without my 4x4 there'd be a slim chance of getting to work or the grocery store safely or at all during the thick of the winter months. I used to own a Subaru as the best middle ground I could find between winter worthyness and eco-friendlyness but AWD does little good when it's got next to nothing for ground clearance. Now I drive a small-ish Toyota Pickup, not because I WANT to (believe me I'd much rather have my Subaru) but because where I live I'd loose my job or possibly my life without a rugged winter vehicle.
Becides working in IT if I got a call late one night that something had gone down and I need to come in to restart it I'd probably loose my job with the excuse that It will have to wait till the following day when the next plow truck is scheduled to hit my road so I can get out of my driveway. In-fact that was what prompted me to trade the suby in for the pickup there were a few nights the snow was just too high for my car to plow though and my employer was getting aggrivated with my lack of reliabiliy in such situations.
Now if I had a family I'd absolutly be using an SUV over some front wheel drive minivan or station wagon, even AWD models arn't that great because of ground clearance issues. They DO have a point and purpose... I'm not saying ALL SUV drivers do but some of us live in areas where we don't have much of a choice. Just because some schmuch decided they look cool with big chrome wheels doesn't mean the reast of us are driving them for the same reason.
welll I suppose if you still live at home... No one said you had to be the driver of the big family SUV.
Can You Hack it?
oh please... They wouldn't know a real video game if they were playing one.
If anything Leo from the Screen Savers was the best tech journalist I've ever seen. He took tasks and tech well beyond my own knowledge and explained it in terms simple enough that even my one step away from computer illiterate mother could understand without much of a problem.
If you gave him a segment on a Today Show or Good Morning America I guarantee you'd start seeing computer literacy levels rising throughout the country.
The link works for me... I'm snatching it right now
try this: http://mirror.cs.umn.edu/ubuntu-releases/6.06/
I get your point and I agree with you but I honestly doubt you'll EVER see "WGA" problems on anything but a Windows machine. WGA stands for "Windows Genuine Advantage" it's software that Microsoft makes you install if you ever want to download updates. It essentially determines if your copy of windows is pirated or not. Paul Thurrott (from TFA) is talking about how WGA THINKS he's using a pirated copy of windows even though he actually purchased it.
Some good information there thanks :)
Thanks I'll give that disc a spin when I get home from work :)
That small paragraph was probably the most usefull information anyone has ever provided me on the subject of Linux.
I've been using Windows machines all my life. I know the websites that have good information about windows products and I know the websites that have garbage funded by Microsoft. I know people that I can talk and trust on advice about Windows products and I know people who I wouldn't trust as far as I could throw them. I've picked up these gems and created my blacklist over years of experience with a Windows machine.... NO, I DON'T TRUST WHAT EVERYONE SAYS but I've been using Windows long enough that I know who I DO trust and who I DON'T. I know NONE of that for Linux.. I can search and find information but how do I know I'm not getting skewed information from some fanboy of a particular linux distro? I don't know which sources to trust and which sources I shouldn't. It took me years to build up that knowledge in the Windows world... how can I expect it to go quicker in the Linux world, especially when there are so many different options in terms of distros and interface layers etc.
My point is that the few times I've decided to look into it and start asking questions I beat into the ground by know-best elitists who simply don't understand how little I know about Linux and I either get scoffed at or thrown vague suggestions so over my head that they're useless.
You're right though, I probably COULD find the time to learn all that I need to if I really wanted to. But as someone who doesn't actually have any problems with their windows machine what benefit does it actually serve? People always site: security, reliability, bugs, etc. I've never had a problem with mal-ware or viruses, I have up-times lasting weeks to months and even then shutting down because of software or hardware installs as opposed to crashes. And yeah I do run into the occasional bug but it's never dramatically effected me, and I'd find it hard to believe that Linux is completely bug free itself. So YES I COULD but WHY SHOULD I? What is it at the end of this road that will be worth all the time and energy except to say that I did it?
See... I didn't even know such a think existed :)
you think there's a group up in the New Hampshire woods?
I can understand why he still sticks with Windows. It's probably similar to the reason I've stuck with Windows. I'm not a PC gamer. There's very few tasks I do in WinXP that I couldn't do in Linux (or a Mac OS at that). The problem is it's just too much damn work to get there. Sure Linux might be free but my time is just as valuable as money and the time cost required to make the switch to linux is more then what they charge for windows in $$s.
I don't know anything about Linux... nothing at all. before I'd even get started I'd have to do research into what the best distribution for me is. before I even do that I need to find outlets online that I trust to provide me with a useful comparison of the different distributions as well as making sure it's up-to-date, unbiased, and complete.
Then I'd need to determine if all of my hardware actually supports Linux. If it fails this test it's probably not even worth it. My 5 year old laptop isn't exactly upgradeable and My desktop's got fairly new hardware which I'm not too keen on replacing if I need to.
If I get past the hardware hurdle then I'd need to do some research on how to install it. What new commands do I need to learn? how do I install hardware drivers (since they're not just plug and play like Windows where everything auto-magic-ly works). Is there a specific order I need to get my hardware up and running? What happens if I run into problems? I need to find places where can I get help. How do I get online to ask for help if Linux isn't up and running yet? Even if I have a 2nd computer how do I transfer data between the two if one doesn't have drivers for the communication outlets (NIC, CD, etc.) yet?
Now that I get past installing it I need to completely re-learn all the quirks of the OS where settings are hidden, what the right click menus look like. Even if I can customize it THAT would take a considerable amount of time learning HOW to customize it.
Now I need to find alternative software, Open Office instead of MS office, GIMP instead of Photoshop, etc. etc. etc. some are apparent others I'm not so sure. I do a whole lot of burning do they make Nero for Linux? what about video editing? I do that on occasion. What kind of Micro-controller tools are available or will I have to dual boot windows just to flash my pic chips and debug/compile my MCU code?
Once I've found all my new software I need to re-learn how to use all of those programs. And even after all of that I STILL have to use Windows at work making those old habits really die hard.
90% of the time Windows works fine for me. I've had fantastic up-time with XP SP2 (it's amazing how well your PC runs if you don't visit trashy web-sites and don't constantly install random garbage software). I know how to use Windows and I never have to worry about software or hardware compatibility. As long as there's a square hole for my square peg I just plug it in and it works, I don't even have to bother with drivers.
There's no good reason for me to switch other then for the sake of switching. I'm not adverse to the proposal but it's a whole mountain of labor just to get to where I already am... Security is not a compelling reason, I have a strong (linux based) firewall and use Firefox instead of IE. I keep a virus scanner running regular checks. and I can't even remember the last time my PC crashed (I'm working on an uptime of about 32 days right now, and the last re-boot was because of a power outage).
If I knew of a good resource to help someone like me; without any Linux knowledge at all, get up and running then I'd probably set aside some free time to at least ATTEMPT a dual boot... but as it is right now it's just too much work and without a compelling reason, not worth wasting my free time.
After all of that it would seem going to Apple would be an easier option then Linux... but then I'd have to buy a new computer, one more expensive then the computer I already own (provided it has comparable power). And then the argument comes back again... why waste the $$ and time just to get back to where I already am?
Well I think they keep pumping out the PS3 articles so we have someone other then Microsoft to make fun of for a change... After-all, variety is the spice of life!
I agree, I think it's pretty useless to have BT support in a browser. I use a stand alone client and I think any browser based implementation would just feel clunky, cheap, and short on features.
The only merit I can see is for people who arn't normally BT users who might want to grab a torrent once in a great while. it would save them from having to seek out, and install a client for just one file.
At the same time anyone using an alternative browser like Opera probably already has a BT client installed or at very least wouldn't mind installing one to grab a file they wanted. BT support would make more sense for a browser like IE where most of it's users are too lazy to install another program (or at least can't be trusted to do so).
huh, I never thought about how a blind person my be experiencing my pages... and I've almost always used vertical bars to separate navigation links! Even still my page seems to pop up earlier in the "Accessible" search, probably because it conforms to W3C strict.
Anyone know of any resources for improving your sites for the visually impaired, or even some sort of tool that will let me experience my sites as a blind person would... it might help for some perspective.
And here I thought I was getting the best accessibility by simply ensuring compatibility across browsers. I guess there's almost always something more we can do.
Thankfully I've got plenty of space in my AV rack currently it holds: A full sized surround sound Marantz reciever, a Psyclone Compoent video switch, An Acoustic Research powercleaner, An Xbox 360, A slim PS2, A Gamecube, 2 Xbox 1s, A Sega Saturn, A Sega Dreamcast, and a PSOne. and I've got enough space left over tha I could fit a Wii and a PS3 if I wanted to.
With all the console capable of standing vertically now it helps with space for a lot of people though. All of my stuff is horizontal but I know a few people who were able to keep their PS2 and add a 360 to their AV rack by positioning them both verticle.