Posted 12/27/2008 at 10:03:20am

As with all this current "bail out" money...where is it coming from?

While I would be all for "Broadband to the masses" if it was implemented properly, can we REALLY afford to pay for it? 

I just have a feeling from my interpretation of what I've read...most of this money will just end up in Comcast/Verizon/Time Warner/etc's pocket.  Forgive me for my mistrust - but with what we've seen with the current "bail outs" is there any reason to believe otherwise?  **cough cough** AIG **cough cough**

Posted 12/17/2008 at 04:03:47pm

Just to correct the statement that Sega Dreamcast was the first console with an online network - that title actually belongs to the SNES and Genesis. 

They had the XBAND modem back in the day...which was an online network which allowed network game play over a modem with a limited support of games.

Posted 11/29/2008 at 06:05:25am

And this is why I love the PlayOn software.  Never once was my Netflix viewing "limited", even on my XBox 360.  And with PlayOn, I didn't even have to pay Microsoft for the feature. 

Neflix on an XBOX Live Silver account...un-interrupted and pre-NXE (with HULU).

Posted 10/24/2008 at 02:51:37am

Sony may be losing (by a slim margin) the argument that the PS3 is the best Blu-ray player out there.  Seems to me like they have to step up and develop something or partner with somebody to do the same thing.  Of course, there are third party applications out there that will do this for the PS3...

Posted 10/24/2008 at 02:42:36am

First, based on a news report here:

http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=92655&newsChannel=technologyNews

The black out isn't "permanent" (around the :30 mark of the video story) but will happen once an hour and only after the system attempts to do an update.  So to argue that it doesn't give users the opportunity to continue using their system until they can receive a legit copy is only semi-reasonable.

Microsoft has every right to defend their product to the best of their ability within reason.  Does this method cross the line of "reason"? 

Those that argue the cost of Microsoft OS is ridiculous...I agree but that doesn't mean I can go out and steal their product.  I either suck it up or choose an alternate product.  That may mean learning how to use another OS, but that would be the choice I have.  The argument of software compatibility has limited argument but there are also ways around that with utilities such as WINE (as an example).

Those that unknowingly purchased pirated copies have rights to be upset.  They may have even paid realistic retail prices for the product (such as pre-installed on a pre-built system where the cost is "hidden" as with systems from Dell and HP or from a "legit" vendor who they themselves got fooled into purchasing pirated copies), but that is ultimately between the seller and buyer...not Microsoft.

I personally think Microsoft should now take steps to assist those with pirated copies; steep discount or even free copies of the OS in turn for information as to where the pirated versions came from.  Of course, this is just my opinion.  I've heard rumors they've done this before...whether that's true or not...it's a rumor.

All in all, as others have stated I am willing to bet that there will be a crack put out very soon and another day will go on with this just being a hiccup to those that were victimized or intentionally stole the product... 

If this is not formatted in paragraphs, I apologize as I attempted...

Posted 09/13/2008 at 09:48:52pm

You ask "Why not just purchase $20 worth of points and use them over time" to which my response would be:

Why not just give your local gas station or grocery store or any other local establishment $20 to hold on to for you.  Oh, and by the way...that $20 you gave them is non-refundable.  So if the gas station across the street or the grocery store another block down starts offering a better product, well, you're either out $20 or your over spending.  Oh, and while it may be extremely minimal...you could be earning interest on that $20 instead of Microsoft.

Posted 09/13/2008 at 07:38:49pm

It gives them more "ammunition" for the need to "secure" their products.

Stealing is stealing, no matter how you spin it.

While I hoped that the Amazon.com protest would have caused more of a response (and it's still early) and spread to other major retailers and review sites, I think this is one of the major ways to fight these methods.

Ultimately, the only real way to fight these corporations from punishing legit customers (which I still believe to be in much greater numbers than those that decide to pirate) is to boycott.  If people purchase a product and the corporation is making it's money...why does it need to change?  Yeah there is a lot of screaming in the backround...but they're still making money.

Posted 09/09/2008 at 09:42:29pm

Unfortunately, I can't get myself to utilize the new wireless features of the product do to Microsoft's "Microsoft Point" system.  Until they allow me to use local currency instead of Microsoft's Monopoly money and allow me to make "micro-transactions" of $0.99 (ie an individual song) instead of forcing me to spend a minimum of $5 on a "point bundle" which will leave excess point balance not equalling up to anything...I will keep going to Amazon.com's download service, thus making the FM radio tagging and wireless download service worthless.

Posted 09/04/2008 at 09:58:12pm

Sony, Blu-ray's largest supporter doesn't even seem to see that Blu-ray is the long term solution.  I say this because of their PS3's (the most popular Blu-ray player) Playstation Network offering movies for rent and purchase (also in HD) and their teaming up with PNY for "movies on a stick".

Posted 09/04/2008 at 09:50:56pm

I had hopes for Zune but have found that it is just another taste of the same, over saturated market and has done too little too late. 

I got the Zune4 for working out, but will bite the bullet for future purposes and get an iPod.  I would go with iRiver but iPod has the third party support that nobody else has.  And this is coming from an Apple hater...