Posted 09/05/2008 at 10:53:51am

 First, I'd buy one. But only because I need a 2gb stick at the moment, and I love that movie. Especially if I could drag that movie off onto an HD or disc and store it.

Second, look at the bigger picture. You want to see a movie. Why buy a DVD that can get scratched and you have to return? Buy a USB movie, plug it into your USB flavored TV player and watch, when you're done, store the much smaller and more rugged key in a case, or erase it and use it for something else.

 What if this years box office hits were released in this fashion, would you buy it then?

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"There's no time like the future."

Posted 09/05/2008 at 10:48:26am

 I agree with them, Blu-ray will never last DVD's are good enough for now, and in 5 years will be some better optical (or non) media for Hi-def.

The logic jump from optical media to display media soundsl like Samsung and it's interviewer were having two different conversations.

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"There's no time like the future."

Posted 09/05/2008 at 10:43:01am

Wasn't It from China that we get that wave of Lead paint toys for our children? Wasn't it from China that we recently got Brand new hard drives already infected with viruses?

it is not Intel that should be scared.

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"There's no time like the future."

Posted 09/05/2008 at 10:37:22am

 Yes, games are too easy when it comes to dying. Starship Titanic (An interactive fiction/adventure game) had a bomb that if it got to zero was supposed to blow up the ship. You could "distract" it now and then though resetting it to 1000. Well guess what happens if you don't... nothing! Not only is that no fun but I had been running back and forth for a good half the game before figuring it out. Lame!

Games are games, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. None of this pee-wee T-ball we don't keep score mentality for me!

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"There's no time like the future."

Posted 09/04/2008 at 10:42:50am

 While I feel it's only a start, it could lead to somthing bigger and better. There is a general consensus (Max PC , if I may humbly speak for them, included) that says the gaming industry must come together and set guides for the PC gaming industry, abandoning poor practices that because of it's closed nature is not very prevalent in the console world, if the future of the PC gaming industry is going to be secure and flourish.

This is a start, a very small one, but a good one. The fact is that these ARE indeed the issues many have complained about since the beginning. And no one until now has BOTHERED to put it in a list. A list that is easily dismissable certainly, but just as easily discussable.

Sometimes the powers that be don't understand the problem until the the masses organize.

Let's not say why it's useless and why it doesn't benefit corporations, etc. Let's instead refine and enhance the list, and put the corporations "counter list" on the table.

It's an opening step, and where is goes is where we as consumers, the corporations and game makers, and gaming alliances and associations take it. We should all move together, and perhaps now is the time. The door is open. We can complain, or we can act

My hope would be that the Bill of Rights creators, the gaming alliance, etc. all get to read this thread, and take what's learned here and in discussions  like it and run with it.

 "It is a dream, I have." - Arthur, Excalibur

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"There's no time like the future."

Posted 09/03/2008 at 12:34:04pm

First of all, it's amusing that they came up with this, and not the PC gaming alliance or whatever it is. Isn't this the kind of stuff they should be setting up?

Second, It's a good start, but what about 10 commandments to go with it?...

1) Thou shal not install any icons that I did not ask for.

2) Thou shal not install any demos, trialware or bloatware that I did not ask for.

3) Thou shal not have demos, trialware, bloatware, toolbars or any non-essential files  checked for installation by default.

4) Thou shal not have thine update check running as an "always on" process.

5) Thou shalt not create an uninstaller that does not uninstall EVERYTHING, with an option to port saved games to a new folder on the desktop.

6) Thou shal not have thy game rely on 3rd party software without providing it.

7) Thou shal not make thyne game, then skimp on thyne instructions.

8) Thou shal provide updates as integratable packages in addition to any other method, so thyne customer can make a slipstreamed installation disc. Add thus, thou shal provide a method of purchasing additional license keys without downloading or buying thyne game off the shelf, so players can install the game from a friend's disc.

9) Thou shal maintain a vigilant and well manored presence on the internet. Thus, thou shal not allow a fan site to be more informative than thyne own site. Add thus, thou shalnot abondon thyne host servers for sacred multiplayer without providing an alternate method of multi-play.

10) Thou shal not use the words "immersive gameplay" nor "revolutionary 3D graphics" to describe thyne game on lo packaging.

So sayeth the shepard!

P.S.

Keeping a CD in the drive is not that bad, especially if it massively saves drive space. However there should be the option to go either way.

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"There's no time like the future."

Posted 08/28/2008 at 01:52:00pm

 I would venture that it's been re-posted because it's one hell of an article, both in writing and content. It's reposted now because those who don't have the subscription can find out what they're missing, and this issue should be posted in PDF any day now if not already.

Quinn, when I first read your intro blurb about how you were going to be a regular contributor, I was initally put off, thinking how Copyrights and DRM was not something I cared to really read about, and that the space could be better utilized. I am happy to say I was wrong, and I'm sorry. I've enjoyed your articles immensely and look forward to the next. Belated welcome and keep up the good work.

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"There's no time like the future."

Posted 08/25/2008 at 01:33:14pm

 Hey, a free VERSION of the internet without porn? As long as it is an option to use, and not mandatory, I'm all for it. But, you know... I like to keep my kids safe in other ways too. It should be violence free too. And what about bad-religon free too. We should block all those sites with satanic worshipping content. And we should block any site that says another country is better than this one. And what about....

Bottom line is that any restricted version of the web will never be restricted enough to live up to it's desires. Any site that did would be far too restricted to be functional. It will become pitched.

And of course,  there's the "where does one draw the "this is acceptable, this is not" line, and who decides?

 I like the idea, as it would be good for young grades in schools, etc. But perhaps it should be regulated at local, or (God forbid) parental level. But wait, that  would require parents to take action and responsibility. We wouldn't want to put that on them.

I like the idea for certain circumstances, but don't see it. It would need to be very customizable, and for that I can use NetNanny (unless Gordon has another keylogger).

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"There's no time like the future."

Posted 08/22/2008 at 02:20:07pm

Everyone seems to miss one big argument in the "battle".

If you want to do something on a computer, you need a program or programs to do so. On a PC you could buy any number of programs that may or may not do everything you want, and that offer support and optimization, etc. Or you can go online and probably find everything you need that does all you want and usually more, often times for free. I personally can count on four fingers the amount of times I couldn't find a free solution to any of the crazy shinola I often get into.

Now lets do the same thing on the MAC. Well, first, there's no Free version. OK there may be, but it's from apple, and it severely limits how you do things and what you can do with your product. So let's go with the paid version... well there's Apple again...possibly Adobe and a few others. But the Apple product still makes you do it their way or no way. 

Next, if there's a need for something new. On a PC, someone can go and program it, then post it to sourceforge or the like. Do MAC programmers even exist in the public world???

Let's get to one final part. OK there just happens to BE something wrong with your computer, and why not? making the infinity of choices and combinations work with each other is a never ending battle. You go online and someone will help you...or the solution is already there in 15 different forms. MACs have, well, Apple.com forums... where the majority of the issues are solved with "wait for the next release of such n such.

As for the latest Microsoft OS, Ok, perhaps most users don't like the way William Shatner directed this "odd numbered" installment, but We didn't have to trade in (and in many cases pay for) every program we own to make the jump to the latest PC model. And we've had such a stable OS with XP, that we can afford to skip Vista if we choose. Another choice for us. MACs? Well you know what you need to do if you want that latest version of "name your Adobe product" to run don't you?!!! No wonder the OS line was so long!

P.S. one final thought... Windows learned a long time ago that if a button is important and often used, they make it big. What's with OSX making a button like "close program" so small?!!!!

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"There's no time like the future."

Posted 08/22/2008 at 01:37:19pm

 If I hold a magnafing glass under it and spin real fast, will I be able to read DVD's?

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"There's no time like the future."