The DVD extras are a "nice to have", not a "must have" for me. I rarely watch them and when I do, it's only once. I can see having them in the rental version more so than the purchased version. How often do you need to see how a movie was made or the storyboard featurette?
When I rip movies to my HD, I never include the whole DVD, just the movie itself. That saves nearly 3GB of space, if not more.
Personally though, I much prefer buying the $5 DVDs in the bargain bin that are just the movie rather than $20+ for a DVD w/ extras.
I just thought about the cost being associated w/ redownloading the songs. Then I realized that the DRM is not part of the song; it's part of the iTunes client software. Therefore, you wouldn't have to redownload all of your songs or videos. Theoritically, Apple should just be sending a flag to your iTunes software indicating that the DRM is inactive for your media.
Of course, that's how I would devise a simple fix. Who knows how Apple is really doing it and therefore justifying the 30 cents.
I can see using IM at work. It's just another type of communcations device; essentially real time email.
Social sites, e.g. Facebook, Myspace, etc., have limited value at work, unless a MySpace or other page is part of your company's web presence. But hanging out on their to share photos and crap w/ your friends shouldn't be done at work.
However, I realize that some people are more productive by taking a little stress-reducing time at work. You simply can't expect people to be productive all the time; if they aren't surfing the web they will chat w/ coworkers, talk on the phone, or simply doodle on paper while staring at the wall.
A better solution is to simply monitor productivity and Internet usage. If the work productivity drops and 'net usage is up, then you can take action. But if the work quality isn't suffering, then obviously having unfettered Internet access isn't a problem.
If bandwidth is an issue, just modify the QoS protocols and throttle the culprits.
The irony is that the "more recent" movies are the ones people hate. They generally have lower earnings overall compared to older movies because they suck.
There are the occasional winners like the new Batman movies but, for the most part, people are tired of the suckage that is Hollwood and the comic book/video game/sequel madness that gets put out.
The picture quality helps but I think the bigger draw for consumers is the fact that DVDs don't have to be rewound and they allow for random access.
Plus, they have extra features but, personally, those aren't a big selling point. After I watch the special features once, I will probably never view them again.
Wasn't there a study from the Netherlands or someplace that showed a correlation between easy access to pornography and a decrease in sexual crimes?
Perhaps the prevalence of easy access to porn, dating sites, swingers clubs, etc. via the Internet and elsewhere is simply reducing the need for people to target children.
Depending on screen size and how far away from the TV you are, there is very little difference between 720 and 1080. A 37" screen viewed from 5-6 feet is equivalent (discernable quality wise) from a 42" screen at 8 feet.
If you have a small living room, e.g. apartment, a 720p-only TV will be just as good. Plus, 720p screens are nearly $500 cheaper or more, since they are usually smaller sized too.
If someone is using TOR or another anonymous proxy server, will they still get filtered results? They should be showing up as being outside of Argentina, correct? Which means this injunction is even more lame than it first appears.
Regardless of what laws are passed, the "outlaws" will continue to beat them. They can make whatever rules and regulations they want but people will still pirate, especially if the new laws make legal content less useful and less valuable.
The prostitutes posting to Craigslist obviously have a computer, Internet, etc. Unless they are a streetwalker posting at a library, this would indicate that the prostitutes using Craigslist are your middle-class ones, the ones who have a house, car, etc. and probably even have some college education.
Assuming this is true, then these are the ones who are doing it for the money, the excitement, or some other reason than they have no other choice; essentially they are the type to work in a brothel rather than hang out at bus stations and street corners. They do it because they choose to, not because they have to.
In that sense, I don't see what the problem is. As Lucretious said, they practice safe sex, do it in the privacy of their house/apartment, and are generally providing a service that people need/want.
Vice laws are some of the worst ones on the books and are a waste of tax dollars, police work, and judicial time.
I don't own any HD devices nor do I plan on it until I need to replace my TV. I've seen the demonstrations in stores and the quality improvement isn't enough to justify the expense.
Granted, SD video on a super-ultra-wide bigscreen TV looks like crap in the displays but honestly, I don't know if I trust that the stores are really showing the true quality difference.
There is a bigger difference between VHS and DVD than DVD and Blu-Ray. Especially when you consider the fact that VHS was analog, required rewinding the movie, didn't support random access, and all the other features of DVDs. The difference between BD and DVD isn't as big, IMO. So, it's still not worth the price.
Plus, I refuse to support Sony anymore, especially because of all the proprietary tech they use that prevents people from using their legally purchased and rightfully owned products.
Re: Re: He should do something other than crying foul...
The problem is, with digital goods, there is no differece between the "new and improved" and the second hand one. They are exactly the same. Whereas physical goods, there is usually a difference, such as some wear & tear or the new version has newer features.
Personally, consumers and retailers aren't required to stop second hand sales. The companies need to come up with something that makes it better to buy new, e.g. super-ultra-limited-edition box sets or something like that. Even if you can buy the game itself used, it's highly unlikely that you will get all of the cool "toys" that a new game comes with.
Actually, you can't legally rip DVDs. Because they have CSS on them, you're still violating the DMCA because you have circumvented the DRM when you rip the movie.
I think hybrid is the way to go. Telecommuting is good in so many ways, but people able to get together and have a good BS session is also good.
So many ideas can get thrown around when people just hang out together. Having a place to go and chat is great. Usually digitial communication is used as a tool to accomplish a purpose, at least for business people. But it doesn't meet all the needs a person has.
Being able to order a bunch of pizzas and just talk is important for many reasons: the human need for belonging, affirmation of self, non-verbal cues, etc. Not to mention how many ideas or problems can be discussed without the pressure of "work" being on the mind.
I'm sure I probably talk louder on the cell phone than a normal phone. However, I also use my other hand (when free) to cover up my mouth so as to minimize how loud I am.
"- Apple OS is too much of a closed system to be used by most ppl.
- A PC with a Linux OS(with all its different versions isn't much more than a big paper wait for the average user)."
How is Windows any less of a closed system than Apple? Because you can buy any PC and have a copy of Windows on it? Because you can only (legally) have OS X on a Mac?
The underlying OS is still a closed-source, proprietary system. You don't know what is being sent back "home". And with virtualization programs like Parallels or VMWare, you can still have Windows when you need it.
Linux systems aren't paperweights for most people. Most people only need to do email, web surfing, and light office suite tools. Linux works just fine for that.
Yes, I use all three OSes and I've encouraged friends and family to buy non-Windows systems. All have been happy with the switch.
On the post: If Your Business Model Revolves Around Taking Some Feature Away From People, You're Doing It Wrong
I rarely watch it
When I rip movies to my HD, I never include the whole DVD, just the movie itself. That saves nearly 3GB of space, if not more.
Personally though, I much prefer buying the $5 DVDs in the bargain bin that are just the movie rather than $20+ for a DVD w/ extras.
On the post: Lame: Apple Charging $0.30 Per Song To Ditch DRM
Re: Re: Apple scores ANOTHER -200 on this move.
Of course, that's how I would devise a simple fix. Who knows how Apple is really doing it and therefore justifying the 30 cents.
On the post: Security Over ROI: No One Gets Fired For Banning Instant Messaging
IM: yes. Social sites: no
Social sites, e.g. Facebook, Myspace, etc., have limited value at work, unless a MySpace or other page is part of your company's web presence. But hanging out on their to share photos and crap w/ your friends shouldn't be done at work.
However, I realize that some people are more productive by taking a little stress-reducing time at work. You simply can't expect people to be productive all the time; if they aren't surfing the web they will chat w/ coworkers, talk on the phone, or simply doodle on paper while staring at the wall.
A better solution is to simply monitor productivity and Internet usage. If the work productivity drops and 'net usage is up, then you can take action. But if the work quality isn't suffering, then obviously having unfettered Internet access isn't a problem.
If bandwidth is an issue, just modify the QoS protocols and throttle the culprits.
On the post: Now Blockbuster Wants To Sell You A Proprietary Box So It Can Sell You Streamed Movies
"More recent" crap
There are the occasional winners like the new Batman movies but, for the most part, people are tired of the suckage that is Hollwood and the comic book/video game/sequel madness that gets put out.
On the post: Hollywood's DVD Cash Cow Starting To Falter
Re: Prices
On the post: Hollywood's DVD Cash Cow Starting To Falter
Re: DVDs aren't about picture quality
Plus, they have extra features but, personally, those aren't a big selling point. After I watch the special features once, I will probably never view them again.
On the post: As Internet Usage Grows, Sexual Offenses Against Kids Have Decreased
Maybe "predators" are getting there fix elsewhere
Perhaps the prevalence of easy access to porn, dating sites, swingers clubs, etc. via the Internet and elsewhere is simply reducing the need for people to target children.
On the post: Blu-ray Working Great, For Pirates
Re: Is 720p considered hi-def?
If you have a small living room, e.g. apartment, a 720p-only TV will be just as good. Plus, 720p screens are nearly $500 cheaper or more, since they are usually smaller sized too.
On the post: Blu-ray Working Great, For Pirates
Re:
I don't think Sony is in league w/ the pirates. I think Sony is just run by incompetent, ignorant morons.
On the post: Argentinian Celebrities Succeed In Forcing Search Engines To Block Search Results On Their Name
What about TOR?
On the post: EU Continues To Give Bogus Reasons For Keeping ACTA Secret
The pirates will win
On the post: Newspapers Are Souvenirs
How can a paper be worth that much?
On the post: As Expected, Prostitutes Move Elsewhere After Craigslist Change
This only affects "legitimate" prostitutes
Assuming this is true, then these are the ones who are doing it for the money, the excitement, or some other reason than they have no other choice; essentially they are the type to work in a brothel rather than hang out at bus stations and street corners. They do it because they choose to, not because they have to.
In that sense, I don't see what the problem is. As Lucretious said, they practice safe sex, do it in the privacy of their house/apartment, and are generally providing a service that people need/want.
Vice laws are some of the worst ones on the books and are a waste of tax dollars, police work, and judicial time.
On the post: Predicting Blu-ray's Troubles Didn't Take A Crystal Ball
Re: Bluray v dvd
Granted, SD video on a super-ultra-wide bigscreen TV looks like crap in the displays but honestly, I don't know if I trust that the stores are really showing the true quality difference.
There is a bigger difference between VHS and DVD than DVD and Blu-Ray. Especially when you consider the fact that VHS was analog, required rewinding the movie, didn't support random access, and all the other features of DVDs. The difference between BD and DVD isn't as big, IMO. So, it's still not worth the price.
Plus, I refuse to support Sony anymore, especially because of all the proprietary tech they use that prevents people from using their legally purchased and rightfully owned products.
On the post: Video Game Exec Claims Used Games Defraud The Industry
Re: Re: He should do something other than crying foul...
Personally, consumers and retailers aren't required to stop second hand sales. The companies need to come up with something that makes it better to buy new, e.g. super-ultra-limited-edition box sets or something like that. Even if you can buy the game itself used, it's highly unlikely that you will get all of the cool "toys" that a new game comes with.
On the post: Predicting Blu-ray's Troubles Didn't Take A Crystal Ball
Re: Re: Bluray v dvd
On the post: Ditching The Office
An office gives you a chance to connect
So many ideas can get thrown around when people just hang out together. Having a place to go and chat is great. Usually digitial communication is used as a tool to accomplish a purpose, at least for business people. But it doesn't meet all the needs a person has.
Being able to order a bunch of pizzas and just talk is important for many reasons: the human need for belonging, affirmation of self, non-verbal cues, etc. Not to mention how many ideas or problems can be discussed without the pressure of "work" being on the mind.
On the post: Loud Mobile Phone Talkers Leads List Of Mobile Etiquette Annoyances
Re: Re: No sidetone on mobiles
I wish more people would do that.
On the post: Oregon Trail Turns Into... Speed Dating?
Re: Re: They received warning
"This behavior is explained perfectly by Hanlon's razor"
:)
On the post: Chinese Windows Users Accuse Microsoft Of Hacking Their Computers
Re: not that many
- A PC with a Linux OS(with all its different versions isn't much more than a big paper wait for the average user)."
How is Windows any less of a closed system than Apple? Because you can buy any PC and have a copy of Windows on it? Because you can only (legally) have OS X on a Mac?
The underlying OS is still a closed-source, proprietary system. You don't know what is being sent back "home". And with virtualization programs like Parallels or VMWare, you can still have Windows when you need it.
Linux systems aren't paperweights for most people. Most people only need to do email, web surfing, and light office suite tools. Linux works just fine for that.
Yes, I use all three OSes and I've encouraged friends and family to buy non-Windows systems. All have been happy with the switch.
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