Comments on: Vista p2p networking http://www.p2pnet.net/story/11181 p2pnet.net - reader powered Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:11:09 -0300 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Reader's Write http://www.p2pnet.net/story/11181/comment-page-1#comment-132987 Reader's Write Thu, 01 Feb 2007 03:14:19 +0000 #comment-132987 1. Don't expect any better with the PS3 or the Wii. The PS3 probably delivers when it comes to graphics, and HDMI allows for full 1080p, but the very existence of HDMI on every PS3 console represents the threat that developers will start to make their games use the HDCP DRM, wherein non-approved devices will cause the PS3 to automatically down-convert the HD signal. This is the very same HDCP that is in Vista, although it will affect HDMI users less because it is more likely that anyone with an HDMI monitor is complying with HDCP. The problem comes with using cheaper analog component video outputs instead. The PS3 has no idea if the signal is being intercepted if the connection is analog, and will down-convert regardless. This is Big Media's feeble attempt to "patch the analog hole." The Wii will only get EDTV (DVD-quality) resolution, so it's not exactly what you are looking for if resolution is a big factor. Nonetheless, it is the games that define the system, not the other way around. People have purchased the awfully-engineered PlayStation and PS2, as well as the disgrace that was the NES, purely because of its game lineup. 2. Yes, running GNU/Linux is hard. I myself am struggling to switch to Ubuntu. However, if virtualizers are what you need, you can invest in VMware. Although proprietary, both the VMWare Player and the VMWare Server are freeware, and will run on the GNU/Linux platform. If your solution must consist of free software, I suggest using QEMU. QEMU emulates, but a proprietary accelerator provided from the same developer called kQEMU supposedly brings emulated systems up to native speed. Xen is another free software virtualizer, although I've heard relatively little about it. If you want to run Windows applications natively, WINE provides a free compatibility layer which can run most Windows applications in a UNIX-like environment, but be sure to check their Application Database (http://appdb.winehw.org) before installing or running a program in the layer. For extra support, CodeWeavers offers a $50 proprietary version of WINE called CrossOver, which promises to provide better usability to the WINE project. As per the requirements of the LGPL, CodeWeavers contributes code back to WINE. A proprietary fork of WINE called Cedega exists that is optimized for popular Windows games. Sadly, Cedega costs about $50 a year and has been ripping off the WINE project by refusing to contribute code (although it was forked during the time that WINE was under the MIT/X11 license, so there is nothing that can be legally done about this). 3. Your frustration with NVIDIA drivers is the fault of NVIDIA. Both NVIDIA and ATI refuse to provide free software drivers, and therefore the proprietary drivers they do provide cannot be included in distributions due to legal restrictions. I believe Ubuntu provides documentation on the installation of NVIDIA drivers in their wiki. With any luck, the ReactOS project, which aims to extend WINE into a complete free replacement to Windows while providing binary compatibility to Windows programs, will be mostly completed sometime before Vienna comes out, and may successfully knock Windows out of the dominant market for desktops in the same way that GNU/Linux eventually pushed UNIX derivatives out of dominance in the server market. 1. Don’t expect any better with the PS3 or the Wii. The PS3 probably delivers when it comes to graphics, and HDMI allows for full 1080p, but the very existence of HDMI on every PS3 console represents the threat that developers will start to make their games use the HDCP DRM, wherein non-approved devices will cause the PS3 to automatically down-convert the HD signal. This is the very same HDCP that is in Vista, although it will affect HDMI users less because it is more likely that anyone with an HDMI monitor is complying with HDCP. The problem comes with using cheaper analog component video outputs instead. The PS3 has no idea if the signal is being intercepted if the connection is analog, and will down-convert regardless. This is Big Media’s feeble attempt to “patch the analog hole.” The Wii will only get EDTV (DVD-quality) resolution, so it’s not exactly what you are looking for if resolution is a big factor. Nonetheless, it is the games that define the system, not the other way around. People have purchased the awfully-engineered PlayStation and PS2, as well as the disgrace that was the NES, purely because of its game lineup.
2. Yes, running GNU/Linux is hard. I myself am struggling to switch to Ubuntu. However, if virtualizers are what you need, you can invest in VMware. Although proprietary, both the VMWare Player and the VMWare Server are freeware, and will run on the GNU/Linux platform. If your solution must consist of free software, I suggest using QEMU. QEMU emulates, but a proprietary accelerator provided from the same developer called kQEMU supposedly brings emulated systems up to native speed. Xen is another free software virtualizer, although I’ve heard relatively little about it.
If you want to run Windows applications natively, WINE provides a free compatibility layer which can run most Windows applications in a UNIX-like environment, but be sure to check their Application Database (http://appdb.winehw.org) before installing or running a program in the layer. For extra support, CodeWeavers offers a $50 proprietary version of WINE called CrossOver, which promises to provide better usability to the WINE project. As per the requirements of the LGPL, CodeWeavers contributes code back to WINE. A proprietary fork of WINE called Cedega exists that is optimized for popular Windows games. Sadly, Cedega costs about $50 a year and has been ripping off the WINE project by refusing to contribute code (although it was forked during the time that WINE was under the MIT/X11 license, so there is nothing that can be legally done about this).
3. Your frustration with NVIDIA drivers is the fault of NVIDIA. Both NVIDIA and ATI refuse to provide free software drivers, and therefore the proprietary drivers they do provide cannot be included in distributions due to legal restrictions. I believe Ubuntu provides documentation on the installation of NVIDIA drivers in their wiki.

With any luck, the ReactOS project, which aims to extend WINE into a complete free replacement to Windows while providing binary compatibility to Windows programs, will be mostly completed sometime before Vienna comes out, and may successfully knock Windows out of the dominant market for desktops in the same way that GNU/Linux eventually pushed UNIX derivatives out of dominance in the server market.

]]> By: Reader's Write http://www.p2pnet.net/story/11181/comment-page-1#comment-132969 Reader's Write Wed, 31 Jan 2007 21:24:10 +0000 #comment-132969 My opinion is that a lot of people do not care and do not interesting in Vista right now. My opinion is that a lot of people do not care and do not interesting in Vista right now.

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