Cringley on Apple being MS's biggest threat. First read about

[alfredo]

Google, then at the end it speaks of Apple. It all ties in.

http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20050825.html

Has Google Peaked?
The Biggest Threat to Microsoft Might Not Be Those G-men at All, but Apple
By Robert X. Cringely

Standing in line at the bank not long ago, I was behind a young man who insisted on maintaining a distance from the person in front of him of about 10 feet. The queue was perhaps 20 feet long and right in the middle was this 10-foot gap. I was in no hurry, I thought. That gap was not going to cause me to get to the teller more than a second or so later than I might if the gap was closed. No problem.

Only it WAS a problem. As the minutes passed that gap started to drive me insane. Finally I asked the kid to move forward.

"It was making you crazy, right?" he asked, clearly enjoying the moment.

Which brings me to Google.

[reprobate]

1. Yep. Steve 'crazy like a fox' Jobs.

The idea of giving away Tiger on ipods to run on windows boxes is pure genius. Anyone who tries Tiger will love it and windows will be history. Particularly if gaming is supported with something akin to Direct X. If Apple can coax the gamers over to OS X, Microshaft is in deep doo=d00.

[alfredo]

2. Why game on a computer when

the consoles are so good?

[reprobate]

3. Oh, I agree. But there are a bunch of diehard PC gamers who could switch

[alfredo]

4. My wife is one of those

She is addicted to Tony Hawk, but only on her computer. She won't touch her PS2.

[Ready4Change]

5. I HATE console controllers.

I hate them with a passion. I know that's one of the things console gamers love, but to me those controllers are ergonomic nightmares.

I can NEVER find the buttons without looking at them, I can NEVER tell what button I'm pushing. THe controllers with a "joystick" button might as well replace it with 4 buttons, as I can only get full control deflection from the d**n things.

Atari had things right. Nintendo killed console gaming for me.

[alfredo]

6. The steering wheel controllers might be more your thing.

It's two hands and two thumbs. pretty straight forward. You just have to be careful not to move the wheel as the game loads.

[Ready4Change]

7. They are a bit better.

Makes GT3 a bit more playable for me. I'm nearly clueless trying to hit apexes with the standard controller.

[alfredo]

8. On the dirt you just keep it to the floor, and just power slide

all of the curves. You don't steer, you don't brake, you aim. Nothing subtle. You just got to know when to throw it sideways. I suck on the road courses, even with a steering wheel.