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On the splash screen or the About <name> screen under Help, is there a copyright notice for Netopia or Farallon (the name of the former a while back)? Just curious.

Nope, it's Microsoft's.  It's their MSTSC.exe that's used with Terminal Server with a different name and probably different interface. 

And best I can remember, Remote Desktop isn't turned on, but Remote Assistance is turned on by default.

Honestly, I don't see how gaming is a point you can bring up anymore. You could but all 3 of the next gen consoles (Gamecube, Playstation 2, Xbox) for a LOT less than a high end gaming machine. Consoles have caught up with and surpassed PC's these days and most games that you cannot play on consoles (real time strategy games) are not graphicaly demanding and avalible on both platforms.

No they haven't. The online offerings suck and I know of no console that takes a keyboard and mouse in the US which most FPS freaks will not put up with. You also can't mod a console game or download anything to change the game.

I'm sure they've caught up if all you want to do is play a split screen session of Madden' NFL but a console is no match for a PC in something like Quake3 or Unreal Tournament 2003.

I still maintain that Xbox was an iffy movie for Microsoft because I got one and have not used my PC for gaming since. It has alot of PC games ported to it, better online thing (the $50/year doesn't phase in the least for no lag ever and universal voice communication), and has alot of exclusive console games. I also like the fact that I can just sit down on the sofa and play games with my friends. Gaming is more of a social event than it is with PCs. Also TVs tend to be bigger than moniters. I switched to a Mac because I realized I no longer had any reason not to. Plus I wanted a laptop and the new PowerBook offered way more than the competition.

I agree here. You have to realize that a console gamer and a PC gamer are not one in the same. Usually 2 different mindsets. I also know many people who started out on consoles and became fully rabid PC gamers in the end.

And whoever said hardware is all that matters, that is not so. Example: a badly coded version of Pong might have framerate issues on my Xbox yet it can run Halo flawlessly. This is because how well the programmers make the software makes a huge difference in preformence. This is why some ports of games from graphically inferior consoles (cough PS2 cough) can look bad while other games made exculsivly for Xbox can look amazing. This is also why Halo the launch game was the best the programmers could do and yet 1 and 1/2 years later Halo 2 looks 10x better.

Well the xBox also is running a version of Windows 2000 and has DirectX. The PS2 development community has been very focal in the past about how hard it is to develop for the PS2. A developer who has written games on Windows and Direct X will have a far easier transition to the XBox than the PS2.

-=Jax=-

Honestly, I don't see how gaming is a point you can bring up anymore. You could but all 3 of the next gen consoles (Gamecube, Playstation 2, Xbox) for a LOT less than a high end gaming machine. Consoles have caught up with and surpassed PC's these days and most games that you cannot play on consoles (real time strategy games) are not graphicaly demanding and avalible on both platforms.

I still maintain that Xbox was an iffy movie for Microsoft because I got one and have not used my PC for gaming since. It has alot of PC games ported to it, better online thing (the $50/year doesn't phase in the least for no lag ever and universal voice communication), and has alot of exclusive console games. I also like the fact that I can just sit down on the sofa and play games with my friends. Gaming is more of a social event than it is with PCs. Also TVs tend to be bigger than moniters. I switched to a Mac because I realized I no longer had any reason not to. Plus I wanted a laptop and the new PowerBook offered way more than the competition.

And whoever said hardware is all that matters, that is not so. Example: a badly coded version of Pong might have framerate issues on my Xbox yet it can run Halo flawlessly. This is because how well the programmers make the software makes a huge difference in preformence. This is why some ports of games from graphically inferior consoles (cough PS2 cough) can look bad while other games made exculsivly for Xbox can look amazing. This is also why Halo the launch game was the best the programmers could do and yet 1 and 1/2 years later Halo 2 looks 10x better.

So long,
Larg0

Honestly, most of the games I play would be crap on a console. And no, they're not available for both platforms. A few are, but not the majority... Some are on the way, but they certainly won't run well on my mac. And for the price you pay for a PC, you can USE IT for other things to. I don't know where you're looking up prices, but I built my pc for just around $500.. and it can play pretty much any game out with 40+ average fps @ 1024x768.

I play a lot of RPGs, FPSs, RTSs... None of which play well on a console. And a lot of new RPGs and RTSs ARE graphically intensive. War3.. Age of Mythology.. NWN.. All of them require a fairly decent computer to play accetably.

No they haven't. The online offerings suck and I know of no console that takes a keyboard and mouse in the US which most FPS freaks will not put up with.
-=Jax=-

theres this little company called sony or something.  anyways,  they make a console called the Playstation 2.  it does...

Here in the US? I can go down to the store right now and buy a sony keyboard and mouse and use it for FPS to the same degree I can with a PC?

News to me. If this is available then please direct me to it.

I think this kind of thing is coming and the online gaming arena for consoles will get better but right now its no contest. You can do far more with a PC in regards to online gaming than any console out there at the moment.

-=Jax=-

all you people saying that PC's are better for gaming really should check into other, BETTER options. 

Consoles

nobody can argue that Consoles are not better for games because, they simply are.  lets take an XBOX for example.  it has MANY games that you will never get on PC's, plus, some of the things on it (HALO) are eventually comming to PC, but tthey are gonna be about two years old by the time it's there.  they also are going to get PC games, they have UT 2003 (called Unreal Championship) and they are getting Doom III and Quake IV as well.  there are also games like SEGA GT, Jet Set Radio Future, Panzer Dragoon Orta, Steel Battalion, NBA 2K3, and a whole bunch of others that make consoles the best choice overall.  and I could provide this kind of list for any console out there, oh, and the hardware is much cheaper and lasts you longer than PC hardware will. 

so gaming, is really a bad arguement because if you really wanted games THAT BAD, then you would just go the console route.  but apparently you just like nitpicking about the issue and using it as a staple for your arguement to fall back on.

there are strategy games on consoles.  albeit not as many as on PeeCee, but they are there, and most are better.

all you people saying that PC's are better for gaming really should check into other, BETTER options. 

You mean like upgrading a PC to play the newest games?

Consoles

nobody can argue that Consoles are not better for games because, they simply are.  lets take an XBOX for example.  it has MANY games that you will never get on PC's, plus, some of the things on it (HALO) are eventually comming to PC, but tthey are gonna be about two years old by the time it's there.  they also are going to get PC games, they have UT 2003 (called Unreal Championship)

Played UT 2003 months before it came out on the XBox on a PC of all things.  I can't see the controller making the transition myself. UT just isn't UT without a keyboard/mouse and downloadable mods!

and they are getting Doom III and Quake IV as well.  there are also games like SEGA GT, Jet Set Radio Future, Panzer Dragoon Orta, Steel Battalion, NBA 2K3, and a whole bunch of others that make consoles the best choice overall.  and I could provide this kind of list for any console out there, oh, and the hardware is much cheaper and lasts you longer than PC hardware will. 

The hardware is cheap enough that a console is a great second gaming machine. I don't know anyone who is a hardcore gamer who dosen't have a PC. 

so gaming, is really a bad arguement because if you really wanted games THAT BAD, then you would just go the console route.  but apparently you just like nitpicking about the issue and using it as a staple for your arguement to fall back on.

The only thing a console has going for it is price and the fact that you can have 4 friends over playing a game with you in front of the TV. The resolution on a TV sucks and compared to a PC the online gaming experience just isn't there.

Not that I really care. I barely play games anymore.

-=Jax=-

first off, there is downloadable content for Unreal Championship, and more comming very soon for lots of game including roster updates for the sports games, and new mechs and maps and modes for Mech Assault.  and the console online experience is much better.  do you have voice chat with PC's?  no.  and you can use a monitor for gaming with a VGA adapter.

there are strategy games on consoles.  albeit not as many as on PeeCee, but they are there, and most are better.

Highly doubtful...care to name any?

StarCraft
Pikmin
hell, The Sims is even comming very soon. 

and I dont know of many strategy games as I dont particularly care for them at all, but I do know there are some.

there are strategy games on consoles.  albeit not as many as on PeeCee, but they are there, and most are better.

Highly doubtful...care to name any?

StarCraft
Pikmin
hell, The Sims is even comming very soon. 

and I dont know of many strategy games as I dont particularly care for them at all, but I do know there are some.

Thus my point stands.