That OS is 13-14 years old...

It won't stop working (well maybe the activation thingy), you just won't get any kind of security updates, and in some time, it will be unsupported by security software (kinda like 98)

I still have a 98SE machine running (for old games that don't work on modern windows versions), but with some caveats

1- It's not hooked up to the network, and will never be
2- Older hardware will not have driver updates
3- Transferring files is done via DVD-R or CD-R (because no, it won't be hooked up, and no, I don't want to install USB mass storage drivers on it)

The same can be done with XP (activating it might be fun without an internet connection, but I'm pretty sure MS could release a little program that activates XP (but probably won't))

I'm glad not to be working for an ISP, it's gonna be a nightmare for both customers and CSRs when the machines get infected

Ever wondered why our dentition is the way it is? Because we are omnivores, meaning we *have* to eat meat also. We are not built to eat only plants.

Depends on the *quantity*. Wine is actually good for the cardiovascular system in reasonable quantities...

Looks very nice, will try once weather is a little warmer. Thanks for sharing

Yup, we have a really good one in Quebec, called Du Bleuet

But the burnt part is the one that tastes good. Seriously, I don;t even bother with propane BBQ grills, I only use Charcoals because of the taste, the smell, the sound (the whole *experience* if you wish)

"If I post an image, I'm lucky if anybody looks at it. If I post the text of the error, there is a good chance that somebody will stumble on it using Google and actually make some use of it."

^-THIS!

While on the subject, any way to get people to stop doing how-tos with video? I can't print a video

So? people don't care, as long as they can give them their money. As long as people have their shiny things and reality tv, they won't mind being abused by corporations.

I'm pretty sure the death count wasn't nearly as high, but good point...

" Like the Play store, Steam could check hardware compatibility among all registered devices before even purchasing a game. They just have to be compatible with what they say they will be compatible with"

Hopefully it will be less hit and miss than minimum requirements on PC. Yes, Fall of Cybertron technically runs on a Core2duo, just not at playable framerates.

" Valve can just make a different list of hardware and minimums for a Steam box to be called version 2. That is not unlike the steps with XBox->XBox 360->XBox One, except the Steam box would have complete backwards compatibility."

XB/360/XB one are different consoles, just as PS1/2/3 are. What I'm saying is they are different Steamboxes with different cpus, gpus, RAM, which is a no-no in consoles (the only big difference between a Fat and Slim PS2 is the CPU speed, Fat is 294Mhz, Slim is 300, so technically the same speed. Yes the Slim has the network port, so does my Fat (and a HDD) but *same* performance specs. Valve should set the specs (ie: x-core y-speed cpu/z amount of ram and leave it up to manufacturers to put different capacity hard drives in them. That's the only way to succeed. If they're not all performing the same, they are *not* consoles.

" This will also give PC game makers targets to hit instead of shooting blind: make the game requirements too high and you cannot hope to be Steam box compatible."

That I agree 100%, and will help ditch DirectX, making games easier to port to OS X and Linux and (hopefully) remove the need to run Windows for gaming...

With all due respect, not good advice if the person is new to Linux.

A basic firewall is better than none at all (yes, even on Linux). If he knew Linux so much, he wouldn't ask the question. A firewall at default config will offer protection and he can play with it later on to open ports if needed.

"So - you don't need firewall. Just knowledge how to close unneeded services/programs."

That's my point, if he comes here asking that question, he probably doesn't have the knowledge (yet) to do so.

If standalone, as in replacing your existing router, I've used IPcop, Smoothwall (a little more flexible) and full-blown ClearOS with mail server, antivirus, even the kitchen sink (well, almost).

If on the same machine, I honestly don't know, since I'm currently only running Windows and OSX

Will it prevent the Bing bar from being installed ?

You know those bombs are the only ones ever used in war? US invaded Iraq under the false pretense of WMD (ironically, they're the only country that ever used those, Atomic, Napalm or others)

"Consoles bearing the same name have not all been the same for a long time. The last generation and current generation allow you to choose between a few different ones, though hard drive space is usually the primary difference between the same versions. Yet some have differences in physical size, shape, colours, etc."

A PS2 built in 2001 (mine) runs at the same CPU speed than a slim built in 2009. A XB360 Arcade has the same CPU as the first one. The latest PS3 has the same CPU as the first one.

"Then there is the incremental hardware versions over time. Just looking at the PS3 as an example, the first version supported backwards compatibility with PS2 games at the hardware level. One of the next versions only supported PS2 games with software emulation. Eventually, PS2 backwards compatibility was dropped completely from the later versions."

Same RAM, same GPU. Giving the *exact* same performance between versions meaning a game that came out in 2014 (FIFA 2014) *WILL* run on a 2001 PS2.

No the PS3 can't run PS2 anymore, but it can run any PS3 game (which it was designed to do)

Yes, hardly identical indeed

Try running even a 2008 game on a 2001 PC. That's where the Steambox will fail if they don't all have the same performance.