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8 months ago ::
Oct 20, 2012 - 12:24PM
#201
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Date Joined:
Apr 12, 2008
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I've got all of my D&D material on a 36gb thumb-drive, a 1TB portable hard-drive, on my PC, and in online storage. Some of it's on my phone. If you drop my thumb-drive in the bath...well, I'll cry and potentially rage and try to drown you...but it's not a really big deal. It's all backed up x4, so no huge loss. Yeah the thumb-drive is toast, but those are cheap. If you drop my phone in the bath, someone better ring the bell, 'cause it's fight-time and I'm gonna come out swinging.
A few years ago (back before I retired) a coworker left a thumb drive in his pants pocket when he put the pants in the laundry.
The thumb drive went through the washer AND the dryer.
It still worked for at least long enough to copy the entire contents off of it. (He didn't trust it enough to try any more than that.)
Not sure if I would've even tried it.
We were at the beach last summer and my oldest son (17) got out of the car, ran happily down the beach, jumped in the water...then realized his cell-phone was still in the pocket of his swimming trunks. He pulled it out and water was streaming out of it. He said some fairly terrible things, then put it on a beach towel. When were leaving he tried it...and it worked. For a minute. He was able to send a text, then the screen went black. I thought it was rather amazing that it worked enough to do even that. We were able to save the sd card in it, though, so he was able to keep his pics and music. I was worried that the salt-water would've made it impossible for any electronics to survive.
In fond memory of Mark "Wrecan" Monack.
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8 months ago ::
Oct 20, 2012 - 2:56PM
#202
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Honestly if books weren't such a core part of the Hobby's image, I think we'd have switched long ago.
I wouldn't. I personally can't read PDFs, not for anything more than a quick flip through. It just strains my eyes reading off a screen for long periods. I'd much rather pay extra for a print book. If something was PDF only, I wouldn't buy it.
The new E-Readers use a passive ink screen so they literally look just like paper. The screen has two layers. The back layer holds the 'ink' and the front layer has little divets in it. When electricity is passed through both layers the ink move to the front layer. After that it uses reflective light rather than emitted light, so its just like a piece of paper...
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8 months ago ::
Oct 20, 2012 - 3:19PM
#203
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Date Joined:
Jun 21, 2012
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Drop MY ereader in the bath and - if opening the case and letting it dry for a day doesn't bring it back - I'll pop the SD card out and install it in a replacement. And have my entire library. In the meantime, I still have my entire library on my computer and on my phone.
Same here.
I've got all of my D&D material on a 36gb thumb-drive, a 1TB portable hard-drive, on my PC, and in online storage. Some of it's on my phone. If you drop my thumb-drive in the bath...well, I'll cry and potentially rage and try to drown you...but it's not a really big deal. It's all backed up x4, so no huge loss. Yeah the thumb-drive is toast, but those are cheap. If you drop my phone in the bath, someone better ring the bell, 'cause it's fight-time and I'm gonna come out swinging.
Yes but you do have to buy a replacement at a non trivial expense. You don't have to buy a new book, even if you might want to. That's why recovery isn't the same as replacement.
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8 months ago ::
Oct 20, 2012 - 3:50PM
#204
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Date Joined:
Apr 16, 2009
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So, to get briefly back to the original subject, I have two questions.
1) is ANYONE seriously suggesting that Next should be published in such a fashion that anyone who wants it (legally) must buy paper books?
2) is ANYONE seriously suggesting that Next should be published in such a fashion that a computer (and either downloaded files or internet access) is absolutely required?
I believe that the answer to both questions is probably no. In which case, I think the original question is settled.
"The world does not work the way you have been taught it does. We are not real as such; we exist within The Story. Unfortunately for you, you have inherited a condition from your mother known as Primary Protagonist Syndrome, which means The Story is interested in you. It will find you, and if you are not ready for the narrative strands it will throw at you..." - from Footloose
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8 months ago ::
Oct 20, 2012 - 4:49PM
#205
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Date Joined:
Apr 12, 2008
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Yes but you do have to buy a replacement at a non trivial expense. You don't have to buy a new book, even if you might want to.
That's why recovery isn't the same as replacement.
If I spill red Kool-Aid all over my open PHB, it's hosed (since dropping it in the bath is quite the corner-case scenario). Sure it's still technically usable, but the OCD side of me will have a stroke every time I open the book to those red, wavy, hideous pages. Chances are it will smear the text and ruin any pictures.
If it's one of my rare books (1E Deities and Demigods with the Cthulhu mythos in it, orange-cover Palace of the Silver Princess from BECMI), those are nigh-irreplaceable, or only replaceable with a LOT of money and time spent searching. The OCD and regular sides of me will both have a stroke if something like that happens to them.
On the other hand, dropping $20 to $30 bucks for a new thumb-drive because my nephew thought it would be cool to see if it could float in the toilet is nothing. Of course, "trivial expense" is a very subjective term. For me, if it's less than $80 it's a trivial expense. For some, $80 might as well be all the money in the world when they're struggling to just put food on their tables and pay their bills.
In fond memory of Mark "Wrecan" Monack.
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8 months ago ::
Oct 21, 2012 - 2:12AM
#206
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What do you want the thing to do, make you coffee when you wake up and call you a cab when you need a ride? I mean they already do everything a computer can, including voice activation, 3D graphics, play games, show PDFs, videos, etc...etc... What exactly are you looking for, a thought based interface?
They can do these things, I simply lack the expertise to write the coding for the functions I desire. furthermore, not all PDFs are propperly searchable (some companies do a great job making PDFs, others effectively just scan in a page or so with no formatting to the medium and discordant page numbering). It's not jsut the readers, it's also the minimum standard of E-Book.
Affordably...
I want to compile and hot reference individual sheets within a PDF document with dynamic variables.
In addition I need a scratch pad that has hot list interface with those dynamic discrete documents.
this will, of course, be touch interface, which is standard.
Mind you, an E-reader in the shape of a DM's screen would be really nice.
I have an answer for you, it may even be the truth.
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8 months ago ::
Oct 21, 2012 - 5:40AM
#207
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What do you want the thing to do, make you coffee when you wake up and call you a cab when you need a ride? I mean they already do everything a computer can, including voice activation, 3D graphics, play games, show PDFs, videos, etc...etc... What exactly are you looking for, a thought based interface?
They can do these things, I simply lack the expertise to write the coding for the functions I desire. furthermore, not all PDFs are propperly searchable (some companies do a great job making PDFs, others effectively just scan in a page or so with no formatting to the medium and discordant page numbering). It's not jsut the readers, it's also the minimum standard of E-Book.
Affordably...
I want to compile and hot reference individual sheets within a PDF document with dynamic variables.
In addition I need a scratch pad that has hot list interface with those dynamic discrete documents.
this will, of course, be touch interface, which is standard.
Mind you, an E-reader in the shape of a DM's screen would be really nice.
Um, you know that android tablets can be purchased for as low as $99 that do those things right? Just go to the android store and look up PDF reader and look at some of the features, you would be surprised...
Edit: $89.00 with voice activation and all the features you want with the right E-Reader app. 10 second internet search...
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8 months ago ::
Oct 21, 2012 - 5:50AM
#208
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8 months ago ::
Oct 21, 2012 - 6:09AM
#209
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- Senior Volunteer Community Lead
- Sesquipedalian
Date Joined:
May 20, 2001
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I don't know... I already freak out with people asking to use my books, then "follow along" as they read with a pencil or pen... Licking their fingers before turning pages... general lack of respect for something that isn't theirs that I certainly would NOT want to hand something electronic over.
Spoiler:
Show
Of the two approaches to hobby games today, one is best defined as the realism-simulation school and the other as the game school. AD&D is assuredly an adherent of the latter school. It does not stress any realism (in the author's opinon an absurd effort at best considering the topic!).
It does little to attempt to simulate anything either. (AD&D) is first and foremost a game for the fun and enjoyment of those who seek the use of imagination and creativity....
In all cases, however, the reader should understand that AD&D is designed to be an amusing and diverting pastime, something which an fill a few hours or consume endless days, as the participants desire, but in no case something to be taken too seriously.
For fun, excitement and captivating fantasy, AD&D is unsurpassed.As a realistic simulation of things from the realm of make-believe or even as a reflection of midieval or ancient warfare or culture or society, it can be deemed only a dismal failure. Readers who seek the later must search elsewhere. - Gary Gygax. 1e DMG.
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8 months ago ::
Oct 21, 2012 - 10:24AM
#210
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I don't know... I already freak out with people asking to use my books, then "follow along" as they read with a pencil or pen... Licking their fingers before turning pages... general lack of respect for something that isn't theirs that I certainly would NOT want to hand something electronic over.
If its only for a few seconds while they look something up you don't have to worry. Android standards require scratch resistant screens as well as that funky plastic that repairs itself.
The low end version Android I own is just about indestructible. I've had it for months now without a scratch resistant screen protector and I put it in my pocket with my keys and stuff and it doesn't get scratched even a little bit... I drop it all the time...
I wouldn't drop it in a sink full of water, but its pretty sturdy...
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