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Microsoft's Retail Stores Are Eight Times As Genius
Yes, But Which 48 Points Does Project Natal Track?
New Zune Ad Obliterated Because, You Know, It's Stupid
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ID Ron Burgundy
07/21/09

In reply to Microsoft's Retail Stores Are Eight Times As Genius
That is pretty good. I don't read many PA, but they keep me entertained when I do. And this next bit is slightly related, but I want a Zune HD right now. In 64gb please.
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(Starman) Starman
07/20/09

In reply to Microsoft's Retail Stores Are Eight Times As Genius
Wow, harsh words, Tycho:
(Taken from the Penny Arcade news site)

"On the desktop, and this is unfortunate for [Microsoft], the only way to make a truly discriminating choice is to purchase a competitor's product."

:(

But on the other hand, tell me a time when that wasn't true! :P
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(Starman) Starman
07/20/09

@AnalysisDialysis (and a MudkipNDS): On another note, though, why does Microsoft feel the need to make a retail store for themselves? Isn't every tech store basically just a Microsoft store?

:P

Kidding, kidding.
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spannu
07/20/09

@AnalysisDialysis (and a MudkipNDS): This way, you won't have to go through dishwashers, TVs, or music to get to the coveted 360 and PC sections of the store.
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tnt-tek: I'd like some corn nuts
07/20/09

In reply to Microsoft's Retail Stores Are Eight Times As Genius
Why the Zune hate PA? Why do people tie their final impressions of the device to the Zune30. Sure it was brown and ugly but the subsequent generation improved in every way and the Zune HD is bringing you Tegra/OLED goodness....

If we all thought of the iPhone as it's 1.0 self it would be a laughing stock...

weeps to sad sad music, playing from my lonely zune.
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spannu
07/20/09

@tnt-tek: The person that the character with brown hair is based on is an open Zune fan.
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bosskev
07/20/09

In reply to Microsoft's Retail Stores Are Eight Times As Genius
Wow! Eight minds melded into one? Pretty impressive. I guess Microsoft really is going all out to have staffers who are almost as capable as an Apple Genius.

Oh, c'mon, folks! You knew somebody was gonna go there, might as well have been me...
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mikeness
07/20/09

@bosskev: Oh dear lord... he just said it for the effect... he doesn't mean it... just walk away... must not be Internet comment retarded... resist...
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TheWerewolf - Sotto voce
07/20/09

@bosskev: "... eight [Apple] Geniuses acting in tandem, suspended in a perpetual nightmare."

I thought that was pretty much any Apple Genius working at an Apple Store.

Are you of the body?
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switchblade saints
07/20/09

@bosskev:

"WHOA WHOA WHOA!! first off Lady, its not called a PC! Second, we never get viruses, OK? it must be a user error"
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rgspb
07/20/09

@switchblade saints: Uh, yeah, but he's cute, so it really doesn't matter what he's saying now does it! Plus, look at her, it's not like she's going to understand ANYTHING he says anyway. AS IF!
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bosskev
07/20/09

@rgspb: Yeah, he is cute, 'cept that the odd angle of the photo makes him look like Dorf, just standing there on the counter.
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Lite: hates Illinois Nazis
07/20/09

@bosskev: 8 minds melded? If it's using Microsoft software at least 3 of the minds will be rebooting at any given point in time, 2 will be hard-locked at BSOD, and the remaining 3 will be processing the latest security patches.
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SysRq
07/20/09

@Lite: is on a boat.: Eh, beat me to it.

I'm pretty sure the entire store is just going to be one big BSOD.
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GitEmSteveDave_HatesFriday
06/08/09

In reply to Yes, But Which 48 Points Does Project Natal Track?
You know, I was listening to my favorite conspiracy theory nut job, Alex Jones, this past week, and he was claiming that Microsoft, who is a front for the Government, in conjunction w/Steve Speilberg, helped develop the Natal technology to body scan us. Apparently this is two way technology, and the "Gov" can see into your house, even when the system is turned off, and they will use the body and face scans to program "Drones, Cruise Missiles, and bullets that can track you" with GPS data from the census so they can "knock on your door", and be sure they are killing the right person.

Yeah, and he wonders why people think he's nuts.
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Nutchromeo
06/08/09

In reply to Yes, But Which 48 Points Does Project Natal Track?
Good think the iPhone doesn't use this technology...I predict a lot of "applewood" later today.
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Kaiser-Machead
06/08/09

In reply to Yes, But Which 48 Points Does Project Natal Track?
Oh Penny Arcade, you never disappoint me.
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Maori_Yelir
06/08/09

In reply to Yes, But Which 48 Points Does Project Natal Track?
Once in a while they do a good one, this is one of those.
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ripfire
06/08/09

@Maori_Yelir: You mean you don't like Twisp and Catsby?
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mxpx5678
05/15/09

In reply to New Zune Ad Obliterated Because, You Know, It's Stupid
It still really isn't the best argument. Most people like the Apple players better and it is a feature that Apple could add at any time. It is a horrible feature to try and differentiate on.
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Tony Bullard
05/15/09

@mxpx5678: "Most people" haven't taken the time to really compare mp3 players. If you spent a week with both an iPod and a Zune, you'd see they're both very strong mp3 players, and both have advantages over the other. But most people don't know that. They "prefer" the iPod only because it's the more popular player, so they assume it's better.

And considering both players use music as their main use, the pricing plan of said music is a pretty important feature to differentiate on. If you could buy a car that got more gas for cheaper than other cars, would you get it?
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efenili
05/15/09

In reply to New Zune Ad Obliterated Because, You Know, It's Stupid
From the Zune Site

"Discover millions, keep 10

With a monthly Zune Pass music subscription, you can download millions of tracks from Zune Marketplace* for the price of one CD a month ($14.99). Play them whenever you want on up to three computers and three players, for as long as you keep your subscription up to date. You also get to keep 10 of your favorite songs each month to add to your permanent collection. That's $10 worth of songs you know you already love."
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vinnyr
05/15/09

@efenili: Hum.... itunes: 99Cents per song,

Zunepass: $15 for 10 songs. You do the math, which one is cheaper. Windows fanboy. Btw hows dem virus's treating ya.
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Kaiser-Machead
05/15/09

@vinnyr: The value of subscription vs. pay-to-own really depends on your dabbling habits. I personally have no interest in a subscription. I'd rather just stream from Pandora for free. It has its limitations compared to a full on subscription plan to ZMP, but it's still $0, except for the cost of my ever valuable internet connection.

I can see the value it holds for some, but it's just not my cup of tea. Far be it from me to decide that it's not worth it to everyone.
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efenili
05/15/09

In reply to New Zune Ad Obliterated Because, You Know, It's Stupid
I always thought that you were allowed to keep 10 songs a month permanently ? Did I miss something?

[www.zune.net]

Is everyone just deciding to ignore this fact? So technically even if you cancel your Zune pass you get to keep 10 a month or 120 songs a year forever? Or is that wrong??
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rip
05/15/09

@efenili: Correct. But if you ever cancel, or if Microsoft pulls the plug, you have essentially paid $1.50 for each of those songs. Or $45,000 to fill an iPod, in Zune marketingspeak.
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roflwaffles is attempting hipster irony
05/15/09

@rip:

But you would have had access to unlimited songs during that period of time it took to fill the ipod up, wouldn't you?
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madog
05/15/09

@roflwaffles learned to update his screen name: If you quit the service you only get to keep the 10 free songs a month you get. That's where his figures come in.
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Justin Paulson
05/15/09

In reply to New Zune Ad Obliterated Because, You Know, It's Stupid
Honestly though, name one person you know that has an iPod and hasn't spent as much as a nice car loading it up with songs? I don't know a single person.

Really though, does anyone even HAVE 30,000 songs on their iPod?
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Kaiser-Machead
05/15/09

@Justinpaulson: I couldn't say how much I spent on the music my iPod currently has, but I'm sure it's a lot. Doesn't matter, as this amount was spread over many months, and is pretty much of zero impact since I have a steady income to keep paying for it.
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Kaiser-Machead
05/15/09

@Kaiser-Machead: Well, not zero impact, but not nearly as much as my other luxury items would.
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Nick
05/15/09

In reply to New Zune Ad Obliterated Because, You Know, It's Stupid
can we stop using the word douche?

/sarcasm
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frigg
01/30/09

In reply to How Hot Is Your Laptop?
Based on the dialogue in the first two frames, and then he says "look," I was expecting something different in the third, and confused when it had eyes.
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Kaiser-Machead
01/30/09

In reply to How Hot Is Your Laptop?
I have a first-run Macbook as well, and since the firmware update lo so many moons ago, it's run much cooler.
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