Posts by Michael Brian Bentley

114 billion transistors, one big meh. Apple's M1 Ultra wake-up call

Skeptical

Why would El Reg publish a review of a powerful new computer by someone who wouldn't know what to do with it?

Haswell micro: Intel’s Next Unit of Computing desktop PC

I'd get one of these immediately if it had two wired network ports.

How to be a failure at Guitar Hero III

Audience Participation

My son learned to play piano well enough to do Fur Elise a couple years ago and more recently Gannendorf's Tower, but has no interest in continuing. He started fiddle lessons and was getting to know the instrument, but his interest has waned and hasn't touched it in a while.

He has conquered Guitar Hero and Guitar Hero III. He now knows the songs, he's marched through their performances note-by-note. His appreciation of rock music, at least, is growing.

And now he's interested in guitar lessons.

The article is interesting, reminds me of a South Park episode where the old man experiences similar sour grapes re Guitar Hero because he doesn't get the paradigm.

The bottom line is that to appreciate music, you do not have to play an instrument, you are allowed to be in the audience, but these days it is socially acceptable to expect the audience to participate. Guitar Hero is audience participation. So is Dance Dance Revolution.