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Punch on: Open thread 24/09/2012

The Punch Team

by The Punch Team

24 Sep 05:00am

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Filed under: 3d Printers, Drones, Open Thread

110 comments

Once upon a time the word we’d use for automated electronica that build things would be “factory”. Lately, a different term is being bandied about: a “3D printer”.

A 3D-printed plastic bust of Elvis Presley. The King's alive! Picture: The Herald-Sun

It does what you’d expect them to do: make stuff. Could be The Next Big Thing, some say, triggering a personal manufacturing revolution. The future of the economy. Houses and even aircraft can be “printed”. New Scientist magazine reported last year on a flying drone that took just a week to go from being to produce - designed, then printed, then zooming above the ground.

There’s debate over their worth, though. Printers are hardly the world’s most reliable appliances. They always get jammed. Always hungry for ink. And there’s concerns 3D printers could be used to manufacture things people don’t like. Guns, for instance.

A new consumer-friendly device called the MakerBot Replicator 2 hit the US market at the weekend. A nice read from Slate on the Steve Jobs figure behind them here. What do you reckon about these gizmos, Punchers? Would you need one? What would you print?

Comments on this post close at 8pm AEST.

Most commented

110 comments

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    • Super D says:

      05:32am | 24/09/12

      I’d be keen on on demand paperclips, thumbtacks and picture hooks. Could also be handy for missing Lego bits.

      Reply

    • TChong says:

      07:59am | 24/09/12

      it’ll be good for when the tv remote gets lost , again.

    • S.L says:

      06:31am | 24/09/12

      Murphys law.
      Today is the one day I have my kids for school holidays and I’m as sick as a dog! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

      Reply

    • acotrel says:

      06:50am | 24/09/12

      NASA is apparently building a 3D printer with a view to sending it to other planets.  Then all they have to do to get a person there, is scan them here on Earth, and press a button.

      Reply

    • TheRealDave says:

      12:43pm | 24/09/12

      Step away from the Star Trek DVD Collection….

    • nihonin says:

      02:07pm | 24/09/12

      Bugger that TRD, set phasers to stun(ningly spectacular death that is).  wink

    • Gregg says:

      07:04am | 24/09/12

      Well I doubt that I’d be relying on one just yet to produce a house and whilst there might be a lot of ornamental objects hopefully it’ll be an insoluble ink that you’ll not only run out of but not have a later breaking down of.

      Meanwhile, back in the real world, we not only still have boats, not to be 3D produced for there seems to be an ample supply up Indonesia way and Australia is still doing rescues in Indonesian waters.
      With electronic technology what it is, we’re left to wonder why someone cannot pick up a phone to ring the Indonesian Navy and say you’ve got a boat in your backyard rather than to seek permission to enter Indonesian waters.

      It is beyond time we continue with the smugglers game.

      And then we have this payment of returnees!
      They would likely have returned anyway you’d reckon if life was a little less pleasant and then that they can accept a return is not going to put them in danger says something about the situations of the locations where they have come from and from where others are attempting to supposedly flee.

      It is time to just stop the rot and tow those boats back.

      Reply

    • Max Power says:

      09:43am | 24/09/12

      Add to this the Sri Lankan men who were so fearful for their lives, they fled Sri Lanka by boat to come to Australia. When they were told they were going to Nauru for processing, they decided that returning to the Sri Lanka was the best option. Gees, that persecution and and danger in Sri Lanka must be real bad.
      Genuine refugees my arse, yet more proof the boat people are economic migrants looking for a free and easy ride at Australian tax payers expense.

    • iansand says:

      07:15am | 24/09/12

      Imagine how much you will spend on toner.

      Reply

    • Ben C says:

      10:16am | 24/09/12

      Aftermarket toner - about 75% of the price of genuine toner, to do the same job.

      Still, 75% of a fortune is still a fortune.

    • John F says:

      10:56am | 24/09/12

      You buy a plastic string for the printing, very much the same as wipper snipper line.

    • TheRealDave says:

      12:46pm | 24/09/12

      That would be handy for making Whipper Snipper line then….

    • iMitchy says:

      01:47pm | 24/09/12

      They are making some pretty awesome things with these in Japan.
      When you get a 3D ultrasound (when pregnant) they use the data to make a replica of the baby inside a clear resin. It’s basically a 3D 3D scan - in your hand instead of on a screen.

      The first I saw of these printers was one that a movie SFX company used. They had to build a life sized “Bumble Bee” robot for Transformers and they printed out the smaller prototype to make sure that the computer designed prototype would look proportionate in real life and have the required strength in the thinner parts of the body with bulk either side as well as making sure that the design would be sturdy, self supporting and not too top-heavy.

      I’d love one of these printers but jeez they are expensive.

    • iansand says:

      02:21pm | 24/09/12

      iMitchy - USD 2,199.

      Plus peripherals.

    • Mouse says:

      07:52am | 24/09/12

      Why is it so? 
      This morning, after feeding the cats and dog, I was sitting outside with my morning coffee, minding my own business, and out of the corner of my eye I noticed that the clouds were moving to the east really fast!  A little startled, I looked directly at them them….and they then slowed right down. Hmmmm, a bit strange! So I turned my eyes away and, wouldn’t you know it, they sped up again.  Look directly at them again..slow…look away… speedy…...look at them….slow.  No matter how I tried it, I could not look at them directly and see them speed.
      Why is it so?
      And the biggest question…..why DOESN"T it happen with speed cameras??  Hmmmmm, nature astounds me at times!  lol :o)

      Reply

    • Dave3 says:

      08:28am | 24/09/12

      What on earth are you mixing in with your coffee?

    • Sizzle Chest says:

      08:54am | 24/09/12

      “What on earth are you mixing in with your coffee?”

      Speed

    • Chris L says:

      09:06am | 24/09/12

      Damn! Mouse has figured out that reality is an illusion we created to keep her occupied. Might be time for another memory wipe.

    • Scotchfinger says:

      09:56am | 24/09/12

      oops, Christof has stuffed up with the props department. Quick! Mouse is onto us!

    • iansand says:

      10:36am | 24/09/12

      The Matrix.

      Or a job as an extra in the Inception sequel.

    • fml says:

      12:05pm | 24/09/12

      Point of focus?

      When you look at them your eyes will move with them, making it look as if it is moving slower. If you have a point of focus away from the clouds you can see them moving faster?

      Or every time you move your head you control the wind or the spinning of the earth.

    • Mouse says:

      12:40pm | 24/09/12

      SizzleChest, I wish!  lol :o)

      ChrisL, memory wipe…....Oh gawd, that means I gotta start all over again….again….  :o/

      You betcha Scotchie, I’m on to you alright!!  ;o)

      fml… Whoa!  “every time you move your head you control the wind or the spinning of the earth.”  Damn I’m good!!  lmao :oD

    • TheRealDave says:

      12:49pm | 24/09/12

      ‘A Watched pot never boils’

      Thats a #$%@ing lie!! It does boil….it jusut takes a little longer.

      Ahh the DAAS. Where are you when your country needs you??

    • nihonin says:

      02:45pm | 24/09/12

      ‘Why is it so?’

      Professor Sumner Miller would probably say because there is now less than a glass of full cream milk used in a particular brand of chocolate now days.

      That is why it is so.  wink

    • NESLIHAN KUROSAWA says:

      08:13am | 24/09/12

      Hi Punch Team,

      I am only guessing that this could be seen as a giant step for mankind or for the certain select few in our world?  3 Dimensional printing sounds like a great idea however I am only curious to know about the price tag behind this latest technology and how many members of the ordinary public would have easy access to such technology?  As well as the question of 3D printing would not actually be misused or abused just like you suggested!

      I would like to think that it would be very expensive to have the actual printer itself in the very beginning!  However can we still expect to see all those 3D print shops a bit like film processing shops popping up all around Sydney?  They could surely provide a great service to all those wanting a true to life image of an old favourite photo from their own past come to life while they wait!  And what will they think of next I wonder?  This sounds so much like those advertisements on TV claiming to bring your pictures to life and so much more!  Kind regards to your editors.

      Reply

    • John F says:

      08:50am | 24/09/12

      They are very very cheap, a electronic’s engineer friend of mine just bought one for @ $1500. He was using it 40 min after he got it out of the box. He’s now printing prototype parts to present to customers.

    • John F says:

      08:18am | 24/09/12

      3D printing is at the same evolutionary point as the dot matrix printer. The colour in the printerts will be the materials you can print with (conductors,metals etc etc). It will completly change the electronic industry from what it is today. 3D printing is how we will colonise Mar’s, it’s how we can build huge spacecraft in earth orbit. This is an incredible time, what will happen over the next 10 years will blow everyone’s mind !

      Reply

    • acotrel says:

      08:54am | 24/09/12

      When we colonise Mars, we won’t have a food problem.  We can use the 3D printer to make Mars’ Bars.

    • fml says:

      12:01pm | 24/09/12

      Why spend billions of dollars going to mars when we can just create some 3d printouts and paste them onto the walls?

      Same thing, innit?

    • John F says:

      02:53pm | 24/09/12

      no vision here, no wonder there is so much talk about politics on the Punch.
      People cant see past next week !

    • Dash says:

      08:49am | 24/09/12

      GO THE BLOODS!!!!!!!!!

      Reply

    • Ben C says:

      10:23am | 24/09/12

      Haha, CHEER CHEER THE RED AND THE WHITE!

      Going to Melbourne on Saturday, Dash?

    • TChong says:

      10:43am | 24/09/12

      Storm and Swans.

    • Dash says:

      10:45am | 24/09/12

      I wish!!!!!! Screamed myself hoarse on Friday.

      Are you going?

      The Swans will give it a solid shake! I think Hawthorn have more class across the field but the Swans work together better than any side in the league. Should be a great contest this year. We will need to cut the supply out of the midfield and pressure the ball carrier up the field.

      btw - Kennedy had the ball on a string on Friday! He was awesome and will be looking to do some damage to the Hawks. How strong is he.

      Go Swans.

    • Ben C says:

      10:54am | 24/09/12

      @ Dash

      Probably won’t make it down there, I might just head out to Club Swans and watch it there.

      Kennedy for Chas tonight?

      @ TChong

      I’m with you there.

    • Knemon says:

      11:01am | 24/09/12

      In your dreams Dash….

      I was able to score two tickets to the GF, as I didn’t think you were interested, I have given one to an unemployed mate, I like to call it ticket redistribution. wink

      May the best team win…therefore the Hawks.

    • Dash says:

      11:15am | 24/09/12

      @Knemon - LMFHO! An unemployed mate? Why am I not suprised.

      The best team will win. And no one plays together as a team quite like the Swans. Your wee and poo coloured mates will need to play well to win it!

      @Ben C - No one would complain if he won it! He’s been outstanding!

      GO BLOODS

    • Arnold Layne says:

      04:58pm | 24/09/12

      I’m going.  My voice is still hoarse from Friday night so I’m sure I’ll do it some more damage this week!  CARN SWANS!!!!

    • Dr Jack says:

      09:08am | 24/09/12

      With our Foreign Affairs team PLUS PM lining up in New York, our invasion of the Security Council seems assured. Mr Carr’s rhetoric was dazzling…with no mention of Sydney riots a week ago or that it was our bovver boys who kept Melbourne quiet yesterday. While our PM will tell the UN that we are keen on motherhood concepts such as rules of law, education, gender-equality and feeding people, Mr Carr has moved seamlessly into the shuttle diplomacy groove that Rudd made. He tells the world of our expertise in multiculturalism (getting to be a pretty soiled word around here lately) with 260 spoken languages (who can beat that?) and more than 25% of our “citizens” born elsewhere. Besides (with a rattle of drums) we are a world leader in arms control (we have totally inadequate defence forces and do Carr, Rudd and Gillard know that the permanent UN Security Council members export more arms than the rest of the world to its most terribly deprived nations?), nuclear disarmament (who have we disarmed?) and climate change (he means “thinking we know about” it).
      Has anyone told the UN people that we also have some of the most porous borders in the world with no effective leakage control policy, a massive national debt, a stalled parliament and a collapsing mining industry.
      Well, UN, bring it on. Here we are, fit and ready to fix the world.

      Reply

    • Mouse says:

      09:42am | 24/09/12

      Who is going to sit in the chair if we get it? Are they going to get rid of KRudd that way or is Carr looking for a new nest? 
      The rhetoric will be fine, they can say what they want, unless of course the Security Council actually read any media from around here, then there may be a problem!  lol :o)

    • MarkF says:

      11:46am | 24/09/12

      The thought depresses the hell out of me.  I can see the Australian rep on the security council sitting there drooling with his tail wagging waiting for his American masters to tell him what to say and do. 

      Sad, really sad.

    • fml says:

      11:59am | 24/09/12

      “Has anyone told the UN people that we also have some of the most porous borders in the world with no effective leakage control policy,”

      No we don’t. If you keep bringing up crap like that, people will stop listening to you. To say something like that you will have to back it up with facts, maybe look at the numbers moving from north africa into southern europe.

    • MarkF says:

      12:59pm | 24/09/12

      Hey fml your name isn’t Ian Rintoul is it.  It would explain an awful lot.

    • fml says:

      01:39pm | 24/09/12

      whattsa rintoul?

    • Joel B1 says:

      09:30am | 24/09/12

      What do Bruce Wilson, Michael O’Connor, Peter Gordon and Craig Emerson have in common, apart from being married?

      Reply

    • HappyG says:

      10:00am | 24/09/12

      Poor taste ??

    • TimB says:

      10:09am | 24/09/12

      LOL @ HappyG.

      That’s gold wink

    • Tim says:

      10:24am | 24/09/12

      They’re all men.

      Yes, now what’s my prize?

    • Gregg says:

      10:37am | 24/09/12

      @Tim
      All predecessors to a bloke with your name.

    • Dash says:

      10:49am | 24/09/12

      All desperate for an easy root?

    • Mouse says:

      11:03am | 24/09/12

      I was going to say that they are all pretty limp, but that may infer the the wrong thing, may it not!  lol :o)

    • Ben C says:

      11:26am | 24/09/12

      @ Mouse

      Don’t worry, we know that by “limp”, you mean that they’re impotent, we won’t get it mixed up and think you mean they’re camp.

      Oh, wait…

    • nihonin says:

      11:46am | 24/09/12

      They all have the same taste in mattresses?  o.0

    • Knemon says:

      12:25pm | 24/09/12

      They’re all smarter than Tony Abbott?

    • Mouse says:

      12:33pm | 24/09/12

      Hi Knemon, glad to see you are feeling better now.
      Smarter than Abbott, lol, no I don’t think that is it!!  RFLMAO :oD

    • TheRealDave says:

      12:51pm | 24/09/12

      They would rather jump in the sack with shiela than punch the walls around her head??

      *runs*

    • Scotchfinger says:

      01:21pm | 24/09/12

      they all USED the same mattress?

      :-(

    • DJ says:

      01:41pm | 24/09/12

      just distasteful and is a poor reflection on you

    • Alfie says:

      01:56pm | 24/09/12

      They are not hairdressers.

    • SimpleSimon says:

      09:44am | 24/09/12

      I’m becoming painfully aware of my overuse of the exclamation mark!

      Reply

    • Dash says:

      09:55am | 24/09/12

      As you can see above, I have the same issue!

    • Alfie says:

      09:59am | 24/09/12

      5,400 asylum seekers since July. Cris Bowen should sacked.

      Reply

    • subotic T Nugent says:

      10:10am | 24/09/12

      there’s concerns 3D printers could be used to manufacture things people don’t like. Guns, for instance.

      Piss off. I like guns. And yes, I would 100% make a bloody gun out of a 3D printer for the sheer sake of somebody wanting me not to.

      Stop telling me what I should or shouldn’t like. Stop telling me how to live my own goddamn life.

      Sweet baby Elvis….

      Reply

    • Ben C says:

      10:29am | 24/09/12

      I think I might have a flutter this weekend, $50 on the AFL/NRL grand finals, Swans into Storm.

      Sure, it’s far from being well-spent, but hey, it’s not every year that I get to see both my teams have a shot a premiership glory in the same year.

      Reply

    • SimpleSimon says:

      10:35am | 24/09/12

      How do you end up being a fan of Sydney in 1 code and Melbourne in another? I was pretty sure there were laws against that…

    • TimB says:

      10:38am | 24/09/12

      Go ahead! Throw your cash away!

      *Waves arms above head and laughs maniacally*

      ...Err. Ahem.

      Go Canterbury smile

    • Ben C says:

      10:51am | 24/09/12

      @ SimpleSimon

      Haha, it’s crazy, isn’t it? I actually started following Melbourne when they came into the comp in 1998, was formerly a fan of Canberra, but decided to give the new guys a go.

      @ TimB

      Well done to the Dogs, but Adam Reynolds gave the game to you on a silver platter when he did his hammy.

      Funny thing yesterday, went to Campsie to get a haircut, Bulldogs flags were waving from every second car on the road. It’s a shame I wasn’t wearing my Storm jumper yesterday.

    • Tim says:

      10:53am | 24/09/12

      “Go ahead! Throw your cash away!”

      I agree, pretty sure it would be better invested by backing the Storm 13+

    • SimpleSimon says:

      11:08am | 24/09/12

      I have a $40 joker still to play in my punters club, am thinking of getting on the GFs this weekend too. I know nothing about AFL, so am thinking it will go to the NRL. I reckon the Storm will walk it in. 13+ is a pretty big line, but I think they’ll cover it.

    • TimB says:

      11:26am | 24/09/12

      @ Tim- Jerk wink . You’re just still bitter about Canberra’s failure smile

      @ Ben, I agree, Reynolds hammy was a stroke of luck, although I think we would have won anyway. Souths didn’t look all that threatening. Their early lead only came off the back of three penalties.

      Actually I think what happened to Reynolds may actually constitute proof of God- and that He’s a Canterbury supporter smile. Remember the Tigers game the other month? Looked like their player was going to score a certain try, then out of nowhere he goes down like a sniper shot him in the leg. Awesome stuff.

      In all seriousness though, I expect a tough game. Melbourne are in great form, but Canterbury only lost by a converted try in their first meeeting this year, and blitzed ‘em 20-4 in their second go around. The defences for both teams are equally strong, so it’s going to be the creative plays that make the difference.

    • Tim says:

      11:47am | 24/09/12

      TimB,
      me bitter? never.

      At least we made the 20’s GF so I’ll have some excitement on the day.

    • Kathy says:

      10:51am | 24/09/12

      if you took out the Liberal Party members on The Punch there would hardly be any contributors. Drongos. TimB especially as he is here 24/7. A very lonely chap I suspect.

      Reply

    • nihonin says:

      02:17pm | 24/09/12

      Be a good start Kathy, then once the Labor members leave the remainder would be the voters who actually care about the country, as opposed to all the ‘yay my club wins cause we’s the government’, sycophants of all three colours.

    • Aitch B says:

      10:52am | 24/09/12

      Pretty strong performance by both the Doggies and Storm on the weekend, TimB. It pains me to say it but I think the Doggies’ victory was far more meritorious given that Manly virtually handed the game to the Storm on a platter with all their fumbles and cock ups.

      It also pains me to say that even though I am a Storm supporter I think that they will struggle next weekend unless they can shut down the key Canterbury movers and shakers. And I don’t recall seeing that done all season….. :(

      Oh well….. as they say, “may the best team win”.

      Reply

    • Ben C says:

      11:02am | 24/09/12

      @ Aitch B

      The Storm and Bulldogs split their regular season clashes. I’m on the Storm to beat the Dogs on Sunday, but either way it’ll be a good game.

    • Aitch B says:

      12:00pm | 24/09/12

      @Ben C

      Me too. Whatever the result I hope it’s an expansive, running game and not a dour, defensive struggle. With the two best fullbacks in the comp in there I’d hate to see them play something other than their normal game.

      Mind you, some of Billy’s “speculators” frighten the bejeezuz out of me! I hope he can control himself.  smile

    • Ben C says:

      12:53pm | 24/09/12

      Haha, definitely let’s hope Billy doesn’t have one of his “spectacular” moments a la 2008 World Cup final.

    • TChong says:

      11:33am | 24/09/12

      All Gamer Punchers
      Do any of the X Box games (eg Call Of Duty, Battle field, or even a Halo), allow the player to pull pins on grenades, and run at a target, a la “suicide bomber”  ?
      In Halo you could probaly get a plasma grenade to stick on yourself ( bad throwing) , then run at an Elite or Hunter.
      But is this an option in other games?
      I think one of the LOTR games lets a player be a Beserker Orc , and blow up Helms Deep, but other than for that….
      Maybe suicide bomber characters are considered bad taste.

      Reply

    • TimB says:

      11:48am | 24/09/12

      Couldn’t tell you for sure I’m afraid Chongy. I tend to avoid ‘modern’ shooters like the plague, they annoy me. It would differ from game to game though.

      I know you could do it in Perfect Dark. Pushing the fire button with the grenade selected will arm it, and releasing it would throw the grenade. But if you didn’t release the button within the 5 second window….boom.

      Some games also have perk systems which allow you to be a petulant jerk in a similar manner. The Assault/Raptor class in Space Marine can select Final Vengance, which basically causes their jump packs to explode shortly after death, taking out any enemies in the vicinity. GoldenEye’s Last Act of Defiance is similar, in that upon death your corpse will drop a live grenade. And I’m almost positive CoD has it’s own equivalent.

      Actually it was a fun tactic to use on the old N64 Goldeneye. In a team match you’d plaster someone with remote mines and then send him towards the enemy. Good times smile .

    • Baloo says:

      12:11pm | 24/09/12

      Yeah you can, in just about any game with grenades, in battlefield you can even load up your vehicle with c-4 and drive into stuff.
      I don’t think these mechanics are put in the games for the sheer fact of suicide bombing, but more as punishment for being an idiot with your grenades.

    • Shane* says:

      12:14pm | 24/09/12

      Who cares about FPSs!?

      FIFA13 is only THREE DAYS AWAY!

      *Pulls shirt over head and runs around office*

    • Ben C says:

      12:44pm | 24/09/12

      @ Shane*

      I’m having second thoughts about buying FIFA 13, especially after the debacle that was FIFA 12’s online gaming - too many matches I’ve played that have been cut because of the long ball glitch - when taking a goal kick at full power, the match will disconnect because the ball disappeared off the screen momentarily.

    • TheRealDave says:

      12:55pm | 24/09/12

      *gag* *cough* X-Box games?!?! *cough*

      REAL gamers play FPS’s on PC, not Kidddy Konsoles wink

    • TimB says:

      01:05pm | 24/09/12

      They’re no better on PC Dave, they’re just as bland/boring. Just a higher res of bland/boring smile

    • AdamC says:

      01:16pm | 24/09/12

      I can never understand how peole play FPS games on PC with a keyboard and mouse. Isn’t that horribly non-ergonomic?

      I would have thought the PC lends itself more to strategy and role-playing games.

    • Shane* says:

      01:32pm | 24/09/12

      @Ben C,

      Is that a common glitch? I never experienced it, although I only played a dozen or so games online, and I rarely/never use the full power GK kick.

      And still, I can’t think of any game that compares to FIFA for having a few mates around for a tourney. It brings out the absolute worst in all of us - profanity, threats of violence (including occasional violence) and world-class levels of sarcastic banter. Brilliant.

    • Wickerman says:

      01:48pm | 24/09/12

      There is/was an ability to drop a grenade on COD4 when you die, in the hope to get your killer from the grave.
      The BF3 tactic (already mentioned) to load up a jeep which C4 is an art, but doesnt necessarily mean suicide (you jump out).
      In Borderlands the sticky grenade leads to all sorts of unfortunate/unplanned situations. Proximity & transfusion grenades are the way to go.

      Also +1 to TheRealDave’s comment:
      “REAL gamers play FPS’s on PC, not Kidddy Konsoles”

    • Chris L says:

      01:52pm | 24/09/12

      Can you get Command & Conquer - Generals on the box? I know in the PC version you get suicide bombers. They look hilarious when they run at their target waving their arms maniacally.

      If I’m playing a terrorist in Counterstrike I’ll sometimes sit on the bomb and yell out… well, you know what I’m yelling over the mic as the bomb goes off, don’t you?

    • Ben C says:

      01:55pm | 24/09/12

      @ Shane*

      Agree re FIFA being the catalyst for absolute mayhem when with a few mates around.

      Re the goal kick glitch - I’m not sure if it happened on consoles, but in the PC version, believe it or not, it started happening AFTER the first patch was released. You would think that the patch would fix existing problems, not create new ones. Subsequent updates failed to address the issue, despite it being well-known. Every match I played online, we would just take the short goal kick so that we could make it to fulltime.

    • TheRealDave says:

      01:57pm | 24/09/12

      @Adam - it does….but FPS on PC benefit from the finer control mechanisms of mouse and keyboard rather than a controller. With a mouse and keyboard you can zip around and place your crosshairs/sights quicker and far mroe accuratly. With a Kiddy Konsole Kontroller you just need to wave it in the same postcode as the object you are aiming for to register a hit. Hence my disdain for them.

      As a gaming plattorm in general - the PC craps all over the cut down lower cost Kiddy Konsoles in every field.

    • Scotchfinger says:

      02:13pm | 24/09/12

      you guys need to drink some beer and meet some women. What’s the collective age here - 300? Take a look at yourselves!

    • TimB says:

      02:25pm | 24/09/12

      “With a Kiddy Konsole Kontroller you just need to wave it in the same postcode as the object you are aiming for to register a hit. Hence my disdain for them.”

      Perhaps on 360 with dual analogue. But playing FPS with properly calibrated pointer controls is something else. I had GoldenEye on Wii, and I have *never* played any FPS console or PC with that level of intuitive precision and speed before.

      Dual analogue sucks.


      “well, you know what I’m yelling over the mic as the bomb goes off, don’t you? “

      Hmm….‘It’s a trap!”?

      No that’s not quite right. I sense I’m on the right track though wink

    • subotic Galaxian says:

      02:27pm | 24/09/12

      I’m with Scotchy. Space Invaders & Pacman were great when I was like, about 11 or 12.

      But hell, these days it’s all about grog & crumpet. And more grog….

      #Bunchofpunchnerds

    • Baloo says:

      02:59pm | 24/09/12

      If ya need to be drunk to be with your woman then you probably aimed a little low, hmm?

      “What’s the collective age here - 300?”
      That would make me like 40, of which I am half that. Life’s pretty damn good for me and if I can fit in video games every now and then then I will, quit ye complainin’.

    • Scotchfinger says:

      03:14pm | 24/09/12

      subotic, let’s get out of here before they start throwing dry pizza crusts at us with their flabby, pale arms.

    • Baloo says:

      11:37am | 24/09/12

      Does anyone else have problems with articles on the punch that have a video clip instead of a picture in them?
      Usually my internet freezes and I have to ctrl-alt-del the hell out of there. At the moment I can’t read the tomato piece or the dental plan piece, I just wanted to know if anyone else has these problems or if it is just me, but this doesn’t happen to me on any other website. :/

      Reply

    • TimB says:

      11:51am | 24/09/12

      I have noticed issues in recent months when using IE to view the site. Sometimes the browser will just lock up, and when you check Task Manager, half your system memory is being used to run the process. When I click end process, it usually closes the offending tab and reloads it. If I’m lucky it loads properly, if not it will lock up again and I have to repeat the process.

      Hasn’t happened as much lately though.

    • Mouse says:

      11:54am | 24/09/12

      I haven’t had that problem Baloo and, not being an computer guru, can only suggest that it may be a cookie thing on this site.  I am sure that someone on here will be able to assist you, we are all a bunch of helpful bastards!  lol :o)

    • SimpleSimon says:

      12:16pm | 24/09/12

      I doubt it’ a cookie thing; with no login requirement or anything I doubt the Punch really uses cookies. I can’t see any videos on the articles at work, so I don’t know what player it uses, but it’s likely Flash. You might want to consider a flash player update.

      Still, a good test might be to try using a different browser, as TimB said. If you’re not already, try using Firefox or Chrome.

    • Baloo says:

      12:28pm | 24/09/12

      Updating flash may be the way to go, I’m using Firefox right now but I have tried IE and I get similar problems.

    • Knemon says:

      12:31pm | 24/09/12

      @ Baloo - Change your browser, anything but IE should do the job. Personally I prefer Chrome.

    • Baloo says:

      12:37pm | 24/09/12

      I think Simon knocked it on the head, seems to be working fine now that I’ve updated flash. Thanks for the help guys smile

    • nihonin says:

      12:42pm | 24/09/12

      Knemon ‘Personally I prefer Chrome’.

      I prefer to Bourbon and Coke myself.  wink

    • TheRealDave says:

      12:59pm | 24/09/12

      You should be keeping crap like Flash up to date as much as possible. Try using ninite (google it) to keep all those annoying apps up to date. Feel free to select your apps as you see fit but its the section around the middle you want to tick, crap like Java, Flash, Shockwave etc

      Jsut tick all the apps you want, save that download file. Run it and let it do its thing. Then maybe once every few weeks just re-run that downlaoded file and it will then go and download/apply any new updates for those apps.

      No muss, no fuss wink

      I use the Pro version for a number of corporate networks I look after. Very handy and saves listening to end users whinging about apps popping up updates.

    • PeterM says:

      01:17pm | 24/09/12

      It seems that quite a few people don’t understand what 3D printing is with respect to the application you’re talking about.  Folks, its a production process where a material replaces the ink you’d have in a bubble jet printer.  A program has detailed information about the object to be created and one is created by the printer, layer upon layer.

      At present it is in its infancy but the major change to current practices is that it is not a reductive manufacturing process, ie. you are not cutting bits away to get what you want.  There is reduced waste and raw material usage.  CSIRO has already produced a working engine block by this method and through the way the materials are laid down, it is significantly lighter than if it was made through traditional methods.

      The possibilities are truly amazing!

      Reply

    • Daylight robbery says:

      02:21pm | 24/09/12

      The printers will mean building prototypes of many objects comes down in price because a machine to build the prototype is not needed. Many times for mass production need plugs for which molds are formed.  I need a tooth printed, just a minute.  No doubt Australia will be slow on this

      Reply

    • Terry2 says:

      02:37pm | 24/09/12

      Did I hear that right ? There are two available non- permanent seats on the UN Security Council and three applicants : Finland, Luxemburg and Australia and Australia is an outside chance ???
      As John Howard would have said Hellooo !

      Reply

    • TheRealDave says:

      03:02pm | 24/09/12

      Fair reflection on how the world views Australia - as in not at all wink

    • AdamC says:

      03:56pm | 24/09/12

      If you look at the non-permanent members of the Security Council (http://www.un.org/sc/members.asp) are, with the exception of India, all members of large blocs of countries: Africa, Europe, Arab/Muslim and South America/Caribbean. The reason it is hard for countries like Australia to get a seat is because we are not part of such a bloc.

      A better question to ask is why on earth we would want a two year stint as a powerless, quasi observer on the Security Council!

    • neil says:

      05:04pm | 24/09/12

      3D printers are awesome and can be purchased for less than $500. Domestic versions only make plastic things, but imagine needing a replacement part for a domestic appliance, go to the producers website pay for a copy of the CAD file, print the part and fix the appliance on the spot.

      Reply
 
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