Impulse Chosen Best Game Platform For Netbooks!

from JoeUser Forums

 

 

 

MakeUseOf.com has written about:

 “The 7 Best Powerful Netbook Applications That Don’t Chug System Resources”

and named Impulse the Best Game Platform For Netbooks!

 

 

The reasons given were that it is not as resource hungry as Steam which always runs in the background, that Impulse can be shut down and the games still played. Though fewer games are available, they also are less resource hungry. Make Use Of also noted lesser social networking possibilities than Steam but honestly? Imho, since social networking is the next big target of the hackers, that might just make your Netbook a tad more secure.

Netbooks are resource “slim” and run slowly when taxed. Though not a gamer, I can easily see where that would be a major minus for game playing.

So, my hearty “Congrats!” to Stardock for this recognition!

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Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

My congrats too. Stardock gets a big 5* 5*

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

on noes someone claimed steam is resource intensive.. everyone hide before the steam :troll: s come and throw a hissy.

Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Unfortunately, the 'atom' processor yields at best 30% success (approximate figure based on specs and game 'needs'). Dual 'Atoms' do better, but use power. The "Ontario" fusion chip promises to do better and should be coming along on 10" netbooks sometime soon. The problem still remains the screen size/resolution and the need of the game.

Link  (notebook)

Link  (netbook)

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

So wait, a C++ application (steam) is slower than a .NET application (impulse)?

It's possible but I doubt it given how good Valve's development teams seem to be and Stardock is well... Stardock.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting NoobFukaire, reply 4
So wait, a C++ application (steam) is slower than a .NET application (impulse)?

It's possible but I doubt it given how good Valve's development teams seem to be and Stardock is well... Stardock.
End of NoobFukaire's quote

It uses less as in it can be turned off (unlike Steam which runs in the background) leaving more resources availible while playing games.

Then there is application size from the features they provide. And the burden of .NET is at load time when it is converted to machine code, but run with comparable speed* if the software doing the conversion is done well.

* Worse if the conversion creates poor machine code, faster if it can do processor specific optimiztions well.

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Besides, Impulse doesn't collect info about you, your computer and the programs on it like Steam does.

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 6
Besides, Impulse doesn't collect info about you, your computer and the programs on it like Steam does.
End of DrJBHL's quote

Steam must be doing that ineffeciently, as it did not stop two Google apps from being on the list.

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

For games, digital distribution is still lost on me. Most of my apps are bought on line, but they are directly from the manufacturer. If it wasn't for Object Desktop, I doubt I would have Impulse installed.

Don't get me wrong, I don't have any issues with Impulse being installed, I actually like the program and it's abilities. I'm just not a fan of digital distribution in it's current form.

The selling point for digital distribution (as a whole) was cheaper pricing than hard copies that you purchased in a brick and mortar store, since there was no packaging and discs to create, yet every game I see sold online is priced the same.

Since overhead is lower and they sell more copies than physical stores, how do these online outlets justiify charging the same price?  

I pick up the games I buy from Best Buy. They normally run a sale on a game for the first week of release so you can pick up a hard copy around $10.00 cheaper than buying it on line.  

Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting CarGuy1, reply 8
Since overhead is lower and they sell more copies than physical stores, how do these online outlets justiify charging the same price?
End of CarGuy1's quote
Simple: The publishers set the prices and they can't afford to lose store sales, plus of course they still try to maximize profit. But the stores decide which games they'll sell, so if anybody undercuts them...

 

:fox:

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The selling point for digital distribution (as a whole) was cheaper pricing than hard copies that you purchased in a brick and mortar store, since there was no packaging and discs to create, yet every game I see sold online is priced the same.

Since overhead is lower and they sell more copies than physical stores, how do these online outlets justiify charging the same price?

I pick up the games I buy from Best Buy. They normally run a sale on a game for the first week of release so you can pick up a hard copy around $10.00 cheaper than buying it on line.
End of quote

By charging it and getting it. Their profit margin is their justification.

But, you won't get patches, etc. which might be needed as time goes by.

 

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

By charging it and getting it. Their profit margin is their justification.

But, you won't get patches, etc. which might be needed as time goes by.
End of quote

To convince everyone that digital distribution was the wave of the future a few years ago, game producers promised that prices would go down accordingly. I chalk it up to corporate greed.

As for the updates...most games you purchase in stores require you to install Steam for activation. I currently have over 10 games installed that are registered to my Steam account and not a one was purchased through Steam.

Everyone of those required me to install Steam for online activation. Also, all updates are done through Steam and if your not in offline mode, you are forced to update a game before you can play it.

Have I mentioned that I despise Steam.

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top

most games you purchase in stores require you to install Steam for activation. I currently have over 10 games installed that are registered to my Steam account and not a one was purchased through Steam.

Everyone of those required me to install Steam for online activation. Also, all updates are done through Steam and if your not in offline mode, you are forced to update a game before you can play it.

Have I mentioned that I despise Steam.
End of quote

And people complain about Impulse? Good grief!

Reply #13 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting CarGuy1, reply 11
To convince everyone that digital distribution was the wave of the future a few years ago, game producers promised that prices would go down accordingly. I chalk it up to corporate greed.
End of CarGuy1's quote
Well, Triple-A launch titles are still expensive. But there are lots of other little games that cost very little, or are free, and that market is growing quickly. So digital distribution is having some effect on the market. It's just taking its time.

Reply #14 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting CarGuy1, reply 11

To convince everyone that digital distribution was the wave of the future a few years ago, game producers promised that prices would go down accordingly. I chalk it up to corporate greed.
End of CarGuy1's quote

I believe frogboy pointed out that the actual material costs of a physical copy(CD, book etc) were never actually a significant portion of the price to begin with. So ya it was probably just hyperbole help people transition faster.

Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting DrJBHL, reply 3
Unfortunately, the 'atom' processor yields at best 30% success (approximate figure based on specs and game 'needs'). Dual 'Atoms' do better, but use power. The "Ontario" fusion chip promises to do better and should be coming along on 10" netbooks sometime soon. The problem still remains the screen size/resolution and the need of the game.

Link  (notebook)

Link  (netbook)
End of DrJBHL's quote

The HP dm1z with the AMD E-350 APU and the Acer AO522 with the slower C-50 APU have been out although with the former just starting to arrive to their owners last week.  There are some vids with users sharing their experiences so far and they've been pretty decent for some older games.  But they still won't be up to snuff for many recent releases.  Anandtech also has a review of an ITX board with the E-350.  Lenovo's Thinkpad x120e is also coming out some time this month along with offerings from other manufacturers like Asus.

Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top

pretty decent for some older games
End of quote

yes

But they still won't be up to snuff for many recent releases.
End of quote

agreed.

They were pinning hopes on sandy bridge, but that isn't shipping until the defect is fixed.

http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/8301-13924_3-20030744-64.html?part=ecoustics-cnet

Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Jubreau, reply 15

The HP dm1z with the AMD E-350 APU and the Acer AO522 with the slower C-50 APU have been out although with the former just starting to arrive to their owners last week.  There are some vids with users sharing their experiences so far and they've been pretty decent for some older games.  But they still won't be up to snuff for many recent releases.  Anandtech also has a review of an ITX board with the E-350.  Lenovo's Thinkpad x120e is also coming out some time this month along with offerings from other manufacturers like Asus.
End of Jubreau's quote

They're still great for netbooks as far as the E350 goes.  That said...I might get one for a WHS 2011 box but I'd never use it for anything else.

Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Savyg, reply 17

Quoting Jubreau, reply 15
The HP dm1z with the AMD E-350 APU and the Acer AO522 with the slower C-50 APU have been out although with the former just starting to arrive to their owners last week.  There are some vids with users sharing their experiences so far and they've been pretty decent for some older games.  But they still won't be up to snuff for many recent releases.  Anandtech also has a review of an ITX board with the E-350.  Lenovo's Thinkpad x120e is also coming out some time this month along with offerings from other manufacturers like Asus.

They're still great for netbooks as far as the E350 goes.  That said...I might get one for a WHS 2011 box but I'd never use it for anything else.
End of Savyg's quote

Didn't mean to imply they weren't, because they are (AMD fanboy).  I'm looking forward for a Tablet PC that uses the E-350 myself.

Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Jubreau, reply 18

Didn't mean to imply they weren't, because they are (AMD fanboy).  I'm looking forward for a Tablet PC that uses the E-350 myself.
End of Jubreau's quote

Yes I am.  Just saying, even on new games they do passably...for a netbook.

http://h20435.www2.hp.com/t5/The-Next-Bench-Blog/HP-Pavilion-dm1-A-Quick-Gaming-Test/ba-p/61053

As for me, I'll wait for Llano before I get a new notebook.

Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Savyg, reply 19

Quoting Jubreau, reply 18
Didn't mean to imply they weren't, because they are (AMD fanboy).  I'm looking forward for a Tablet PC that uses the E-350 myself.

Yes I am.  Just saying, even on new games they do passably...for a netbook.

http://h20435.www2.hp.com/t5/The-Next-Bench-Blog/HP-Pavilion-dm1-A-Quick-Gaming-Test/ba-p/61053

As for me, I'll wait for Llano before I get a new notebook.
End of Savyg's quote

I guess it depends on your definition of passable - that NFS part certainly wasn't for me although the guy didn't state what settings he used.  As far as Llano, I won't need another laptop for a while so I'll probably get a Bulldozer based one.