When I'm downloading games from Steam or GOG I rarely get even 5mbit/s. Gamer's Gate usually give me a bit more, but I'm not using my connection to the fullest, that is for sure (I guess it would come in handy if I were to download a game from Steam and a game from Gamer's Gate at the same time though...)

I doubt that.

And that too.

If you would have written by many people or many customers then okay, but like this - it's not true. :)

Hahah, right on!

Yeah, millions. So what? You wrote as if everybody likes it and frankly nobody knows how many people don't like Steam, but for example me too not. It has more cons than pros to me. But that doesn't matter here. I only disagree with posts that suggest that everybody likes Steam. This is not true. :)

Argumentum ad populum.

(I'm one of the apparent few who refuses to use Steam)

If we talk about CONSUMPTIONISM then argumentum ad populum is one hundred percent legit and correct.

For most consumer goods "people like it = it's good" is correct and accurate statement.

And it's about rates, opinions, likes and dislikes, not about the facts.

If you were a businessman in any time in your life you would know that people like it and buy it? = it's good is always a correct statement , if you're interested in making money.

There are a few games on Paradox that I would have purchased but refused to buy due to it using Steam. I dislike the whole concept of having to use some 3rd party to play a game. I managed to play games before Steam came along & shall continue to do so :)

You might want to define your terms here, you also need to clarify what you mean when you imply it's "correct".

Now we're venturing on to very thin ice. As you're the one making the claim, I'd like to see some evidence as the burden of proof lies with you.

On a side note: When did we stop being "Customers" and instead "Consumers"?

By law there are never more than 2 viable choices in any given market and in places like Georgia the legislature moves to protect them from the threat of competition. There are often other choices like Satellite, WiMax and cellular, but those aren't likely to ever be viable alternatives unless you're way out in the middle of nowhere as they're both capped and very expensive.

It looks like things around here are going to get better in the near future, I see the phone company trucks out everywhere and they've decided that this city is going to be their regional headquarters. But, I'll believe it when I see it. Until recently my options had only improved by 25% over a decade.

I don't speak english fluently, so if Im misusing some words, feel free to correct me.

You wanted examples, ok

Some movie critics say "Avatar is awful" , but it's the biggest blockbuster ever. People like it = it's good. Even in Poland, where going to cinemas is not the most popular way to watch them, Avatar was the most seen movie ever.

From consumers trends you should extract simple deduction: people like watching movies like it, so we should make more movies like it.

You can't be objective from mathematical point of view when it comes to likes and dislikes.

You can't objectively say "tomato soup is bad". It's just your opinion. When most of the people would say "tomato soup is bad" then something is going on. It still can be good for you, but generally it's bad.

So you can't say "steam sucks" you can just say "steam sucks to me", because most of the people who use it - enjoy it. To prove it you should look for statistic, steam sales, etc.

I've read somewhere that digital distribution is overtaking retail purchases.

http://hexus.net/business/news/distribution/26546-digital-distribution-overtakes-retail-pc-game-sales/

If you're aware of the fact that steam is the most popular digital distribution platform you may add the numbers up - people like steam more than other distribution platforms. Why? Well, biggest game catalogue, huge sales, great social platform, etc.
Most of the people buy on steam even if a game is avaible on other distribution platform drm-free , but steam version has achievement and integrated multiplayer lobby.

You may cover your ears and say "stema sucks drm blablabla" but you can't deny the fact that steam is the most successful distrib. platform, because people like it. They don't choose steam because they don't have any better options. Small percentage of games are steam only. They choose it, because they like it. simple as that.

This is pure speculation. You get a certain number of Steam fanbois that all love the leader and they probably do like Steam. There are probably some number more that like what it does for them.

But, I would be very surprised indeed if the vast majority of Steam users weren't tolerating it because the options are frequently worse. It's easy to be slightly less bad than at least one other alternative, doesn't really mean that it's particularly admirable. Steam used to be the worst in pretty much every way.

These days they've just been eclipsed.

But that doesn't mean it's correct.

Personally I dislike Steam as it's unneeded from a software standpoint and it's DRM which I shall not support if possible.

Some people might like Steam for other reason as you've listed, some might dislike it for entirely different reasons.

However, basing your argument on "People like = It good" is not valid as popularity does not prove worth, it only proves that it is popular.

Look, the point here isn't to argue the scientific merits of your basis but to simply remind you that you can't make sweeping generalisations and then expect people to conform with your opinions simply because you feel they're right.

Unless you can prove your opinion through reason, logic and best of all, evidence, accept that others might disagree, might have other tastes and that you might, just might, be wrong.

On a side note: It's interesting to learn that you don't have a 'right' to your opinion. Look for a book by Jamie Whyte called "Crimes against Logic". A rather interesting read if you have the time.

What I'm trying to tell is that statement "steam is bad because i had problems with it on my PC" is false.

Well, it's at least MORE false than statement "most people don't have problems with steam and they like it so it's good"

It's like I would say "Modern warfare sucks because i can't run it on my PC".

And as I've said - if you're running business, what people like = it's good is the only correct statement. Unless you think going bankrupt is good.

Business model A is good because people use it and like it.

Business model B is bad because people use it and don't have any other choices (on free market alternative showing up is a matter of time)

Business Model C is bad because people don't use it and don't like it.

It's not a matter of opinion.
It's simple economics for 1st graders.

When you say "people use it, like it, and it's profitable but it's bad because i don't like it" Gabe Newell laughs in your face.
PS. Why statement "it's popular because people like it, and what people like is good for them" is illogical?

I have to say that I am very surprised to hear that this system is in place. Usually when I talk to people from the US about any kind of market regulation, they are strictly opposed to it. I won't derail the thread into a discussion on market regulations and their value/danger, so I'll leave it at that.


Over here 3G (and soon 4G) are perfectly viable options when you need an internet connection, as long as you are not too far away from a civilized area. Does large parts of USA lack a decent 3G coverage?