As much as I appreciate the benefits that Microsoft has brought to computer users worldwide, I can't help but see this news of Bing being the second most popular search engine as a little premature. Traffic will be inflated for a few days while people try out a shiny new toy, after which time traffic will drop to a more realistic level.
Maybe I'm the one with premature comments - so far Bing does seem like an innovation to the search engine genre. It won't be long before Google copies all the good parts thereby negating any need for people to use Bing.
I'm an Altavista fan, rarely use any other offering. Always had a lot of respect for the techs at DEC and their efforts on Altavista bore significant results. Been a long time since www.av.com appeared on search engine rankings, does it get lumped together with Yahoo results?
So out of those 7 million, how many make purchases based upon the 'free trial'?
I suspect the vast majority are like me, download it, check it out, and then go buy the CD or DVD unless it really is pure crap. Even the new Star Trek film, saw it on a 32" TV and then went to the cinema (kept the ticket stub, as I do with every film I see at the cinema). It is possible that the slightly younger generations (16 to 21) may not have built up enough moral fibre at that stage in their lives, but rest assured by the time they're 30 they'll know that if they want to continue watching good movies and listening to good music then they have to pay for it.
Being a nation of try-before-you-buytards is not quite the same as a nation of freetards. Are there really 7 million people in the UK who are dumb enough to harm the individual artists who prepare the visual and audio media we so thoroughly enjoy?
Why does everyone stick to this false notion that Microsoft were late with tabbed browsing? They brought tabbed browsing to the Mac with version 4.5 of IE, Firefox didn't even exist at that time. No-one batted an eyelid when Microsoft introduced it, but someone comes along later with the same idea and everyone "can't live without it"...
Worth noting that a few months after the release of IE 4.5 for the Mac, Opera introduced tabbed browsing for the PC version of their browser. Again, no-one paid any attention. Stop giving Mozilla credit for something they copied!
Oh FFS someone shut up the idiots who are submitting complaints... I think most people are aware that Gordon Ramsay swears a lot so if you find yourself easily offended by a frickin' word (which might be repeated a multitude of times) then CHANGE THE CHANNEL!
Would be amusing to see how many of these people would still submit a complaint if they had to make the complaint directly to Gordon Ramsay. Well, maybe not amusing, more like hilarious...
Maybe someone should introduce Chef Ramsay to the acceptable substitutes presented in such classics like Father Ted, Battlestar Galactica, and of course the almighty Farscape.
I usually appreciate reading about Microsoft's efforts to make its technology more accessible, and am happy to hear of another step forward.
Shame that even if Microsoft were to release all code for all its products and didn't restrict that code with any sort of license someone would find a reason to complain!
Looks like there's already a new (and I think it's unanounced since I haven't heard about it yet) chipset from nVidia for the AM3 chips - the 980a SLI (http://www.nvidia.com/object/product_nforce_980a_sli_us.html). Now I need to find which motherboard manufacturers are bringing this to market!
Do you think the Intellectual Property Office would sponsor a new episode of Wallace and Gromit? I can imagine the storyline revolving around Wallace being beaten to the punch by big corporates when trying to register his patents, and on the few successful applications the story gives insight into how the big corporates walk all over the small guys and ignore the patents they own.
At least it would be educating the visiting students with some real world insight into how patents work!
The great thing about Philips HDTV boxes is the ease with which the software for the TV can be updated, just hit the 'update software' option in the menu when viewing digital TV and it will grab the latest software over the airwaves, providing support for new features. My 32PFL7962D has had several software updates since I bought it a little over a year ago, each one offering new features and sometimes support for additional codecs.
If the standards for high-def over the airwaves change, I'm sure Philips will update their software to accommodate those changes.
I'm get sick fed-up of one of the larger monopolies in the UK constantly citing unfair competition to try and topple the competition. I'm not a Virgin Media customer, but I understand that they have invested a significant amount to implement the infrastructure over which they deliver their services. Why TF should Sky be entitled to a share of that?
It was the same with the collaboration between the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. Sky was invited to participate at the early stages but declined. Then it threw a curve ball by claiming that the collaboration would create a monopoly and stifle competition. Unfortunately some half-wit judge agreed with them and we, the British public, are poorer for it since it will cost the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 a helluva lot more to create their own independent online TV solutions.
It's about time that someone gave Sky a taste of their own vile medicine.
"ditched Microsoft's Outlook [Express] for open-source email following a computer virus that caused a massive breakdown in communications"
So rather than deal with the virus that caused the problem they blame the mail client and switch mail clients in the hope that will overcome the original problem... Okay so even I don't use Outlook Express, in fact I find it madenning when a corporate entity or public authority doesn't use a MAPI-capable mail client. At least if they were using a decent mail and collaboration platform such as those offered by Lotus, IBM or Microsoft then they would have been able to retrieve the 'missing' emails.
Next time you call BT for broadband technical support, just remember that the best IT staff in India are working for the PM.
As an afterthought, maybe those emails arrived safe and sound afterall. With only a single copy of an email held in a dbx file as part of Outlook Express's mail store it's very easy to hit the delete button then compress the message store - voila, all trace of the original message purged forever. Sounds like the sort of mail system governments must love!
"What I find curious is how atheists or agnostics consider themselves to be above others with a religious belief, which in itself is an ironic display of belonging to their own 'belief'."
I'd like to speak on behalf of agnostics, somehow you've confused us with atheists. Sure, American dictionaries have over the last 15 years merged the two definitions, but in the rest of the world agnostics and atheists have two entirely separate viewpoints.
As an agnostic I do not deny anyone's beliefs. Everyone is entitled to believe what they like, even if it is a little far-fetched like Scientology. I am open to the possibility that there is an element of truth in the religious beliefs of others, partly because there is insufficient evidence to prove or disprove such beliefs. I would quite happily accept the existence of the Christian 'God' or winged faeries if I have first-hand experience demonstrating that either of those examples exist.
I'm not going to mock someone for their beliefs - they might be right. Furthermore, if someone were to mock my personal beliefs, I wouldn't like it, so I have no intention of inflicting exactly that discomfort on others.
If there is any essence to a "holier than thou" attitude from agnostics then it is derived from our willingness to accept that anything is possible, we just need to experience it first-hand in order to be convinced. In the meanwhile we wish that everyone else could accept our viewpoint, that is to be open to the possibility that we might be wrong, and a willingness to improve our perception of the possibilities of this universe by learning from first-hand observations.
Solar energy to one side, what about plants? You can give a plant as much or as little nutrients as you like, but the only real plant food is sunlight. The amount and intensity of that sunlight determines how effectively a plant can process the nutrients given to it. In other words if you dump a load of high quality nutrients into the soil at the base of a plant, if the sunlight is not reliable then the plant will not be capable of processing the nutrients and will die.
A sunshade isn't entirely a bad idea, but is best implemented in outer-space, not through particulate insulation in the atmosphere. It's a lot easier to reverse the effects of a device in outer-space than it is to clean up man-made pollution in the atmosphere.
As is often the way with humans, they think of a 'great idea' to resolve a problem but neglect to consider fundamental consequences.
Take a limited company that has £300k of debt because the owner decided not to pay HMRC for 2 or 3 years. Owner approaches an accountancy firm specialising in liquidisation and administration, and pays a little over £45k into a 'fund' that is intended to meet the costs of disolving the company.
Owner of said company walks away and sets up a new limited company, thereby ensuring that once more the owner is not liable for anything.
Accountancy firm handling the administration starts racking up the legal fees and before you know it, their fees are almost exactly £45k. Not a penny left for any creditors, including HMRC.
Owner walks away having paid less than 1/6th of what was owed, but is legally free of the debts altogether.
---
Coincidentally have any of you ever asked an accountancy firm who handles administration for anything? Unless you're willing to fork out 5 grand, forget it. Events so far this year have made me believe that large quantities of money are made by the administrators. Obscene amounts. No other industry (well maybe the entertainment industry) seems to offer the potential to earn thousands of pounds for so little effort.
That's a trick question isn't it? Tell us your age and then ask us what it is, there's got to be a catch... That or it was just a really daft question!
Within the space of one week I've heard far too many people suggesting that the history of our universe be considered from the condensed perspective of a standard Earth year. It was funny when Stephen Fry did it on QI, gets old when repeated too frequently though.
My Motorola Maxx V6 has been around a couple of years now and is charged via its micro-usb port. You can even plug it into the computer with a standard micro-usb cable and it will charge from that without any special software. Seemed like a good idea and made me wonder why other vendors don't do something similar. Nice to know it'll become a bit more widespread in the future.
Craig
"the language has equal validity with English" ?? →#
If the ID card gets Welsh language on it then we should also include Gaelic. While we're at it, let's make ID cards A4 in size so that we can include wording for every language used by British citizens.
Someone thwack the bint with a large stick until she realises some sense. I'm Scottish and proud of it - I love my language just as she appears to love hers. Regardless of national pride, including just one addiitional language on ID cards is asking for trouble.
It may surprise some of you to learn that there are parts of Scotland where it is quite normal to encounter individuals who primarily speak gaelic, and who do not have a comprehensive grasp of the English language.
I was lucky in that most schools on the North-West coast were offering English lessons in primary school by the time I was four years old. Even now there are some primary schools that do not offer quality tuition on the English language and students of those primary schools have to rely on TV for English education until they reach secondary school.
It is easy to presume that everyone speaks English fairly well, but while gaelic is the primary language in many of the rural areas of Scotland it will always be the case that some individuals will have difficulty picking up a second language - in this case, English.
It's the age-old problem with software. Designed by techies for techies, even when we try to take into account user requirements we still end up with a solution that isn't entirely intuitive.
Windows is by no means transparently intuitive, but it's a lot better at providing straightforward means of performing numerous end-user tasks than current breeds of Linux. Mac OS X has the potential to knock Windows from the dominant OS spot, but even that is unlikely for another three to five years (guesstimate).
Craig
OcUK - good prices, fast delivery, lousy after-sales service →#
I've had mixed experiences with OcUk, most orders have arrived on time and have met my needs, but when it comes to RMAs frankly OcUK suck. Especially when the RMAs are raised because they've sent out the wrong parts.
On one occasion they sent me the wrong tube connectors two times in a row! I gave up and figured that they must have put the 1/2" fittings in the 3/8" fittings bin in the warehouse by mistake. On another occasion they sent the wrong motherboard, I sent it back after obtaining an RMA and they refused to replace it, stating that I'd already opened the package. I had to suck up the cost and pay again for the motherboard I wanted in the first place. Another occasion saw me receive a front bay display panel that came without cables or driver CD. I never resolved that one after I sent it back, they refuted their receipt of a recorded delivery package.
What is happening to OcUK is wrong, and it must be costing them a fortune. Despite my negative opinion of DDoS attacks, I can't help but feel a little sympathy if the person behind it has had a bad experience with returned products. The old saying "two wrongs don't make a right" comes to mind.
This woman isn't the idiot. The real idiot is the nephew/brother/friend who told her to buy a computer with Ubuntu linux installed on it. You don't make that sort of mistake when purchasing a computer unless you're being instructed to deliberately avoid MS Windows. The same idiot who obviously abandoned her computing needs once she made the purchase, at the very least whoever told her to buy a system with Ubuntu preinstalled could have provided a beginner session for her and helped set up the basics...
As for every single one of you who scorn this woman, shame on you. Years ago I was described as an arrogant condescending twat. Years ago I was just like the majority of you, but thankfully not as extreme as those of you who saw this as an opportunity to ridicule someone simply because she does not have the product knowledge that we do. Years ago I did not make a point of publicly voicing my opinions of others' incompetence; instead I chose to help them where possible. I couldn't help being condescending, so I kept my mouth shut unless I was asked a question.
For that price I would hope that it supports a refresh rate of 120Hz to ensure compatibility with the next generation of 3D display hardware from nVidia.
Am I tempted by this overpriced monitor? Well I wouldn't object if I got one for free, which I'd then sell for half its retail value, then I'd go to the pub.
"cushion you from the Internet Explorer 8 standards mess"
...
I'm trying to figure out how the author of the article has managed to come to the conclusion that an effort from Microsoft to make a browser more compliant with standards whilst also giving end users the opportunity to render sites in the same way IE7 does is in fact a standards mess?
Sure, in an idealistic purist world we'd tell developers of non-standards-compliant sites where to get off, and backward compatibility would be dropped altogether. On the other hand, why piss off the many businesses who have intranets that serve their intended purpose perfectly well even if those intranets do use a few non-standard techniques to accomplish the desired functionality. Let's face it, businesses are not going to adopt Opera, FireFox, Safari or Chrome unless the developers of those browsers provide the means to provide site-wide configuration by way of group policies. In that regard IE is king of the hill.
I guess all I'm seeing here is an ill-informed individual using their bias in order to get a few hits. Well it worked, I read the article and I felt inclined to convey my opinions.
"Then IE 4.5 appeared in 1999 with Mac-first features such as Print Preview and Forms Auto-Fill"
You forgot a HUGE browser enhancement - IE 4.5 for the Mac included tabbed browsing. Yes, that's right, Microsoft had tabbed browsing long before Firefox was a twinkle in a developer's pants!
Forget about operating systems and office/collaboration software, the victims of software piracy are the small development houses who write solutions for specific industries (manufacturing processes, warehousing, etc). AC posts that we're only protecting other countries' IP - wrong, we've got enough of our own to protect. Written for the UK industries, by people who understand the intricacies of those industries - fellow Brits.
I would be interested to learn what compensation might be awarded to a business if found to be completely innocent of any IP infringement crime; that being my only concern I have no problem with random checks because the innocent have nothing to hide. It's the guilty parties who have no qualms about stealing which end up warranting the need for these checks.
Curiously, two workstations at our office which had AVG 8 installed were affected by this false positive today, but the workstations running AVG 7.5 were unaffected despite also receiving virus definition updates in the morning.
I like AVG, but feel that the version 7 engine is more refined and efficient than version 8. I haven't purchased version 8 for my home computers yet but know that sooner or later when my current licenses expire I will be left with a decision. In all likelihood I will buy Sophos Anti-Virus SBE at that time unless AVG 8 is refined significantly before then.
I just wish Sophos didn't rely on consultancy firms to sell their software, that way everyone could enjoy the benefits of what is unquestionably exceptional AV software.
My guess is that people are cashing in valuable shares to free up actual cash resources. Once the ball starts rolling the panic sets in as others see the value of their shares dropping and decide to sell up before they end up making a loss.
Pure guesswork. I don't know enough to be able to make an educated guess so it's just logical conjecture based on what little I know.
Craig
Mention Microsoft and suddenly people get out their pitchforks →#
Sheesh, for bloody years companies have been using this 'checked by default' subterfuge to install third-party software, and it's only when a Microsoft add-on is involved that someone decides to write an article intended to incite the pitchfork wielding plebians...
Drop the bigoted attitudes, hell it's not even bigoted, it's more like racism in the software industry! If you're going to bitch and whine when checkboxes are enabled by default then bitch and whine with equal ferocity at ALL software developers.
I'm thinking Dell staff have spent too much time reading the BOfH stories on The Register. Did Michael Dell happen to give any tips on how to dispose of management staff who might oppose new purchases during this presentation? Maybe there were some Dell staff waiting outside by a white van with a roll of carpet and a shovel...
Most BT telephone exchanges are inside structures that don't look any more secure than my garden shed. It's hardly surprising that some people have figured that BT's poor security is an opportunity to make a quick buck.
By the way, absolutely love the comment by Mike Crawshaw, implied consent sounds about right! If BT are going to host expensive infrastructure in run down insecure buildings then they might as well just leave the doors open... Similarly Sam's comment about 'no criminal intent' raises a smirk!
I'm going to grab my gardening jacket and head to the telephone exchange next door. Maybe that's where my lawnmower ended up when I last cut the grass after having a couple of pints...
I wonder how much outrage there would be if a Scottish landlord organised a similar event but requested the men be the ones to abandon underwear in return for the drinks voucher.
No doubt such an event hosted in Scotland with focus on men being the ones to 'let it hang' under the kilts would be a roaring success, with women turning out by the bus loads for a chance to tease and abuse the men.
See, women think that if they are encouraged to take off their knickers in a public place, they're opening the door for abuse. Yet us poor Scots get abused by women every time we go out drinking, to the point where some of my friends now refuse to wear a kilt except on special occasions. Women can be such cruel hypocrites.
I'm a bit of a fan of Thomson Speedtouch routers, in my experience they've been reliable and robust. Particularly good Speedtouch router models I've had the pleasure of using are the 585i v6/v7, the 608WL, and the 780. None of these exhibited the symptoms described in this article.
Does anyone with one of the affected routers know which Thomson router it is based on? Or is it the case that BT have developed their own firmware, and the custom firmware is at fault?
"the councils each receive an average of £1,900 annually for selling edited electoral rolls"
Ok this seems so wrong. While I do not support the practices of marketing firms, I do understand the need for councils to generate revenue from sources other than our council tax. If the edited registers remain available then it is high time for the councils to start charging more for the edited register if the company or individual purchasing it will use the data for marketing purposes.
There are still legitimate reasons for purchasing a copy of the register, and those people should not be penalised. A simple clause such as £xxx for personal use, £xxxxx for commercial use would suffice and as far as I am aware, it would also be legal.
Looks like a flat out denial, very glad to see it. I'll gladly choose nForce chipsets over Intel or AMD offerings because of reliability and performance.
"Ok this was a while ago, but nothing's really improved from them."
Hiya Andy,
A couple of years ago I'd have agreed and said Microsoft's own site search functionality was somewhat poor.
Nowadays though I find the search sections of Microsoft's numerous sites to be very efficient, effective, and powerful in their scope. MSDN search and Support search are both fantastic and very good at delivering entirely relevant results as required. Even the search feature for the main microsoft.com site (which incidentally searches all or a user selection of all MS subdomains) is very reliable, often offering a 'recommended result' which is normally the very page I'm after - regardless of the complexity or simplicity of my query!
These days I'm beginning to feel a need to move away from Google's invasive practices and amazingly I'm finding http://www.live.com to be the solution. Google's own search results are increasingly yielding link sites for generating search engine results instead of the actual content I'm seeking.
*rubs eyes* Ok so we've all known that this was coming for a few months now, nice to have an article that (relatively) concisely presents the facts for us.
*rubs eyes again* Yep, I thought so. Is there any mention of where we can find out who the ISPs that have voluntarily signed up are? I didn't see a list of ISPs in the article.
I'm sure people will enjoy taking the opportunity to chastise Microsoft on this occasion. I on the other hand point the finger firmly at ZoneAlarm and blame it for utilising questionable methods within its software. Funny how other software firewall vendors aren't feeling the pain.
And what sort of ridiculous suggestion is it to uninstall a security fix?!! Surely a responsible company would have suggested that the user uninstall their broken firewall, use Windows Firewall as a temporary solution, and then install an updated version of the third-party firewall when a fix is available. I'm sure people will criticise the suggestion of temporarily using Windows Firewall, truth is that it's there and as far as software firewalls go it's not a bad product.
*shakes head in disbelief* Telling users to uninstall a security fix... Sheesh.
I'll get my coat. It's the one with "Don't take coding shortcuts" printed on the back.
There was me thinking "32 days without using a Google product or service? Not bad, doesn't quite compare to my almost absolute Google abstinence over the years".
Hopefully I'm not deviating from the original article content too much, I really do wonder what sort of impact it would have on Google if there ever was a 30 day boycott of their products and services. Some of you may find it awkward without your Google Search, Google Earth, YouTube, and a myriad of other services. I've comfortably avoided many Google offerings although I have to confess that I was a regular YouTube visitor prior to Google's purchase of the organisation.
Erm have any of you lot actually read the article? Or are people generally inclined to bash without thinking these days?
It's running Windows Mobile, not Windows Vista. It's got an ARM processor, not an Intel piece of crud that is full of errata. It uses voice recognition software from Nuance, not L&H (which is ok in some situations but I have yet to see L&H develop a decent implementation for an operating system).
Now stop behaving like cretins and start thinking for yourselves! Bashing Microsoft was so 1998...
You want a recommendation? I think there is only one ISP in the UK these days that offers what you ask for. Hopefully El Reg won't mind me pimping the services of Zen Internet, I've been with them six years and no plans of changing because everywhere else I look I see traffic shaping, usage profiling, fair use policies that are not in the slightest bit fair to customers, the list goes on.
Some people don't like a fixed download cap. I'm on 100 gigs per month and rarely use half of that even though I am a heavy downloader. Still, it's easy enough to top up with additional download quota if for some bizarre reason I ever exceeded my limit.
Which ISP was offering 500 gig download caps without shaping last year, then kicked a tonne of their users for breaching the 'fair use policy'? I really don't know why these companies are allowed to get away with such abuse.
Free upgrade coupon for all scmuc*cough* I mean all customers who bought Windows Vista?
I align myself with the sensible people who figured we'd skip Windows Vista what with it being somewhat new and unpolished, wait for the more refined version of Windows to follow. I sure hope Microsoft don't drop the ball twice in a row.
Samsung UN55B8000 55" LED TV (Widescreen, 1920x1080, HDTV)
LG Electronics 42LH30 42" LCD TV (Widescreen, 1920x1080, HDTV)
Samsung UN55B8500 55" LED TV (Widescreen, 1920x1080, HDTV)
Sony BRAVIA KDL-40EX400 40" LCD TV (Widescreen, 1920x1080, HDTV)
Samsung UN40B6000 40" LED TV (Widescreen, 1920x1080, HDTV)
59 posts • joined Friday 14th September 2007 19:45 GMT
Page:
Craig
Temporary... → #
Posted Saturday 6th June 2009 11:08 GMT
In Bing passes Yahoo! in Google runner-up stakes
As much as I appreciate the benefits that Microsoft has brought to computer users worldwide, I can't help but see this news of Bing being the second most popular search engine as a little premature. Traffic will be inflated for a few days while people try out a shiny new toy, after which time traffic will drop to a more realistic level.
Maybe I'm the one with premature comments - so far Bing does seem like an innovation to the search engine genre. It won't be long before Google copies all the good parts thereby negating any need for people to use Bing.
I'm an Altavista fan, rarely use any other offering. Always had a lot of respect for the techs at DEC and their efforts on Altavista bore significant results. Been a long time since www.av.com appeared on search engine rankings, does it get lumped together with Yahoo results?
Craig
*chuckles* → #
Posted Monday 1st June 2009 12:59 GMT
In Jacqui whacks shock jock crock
Am I the only one who had a minor fit of the giggles when reading " real name Michael Weiner"?
I'll get my coat, this sort of discussion should be left to people who can keep a straight face.
Craig
85 pages - and still a biased conclusion → #
Posted Friday 29th May 2009 11:10 GMT
In Shifty study proclaims Brits a nation of freetards
So out of those 7 million, how many make purchases based upon the 'free trial'?
I suspect the vast majority are like me, download it, check it out, and then go buy the CD or DVD unless it really is pure crap. Even the new Star Trek film, saw it on a 32" TV and then went to the cinema (kept the ticket stub, as I do with every film I see at the cinema). It is possible that the slightly younger generations (16 to 21) may not have built up enough moral fibre at that stage in their lives, but rest assured by the time they're 30 they'll know that if they want to continue watching good movies and listening to good music then they have to pay for it.
Being a nation of try-before-you-buytards is not quite the same as a nation of freetards. Are there really 7 million people in the UK who are dumb enough to harm the individual artists who prepare the visual and audio media we so thoroughly enjoy?
Craig
Not that old chestnut again... → #
Posted Saturday 16th May 2009 19:53 GMT
In Mozilla invites all comers on post-tab future
Why does everyone stick to this false notion that Microsoft were late with tabbed browsing? They brought tabbed browsing to the Mac with version 4.5 of IE, Firefox didn't even exist at that time. No-one batted an eyelid when Microsoft introduced it, but someone comes along later with the same idea and everyone "can't live without it"...
Worth noting that a few months after the release of IE 4.5 for the Mac, Opera introduced tabbed browsing for the PC version of their browser. Again, no-one paid any attention. Stop giving Mozilla credit for something they copied!
Craig
Would they complain to Ramsay? → #
Posted Tuesday 12th May 2009 10:34 GMT
In Gordon Ramsay breaches f**king broadcasting code
Oh FFS someone shut up the idiots who are submitting complaints... I think most people are aware that Gordon Ramsay swears a lot so if you find yourself easily offended by a frickin' word (which might be repeated a multitude of times) then CHANGE THE CHANNEL!
Would be amusing to see how many of these people would still submit a complaint if they had to make the complaint directly to Gordon Ramsay. Well, maybe not amusing, more like hilarious...
Maybe someone should introduce Chef Ramsay to the acceptable substitutes presented in such classics like Father Ted, Battlestar Galactica, and of course the almighty Farscape.
Craig
Re: 70,000 PCs for £30million... → #
Posted Tuesday 5th May 2009 11:52 GMT
In Sir Alan Sugar hails £30m 'equitable' Viglen win
Roughly £430 per PC, but don't forget logistics, deployment and support costs. I'd be very surprised if the contract is purely a box-shifting deal.
Craig
How considerate... → #
Posted Friday 3rd April 2009 22:03 GMT
In Man gets life for killing game-obsessed partner
“The couple’s son called for an ambulance, but Palmer grabbed the phone and told emergency operators: “I’m sorry. I think I’ve killed her.””
“Let me just make sure, we don't want to be a burden on the ambulance service...”
Craig
Nice progress → #
Posted Friday 3rd April 2009 09:37 GMT
In Microsoft's latest open-source release catches a wrinkle
I usually appreciate reading about Microsoft's efforts to make its technology more accessible, and am happy to hear of another step forward.
Shame that even if Microsoft were to release all code for all its products and didn't restrict that code with any sort of license someone would find a reason to complain!
Craig
Re: nVidia + AMD combo set to rise again → #
Posted Sunday 29th March 2009 13:55 GMT
In Nvidia countersues Intel in licensing spat
Looks like there's already a new (and I think it's unanounced since I haven't heard about it yet) chipset from nVidia for the AM3 chips - the 980a SLI (http://www.nvidia.com/object/product_nforce_980a_sli_us.html). Now I need to find which motherboard manufacturers are bringing this to market!
Craig
A new episode? → #
Posted Friday 27th March 2009 18:29 GMT
In Wallace and Gromit get patent-happy at Science Museum
Do you think the Intellectual Property Office would sponsor a new episode of Wallace and Gromit? I can imagine the storyline revolving around Wallace being beaten to the punch by big corporates when trying to register his patents, and on the few successful applications the story gives insight into how the big corporates walk all over the small guys and ignore the patents they own.
At least it would be educating the visiting students with some real world insight into how patents work!
Craig
nVidia + AMD combo set to rise again → #
Posted Friday 27th March 2009 14:48 GMT
In Nvidia countersues Intel in licensing spat
C'mon nVidia, give us a nice new juicy chipset for AMD's new Phenom II processors, and really kick Intel between the legs!
Craig
Software updates → #
Posted Sunday 22nd March 2009 17:24 GMT
In Philips 42in Ambilight LED array TV
The great thing about Philips HDTV boxes is the ease with which the software for the TV can be updated, just hit the 'update software' option in the menu when viewing digital TV and it will grab the latest software over the airwaves, providing support for new features. My 32PFL7962D has had several software updates since I bought it a little over a year ago, each one offering new features and sometimes support for additional codecs.
If the standards for high-def over the airwaves change, I'm sure Philips will update their software to accommodate those changes.
Craig
Oh FFS Sky, give it a rest → #
Posted Thursday 19th March 2009 15:52 GMT
In Sky calls for access to cable network
I'm get sick fed-up of one of the larger monopolies in the UK constantly citing unfair competition to try and topple the competition. I'm not a Virgin Media customer, but I understand that they have invested a significant amount to implement the infrastructure over which they deliver their services. Why TF should Sky be entitled to a share of that?
It was the same with the collaboration between the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. Sky was invited to participate at the early stages but declined. Then it threw a curve ball by claiming that the collaboration would create a monopoly and stifle competition. Unfortunately some half-wit judge agreed with them and we, the British public, are poorer for it since it will cost the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 a helluva lot more to create their own independent online TV solutions.
It's about time that someone gave Sky a taste of their own vile medicine.
Craig
To echo others - WTF? → #
Posted Wednesday 18th March 2009 12:34 GMT
In Microsoft dumped after India PM's emails go AWOL
"ditched Microsoft's Outlook [Express] for open-source email following a computer virus that caused a massive breakdown in communications"
So rather than deal with the virus that caused the problem they blame the mail client and switch mail clients in the hope that will overcome the original problem... Okay so even I don't use Outlook Express, in fact I find it madenning when a corporate entity or public authority doesn't use a MAPI-capable mail client. At least if they were using a decent mail and collaboration platform such as those offered by Lotus, IBM or Microsoft then they would have been able to retrieve the 'missing' emails.
Next time you call BT for broadband technical support, just remember that the best IT staff in India are working for the PM.
As an afterthought, maybe those emails arrived safe and sound afterall. With only a single copy of an email held in a dbx file as part of Outlook Express's mail store it's very easy to hit the delete button then compress the message store - voila, all trace of the original message purged forever. Sounds like the sort of mail system governments must love!
Craig
@ Pete James → #
Posted Monday 16th March 2009 19:35 GMT
In Scientology spokesman confirms Xenu story
"What I find curious is how atheists or agnostics consider themselves to be above others with a religious belief, which in itself is an ironic display of belonging to their own 'belief'."
I'd like to speak on behalf of agnostics, somehow you've confused us with atheists. Sure, American dictionaries have over the last 15 years merged the two definitions, but in the rest of the world agnostics and atheists have two entirely separate viewpoints.
As an agnostic I do not deny anyone's beliefs. Everyone is entitled to believe what they like, even if it is a little far-fetched like Scientology. I am open to the possibility that there is an element of truth in the religious beliefs of others, partly because there is insufficient evidence to prove or disprove such beliefs. I would quite happily accept the existence of the Christian 'God' or winged faeries if I have first-hand experience demonstrating that either of those examples exist.
I'm not going to mock someone for their beliefs - they might be right. Furthermore, if someone were to mock my personal beliefs, I wouldn't like it, so I have no intention of inflicting exactly that discomfort on others.
If there is any essence to a "holier than thou" attitude from agnostics then it is derived from our willingness to accept that anything is possible, we just need to experience it first-hand in order to be convinced. In the meanwhile we wish that everyone else could accept our viewpoint, that is to be open to the possibility that we might be wrong, and a willingness to improve our perception of the possibilities of this universe by learning from first-hand observations.
Craig
Re: Raise the CO₂ → #
Posted Thursday 12th March 2009 18:19 GMT
In 'Sunshade' global-cooling plan would ruin solar power
Thanks for the chuckle Gary!
Craig
Plants... → #
Posted Thursday 12th March 2009 16:01 GMT
In 'Sunshade' global-cooling plan would ruin solar power
Solar energy to one side, what about plants? You can give a plant as much or as little nutrients as you like, but the only real plant food is sunlight. The amount and intensity of that sunlight determines how effectively a plant can process the nutrients given to it. In other words if you dump a load of high quality nutrients into the soil at the base of a plant, if the sunlight is not reliable then the plant will not be capable of processing the nutrients and will die.
A sunshade isn't entirely a bad idea, but is best implemented in outer-space, not through particulate insulation in the atmosphere. It's a lot easier to reverse the effects of a device in outer-space than it is to clean up man-made pollution in the atmosphere.
As is often the way with humans, they think of a 'great idea' to resolve a problem but neglect to consider fundamental consequences.
Craig
They're like pirates... → #
Posted Tuesday 10th March 2009 13:49 GMT
In Government rejects call to limit insolvency firms' fees
Take a limited company that has £300k of debt because the owner decided not to pay HMRC for 2 or 3 years. Owner approaches an accountancy firm specialising in liquidisation and administration, and pays a little over £45k into a 'fund' that is intended to meet the costs of disolving the company.
Owner of said company walks away and sets up a new limited company, thereby ensuring that once more the owner is not liable for anything.
Accountancy firm handling the administration starts racking up the legal fees and before you know it, their fees are almost exactly £45k. Not a penny left for any creditors, including HMRC.
Owner walks away having paid less than 1/6th of what was owed, but is legally free of the debts altogether.
---
Coincidentally have any of you ever asked an accountancy firm who handles administration for anything? Unless you're willing to fork out 5 grand, forget it. Events so far this year have made me believe that large quantities of money are made by the administrators. Obscene amounts. No other industry (well maybe the entertainment industry) seems to offer the potential to earn thousands of pounds for so little effort.
Craig
Re: Bill and James (FAO D@v3) → #
Posted Monday 23rd February 2009 11:41 GMT
In iPhone app simulates political corruption
That's a trick question isn't it? Tell us your age and then ask us what it is, there's got to be a catch... That or it was just a really daft question!
Craig
"Condense the universe's timeline" → #
Posted Sunday 22nd February 2009 21:24 GMT
In NASA talks little green men with Vatican
Within the space of one week I've heard far too many people suggesting that the history of our universe be considered from the condensed perspective of a standard Earth year. It was funny when Stephen Fry did it on QI, gets old when repeated too frequently though.
Craig
Stimulating → #
Posted Saturday 21st February 2009 16:49 GMT
In iPhone app simulates political corruption
Yeah Bill, I thought it sounded like Drug Wars too!
I misread the title of the article, thought it said "iPhone app stimulates political corruption"...
Craig
Already there? → #
Posted Tuesday 17th February 2009 15:32 GMT
In Operators and handset vendors plug standard charger
My Motorola Maxx V6 has been around a couple of years now and is charged via its micro-usb port. You can even plug it into the computer with a standard micro-usb cable and it will charge from that without any special software. Seemed like a good idea and made me wonder why other vendors don't do something similar. Nice to know it'll become a bit more widespread in the future.
Craig
"the language has equal validity with English" ?? → #
Posted Wednesday 4th February 2009 16:34 GMT
In MP wants Welsh text on ID cards
If the ID card gets Welsh language on it then we should also include Gaelic. While we're at it, let's make ID cards A4 in size so that we can include wording for every language used by British citizens.
Someone thwack the bint with a large stick until she realises some sense. I'm Scottish and proud of it - I love my language just as she appears to love hers. Regardless of national pride, including just one addiitional language on ID cards is asking for trouble.
Craig
Only gaelic → #
Posted Monday 2nd February 2009 19:03 GMT
In BBC pumps 60 quid a head into Gaelic
It may surprise some of you to learn that there are parts of Scotland where it is quite normal to encounter individuals who primarily speak gaelic, and who do not have a comprehensive grasp of the English language.
I was lucky in that most schools on the North-West coast were offering English lessons in primary school by the time I was four years old. Even now there are some primary schools that do not offer quality tuition on the English language and students of those primary schools have to rely on TV for English education until they reach secondary school.
It is easy to presume that everyone speaks English fairly well, but while gaelic is the primary language in many of the rural areas of Scotland it will always be the case that some individuals will have difficulty picking up a second language - in this case, English.
Craig
Consideration of end users → #
Posted Monday 26th January 2009 13:47 GMT
In Linux to spend eternity in shadow of 'little blue E'
It's the age-old problem with software. Designed by techies for techies, even when we try to take into account user requirements we still end up with a solution that isn't entirely intuitive.
Windows is by no means transparently intuitive, but it's a lot better at providing straightforward means of performing numerous end-user tasks than current breeds of Linux. Mac OS X has the potential to knock Windows from the dominant OS spot, but even that is unlikely for another three to five years (guesstimate).
Craig
OcUK - good prices, fast delivery, lousy after-sales service → #
Posted Thursday 22nd January 2009 20:01 GMT
In OcUK puts £10K bounty on the heads of DDoS varmints
I've had mixed experiences with OcUk, most orders have arrived on time and have met my needs, but when it comes to RMAs frankly OcUK suck. Especially when the RMAs are raised because they've sent out the wrong parts.
On one occasion they sent me the wrong tube connectors two times in a row! I gave up and figured that they must have put the 1/2" fittings in the 3/8" fittings bin in the warehouse by mistake. On another occasion they sent the wrong motherboard, I sent it back after obtaining an RMA and they refused to replace it, stating that I'd already opened the package. I had to suck up the cost and pay again for the motherboard I wanted in the first place. Another occasion saw me receive a front bay display panel that came without cables or driver CD. I never resolved that one after I sent it back, they refuted their receipt of a recorded delivery package.
What is happening to OcUK is wrong, and it must be costing them a fortune. Despite my negative opinion of DDoS attacks, I can't help but feel a little sympathy if the person behind it has had a bad experience with returned products. The old saying "two wrongs don't make a right" comes to mind.
Craig
Shame on you → #
Posted Thursday 15th January 2009 12:38 GMT
In US woman says Ubuntu can't access internet
This woman isn't the idiot. The real idiot is the nephew/brother/friend who told her to buy a computer with Ubuntu linux installed on it. You don't make that sort of mistake when purchasing a computer unless you're being instructed to deliberately avoid MS Windows. The same idiot who obviously abandoned her computing needs once she made the purchase, at the very least whoever told her to buy a system with Ubuntu preinstalled could have provided a beginner session for her and helped set up the basics...
As for every single one of you who scorn this woman, shame on you. Years ago I was described as an arrogant condescending twat. Years ago I was just like the majority of you, but thankfully not as extreme as those of you who saw this as an opportunity to ridicule someone simply because she does not have the product knowledge that we do. Years ago I did not make a point of publicly voicing my opinions of others' incompetence; instead I chose to help them where possible. I couldn't help being condescending, so I kept my mouth shut unless I was asked a question.
Craig
Monitor = drinks → #
Posted Friday 9th January 2009 10:01 GMT
In LaCie showcases hella-expensive display
For that price I would hope that it supports a refresh rate of 120Hz to ensure compatibility with the next generation of 3D display hardware from nVidia.
Am I tempted by this overpriced monitor? Well I wouldn't object if I got one for free, which I'd then sell for half its retail value, then I'd go to the pub.
Craig
Flamebait? → #
Posted Wednesday 7th January 2009 19:32 GMT
In Microsoft disables automatic IE 8 downloads
"cushion you from the Internet Explorer 8 standards mess"
...
I'm trying to figure out how the author of the article has managed to come to the conclusion that an effort from Microsoft to make a browser more compliant with standards whilst also giving end users the opportunity to render sites in the same way IE7 does is in fact a standards mess?
Sure, in an idealistic purist world we'd tell developers of non-standards-compliant sites where to get off, and backward compatibility would be dropped altogether. On the other hand, why piss off the many businesses who have intranets that serve their intended purpose perfectly well even if those intranets do use a few non-standard techniques to accomplish the desired functionality. Let's face it, businesses are not going to adopt Opera, FireFox, Safari or Chrome unless the developers of those browsers provide the means to provide site-wide configuration by way of group policies. In that regard IE is king of the hill.
I guess all I'm seeing here is an ill-informed individual using their bias in order to get a few hits. Well it worked, I read the article and I felt inclined to convey my opinions.
Craig
Slight digression... → #
Posted Tuesday 6th January 2009 10:04 GMT
In Microsoft and Apple: 25 years of couples therapy
"Then IE 4.5 appeared in 1999 with Mac-first features such as Print Preview and Forms Auto-Fill"
You forgot a HUGE browser enhancement - IE 4.5 for the Mac included tabbed browsing. Yes, that's right, Microsoft had tabbed browsing long before Firefox was a twinkle in a developer's pants!
Craig
Supporting the smaller developers → #
Posted Wednesday 24th December 2008 20:43 GMT
In Software copyright inspection powers used for first time
Forget about operating systems and office/collaboration software, the victims of software piracy are the small development houses who write solutions for specific industries (manufacturing processes, warehousing, etc). AC posts that we're only protecting other countries' IP - wrong, we've got enough of our own to protect. Written for the UK industries, by people who understand the intricacies of those industries - fellow Brits.
I would be interested to learn what compensation might be awarded to a business if found to be completely innocent of any IP infringement crime; that being my only concern I have no problem with random checks because the innocent have nothing to hide. It's the guilty parties who have no qualms about stealing which end up warranting the need for these checks.
Craig
Old versus new → #
Posted Saturday 15th November 2008 00:10 GMT
In AVG slaps Trojan label on Adobe Flash
Curiously, two workstations at our office which had AVG 8 installed were affected by this false positive today, but the workstations running AVG 7.5 were unaffected despite also receiving virus definition updates in the morning.
I like AVG, but feel that the version 7 engine is more refined and efficient than version 8. I haven't purchased version 8 for my home computers yet but know that sooner or later when my current licenses expire I will be left with a decision. In all likelihood I will buy Sophos Anti-Virus SBE at that time unless AVG 8 is refined significantly before then.
I just wish Sophos didn't rely on consultancy firms to sell their software, that way everyone could enjoy the benefits of what is unquestionably exceptional AV software.
Craig
*chuckles* → #
Posted Friday 14th November 2008 14:17 GMT
In BOFH: The paperless cafeteria
Hideously cruel, love it!
Craig
Selling up → #
Posted Thursday 13th November 2008 20:12 GMT
In Google shares plummet past $300, reach three year low
My guess is that people are cashing in valuable shares to free up actual cash resources. Once the ball starts rolling the panic sets in as others see the value of their shares dropping and decide to sell up before they end up making a loss.
Pure guesswork. I don't know enough to be able to make an educated guess so it's just logical conjecture based on what little I know.
Craig
Mention Microsoft and suddenly people get out their pitchforks → #
Posted Tuesday 11th November 2008 02:43 GMT
In Sun Java piggybacks Microsoft searchbar, divorces Google
Sheesh, for bloody years companies have been using this 'checked by default' subterfuge to install third-party software, and it's only when a Microsoft add-on is involved that someone decides to write an article intended to incite the pitchfork wielding plebians...
Drop the bigoted attitudes, hell it's not even bigoted, it's more like racism in the software industry! If you're going to bitch and whine when checkboxes are enabled by default then bitch and whine with equal ferocity at ALL software developers.
Craig
Learning from the best → #
Posted Monday 10th November 2008 14:25 GMT
In Michael Dell sells you some s**t you don't need
I'm thinking Dell staff have spent too much time reading the BOfH stories on The Register. Did Michael Dell happen to give any tips on how to dispose of management staff who might oppose new purchases during this presentation? Maybe there were some Dell staff waiting outside by a white van with a roll of carpet and a shovel...
Craig
They're sheds, not buildings → #
Posted Thursday 25th September 2008 17:01 GMT
In Another London BT exchange hit by thieves
Most BT telephone exchanges are inside structures that don't look any more secure than my garden shed. It's hardly surprising that some people have figured that BT's poor security is an opportunity to make a quick buck.
By the way, absolutely love the comment by Mike Crawshaw, implied consent sounds about right! If BT are going to host expensive infrastructure in run down insecure buildings then they might as well just leave the doors open... Similarly Sam's comment about 'no criminal intent' raises a smirk!
I'm going to grab my gardening jacket and head to the telephone exchange next door. Maybe that's where my lawnmower ended up when I last cut the grass after having a couple of pints...
Craig
Stupidly sexist naivity → #
Posted Thursday 18th September 2008 13:19 GMT
In Oz pub slammed over 'No Undie Sundie'
I wonder how much outrage there would be if a Scottish landlord organised a similar event but requested the men be the ones to abandon underwear in return for the drinks voucher.
No doubt such an event hosted in Scotland with focus on men being the ones to 'let it hang' under the kilts would be a roaring success, with women turning out by the bus loads for a chance to tease and abuse the men.
See, women think that if they are encouraged to take off their knickers in a public place, they're opening the door for abuse. Yet us poor Scots get abused by women every time we go out drinking, to the point where some of my friends now refuse to wear a kilt except on special occasions. Women can be such cruel hypocrites.
Craig
Somewhat surprised → #
Posted Thursday 28th August 2008 19:42 GMT
In BBC fixes BT Home Hub auto-vomit bug
I'm a bit of a fan of Thomson Speedtouch routers, in my experience they've been reliable and robust. Particularly good Speedtouch router models I've had the pleasure of using are the 585i v6/v7, the 608WL, and the 780. None of these exhibited the symptoms described in this article.
Does anyone with one of the affected routers know which Thomson router it is based on? Or is it the case that BT have developed their own firmware, and the custom firmware is at fault?
Craig
Step 3: Profit! → #
Posted Wednesday 27th August 2008 18:54 GMT
In Electoral officers oppose edited register
"the councils each receive an average of £1,900 annually for selling edited electoral rolls"
Ok this seems so wrong. While I do not support the practices of marketing firms, I do understand the need for councils to generate revenue from sources other than our council tax. If the edited registers remain available then it is high time for the councils to start charging more for the edited register if the company or individual purchasing it will use the data for marketing purposes.
There are still legitimate reasons for purchasing a copy of the register, and those people should not be penalised. A simple clause such as £xxx for personal use, £xxxxx for commercial use would suffice and as far as I am aware, it would also be legal.
Craig
Dodgy web sites → #
Posted Tuesday 26th August 2008 23:27 GMT
In Houston, we have a virus
Let's cut out one potential source of infections - it's time for NASA-approved porn to be issued to all astronauts based upon individual preferences!
Craig
nVidia denies claim → #
Posted Saturday 2nd August 2008 08:42 GMT
In Nvidia waves goodbye to chipsets?
http://techreport.com/discussions.x/15240
Looks like a flat out denial, very glad to see it. I'll gladly choose nForce chipsets over Intel or AMD offerings because of reliability and performance.
Craig
Re: Will they ever learn? → #
Posted Friday 25th July 2008 12:36 GMT
In Microsoft crowbars Live Search into Facebook
"Ok this was a while ago, but nothing's really improved from them."
Hiya Andy,
A couple of years ago I'd have agreed and said Microsoft's own site search functionality was somewhat poor.
Nowadays though I find the search sections of Microsoft's numerous sites to be very efficient, effective, and powerful in their scope. MSDN search and Support search are both fantastic and very good at delivering entirely relevant results as required. Even the search feature for the main microsoft.com site (which incidentally searches all or a user selection of all MS subdomains) is very reliable, often offering a 'recommended result' which is normally the very page I'm after - regardless of the complexity or simplicity of my query!
These days I'm beginning to feel a need to move away from Google's invasive practices and amazingly I'm finding http://www.live.com to be the solution. Google's own search results are increasingly yielding link sites for generating search engine results instead of the actual content I'm seeking.
Craig
Who are they? → #
Posted Friday 25th July 2008 09:56 GMT
In How government will save you from P2P deviance
*rubs eyes* Ok so we've all known that this was coming for a few months now, nice to have an article that (relatively) concisely presents the facts for us.
*rubs eyes again* Yep, I thought so. Is there any mention of where we can find out who the ISPs that have voluntarily signed up are? I didn't see a list of ISPs in the article.
Thanks!
Craig
Re: IBM (by AC) → #
Posted Saturday 12th July 2008 15:52 GMT
In IBM's eight-core Power7 chip to clock in at 4.0GHz
By that statement am I to believe that you would be in a position to buy the 'Giant'? !!!
Craig
Passing the buck → #
Posted Wednesday 9th July 2008 11:15 GMT
In MS DNS patch snuffs net connection for ZoneAlarm users
I'm sure people will enjoy taking the opportunity to chastise Microsoft on this occasion. I on the other hand point the finger firmly at ZoneAlarm and blame it for utilising questionable methods within its software. Funny how other software firewall vendors aren't feeling the pain.
And what sort of ridiculous suggestion is it to uninstall a security fix?!! Surely a responsible company would have suggested that the user uninstall their broken firewall, use Windows Firewall as a temporary solution, and then install an updated version of the third-party firewall when a fix is available. I'm sure people will criticise the suggestion of temporarily using Windows Firewall, truth is that it's there and as far as software firewalls go it's not a bad product.
*shakes head in disbelief* Telling users to uninstall a security fix... Sheesh.
I'll get my coat. It's the one with "Don't take coding shortcuts" printed on the back.
Craig
Misled by the word 'boycott'! → #
Posted Wednesday 18th June 2008 11:35 GMT
In Zuckerberg's Google boycott reaches 32 days (and counting)
There was me thinking "32 days without using a Google product or service? Not bad, doesn't quite compare to my almost absolute Google abstinence over the years".
Hopefully I'm not deviating from the original article content too much, I really do wonder what sort of impact it would have on Google if there ever was a 30 day boycott of their products and services. Some of you may find it awkward without your Google Search, Google Earth, YouTube, and a myriad of other services. I've comfortably avoided many Google offerings although I have to confess that I was a regular YouTube visitor prior to Google's purchase of the organisation.
*sings*
Imagine there's no Google
It isn't hard to do
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Craig
Re: Every bugger bashing Microsoft → #
Posted Tuesday 6th May 2008 18:32 GMT
In Hyundai and Kia's latest pitch to US drivers - Windows
Erm have any of you lot actually read the article? Or are people generally inclined to bash without thinking these days?
It's running Windows Mobile, not Windows Vista. It's got an ARM processor, not an Intel piece of crud that is full of errata. It uses voice recognition software from Nuance, not L&H (which is ok in some situations but I have yet to see L&H develop a decent implementation for an operating system).
Now stop behaving like cretins and start thinking for yourselves! Bashing Microsoft was so 1998...
Craig
Re: Neil Greatorex → #
Posted Tuesday 6th May 2008 18:32 GMT
In ISP reporting network to pierce bandwidth smokescreens
You want a recommendation? I think there is only one ISP in the UK these days that offers what you ask for. Hopefully El Reg won't mind me pimping the services of Zen Internet, I've been with them six years and no plans of changing because everywhere else I look I see traffic shaping, usage profiling, fair use policies that are not in the slightest bit fair to customers, the list goes on.
Some people don't like a fixed download cap. I'm on 100 gigs per month and rarely use half of that even though I am a heavy downloader. Still, it's easy enough to top up with additional download quota if for some bizarre reason I ever exceeded my limit.
Which ISP was offering 500 gig download caps without shaping last year, then kicked a tonne of their users for breaching the 'fair use policy'? I really don't know why these companies are allowed to get away with such abuse.
Craig
Upgrade coupons... → #
Posted Monday 7th April 2008 18:13 GMT
In Gates teases bankers with Windows 7 dates
Free upgrade coupon for all scmuc*cough* I mean all customers who bought Windows Vista?
I align myself with the sensible people who figured we'd skip Windows Vista what with it being somewhat new and unpolished, wait for the more refined version of Windows to follow. I sure hope Microsoft don't drop the ball twice in a row.
Page: