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Microsoft Backs Down on Windows 2000 EULA
nachoboy writes "After the fiasco surrounding the overly intrusive EULA for Windows 2000 SP3, it seems Microsoft has backed down a bit with the upcoming release of SP4. The section concerning automatic updates now states simply "You consent to the operation of these features, unless you choose to switch them off or not use them." The EULA then proceeds to list the five services liable to connect to the internet without explicit confirmation. A reference copy of the SP4 EULA may be found here. We can only hope for a similar move with Windows XP."
Computer vision syndrome increases among geeks
Computer vision syndrome increases among geeks
N S RAMNATH
[ SUNDAY, JUNE 08, 2003 12:16:47 AM ]
A recent study has found that computer scientists find it very difficult to concentrate on any off-screen objects, and âoeeven the faces of their loved onesâ can cause eye strain among them.
Researchers suggest that this could be because of the added stress of needing to âoemake senseâ of a third dimension after focusing on two-dimensional objects for hours on end...
Actually, this is just a joke doing its rounds among software engineers â" concocted in all probability by a techie on a quick coffee break after endless hours of writing codes or fixing bugs. And in all probablity, this techie too suffers from an increasingly malicious problem called the computer vision syndrome.
Medical practioners say that computer vision syndrome is becoming increasingly common among computer users, especially those who spend a lot of time in front of their monitors or video display terminals (VDTs).
Dr Mohan Rajan, medical director, Rajan Eye Care Hospital, a leading Chennai-based tertiary centre treating eye disorders recounts that when his institute conducted an eye checkup for around 1,000 software engineers from Infosys, it found about 750 of them had âoedry eyeâ problem.
âoeThis is not a problem with the software engineers at Infosys alone, but spread across almost all IT companies,â he said. And itâ(TM)s the nature of an IT professionalâ(TM)s job that leads to this problem.
Dr Amar Agarwal, director, Dr Agarwalâ(TM)s Group of Eye Hospital, another leading centre in Chennai, points out that VDT users tend to have a very fixed posture â" this means that the distance between the computer user and the VDT, and the direction of the gaze remain the same for long periods causing the entire upper body to remain in a fixed position for a long time.
Since the muscles in the eye donâ(TM)t get much opportunity to move, it causes visual and ocular discomfort. The other possible reasons for computer vision syndrome could be lack of image clarity, glare from reflections and lights, having to concentrate on work, not blinking or resting the eyes and uncorrected visual defects, Agarwal said.
Rajan explains: âoeNormally we blink 15 times in a minute. But while working on computers, the blink rate comes down to 5 times a minute, resulting in the evaporation of fluids on the eye. This results in dry eye. For some, this may lead to severe headaches and in extreme cases even to depression.â
Other symptoms of CVS, besides dry eyes, include: tired eyes, eyestrain, sore eyes, periodic blurred near vision, occasional blurred distance vision, slowness in changing the focus of your eyes, red eyes, burning eyes, contact lens discomfort, changes in color perception, glare sensitivity, excessive neck, shoulder and back pain.
A quick survey of IT firms by ET showed that the companies are yet to treat computer vision syndrome as a serious issue. However, many software engineers are aware of the âoeeye strainâ caused by prolonged exposure to VDTs, if not about CVS itself. âoeI remember seeing a mail from my friend about CVS.
I forgot most of it, except that it said it is better to take your eyes off your monitor once in a while and blink,â a software engineer said. That, doctors feel, will do in most of the cases.
âoeThe obvious solution to stillness is to move. One should take micropauses and focus on distant objects at regular intervals,â says Agarwal.
Rajan agrees. âoeWe suggest a formula 20:20:20 to IT professionals. Every 20 minutes, for 20 seconds, blink 20 times,â he advises.
Besides, he said, the position of workstations also matter a lot. âoeIdeally,
I agree. If it took 2 years and more for your firm to decide that MS WinXYZ is full of security holes and take alternative steps, there's little that can be done.
Microsoft products cost a lot to _acquire_ as well as to _maintain_. Even if you started now, you'd still be saving your dollars in the long run.
You might actually save the remaining 35% from getting Slammed all over again.
If you keep throwing chairs, one day you'll break windows....
Considering the hundreds of MS shills astro-turfing over here and modding every sensible post to oblivion as either Troll/ Flamebait, it's pretty silly to think a EULA change means anything.
If you keep throwing chairs, one day you'll break windows....
who modded THIS up? are you guys still in third grade. MICROSHAFT SELLSZ YUR SOUL LOL.
Let me simplify your logic a bit.
"I don't like Windows."
"I am so smart."
Therefore, "Windows is flawed."
QED
Laziness prevails- I didn't install Windoze XP SP1!
Micro$oft should really release a version of the service pack for Windows 2000 for Windoze XP.
P.S Plz excuse the N00b (me), this is my firstever Slashdot post.