Hate to tell you, but for some of us who DO get out in the big blue room once in a while, finding a geek or anyone within 30 feet can yield quite a few results, even if you ARE searching for unusual behavior. Just having lunch, say in the food court near my office, looking around within 30 feet will yield at least 4 people using a laptop, 5-6 people on a cellphone and any number of kids around crowded tables.
I've spoken to a few around here when purchasing some hardware at best buy and beyond the absolute minimum basics, they know nothing.
I'll give my respect to the ONE member I spoke to who admitted knowing nothing, but promised to do some research if I needed a service call (I didn't...I can do that on my own...I was just asking a question) but the rest, it was a amazing the bull they'd spew (one of them seemed quite fond of the BOFH, not realizing I knew about it).
The problems the OP describes with systems he received do not surprise me one bit. However, I don't think this kind of service is really marketted for businesses is it? I mean, I always thought it was geared towards the ULTRA newbie who would have problem plugging in a usb mouse and such. I mean my impression is that they are no better or worse than any large chain minimum wage tech support peons... rebranded with a "cool" new image and such.
Its funny, I DO agree with letting people learn from their mistakes.
However, how do the tormentors learn here? This WAS an object lesson for them and other two bit morons who somehow failed to learn what the majority of us learn AS KIDS, that its not ok to torment someone just because you can...I knew this well before puberty hit...will you?
Really? When your tormentors upload a video that becomes a viral-meme on the net of any of your embarassing moments...give me a call, I'll find you a lawyer.
Yeah, I agree that frivolous lawsuits are out of control. I'm just not sure this is quite THAT frivolous.
And knowing the retarded mentality of bullies, I'm 100% certain this wasn't an isolated incident. Good on him for getting some revenge...its a hell of a lot better than blowing em away with a shotgun if you aren't physically capable of standing up for yourself and fighting back.
Why can't somebody with large ammounts of cash, when they get their computers trashed by microsofts obviously crappy products, just sue the crap out of that company and set a precident so that every one can do the same?
I love e-books but when I shop for my favorite books, I'll be damned if I'll pay as much as 15 BUCKS (US) for books that I already own (deadtree hardcover editions). I'd be willing to pay around 2-3 bucks...
Personally I'd love to see some kind of deal that when you buy a new book, you could pay a little more to get the download along with it. I buy a lot of paperbacks and I buy a lot of hardcovers (for those series I really enjoy) and it would be so great to pay a premium of 2-3 dollars for a download.
Count me in for HP, I have the older zd7280 and its a beast. 11 pounds and a 17inch wide screen, its heavy to carry and tricky if I DO use it on my actual lap.
BUT holy cow, it is a beast in terms of power as well...I use it for everything from development to gaming. I loved my old laptops but I was sick of getting a "transit" laptop rather than a full blown desktop replacement.
On the other hand...carrying the thing to work and everywhere I go daily does keep my arms nice and solid.
From personal experience, I highly doubt the bulk of ebayers are reasonable, mature people who simply want to be "social" with their friends. The people you meet who bought their characters usually act very obnoxiously and take an inordinate pride in their "premium top-end" status...which is ironic since they did not earn it, they bought it...against the TOS I might add.
In any case, as stated by myself and many others, you don't get play a game like this simply to be social...if all you want to do is hang out, then a level 1 character will do and it becomes a glorified IRC chat with nifty graphics...no need to pay hundreds of dollars for a top end account.
Your "friends" will not likely take an ebayer with them in the high-end game content simply because it requires experience and teamwork, without which their time investment can be completely wasted...nothing is worse than spending 2-3 hours to get somewhere and some stupid ebayer screws it up. Not many people at that level take that kind of chance if they know you bought your character rather than levelled him from 1.
Here's the problem with that approach. If you want proof, find any of the hundreds of "ebay" characters on any server.
The people who buy characters that are levelled up are not the kind of people most players want to group with. Almost without exception, they are VERY poor in the general game mechanics AND their class specific abilities, generally have a sense of entitlement that rates them as "assholes" of the first caliber, behave rather poorly in most situations involving other people (ninja loot, drama queens, trolls). They lack the necessary experience gained from actually PLAYING THE GAME and cause no end of trouble while they catch up. Ironically, if the purpose of their purchase was to catch up to their friends, it sadly fails to meet it, since they spend as much time getting their abilities in gear at their level as they would have actually PLAYING THE GAME and levelling up the character themselves.
It totally amazes me that people would spend money to buy a character in WoW. Its not a hard game, its not even a major time sink.
But then again, the people who do this tend to be "challenged" in many ways (which is a subtle way to call them losers).
I have a 17inch laptop and while its certainly a bit more awkward than my old one (9.2 lbs vs 7), I'm a big boy and I can carry the weight.
The upside is that its a much nicer screen and size-wise in a car, cafe, or bus its not MUCH larger than a regular laptop and once you're used to it its nice.
"We can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to make the world's first Bionic man. Steve Austin will be that man. Better than he was before. Better . . . stronger . . . faster."
I know I check my SHA1 when getting linux ISOs...but is the standard AOL moron gonna even KNOW how to do this when downloading a DVDRip of "Pumping Irene" or whatever?
And why would a warez site install spyware? What's in it for them (unless they're big enough to make deals with sleazy marketing operations)?
You can't possibly be this naive...but who knows?
You don't need to be a "big" operation to make deals with spyware firms. They can make big bucks just like they try and make big bucks with their convoluted attempts to make you click on ads and such. Yes they distribute free stuff, but they aren't above screwing YOU over to make a little green. If they can install 100K clients and make some money doing it, they'll do it.
I think the real problem is that too many whitetrash parents (and I use the term parents loosely) end up in a tragedy like this and the FIRST (or MAYBE second) thought that occurs to them (or perhaps a lawyer conveniently close by) is:
"CHACHING!!!!"
Seriously, how long did it take after columbine for the lawsuits to fly?
There are tons of lawsuits like this, not just on video games...what about the teen, who, driving while stinking drunk and speeding, crashes and dies, the parents sue the county because the road was unsafe?
Greed and the victim complex...another lawyer innovation (our motto: "Not MY fault!")
Unfortunately this IS the evolution of the human species and greed will win.
Think about it, who's thriving right now? Greedy *$$h*les who make the rules for the rest and break them at their leisure.
I mean, any one of those execs who will be fined 250G made a lot more than that, and with ANY reasonably skilled lawyer will avoid even minimal jail time. Know what that spells? Profit.
I make millions and I'm fined thousands, that's the cost of doing business.
Slashdot Mirror
Hate to tell you, but for some of us who DO get out in the big blue room once in a while, finding a geek or anyone within 30 feet can yield quite a few results, even if you ARE searching for unusual behavior. Just having lunch, say in the food court near my office, looking around within 30 feet will yield at least 4 people using a laptop, 5-6 people on a cellphone and any number of kids around crowded tables.
I'll second that.
I've spoken to a few around here when purchasing some hardware at best buy and beyond the absolute minimum basics, they know nothing.
I'll give my respect to the ONE member I spoke to who admitted knowing nothing, but promised to do some research if I needed a service call (I didn't...I can do that on my own...I was just asking a question) but the rest, it was a amazing the bull they'd spew (one of them seemed quite fond of the BOFH, not realizing I knew about it).
The problems the OP describes with systems he received do not surprise me one bit. However, I don't think this kind of service is really marketted for businesses is it? I mean, I always thought it was geared towards the ULTRA newbie who would have problem plugging in a usb mouse and such. I mean my impression is that they are no better or worse than any large chain minimum wage tech support peons... rebranded with a "cool" new image and such.
Man, I could have shown them that any given day playing World of Warcraft!
Or ANY online game....
Yours disgusts me...
Its funny, I DO agree with letting people learn from their mistakes.
However, how do the tormentors learn here? This WAS an object lesson for them and other two bit morons who somehow failed to learn what the majority of us learn AS KIDS, that its not ok to torment someone just because you can...I knew this well before puberty hit...will you?
Really? When your tormentors upload a video that becomes a viral-meme on the net of any of your embarassing moments...give me a call, I'll find you a lawyer.
Yeah, I agree that frivolous lawsuits are out of control. I'm just not sure this is quite THAT frivolous.
And knowing the retarded mentality of bullies, I'm 100% certain this wasn't an isolated incident. Good on him for getting some revenge...its a hell of a lot better than blowing em away with a shotgun if you aren't physically capable of standing up for yourself and fighting back.
Why can't somebody with large ammounts of cash, when they get their computers trashed by microsofts obviously crappy products, just sue the crap out of that company and set a precident so that every one can do the same?
Easy. Because of the EULA.
I'd like to heartily agree about price.
I love e-books but when I shop for my favorite books, I'll be damned if I'll pay as much as 15 BUCKS (US) for books that I already own (deadtree hardcover editions). I'd be willing to pay around 2-3 bucks...
Personally I'd love to see some kind of deal that when you buy a new book, you could pay a little more to get the download along with it. I buy a lot of paperbacks and I buy a lot of hardcovers (for those series I really enjoy) and it would be so great to pay a premium of 2-3 dollars for a download.
Count me in for HP, I have the older zd7280 and its a beast. 11 pounds and a 17inch wide screen, its heavy to carry and tricky if I DO use it on my actual lap.
BUT holy cow, it is a beast in terms of power as well...I use it for everything from development to gaming. I loved my old laptops but I was sick of getting a "transit" laptop rather than a full blown desktop replacement.
On the other hand...carrying the thing to work and everywhere I go daily does keep my arms nice and solid.
From personal experience, I highly doubt the bulk of ebayers are reasonable, mature people who simply want to be "social" with their friends. The people you meet who bought their characters usually act very obnoxiously and take an inordinate pride in their "premium top-end" status...which is ironic since they did not earn it, they bought it...against the TOS I might add.
In any case, as stated by myself and many others, you don't get play a game like this simply to be social...if all you want to do is hang out, then a level 1 character will do and it becomes a glorified IRC chat with nifty graphics...no need to pay hundreds of dollars for a top end account.
Your "friends" will not likely take an ebayer with them in the high-end game content simply because it requires experience and teamwork, without which their time investment can be completely wasted...nothing is worse than spending 2-3 hours to get somewhere and some stupid ebayer screws it up. Not many people at that level take that kind of chance if they know you bought your character rather than levelled him from 1.
Here's the problem with that approach. If you want proof, find any of the hundreds of "ebay" characters on any server.
The people who buy characters that are levelled up are not the kind of people most players want to group with. Almost without exception, they are VERY poor in the general game mechanics AND their class specific abilities, generally have a sense of entitlement that rates them as "assholes" of the first caliber, behave rather poorly in most situations involving other people (ninja loot, drama queens, trolls). They lack the necessary experience gained from actually PLAYING THE GAME and cause no end of trouble while they catch up. Ironically, if the purpose of their purchase was to catch up to their friends, it sadly fails to meet it, since they spend as much time getting their abilities in gear at their level as they would have actually PLAYING THE GAME and levelling up the character themselves.
It totally amazes me that people would spend money to buy a character in WoW. Its not a hard game, its not even a major time sink.
But then again, the people who do this tend to be "challenged" in many ways (which is a subtle way to call them losers).
I have a 17inch laptop and while its certainly a bit more awkward than my old one
(9.2 lbs vs 7), I'm a big boy and I can carry the weight.
The upside is that its a much nicer screen and size-wise in a car, cafe, or bus its not MUCH larger than a regular laptop and once you're used to it its nice.
"We can rebuild him. We have the technology.
We have the capability to make the world's first Bionic man.
Steve Austin will be that man. Better than he was before.
Better . . . stronger . . . faster."
So now our marketting efforts and future R&D will be directed by internet trolls?
*sigh*
Society's going to hell in a handbasket...screw it, pass the popcorn...hope I can at least enjoy the show.
I'm guessing he pulled that number out of the orifice where he keeps his brain.
Must be dark and smelly in there
I know I check my SHA1 when getting linux ISOs...but is the standard AOL moron gonna even KNOW how to do this when downloading a DVDRip of "Pumping Irene" or whatever?
And why would a warez site install spyware? What's in it for them (unless they're big enough to make deals with sleazy marketing operations)?
You can't possibly be this naive...but who knows?
You don't need to be a "big" operation to make deals with spyware firms. They can make big bucks just like they try and make big bucks with their convoluted attempts to make you click on ads and such. Yes they distribute free stuff, but they aren't above screwing YOU over to make a little green. If they can install 100K clients and make some money doing it, they'll do it.
Start a petition...worked with the series.
That's something no slashdotter would ever say...except maybe in a hypothetical sense or if he's lying.
Its a "good" idea for Microsoft because they now have good reasons NOT to plug their security holes.
Think about it, imagine a critical flaw is found in XP or whatever....(you don't have to imagine too hard). Microsoft now has a decision to make:
1 - spend a million bucks fixing the hole.
OR
2 - Say "We're working on that issue" and in the meantime SELL you an AV product to protect yourself, netting 5-6 million in the process.
Which do YOU think they'll go for?
So what's your ideal height at that weight? fifteen feet?
Or maybe they forgot to include the new coversheet?
I think the real problem is that too many whitetrash parents (and I use the term parents loosely) end up in a tragedy like this and the FIRST (or MAYBE second) thought that occurs to them (or perhaps a lawyer conveniently close by) is:
"CHACHING!!!!"
Seriously, how long did it take after columbine for the lawsuits to fly?
There are tons of lawsuits like this, not just on video games...what about the teen, who, driving while stinking drunk and speeding, crashes and dies, the parents sue the county because the road was unsafe?
Greed and the victim complex...another lawyer innovation (our motto: "Not MY fault!")
You're new here ain't ya?
I don't know...if he's got 26K to waste like that, I'd say he's doing pretty good in the real one.
Unfortunately this IS the evolution of the human species and greed will win.
Think about it, who's thriving right now? Greedy *$$h*les who make the rules for the rest and break them at their leisure.
I mean, any one of those execs who will be fined 250G made a lot more than that, and with ANY reasonably skilled lawyer will avoid even minimal jail time. Know what that spells? Profit.
I make millions and I'm fined thousands, that's the cost of doing business.
Sigh.