If they're all retro gamers, they may never have played any of these games. I only played two or three of them myself. If I hadn't played Oblivion (and played the game before reading about this on Slashdot), I might not have noticed.
I'm not british, but my phone carrier (they're the ones who decide on that, not the ISP) does exactly the same thing. For "stability" reasons, they cap DSL signals to a small fraction of what the line can actually achieve (a fraction which is often smaller than the advertised connection speed sold by the ISP). I had to threaten them to really get the upload bandwidth I'm paying for, and it's 100% stable (and I max it all the time).
There are several hundreds of anime series and even if 'most' are boring (and I agree with that), that still leaves dozens of interesting and original ones!
I use DirectAdmin and it's pretty good. The interface is pleasant and easy to use, it provides a nice GUI for managing accounts/packages and DNS without being a mess (and expensive) like cPanel is. It's also easy to modify it or replace the bundled applications. It's only bad if one is looking for a solution that does everything for the server owner. It almost always requires some manual upgrades and modifications.
I've had this experience before. Some people, who you may even have known for a long time - they can even be your friends - think that paying you peanuts for a small website and hosting means they have bought your body and soul and you must be available to work on their "small" changes or to fix their "little" problems at all times.
However, not all people are like that. I suggest writing a good disclaimer/ToS and choosing the people who you're going to allow to use the service carefully.
Reading is a lot better if you have the book in your hands. However, I agree with you about the translations. They get increasingly crappier, more expensive and take longer and longer to be released.
One publisher over here released the first two books of a triology and then just didn't release the third book. The first books were really interesting and I would have liked to read the final one, but I've been waiting for over three years and every year they have the nerve to promise it 'for the next Christmas'. The original is not in a language I understand, and the english translation is nowhere to be found.
Since then I stopped buying from this publisher, but unfortunately only two publishers have a near-monopoly over here, so it's hard to find books - unless I order them from another country via the Internet, paying a half of the price, getting the book at least one year earlier and not even having to leave home.
Here in Portugal it's next to impossible to find good sci-fi. My local bookstore (which is pretty big) has had practically the same books for years. They're hidden under a shelf, less than 30 books and many are sequels without first volumes. I think I'm one of the few people who ever bought from that shelf.
However, fortunately, I can order from Amazon UK. Not only are they cheap (certainly cheaper than local retailers), and have second-hand books for sale, but they're also REALLY fast - books arrive in a couple of days through the normal, inexpensive shipping method, and no customs to pay since they're within the EU. Also, I know there are many horror stories about Amazon going around, but whenever I had trouble, I was always treated with courtesy and my problem solved in a manner satisfactory to me, even when that resulted in a loss for Amazon.
I'm not affiliated with Amazon in any way. I don't work for them, none of my relatives of friends works for them, I have no reason to be defending them here other than my own experience as a customer. Buying from them has never been dicey or expensive to me.
I always thought that simply by being a bank they were subject to banking rules. So what you're saying is that they aren't providing their services as 'banking' services? The informative note they sent me when they moved last year wasn't very clear about that.
Beginning on 2 July 2007, a new PayPal company, PayPal (Europe) S.Ã r.l. & Cie, S.C.A. (PayPal Luxembourg), will become the service provider for PayPal in the EU. This is a Luxembourg entity regulated as a bank by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF), the Luxembourg equivalent of the FSA. PayPal Luxembourg will provide the PayPal service throughout the EU. https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=xpt/cps/general/LUXMigrationFAQ-outside
PayPal Luxembourg will be regulated to the same standard as all major European banks. Banking laws and standards in the European Union ensure that customers are just as protected by a Luxembourg bank as by a U.K., French, or German bank. Regardless of where you live in the European Union, you will still be able to address disputes through the U.K. Financial Ombudsman Service if you are unable to resolve them directly with PayPal.
When Paypal europe moved to Luxembourg last year, due to EU regulations it had to become subject to banking rules. More information here:
http://www.finextra.com/fullstory.asp?id=16927
I don't think it's a bank outside europe though.
The replacement CD would cost a little money to manufacture and ship. A redownload is practically free - it only costs a little bandwidth. That said, both music CDs and mp3 are easy to back up.
Slashdot Mirror
I have no experience with American Express, but Amazon does indeed have excellent customer service. For me at least.
On the other end of the spectrum are our telecom companies. Pulling teeth is a walk in the park compared to trying to deal with them.
Oh, woe is me. I clicked the wrong reply button. I'm sorry. I'm extremely sick and drowsy from fever right now.
Hm? I thought those who couldn't afford a license used pira*cough*cough*
Sorry, of course you're right ;)
If they're all retro gamers, they may never have played any of these games. I only played two or three of them myself. If I hadn't played Oblivion (and played the game before reading about this on Slashdot), I might not have noticed.
I'm not british, but my phone carrier (they're the ones who decide on that, not the ISP) does exactly the same thing. For "stability" reasons, they cap DSL signals to a small fraction of what the line can actually achieve (a fraction which is often smaller than the advertised connection speed sold by the ISP). I had to threaten them to really get the upload bandwidth I'm paying for, and it's 100% stable (and I max it all the time).
I think the grandparent meant it more like "we need someone to make our votes/decisions for us"...
Yeah!
There are several hundreds of anime series and even if 'most' are boring (and I agree with that), that still leaves dozens of interesting and original ones!
I use DirectAdmin and it's pretty good. The interface is pleasant and easy to use, it provides a nice GUI for managing accounts/packages and DNS without being a mess (and expensive) like cPanel is. It's also easy to modify it or replace the bundled applications. It's only bad if one is looking for a solution that does everything for the server owner. It almost always requires some manual upgrades and modifications.
I've had this experience before. Some people, who you may even have known for a long time - they can even be your friends - think that paying you peanuts for a small website and hosting means they have bought your body and soul and you must be available to work on their "small" changes or to fix their "little" problems at all times.
However, not all people are like that. I suggest writing a good disclaimer/ToS and choosing the people who you're going to allow to use the service carefully.
Looking at a shiny small screen in the dark late at night is not good for your eyes!
You can also try short stories. The mamooth books of best new science fiction can keep you entertained for some time.
Reading is a lot better if you have the book in your hands. However, I agree with you about the translations. They get increasingly crappier, more expensive and take longer and longer to be released.
One publisher over here released the first two books of a triology and then just didn't release the third book. The first books were really interesting and I would have liked to read the final one, but I've been waiting for over three years and every year they have the nerve to promise it 'for the next Christmas'. The original is not in a language I understand, and the english translation is nowhere to be found.
Since then I stopped buying from this publisher, but unfortunately only two publishers have a near-monopoly over here, so it's hard to find books - unless I order them from another country via the Internet, paying a half of the price, getting the book at least one year earlier and not even having to leave home.
Yes, they're ebooks. I've been getting them since the beginning too. 13 so far.
Here in Portugal it's next to impossible to find good sci-fi. My local bookstore (which is pretty big) has had practically the same books for years. They're hidden under a shelf, less than 30 books and many are sequels without first volumes. I think I'm one of the few people who ever bought from that shelf. However, fortunately, I can order from Amazon UK. Not only are they cheap (certainly cheaper than local retailers), and have second-hand books for sale, but they're also REALLY fast - books arrive in a couple of days through the normal, inexpensive shipping method, and no customs to pay since they're within the EU. Also, I know there are many horror stories about Amazon going around, but whenever I had trouble, I was always treated with courtesy and my problem solved in a manner satisfactory to me, even when that resulted in a loss for Amazon. I'm not affiliated with Amazon in any way. I don't work for them, none of my relatives of friends works for them, I have no reason to be defending them here other than my own experience as a customer. Buying from them has never been dicey or expensive to me.
When Paypal europe moved to Luxembourg last year, due to EU regulations it had to become subject to banking rules. More information here: http://www.finextra.com/fullstory.asp?id=16927 I don't think it's a bank outside europe though.
The replacement CD would cost a little money to manufacture and ship. A redownload is practically free - it only costs a little bandwidth. That said, both music CDs and mp3 are easy to back up.