The coax feeding your modem is a regular cable TV signal (unless it's been filtered to disable *every* channel). At one point, my cable modem line was split to drive a TV and the modem.
It's my understanding that since they're providing basic cable for $0/month (whether or not there's actually a TV there), that they need to charge something for it. Otherwise, everyone on basic cable + internet would just drop the cable TV side.
Of course, they could just as easily change the invoice around to charge $10 more on the internet service, and credit $10 for combined service.
I worked in a government IT department shortly before it was amalgamated with other governments. While I'm no longer there, the number of buildings is roughly the same (even though 6 of 7 council chambers are no longer used), my IT department merged with the others to form one massive IT department, etc. Our helpdesk ticket database was designed for the amalgamation, but ultimately we still had the same number of machines to support, the same people:computer ratio, and ultimately the same number of people.
In fact, it's recently been announced that the new government is more expensive than the previous setup.
Buyouts are fun. Hired in August. Company bought out in September. Division sold to another company in November. 4 months, 3 companies, 2 payroll/admin systems, 1 job.
What I don't get is that if the company has expanded (by a merger or otherwise), all the support departments need to expand.
Sure, you only have one department, but if the company is now 70% larger, then you should need around 70% more people in Accounting. About the only savings are that you can reduce management, but the reality is that management never disappears.
Of course, I'm self employeed so I don't really need to worry about this stuff...
I know someone who grabbed his notebook bag quickly, sending his 12" powerbook flying until it finally hit the floor. It hit with such an impact that the frame bent. It's been a year and it's still working.
Of course, I had a hinge seize on my tibook. That damaged the LCD bezel. Apple wants me to replace the entire screen (which isn't damaged), for something that was probably epoxied in the first place..
Many companies use online credit card processing. It's faster (no dialup, just a quick authorization), and I often wonder why the terminals don't have rj45 jacks on them (I've seen cc processing done over wireless terminals on the mobile data networks, so it's not as though it's a security risk)
In many cases, the credit card companies will take the liability. Most will take liability for online purchases, so how is this different? (especially when it's also the merchant terminal). That's their end, not yours.
The communications dept at my Mom's work loves to send an email announcement to the Everybody mailing list, with a huge Word attachment. No text, just a huge, bloated Word attachment.
Add to the fact that IT won't actually license Outlook forcing everyone to use OWA (no, they won't open IMAP on the exchange server either). So, it's click mail, download 15Mb attachment, open word, read, close word, delete attachment, delete mail, instead of click mail, read 3k text file, delete. At least a PDF will image inline (on OS X).
I would add that the day it made sense to have a two-button mouse over a one-button mouse was the day that contextual menus were invented
Think earlier. On the Amiga (1985, same as the Mac), left was "click". Right was "display menu", but as a bar along the top (like a Mac). The menu bar was hidden at all other times, displaying the screen name/app name/stats instead.
(anyone else remember multiple screens? Think multiple pages of windows, stacked on top of each other. A button in the corner cycled screens, or you can drag them up and down)
Where have you been hiding? Ignoring the obvious (printer/scanner/etc which are all usb now), most of the machines I've used in the last year ship with a usb keyboard and/or mouse. Move them over, or use the savings to buy a KVM. If not, spend $20 on a usb keyboard&mouse.
On to the other points... Factor in the overhead of the OS. OS X might be a bit of a ram pig, but I'm running it on an early G3 (dating back to '98 or so). Will XP run well on a similar machine?
Processor... beats the crap out of the Mac Mini My PC is twice the clock speed of my powerbook. Which one feels slower? It's not the mac. It's not spyware either, although that would also limit the speed of the PC.
Processor comparisons are really only valid when compared to the same family.
The Mac Mini is only upgradeable to 1 gigabyte.
Only? If you need more than a gig, the mini isn't for you. I *hammer* my powerbook (also with a 1 gig limit), and it really doesn't bother me.
OS-Mac OS X versus no OS included. A big point right there. In some cases, I've had Windows + Office more than double the cost of the machine. Apple includes the OS and iLife.
Dell Canada's $499 system is: Intel® Celeron® D Processor 320 (2.40 GHz, 533 FSB, 256 KB L2 cache) Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition 40GB Ultra ATA/100 7200RPM Hard Drive 17 in (16 in viewable,.27dp) E773c CRT Monitor Single Drive: 48x CD-RW Drive
Add XP Pro (to make it a fair comparison: XP Home is a stripped down version, OS X isn't), a combo drive, remove the monitor, and add a package equivilent to the new iLife, ignore the money you need to spend for virus/spyware protection and you'll be fairly similar. Look at TCO, and there's a reason I call Windows job security.
Why dont hospitals have UPS type devices in every room for every major appliance?
Putting a large UPS in every room would be impractical, not to mention an inefficient use of resources (UPS in an empty room). You're much better off to run a separate network of backed up outlets.
I recently worked in IT at a hospital. All of our servers were on UPS's, which were plugged into the generator powered outlets. (why both? The generator takes a few minutes to fire up).
Then when power goes out, it will be better handled by the 5000 UPS boxes to take the load of the generator.
Ever see the UPS's used in a data center? The batteries fill a room, and they still have a generator for long outages. My UPS (an APC 2200) can only run for a few hours, and that's at a reduced load. Not to mention, it's heavy enough that it takes two people to move.
When the UPS runs out, then what? Hope AC is back then? With a generator, you simply find more diesel/gas/hamsters.
My motorola phone (one of the iDen two-ways with absolutely no advanced features) actually came back from service in worse condition then when I sent it in!
They never did fix the problem, but reduced it to being manageable.
Some establishments (my kid's school for example) don't allow any electrical appliances to be used unless they have been through a safety check.
When I worked at a hospital few years ago, all devices needed to be electrically inspected as a complete unit. Clones always needed a special inspection since the P/S was inspected independently of the entire system. Name-brand machines never had that problem since the entire unit was tested.
As it stands, most private ISPs are a bunch of incompetents who profit largely by backstabbing other private ISPs. (I can't think of any ISPs I've used, over time, that I actually liked for the quality of service.)
Look harder.
With the big ISP's, it's often "pick package A, B, xor C". You fit into them. It's the other way around with small companies - what can they do to help you.
I work with 2 small companies (one hosting provider, one ISP). I love that tech support is two people. They know me. I know them. I've met them (by them, I mean most of the company, not one Tier-1 script monkey).
They are flexible (Can you give me Package B, but with these extras?) and can solve problems quickly.
In fact, one time I met up with some of the tech people and was talking about something I was working on. Two days later, I received an email with a bunch of links and informing me that they had added the option to the server. The best part - I didn't give him my email address, and I barely introduced myself. They must have figured me out from the content on my site and from previous emails.
LargeISP would only enable the option after transfering me through 5 different people, 3 of which want to check my computer settings, the other 2 having no clue what I'm talking about, and finally billing me an extra $39.95/month. Or, to put it another way, think of your cell phone carrier.
Getting back on topic though, I don't see many companies offering residential bandwidth, but they are out there.
I've had to abandon 3 email accounts this year, and another one is rapidly being consumed by a virus (a single box with Sober, the ISP is unresponsive). My ISP account (which I never used, but I'm still paying for it) was harvested and is now useless.
ISP's typically don't want to handle the support. Many of them won't even handle spyware removal.
If you break the "law" afterwards, your broadband privileges are revoked until you come into compliance.
My idea is to give the users a certain amount of time to buy a router (either from the ISP or at your local store). After the time expires, face a larger reconnection charge if you are shut down for abuse. The ISP could even go as far as getting custom firmware for their routers. But it would only work if all the ISP's co-operate and have a similar policy.
If people were made aware that any virus or worm outbreak cause by them would mean the complete loss of their Internet connectivity, I think we'd see the number of virus infections drop dramatically.
I've seen many people who don't care. The computer just gets a little slower, but they live with it. Their files are safe, and they can still use the net. But the modem lights are on solid.
I've seen machines without anti-virus, even with SP2 displaying a large warning! I'm starting to think the solution is to release a real virus - something that destroys WinSock, randomly corrupts files, wipes the MBR, etc. The current ones are an annoyance, but livable.
I would not be against shutting down direct-from-client SMTP as long as those who run their own mail servers have the option of having their specific connection opened for SMTP traffic.
I've wondered why no broadband routers (that I've seen anyways) offer an outgoing smtp block. Allow the user to add their SMTP server, and block everything else.
I like the idea of the automated systems which throw you onto a separate "cleanup" VLAN if you trip a virus threshold (maybe a certain amount of activity on port 25 to non-ISP SMTP servers). You get redirected to a a web site with a message and some cleanup tools. On a residential ISP, users simply don't know/don't care. Unless the ISP handles it, it won't be done.
Of course, the ISP actually has to care. One of my accounts is being spammed with one of the new windows viruses from an IP belonging to quicknet.ch. I've forwarded every message to abuse for over a week (I even scripted it!), and nothing has happened.
PowerMacs give you PCI slots. My G3 (the same age as your iMac) now has Firewire, USB 2, and upgraded Ethernet. The machine is still going, handling tasks I offload from my powerbook (long term file storage/backup, music, long file transfers, etc)
Many of the lower end PC's I'm seeing are dropping PCI slots as well. I've seen machines with only 2 slots, without firewire and sometimes without built-in audio.
Now using 2 hard drives... impossible on the iMac. And where are you planning on PUTTING that drive? The iMac only handles 2 devices (1 HD/1 Optical) because there is only enough room FOR two devices.
Aliases/shortcuts autoupdate (when possible) in windows too.
Are you talking about that auto-search-if-the-original-disappears thing? I've broken it by renaming the original file.
It's my understanding that aliases work at the inode level. Rename, move, move, rename, resave, move, rename, and the alias will still work. About the only way to break it (other than fs corruption) is to move the file to a new drive.
Searching has been remedied by MSN desktop search Microsoft integrates everything but the kitchen sink into Windows, but I need a separate utility from Microsoft's internet division to handle searching my local file system? Something that is much more of a basic component than, say, IE?
it has too many tech demo features (expose, cough),
Huh? Maybe it's overkill if you only have one window open (I still don't understand why what should be a small 640x480 window expands to fill an entire 1280x1024 screen), but if you're like me and frequently have 20+ windows open, you can't live without it. Given the option between Expose and Virtual Desktops, I'll take Expose any day.
and while quite nice to use is not really more productive then Windows
While XP has made a lot of improvements (that's not saying much), it's still backwards. I've found that MS has some great ideas, but they consistently mess up the implementation (try to run a box without admin rights, etc).
My sister recently bought a new laser printer for her WinXP notebook (both against my recommendation, but it's her money...). Although I've only used it a few times, each time it's taken me 20+ minutes of playing with restarting the queue, restarting the printer spooler and deleting/adding the printer. Why is it so hard to plug it in and hit print? Compare that to my powerbook which just works. I have a printer, I have a computer, I plug it in, press print, and it prints.
Mac users swear by them, PC users swear at them.
Unix productiity depends mostly on your skill in working the console
You only touch unix if you want to. Many OS X users don't know it even exists.
Reminds me of the time I was spammed by yellovvpages.com (note the v v instead of a w). I could have reported it as spam, but yellowpages.com has lawyers:)
A complete port 25 block is a pain. Whenever I use dialup (Sympatico), I'm forced to VPN somewhere or find a SMTP on an alternate port. What I would like to see is the ability to maintain a list of SMTP servers I want to use, allowing those past the ISP's firewall.
I doubt it will happen though... I've been receiving Sober from 213.202.49.152 for almost a week now. Whois lists the ISP as quicknet.ch, and they have yet to do anything to stop it.
A few months back, Air Canada shut down for at least a day because the system which calculates fuel requirements (and outsourced to IBM) went down. I thought it was due to an upgrade, but I could be wrong.
Slashdot Mirror
The coax feeding your modem is a regular cable TV signal (unless it's been filtered to disable *every* channel). At one point, my cable modem line was split to drive a TV and the modem.
It's my understanding that since they're providing basic cable for $0/month (whether or not there's actually a TV there), that they need to charge something for it. Otherwise, everyone on basic cable + internet would just drop the cable TV side.
Of course, they could just as easily change the invoice around to charge $10 more on the internet service, and credit $10 for combined service.
Hate to reply to my own post but...
I worked in a government IT department shortly before it was amalgamated with other governments. While I'm no longer there, the number of buildings is roughly the same (even though 6 of 7 council chambers are no longer used), my IT department merged with the others to form one massive IT department, etc. Our helpdesk ticket database was designed for the amalgamation, but ultimately we still had the same number of machines to support, the same people:computer ratio, and ultimately the same number of people.
In fact, it's recently been announced that the new government is more expensive than the previous setup.
Buyouts are fun. Hired in August. Company bought out in September. Division sold to another company in November. 4 months, 3 companies, 2 payroll/admin systems, 1 job.
What I don't get is that if the company has expanded (by a merger or otherwise), all the support departments need to expand.
Sure, you only have one department, but if the company is now 70% larger, then you should need around 70% more people in Accounting. About the only savings are that you can reduce management, but the reality is that management never disappears.
Of course, I'm self employeed so I don't really need to worry about this stuff...
I know someone who grabbed his notebook bag quickly, sending his 12" powerbook flying until it finally hit the floor. It hit with such an impact that the frame bent. It's been a year and it's still working.
Of course, I had a hinge seize on my tibook. That damaged the LCD bezel. Apple wants me to replace the entire screen (which isn't damaged), for something that was probably epoxied in the first place..
Many companies use online credit card processing. It's faster (no dialup, just a quick authorization), and I often wonder why the terminals don't have rj45 jacks on them (I've seen cc processing done over wireless terminals on the mobile data networks, so it's not as though it's a security risk)
In many cases, the credit card companies will take the liability. Most will take liability for online purchases, so how is this different? (especially when it's also the merchant terminal). That's their end, not yours.
Basic tools. I've yet to completely admin a Win 2K server from a console. Everything I've seen is based on the MMC console.
While MS may supply some tools, third parties don't. Especially, some in-house VB app.
Realistically, unloading the gui isn't much of an option.
All the admin tools are GUI based. A text mode won't change that.
I'd almost like to see sitefinder return, simply to be /.'ed. Network Solutions deserves to drop off the face of the earth.
The communications dept at my Mom's work loves to send an email announcement to the Everybody mailing list, with a huge Word attachment. No text, just a huge, bloated Word attachment.
Add to the fact that IT won't actually license Outlook forcing everyone to use OWA (no, they won't open IMAP on the exchange server either). So, it's click mail, download 15Mb attachment, open word, read, close word, delete attachment, delete mail, instead of click mail, read 3k text file, delete. At least a PDF will image inline (on OS X).
I would add that the day it made sense to have a two-button mouse over a one-button mouse was the day that contextual menus were invented
Think earlier. On the Amiga (1985, same as the Mac), left was "click". Right was "display menu", but as a bar along the top (like a Mac). The menu bar was hidden at all other times, displaying the screen name/app name/stats instead.
(anyone else remember multiple screens? Think multiple pages of windows, stacked on top of each other. A button in the corner cycled screens, or you can drag them up and down)
Most PC users don't have USB peripherals
Where have you been hiding? Ignoring the obvious (printer/scanner/etc which are all usb now), most of the machines I've used in the last year ship with a usb keyboard and/or mouse. Move them over, or use the savings to buy a KVM.
If not, spend $20 on a usb keyboard&mouse.
On to the other points...
Factor in the overhead of the OS. OS X might be a bit of a ram pig, but I'm running it on an early G3 (dating back to '98 or so). Will XP run well on a similar machine?
Processor... beats the crap out of the Mac Mini
My PC is twice the clock speed of my powerbook. Which one feels slower? It's not the mac.
It's not spyware either, although that would also limit the speed of the PC.
Processor comparisons are really only valid when compared to the same family.
The Mac Mini is only upgradeable to 1 gigabyte.
Only? If you need more than a gig, the mini isn't for you.
I *hammer* my powerbook (also with a 1 gig limit), and it really doesn't bother me.
OS-Mac OS X versus no OS included.
A big point right there. In some cases, I've had Windows + Office more than double the cost of the machine. Apple includes the OS and iLife.
Dell Canada's $499 system is:
Intel® Celeron® D Processor 320 (2.40 GHz, 533 FSB, 256 KB L2 cache)
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
40GB Ultra ATA/100 7200RPM Hard Drive
17 in (16 in viewable,.27dp) E773c CRT Monitor
Single Drive: 48x CD-RW Drive
Add XP Pro (to make it a fair comparison: XP Home is a stripped down version, OS X isn't), a combo drive, remove the monitor, and add a package equivilent to the new iLife, ignore the money you need to spend for virus/spyware protection and you'll be fairly similar. Look at TCO, and there's a reason I call Windows job security.
I gave up trying to configure non-admin accounts. Too many apps expect to run with full permission, though they don't need it.
Why dont hospitals have UPS type devices in every room for every major appliance?
Putting a large UPS in every room would be impractical, not to mention an inefficient use of resources (UPS in an empty room). You're much better off to run a separate network of backed up outlets.
I recently worked in IT at a hospital. All of our servers were on UPS's, which were plugged into the generator powered outlets. (why both? The generator takes a few minutes to fire up).
Then when power goes out, it will be better handled by the 5000 UPS boxes to take the load of the generator.
Ever see the UPS's used in a data center? The batteries fill a room, and they still have a generator for long outages. My UPS (an APC 2200) can only run for a few hours, and that's at a reduced load. Not to mention, it's heavy enough that it takes two people to move.
When the UPS runs out, then what? Hope AC is back then?
With a generator, you simply find more diesel/gas/hamsters.
My motorola phone (one of the iDen two-ways with absolutely no advanced features) actually came back from service in worse condition then when I sent it in!
They never did fix the problem, but reduced it to being manageable.
Some establishments (my kid's school for example) don't allow any electrical appliances to be used unless they have been through a safety check.
When I worked at a hospital few years ago, all devices needed to be electrically inspected as a complete unit. Clones always needed a special inspection since the P/S was inspected independently of the entire system. Name-brand machines never had that problem since the entire unit was tested.
As it stands, most private ISPs are a bunch of incompetents who profit largely by backstabbing other private ISPs. (I can't think of any ISPs I've used, over time, that I actually liked for the quality of service.)
Look harder.
With the big ISP's, it's often "pick package A, B, xor C". You fit into them. It's the other way around with small companies - what can they do to help you.
I work with 2 small companies (one hosting provider, one ISP). I love that tech support is two people. They know me. I know them. I've met them (by them, I mean most of the company, not one Tier-1 script monkey).
They are flexible (Can you give me Package B, but with these extras?) and can solve problems quickly.
In fact, one time I met up with some of the tech people and was talking about something I was working on. Two days later, I received an email with a bunch of links and informing me that they had added the option to the server. The best part - I didn't give him my email address, and I barely introduced myself. They must have figured me out from the content on my site and from previous emails.
LargeISP would only enable the option after transfering me through 5 different people, 3 of which want to check my computer settings, the other 2 having no clue what I'm talking about, and finally billing me an extra $39.95/month. Or, to put it another way, think of your cell phone carrier.
Getting back on topic though, I don't see many companies offering residential bandwidth, but they are out there.
I had a conversation about Commodore once which went along the lines of:
Commodore had poor marketing.
They had marketing?
I've had to abandon 3 email accounts this year, and another one is rapidly being consumed by a virus (a single box with Sober, the ISP is unresponsive). My ISP account (which I never used, but I'm still paying for it) was harvested and is now useless.
So my spam index would be fairly high.
ISP's typically don't want to handle the support. Many of them won't even handle spyware removal.
If you break the "law" afterwards, your broadband privileges are revoked until you come into compliance.
My idea is to give the users a certain amount of time to buy a router (either from the ISP or at your local store). After the time expires, face a larger reconnection charge if you are shut down for abuse. The ISP could even go as far as getting custom firmware for their routers. But it would only work if all the ISP's co-operate and have a similar policy.
If people were made aware that any virus or worm outbreak cause by them would mean the complete loss of their Internet connectivity, I think we'd see the number of virus infections drop dramatically.
I've seen many people who don't care. The computer just gets a little slower, but they live with it. Their files are safe, and they can still use the net. But the modem lights are on solid.
I've seen machines without anti-virus, even with SP2 displaying a large warning! I'm starting to think the solution is to release a real virus - something that destroys WinSock, randomly corrupts files, wipes the MBR, etc. The current ones are an annoyance, but livable.
I would not be against shutting down direct-from-client SMTP as long as those who run their own mail servers have the option of having their specific connection opened for SMTP traffic.
I've wondered why no broadband routers (that I've seen anyways) offer an outgoing smtp block. Allow the user to add their SMTP server, and block everything else.
I like the idea of the automated systems which throw you onto a separate "cleanup" VLAN if you trip a virus threshold (maybe a certain amount of activity on port 25 to non-ISP SMTP servers). You get redirected to a a web site with a message and some cleanup tools. On a residential ISP, users simply don't know/don't care. Unless the ISP handles it, it won't be done.
Of course, the ISP actually has to care. One of my accounts is being spammed with one of the new windows viruses from an IP belonging to quicknet.ch. I've forwarded every message to abuse for over a week (I even scripted it!), and nothing has happened.
PowerMacs give you PCI slots. My G3 (the same age as your iMac) now has Firewire, USB 2, and upgraded Ethernet. The machine is still going, handling tasks I offload from my powerbook (long term file storage/backup, music, long file transfers, etc)
Many of the lower end PC's I'm seeing are dropping PCI slots as well. I've seen machines with only 2 slots, without firewire and sometimes without built-in audio.
Now using 2 hard drives... impossible on the iMac.
And where are you planning on PUTTING that drive? The iMac only handles 2 devices (1 HD/1 Optical) because there is only enough room FOR two devices.
Aliases/shortcuts autoupdate (when possible) in windows too.
Are you talking about that auto-search-if-the-original-disappears thing? I've broken it by renaming the original file.
It's my understanding that aliases work at the inode level. Rename, move, move, rename, resave, move, rename, and the alias will still work. About the only way to break it (other than fs corruption) is to move the file to a new drive.
Searching has been remedied by MSN desktop search
Microsoft integrates everything but the kitchen sink into Windows, but I need a separate utility from Microsoft's internet division to handle searching my local file system? Something that is much more of a basic component than, say, IE?
it has too many tech demo features (expose, cough),
Huh? Maybe it's overkill if you only have one window open (I still don't understand why what should be a small 640x480 window expands to fill an entire 1280x1024 screen), but if you're like me and frequently have 20+ windows open, you can't live without it. Given the option between Expose and Virtual Desktops, I'll take Expose any day.
and while quite nice to use is not really more productive then Windows
While XP has made a lot of improvements (that's not saying much), it's still backwards. I've found that MS has some great ideas, but they consistently mess up the implementation (try to run a box without admin rights, etc).
My sister recently bought a new laser printer for her WinXP notebook (both against my recommendation, but it's her money...). Although I've only used it a few times, each time it's taken me 20+ minutes of playing with restarting the queue, restarting the printer spooler and deleting/adding the printer. Why is it so hard to plug it in and hit print? Compare that to my powerbook which just works. I have a printer, I have a computer, I plug it in, press print, and it prints.
Mac users swear by them, PC users swear at them.
Unix productiity depends mostly on your skill in working the console
You only touch unix if you want to. Many OS X users don't know it even exists.
Reminds me of the time I was spammed by yellovvpages.com (note the v v instead of a w). I could have reported it as spam, but yellowpages.com has lawyers :)
A complete port 25 block is a pain. Whenever I use dialup (Sympatico), I'm forced to VPN somewhere or find a SMTP on an alternate port. What I would like to see is the ability to maintain a list of SMTP servers I want to use, allowing those past the ISP's firewall.
I doubt it will happen though... I've been receiving Sober from 213.202.49.152 for almost a week now. Whois lists the ISP as quicknet.ch, and they have yet to do anything to stop it.
A few months back, Air Canada shut down for at least a day because the system which calculates fuel requirements (and outsourced to IBM) went down. I thought it was due to an upgrade, but I could be wrong.