While I agree (computer=motherboard), I have a problem with how Microsoft licenses that are pasted on the cases. You see, Microsoft also says "It's the motherboad, dummy". However, in my book, that means I should be able to gut a OEM computer, put it in a nice case and then use the OEM Windows license. After all, it's the same computer, right? Problem is: I can't transfer the OEM sticker. So? I think that's problematic.
Inversely -what I often do, but technically is piracy- is that I take an OEM computer, gut it, outfit it with better material (motherboard) and then install the OEM Windows. After all the sticker is on the case, right? Microsoft says, i can't do that.
The thing is: would you prefer to get a computer from me with damaged Windows sticker (any trial to transfer, immediately damages it) that Microsoft deems legal or do you prefer to get a computer with intact Windows sticker with different intenals from the original, which Microsoft deems illegal.
I go for option #2, because to the person who gets the computer, it looks to be legit.
So, assuming the "case" is the computer, isn't entirely wrong given your Windows license is physically "stuck" to it.
I'm a tech dumpster diver: I come across this situation way more often than you think.
There is a sweet spot, but it's not dependent on when the computer comes out: it's dependent on the memory technology used. In the beginnning, the RAM is quite expensive, especially the "biggest" modules. After a while even those become cheap. Then, they change technology and they come expensive again. Look at DDR2 and DDR prices: much more expensive than DDR3, especially when seen per GB. (And don't get me started on SD-RAM or EDO-RAM, which you can only find in specialized stores, but you pay)
As this moment I'm wating for 8GB DDR3 SO-DIMM modules to become cheap so I cam outfit my (2x2GB) laptop with 2x8GB which is its theoretical maximum.
That said, on a desktop motherboards 16GB can be had for extremely cheap in the form of 4x4GB. That's what I put in my moms computer. That should do. Even if the standard 8GB DIMM modules start to become ridiculously cheap, I don't think she would benefit much from 32GB or 64GB RAM (maximum supported by my moms computer).
Seriously? 40% is peanuts? Because that's exactly what the original statement implies. Pick 10 Belgians at random over the territory and odds are four won't understand you when you talk Flemish to them. I find that quite a significant minority. That's one of the reasons I'm glad I'm not Belgian any more. This whole language issue... It's fucked up and nobody wants to relax their position. Forced bilingualism for everyone, and be done with it.
Also note the blatant ignorance of their own history.... It's an endemic sign of how rotten Belgium is. Heck, I think the Flemish know their history and simply want payback from the Walloons. (Oh, and yes, I used to be Flemish... I still think that way.)
It indeed is. I admit, it's the one I use myself most of the time for exactly that reason. Alas, due to the size of my country, both the German and Belgian/French variants are very very common and working for a multinational company, the US and UK versions pop up often enough. From what I gather, the government has opted to go for Swiss, while private companies usually go Belgian.
Getting a new PC here online is next to impossible because we have to either go over the German, Belgian or French channels. If we do so, we never get the choice of the Swiss variant (which is indeed the best locally seen). You can't order in Switserland because the shipping is insane and the currency doesn't match. Getting the Swiss keyboard from Apple was hell (Basically, I ordered with US keyboard, and bought a second one with CH layout because they couldn't give me a customized iMac with a keyboard of my choice. Yeah you read that right: customize your Mac or your keyboard, not both). Same thing with my latest Dell laptop (Actually, I got three identical models.). Got it with Azerty, had to call over 10 times to get a replacement laptop keyboards, even though I did specify it at order time, repeatedly... I even heard stuff like "That model doesn't exist with CH keyboard" and then I duly pointed them to Dell.ch.
Basically, it's a nightmare and it isn't solvable...
Hey, I used to be a Belgian... I was born in Antwerp. My native language is Flemish. However, isn't saying "The Dutch language, spoken by most Belgians" is quite a bit misleading? Now, there may be more Flemish people than Walloon people, but saying "most Belgians" is really an exaggeration.
Furthermore, to answer your question why "azerty" is the Belgian keyboard, you have to simply look at your own history. When keyboards got in widespread use, Flanders wasn't the economic powerhouse of Belgium. Back then, it was Wallony with it's coal mines. French was the most important language and was used in business as well as by the bourgeoisie. Sure, now Wallony is the poorer part and Flanders the richer part, but that wasn't always so.
Funnily enough, this is exactly on topic because it's pure history and inertia that makes "azerty" the Belgian layout.
No, I can't touch type[*], but that's not the problem. The problem is that/others/ use these layouts and whenever I need to use their computer, I get it wrong. I can switch between all these layouts: I just need approximately 20 minutes of time to adapt, during which I make typo after typo.
[*] I can type without looking at the keyboard, but I don't do proper touch-typing as a secretary would have learned. Do note that those who did learn touch typing on a certain layout, have the hardest time to switch. My sister can't use anything except the Swiss variant, because she does touch-type and it's the layout she learned. If she needs to switch, she's slower than me while typing.
I already have to deal with f***ing French keyboards
You think that's bad? I cope on a daily basis with Belgian, French, German, Swiss, US and UK keyboards. Sure some of those are only slight variations, but believe me, it ain't fun.
My opinion: everone migrates to US-International and we're done with it.
Just because you never bought a Sony CD that had one doesn't mean thousands of other people didn't.
Just because you didn't get hit by the 'flame' virus or stuxnet doesn't mean those are not serious problems to be solved
Secureboot would not have solved those... Neither are bootloader malware. They hook into the existing infrastructure set up by the bootloader. The original bootloader, signed and fine and dandy, would just continue its work and load the malware. None of those actually replaced the bootloader, which is what Secureboot tries to prevent.
I'm not convinced. The Sony Rootkit was not a bootloader rootkit. This is more in the lines what a bootloader rootkit should look like. From what I know there are none in the wild.
Secureboot makes the machine on my desk not mine... That is a problem. That you closed source people don't see this, is actually part of the problem.
As I said to the other person telling me similar things. I assumed that I was clear that I understood the nefarious uses. So, what's in for the users? I can tell you: nothing...
In a sense, my question required no answer... I know the answers already.
i did have to password protect a laptop because i caught her playing age appropriate games at 2 am in her bed on a school-tomorrow night.
My parents caught me from time to time doing stuff at 2am on a school-tomorrow night... Thing is, it was with a flash-light and a book. You can turn off flash-lights quickly. I loved reading and an when the story was absorbing me, there was no way I would stop reading. Of course, the days in school after such nights were quite... exhausting.
Just to point out: your kids will do stuff at night when they're not supposed to.
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While I agree (computer=motherboard), I have a problem with how Microsoft licenses that are pasted on the cases. You see, Microsoft also says "It's the motherboad, dummy". However, in my book, that means I should be able to gut a OEM computer, put it in a nice case and then use the OEM Windows license. After all, it's the same computer, right? Problem is: I can't transfer the OEM sticker. So? I think that's problematic.
Inversely -what I often do, but technically is piracy- is that I take an OEM computer, gut it, outfit it with better material (motherboard) and then install the OEM Windows. After all the sticker is on the case, right? Microsoft says, i can't do that.
The thing is: would you prefer to get a computer from me with damaged Windows sticker (any trial to transfer, immediately damages it) that Microsoft deems legal or do you prefer to get a computer with intact Windows sticker with different intenals from the original, which Microsoft deems illegal.
I go for option #2, because to the person who gets the computer, it looks to be legit.
So, assuming the "case" is the computer, isn't entirely wrong given your Windows license is physically "stuck" to it.
I'm a tech dumpster diver: I come across this situation way more often than you think.
There is a sweet spot, but it's not dependent on when the computer comes out: it's dependent on the memory technology used. In the beginnning, the RAM is quite expensive, especially the "biggest" modules. After a while even those become cheap. Then, they change technology and they come expensive again. Look at DDR2 and DDR prices: much more expensive than DDR3, especially when seen per GB. (And don't get me started on SD-RAM or EDO-RAM, which you can only find in specialized stores, but you pay)
As this moment I'm wating for 8GB DDR3 SO-DIMM modules to become cheap so I cam outfit my (2x2GB) laptop with 2x8GB which is its theoretical maximum.
That said, on a desktop motherboards 16GB can be had for extremely cheap in the form of 4x4GB. That's what I put in my moms computer. That should do. Even if the standard 8GB DIMM modules start to become ridiculously cheap, I don't think she would benefit much from 32GB or 64GB RAM (maximum supported by my moms computer).
I can, and I have... Look up how the US-International keyboard works.
Seriously? 40% is peanuts? Because that's exactly what the original statement implies. Pick 10 Belgians at random over the territory and odds are four won't understand you when you talk Flemish to them. I find that quite a significant minority. That's one of the reasons I'm glad I'm not Belgian any more. This whole language issue... It's fucked up and nobody wants to relax their position. Forced bilingualism for everyone, and be done with it.
Also note the blatant ignorance of their own history.... It's an endemic sign of how rotten Belgium is. Heck, I think the Flemish know their history and simply want payback from the Walloons. (Oh, and yes, I used to be Flemish... I still think that way.)
It indeed is. I admit, it's the one I use myself most of the time for exactly that reason. Alas, due to the size of my country, both the German and Belgian/French variants are very very common and working for a multinational company, the US and UK versions pop up often enough. From what I gather, the government has opted to go for Swiss, while private companies usually go Belgian.
Getting a new PC here online is next to impossible because we have to either go over the German, Belgian or French channels. If we do so, we never get the choice of the Swiss variant (which is indeed the best locally seen). You can't order in Switserland because the shipping is insane and the currency doesn't match. Getting the Swiss keyboard from Apple was hell (Basically, I ordered with US keyboard, and bought a second one with CH layout because they couldn't give me a customized iMac with a keyboard of my choice. Yeah you read that right: customize your Mac or your keyboard, not both). Same thing with my latest Dell laptop (Actually, I got three identical models.). Got it with Azerty, had to call over 10 times to get a replacement laptop keyboards, even though I did specify it at order time, repeatedly... I even heard stuff like "That model doesn't exist with CH keyboard" and then I duly pointed them to Dell.ch.
Basically, it's a nightmare and it isn't solvable...
Hey, I used to be a Belgian... I was born in Antwerp. My native language is Flemish. However, isn't saying "The Dutch language, spoken by most Belgians" is quite a bit misleading? Now, there may be more Flemish people than Walloon people, but saying "most Belgians" is really an exaggeration.
Furthermore, to answer your question why "azerty" is the Belgian keyboard, you have to simply look at your own history. When keyboards got in widespread use, Flanders wasn't the economic powerhouse of Belgium. Back then, it was Wallony with it's coal mines. French was the most important language and was used in business as well as by the bourgeoisie. Sure, now Wallony is the poorer part and Flanders the richer part, but that wasn't always so.
Funnily enough, this is exactly on topic because it's pure history and inertia that makes "azerty" the Belgian layout.
No, I can't touch type[*], but that's not the problem. The problem is that /others/ use these layouts and whenever I need to use their computer, I get it wrong. I can switch between all these layouts: I just need approximately 20 minutes of time to adapt, during which I make typo after typo.
[*] I can type without looking at the keyboard, but I don't do proper touch-typing as a secretary would have learned. Do note that those who did learn touch typing on a certain layout, have the hardest time to switch. My sister can't use anything except the Swiss variant, because she does touch-type and it's the layout she learned. If she needs to switch, she's slower than me while typing.
You think that's bad? I cope on a daily basis with Belgian, French, German, Swiss, US and UK keyboards. Sure some of those are only slight variations, but believe me, it ain't fun.
My opinion: everone migrates to US-International and we're done with it.
And those in charge at those companies who "shouldn't" buy non compliant hardware, will simply bend the rules, so they can get their iShiny fix.
Secureboot would not have solved those... Neither are bootloader malware. They hook into the existing infrastructure set up by the bootloader. The original bootloader, signed and fine and dandy, would just continue its work and load the malware. None of those actually replaced the bootloader, which is what Secureboot tries to prevent.
Secureboot makes the machine on my desk not mine... That is a problem. That you closed source people don't see this, is actually part of the problem.
You say that as if it were something positive. A bit like the dog thinking his leach is the best thing ever....
Good point... Guess, the tone of my post didn't come over well...
Worst thing is that with the current userbase, who is mostly ignorant, they might get what they want.
As I said to the other person telling me similar things. I assumed that I was clear that I understood the nefarious uses. So, what's in for the users? I can tell you: nothing...
In a sense, my question required no answer... I know the answers already.
I mean reasons that benefit the user... I thought I made clear that I understood the nefarious uses.
I don't understand why Microsoft requires secure boot. Care to explain?
I mean the boot sector "virus"/"malware" thing is highly overrated. I've never seen one in the wild. The situation as is was just fine.
Why weren't you there to coach me back then?
You are of course right that it was before the Facebook epidemic.
Guess things have changed, I should go back in Windows repair... ;-) The wife might not appreciate though.
Weird.. I helped out women all the day back in my Windows days. Got me laid exactly once...
Wait a second... That Google Doodle was hard for some people? Seriously? *blink*
Once you understood what the symbols did, it was a cake-walk and the "puzzle" was setup in such a way you could learn what they meant.
Possible... I wouldn't bet on it though. I guess I could ask them,
Me too.... Go figure, eh?
Damnit, I want a punishment like that.... Any sources for these claims?
True.... Given your presence here on slashdot, neither did your dad....
My parents caught me from time to time doing stuff at 2am on a school-tomorrow night... Thing is, it was with a flash-light and a book. You can turn off flash-lights quickly. I loved reading and an when the story was absorbing me, there was no way I would stop reading. Of course, the days in school after such nights were quite... exhausting.
Just to point out: your kids will do stuff at night when they're not supposed to.