I mean, how many cops does it take? Why did they have to taser him when he was already down?
Because that would look better than using a stick/baton, and leave less bruises and blood?
A taser is not a toy, it delivers a shock to the nervous system. I'm not sure you can control the length of such a shock, but I think even the shortest spark could have been enough as a warning - if it's controllable I think they went on for quite a bit too long as well.
In principle, a taser is violence. It just looks less like it because the pain is invisible. What would the reaction have been if one of the officers started beating him with a stick?
I think the whole taser usage is a bit too easy under the excuse that it's not lethal. Well, neither is a baton, and neither are to be used other than in emergency or under personal threat. I didn't see a knife on the guy, nor a gun. Just a big mouth.
The protection by the Consumer Credit Act is one of the reasons I explicitly try to buy things on credit (with a non-charge period, obviously). I don't need (nor want) the credit, but the extra protection is rather helpful if things fail in the first 30 days and -admittedly unfair to the reseller- you can even just change your mind and they'll have to roll it back. No "restocking charges", no "you can buy something of the same value" - none of that. Money. Back.
Having said that, the few times I had to use that protection were interesting. I had a Dixons "manager" tell me point blank that I had it all wrong and that they all had "training" - strangely that didn't last long when I suggested that his only other option was a phone call, with a choice between regional manager or Trading Standards. Maybe my asking for the name of his regional manager to pass on to aformentioned Trading Standards was too close to a "career" limiting move.
Not that I didn't have to cut him short when he tried making remarks like "I'll do this as an exception" (by that time I was getting pretty irritated by his attempt to make me hang on to a defective product) by telling him I didn't need special services, only him following the law and sell me kit that works. Kinda helps if the shop's got other customers..
This was a UK incident, and the customer in the UK is pretty well protected against this sort of nonsense (caveat: as demonstrated, they will still have to put effort in - retailers still don't seem to care enough not to piss off their customers). The shop effectively broke the law by refusing to repair the laptop (but why did the guy not contact the manufacturer directly instead?).
I specifically state 'UK' here because that's the only country I know this for sure of. It's pretty reasonable to assume this sort of protection is available elsewhere as well. What you suggest would amount to an override of local law which is impossible. You can't even get rid of such a law in small print in the contract as it will be found invalid in court - not that everyone + dog in business doesn't try..
I had Dolphin Kitchens try to pull a fast one on me that way, all the way to a 'regional manager' telling me that I signed and it was thus valid. I spoke to Trading Standards and approximately 15 minutes after they had a little chat with the company I got a phone call claiming a 'trainee manager' error. The moment I hear that excuse the company's off my list. If they can't even be upfront and tell me they screwed up I can't invest any trust in them.
The incident response of "it was a mistake" is total and utter BS. I'm pretty sure that the customer will have asked for a manager to discuss this, and said manager will have told him the same which suggest it's company policy (not store, COMPANY policy) rather than "a mistake".
I think the only mistake they feel they will have made is not even the public relations hit because it's mainly on geek sites and sufficiently 'geeky' customers avoid that shop anyway unless it's something simple. No, the mistake they feel they have made is attracting Trading Standards and Consumer Direct's attention to the store - no store likes to be picked over by a Government department proving they're needed, especially if the validity of the complaint is well above doubt.
So, if you want to do anything I would suggest telling you NON-geek friends. See if your local newspaper wants to carry the story..
Ray, some people do so much for common sense and MORAL justice that they achieve credibility simply by their actions.
Slashdot may occasionally be a bit mad but most of this crowd is not fundamentally dishonest, which is why they rail against the RIAA labelling everyone as hardcore criminals - for profit.
Given that you're fighting the good fight I can't see someone modding you down.
I don't recall saying that I do not agree philisophically with what RMS is saying (caveat: I agree to a *degree*, not 100%), but I work a lot with people (you know, those warm fleshy things) and there's a lot truth in the saying that you don't catch many flies with vinager.
I'd almost suggest that RMS gets himself a PR agent or gets some coaching. Part of what makes Linus so interview friendly is that he doesn't try to be bigger than himself, and he doesn't exhibit fanatic tendencies. I don't know either personally (unlike Mark Shuttleworth, for instance) but statements in RMS interviews always seem to be only seconds away from foaming at the mouth and wildly waving arms.
I think that is a crying shame for someone who has basically coded the tools with which Linus Torvalds built the kernel, and most of the apps on top. RMSs vision deserves to be heard more widely, but unless he learns to manage that message so people will actually listen he'll remain the equivalent of a guy in the middle of a shopping street who preaches through a megaphone. Loud message, but nobody listens.
IMHO, Open Source forms the bridge between proprietary and free software. Very few business people are ready to commit to free software (AFAIK). Linus Torvalds sits in the middle and does what he feels is right and it appears quite a large segment of the planet agrees with his take.
Richard Stallman has a point and he has proven it too, but he seems incapable of recognising that you can't change black into white in one generation, that takes time.
Linus and, for instance, Mark Shuttleworth et al are nicely paving the way, but it's taking too long for Richard and I think there's a bit of an ego thing here where Linus gets the nice interviews and press where Richard is barely mentioned.
Well, life's tough. If he could make things a little bit less fanatic and stressed it could make matters go a long way towards getting some coverage, but the press generally doesn't take very much to people that appear to be frustrated hippies with a message.
Another feature: make a reasonably functioning copy available for 'educational' use (depends on what it is if you can use this). This means people can use it at home, play with it and get familiar with it. Any commercial use requires a license.
In that context I like the previous idea as well (although there are security risks associated with uncontrolled data sharing between machines - it's an open question if a decent Windows firewall will let you!), because it would allow you to offer an 'as a book' license which is IMHO the fairest license possible. It means a copy is only ever used by one person, like a book, even though installed on multiple systems (desktop, laptop and PC at home). The 'as a book' idea came (AFAIK) from Borland in the days of 'Turbo' (Turbo Pascal, Turbo C et al).
I was debating with myself to caveat this situation:-).
It think you're forgetting something - not al PCs are used as workstations. Think of ATMs out in hot countries, and not everyone with a small company has the resources to place a server in an airconditioned place either, either for lack of energy or space. And quite a bit of SCADA platforms are out there in the nice hot sun, and I'd feel much happier if they had less parts that could fail. Granted, the PC style stuff is not usually used in ESD chains (Emergency Shutdown) but one level I prefer things to keep working as well, even if the environment changes - a fan failure is then less of a problem.
That may be so for a US outfit (thans for reminding me not to buy from CompUSA;-) - this is not so in the UK although shops will pretend that to be the case.
The laptop is classified as "electrical goods" and it's actually so that legally he may have more rights than the warranty allows (and that he knows of). The law in the UK knows something called "mechantable quality" (based on reasonable product life expectancy) - if I buy a washing machine and it fails in 18 months while I have a warranty for 12 the retailer will STILL be required to repair the thing (not replace, though).
As batteries only have a life expectancy of about 1 year you won't be able to use that for battery problems, but a laptop can reasonably be expected to function more than 2 years and can otherwise be deemed "not of mechantable quality", the retail of such goods breaks the UK sales of goods act (AFAIK, IANAL and it's been a while since I had to throw bricks like this around:-).
Few consumers know just how many rights they have, and the lack of decent enforcement has created a retailer culture of "getting away with it". Knowledge is a fine thing:-).
The retailer is being unreasonable. You can argue that the fault will persist even if you remove the harddisk, which cancels out the whole "it's another Operating System" baloney. The following is a bit long, but I'm trying to cover all their get out clauses. Assuming this is a mechanical fault and not "gravity induced" by you (cough) they will have to repair or replace (their choice, not yours:-).
Before you do ANYTHING else, file a formal complaint with Consumer Direct and get a reference number off them. Do this over the phone (020 8825 6888) so you can explain the problem - PC World is arguing something untenable as that could extend to "you installed Kaspersky anti-virus which is not a default loadset - your warranty is void".
However, if it cracked within 30 days and you bought this on credit you can be a real SOB and cancel the contract altogether. UK law allows you to change your mind on a consumer credit and requires the retailer to completely wind back the transaction (read: no charges or anything - as if nothing happened). They can refuse because of damage, but then it's up to them to prove it's your negligence that caused the damage and I would assume it's easy for you to demonstrate that isn't the case. If you want to follow that line, get EVERYTHING in writing from the moment you start this process because they will try and strech it beyond the 30 days and then tell you you're too late (but the point where you announced the cancellation counts - not when they feel like handling it). You will also encounter "the manager" who will explain to you that you have it wrong, and you can't have your money back but maybe they can give you a new one or one on a discount or an IOU, and they regretfuly have to charge a restocking charge - BS. You are entitled to 100% refund here - they WILL try this. If so, get his name and ask him to put this in writing there and then with a signature so you can ask Trading Standards - you'll find they'll back down at that point because they realise you know precisely what you're doing (I've been there with Dixons as well - they appear to all get the same training:-). AFAIK (IANAL, so check) this may also be the case for a Credit Card paid transaction as that fundamentally amounts to a 30 day credit and thus falls under the same rules.
Note that this doesn't work if you bought something at home from someone YOU invited, that's why people at shows like Ideal Home are so keen to sign you up for a home visit - they know you're then left defenseless against agressive sales tactics.
However, back to the topic. Formally complain to Consumer Direct, then go back to the shop and ask for the manager and give him the complaint reference number and ask him to put in writing his reasons for refusal. Stay calm - they guy will probably be a complete dipshit and try to get you angry as well to claim that you were rude and unwilling to resolve the problem (I know most tricks by now:-).
MAKE SURE YOU GET HIS NAME and then also ask for the address to write to, and the name of the managing director. They may not want to give that to you - when you update Consumer Direct you may want to mention that as well. Note that "PC World Ltd" is listed at Companies House as "application to strike off" (maybe because of name/ownership changes) so it's worth doing this asap - this stuff is usually tied to one legal entity, if it changes shape you may be left in the cold.
Lastly, go back to Consumer Direct and get their assistance in handling this, it's always best to update them anyway. I don't think it will get that far, actually, but you must be seen to be reasonable at all times. If you write any letters, write them from the perspective of a 3rd party reading them, that way it works better in court. Anyone with a clue will recognise that style and worry if it's not better to just sort out the problem, and such letters should always be sent to
Anywhere you run a PC where it's above room temperature you've got cooling issues - if this gets to a sensible price you could do away with a lot of gadgetry that has to be added to keep things like servers working.
I'm also thinking of SCADA deployment in dry and dusty places - less parts means more reliability.
I think the approach is flawed. You should not be working on the ISO committee - you should be working on industry and government. A numerically small membership can be bought and/or coerced and is thus de facto vulnerable to process abuse and vote rigging.
Let's turn this one on its head. I'm perfectly happy with MS ratifying a 6000+ page spec, because the moment they have the ISO standard status they will to abide by it to be compliant.
I don't think it would be wildly unfair to ask MS to then ensure AND PROVE BEYOND DOUBT that the product they supply is FULLY compliant with their ISO standard.
To me, that would mean:
(1) A full test suite needs to be constructed of which independent scrutiny is paid for by MS. MS Office needs to be fully compliant with statements as made in the specifications. No ifs, no buts, no maybe. Only full compliance means an acceptable product, but that's only 50% of the requirement - there's more, mainly addressing the reason the whole ISO standard compliance is required:
(2) The identification and demonstration of a mature, competing product that can read, edit and write the documents produced by the above compliant suite to a standard that makes it clear there is 100% interoperability.
The latter proves to the evaluating entity that:
(1) the standard is complied with, and is not just a marketing gimmick. (2) the interoperability needs are addressed (3) there is an alternative product which prevents vendor lock in (this is why I used the word 'MATURE' - you don't want some last-minute coded piece of junk from an MS friendly vendor pretending it's a product). A product has an established user base.
If the product on offer cannot meet those two requirements the story is over. Simple. If no 3rd party can create a competing product or, at a minimum, achieve unencumbered interoperability (i.e. not depending on a license) then the product is unsafe from a disaster recovery point of view.
So, if Microsoft's 6000+ page spec is a bit too much for either themselves or someone else to implement, the answer is easy - make one that works. That's all the world has been asking, simple unencumbered interoperability. I'm fully aware that that doesn't agree with their current business model, but they ought to read "who moved my cheese" - the supply is dwindling.
IMHO they had their opportunity with ODF. They blew it.
As a matter of fact, the cancellation may not have an effect on the action. Even if you bring the goods back to the shop doesn't cancel out the fact that you stole them in the first place..
Sjeez - how far back do you need to go? What about email reject messages - that would be prior art. Vacation messages? List control messages? I've seen this years ago on Bulletin Boards (i.e. pre-Internet) so there's a mountain of prior art.
I would suggest you have a good look at the %temp% location of a PC in a cybercafe to see just how easy it is to leak confidential stuff. Few are aware that looking at a document online means you leave a pristine copy in %temp% when you walk away..
Not in a gazillion years for anything sensitive, IMHO.
Finding an Outlook replacement for mobile phone..
on
Wine 0.9.44 Released
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The only problem I have that keeps WIndows fragments alive is that all the phones I have require Outlook for diary and contact management. I hate Outlook as a mail client (I use Thunderbird) but it is still one of the few things where MS has at least got some integration right if you overlook problems such as timezones and other real life use.
I have a Motorola RAZR (V3i) and a Sony Ericsson phone, and I need these to have their contacts synched. I hope to have the remote sync working at some point so it synchronises with a server on the Net, but until then I'm stuck with having Outlook and the sync software on the machine.
For the rest I have not found a reason to hang on to Windows, and this box thus mostly runs Kubuntu (I use KDE because I also demonstrate this to others). If someone can come up with a solution for mobile phones that works or at least a single consistent interface/API to whatever program sits in the background it would help a lot. You need calendar, contacts, todo and probably email as well, and a really clever solution would NOT replicate addresses and appointment 20x because different phones refer to the same database. Mobile phone sync could be the killer app for Google, but presently it appears we'll have to rely on a 3rd party such as http://www.goosync.com/.
The rest (pictures, music etc) will probably work OK via it presenting itself as a USB memory stick..
Anyway, I'm planning to buy a Sony Ericsson P1i next month. I'll see how that interfaces. Probably no news there, but at least it has a more usable keyboard:-).
What I found particularly impressive is that some SCADA devices can be killed with one single packet. Just one (1, uno). And it gets killed in such a way that it:
(a) end up in an indeterminate position (i.e. you don't know HOW it's going to fail, only that it will) (b) is non-recoverable, i.e. it's not just a matter resetting the thing, you have to rebuild it from the ground up.
Shocking stuff. And this kit controls our plants, sewage facilities, oil platforms, power stations..
Sorry to disappoint you, but it's not FUD, just after the facts. I have been providing the security knowledge behind securing one of the biggest companies that was exposed, and they then started to drive SCADA security globally (the person talking the most about it is an engineer himself, just wasn't that clued up on security then:-).
First, it is 100% true that the backup mechanisms typically don't use IP yet for connectivity, but look at the trend. I would personally advise anyone to avoid IP in failsafe, but -as with the use of Windows- it takes but one idiot not quite awake and you have a problem.
Secondly, that is/fallback/. The normal operating platforms sitting above that layer are either Unix based or Windows. It took several months of talks and testing to allow virus checking and TIMELY patching onto those platforms. I can understand that, these systems tend not to be allowed downtime so anything you roll out on a global basis has to be examined very carefully - the profit margins allow for that, but -more importantly- the code is part of a facility where liability charges very much apply. In that context the choice for Windows must have given some people headaches..
Thirdly, this wouldn't have been a huge problem if some, ahem, "less inspired" people hadn't hooked up SCADA platforms to the global corporate LAN. Yes - I kid you not, from a shack in Bogota you could mess with a plant in the US. One virus in Japan would be ignored by corporate systems but could go and make a mess of some operation in Alaska that couldn't patch as it needed compliance, and not all SCADA systems live at a place where you can get to without some hiking..
If you combine the "we want anti-virus somehow" with "you friggin' well install a firewall ASAP" and look at the volume required for a global company, you can't go with 100% perfect solutions, especially if you don't have the staff to manage such a beast. Voila - you have just discovered how the Symantec boxes came to be. Perfect? No, I don't like someone remoting onto my network into critical devicex, but you either get some monitoring up or fly totally blind, and adding virus scanning to the network filtering kept a middle route between leaving the compliant systems alone and still protect them from virus and trojan infections. This SQL virus (forgot the name) brought that home pretty clearly.
So, in summary, Forbes wasn't entirely talking out of the wrong orifice (makes a change), it's just not really news (we did this 4..5 years ago). Must be a slow month.
The standards for libel are very high. The author has to prove the reviewer knowingly and wilfully libelled him.
I agree with you, I'd say he's been very polite in his comments (or at least more polite and less direct than I would have been). And even if he wasn't it isn't libel - he was asked for his opinion so what he has expressed is an opinion.
The funny thing is that the suit itself may constitute libel as it's clearly aimed at soiling a reputation on pretty nefarious grounds. IANAL, but there must be scope to turn this one round and get some educational entertainment going.
Slashdot Mirror
I mean, how many cops does it take? Why did they have to taser him when he was already down?
Because that would look better than using a stick/baton, and leave less bruises and blood?
A taser is not a toy, it delivers a shock to the nervous system. I'm not sure you can control the length of such a shock, but I think even the shortest spark could have been enough as a warning - if it's controllable I think they went on for quite a bit too long as well.
In principle, a taser is violence. It just looks less like it because the pain is invisible. What would the reaction have been if one of the officers started beating him with a stick?
I think the whole taser usage is a bit too easy under the excuse that it's not lethal. Well, neither is a baton, and neither are to be used other than in emergency or under personal threat. I didn't see a knife on the guy, nor a gun. Just a big mouth.
The protection by the Consumer Credit Act is one of the reasons I explicitly try to buy things on credit (with a non-charge period, obviously). I don't need (nor want) the credit, but the extra protection is rather helpful if things fail in the first 30 days and -admittedly unfair to the reseller- you can even just change your mind and they'll have to roll it back. No "restocking charges", no "you can buy something of the same value" - none of that. Money. Back.
..
Having said that, the few times I had to use that protection were interesting. I had a Dixons "manager" tell me point blank that I had it all wrong and that they all had "training" - strangely that didn't last long when I suggested that his only other option was a phone call, with a choice between regional manager or Trading Standards. Maybe my asking for the name of his regional manager to pass on to aformentioned Trading Standards was too close to a "career" limiting move.
Not that I didn't have to cut him short when he tried making remarks like "I'll do this as an exception" (by that time I was getting pretty irritated by his attempt to make me hang on to a defective product) by telling him I didn't need special services, only him following the law and sell me kit that works. Kinda helps if the shop's got other customers
This was a UK incident, and the customer in the UK is pretty well protected against this sort of nonsense (caveat: as demonstrated, they will still have to put effort in - retailers still don't seem to care enough not to piss off their customers). The shop effectively broke the law by refusing to repair the laptop (but why did the guy not contact the manufacturer directly instead?).
I specifically state 'UK' here because that's the only country I know this for sure of. It's pretty reasonable to assume this sort of protection is available elsewhere as well. What you suggest would amount to an override of local law which is impossible. You can't even get rid of such a law in small print in the contract as it will be found invalid in court - not that everyone + dog in business doesn't try..
I had Dolphin Kitchens try to pull a fast one on me that way, all the way to a 'regional manager' telling me that I signed and it was thus valid. I spoke to Trading Standards and approximately 15 minutes after they had a little chat with the company I got a phone call claiming a 'trainee manager' error. The moment I hear that excuse the company's off my list. If they can't even be upfront and tell me they screwed up I can't invest any trust in them.
The incident response of "it was a mistake" is total and utter BS. I'm pretty sure that the customer will have asked for a manager to discuss this, and said manager will have told him the same which suggest it's company policy (not store, COMPANY policy) rather than "a mistake".
I think the only mistake they feel they will have made is not even the public relations hit because it's mainly on geek sites and sufficiently 'geeky' customers avoid that shop anyway unless it's something simple. No, the mistake they feel they have made is attracting Trading Standards and Consumer Direct's attention to the store - no store likes to be picked over by a Government department proving they're needed, especially if the validity of the complaint is well above doubt.
So, if you want to do anything I would suggest telling you NON-geek friends. See if your local newspaper wants to carry the story..
Ray, some people do so much for common sense and MORAL justice that they achieve credibility simply by their actions.
:-)
Slashdot may occasionally be a bit mad but most of this crowd is not fundamentally dishonest, which is why they rail against the RIAA labelling everyone as hardcore criminals - for profit.
Given that you're fighting the good fight I can't see someone modding you down.
The only way is up
No, no, to make it a Slashdot discusson you should guess who suffers more Repetitive Stain Injury. And no, that 'r' was omitted deliberately :-).
..
It's all in hand. Er, let me rephrase that
I don't recall saying that I do not agree philisophically with what RMS is saying (caveat: I agree to a *degree*, not 100%), but I work a lot with people (you know, those warm fleshy things) and there's a lot truth in the saying that you don't catch many flies with vinager.
:-).
I'd almost suggest that RMS gets himself a PR agent or gets some coaching. Part of what makes Linus so interview friendly is that he doesn't try to be bigger than himself, and he doesn't exhibit fanatic tendencies. I don't know either personally (unlike Mark Shuttleworth, for instance) but statements in RMS interviews always seem to be only seconds away from foaming at the mouth and wildly waving arms.
I think that is a crying shame for someone who has basically coded the tools with which Linus Torvalds built the kernel, and most of the apps on top. RMSs vision deserves to be heard more widely, but unless he learns to manage that message so people will actually listen he'll remain the equivalent of a guy in the middle of a shopping street who preaches through a megaphone. Loud message, but nobody listens.
All IMHO, of course
I'll look this one up, thanks.
I *like* this suggestion. Mainly because it will create such a stink it'll rumble on for weeks, spreading muck towards the vendor as well as MS.
Leaves me one question: what avoiding PC World and talking directly to the manufacturer? After all, THEY have to provide the warranty in the end..
IMHO, Open Source forms the bridge between proprietary and free software. Very few business people are ready to commit to free software (AFAIK). Linus Torvalds sits in the middle and does what he feels is right and it appears quite a large segment of the planet agrees with his take.
Richard Stallman has a point and he has proven it too, but he seems incapable of recognising that you can't change black into white in one generation, that takes time.
Linus and, for instance, Mark Shuttleworth et al are nicely paving the way, but it's taking too long for Richard and I think there's a bit of an ego thing here where Linus gets the nice interviews and press where Richard is barely mentioned.
Well, life's tough. If he could make things a little bit less fanatic and stressed it could make matters go a long way towards getting some coverage, but the press generally doesn't take very much to people that appear to be frustrated hippies with a message.
Even if they're right..
Another feature: make a reasonably functioning copy available for 'educational' use (depends on what it is if you can use this). This means people can use it at home, play with it and get familiar with it. Any commercial use requires a license.
In that context I like the previous idea as well (although there are security risks associated with uncontrolled data sharing between machines - it's an open question if a decent Windows firewall will let you!), because it would allow you to offer an 'as a book' license which is IMHO the fairest license possible. It means a copy is only ever used by one person, like a book, even though installed on multiple systems (desktop, laptop and PC at home). The 'as a book' idea came (AFAIK) from Borland in the days of 'Turbo' (Turbo Pascal, Turbo C et al).
I was debating with myself to caveat this situation :-).
It think you're forgetting something - not al PCs are used as workstations. Think of ATMs out in hot countries, and not everyone with a small company has the resources to place a server in an airconditioned place either, either for lack of energy or space. And quite a bit of SCADA platforms are out there in the nice hot sun, and I'd feel much happier if they had less parts that could fail. Granted, the PC style stuff is not usually used in ESD chains (Emergency Shutdown) but one level I prefer things to keep working as well, even if the environment changes - a fan failure is then less of a problem.
That may be so for a US outfit (thans for reminding me not to buy from CompUSA ;-) - this is not so in the UK although shops will pretend that to be the case.
:-).
:-).
The laptop is classified as "electrical goods" and it's actually so that legally he may have more rights than the warranty allows (and that he knows of). The law in the UK knows something called "mechantable quality" (based on reasonable product life expectancy) - if I buy a washing machine and it fails in 18 months while I have a warranty for 12 the retailer will STILL be required to repair the thing (not replace, though).
As batteries only have a life expectancy of about 1 year you won't be able to use that for battery problems, but a laptop can reasonably be expected to function more than 2 years and can otherwise be deemed "not of mechantable quality", the retail of such goods breaks the UK sales of goods act (AFAIK, IANAL and it's been a while since I had to throw bricks like this around
Few consumers know just how many rights they have, and the lack of decent enforcement has created a retailer culture of "getting away with it". Knowledge is a fine thing
Before you do ANYTHING else, file a formal complaint with Consumer Direct and get a reference number off them. Do this over the phone (020 8825 6888) so you can explain the problem - PC World is arguing something untenable as that could extend to "you installed Kaspersky anti-virus which is not a default loadset - your warranty is void".
However, if it cracked within 30 days and you bought this on credit you can be a real SOB and cancel the contract altogether. UK law allows you to change your mind on a consumer credit and requires the retailer to completely wind back the transaction (read: no charges or anything - as if nothing happened). They can refuse because of damage, but then it's up to them to prove it's your negligence that caused the damage and I would assume it's easy for you to demonstrate that isn't the case. If you want to follow that line, get EVERYTHING in writing from the moment you start this process because they will try and strech it beyond the 30 days and then tell you you're too late (but the point where you announced the cancellation counts - not when they feel like handling it). You will also encounter "the manager" who will explain to you that you have it wrong, and you can't have your money back but maybe they can give you a new one or one on a discount or an IOU, and they regretfuly have to charge a restocking charge - BS. You are entitled to 100% refund here - they WILL try this. If so, get his name and ask him to put this in writing there and then with a signature so you can ask Trading Standards - you'll find they'll back down at that point because they realise you know precisely what you're doing (I've been there with Dixons as well - they appear to all get the same training :-). AFAIK (IANAL, so check) this may also be the case for a Credit Card paid transaction as that fundamentally amounts to a 30 day credit and thus falls under the same rules.
Note that this doesn't work if you bought something at home from someone YOU invited, that's why people at shows like Ideal Home are so keen to sign you up for a home visit - they know you're then left defenseless against agressive sales tactics.
However, back to the topic. Formally complain to Consumer Direct, then go back to the shop and ask for the manager and give him the complaint reference number and ask him to put in writing his reasons for refusal. Stay calm - they guy will probably be a complete dipshit and try to get you angry as well to claim that you were rude and unwilling to resolve the problem (I know most tricks by now :-).
MAKE SURE YOU GET HIS NAME and then also ask for the address to write to, and the name of the managing director. They may not want to give that to you - when you update Consumer Direct you may want to mention that as well. Note that "PC World Ltd" is listed at Companies House as "application to strike off" (maybe because of name/ownership changes) so it's worth doing this asap - this stuff is usually tied to one legal entity, if it changes shape you may be left in the cold.
Lastly, go back to Consumer Direct and get their assistance in handling this, it's always best to update them anyway. I don't think it will get that far, actually, but you must be seen to be reasonable at all times. If you write any letters, write them from the perspective of a 3rd party reading them, that way it works better in court. Anyone with a clue will recognise that style and worry if it's not better to just sort out the problem, and such letters should always be sent to
Anywhere you run a PC where it's above room temperature you've got cooling issues - if this gets to a sensible price you could do away with a lot of gadgetry that has to be added to keep things like servers working.
I'm also thinking of SCADA deployment in dry and dusty places - less parts means more reliability.
I think the approach is flawed. You should not be working on the ISO committee - you should be working on industry and government. A numerically small membership can be bought and/or coerced and is thus de facto vulnerable to process abuse and vote rigging.
Let's turn this one on its head. I'm perfectly happy with MS ratifying a 6000+ page spec, because the moment they have the ISO standard status they will to abide by it to be compliant.
I don't think it would be wildly unfair to ask MS to then ensure AND PROVE BEYOND DOUBT that the product they supply is FULLY compliant with their ISO standard.
To me, that would mean:
(1) A full test suite needs to be constructed of which independent scrutiny is paid for by MS. MS Office needs to be fully compliant with statements as made in the specifications. No ifs, no buts, no maybe. Only full compliance means an acceptable product, but that's only 50% of the requirement - there's more, mainly addressing the reason the whole ISO standard compliance is required:
(2) The identification and demonstration of a mature, competing product that can read, edit and write the documents produced by the above compliant suite to a standard that makes it clear there is 100% interoperability.
The latter proves to the evaluating entity that:
(1) the standard is complied with, and is not just a marketing gimmick.
(2) the interoperability needs are addressed
(3) there is an alternative product which prevents vendor lock in (this is why I used the word 'MATURE' - you don't want some last-minute coded piece of junk from an MS friendly vendor pretending it's a product). A product has an established user base.
If the product on offer cannot meet those two requirements the story is over. Simple. If no 3rd party can create a competing product or, at a minimum, achieve unencumbered interoperability (i.e. not depending on a license) then the product is unsafe from a disaster recovery point of view.
So, if Microsoft's 6000+ page spec is a bit too much for either themselves or someone else to implement, the answer is easy - make one that works. That's all the world has been asking, simple unencumbered interoperability. I'm fully aware that that doesn't agree with their current business model, but they ought to read "who moved my cheese" - the supply is dwindling.
IMHO they had their opportunity with ODF. They blew it.
IMHO, the author was being sarcastic. Nobody in their right mind would call that a believable position :-).
If you're easily distractable I guess it'll prove a cha - ooh, nice legs ...
This was *perfect* evidence of monopoly tactics.
As a matter of fact, the cancellation may not have an effect on the action. Even if you bring the goods back to the shop doesn't cancel out the fact that you stole them in the first place..
Hmm..
Sjeez - how far back do you need to go? What about email reject messages - that would be prior art. Vacation messages? List control messages? I've seen this years ago on Bulletin Boards (i.e. pre-Internet) so there's a mountain of prior art.
I would suggest you have a good look at the %temp% location of a PC in a cybercafe to see just how easy it is to leak confidential stuff. Few are aware that looking at a document online means you leave a pristine copy in %temp% when you walk away..
Not in a gazillion years for anything sensitive, IMHO.
The only problem I have that keeps WIndows fragments alive is that all the phones I have require Outlook for diary and contact management. I hate Outlook as a mail client (I use Thunderbird) but it is still one of the few things where MS has at least got some integration right if you overlook problems such as timezones and other real life use.
:-).
I have a Motorola RAZR (V3i) and a Sony Ericsson phone, and I need these to have their contacts synched. I hope to have the remote sync working at some point so it synchronises with a server on the Net, but until then I'm stuck with having Outlook and the sync software on the machine.
For the rest I have not found a reason to hang on to Windows, and this box thus mostly runs Kubuntu (I use KDE because I also demonstrate this to others). If someone can come up with a solution for mobile phones that works or at least a single consistent interface/API to whatever program sits in the background it would help a lot. You need calendar, contacts, todo and probably email as well, and a really clever solution would NOT replicate addresses and appointment 20x because different phones refer to the same database. Mobile phone sync could be the killer app for Google, but presently it appears we'll have to rely on a 3rd party such as http://www.goosync.com/.
The rest (pictures, music etc) will probably work OK via it presenting itself as a USB memory stick..
Anyway, I'm planning to buy a Sony Ericsson P1i next month. I'll see how that interfaces. Probably no news there, but at least it has a more usable keyboard
You mean, until MS changes it?
What I found particularly impressive is that some SCADA devices can be killed with one single packet. Just one (1, uno). And it gets killed in such a way that it:
..
(a) end up in an indeterminate position (i.e. you don't know HOW it's going to fail, only that it will)
(b) is non-recoverable, i.e. it's not just a matter resetting the thing, you have to rebuild it from the ground up.
Shocking stuff. And this kit controls our plants, sewage facilities, oil platforms, power stations
Sorry to disappoint you, but it's not FUD, just after the facts. I have been providing the security knowledge behind securing one of the biggest companies that was exposed, and they then started to drive SCADA security globally (the person talking the most about it is an engineer himself, just wasn't that clued up on security then :-).
/fallback/. The normal operating platforms sitting above that layer are either Unix based or Windows. It took several months of talks and testing to allow virus checking and TIMELY patching onto those platforms. I can understand that, these systems tend not to be allowed downtime so anything you roll out on a global basis has to be examined very carefully - the profit margins allow for that, but -more importantly- the code is part of a facility where liability charges very much apply. In that context the choice for Windows must have given some people headaches..
First, it is 100% true that the backup mechanisms typically don't use IP yet for connectivity, but look at the trend. I would personally advise anyone to avoid IP in failsafe, but -as with the use of Windows- it takes but one idiot not quite awake and you have a problem.
Secondly, that is
Thirdly, this wouldn't have been a huge problem if some, ahem, "less inspired" people hadn't hooked up SCADA platforms to the global corporate LAN. Yes - I kid you not, from a shack in Bogota you could mess with a plant in the US. One virus in Japan would be ignored by corporate systems but could go and make a mess of some operation in Alaska that couldn't patch as it needed compliance, and not all SCADA systems live at a place where you can get to without some hiking..
If you combine the "we want anti-virus somehow" with "you friggin' well install a firewall ASAP" and look at the volume required for a global company, you can't go with 100% perfect solutions, especially if you don't have the staff to manage such a beast. Voila - you have just discovered how the Symantec boxes came to be. Perfect? No, I don't like someone remoting onto my network into critical devicex, but you either get some monitoring up or fly totally blind, and adding virus scanning to the network filtering kept a middle route between leaving the compliant systems alone and still protect them from virus and trojan infections. This SQL virus (forgot the name) brought that home pretty clearly.
So, in summary, Forbes wasn't entirely talking out of the wrong orifice (makes a change), it's just not really news (we did this 4..5 years ago). Must be a slow month.
I agree with you, I'd say he's been very polite in his comments (or at least more polite and less direct than I would have been). And even if he wasn't it isn't libel - he was asked for his opinion so what he has expressed is an opinion.
The funny thing is that the suit itself may constitute libel as it's clearly aimed at soiling a reputation on pretty nefarious grounds. IANAL, but there must be scope to turn this one round and get some educational entertainment going.