Okey, this is getting pretty fun. First, did you ever imagine I might not be from USA ? Right, I'm from Brazil. Now, on the "getting a few hours delay". Well, I happen to know a person who got detained for 3 days when arriving in the USA for a convention. Yup, a Brazilian. No outside comunication. No explanations. Nothing. The reason for that ? No one knows. Not even the brazilian embassy for an explanation for that. He was not alone in the "cell" either.
So, what you think about 3 days, instead of a few hours ? How long before that starts to happen to USA citizens too ? Oh, I forgot. You are probably one of those zenophobic americans, which is, thankfuly, a dieing breed. Yes. All outsiders are evil.
But you really don't get it, do you ? From your own post, I can see they have you terrorized. So, they won. Also, most of the world has turned an ugly fact toward USA. Another terrorist victory.
No, I don't think people should be able to get into planes without showing an ID. Xray and metal detectors are not an inconvenience. It is automated, and it is done pretty quick, without a great deal of intrusive behaviour. Neither is installing cabin doors on the planes that CAN'T be open during during the flight. At least, not without an override from inside the cabin, from a control tower, and from some other place as well.
But I disgress. I'm sure it is very hard to terrorists do as many bank robbers do these days. Kidnap the pilot family (as well as those from the rest of the crew), and have they crash the plane to save their families, right ? Or just get enough people buying tickets for a plane that someone is sure to get past the security.
Face it. These security measures don't affect the terrorists AT ALL. It only affect the "innocent bystanders".
There are other things the terrorist could to do. But I'm only citing 2 of the things we already see happening on other places. Trying to stop the terrorists from getting into the plain is silly, not to say stupid. The way to go is to have a security plan (and security measures) that will stop them once they are inside the plane. And trust me, if they want it, they can get in there.
Would you cry if I told you I'm not from USA ? LOL I'm from Brazil, which is a 3rd world country, in case you missed. Also, our capital ir not Buenos Aires, nor Rio de Janeiro.
Do you really think americans are the only ones affected by the USA anti-terrorist policies ? Or the terrorists ?
Not only that. Please that a look at the Brazilian alternative fuel program. Sugar Cane Alchool. As far as I know (and I might be wrong here), that is the only successful countrywide alternative fuel program in the whole world. Which, being a Brazilian and knowing how things work here, I can only attribute to a mistake somewhere:) LOL
Thank you. You pretty much saw to the heart of what I wrote. We are not talking about an enemy army trying to invade USA (or any other country). We are talking about a TERRORIST group. What they do is to spread terror. The less killing the better, since they can use that if (or when) they get caught and are judged. Not to mention that a dead person is just that, a dead person. A living, terrorized person will spread the terror to others.
Isn't that what democracy is all about ? Putting on the power the most liked, instead of the most qualified ?
Clarification: I'm not defending any particular government system. As far as I'm concerned, one is little better than the other, and democracy is, these days, the one that sucks the less.
Very true. But you just stated that screening is useless, once it can be easily be tricked.
So, whats next ? Mental probes ? Or maybe they should simply stop poeple who uses heartbeat regulation devices (no idea the name for those in english) from being able to fly. Gattaca anyone ?
Yes, I do agree security measure are important. But as far as I'm concerned, it was proved that the one actually in place doesn't improve security at all, and only cause problems for people trying to travel. But heck, they are good material for election campains, aren't they ?
I have to wonder if this is not a more important victory for the terrorists than 9/11 itself. Isn't that what they always dreamed of, making american lives a real pain ? Destroying the "American Way of Life" and all that ? Making american citizens misable ?
I have to say that they were very successful. With a lot of help from USA government.
As a side note, please remember that the Linux binaries for NWN were released for free. So, if you already had NWN for Windows, you could migrate it to linux at no costs. The same was not true for Mac.
So please remember that if they release both a Linux and Windows version on day 1, you will have to pay for them both.
Same thing for me. I have 4 domains with catch-all addresses, and I can't remember when was the last time I was a victim of a dictionary spam attack. Anyway, make sure you have some good spamfilter in place, and hook a few address (webmaster, and common names like john@ that you don't use) directly to feed it. Lets face it. We need spam protection. And if it is any good, having wildcard addresses on your domain won't give you any extra problems.
If the difference between a low/mid range and high end product is just a switch, or a simple transistor, they shouldn't ask extra money for it, because the features in the low end are only "hidden".
I used to think like you do. Unfortunately, there are other issues to consider, besides the production costs. Development costs (the cost of the technology itself) plays a big part on pricing. The fact that the low end product is the high end one with some features disabled (or even burned out) is a move to reduce the production costs, without stopping the offer of the low end model.
So, if they were to remove the price gap, you can rest assured it would be based on the price of the top model, once you pay not only for the production costs, but the features you get.
This is pretty much what you get on the software or consulting industries. Sometime you have to pay extra to have a few features of a given software enabled. Sometimes you will have to pay different price rates for a professional's time, based on the kind of work he will be doing.
- Total regulations a company has to comply - Number of privacy governing regulations
Anyway, if the regulations are also more stringent, I would guess they are also more precise, with less room for stupid people to sue the company just because they can make a few extra bucks with that.
I think it is geo-specific. Fuck the customer in every way possible, and make sure they don't find out. That is the US corporate mantra nowadays
I don't think that is so simple. From my point of view, this is what comes from a "regulatory society". USA has regulations from everything. Actually, several regulations for the samething.
When that happens, we have several things follow:
- Companies are so burried in regulations, that don't have time to do anything besides that is dictated; - Creative ideas many times can come in conflict with non-specific, overly broad regulations; - There is a general feeling that "those regularions" reflect what the customers want; - The litigious nature of USA always have to be taken into account. If you do something different, you will get sued. Actually, in USA, even if you do everything the right way, you will still get sued. - Frank Herbert once said in one of his books, and I quote "Once you give an order on something, you will always have to give orders on that" (aproximate quotation, don't have the book at my hands).
So, as far as I see it, the regulations itself are what make the companies act as they do.
The way out of this cu de sac ? No idea. Once you have all those regulations and laws in place, there is not much you can do about it without making matters worst.
"Our lawyers are still going through much of the evidence IBM turned over as part of the discovery process. I'm confident that there is still other evidence that will come forward in order for us to be able to prove those claims," Stowell said.
Is this a joke ? Any judge with something over his shouders should close the case in the same instant he read this. This basicaly means:
"Hey, we have no evidence yet. But if you give us a little more time, we are sure we will be able to find something that looks like evidence. Yes. Sure. Trust us."
If you live in a nation that is signatory to UCITA treaty or states like Virginia or Maryland that have passed UCITA-like laws, YMMV. However I think that the VA and MD laws are stuck in court at the moment.
So, what you are basicaly saying is that this is a gray area on most places.
Anyway, one thing is for sure. One must be very careful before reselling a software license, since it MAY be illegal.
So, let me rephrase myself: "Just because you payed for a software, don't be ceirtain you detail rights to resell it. This will depend where you live".
If you accept the EULA, you are not prohibited from selling your copy of Windows -- you have an inalienable right to do that; just like selling a used book, CD or video cassette. It is an offence for anyone to try to persuade you that you do not have that right.
You are actually wrong about this. You don't buy a copy of Windows. You buy the media and manual, and pay for the rights to use Windows (ie. LICENSE). So you don't actually own it to sell. Non-transferable rights are everywhere to be seen, and enforced many times over on different courts all around the world.
If you don't agree with the EULA, you still can't resell it. You can, however, return it for a full refund. I know of many people who did this: got a computer with windows, and returned the windows license to Microsoft (or an authorized office) for a full refund. This is, so far, the only legal alternative. If someone know of any court rulling otherwise, I would be happy to receive a link to the rulling.
Unless someone whats to take the pain to go to court, and prove that this is wrong, this is how it works.
I don't see how anyone could have been "locked" into using an illegal copy of Windows XP
THis is half true. One case I would like to point is that, in Brazil, the Income Tax declaration software only runs on Windows (no, neither Wine nor Crossover are any good). I'm sure this is true for many countries.
That is why I have to pay an accountant to do my taxes. Which is a valid, but somewhat expensive option. Maybe buying a copy of Windows would be "cheaper" at first glance, but I can security to consider too.
I don't agree with your use of "commercial" for indication that the quality is good. Most commercial softwares I find everyday are of very poor quality. Actually, most softwares, either commercial or not.
"Production quality", "Enterprise quality", or simply "Good quality" are better ways to say this.
I would like to stress the point about poor quality commercial products. All the points given about opensource(sic) softwares given on this article also apply to most of the so called commercial products.
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Okey, this is getting pretty fun.
First, did you ever imagine I might not be from USA ? Right, I'm from Brazil.
Now, on the "getting a few hours delay". Well, I happen to know a person who got detained for 3 days when arriving in the USA for a convention. Yup, a Brazilian. No outside comunication. No explanations. Nothing. The reason for that ? No one knows. Not even the brazilian embassy for an explanation for that. He was not alone in the "cell" either.
So, what you think about 3 days, instead of a few hours ? How long before that starts to happen to USA citizens too ? Oh, I forgot. You are probably one of those zenophobic americans, which is, thankfuly, a dieing breed. Yes. All outsiders are evil.
But you really don't get it, do you ? From your own post, I can see they have you terrorized. So, they won. Also, most of the world has turned an ugly fact toward USA. Another terrorist victory.
No, I don't think people should be able to get into planes without showing an ID. Xray and metal detectors are not an inconvenience. It is automated, and it is done pretty quick, without a great deal of intrusive behaviour. Neither is installing cabin doors on the planes that CAN'T be open during during the flight. At least, not without an override from inside the cabin, from a control tower, and from some other place as well.
But I disgress. I'm sure it is very hard to terrorists do as many bank robbers do these days. Kidnap the pilot family (as well as those from the rest of the crew), and have they crash the plane to save their families, right ? Or just get enough people buying tickets for a plane that someone is sure to get past the security.
Face it. These security measures don't affect the terrorists AT ALL. It only affect the "innocent bystanders".
There are other things the terrorist could to do. But I'm only citing 2 of the things we already see happening on other places. Trying to stop the terrorists from getting into the plain is silly, not to say stupid. The way to go is to have a security plan (and security measures) that will stop them once they are inside the plane. And trust me, if they want it, they can get in there.
Would you cry if I told you I'm not from USA ? LOL
I'm from Brazil, which is a 3rd world country, in case you missed. Also, our capital ir not Buenos Aires, nor Rio de Janeiro.
Do you really think americans are the only ones affected by the USA anti-terrorist policies ? Or the terrorists ?
Not only that. :) LOL
Please that a look at the Brazilian alternative fuel program. Sugar Cane Alchool.
As far as I know (and I might be wrong here), that is the only successful countrywide alternative fuel program in the whole world. Which, being a Brazilian and knowing how things work here, I can only attribute to a mistake somewhere
Thank you. You pretty much saw to the heart of what I wrote.
We are not talking about an enemy army trying to invade USA (or any other country).
We are talking about a TERRORIST group. What they do is to spread terror. The less killing the better, since they can use that if (or when) they get caught and are judged. Not to mention that a dead person is just that, a dead person. A living, terrorized person will spread the terror to others.
Isn't that what democracy is all about ? Putting on the power the most liked, instead of the most qualified ?
Clarification:
I'm not defending any particular government system. As far as I'm concerned, one is little better than the other, and democracy is, these days, the one that sucks the less.
Very true. But you just stated that screening is useless, once it can be easily be tricked.
So, whats next ? Mental probes ? Or maybe they should simply stop poeple who uses heartbeat regulation devices (no idea the name for those in english) from being able to fly. Gattaca anyone ?
Yes, I do agree security measure are important. But as far as I'm concerned, it was proved that the one actually in place doesn't improve security at all, and only cause problems for people trying to travel. But heck, they are good material for election campains, aren't they ?
I have to wonder if this is not a more important victory for the terrorists than 9/11 itself.
Isn't that what they always dreamed of, making american lives a real pain ? Destroying the "American Way of Life" and all that ? Making american citizens misable ?
I have to say that they were very successful. With a lot of help from USA government.
Basically all BW did with NWN was release a set of tools for people/groups to create their OWN worlds/adventures/environments.
Isn't that what a RPG systems is all about ?
As a side note, please remember that the Linux binaries for NWN were released for free. So, if you already had NWN for Windows, you could migrate it to linux at no costs. The same was not true for Mac.
So please remember that if they release both a Linux and Windows version on day 1, you will have to pay for them both.
If they are selling insurances againt it, then they won't believe it would be a problem. Otherwise, they would loose money. Simple as that.
Anyone believe that is they really thought this could happen, they would sell insurances against it ?
Same thing for me. I have 4 domains with catch-all addresses, and I can't remember when was the last time I was a victim of a dictionary spam attack.
Anyway, make sure you have some good spamfilter in place, and hook a few address (webmaster, and common names like john@ that you don't use) directly to feed it.
Lets face it. We need spam protection. And if it is any good, having wildcard addresses on your domain won't give you any extra problems.
If the difference between a low/mid range and high end product is just a switch, or a simple transistor, they shouldn't ask extra money for it, because the features in the low end are only "hidden".
I used to think like you do. Unfortunately, there are other issues to consider, besides the production costs. Development costs (the cost of the technology itself) plays a big part on pricing. The fact that the low end product is the high end one with some features disabled (or even burned out) is a move to reduce the production costs, without stopping the offer of the low end model.
So, if they were to remove the price gap, you can rest assured it would be based on the price of the top model, once you pay not only for the production costs, but the features you get.
This is pretty much what you get on the software or consulting industries. Sometime you have to pay extra to have a few features of a given software enabled. Sometimes you will have to pay different price rates for a professional's time, based on the kind of work he will be doing.
more stringent ? Maybe.
Now, check these other facts:
- Total regulations a company has to comply
- Number of privacy governing regulations
Anyway, if the regulations are also more stringent, I would guess they are also more precise, with less room for stupid people to sue the company just because they can make a few extra bucks with that.
Maybe Xerox before that ? Not sure how they called their GUI system.
When that happens, we have several things follow:
- Companies are so burried in regulations, that don't have time to do anything besides that is dictated;
- Creative ideas many times can come in conflict with non-specific, overly broad regulations;
- There is a general feeling that "those regularions" reflect what the customers want;
- The litigious nature of USA always have to be taken into account. If you do something different, you will get sued. Actually, in USA, even if you do everything the right way, you will still get sued.
- Frank Herbert once said in one of his books, and I quote "Once you give an order on something, you will always have to give orders on that" (aproximate quotation, don't have the book at my hands).
So, as far as I see it, the regulations itself are what make the companies act as they do.
The way out of this cu de sac ? No idea. Once you have all those regulations and laws in place, there is not much you can do about it without making matters worst.
"Hey, we have no evidence yet. But if you give us a little more time, we are sure we will be able to find something that looks like evidence. Yes. Sure. Trust us."
If you live in a nation that is signatory to UCITA treaty or states like Virginia or Maryland that have passed UCITA-like laws, YMMV. However I think that the VA and MD laws are stuck in court at the moment.
So, what you are basicaly saying is that this is a gray area on most places.
Anyway, one thing is for sure. One must be very careful before reselling a software license, since it MAY be illegal.
So, let me rephrase myself: "Just because you payed for a software, don't be ceirtain you detail rights to resell it. This will depend where you live".
If you accept the EULA, you are not prohibited from selling your copy of Windows -- you have an inalienable right to do that; just like selling a used book, CD or video cassette. It is an offence for anyone to try to persuade you that you do not have that right.
You are actually wrong about this. You don't buy a copy of Windows. You buy the media and manual, and pay for the rights to use Windows (ie. LICENSE). So you don't actually own it to sell. Non-transferable rights are everywhere to be seen, and enforced many times over on different courts all around the world.
If you don't agree with the EULA, you still can't resell it. You can, however, return it for a full refund. I know of many people who did this: got a computer with windows, and returned the windows license to Microsoft (or an authorized office) for a full refund. This is, so far, the only legal alternative. If someone know of any court rulling otherwise, I would be happy to receive a link to the rulling.
Unless someone whats to take the pain to go to court, and prove that this is wrong, this is how it works.
There's only so much volenteers can do for free.
No, I'll not fix your computer.
I don't see how anyone could have been "locked" into using an illegal copy of Windows XP
THis is half true. One case I would like to point is that, in Brazil, the Income Tax declaration software only runs on Windows (no, neither Wine nor Crossover are any good). I'm sure this is true for many countries.
That is why I have to pay an accountant to do my taxes. Which is a valid, but somewhat expensive option. Maybe buying a copy of Windows would be "cheaper" at first glance, but I can security to consider too.
You are actually forbidden to do that by the EULA.
So, even having the key, you would still be illegal.
You can be very sure Microsoft have ways to track the license number so the reseler.
At least in Brazil, there are many ad-based, free dialup ISPs. Many on business for more than 2 years, and doing well.
Okey. Have any of you actually tested a9.com ? They only keep that data if you actually log in to it.
As far as I see, this is a pretty optional feature. Don't want it ? Simply. Don't log in.
I don't agree with your use of "commercial" for indication that the quality is good. Most commercial softwares I find everyday are of very poor quality. Actually, most softwares, either commercial or not.
"Production quality", "Enterprise quality", or simply "Good quality" are better ways to say this.
I would like to stress the point about poor quality commercial products. All the points given about opensource(sic) softwares given on this article also apply to most of the so called commercial products.
This looks like a joke, and I'm all for a laught, but it raises an important issue never the less.
Not being aware an compromise is very different than not being compromised.