I went to that web site, read the literature, and listened to the recording. In my opinion, Marc Perkel hasn't shown that anything that PayPal did was unreasonable or wrong, but simply that he didn't like it
I think he showed quite well the terrible customer service PayPal has. Were they within their rights? Yes. Did they give permission to record the call? Sure sounded like it to me. Assuming he was truthful and he had a clean record for the many years of service, did they have any reason to believe he would commit fraud just because they disagreed with their content? Why couldn't they just close the account, give him his money back, and say, "we don't wish to do business with you anymore"? Would you expect your bank, regardless of the ToS, to hold your money for 6 months if they closed your account because they didn't agree with your cause, even if you had a perfect history with them?
Yes, they were within their rights, but they were certainly being asshats and their customer service leaves much to be desired.
If you're an honest user of these communities' work, react by not buying the licenses of those series where the studios don't let you see fansubs as preview.
Oh yeah, that's working in the music industry. I boycott big music for whatever reason (DRM, available media, content, whatever) and they release a press release through CNN about how piracy is affecting their bottom line. Some republican politician gets an executive summary and decides piracy needs to be legislated so it doesn't harm his/her campaign contributors. Next thing you know, watching anime not released in your country will be a terrorist activity worthy of a year in prison for each offense.
One player in the satellite radio market...
on
XM and Sirius Merger?
·
· Score: 2, Funny
I would love to see something like this take place.
I think most current XM and Serius customers who already think they're paying enough money would disagree.
I think Microsoft and God should merge - that way, you wouldn't have to worry about where you go when you die.
Wow, talk about some lousy responses. I'm guessing you want to avoid making users install extra software, right? So BitTorrent and DivX might not be the most favorable solution. Although I think DivX would work well, I think you'd best be served by creating HTTP streamable videos with either RealPlayer or QuickTime. I think most Linux users are savvy enough to play any format, and Mac users will be comfortable with either format. Real has a player available for Windows, Linux, and Macintosh. If you think Real is evil like 95% of the Slashdot community, Quicktime would be a great alternative.
Now maybe I have to high of expectations but I am unwilling to buy a house until I can afford to pay it off in 10 years. I am fiscally tight and everyone I know tells me I am insane to try live that way.
So it's all or nothing? You'd rather pay your house off in 10 years than piss money away on rent for the long term? I don't get it. So what if you have to get a 30-year mortgage. At least you get to keep some of your payments, and there's no stopping you from selling it if you change your mind before the 30 years (assuming you keep it for at least 5 years).
I have came close to snapping up an amd64 e-machines a few times though.
I bought the M6805. I can't get any distro to even install on it. I tried Fedora, SuSe, Mandrake, and I think I even tried Debian on it. I tried both 64-bit and 32-bit versions (where available). Most freeze before the setup even completes, some won't boot at all. I think I eventually got SuSe to install, but it didn't detect any drivers and froze a few times. So I threw the XP Home image back on:(
I'm no Linux genious, but I thought I should be able to at least get through the setup process. I can appreciate that some/many drivers wouldn't work, but please. I have Fedora on my server (no GUI) and on my main desktop and they run fine.
Also, eMachines doesn't put drivers on their web site for their laptops. When I lost my reinstall CD, I had a helluva time finding compatible drivers and eventually spent the $20 for a replacement CD. Bastards. My 32-bit eMachine desktop seems to run Linux okay.
And yeah, they can hear you on hold, so do be careful.
Only in the U.S. would a customer on hold be told to "be careful" while telling the elevator muzak to f*ck off. It's sad that we've become a service economy, and yet we can't even do that right.
My advice would be to not take college too seriously. You can learn much more efficiently when you pursue your own interests in your own time. Use the college to get a degree and meet people, and your spare time to study.
So far, all the jobs and good friendships I have gotten have been due to what I do outside school hours. I do the minimum possible for assignments I don't like, and score good grades on the ones I do like, because I do them with enthusiasm.
Hah! Wait until you get out and have to explain away that 2.8 GPA (3.6 in your major and 2.0 in the other crap). Employers and graduate schools are more impressed with GPAs than you might think, at least in my experience. And don't even bother applying for internships with a low GPA, which will make your post-graduation job search a living hell.
I wholeheartedly agree those liberal arts classes are worthless (I even had to take a gym class, WTF?!), but you still need to maintain a decent GPA. Don't slack, even in the useless courses.
Hmmm.. who would those who can't install SP2 be? People who pirated the OS?
I can accept that you're a moron, but lots of people can't install XP SP2 who use IE. Have you ever heard of WIN-DOWS 2000? WIN-DOWS 98? EM-PLOY-ERS WORK-STA-TION? You might be interested to know that pirated versions CAN install SP2, and that not everyone runs Windows XP. BONG!
Perhaps, but at least those of us who setup our friends and family can install it. My parents use Firefox, but my inlaws want IE and run XP SP2 (popup blocking), so they may be a candidate for this and I can install it for them. Plus, my mother-in-law actually reads her spam, so maybe this is just what she needs:P.
I installed it at work yesterday because I like Netcraft and I only use the Google toolbar on IE to block popups (although I use Firefox 99% of the time anyway). I noticed it didn't block popups from the sites I visit (ex: cnn.com), even though it has the option to "block unrequested popup windows" in Options. The anti-phishing is great, but it would be nice if the popup blocking worked for those who can't install XP SP2.
I could care less since I use Firefox. My parents could use it since they have XP SP2. I guess the people who have to decide between blocked popups and blocking phishing sites are those who run 2000 or Windows 9x, although I think Earthlink has a toolbar that will block both (not sure how well it works though). Again, no big deal, but I thought it was strange that they didn't include a working popup blocker. Seems like a automatic throw-in for all modern IE toolbars, though anyone still using IE is likely either required to (through shoddy programming or "advanced" IE-only features (what I call "screw you" features, since they're basically saying that to anyone who doesn't run windows, is disabled, or uses a text reader of some sort (braille, cell phone)) or is too novice to understand why IE == death.
Hey, I played those games as a kid, and I'm only 26. I thought I was still a youngster, but apparently not. Of course, I grew up on BBSs. They had much more personality than the 'net ever will. Mmmmmm, Fidonet. *drool*
What ever happened to the concept of looking at your neighbours what they're doing better than you, instead of isolating your own development?
While I agree with you based on his reply, I would think it more important to distance himself from peaking at competing, commercial products to avoid pointless and expensive lawsuits from the likes of SCO. I think many at Sun probably sympathize with SCO.
The truth is that for $800 a Dell is a much better computer than an eMac.
That is your opinion, as it is mine. However, different people define value differently.
You can get a Dell Dimension with 2.8 GHz, 512 MB RAM, 40GB HD, 128MB PCI Express x16 (DVI/VGA/TV-out) ATI Radeon(TM) X300 SE, 16X CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) w/double layer write capability, 17", Xp and 1 year "support" for $800.
Is it as easy to use as OS X? Does it have an equally low occurance of spyware and viruses as OS X? As I was attempting to suggest in my post, different people find "value" to be different things. Is a Kia a better "value" than a Ford F250 pickup? For a college student, or for a construction contractor?
My parents don't play with video, burn DVDs, or play high-end games. They DO have spyware problems, however, although I've managed to minimize the threat through education and software. In my opinion, my time is just as valuable. I'm extremely happy to do it for them, but if I could set up a system that reduced my workload while making them happy, why not?
Again, I'd like to point out that I prefer PCs. I like to hack at them, the cheaper price on parts, I like Windows for some apps, and I like to play with bleeding edge Linux distros (I don't play games). *I* would go for the Dell. However, I'm fully aware not everyone is like me, and choice is good.
The 40GB hard drive will fill up quickly, the lack of a DVD burner makes offloading files impossible, and the Radeon 9200 graphics card won't even run this fall's hot Mac games. And at around $800, this eMac ain't cheap.
His reviews mostly made sense except for the eMac rip. I'm not a huge Mac fan (nothing wrong with them, just not my cup of tea), but I thought he seemed to be targetting a different audience with his review of the eMac. 40GB would certainly not fill up quickly with the type of things my parents do on a computer, and I think anyone wishing to play "this fall's hottest games" wouldn't be considering an entry level computer. Finally, $800 seems to be about right for the price of an eMac. Sure, you can get a dell for $499 with a monitor (please don't correct the numbers), but Macintoshes cost more because they provide more value for their target audience. And when he said, "buy a Dell", does that mean if I pick an entry level Dell it will play "this fall's hottest games?" Although IANAG (gamer), something tells me you're not going to get stellar HL2 performance on an Intel 810.
I always maintain that the majority of users don't know they have a choice, hence they're using/starting/opening whatever that's been thrown at them.
And yet major manufacturers don't bundle and make default the Mozilla or Firefox, even though there's a good chance it would lower support costs (yeah, you might have some users who ask about it, but it's easier than trying to troubleshoot a spyware-related issue over the phone).
Oh right, the whole monopoly thing and preferred discounts...
Why does AOL like Internet Explorer so much? Is it because they love Microsoft? Or the quality of IE's adherance to web standards? Or the lack of modern web-browsing features? Or the fact that it's closed source?
I don't get it. Why add tabbed browsing to an old-and-busted browser when Mozilla, of which they heavily funded and pioneered, has all that and more already? Gecko or KHTML seem like a perfect match for what AOL needs in a browser AND it would land them some good karma. Hmmm, I think I just answered my own question.
Slashdot Mirror
I think he showed quite well the terrible customer service PayPal has. Were they within their rights? Yes. Did they give permission to record the call? Sure sounded like it to me. Assuming he was truthful and he had a clean record for the many years of service, did they have any reason to believe he would commit fraud just because they disagreed with their content? Why couldn't they just close the account, give him his money back, and say, "we don't wish to do business with you anymore"? Would you expect your bank, regardless of the ToS, to hold your money for 6 months if they closed your account because they didn't agree with your cause, even if you had a perfect history with them?
Yes, they were within their rights, but they were certainly being asshats and their customer service leaves much to be desired.
Oh yeah, that's working in the music industry. I boycott big music for whatever reason (DRM, available media, content, whatever) and they release a press release through CNN about how piracy is affecting their bottom line. Some republican politician gets an executive summary and decides piracy needs to be legislated so it doesn't harm his/her campaign contributors. Next thing you know, watching anime not released in your country will be a terrorist activity worthy of a year in prison for each offense.
I think most current XM and Serius customers who already think they're paying enough money would disagree.
I think Microsoft and God should merge - that way, you wouldn't have to worry about where you go when you die.
Wow, talk about some lousy responses. I'm guessing you want to avoid making users install extra software, right? So BitTorrent and DivX might not be the most favorable solution. Although I think DivX would work well, I think you'd best be served by creating HTTP streamable videos with either RealPlayer or QuickTime. I think most Linux users are savvy enough to play any format, and Mac users will be comfortable with either format. Real has a player available for Windows, Linux, and Macintosh. If you think Real is evil like 95% of the Slashdot community, Quicktime would be a great alternative.
And Real does have an annoyance-free version of their player available for Windows:
http://forms.real.com/rnforms/products/tools/red/
So it's all or nothing? You'd rather pay your house off in 10 years than piss money away on rent for the long term? I don't get it. So what if you have to get a 30-year mortgage. At least you get to keep some of your payments, and there's no stopping you from selling it if you change your mind before the 30 years (assuming you keep it for at least 5 years).
I bought the M6805. I can't get any distro to even install on it. I tried Fedora, SuSe, Mandrake, and I think I even tried Debian on it. I tried both 64-bit and 32-bit versions (where available). Most freeze before the setup even completes, some won't boot at all. I think I eventually got SuSe to install, but it didn't detect any drivers and froze a few times. So I threw the XP Home image back on :(
I'm no Linux genious, but I thought I should be able to at least get through the setup process. I can appreciate that some/many drivers wouldn't work, but please. I have Fedora on my server (no GUI) and on my main desktop and they run fine.
Also, eMachines doesn't put drivers on their web site for their laptops. When I lost my reinstall CD, I had a helluva time finding compatible drivers and eventually spent the $20 for a replacement CD. Bastards. My 32-bit eMachine desktop seems to run Linux okay.
Well, they did pay for it. I wouldn't call it "stealing" their thunder.
I believe you can appent "-turbo" to your FF shortcut to enable this behavior as well, at least in Windows.
"C:\Program Files\firefox\firefox.exe" -turbo
Only in the U.S. would a customer on hold be told to "be careful" while telling the elevator muzak to f*ck off. It's sad that we've become a service economy, and yet we can't even do that right.
In other news, SuSe eyes Redhat customers, Carl Jrs eyes McDonalds' customers, and Bubs' Concessions Stand eyes Kmart customers.
What we need is to establish a spam czar and declare war on spammers.
Hah! Wait until you get out and have to explain away that 2.8 GPA (3.6 in your major and 2.0 in the other crap). Employers and graduate schools are more impressed with GPAs than you might think, at least in my experience. And don't even bother applying for internships with a low GPA, which will make your post-graduation job search a living hell.
I wholeheartedly agree those liberal arts classes are worthless (I even had to take a gym class, WTF?!), but you still need to maintain a decent GPA. Don't slack, even in the useless courses.
I can accept that you're a moron, but lots of people can't install XP SP2 who use IE. Have you ever heard of WIN-DOWS 2000? WIN-DOWS 98? EM-PLOY-ERS WORK-STA-TION? You might be interested to know that pirated versions CAN install SP2, and that not everyone runs Windows XP. BONG!
Perhaps, but at least those of us who setup our friends and family can install it. My parents use Firefox, but my inlaws want IE and run XP SP2 (popup blocking), so they may be a candidate for this and I can install it for them. Plus, my mother-in-law actually reads her spam, so maybe this is just what she needs :P.
I installed it at work yesterday because I like Netcraft and I only use the Google toolbar on IE to block popups (although I use Firefox 99% of the time anyway). I noticed it didn't block popups from the sites I visit (ex: cnn.com), even though it has the option to "block unrequested popup windows" in Options. The anti-phishing is great, but it would be nice if the popup blocking worked for those who can't install XP SP2.
I could care less since I use Firefox. My parents could use it since they have XP SP2. I guess the people who have to decide between blocked popups and blocking phishing sites are those who run 2000 or Windows 9x, although I think Earthlink has a toolbar that will block both (not sure how well it works though). Again, no big deal, but I thought it was strange that they didn't include a working popup blocker. Seems like a automatic throw-in for all modern IE toolbars, though anyone still using IE is likely either required to (through shoddy programming or "advanced" IE-only features (what I call "screw you" features, since they're basically saying that to anyone who doesn't run windows, is disabled, or uses a text reader of some sort (braille, cell phone)) or is too novice to understand why IE == death.
Anything but IE in 2005! Viva la revolución!
Hey, I played those games as a kid, and I'm only 26. I thought I was still a youngster, but apparently not. Of course, I grew up on BBSs. They had much more personality than the 'net ever will. Mmmmmm, Fidonet. *drool*
MySQL+InnoDB does ACID.
Hah, you're wasting your money. You can get Linux for free off of Kazaa or BitTorrent. Screw corporate America!!
While I agree with you based on his reply, I would think it more important to distance himself from peaking at competing, commercial products to avoid pointless and expensive lawsuits from the likes of SCO. I think many at Sun probably sympathize with SCO.
That is your opinion, as it is mine. However, different people define value differently.
Is it as easy to use as OS X? Does it have an equally low occurance of spyware and viruses as OS X? As I was attempting to suggest in my post, different people find "value" to be different things. Is a Kia a better "value" than a Ford F250 pickup? For a college student, or for a construction contractor?
My parents don't play with video, burn DVDs, or play high-end games. They DO have spyware problems, however, although I've managed to minimize the threat through education and software. In my opinion, my time is just as valuable. I'm extremely happy to do it for them, but if I could set up a system that reduced my workload while making them happy, why not?
Again, I'd like to point out that I prefer PCs. I like to hack at them, the cheaper price on parts, I like Windows for some apps, and I like to play with bleeding edge Linux distros (I don't play games). *I* would go for the Dell. However, I'm fully aware not everyone is like me, and choice is good.
His reviews mostly made sense except for the eMac rip. I'm not a huge Mac fan (nothing wrong with them, just not my cup of tea), but I thought he seemed to be targetting a different audience with his review of the eMac. 40GB would certainly not fill up quickly with the type of things my parents do on a computer, and I think anyone wishing to play "this fall's hottest games" wouldn't be considering an entry level computer. Finally, $800 seems to be about right for the price of an eMac. Sure, you can get a dell for $499 with a monitor (please don't correct the numbers), but Macintoshes cost more because they provide more value for their target audience. And when he said, "buy a Dell", does that mean if I pick an entry level Dell it will play "this fall's hottest games?" Although IANAG (gamer), something tells me you're not going to get stellar HL2 performance on an Intel 810.
How about Windows 3.0 with Trumpet Winsock, manual dial, and NCSA Mosaic 1.0.
And yet major manufacturers don't bundle and make default the Mozilla or Firefox, even though there's a good chance it would lower support costs (yeah, you might have some users who ask about it, but it's easier than trying to troubleshoot a spyware-related issue over the phone).
Oh right, the whole monopoly thing and preferred discounts...
Why does AOL like Internet Explorer so much? Is it because they love Microsoft? Or the quality of IE's adherance to web standards? Or the lack of modern web-browsing features? Or the fact that it's closed source?
I don't get it. Why add tabbed browsing to an old-and-busted browser when Mozilla, of which they heavily funded and pioneered, has all that and more already? Gecko or KHTML seem like a perfect match for what AOL needs in a browser AND it would land them some good karma. Hmmm, I think I just answered my own question.