Have you tried SpamCop? They now apparently have a flat-rate fee which is good if you get a lot of email. Sounds promising as a service.
My problem is mainly my Hotmail account. I get just loads and loads of spam through it as I use it as my "public" email address. I've created filters to get rid of "obvious spam".:) But since I'm bound into their system, I can't do more to get rid of spam. I wish they would add a feature that would require senders to click on a URL or something. And/or use the authentication system which Yahoo! uses - a graphic with numbers on it, obfuscated a little with random patterns, and it asks you to type that in. That could be an effective deterrent to spam.
Would also be nice if I could setup an auto-responder to tell senders that my email address has changed (so I could setup a SpamCop address, for example).
So, until Microsoft gets their developers together and improves my spam-stopping options, I'm stuck getting that crap every day. And no, I cannot just let this account rot as that's the only way some old time pals will ever be able to contact me.
Unfortunately, I have a Packard Bell computer. It's the same old tune in this story, except with HP. I didn't get an original Windows 98 CD with my machine which really ticked me off, but fortunately I had access to a real Win98 CD so I didn't bother making a huge fuss.
The first thing I did with my new computer, fortunately, was try out my new CD burner and burn the folder they had on there with all the Packard Bell drivers on it. I reformatted my machine (I hate default installs), then installed with an original Win98 CD. The drivers weren't there! So, I pulled out my trusty CDR which I'd just burned and found the drivers in there after some searching.
To make a long story short, not providing the original CDs is hardly a solution for most customers. Many questions are left unanswered:
- What if the hard disk crashes?
- What if I decide to install another OS on my machine and then want to put back the OS which came with my system?
- What if my partition table gets corrupted?
- What if I want to configure the hard disk into a RAID?
- If Windows really comes bundled with the computer, why don't I get the original retail CDs? Almost gives an illegal or unjust feel to the whole deal.
Anyway, '98 is long gone on that computer and I'm happily running Linux on it today. I'll never buy from Packard Bell again (for the CD issue, and for the absolutely poor tech support), and the chance of my buying from HP is pretty slim as well, at least till they get this mess straightened out.
Actually, I'm more of a Dell fan, but they've been getting under my skin, too. When configuring the options for your new computer (online store), you don't get to pick "I DO NOT want Windows or MS Office/Works bundled with this computer" as an option. I am forced to pay for something I probably won't use. This practice has got to stop. Hopefully the DOJ can give us a hand on that one.
From http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/industry/02/16/micros oft.code.reut/index.html
In addition to handing over the Windows code, the states that have not
settled had also asked the judge to appoint a technical expert to help
provide impartial opinions on complex technical issues raised by the
case.
Kollar-Kotelly said there was too little time to find the right person for
that role.
These cases drag on for weeks, months, years... and there is too little time to find a technical person who can give impartial opinions? I find that statement odd.
Not a DOS webserver? tsk tsk.
on
FreeDOS
·
· Score: 3, Interesting
"The site www.freedos.org is running Apache/1.3.22 (Unix) PHP/4.1.1 FrontPage/4.0.4.3 on Linux."
I remember checking this website out awhile ago on one of my random surf-abouts. I'm quite impressed that they've made such progress since then.
offtopic part: It struck me when I visited freedos.org how many open source websites look similar. Then it occurred to me how the effect is a kind of brand recognition. Or, even a catalog of free software. Neat.
Desler said state attorneys general are working "hand-in-hand" with Microsoft competitors, who "will stop at nothing to get access to our intellectual property."
What would the state attorneys do with the source code to Windows? Especially given that doing anything with it would be illegal, and that there is so much source code available for free on the Internet that Microsoft's is just one more project.
OTOH, I'm sure it would enable some companies to write competitive software for Windows if they had the source, as Microsoft seems to be good at putting undocumentated APIs into their products for their own gain.
In every article I've read about the issue of spam, the author unfailingly feels the need to provide numerous examples of what kind of spam they have received. I find this so tiresom that I tend to skip half the article... skimming almost as quickly as when cleaning the spam out of my inbox.
Please, we don't need examples - we all know what spam is!
How is this any worse than a bunch of goons carrying cell phones?
The difference is that with walkie talkies or wireless networks, many people can talk to one another simultaneously and instantly.
With a cell phone, you have to dial the phone or at least be online constantly after dialing. You can have one, maybe two people on the other end. The same effect is not created.
There's two ways to look at it. When I pay $60 for a distro (Mandrake is my choice), I know it's going to a good cause. I feel like I'm contributing to a good cause. So, $60 isn't too bad. Plus, you the manuals in print which is a nice bonus.
On the other hand, I don't know what people who don't know about "free" software think about shelling out $60. My guess is, they're reading the box and thinking "geez, thousands of programs on 7 CDs and still much cheaper than Windows. Plus, my buddy said it's really cool. Ok."
Think of how many C++Builder applications there are on Windows. Add to that how many MS Visual C applications exist (assuming one can fairly easily port to C++Builder - correct me if I'm wrong).
If Borland can make it easy for the developers of these applications to port over to Linux, that's an amazing influx of useful, polished software we can use.
Also, I think you might be discounting the positive effect a great IDE for Linux would have on the community. It is not easy to start coding efficiently using gcc, libglade, gtk, and what have you. Not to mention that most debuggers for Linux are not as full-featured as Borland's offerings.
C++Builder provides many, many IDE features like command completion, online help, wizards, database connectivity, CORBA, Apache support, etc.. etc.. which is all at your fingertips and well documented. I don't see how it couldn't give Linux development a good shot in the arm!
One negative point, though, is that for now this will only be for the Intel platform. I'm sure someday that will change. The core of the system, though, must always use open source software. On that note, I wouldn't be surprised to eventually see open source IDEs or conversion programs which make it possible to compile C++Builder for Linux projects using gcc and compatible toolkits.
I would assume that you could create an air-tight PC and have this system cool the innards without air exchange?
Are there applications that could use this kind of feature? Maybe in a polluted/hazardous environment where the air or particles in the air could harm the computer internals?
I'm totally with you on the Discovery thing. I used to watch it religiously. Now it's mostly crap. What's with all the Crocodile Hunter wannabe's? And is the Crocodile Hunter himself becoming commercialized or what!? Sad, sad state of affairs. He was my hero, but I still think he's pretty cool.
On the dish - yeah, same reason here. It would be difficult placement. Plus, they stick you on the price of the dish and installation from what I've seen. As if! Just like DSL or cable Internet trying to charge me for the modem. Hello! What the hell am I going to do with it after I end my subscription eventually? I have enough computer parts, thank you very much.
(ps - dude, are you Canadian? I'm CDN living in the US with these good people and I couldn't help but pick up on something in your message. Either way, take'er easy!:) )
I'm wary of these accusations. Mainly because there is no way in hell $2 million worth of plumbing work had to be done just to redirect a drain pipe. It would blow my mind if it even cost $100,000, though I doubt most outfits would charge close to that, even for a goverment project.:)
A problem I am feeling with Slashdot's system is that often there are so many new stories coming on to the main page that people don't really have time to read and comment on all of them (of interest).
If they do, they don't get to go back and reply to their comment's replies (by this point there are 10 new stories and nobody cares about the "old" ones anymore).
No idea what a good solution would be at this point, though.
On a positive note, I've been finding myself think ing about moderation categories in everyday life from time to time. Like, if someone says something that really pisses me off, I just think to myself "Flamebait" and shrug it off. Ha! Interesting effect it's had on me, for the better I think.
[chorus 1]
They're coming to take me away,
Haha, they're coming to take me away,
Ho ho, hee hee, ha ha,
To the funny farm
Where Life is Beautiful all the time
And I'll be happy to see
Those Nice Young Men
In their Clean White Coats
And they're coming to take me AWAY,
HA HAAAAA
If they actually had anything on TV worth _watching_, this might make a wee bit more sense.
I might as well stand by the curb next to my garbage... carrying a shotgun and hollering.
Who cares - waste your money protecting it if you want. Nobody's gonna steal what's on TV. Most of us like two or three channels which we need the full package cable to get, naturally.
"...The transition period is subject to periodic progress reviews by the FCC. In addition, last fall Congress included provisions in the
Balanced Budget Act of 1997 that would extend analog service beyond the 2006 date if certain conditions exist. They include a variety of
conditions such as: the failure of one or more of the largest TV stations in a market to begin broadcasting digital TV signals due to causes outside the
broadcasters control, or if fewer than 85% of the TV households in a market are able to receive digital TV signals off the air either with a digital TV
set or with an analog set equipped with a converter box or subscribe to a cable-type service that carries the DTV stations in the market.
During this transition period, consumers who wish to simply continue receiving only analog tv service will be able to do so. Consumers will be
able indefinitely to get service out of their existing television sets, but will not be able to see the DTV broadcasts without a special converter. In
order to receive DTV you will have the option of purchasing a converter which can be used with your existing television. You also will have the
option of purchasing a digital TV, which will be expensive at first (just as color televisions were very expensive when they were first introduced), but
which are expected to become more affordable when DTV is widely available."
I know what it's doing in the background. For each image it's also trying to set the cookie, too, probably because of automatic session handling on the webserver.
Run netscape and tell it to prompt you when you receive a cookie. You'll get the same thing
That's what my whole post was trying to say. I use Netscape 4.76, which I should've mentioned. There is no way to enable/disable cookies on a per site basis in that browser. Mozilla has a nice per site feature, but too bad the developers are still trying to get the "find" dialog working properly.:-/
It cracks me up that Microsoft disabled Java support in XP for "security reasons". Probably removed the most secure part of their OS by doing so.
Microsoft's brand name is going down the crapper - faster than you can say "Flush". They MUST do something about their lax security image, or it will only get worse. Read on...
Probably every IT magazine has blasted them about their security practices. People everywhere think Microsoft's security breaches are a joke these days.
What's making them peddle even faster is that Linux is breathing down their neck and getting more and more mainstream. I find a lot of irony in this. Why? Microsoft crushed Netscape and many other companies by giving software away for free. They can do this because they have a huge bankroll and don't need the extra revenue of addon products. Linux is free, too... this hits them dead on where it hurts - their OS market. It was said many times during the Netscape vs. Microsoft browser war "you can't beat free". Only now, Linux and Open Source have something better than a large bankroll. They have practically unlimited development capacity. WAY more than Microsoft thousands of engineers. They also have the hearts and minds of hundreds of thousands of developers around the world. They have goodwill. They have quality and security far superior to Microsoft.
I believe this is the way. Eventually everything gets commoditized. The operating system is next. Microsoft - the ride's just about over. You know it because you're digging your claws into just about every market you can. You're differentiating. Not everyone is buying your differentiated crap, though, are they? Your reputation will follow you wherever you go... remember that.
I'd like to add to that. Should the default be changed, they often make it really, REALLY annoying to deal with.
Best example: Change your Cookies setting to "prompt me" and visit any site that uses cookies. You will be prompted a million times to accept or reject a cookie.
Another great example: Browser plugins. I don't want Flash 5 on my system. I don't need it. So, I keep saying "no" when it asks me if I want it. It asks me again and again, doing its best to drive me up the wall (or get it driven across the room).
bash$ echo "From the article: \"Three-Dimensional Presentation of Multiple Data Sets in Unitary Format with Pie Charts\"" | grep -v "bullshit"
output:
"3D Pie Charts"
One fooled the clerk... the other would be sure to surface a gut wrenching guffaw from the poor lonely clerk. Imagine working in complete, mind-numbing silence for 6 hours, leafing through endless mounds of paper... then stumbling upon that one... I swear I'd die laughing.
Exactly. I currently have in my head three companies I refuse to buy from anymore. I've boycotted each one for various reasons, including monopolistic behaviour, deplorable or non-existent customer service, lying, information stealing, etc... It'll take a very long run of goodness from any of these companies before I would even consider buying more of their products. Funny thing is, I _used_ to be a customer of each of these companies.
They can bully us around all they like - until we all realize how much the situation is in OUR hands. If they don't get more of our money, they'll starve. The only question is time. Simple as that.
Of course, there are other satisfying things you can do. Deny them mindshare. Disregard anything and everything they say as more lies. If someone you know is considering buying from them, tell the person why you don't buy from X company anymore and let them make up their own mind. Switch to a competitor's product to show your support. I'm sure you can think of your own ways...;)
It may seem daunting and you may think "well, one person won't make a difference", but a hundred million one persons sure will... that's how big companies get big... or small. It's up to each of us.
Slashdot Mirror
Have you tried SpamCop? They now apparently have a flat-rate fee which is good if you get a lot of email. Sounds promising as a service.
:) But since I'm bound into their system, I can't do more to get rid of spam. I wish they would add a feature that would require senders to click on a URL or something. And/or use the authentication system which Yahoo! uses - a graphic with numbers on it, obfuscated a little with random patterns, and it asks you to type that in. That could be an effective deterrent to spam.
My problem is mainly my Hotmail account. I get just loads and loads of spam through it as I use it as my "public" email address. I've created filters to get rid of "obvious spam".
Would also be nice if I could setup an auto-responder to tell senders that my email address has changed (so I could setup a SpamCop address, for example).
So, until Microsoft gets their developers together and improves my spam-stopping options, I'm stuck getting that crap every day. And no, I cannot just let this account rot as that's the only way some old time pals will ever be able to contact me.
Unfortunately, I have a Packard Bell computer. It's the same old tune in this story, except with HP. I didn't get an original Windows 98 CD with my machine which really ticked me off, but fortunately I had access to a real Win98 CD so I didn't bother making a huge fuss.
The first thing I did with my new computer, fortunately, was try out my new CD burner and burn the folder they had on there with all the Packard Bell drivers on it. I reformatted my machine (I hate default installs), then installed with an original Win98 CD. The drivers weren't there! So, I pulled out my trusty CDR which I'd just burned and found the drivers in there after some searching.
To make a long story short, not providing the original CDs is hardly a solution for most customers. Many questions are left unanswered:
- What if the hard disk crashes?
- What if I decide to install another OS on my machine and then want to put back the OS which came with my system?
- What if my partition table gets corrupted?
- What if I want to configure the hard disk into a RAID?
- If Windows really comes bundled with the computer, why don't I get the original retail CDs? Almost gives an illegal or unjust feel to the whole deal.
Anyway, '98 is long gone on that computer and I'm happily running Linux on it today. I'll never buy from Packard Bell again (for the CD issue, and for the absolutely poor tech support), and the chance of my buying from HP is pretty slim as well, at least till they get this mess straightened out.
Actually, I'm more of a Dell fan, but they've been getting under my skin, too. When configuring the options for your new computer (online store), you don't get to pick "I DO NOT want Windows or MS Office/Works bundled with this computer" as an option. I am forced to pay for something I probably won't use. This practice has got to stop. Hopefully the DOJ can give us a hand on that one.
These cases drag on for weeks, months, years... and there is too little time to find a technical person who can give impartial opinions? I find that statement odd.
"The site www.freedos.org is running Apache/1.3.22 (Unix) PHP/4.1.1 FrontPage/4.0.4.3 on Linux."
I remember checking this website out awhile ago on one of my random surf-abouts. I'm quite impressed that they've made such progress since then.
offtopic part: It struck me when I visited freedos.org how many open source websites look similar. Then it occurred to me how the effect is a kind of brand recognition. Or, even a catalog of free software. Neat.
What would the state attorneys do with the source code to Windows? Especially given that doing anything with it would be illegal, and that there is so much source code available for free on the Internet that Microsoft's is just one more project.
OTOH, I'm sure it would enable some companies to write competitive software for Windows if they had the source, as Microsoft seems to be good at putting undocumentated APIs into their products for their own gain.
Any chance of getting NON-RealAudio streams put up? If not, I'll be looking around for a converter soon as I download the rm's. Thanks.
I agree. This was a very generous decision and their customers will respect them more for it.
In every article I've read about the issue of spam, the author unfailingly feels the need to provide numerous examples of what kind of spam they have received. I find this so tiresom that I tend to skip half the article... skimming almost as quickly as when cleaning the spam out of my inbox.
Please, we don't need examples - we all know what spam is!
Cool, thanks for the tech update. I'm way outta date here!... hehe. :)
How is this any worse than a bunch of goons carrying cell phones?
The difference is that with walkie talkies or wireless networks, many people can talk to one another simultaneously and instantly.
With a cell phone, you have to dial the phone or at least be online constantly after dialing. You can have one, maybe two people on the other end. The same effect is not created.
You'd be suspicious if you saw a bunch of goons walking around the airport with walkie talkies...
but a bunch of goons carrying wireless-linked laptops is ok?
Sounds like one hell of a plot could be dreamed up with this kind of infrastructure in place. What are they thinking?
There's two ways to look at it. When I pay $60 for a distro (Mandrake is my choice), I know it's going to a good cause. I feel like I'm contributing to a good cause. So, $60 isn't too bad. Plus, you the manuals in print which is a nice bonus.
On the other hand, I don't know what people who don't know about "free" software think about shelling out $60. My guess is, they're reading the box and thinking "geez, thousands of programs on 7 CDs and still much cheaper than Windows. Plus, my buddy said it's really cool. Ok."
I don't think you're seeing the big picture here.
Think of how many C++Builder applications there are on Windows. Add to that how many MS Visual C applications exist (assuming one can fairly easily port to C++Builder - correct me if I'm wrong).
If Borland can make it easy for the developers of these applications to port over to Linux, that's an amazing influx of useful, polished software we can use.
Also, I think you might be discounting the positive effect a great IDE for Linux would have on the community. It is not easy to start coding efficiently using gcc, libglade, gtk, and what have you. Not to mention that most debuggers for Linux are not as full-featured as Borland's offerings.
C++Builder provides many, many IDE features like command completion, online help, wizards, database connectivity, CORBA, Apache support, etc.. etc.. which is all at your fingertips and well documented. I don't see how it couldn't give Linux development a good shot in the arm!
One negative point, though, is that for now this will only be for the Intel platform. I'm sure someday that will change. The core of the system, though, must always use open source software. On that note, I wouldn't be surprised to eventually see open source IDEs or conversion programs which make it possible to compile C++Builder for Linux projects using gcc and compatible toolkits.
I would assume that you could create an air-tight PC and have this system cool the innards without air exchange?
Are there applications that could use this kind of feature? Maybe in a polluted/hazardous environment where the air or particles in the air could harm the computer internals?
I'm totally with you on the Discovery thing. I used to watch it religiously. Now it's mostly crap. What's with all the Crocodile Hunter wannabe's? And is the Crocodile Hunter himself becoming commercialized or what!? Sad, sad state of affairs. He was my hero, but I still think he's pretty cool.
:) )
On the dish - yeah, same reason here. It would be difficult placement. Plus, they stick you on the price of the dish and installation from what I've seen. As if! Just like DSL or cable Internet trying to charge me for the modem. Hello! What the hell am I going to do with it after I end my subscription eventually? I have enough computer parts, thank you very much.
(ps - dude, are you Canadian? I'm CDN living in the US with these good people and I couldn't help but pick up on something in your message. Either way, take'er easy!
I'm wary of these accusations. Mainly because there is no way in hell $2 million worth of plumbing work had to be done just to redirect a drain pipe. It would blow my mind if it even cost $100,000, though I doubt most outfits would charge close to that, even for a goverment project. :)
A problem I am feeling with Slashdot's system is that often there are so many new stories coming on to the main page that people don't really have time to read and comment on all of them (of interest).
If they do, they don't get to go back and reply to their comment's replies (by this point there are 10 new stories and nobody cares about the "old" ones anymore).
No idea what a good solution would be at this point, though.
On a positive note, I've been finding myself think ing about moderation categories in everyday life from time to time. Like, if someone says something that really pisses me off, I just think to myself "Flamebait" and shrug it off. Ha! Interesting effect it's had on me, for the better I think.
[chorus 1]
They're coming to take me away,
Haha, they're coming to take me away,
Ho ho, hee hee, ha ha,
To the funny farm
Where Life is Beautiful all the time
And I'll be happy to see
Those Nice Young Men
In their Clean White Coats
And they're coming to take me AWAY,
HA HAAAAA
(j/k) ^^google quote
If they actually had anything on TV worth _watching_, this might make a wee bit more sense.
I might as well stand by the curb next to my garbage... carrying a shotgun and hollering.
Who cares - waste your money protecting it if you want. Nobody's gonna steal what's on TV. Most of us like two or three channels which we need the full package cable to get, naturally.
Two key paragraphs should be read:
"...The transition period is subject to periodic progress reviews by the FCC. In addition, last fall Congress included provisions in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 that would extend analog service beyond the 2006 date if certain conditions exist. They include a variety of conditions such as: the failure of one or more of the largest TV stations in a market to begin broadcasting digital TV signals due to causes outside the broadcasters control, or if fewer than 85% of the TV households in a market are able to receive digital TV signals off the air either with a digital TV set or with an analog set equipped with a converter box or subscribe to a cable-type service that carries the DTV stations in the market.
During this transition period, consumers who wish to simply continue receiving only analog tv service will be able to do so. Consumers will be able indefinitely to get service out of their existing television sets, but will not be able to see the DTV broadcasts without a special converter. In order to receive DTV you will have the option of purchasing a converter which can be used with your existing television. You also will have the option of purchasing a digital TV, which will be expensive at first (just as color televisions were very expensive when they were first introduced), but which are expected to become more affordable when DTV is widely available."
Before you go "um, duh" think about it first.
I know what it's doing in the background. For each image it's also trying to set the cookie, too, probably because of automatic session handling on the webserver.
Run netscape and tell it to prompt you when you receive a cookie. You'll get the same thing
That's what my whole post was trying to say. I use Netscape 4.76, which I should've mentioned. There is no way to enable/disable cookies on a per site basis in that browser. Mozilla has a nice per site feature, but too bad the developers are still trying to get the "find" dialog working properly. :-/
It cracks me up that Microsoft disabled Java support in XP for "security reasons". Probably removed the most secure part of their OS by doing so.
oh, just reinstall!
and now... oh, just upgrade!
Here's the real deal, IMO:
Microsoft's brand name is going down the crapper - faster than you can say "Flush". They MUST do something about their lax security image, or it will only get worse. Read on...
Probably every IT magazine has blasted them about their security practices. People everywhere think Microsoft's security breaches are a joke these days.
What's making them peddle even faster is that Linux is breathing down their neck and getting more and more mainstream. I find a lot of irony in this. Why? Microsoft crushed Netscape and many other companies by giving software away for free. They can do this because they have a huge bankroll and don't need the extra revenue of addon products. Linux is free, too... this hits them dead on where it hurts - their OS market. It was said many times during the Netscape vs. Microsoft browser war "you can't beat free". Only now, Linux and Open Source have something better than a large bankroll. They have practically unlimited development capacity. WAY more than Microsoft thousands of engineers. They also have the hearts and minds of hundreds of thousands of developers around the world. They have goodwill. They have quality and security far superior to Microsoft.
I believe this is the way. Eventually everything gets commoditized. The operating system is next. Microsoft - the ride's just about over. You know it because you're digging your claws into just about every market you can. You're differentiating. Not everyone is buying your differentiated crap, though, are they? Your reputation will follow you wherever you go... remember that.
I'd like to add to that. Should the default be changed, they often make it really, REALLY annoying to deal with.
Best example: Change your Cookies setting to "prompt me" and visit any site that uses cookies. You will be prompted a million times to accept or reject a cookie.
Another great example: Browser plugins. I don't want Flash 5 on my system. I don't need it. So, I keep saying "no" when it asks me if I want it. It asks me again and again, doing its best to drive me up the wall (or get it driven across the room).
bash$ echo "From the article: \"Three-Dimensional Presentation of Multiple Data Sets in Unitary Format with Pie Charts\"" | grep -v "bullshit"
output:
"3D Pie Charts"
One fooled the clerk... the other would be sure to surface a gut wrenching guffaw from the poor lonely clerk. Imagine working in complete, mind-numbing silence for 6 hours, leafing through endless mounds of paper... then stumbling upon that one... I swear I'd die laughing.
Exactly. I currently have in my head three companies I refuse to buy from anymore. I've boycotted each one for various reasons, including monopolistic behaviour, deplorable or non-existent customer service, lying, information stealing, etc... It'll take a very long run of goodness from any of these companies before I would even consider buying more of their products. Funny thing is, I _used_ to be a customer of each of these companies.
;)
They can bully us around all they like - until we all realize how much the situation is in OUR hands. If they don't get more of our money, they'll starve. The only question is time. Simple as that.
Of course, there are other satisfying things you can do. Deny them mindshare. Disregard anything and everything they say as more lies. If someone you know is considering buying from them, tell the person why you don't buy from X company anymore and let them make up their own mind. Switch to a competitor's product to show your support. I'm sure you can think of your own ways...
It may seem daunting and you may think "well, one person won't make a difference", but a hundred million one persons sure will... that's how big companies get big... or small. It's up to each of us.