If they changed the protocol as part of an 'upgrade', it only makes sense to block older clients. If a 3rd party isn't 'current' yet and is blocked its not AOL's fault.
We require licenses of many different professions, doctors, medical professionals, accountants even. Sorry, but unfortunately, saying "I have plenty of happy customers that are willing to have me repair their computers" doesn't justify this anymore than a doctor practicing medicine without a license can say "but they're totally accepting of my care, even though I'm unlicensed."
That is 100% correct, except the licenses actually relate to the job. In this case its way off base. This is like forcing a beautician to have a chemistry degree since she uses shampoo..
Not only that but in the case of a doctor, you die. Hard to compare killing a patient to deleting a file.
I'm still surprised that PC repair guys have not been forced to be licensed like TV repair people. Easier for the 'state' to track what is going on, impose restrictions, and get some extra revenue in the process. ( and drive up repair costs so its cheaper to buy a new one instead of getting an old one fixed.. gotta support that throwaway economy we have banked on for our countries survival )
"sorry we aren't legally allowed to service that pre-DRM secured computer. We are obligated to confiscate that machine and report you." "Thanks for choosing speedy-PC for your repair needs".
Depending on the use curve, that only extends the deadline but doesn't eliminate it so its a near-term solution only.
Either we figure out how to do all these things with common materials or eventually it will be rationed and only the elite will have 'stuff'. ( no, not in our lifetime, but as the world population expands there is a limit out there somewhere ).
I don't think mining anything other te the moon will be practical by the time we go extinct, but who knows for sure.
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It about money. the *AA has lots of it. Politicians listen to money.
I know you are being sarcastic, but i still wonder how they can rationalize *downloading* supporting anything. No $ is trading hands.
I'm so glad we have our priorities straight.
We are at war, the world economy is bout to tank.. but we are going to go after those darned music copiers.
Geesh.
Then you must live under a rock. This theory ( and several like it ) has been put out several times.
Tho this might be the first time they actually tried to verify it.
Not everyone downloads gigabytes of porn all day.
People that just read their mail and dink around on a webpage or tow don't need broadband.
Most people don't need it anyway. And 1/2 that think they do really don't.
If we could dump all the extra garbage on most webpages, we could conserve a lot of bandwidth as it is.
Not really, since every chip you buy now has multiple cores.
Software bloat will increase to fill the available hardware and we will be in the same boat.
" If the same pricing was applied on a per-byte basis to a single MP3 song download, it would set you back almost $24,000 according to one estimate."
Several RIAA attorneys just wet their pants.
If they changed the protocol as part of an 'upgrade', it only makes sense to block older clients. If a 3rd party isn't 'current' yet and is blocked its not AOL's fault.
It may not be *the* reason, but the cost for repairs have increased, and is a contributiing factor.
We require licenses of many different professions, doctors, medical professionals, accountants even. Sorry, but unfortunately, saying "I have plenty of happy customers that are willing to have me repair their computers" doesn't justify this anymore than a doctor practicing medicine without a license can say "but they're totally accepting of my care, even though I'm unlicensed."
That is 100% correct, except the licenses actually relate to the job. In this case its way off base. This is like forcing a beautician to have a chemistry degree since she uses shampoo.. Not only that but in the case of a doctor, you die. Hard to compare killing a patient to deleting a file.
I'm still surprised that PC repair guys have not been forced to be licensed like TV repair people. Easier for the 'state' to track what is going on, impose restrictions, and get some extra revenue in the process. ( and drive up repair costs so its cheaper to buy a new one instead of getting an old one fixed.. gotta support that throwaway economy we have banked on for our countries survival )
"sorry we aren't legally allowed to service that pre-DRM secured computer. We are obligated to confiscate that machine and report you." "Thanks for choosing speedy-PC for your repair needs".
Depending on the use curve, that only extends the deadline but doesn't eliminate it so its a near-term solution only.
Either we figure out how to do all these things with common materials or eventually it will be rationed and only the elite will have 'stuff'. ( no, not in our lifetime, but as the world population expands there is a limit out there somewhere ).
I don't think mining anything other te the moon will be practical by the time we go extinct, but who knows for sure.
Just what we need, yet another 'industry' to harass us and call us names.
yea! Yet another license to confuse/restrict people.
Good thing i don't acknowledge any of them.
Donno about you, but i had to sign up to get service.
Sure it was an online form, but i still had to agree to the terms of use.
I have been burnt by this in the past for ripping the 'factory seals' off to do upgrades so i am more cautious now..
Beyond that, how does it quality as troll? -1 wrong might be ok.. but troll?
Oh well, its /. what do you expect?
The last power book i saw had to be opened up for the hard drive, so id say that would kill your warranty.
How the hell did i get modded as a troll for not wanting to void my warranty? Morons.
Gotta prove you knew what/when/where.
In a properly distributed system, you cant prove any of that.
If I had a problem with GPL violations, id be a hypocrite.
Its all the same to me, none of it is valid.
And potentially void your warranty? No thanks.
I vote that they are using higher quality then the sub par commodity dell components, but still charging more then they should because they can.
Who said im going to court? I adjust my activities to compensate which avoids that situation.
Doesn't change my belief, or disregard.
So the fact they have to 'compete' negates fraud in your book?
Advertising and selling what you don't have is fraud.
Making excuses for it is ludicrous.