I have worked for banks (actually, I mostly work for banks), and they are notorious for being slow. So, in late 2004, a grand 3 years after the Windows XP release we were using NT 4.0 SP-5 on the desktop. On new Dell machines, nevertheless. While in a banking setup it wasn't important, there were no drivers for the soundcards and I believe the used a Matrox model they installed themselves that was still supported on NT 4.0 or somesuch thing.
I'm just stating that if you want to stay with Windows, staying with an older version is going to bite you in the ass sooner or later.
On the other hand, I have to admit that the end-users are quite aware about Vista problems. In the last two months, I had calls from three non-computer-savvy ladies who know I give "free" advice. They all needed a new computer and were aware of the problems with Vista. I was surprised about that. I pointed all three to Apple.
In the end Vista will be inevitable. Drivers not available anymore except for Vista, important programs that are Vista-only. Security updates not being made available for XP anymore. (Look at how the support for Win2k went downhill once WinXP was released. For NT 4.0, they stopped giving patches before the official end-of-line) Believe me, it will happen, eventually. Give it another year or two. I didn't switch to WinXP before SP2 was very mature (Fall 2005). Before I was Win2k all the way, and before that NT 4.0....
Try running NT 4.0 these days... Won't get you very far. That's the future of Windows XP. They are going to drop it like a hot potato.
Actually, a P-III 600MHz with 512Meg RAM is a very workable machine for Windows XP. It was my primary laptop for a very long time. Besides, pre-XP-SP2, 256Meg RAM was workable. SP2 upped the requirement significantly.
They gave me a laptop at work. I leave it on the desk all the time... Essentially, it's a desktop with a built-in UPS;-)
The carrying bag is getting dusty somewhere in a closet.
I *do* think we're heading that way anyway. There isn't much we can do about it, right? The purpose of my original post was to be funny, with exactly the bitter aftertaste that we aren't any better off. I thought everyone would get that.
Actually, to be honest... I also said I wouldn't go to the US anymore. I've been there pre and post 9/11, and was always treated as a criminal. However, my wife want to go to the US and I think I'll give in. Why? Because with the USD to EUR conversion, it might turn out to be a damned cheap vacation.
No worries about the Euro sign. Guessed as much, and I didn't know if you knew about HTML entities. I like to point them out on geek sites like slashdot.
I wish I could have a house at 250€/month. Heck, I'd pay 4x more for a house like yours and be happy. A mortgage payment would most probably swallow my whole salary and a part of my wifes salary for a house the size you have.
Even assuming $1=1€, it's about double what I'd pay for a big diesel Uhaul type panel truck for the weekend.
I live in an extremely expensive country. Just for comparison: my rent is 1300€/month for a 80sq metre apartment (861 square feet according to google). I won't say, I swallow 250€ like that, but it's not the end of the world for something you planned (like moving, you don't do that on a whim) [Sidenote: to have a visible euro sign on slashdot, use html entities: € = €]
Do you mean a car that's 10% larger, or have 10% of the fleet be larger vehicles?
I was talking about the fleet...
As said, I don't disagree with anything you say... I just find "shopping" a very lame excuse for justifying a large car.
I think we agree... We just focus on different things. My main gripe was with the fact that the old "shopping argument" was once again used. The addition of some larger cars to the system is okay, unless people start to take them because they are larger just for being larger and not for actually hauling things. So, if some guy thinks he needs a truck to do his grocery shopping, he really should get a bit education first and then take the Mini.
Exotic shopping happens but delivery also happens and is cheaper than owning a big car. Camping must be a big American thing. I haven't been camping in the last 20 years, and I don't feel like doing it either.
Last time I moved, I rented a truck. 250€ for the weekend... That's not that much, is it?
So, yes, allow 10% bigger cars, but I think people wanting those should prove that they need them for hauling/camping/etc. Otherwise, it's going to get abused.
Oh, yes, I saw the furniture. How many times a year do you go shopping for furniture? Besides, most companies will have a delivery service. Everything that means "hauling large stuff" is *by definition* not "classic shopping". Shopping for me involves buying food and/or clothes. Anything else is exotic.
I hate it when people say "I need a big car for shopping". That's bolloks and you know it.
Chances are you can't explain how, say, a simple battery or perhaps a fuel cell works on a biochemical level.
I don't know about you, but where I live understanding the basic principles of a battery (not a fuel cell, but I can read up on it) are on the high school chemistry curriculum. Okay, it's been over 15 years since I had to learn it, so I need to brush it up.
Doesn't change your point, and I also was a bit baffled when the parent poster talked about partitioning. Still, knowing the operating system of your machine, sounds a reasonable thing to know. I mean most people know the brand of their car and/or the model.
there are a larger vehicles (xB, Element, Escape, supposedly pickups) that would allow you go shopping
I drive an Audi TT, my wife a Mini. Hardly cars that are known to have much space. However grocery shopping is not a problem. You don't need a truck for that.
I really couldn't tell you why you had it that hard. I'm not lying either. You can read the journal I wrote about it last Sunday. Don't mind the username: it is my primary account and this is my secondary acocunt. Verifiy the dates: you'll see that I wrote this post *after* the journal entry. I'm sorry of what happened to you, and I have to admit that I was scared shitless that it would happen to me. (Try explaining to your brother who is a gamer but not a tech that his computer is held hostage by Microsoft)
Do note that we were using an OEM version of XP Home. You were using an Upgrade version of XP Pro. That might explain the difference.
Won't be all that bad. I upgraded my brothers computer last weekend. It had already been though a number of upgrades. it was originally an AMD64 3400+ with 512Meg RAM. On the day we bought it, we upgraded it immediately to 1Gig RAM and a Wireless NIC. No Windows reactivation required. Beginning this year we maxed out the RAM on 2Gig and this month, I saw a AMD64 Athlon X2 4200+ on sale.
Changing the CPU didn't require reactivation. However, the BIOS didn't detect the fact that it was an X2 and as such neither did Windows. After a BIOS upgrade (from the motherboard manufacturer, not from the OEM), the X2 was detected and Windows did see the X2. However, activation was required. That of course was as easy as typing in the key from the sticker on the side of the case.
Oddly enough, AVG Free freaked out too... It said the license wasn't valid anymore. I was a bit surprised about that, but I did a reinstall and all was good again.
It was originally an Acer Aspire T140 and it runs Windows XP Home. The motherboard turned out the be a Foxconn motherboard model CK804K8MA-KS. Not that it was documented anywhere...
In some countries, comics are considered cultural heritage. Especially in Belgium and France, and while the comics are quite different, I understand the same is true for the United States. So, wikipedia has an entry on Suske en Wiske because it's culturally relevant to Belgium.
However, one might argue that webcomics are culturally relevant for the Internet and a such should be included. Personally, I'd say: if there are people who are willing to write about it, it should be included.
You only screwed up because you didn't heed the warning. That would perhaps have been a ground for being fired, but only perhaps. As I have said in another post: do people pack up their laptops when they go to lunch? If so, do they pack them up to go to the bathroom?
The problem is twofold: a) one needs to trust the employees, if you do not, then that needs to be fixed first. b) the premises need to be locked. An external person should not be able to access the offices where people work. They're harldy going to steal the iMac from the receptionist;-)
Makes no difference: if it were a desktop or an LCD screen, it would be as easy to steal them.
I already mentioned cleaning staff, so I am pretty sure that in case of a theft the person responsible for cleaning the premises would be easily findable. As for both delivery service and maintenance workers. Those should come during office hours. That either means there is somebody in the office *or* nobody is there and all the laptops are on the desks. It isn't as if anyone puts away their laptops when they go for lunch.
Why should you be fired for a laptop being stolen when the laptop is on the company premises? It is their responsibility to secure the premises. I mean, if it were desktops you couldn't lock them in a drawer and could be stolen too.
As for your last remark: you do realise that taking your laptop home from a highly secured area is more likely to result in theft of data. (I hope it's encrypted) Personally, my belief is that a laptop must be safe at the company itself. If it's not, the company has gotten bigger problems than laptop disappearing.
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Oh, I understood that completely....
I have worked for banks (actually, I mostly work for banks), and they are notorious for being slow. So, in late 2004, a grand 3 years after the Windows XP release we were using NT 4.0 SP-5 on the desktop. On new Dell machines, nevertheless. While in a banking setup it wasn't important, there were no drivers for the soundcards and I believe the used a Matrox model they installed themselves that was still supported on NT 4.0 or somesuch thing.
I'm just stating that if you want to stay with Windows, staying with an older version is going to bite you in the ass sooner or later.
On the other hand, I have to admit that the end-users are quite aware about Vista problems. In the last two months, I had calls from three non-computer-savvy ladies who know I give "free" advice. They all needed a new computer and were aware of the problems with Vista. I was surprised about that. I pointed all three to Apple.
In the end Vista will be inevitable. Drivers not available anymore except for Vista, important programs that are Vista-only. Security updates not being made available for XP anymore. (Look at how the support for Win2k went downhill once WinXP was released. For NT 4.0, they stopped giving patches before the official end-of-line) Believe me, it will happen, eventually. Give it another year or two. I didn't switch to WinXP before SP2 was very mature (Fall 2005). Before I was Win2k all the way, and before that NT 4.0....
Try running NT 4.0 these days... Won't get you very far. That's the future of Windows XP. They are going to drop it like a hot potato.
Actually, a P-III 600MHz with 512Meg RAM is a very workable machine for Windows XP. It was my primary laptop for a very long time. Besides, pre-XP-SP2, 256Meg RAM was workable. SP2 upped the requirement significantly.
Comaq nx9420. There must be others.
They gave me a laptop at work. I leave it on the desk all the time... Essentially, it's a desktop with a built-in UPS ;-)
The carrying bag is getting dusty somewhere in a closet.
Well, perhaps they do learn to spell "College" correctly, because this is a Collage. Before you say anything: English is my "third" language....
My country isn't listed :-(
I always read it as Sybian ;-)
Hmmmm... I'd be fired there within a minute. I think one of their marketing chicks is hot.... And normally, I don't fall for blondes.
I *do* think we're heading that way anyway. There isn't much we can do about it, right? The purpose of my original post was to be funny, with exactly the bitter aftertaste that we aren't any better off. I thought everyone would get that.
Actually, to be honest... I also said I wouldn't go to the US anymore. I've been there pre and post 9/11, and was always treated as a criminal. However, my wife want to go to the US and I think I'll give in. Why? Because with the USD to EUR conversion, it might turn out to be a damned cheap vacation.
Also have to think of my wallet, you know ;-)
Damnit! Now we EUers can't feel smug anymore and belittle our less free friends in the US ;-))
No worries about the Euro sign. Guessed as much, and I didn't know if you knew about HTML entities. I like to point them out on geek sites like slashdot.
I wish I could have a house at 250€/month. Heck, I'd pay 4x more for a house like yours and be happy. A mortgage payment would most probably swallow my whole salary and a part of my wifes salary for a house the size you have.
Even assuming $1=1€, it's about double what I'd pay for a big diesel Uhaul type panel truck for the weekend.
I live in an extremely expensive country. Just for comparison: my rent is 1300€/month for a 80sq metre apartment (861 square feet according to google). I won't say, I swallow 250€ like that, but it's not the end of the world for something you planned (like moving, you don't do that on a whim) [Sidenote: to have a visible euro sign on slashdot, use html entities: € = €]
Do you mean a car that's 10% larger, or have 10% of the fleet be larger vehicles?
I was talking about the fleet...
As said, I don't disagree with anything you say... I just find "shopping" a very lame excuse for justifying a large car.
I think we agree... We just focus on different things. My main gripe was with the fact that the old "shopping argument" was once again used. The addition of some larger cars to the system is okay, unless people start to take them because they are larger just for being larger and not for actually hauling things. So, if some guy thinks he needs a truck to do his grocery shopping, he really should get a bit education first and then take the Mini.
Exotic shopping happens but delivery also happens and is cheaper than owning a big car. Camping must be a big American thing. I haven't been camping in the last 20 years, and I don't feel like doing it either.
Last time I moved, I rented a truck. 250€ for the weekend... That's not that much, is it?
So, yes, allow 10% bigger cars, but I think people wanting those should prove that they need them for hauling/camping/etc. Otherwise, it's going to get abused.
Oh, yes, I saw the furniture. How many times a year do you go shopping for furniture? Besides, most companies will have a delivery service. Everything that means "hauling large stuff" is *by definition* not "classic shopping". Shopping for me involves buying food and/or clothes. Anything else is exotic.
I hate it when people say "I need a big car for shopping". That's bolloks and you know it.
Chances are you can't explain how, say, a simple battery or perhaps a fuel cell works on a biochemical level.
I don't know about you, but where I live understanding the basic principles of a battery (not a fuel cell, but I can read up on it) are on the high school chemistry curriculum. Okay, it's been over 15 years since I had to learn it, so I need to brush it up.
Doesn't change your point, and I also was a bit baffled when the parent poster talked about partitioning. Still, knowing the operating system of your machine, sounds a reasonable thing to know. I mean most people know the brand of their car and/or the model.
there are a larger vehicles (xB, Element, Escape, supposedly pickups) that would allow you go shopping
I drive an Audi TT, my wife a Mini. Hardly cars that are known to have much space. However grocery shopping is not a problem. You don't need a truck for that.
I really couldn't tell you why you had it that hard. I'm not lying either. You can read the journal I wrote about it last Sunday. Don't mind the username: it is my primary account and this is my secondary acocunt. Verifiy the dates: you'll see that I wrote this post *after* the journal entry. I'm sorry of what happened to you, and I have to admit that I was scared shitless that it would happen to me. (Try explaining to your brother who is a gamer but not a tech that his computer is held hostage by Microsoft)
Do note that we were using an OEM version of XP Home. You were using an Upgrade version of XP Pro. That might explain the difference.
Won't be all that bad. I upgraded my brothers computer last weekend. It had already been though a number of upgrades. it was originally an AMD64 3400+ with 512Meg RAM. On the day we bought it, we upgraded it immediately to 1Gig RAM and a Wireless NIC. No Windows reactivation required. Beginning this year we maxed out the RAM on 2Gig and this month, I saw a AMD64 Athlon X2 4200+ on sale.
Changing the CPU didn't require reactivation. However, the BIOS didn't detect the fact that it was an X2 and as such neither did Windows. After a BIOS upgrade (from the motherboard manufacturer, not from the OEM), the X2 was detected and Windows did see the X2. However, activation was required. That of course was as easy as typing in the key from the sticker on the side of the case.
Oddly enough, AVG Free freaked out too... It said the license wasn't valid anymore. I was a bit surprised about that, but I did a reinstall and all was good again.
It was originally an Acer Aspire T140 and it runs Windows XP Home. The motherboard turned out the be a Foxconn motherboard model CK804K8MA-KS. Not that it was documented anywhere...
Isn't that why we have wikipedia?
In some countries, comics are considered cultural heritage. Especially in Belgium and France, and while the comics are quite different, I understand the same is true for the United States. So, wikipedia has an entry on Suske en Wiske because it's culturally relevant to Belgium.
However, one might argue that webcomics are culturally relevant for the Internet and a such should be included. Personally, I'd say: if there are people who are willing to write about it, it should be included.
You only screwed up because you didn't heed the warning. That would perhaps have been a ground for being fired, but only perhaps. As I have said in another post: do people pack up their laptops when they go to lunch? If so, do they pack them up to go to the bathroom?
The problem is twofold: a) one needs to trust the employees, if you do not, then that needs to be fixed first. b) the premises need to be locked. An external person should not be able to access the offices where people work. They're harldy going to steal the iMac from the receptionist ;-)
Makes no difference: if it were a desktop or an LCD screen, it would be as easy to steal them.
I already mentioned cleaning staff, so I am pretty sure that in case of a theft the person responsible for cleaning the premises would be easily findable. As for both delivery service and maintenance workers. Those should come during office hours. That either means there is somebody in the office *or* nobody is there and all the laptops are on the desks. It isn't as if anyone puts away their laptops when they go for lunch.
Why should you be fired for a laptop being stolen when the laptop is on the company premises? It is their responsibility to secure the premises. I mean, if it were desktops you couldn't lock them in a drawer and could be stolen too.
As for your last remark: you do realise that taking your laptop home from a highly secured area is more likely to result in theft of data. (I hope it's encrypted) Personally, my belief is that a laptop must be safe at the company itself. If it's not, the company has gotten bigger problems than laptop disappearing.