Meanwhile, there are those of us who have had no problems with Microsoft tech support. In perhaps two dozen uses over the years, my problems have been resolved 90% of the time, some of which required a callback from a second-level Tech (reasonably promptly). That's a far sight better than the "support" I've received from the stupid Internet for FreeBSD or linux. Furthermore, two instances that I can recall turned out to have precious little to do with the Microsoft product in question, yet I was helped regardless.
So, "exactly how much 'support' has anyone ever got from Microsoft"? Plenty. Maybe it's I don't go into the whole process with a fanboy's expectation of failure and offer them the benefit of the doubt. In fact, among all software vendors I have dealt with in a support capacity (there are many), Microsoft is right up there. Can you believe it? You'd almost think they weren't Satan incarnate.
So, who's right? Let me guess -- this is flamebait because it's not anti-Microsoft.
An embarrassing pittance in comparison to those who sell software. RedHat will always be three months from bankruptcy.
IBM and HP and Sun all have plans to make money off free software
Ah, the old "good intentions" argument. In other news, I have plans to be rich some day. The ONLY way these companies can afford to dabble in FS is by relying upon the money made from commercial software to fund this new flight of fancy. IBM in particular made its fortune by being the Antichrist of "Freedom" in the 70s and 80s and now everyone happily forgets those days in lieu of a new bandwagon on which to jump.
I never volunteered to pay them for my copy of Windows.
Well, I'm no sleuth, but if you have a copy of Windows, it's for one of the following three reasons:
1) You bought the CD.
2) You bought a computer with it included.
3) You pirated it.
In points one and two, you damned sure did volunteer to pay for it (and don't give me any of that 'Microsoft tax' propaganda, as nobody forced you to buy a computer). If point three holds, you obtained it illegally and deserve what you get.
Who really cares? There are dozens of comments here that basically state, "Most computer users are too stupid or lazy to keep things patched or pay attention to what's going on, and they're getting clobbered by spam and spyware." Let them get blasted over and over -- who cares?
I've had enough of holding the hands of those who are not willing to protect themselves. If these "people," usually grown adults, can't avoid a "Get Kool Mouse Pointerz Here" link, that's their problem. I'll happily charge them by the hour to fix the problems (and I do), but I'm not going to wring my hands here or anywhere else over how to solve the problem at its root. For friends and family, I've got everything locked down, but I'm not about to waste my time bothering with all others, especially when the warnings are ignored constantly.
Those of us who are Internet old-timers have long chanted the "don't trust anyone you don't know" mantra that keeps these problems at bay, and, unsurprisingly, nobody has listened. So, to hell with them. I made a few hundred bucks last month alone from a "will remove viruses and spyware" ad in the local paper, so let them keep it up, and I'll soon have my school tuition for this semester paid.
Spam and spyware are both hilariously easy to eliminate in one step -- stop being so gullible. Since that will never, ever happen, I'm happy to keep taking their money and patting their soft little heads.
Shouldn't, and won't, ever, ever happen. I have been dealing with computers for almost two decades and even I have no interest in manually installing or configuring everything that is loaded on this PC. Sometimes (often), I just want it to work fast, with no jerking around. Maybe you enjoy losing a night of sleep in order to burn a CD, but I've got better things to do... like nothing.
Surprisingly for Slashdot, those are excellent points. It's very tempting to cash in on the brutal stupidity of the public at large, especially when the capital investment is so small. I have absolutely no pity for anyone who gets bilked by the Nigerian scam or any of the countless "herbal" remedies being hawked. Those collosal morons are going to lose their money to someone, why not me?
Frankly, I think it really is as simple as it seems to be a profitable spammer, and the only legitimate hurdle I can see is obtaining clients who wish their product advertised in such a manner. In fact, the reason why everyone isn't doing it is because it's so deceptively simple. Either that, or moral objections, but those tend to fall away in the minds of many when there's easy money to be had.
Computers and the Internet are still very much a "black box" affair to the average consumer, and they almost certainly figure that sending a few million e-mails is something only that nerd kid next door could be clever enough to pull off. I have no desire to kill this falsehood, for the sake of my inbox if nothing else.
Is anyone else struck by the amount of junk that is jettisoned onto Mars by this project? Check out the animations on this page.
From these animations, it appears that Mars is now littered with:
1) the heat-shield from its entry.
2) the first parachute and associated hardware.
3) the second, larger parachute and associated hardware.
4) the "cushioning bags".
5) some metal pieces as the machine opens.
I have no idea if Mars' atmosphere is thick enough to thoroughly burn up the myriad other parts that were disengaged during its descent, so that may be a whole raft of other crap in addition to what I have mentioned. Can't we spoil only one planet at a time?
There is virtually no atmosphere and arguably no water, so it probably won't degrade much physically. There is, however, a ton of dust and all kinds of wind, so it will probably be 30 feet down by the time human feet ever hit Mars.
It makes me wish I could be there when future archaeologists in the year 4003, living on Mars, find this metallic probe buried X meters down and engage in a firestorm of debate over where it came from. Considering how little we know about the advanced societies from our past, it's the kind of thing that could actually happen.
1) Linux zealots can't imagine why anyone would disagree with their ideology, while Windows users tend to not care.
2) Linux zealots try to change the world and degrade those who don't submit. To them, anyone who uses Windows on purpose is an idiot or a luddite.
Basically, it's the same old Freedom Fighter philosophy with the true linux zealots: "I want choice and you have to agree with mine!"
Yes: the ability to do so without ever having to make eye contact with another human being. How many people do you know who won't ride the bus because of the "element" he or she will encounter?
why not let your programmers work from home for 50-80% of their current in-office pay?
Because employers know that North American employees are too lazy to be left alone to this degree. There's utterly no work ethic here, and only an idiot would pay people to sit on the couch and get fatter.
Pff, you don't think for one second that the U.S. is going to stand for any justice but its own here, do you? Do you? The american ego is as big as its debt, and there should be no doubt of who will be dolling out the punishment to justify the immense cost.
... but business people don't... Microsoft doesn't offer realistic support options
Guh. I know this is no Microsoft haven, but that's just wrong. Having dealt with Microsoft's paid support on several occasions, I can't recall a time where they didn't solve the problem. I didn't necessarily like the solution, but one was provided. On more than one occasion, the chimp on the phone has gone well beyond the call of duty to get me going.
And, business people do believe that Microsoft is liable. Unlike most other options (aside from Sun, Apple, etc), Microsoft gives the PHB someone to yell at, if absolutely nothing else, and that is what is seen as being accountable to many. I use FreeBSD to run my own server and, were I a PHB, who would I call when things go south at the obvious fault of the OS? Nobody. Bosses figure that enough wrangling and threats will get things solved (often true), and, Microsoft, being an actual entity with real phone numbers and real people answering them, makes this possible. That's how accountability is defined these days -- as someone to listen while you vent your spleen over the product they purvey.
This is what creates the principal divide between the "reputable" companies and "free" alternatives. What am I supposed to say when the boss says, "FreeBSD, huh? Who do we call when it all falls apart at midnight on a Sunday?" "Well, there are newsgroups..." No thanks, I like my job.
Sorry to pick on you specifically, but what in the hell is WRONG with people? How can people, especially those with SOME level of technical knowledge, STILL be getting clobbered with spam?
HOW?
I have had the same, very simple e-mail account with a nationwide ISP for more than two years and have seen precisely four pieces of spam the entire time ("clever guess" spam, at that). Before that, I had an account that was kept safe for seven years prior to my moving. How? I exercise my eight brain cells in handing it out and I have another "junk" account for things like domain name registrations and stuff where its public display is foreseeable.
Now, you may ask yourself, "How clever IS this guy." Oh, I'm not that smart, but I do possess something called "an ability to learn from the mistakes of others" (sorry for the technical jargon). I don't even have any filters set up in my e-mail client because they're not necessary. Can you believe it? All because of a little foresight.
Do you also hand out your telephone number to anyone who wants it, despite intents? How about your driver's licence ID number? Your bank account information? Oh, those things are common sense, right? After all these years, why isn't e-mail also common sense?
There is NO reason whatsoever for anyone to get clobbered by spam unless it is due to one's own stupidity.
Okay...but, I don't think this has anything to do with underlying tech. Arrogance will be discounted as a reflection on the person.
Young man, you are so, so wrong. I have personally watched OSS fall out of favour with organizational decision-makers because they don't like the unwashed arrogance, the inexplicable "winning users through degredation" approach, and the militant politics. I have seen, with my own eyes, linux lose because nobody wants to deal with "those ego-children" (direct quote from an ex-boss) when things go sideways.
It hardly matters, when even living with someone for a few months gives them the same "rights" as a married spouse.
The wise man in the 21st Century gets good and used to living as a bachelor and never, ever enjoying sex without a metaphorical garbage bag tied around his sex organ.
The whole issue with child support is so ugly that I'm coming around to the idea that you would have to be a fool to father children. Get em snipped now, you'll save yourself a lot of hell in the long run.
Ay-men. It's just YET ANOTHER example of how any attempts to even the odds between those with power and those without do nothing but flip the scenario the long run.
Yes, he touched a nerve -- my "oh, look, another illiterate, yet inexplicably cocky, linux fanboy" nerve.
Now, you can excrete all the Slashdot "logic" you want -- the guy is a turnip, I said so, I am clearly right, and it feels great. Thank YOU for playing.
Slashdot Mirror
So, "exactly how much 'support' has anyone ever got from Microsoft"? Plenty. Maybe it's I don't go into the whole process with a fanboy's expectation of failure and offer them the benefit of the doubt. In fact, among all software vendors I have dealt with in a support capacity (there are many), Microsoft is right up there. Can you believe it? You'd almost think they weren't Satan incarnate.
So, who's right? Let me guess -- this is flamebait because it's not anti-Microsoft.
I have Quicktime installed and it stole nothing.
Oh.
An embarrassing pittance in comparison to those who sell software. RedHat will always be three months from bankruptcy.
IBM and HP and Sun all have plans to make money off free software
Ah, the old "good intentions" argument. In other news, I have plans to be rich some day. The ONLY way these companies can afford to dabble in FS is by relying upon the money made from commercial software to fund this new flight of fancy. IBM in particular made its fortune by being the Antichrist of "Freedom" in the 70s and 80s and now everyone happily forgets those days in lieu of a new bandwagon on which to jump.
Well, I'm no sleuth, but if you have a copy of Windows, it's for one of the following three reasons:
1) You bought the CD.
2) You bought a computer with it included.
3) You pirated it.
In points one and two, you damned sure did volunteer to pay for it (and don't give me any of that 'Microsoft tax' propaganda, as nobody forced you to buy a computer). If point three holds, you obtained it illegally and deserve what you get.
What was your point again?
In the adult world, companies try to make money. I know you linux fanboys aren't accustomed to this philosophy.
At Slashdot, a myth is anything one doesn't agree with.
I've had enough of holding the hands of those who are not willing to protect themselves. If these "people," usually grown adults, can't avoid a "Get Kool Mouse Pointerz Here" link, that's their problem. I'll happily charge them by the hour to fix the problems (and I do), but I'm not going to wring my hands here or anywhere else over how to solve the problem at its root. For friends and family, I've got everything locked down, but I'm not about to waste my time bothering with all others, especially when the warnings are ignored constantly.
Those of us who are Internet old-timers have long chanted the "don't trust anyone you don't know" mantra that keeps these problems at bay, and, unsurprisingly, nobody has listened. So, to hell with them. I made a few hundred bucks last month alone from a "will remove viruses and spyware" ad in the local paper, so let them keep it up, and I'll soon have my school tuition for this semester paid.
Spam and spyware are both hilariously easy to eliminate in one step -- stop being so gullible. Since that will never, ever happen, I'm happy to keep taking their money and patting their soft little heads.
Shouldn't, and won't, ever, ever happen. I have been dealing with computers for almost two decades and even I have no interest in manually installing or configuring everything that is loaded on this PC. Sometimes (often), I just want it to work fast, with no jerking around. Maybe you enjoy losing a night of sleep in order to burn a CD, but I've got better things to do... like nothing.
Frankly, I think it really is as simple as it seems to be a profitable spammer, and the only legitimate hurdle I can see is obtaining clients who wish their product advertised in such a manner. In fact, the reason why everyone isn't doing it is because it's so deceptively simple. Either that, or moral objections, but those tend to fall away in the minds of many when there's easy money to be had.
Computers and the Internet are still very much a "black box" affair to the average consumer, and they almost certainly figure that sending a few million e-mails is something only that nerd kid next door could be clever enough to pull off. I have no desire to kill this falsehood, for the sake of my inbox if nothing else.
From these animations, it appears that Mars is now littered with:
1) the heat-shield from its entry.
2) the first parachute and associated hardware.
3) the second, larger parachute and associated hardware.
4) the "cushioning bags".
5) some metal pieces as the machine opens.
I have no idea if Mars' atmosphere is thick enough to thoroughly burn up the myriad other parts that were disengaged during its descent, so that may be a whole raft of other crap in addition to what I have mentioned. Can't we spoil only one planet at a time?
It makes me wish I could be there when future archaeologists in the year 4003, living on Mars, find this metallic probe buried X meters down and engage in a firestorm of debate over where it came from. Considering how little we know about the advanced societies from our past, it's the kind of thing that could actually happen.
1) Linux zealots can't imagine why anyone would disagree with their ideology, while Windows users tend to not care.
2) Linux zealots try to change the world and degrade those who don't submit. To them, anyone who uses Windows on purpose is an idiot or a luddite.
Basically, it's the same old Freedom Fighter philosophy with the true linux zealots: "I want choice and you have to agree with mine!"
Yes: the ability to do so without ever having to make eye contact with another human being. How many people do you know who won't ride the bus because of the "element" he or she will encounter?
Because employers know that North American employees are too lazy to be left alone to this degree. There's utterly no work ethic here, and only an idiot would pay people to sit on the couch and get fatter.
WRT your comment -- yes.
Pff, you don't think for one second that the U.S. is going to stand for any justice but its own here, do you? Do you? The american ego is as big as its debt, and there should be no doubt of who will be dolling out the punishment to justify the immense cost.
Guh. I know this is no Microsoft haven, but that's just wrong. Having dealt with Microsoft's paid support on several occasions, I can't recall a time where they didn't solve the problem. I didn't necessarily like the solution, but one was provided. On more than one occasion, the chimp on the phone has gone well beyond the call of duty to get me going.
And, business people do believe that Microsoft is liable. Unlike most other options (aside from Sun, Apple, etc), Microsoft gives the PHB someone to yell at, if absolutely nothing else, and that is what is seen as being accountable to many. I use FreeBSD to run my own server and, were I a PHB, who would I call when things go south at the obvious fault of the OS? Nobody. Bosses figure that enough wrangling and threats will get things solved (often true), and, Microsoft, being an actual entity with real phone numbers and real people answering them, makes this possible. That's how accountability is defined these days -- as someone to listen while you vent your spleen over the product they purvey.
This is what creates the principal divide between the "reputable" companies and "free" alternatives. What am I supposed to say when the boss says, "FreeBSD, huh? Who do we call when it all falls apart at midnight on a Sunday?" "Well, there are newsgroups..." No thanks, I like my job.
HOW?
I have had the same, very simple e-mail account with a nationwide ISP for more than two years and have seen precisely four pieces of spam the entire time ("clever guess" spam, at that). Before that, I had an account that was kept safe for seven years prior to my moving. How? I exercise my eight brain cells in handing it out and I have another "junk" account for things like domain name registrations and stuff where its public display is foreseeable.
Now, you may ask yourself, "How clever IS this guy." Oh, I'm not that smart, but I do possess something called "an ability to learn from the mistakes of others" (sorry for the technical jargon). I don't even have any filters set up in my e-mail client because they're not necessary. Can you believe it? All because of a little foresight.
Do you also hand out your telephone number to anyone who wants it, despite intents? How about your driver's licence ID number? Your bank account information? Oh, those things are common sense, right? After all these years, why isn't e-mail also common sense?
There is NO reason whatsoever for anyone to get clobbered by spam unless it is due to one's own stupidity.
Young man, you are so, so wrong. I have personally watched OSS fall out of favour with organizational decision-makers because they don't like the unwashed arrogance, the inexplicable "winning users through degredation" approach, and the militant politics. I have seen, with my own eyes, linux lose because nobody wants to deal with "those ego-children" (direct quote from an ex-boss) when things go sideways.
Name one example that hasn't held the gun to its own head and offered the trigger.
Nuff said.
The wise man in the 21st Century gets good and used to living as a bachelor and never, ever enjoying sex without a metaphorical garbage bag tied around his sex organ.
What a time to be alive.
Ay-men. It's just YET ANOTHER example of how any attempts to even the odds between those with power and those without do nothing but flip the scenario the long run.
Now, you can excrete all the Slashdot "logic" you want -- the guy is a turnip, I said so, I am clearly right, and it feels great. Thank YOU for playing.
Oh, you mean his heady "Microsfot suks" banter?
Yeah, that's quite the maelstrom of intelligence he lobbed my way.