It may be difficult for the states to do anything about finding people, but it could work. I live in Indiana, and recently a law came into effect that instituted a "No Call" list for telemarketers. The program is voluntary, so you have to call to get on the list by a certain deadline (every six months or so), but once on the list, it becomes illegal for telemarketers to call. At that point, the state has a legal recoures against violators. Just a thought.
~Vlade
The complaints reflect growing turmoil in the Internet advertising industry, which increasingly has embraced intrusive, flashy and experimental ad tactics as online advertisers try harder to lure customers.
Advertising on the Internet has become extremely intrusive. I for one am wary of signing up for services that I could actually use because I'm afraid of my email address being sold thus filling my mailbox with services I have no interest in.
How many of you purchase things from companies because the berate you with popup windows and "trojan" software? People won't be so stupid forever, and when they do smarten up, Internet advertising as we know it will be over.
Those numbers you hear about MS losing money per box are based on ROI (Return on Investment) figures after the project came into being. A normail ROI for an MS software program is around 6 months. They expect Xbox to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 years. Think about it this way, though...Every extra controller, memory card, dvd remote, HDTV cables, not even to mention games adds to your total expenditure. It doesn't even matter if it's another company b/c MS gets a piece of those too. Long story short...MS isn't going to go broke from Xbox...they might through Ultimate TV, though. I think that it's a ploy to save Ultimate TV more than to help out Xbox.
~Vlade
There's a little internet cafe near my house that offers wireless service...You can pull into the parking lot, fire up your laptop and never even go inside. If you've got a wireless ipaq or something like that, you can just DL your mail as you walk by. It's pretty cool except I don't know how it would be viable to make money off of that. If you add security it becomes less usable, but if you don't, nobody pays. Interesting dichotomy...
~Vlade
Two things:
1.) You give people way too much credit, particularly government employees (I'd appologize, but the people I'm talking about couldn't figure out how to run this web page --kind of like making fun of the amish). Anyway, if you've ever worked in support, you know one thing: the majority of people are stupid. Flash back to the call to support because this guy's computer kept trying to steal his coffee - he thought his CD Rom drive was a cupholder..Get them doing one thing one way, particularly if it involves technology, and it is IMPOSSIBLE to change.
2.) There is no alternative to MS Office...Okay, now don't get all huffy, but integration between programs is crappy, particular among standard users(not power users). I'm not necessarily talking about the program itself, but transfering documents from one organization to another. Standards in computing are good, even if you'd rather work out of your garage by command line just because you hate those "bastards" out in Seattle.
~Vlade
I don't know if it's already been said, but if I'm dying (or a loved one is), bring on the stem cells, pig hearts, or whatever else is gonna do the trick. I don't really care about the hippies and their posterboard signs say.
~Vlade
What do all you MS haters propose then? That state and local governments remove all Windows and MS Office installations bringing your government to a squealing halt? Or better yet, since they've already purchased the software, just prevent them from buying more...That way they can sit on Win95 and Office97 forever. Do you propose they use some kind of Linux instead? I'm not sure about where you live, but I know my local government isn't filled with a lot of computer savvy people. Oh yeah, one more thing...since so many people on here are obsessed with what crimes have or have not been committed by microsoft, I'm willing to bet that all the software/music/games/whatever else you pirate on a daily basis put those to shame. Enjoy!
~Vlade
I used to work at MS, and now I work at a Pharmaceutical company. I'll tell you right now that if MS had to go through the rigorous federally mandated red tape that is pretty evident around here, software prices would go through the roof, and no one would ever develop software because it would be WAY to expensive.
~Vlade
My question is this: If you have accrued that many great benefits, why is it that you are so unhappy with the company you're at? Something must've been right to stay there that long. Also, at that point, doesn't it become an issue of what those benefits are worth to you? Is the extra $5000 or whatever worth moving from 5 weeks to 3 weeks vacation? As for retirement plans, most of those can be somewhat easily rolled-over these days. Just stuff to think about...
Vlade
Re:Part of copyright should be the right to not
on
What Is Public Domain?
·
· Score: 0, Redundant
yeah, but how are you going to feel when you place, say, a photo out there completely copyright free for use by independent filmmakers, and some guy creates the next multi-million dollar box-office hit with your picture in every scene?
~vlade
1.) The current pricing structure ($50/month) most likely has very little to do with what it costs the cable company to provide it. Pricing decisions like that are made based on what the market will bear...They figure that customers are willing to pay a certain price, and then they figure out if they can make money in the long run at that price. They must figure they can make money or they wouldn't offer the service.
2.) A tiered pricing structure won't affect file sharing. The article mentions file suppliers on cable, but what about all the suppliers not on cable? I know a certain large university with thousands of people sharing files. Also, even at slower speeds, downloading is still going to happen. It happens now at 56k on dialup!
3.) My cable co. has already capped upload speeds. I've yet to notice (granted I'm not running a large access FTP site either).
~Vlade
Slashdot Mirror
It may be difficult for the states to do anything about finding people, but it could work. I live in Indiana, and recently a law came into effect that instituted a "No Call" list for telemarketers. The program is voluntary, so you have to call to get on the list by a certain deadline (every six months or so), but once on the list, it becomes illegal for telemarketers to call. At that point, the state has a legal recoures against violators. Just a thought. ~Vlade
In addition the cutting of the hair, and taking of a bath, may I suggest you at least attempt to get laid? ~Vlade
The complaints reflect growing turmoil in the Internet advertising industry, which increasingly has embraced intrusive, flashy and experimental ad tactics as online advertisers try harder to lure customers.
Advertising on the Internet has become extremely intrusive. I for one am wary of signing up for services that I could actually use because I'm afraid of my email address being sold thus filling my mailbox with services I have no interest in.
How many of you purchase things from companies because the berate you with popup windows and "trojan" software? People won't be so stupid forever, and when they do smarten up, Internet advertising as we know it will be over.
~Vlade
Those numbers you hear about MS losing money per box are based on ROI (Return on Investment) figures after the project came into being. A normail ROI for an MS software program is around 6 months. They expect Xbox to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 years. Think about it this way, though...Every extra controller, memory card, dvd remote, HDTV cables, not even to mention games adds to your total expenditure. It doesn't even matter if it's another company b/c MS gets a piece of those too. Long story short...MS isn't going to go broke from Xbox...they might through Ultimate TV, though. I think that it's a ploy to save Ultimate TV more than to help out Xbox.
~Vlade
There's a little internet cafe near my house that offers wireless service...You can pull into the parking lot, fire up your laptop and never even go inside. If you've got a wireless ipaq or something like that, you can just DL your mail as you walk by. It's pretty cool except I don't know how it would be viable to make money off of that. If you add security it becomes less usable, but if you don't, nobody pays. Interesting dichotomy... ~Vlade
Since you're not getting laid, you might as well watch this: http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/video/tv/nerds.htm l
Two things: 1.) You give people way too much credit, particularly government employees (I'd appologize, but the people I'm talking about couldn't figure out how to run this web page --kind of like making fun of the amish). Anyway, if you've ever worked in support, you know one thing: the majority of people are stupid. Flash back to the call to support because this guy's computer kept trying to steal his coffee - he thought his CD Rom drive was a cupholder..Get them doing one thing one way, particularly if it involves technology, and it is IMPOSSIBLE to change. 2.) There is no alternative to MS Office...Okay, now don't get all huffy, but integration between programs is crappy, particular among standard users(not power users). I'm not necessarily talking about the program itself, but transfering documents from one organization to another. Standards in computing are good, even if you'd rather work out of your garage by command line just because you hate those "bastards" out in Seattle. ~Vlade
I don't know if it's already been said, but if I'm dying (or a loved one is), bring on the stem cells, pig hearts, or whatever else is gonna do the trick. I don't really care about the hippies and their posterboard signs say. ~Vlade
What do all you MS haters propose then? That state and local governments remove all Windows and MS Office installations bringing your government to a squealing halt? Or better yet, since they've already purchased the software, just prevent them from buying more...That way they can sit on Win95 and Office97 forever. Do you propose they use some kind of Linux instead? I'm not sure about where you live, but I know my local government isn't filled with a lot of computer savvy people. Oh yeah, one more thing...since so many people on here are obsessed with what crimes have or have not been committed by microsoft, I'm willing to bet that all the software/music/games/whatever else you pirate on a daily basis put those to shame. Enjoy! ~Vlade
I used to work at MS, and now I work at a Pharmaceutical company. I'll tell you right now that if MS had to go through the rigorous federally mandated red tape that is pretty evident around here, software prices would go through the roof, and no one would ever develop software because it would be WAY to expensive. ~Vlade
My question is this: If you have accrued that many great benefits, why is it that you are so unhappy with the company you're at? Something must've been right to stay there that long. Also, at that point, doesn't it become an issue of what those benefits are worth to you? Is the extra $5000 or whatever worth moving from 5 weeks to 3 weeks vacation? As for retirement plans, most of those can be somewhat easily rolled-over these days. Just stuff to think about... Vlade
yeah, but how are you going to feel when you place, say, a photo out there completely copyright free for use by independent filmmakers, and some guy creates the next multi-million dollar box-office hit with your picture in every scene? ~vlade
1.) The current pricing structure ($50/month) most likely has very little to do with what it costs the cable company to provide it. Pricing decisions like that are made based on what the market will bear...They figure that customers are willing to pay a certain price, and then they figure out if they can make money in the long run at that price. They must figure they can make money or they wouldn't offer the service. 2.) A tiered pricing structure won't affect file sharing. The article mentions file suppliers on cable, but what about all the suppliers not on cable? I know a certain large university with thousands of people sharing files. Also, even at slower speeds, downloading is still going to happen. It happens now at 56k on dialup! 3.) My cable co. has already capped upload speeds. I've yet to notice (granted I'm not running a large access FTP site either). ~Vlade