What tickles me most about these exchanges is that when I ask the user why they just blew past that dialog box, they almost always say they are in a tremendous hurry and "don't want to be bothered".
The only problem here is, of course, that because they blew past the dialog, they now have a problem that requires they call tech support, leave a message in the queue, and wait for me to get around to solving the problem. Since we're spread really thin in our shop (non-profit), it can often take up to an hour for me to call back.
So now you have this poor user sitting still for an up to an hour, twiddling his thumbs, or gnawing away fingernails, all because he couldn't be bothered to read a message that said:
They need to know that "Cancel" is a sure-fire way to get nothing done and be back where they started, and that they need to click "No" if they want to continue exiting the program but don't want to save the file.
My users don't really have a problem with this - they just click the "'X' thingy at the top" to make the questions go away.
P.S. Is there an emoticon that expresses uncontrollable, curled up in a fetal position, sobbing?
Regardless of how bad it was, it was still a keylogger. I can't begin to count the number of folks I know and work with who don't even know what that means, let alone understand why it's a bad thing.
If people are going to rely on a product like Norton to keep them safe, then Norton has a responsibility to be a thorough as possible, regardless of how crappy the keylogger, or the latest virus may have been written. Remember that "Navidad" was a broken virus, but end users still got infected due to their own ignorance.
The differences between the two cultures is what has always piqued my curiousity, largely because of the types of replies you were irritated with. Another poster referenced the quote from Red Sun Rising about one character's feeling the Japanese corporate culture is better because of their sense of honour.
You have to wonder, as times goes by, will the American way of business - which, le's face it, is pretty much "every man for himself" - will win out over the Japanese way of "every man for the business". Or will China's entry into the global business scene introduce a whole new model?
Did you read the article? First of all it was not a bank.
Yep. Particularly, this part (emphasis mine):
A 27 billion yen loss would almost match Mizuho Securities' group net profit of 28.1 billion yen for the financial year ended in March, though Fukuda said the incident would not threaten the brokerage's financial stability.
"It's a monumental trading error, but fortunately this is a large bank with deep reserves," said Jason Rogers, a credit analyst at Barclays Capital.
Mizuho Secuirties is a sub-unit of Mizuho bank. They are under the same corporate umbrella. Check Mizuho's site if you're still unsure.
On a separate note, you do realize that my post had nothing at all to do with the details of the article, but more with a hypotethical question? Nevertheless, in the interest of fairness, I'll rephrase:
I have to wonder how a U.S. brokerage would have handled such a mistake?
Perhaps, but then again I wish Bellsouth were more competent with their basic telephone service before they start mucking about with something as complex as this.
Let's not forget that the telcos haven't exactly been leading the charge on the technology fronts for quite some time. In fact, about the only time I hear of any "innovative" ideas from a telco, it usually involves a) discovering creative new ways to over-inflate a basic service bill, or b) screwing over customers that are early adopters of a technology the telcos happen to hate.
You may want to check out one of the Apacer "Steno" drives. The cap is strung through a braided cable loop that's molded into the sides of the drive. I've had mine for awhile now looped onto my keychain and its holding strong - lettering has worn off, though. It's also a pretty fast drive, as well, and quick Froogle shows the 512MB model is going for around $40.
I did a power consumption analysis a few years back for my non-profit and found that if everyone turned turned off just their monitor and CPU every night we would save the equivalent of an employee's salary each year. Here's the break downs (bear in mind that the power costs were much cheaper when this was originally done):
Total Costs per Year for a SINGLE Computer:
Summer Hours (at.07503 cents per kilowatt hour):
Computer and monitor left on for 24 hrs (832.2 kw.)= $62.44 per
Year Computer only left on for 24 hrs (547.5 kw.)= $41.08 per Year
Monitor only left on for 24 hours (284.7 kw.)= $21.36 per Year
Winter Hours (at.03704 cents per kilowatt hour):
Computer and monitor left on for 24 hrs (832.2 kw.)= $30.82 per
Year Computer only left on for 24 hrs (547.5 kw.)= $20.28 per Year
Monitor only left on for 24 hours (284.7 kw.)= $10.55 per Year
Cost per Year for 125 Computers:
Summer:
Computer and monitor left on = $7805 per Year
Computer only left on = $5135 per Year
Monitor only left on = $2670 per Year
Winter:
Computer and monitor left on = $3852.5 per Year
Computer only left on = $2535 per Year
Monitor only left on = $1318.75 per Year
Year Round (6 months of Summer and Winter Costs combined):
I wonder what gave those customers the confidence and leverage to convince Microsoft.
Their checkbooks.
Even Microsoft has to listen to the people that pay for their products now and then, and in the corporate world, nothing speaks louder than a bottom line.
My guess is that a lot of the larger companies have had more exposure to alternative approaches (what with their geeks mentioning them every chance they get) and they are beginning to see that Microsoft never really had them over a barrel after all.
All in all, a damn smart move for Microsoft (good will is a good thing).
SCO HAS demanded access to information/code that a developer (who may have existed) may have written on a computer that may not have been uploaded to a server because it may have been in a "sandbox" and THAT code may be the code necessary for SCO to "prove" its case.
Because maybe that maybe developer may have done something that may not have been allowed under a contract that may have covered what that maybe developer may have done on a machine that might have existed, in a sandbox that might have existed, that may not have any other record.
You know, at times, you almost have to feel some sympathy for the lawyers and judges trying to cypher this crap out. I mean, Jesus Christ, that nearly made my head explode.
Slashdot Mirror
Heh heh. Been there, brother
What tickles me most about these exchanges is that when I ask the user why they just blew past that dialog box, they almost always say they are in a tremendous hurry and "don't want to be bothered".
The only problem here is, of course, that because they blew past the dialog, they now have a problem that requires they call tech support, leave a message in the queue, and wait for me to get around to solving the problem. Since we're spread really thin in our shop (non-profit), it can often take up to an hour for me to call back.
So now you have this poor user sitting still for an up to an hour, twiddling his thumbs, or gnawing away fingernails, all because he couldn't be bothered to read a message that said:
.Apples are probably OK, but tomatoes . . . now that's another story . . .
My users don't really have a problem with this - they just click the "'X' thingy at the top" to make the questions go away.
P.S. Is there an emoticon that expresses uncontrollable, curled up in a fetal position, sobbing?
Doah! My bad. ;-)
Regardless of how bad it was, it was still a keylogger. I can't begin to count the number of folks I know and work with who don't even know what that means, let alone understand why it's a bad thing.
If people are going to rely on a product like Norton to keep them safe, then Norton has a responsibility to be a thorough as possible, regardless of how crappy the keylogger, or the latest virus may have been written. Remember that "Navidad" was a broken virus, but end users still got infected due to their own ignorance.
Can someone to explain to me why NAV, or any antivirus product, for that matter, would ignore a keylogger?
Umm . . . me?
The legal department?
I guess Gumby and Mr. Bill are up shit creek too . . .
Come on now, you can keep the pinky :-)
The differences between the two cultures is what has always piqued my curiousity, largely because of the types of replies you were irritated with. Another poster referenced the quote from Red Sun Rising about one character's feeling the Japanese corporate culture is better because of their sense of honour.
You have to wonder, as times goes by, will the American way of business - which, le's face it, is pretty much "every man for himself" - will win out over the Japanese way of "every man for the business". Or will China's entry into the global business scene introduce a whole new model?
Maybe it has something to do with their Chairman and CEO, Howard Stringer coming from the West?
Yep. Particularly, this part (emphasis mine):
Mizuho Secuirties is a sub-unit of Mizuho bank. They are under the same corporate umbrella. Check Mizuho's site if you're still unsure.
On a separate note, you do realize that my post had nothing at all to do with the details of the article, but more with a hypotethical question? Nevertheless, in the interest of fairness, I'll rephrase:
Better?The company made a horrendous mistake and yet, there you see two executives bowing apologetically and taking responsibility on the day it happened .
I have to wonder how a U.S. bank would have handled such a mistake?
At last! The perfect place to forward all of those penis enlargement spams!
Thanks for posting this. I feel so much safer now.
Look on the bright side . . . the world will always need fry-cooks.
;-)
Perhaps, but then again I wish Bellsouth were more competent with their basic telephone service before they start mucking about with something as complex as this.
Let's not forget that the telcos haven't exactly been leading the charge on the technology fronts for quite some time. In fact, about the only time I hear of any "innovative" ideas from a telco, it usually involves a) discovering creative new ways to over-inflate a basic service bill, or b) screwing over customers that are early adopters of a technology the telcos happen to hate.
You know, I just can't decide whether to mod this "Funny" or "Interesting"...
You may want to check out one of the Apacer "Steno" drives. The cap is strung through a braided cable loop that's molded into the sides of the drive. I've had mine for awhile now looped onto my keychain and its holding strong - lettering has worn off, though. It's also a pretty fast drive, as well, and quick Froogle shows the 512MB model is going for around $40.
I did a power consumption analysis a few years back for my non-profit and found that if everyone turned turned off just their monitor and CPU every night we would save the equivalent of an employee's salary each year. Here's the break downs (bear in mind that the power costs were much cheaper when this was originally done):
Total Costs per Year for a SINGLE Computer:
Cost per Year for 125 Computers:
Their checkbooks.
Even Microsoft has to listen to the people that pay for their products now and then, and in the corporate world, nothing speaks louder than a bottom line.
My guess is that a lot of the larger companies have had more exposure to alternative approaches (what with their geeks mentioning them every chance they get) and they are beginning to see that Microsoft never really had them over a barrel after all.
All in all, a damn smart move for Microsoft (good will is a good thing).
You know, maybe this should be modded "Interesting" . . .
You know, at times, you almost have to feel some sympathy for the lawyers and judges trying to cypher this crap out. I mean, Jesus Christ, that nearly made my head explode.
More like, he's so rich he's offended that everyone won't shut up . . .