Its been my experience in talking to friends who are not US citizens and do not live here that the quickest way to get them to distrust any information source is for them to find out it is backed officially by the US government.
An even more sad fact is that speaking for myself as a US citizen and a US resident, that also makes me distrust the information source too. And I have found that to be true regardless of which party is in power.
There is a way to get your rebates from Best Buy even faster...shop somewhere else.
I have a simple policy. If I'm going to buy something from your store, you're going to give me your best price right there. If I have to deal with a rebate, that removes the incentive to shop locally, and I'll just go mail order. 99 times out of a hundred the mail order price, thanks to sites like pricewatch, is going to be less than the Best Buy price even less the rebate...and that takes in to account the shipping charges.
Best Buy and places like that use rebates for one simple reason...us stupid consumers put up with it and still buy their products. If everyone would simply quit doing that, rebate crap would disappear next week.
I'm going to say pretty much the same thing I just said in the thread about the anniversary of computer viruses.
The most important component in guarding against viruses and spyware/adware is the device that is between the chair and the keyboard. Your choice of hardware platform, OS, and connection type is largely irrelevant. If you do stupid things, someone is going to own your ass even if you're on a Mac using dial-up. And if you use common sense and take precautions, its possible to be virus/spyware/adware free on a Windows box hooked to a cable modem.
This is year 22 of me using a Microsoft OS...virus free.
The most important component for virus protection is the one sitting between the chair and the keyboard. Everything else (including OS choice) is largely irrelevant.
This is probably not going to be a popular answer here. But if something fails and I need a replacement NOW, I skip the shipping crap. My first choice is a local (bumfuck middle-of-nowhere Indiana) small PC store, but they have short hours and no weekends. Stuff always fails on weekends. Second choice is the local Circuit City or Walmart. Not a lot of selection, but they're local and Walmart is 24 hour. Third choice is Best Buy, with two of them about 45 minutes away (one north, one east). Fourth choice is a PC Club store across the street from the northern Best Buy. And if none of those will work, there's a Frys about an hour plus a few minutes north. I've had no trouble with any of these sources so long as I stick to "name" product and don't buy "Wong Foo's Fresh-Off-The-Boat And Cheapest".
The only computer stuff I've bought online or mail-order in the last year is the notebook PC I'm typing this on, because I wanted a specific model that I couldn't find stocked at any of the above places.
And I do agree with what others have said. If its that mission critical, I have spares on hand. And when you use the next-to-last spare, its time to acquire more, don't wait until you use the last one.
First, before I get to a "real" answer, I'm going to echo some of what others have said. You need to be getting more sleep. And you need to take a break every couple of hours during those 15 hour computer sessions.
Now to comment on "computer glasses".
I've had piss-poor vision pretty much all my life. I've worn glasses since I was 7 (I'm now 44). I'm legally blind without glasses.
About two years ago it was time for new glasses. One of the local vision places was having a "buy one pair, get a second pair free" type thing. So I opted for one "normal" pair, and one "computer and reading" pair.
The pros: I don't get headaches while working at the computer any more. Small print is tack sharp. I can read newspaper-sized print from three feet away (without glasses the newspaper has to be within 6 inches of my face).
The cons: My reading ability with my "normal" glasses has gotten even worse. Trying to read a newspaper or magazine, or work at the computer, with those glasses is totally pointless. My eyes have gotten used to having those reading glasses. Also, proper computer glasses will not be cheap. Its not like buying a pair of "reading glasses" off the rack at your local drugstore. With anti-glare coatings and such, my close-up glasses were slightly over $600 US (and $150 more than the "regular" glasses if I had to pay for those too), and that was two years ago.
You must be new. Here are the basic rules of Slashdot.
1. We hate Microsoft. Anything they do is wrong. Bill Gates is stupid. Anything they do is evil. 2. We like Apple. Steve Jobs walks on water. Even when they do the same thing as Microsoft, its okay because its Apple. 3. We like Google. We think they're cool. Even when they do the same thing as Microsoft, its okay because they run Linux on most of their machines.
Its kind of amusing to hear all these comments on Intel's decline. I've been hearing predictions of Intel's decline and impending doom as long as I've been hearing the same comments about Microsoft and IBM.
With all the publicity that this sort of infection has gotten over the last two years, anyone stupid enough to click on the link deserves what they get. Merry farfing Christmas.
Actually its not delusion level 1. Its cynicism level 5. If they had a decent credit record and bill paying history, they wouldn't need a BHPH lot in the first place. Even those with no credit history have other options than that.
Very rarely is the company offering the very lowest price on a product also going to have good customer service. You get what you pay for. While I do agree this person got a raw deal, I'm also having trouble being massively sympathetic to someone who decided where to buy a multi-thousand dollar camera based solely on price. If you want good service, then you're going to have to pony up a few dollars more than "rock bottom price" to get it.
I used to work for a BHPH lot as (taa daa!) a repo man. I will be the first to agree that the industry is full of sleazoids and shitheads. That's why I quit (that, and I got tired of being shot at). But that doesn't change my initial point. If you buy the car, and the dealer meets all of his contractual obligations, then he has a right to expect to be paid. And if this device prevents one from driving a car, its because one didn't follow through with their part of the contract...which is to pay for the car.
Only on Slashdot could I find out about an article like this, about a device that only affects people who do NOT make their contracted car payment, and then find comment after comment after comment talking about how horrible this is. I guess its just terrible the way those bad old car lots expect people to actually follow their agreement and *pay* for their car.
I agree that the charges involved are obviously fud that is meant to draw attention away from the real issues. Microsoft and company are using the oldest trick in the book...if you can't dazzle 'em with intelligence, baffle 'em with bullshit.
However...
Mr. Quinn, in going up against Microsoft, is challenging the proverbial 900 pound gorilla here. That gorilla is going to use every technique available to him to discredit Mr. Quinn. Mudslinging like this should be expected, and therefore he should have made absolutely certain that all of his i's were dotted and his t's were crossed. If for no other reason than to make sure he's not giving the gorilla fud fodder like this.
If you're gonna play the game (politics), you damned sure better know the rules.
Any Top 10 Space Movie list that includes ST The Undiscovered Country yet leaves out Heavy Metal obviously cannot be taken seriously. And as much as I like Trek, I really don't think ST First Contact belongs on this list either. I do, however, agree with ST Wrath of Kahn. I also take offense at the absence of Silent Running.
I swear I'm not trying to be a troll here, but am I the only one who is not really impressed by speed figures of multi-cpu systems? All you have to do to beat one is build an identical system but add a new processor or two, and all that takes is more money, not more invention or innovation.
Will this cool Skype's rapid progress into the business arena?
Businesses will decide to use or not use Skype based on one thing...and that article ain't it. They will make their decision based on the simple question does it save them money. If it does, they'll adopt it. If it doesn't, they won't.
Imagine what the station could have been like if our government hadn't wasted that $300 billion dollars bombing the shit out of another nation based on lies about invisible weapons of mass destruction.
Its funny how we can always come up with money to kill, but there's never enough money for science.
As a US citizen I will be among the first to admit we're not perfect. Our current Presidink is a perfect example of mistakes we make. But to my knowledge we don't throw bloggers in jail for criticizing the government.
Okay, so you don't want to view porn. That's fine. You shouldn't have to if you don't want to.
But I bet you'll be happy to see the ACLU and its lawyers when someone tries to block something you do want to see.
Freedom of speech is a double-edged sword...the things you don't like get the same protection as the things you do like. The Constitution is funny like that.
I see a lot of comments here blaiming Washington DC, Bush, etc. And that has a lot to do with it. But let's not forget the rest of the people who live here, too. This is a country where every science related expence is examined with a microscope and disected, but we think nothing of paying athletes millions of dollars. And don't even get me started on how much we spend on those with absolutely no talent, like Paris Hilton. Washington will not change until the people want change...and quite frankly, I don't see that happening any time soon.
And local issues are just as bad. In my own area (Bartholomew County, Indiana, USA), if the schools need money for something like computers or science equipment, no one can help. Same goes when we run short of money for teachers. But when one of the local highschools wants to raise $400,000 US to replace the grass in their football field with astroturf, people run over each other trying to get to their checkbooks so they can donate.
Washington will not change until the people want change...and quite frankly, I don't see that happening any time soon.
Slashdot Mirror
Its been my experience in talking to friends who are not US citizens and do not live here that the quickest way to get them to distrust any information source is for them to find out it is backed officially by the US government.
An even more sad fact is that speaking for myself as a US citizen and a US resident, that also makes me distrust the information source too. And I have found that to be true regardless of which party is in power.
There is a way to get your rebates from Best Buy even faster...shop somewhere else.
I have a simple policy. If I'm going to buy something from your store, you're going to give me your best price right there. If I have to deal with a rebate, that removes the incentive to shop locally, and I'll just go mail order. 99 times out of a hundred the mail order price, thanks to sites like pricewatch, is going to be less than the Best Buy price even less the rebate...and that takes in to account the shipping charges.
Best Buy and places like that use rebates for one simple reason...us stupid consumers put up with it and still buy their products. If everyone would simply quit doing that, rebate crap would disappear next week.
I'm going to say pretty much the same thing I just said in the thread about the anniversary of computer viruses.
The most important component in guarding against viruses and spyware/adware is the device that is between the chair and the keyboard. Your choice of hardware platform, OS, and connection type is largely irrelevant. If you do stupid things, someone is going to own your ass even if you're on a Mac using dial-up. And if you use common sense and take precautions, its possible to be virus/spyware/adware free on a Windows box hooked to a cable modem.
So the fuck what.
This is year 22 of me using a Microsoft OS...virus free.
The most important component for virus protection is the one sitting between the chair and the keyboard. Everything else (including OS choice) is largely irrelevant.
I bookmarked this auction. Not because I'd be stupid enough to buy one, but because I want to see how many chumps actually bid on this thing.
This is probably not going to be a popular answer here. But if something fails and I need a replacement NOW, I skip the shipping crap. My first choice is a local (bumfuck middle-of-nowhere Indiana) small PC store, but they have short hours and no weekends. Stuff always fails on weekends. Second choice is the local Circuit City or Walmart. Not a lot of selection, but they're local and Walmart is 24 hour. Third choice is Best Buy, with two of them about 45 minutes away (one north, one east). Fourth choice is a PC Club store across the street from the northern Best Buy. And if none of those will work, there's a Frys about an hour plus a few minutes north. I've had no trouble with any of these sources so long as I stick to "name" product and don't buy "Wong Foo's Fresh-Off-The-Boat And Cheapest".
The only computer stuff I've bought online or mail-order in the last year is the notebook PC I'm typing this on, because I wanted a specific model that I couldn't find stocked at any of the above places.
And I do agree with what others have said. If its that mission critical, I have spares on hand. And when you use the next-to-last spare, its time to acquire more, don't wait until you use the last one.
First, before I get to a "real" answer, I'm going to echo some of what others have said. You need to be getting more sleep. And you need to take a break every couple of hours during those 15 hour computer sessions.
Now to comment on "computer glasses".
I've had piss-poor vision pretty much all my life. I've worn glasses since I was 7 (I'm now 44). I'm legally blind without glasses.
About two years ago it was time for new glasses. One of the local vision places was having a "buy one pair, get a second pair free" type thing. So I opted for one "normal" pair, and one "computer and reading" pair.
The pros: I don't get headaches while working at the computer any more. Small print is tack sharp. I can read newspaper-sized print from three feet away (without glasses the newspaper has to be within 6 inches of my face).
The cons: My reading ability with my "normal" glasses has gotten even worse. Trying to read a newspaper or magazine, or work at the computer, with those glasses is totally pointless. My eyes have gotten used to having those reading glasses. Also, proper computer glasses will not be cheap. Its not like buying a pair of "reading glasses" off the rack at your local drugstore. With anti-glare coatings and such, my close-up glasses were slightly over $600 US (and $150 more than the "regular" glasses if I had to pay for those too), and that was two years ago.
You must be new. Here are the basic rules of Slashdot.
1. We hate Microsoft. Anything they do is wrong. Bill Gates is stupid. Anything they do is evil.
2. We like Apple. Steve Jobs walks on water. Even when they do the same thing as Microsoft, its okay because its Apple.
3. We like Google. We think they're cool. Even when they do the same thing as Microsoft, its okay because they run Linux on most of their machines.
That's what they said about IBM...35 years ago.
Its kind of amusing to hear all these comments on Intel's decline. I've been hearing predictions of Intel's decline and impending doom as long as I've been hearing the same comments about Microsoft and IBM.
With all the publicity that this sort of infection has gotten over the last two years, anyone stupid enough to click on the link deserves what they get. Merry farfing Christmas.
Actually its not delusion level 1. Its cynicism level 5. If they had a decent credit record and bill paying history, they wouldn't need a BHPH lot in the first place. Even those with no credit history have other options than that.
Very rarely is the company offering the very lowest price on a product also going to have good customer service. You get what you pay for. While I do agree this person got a raw deal, I'm also having trouble being massively sympathetic to someone who decided where to buy a multi-thousand dollar camera based solely on price. If you want good service, then you're going to have to pony up a few dollars more than "rock bottom price" to get it.
I used to work for a BHPH lot as (taa daa!) a repo man. I will be the first to agree that the industry is full of sleazoids and shitheads. That's why I quit (that, and I got tired of being shot at). But that doesn't change my initial point. If you buy the car, and the dealer meets all of his contractual obligations, then he has a right to expect to be paid. And if this device prevents one from driving a car, its because one didn't follow through with their part of the contract...which is to pay for the car.
Only on Slashdot could I find out about an article like this, about a device that only affects people who do NOT make their contracted car payment, and then find comment after comment after comment talking about how horrible this is. I guess its just terrible the way those bad old car lots expect people to actually follow their agreement and *pay* for their car.
I agree that the charges involved are obviously fud that is meant to draw attention away from the real issues. Microsoft and company are using the oldest trick in the book...if you can't dazzle 'em with intelligence, baffle 'em with bullshit.
However...
Mr. Quinn, in going up against Microsoft, is challenging the proverbial 900 pound gorilla here. That gorilla is going to use every technique available to him to discredit Mr. Quinn. Mudslinging like this should be expected, and therefore he should have made absolutely certain that all of his i's were dotted and his t's were crossed. If for no other reason than to make sure he's not giving the gorilla fud fodder like this.
If you're gonna play the game (politics), you damned sure better know the rules.
Any Top 10 Space Movie list that includes ST The Undiscovered Country yet leaves out Heavy Metal obviously cannot be taken seriously. And as much as I like Trek, I really don't think ST First Contact belongs on this list either. I do, however, agree with ST Wrath of Kahn. I also take offense at the absence of Silent Running.
I swear I'm not trying to be a troll here, but am I the only one who is not really impressed by speed figures of multi-cpu systems? All you have to do to beat one is build an identical system but add a new processor or two, and all that takes is more money, not more invention or innovation.
Will this cool Skype's rapid progress into the business arena?
Businesses will decide to use or not use Skype based on one thing...and that article ain't it. They will make their decision based on the simple question does it save them money. If it does, they'll adopt it. If it doesn't, they won't.
Imagine what the station could have been like if our government hadn't wasted that $300 billion dollars bombing the shit out of another nation based on lies about invisible weapons of mass destruction.
Its funny how we can always come up with money to kill, but there's never enough money for science.
Damn...April 1st already. And just yesterday it seemed like it was still November...
And the article at http://news.com.com/Political+bloggers+jailed%2C+d etained/2100-1028_3-5933917.html?tag=nefd.top/ is yet another perfect example of why there are many other countries who should not have a voice in controling the internet.
As a US citizen I will be among the first to admit we're not perfect. Our current Presidink is a perfect example of mistakes we make. But to my knowledge we don't throw bloggers in jail for criticizing the government.
(Waves hand) Question...
How the fuck is this "your rights online"?
Okay, so you don't want to view porn. That's fine. You shouldn't have to if you don't want to.
But I bet you'll be happy to see the ACLU and its lawyers when someone tries to block something you do want to see.
Freedom of speech is a double-edged sword...the things you don't like get the same protection as the things you do like. The Constitution is funny like that.
I see a lot of comments here blaiming Washington DC, Bush, etc. And that has a lot to do with it. But let's not forget the rest of the people who live here, too. This is a country where every science related expence is examined with a microscope and disected, but we think nothing of paying athletes millions of dollars. And don't even get me started on how much we spend on those with absolutely no talent, like Paris Hilton. Washington will not change until the people want change...and quite frankly, I don't see that happening any time soon.
And local issues are just as bad. In my own area (Bartholomew County, Indiana, USA), if the schools need money for something like computers or science equipment, no one can help. Same goes when we run short of money for teachers. But when one of the local highschools wants to raise $400,000 US to replace the grass in their football field with astroturf, people run over each other trying to get to their checkbooks so they can donate.
Washington will not change until the people want change...and quite frankly, I don't see that happening any time soon.