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User: apoplectic

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Comments · 95

  1. Re:What MS does provide on Cringley on Microsoft and Linux · · Score: 1

    I agree. Say what you will about Microsoft, but there is a lot to be said about consistency even if we are talking about being consistently bad. A bad standard can be better than no standard at all.

    Remember the good ol days with Apples, Ataris, Commodores, Timex Sinclairs (ok, let's not go there), and the like? Hard to exchange a document between systems (even if you had an internet). You can easily argue that just the mere presence of the "standard" of .DOC and .XLS files is a benefit to all, regardless of how awful Office might be.

  2. Failure on Cringley on Microsoft and Linux · · Score: 2, Funny

    UPNP is a decent example of Microsoft failure. But nothing is more fun to pick on than...

    Microsoft Bob!!

  3. Robots entertaining robots on Preparing for the DARPA Autonomous Vehicle Challenge · · Score: 4, Funny

    Get these robots to drive NASCAR to entertain the automatons known as fans.

  4. Product slogan on Brill's Contentious ID Card · · Score: 1

    I think a great product slogan has already been provided in the link to the story: ID cards that let you bypass security!

    Who wouldn't want one?

  5. Who watches the watchmen? on Brill's Contentious ID Card · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Who monitors this company who doles out these ID cards? Since this is Mr. Steven Brill's baby, does he essentially have the power to give himself and his friends (and perhaps those with a little too much cash on their hands) clean IDs?

    Admittedly, I don't know how the public system works with regards to internal checks to the ID distribution system. However, if these companies were to become popular, this strikes me as an excellent opportunity to perceive each company as a weak link in an ever-weakening great chain.

  6. Re:This is great! on Senate Passes Anti-Spam Bill · · Score: 1

    Ack! "Yokel" not yocal. I must be from Oklahoma to spell yokel that way!

  7. Huh?! on NASA Engineers Question ISS Safety · · Score: 1

    Particular concerns were raised over the state of environmental monitoring sensors, exercise equipment and medical systems at the ISS.

    NASA has safety concerns regarding the exercise equipment, but they can't seem to keep their shuttles from blowing up? Uh, guys, priorities?

    Houston, we have a problem. This damned Bowflex just about took my eye out!

  8. Kinkos on More on the Versalaser · · Score: 1

    I guess in addition to a wide selection of stationery Kinkos will have to keep a nice pile of boulders from which to cut slabs for printing.

  9. It "worked" for Reagan on Senate Passes Anti-Spam Bill · · Score: 1

    How about "Just say no" to spam? That should work wonders, yes?

  10. This is great! on Senate Passes Anti-Spam Bill · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Until some local yocal judge from Oklahoma decides that the bill is unconstitutional, just like the do-not-call list.

    And, of course, I must unoriginally question just how they plan to enforce this? Perhaps we should just invade any country that originates more than .01 spams per capita? Sounds democratic enough. And, hey!, we'd expand to 60 states in no time! If expansion is good for the NFL, it is good enough for the U.S. of A!

  11. Re:IE won already on Branding Mozilla: Towards Mozilla 2.0 · · Score: 1

    There is a notable opportunity for another browser to wiggle back into the browsing scene. MS isn't producing additional standalone browsers; I wouldn't expect to see version "7" of IE until it comes integrated into Longhorn. MS browser innovation/imitation is at a standstill until that day, providing plenty of opportunity for another browser to make itself notably superior (preferably Firebird).

    Isn't this what happened to Netscape?? Perhaps they'll call the next version of IE "version 8"!!

  12. Branding or...bundling? on Branding Mozilla: Towards Mozilla 2.0 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Given the current mechanics of software distribution and product awareness, I'd argue that a bundling approach to the Mozilla suite/browser would be more effective than looking for a replacement of the red lizard and the like. The lizard is dead; long live the lizard!

  13. Entertaining... on Software Exorcism · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I'm sure it is an entertaining read with perhaps some salient points with regards to the IT industry. But, does this describe anything truly different or more dystopian that what an average non-IT worker puts up with in his own non-IT world with non-IT managers? I think we tend to make more of our own situations than is justified; work environments are similarly screwed up regardless of the industry.

  14. Melrose Place on Software Exorcism · · Score: 4, Funny

    Given the sordid aspects of working in an IT department, you'd think that this would make for a great cheesy, soap-opraesque TV show a la Melrose Place. Backstabbing, surreptitious monitoring, random sexual encounters...uh, was that mentioned in the book?

  15. Call a dog a dog on Gator Forces Site To Remove 'Spyware' Label · · Score: 1

    Okay, so along these lines if I were to refer to a dog as a "dog" then I'll get sabre-rattled into oblivion unless I refer to the dog as a canine as "dog" has negative connotations. Before you know it, you won't be able to refer to the RIAA as the RIAA because there's nothing but negative connotations there. *sigh*

  16. Re:Pah on Microsoft Raises Security Game, Notes Shortcomings Elsewhere · · Score: 1, Insightful

    People that don't know anything don't KNOW that Linux is better (btw, if they knew that, they would indeed know SOMETHING about computers). They might believe this to be true (as opposed to "know"). But I'm curious as to how they believe it. One could easily contend that the herd often subscribes to the "grass is always greener." Other than what MS might say to the geek masses, from what source would an ignorant user decide that Linux was a bad thing?

  17. Sniffer instead of browser on X10 Pays $4.3 million In Damages For Pop-Unders · · Score: 0

    I'm waiting for someone to patent the display of browser images and information through a video device. So, since the visual medium will be shot, let's use the ol' nostrils instead and convert our browsers to sniffers. Packet sniffers would be oh, so much fun! Something akin to sewage I suspect....

  18. Christmas already? on Home Brew Hard Drive Silencer/Cooler · · Score: 1, Funny

    Silent drive...holy drive...

  19. A bit frightening on VIA-based Mobile Robot Design For Download · · Score: 2, Funny

    To think that one's BSOD is now a MOBILE BSOD. Gives a new meaning to a system "crash!"

  20. Not exactly news, is it? on Choosing Microsoft Products May Cost 10-40% More · · Score: 1

    "Microsoft products may end up paying anywhere from 10%-40% more than if they chose another solution" but..."Microsoft argues that increased integration will cut down ongoing costs... but whether that will be the case has yet to be seen." Uh, like the 10%-40% increase has yet to be seen. It MAY cost more, but it MAY cost less!!!