There are those of us who don't mind an occasional ad. AB+ and its Acceptable Ads program is a workable compromise. And a program using ~140 MB while your browser is running isn't exactly a major concern in this age of multi-GB RAM builds. Most PCs come with 8 GB of RAM so the 140 MB for AB+ is a drop in the bucket.
If you're dead-set against all ads, AB+ will block all ads for you. I use AB+ because it sends a message that responsible ads are fine. If I wanted to remove all ads, I could just as easily null-route all the known ad networks at the firewall and never see an ad again.
I've done it with many jobs, most contracts require a witnessed signature to be legitimate. A good example of this would be the NDA/Assignment of Rights that many devs are required to sign. I've had clauses struck from those that result in a zero net change situation on my flexibility to leave a position if I need to.
You miss the blindingly obvious answer. Strike the clause from the contract and submit. Funny thing about contract law, if you physically sign the contract you get to strike objectionable sections of the contract. Most employers, regardless of how often they're told to read everything, will just check to see if you signed it and then sign it themselves. We, as the prospective employee/contractor, have the ultimate power to force a change in how things get done. If you push back, most companies will cave regarding nearly anything if you have the right combination of skills and experience. Don't be afraid to negotiate your pay, a contract, even your benefits are all up for discussion and upgrade if you present the right case for it.
Something to consider:
If everyone started to push back on the arbitration clause, and getting it struck from the contract, this wouldn't be an issue anymore. We all keep forgetting that we hold the ultimate authority over if that contract gets signed, *NOT* the employer. If the clause offends you, strike it from the signed copy and submit it. If they push back, remind them that you don't sign contracts with those clauses per policy. And be sure to have a written copy of said policy to hand over upon request.
I have done this sort of thing before, and have had the same results. Something that most people seem to miss is that, while we all prefer Linux, it is a resource hog.
Mandrake and a few others are now taking up more the 200 MB of physical RAM. Windows and it's GUI only use about 60 MB. There is a major difference in the usage here as well. Older computers can benefit from Windows, or it could benefit from Linux.
Yet it does NOT> say anywhere on the bottom of the box that you MUST create a Steam account.
If someone would scan and show the whole bottom of the box showing the Steam account requirement, I am sure that will kill the entire arguement.
My understanding of the Internet Connection Required is that it must be able to connect to a server somewhere out there, assumed to be run by Valve/Steam, but it doesn't mention anywhere in there that I MUST create a Steam account to access the software that would, if I purchased it, cost ~$50.
Go play the game online if you like. I buy for the Single Player aspect of the game. I find the idea behind the authentication to be a decent attempt to protect their rights as well. However it does infrige on the rights of the purchaser in such a way as to render the software on the disc completely useless.
Now why should I go out and purchase this CRIPPLED piece of software?
Some people just don't take the agreements that they sign seriously anymore. In the line of work I am in I had to sign an NDA, and I would NEVER violate that under any circumstances.
If you are unwilling to abide by that CONTRACT you signed, then DON'T SIGN IT!!!!!
The company you work for, if they find out you were the person who broke that contract, can go after the person who broke said contract for among other things, breach of contract.
Other charges can include theft of information, and god forbid, Identity Theft charges. Those carry prison terms if convicted. Don't you realize that you are in a trusted position, otherwise they wouldn't have made you sign that piece of paper in the first place, now would they?
Read your NDA sometime, and see what the minimal punishment would be. Suffice to say, breaking the NDA can cause you to be terminated from your place of employment. And, possibly, charges pressed for theft, or worse...
Now, is posting such things here anonymously worth the risk?
I just checked my ancient Hotmail account, and it has been upped to 250MB. They are following through, by going for the oldest users first. I appreciate the fact that M$ is finally trying to toe the line, but sometimes it's to little to late...
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There are those of us who don't mind an occasional ad. AB+ and its Acceptable Ads program is a workable compromise. And a program using ~140 MB while your browser is running isn't exactly a major concern in this age of multi-GB RAM builds. Most PCs come with 8 GB of RAM so the 140 MB for AB+ is a drop in the bucket. If you're dead-set against all ads, AB+ will block all ads for you. I use AB+ because it sends a message that responsible ads are fine. If I wanted to remove all ads, I could just as easily null-route all the known ad networks at the firewall and never see an ad again.
I've done it with many jobs, most contracts require a witnessed signature to be legitimate. A good example of this would be the NDA/Assignment of Rights that many devs are required to sign. I've had clauses struck from those that result in a zero net change situation on my flexibility to leave a position if I need to.
Or they didn't bother to read an unknown number of pages of legalese and just signed it...
You miss the blindingly obvious answer. Strike the clause from the contract and submit. Funny thing about contract law, if you physically sign the contract you get to strike objectionable sections of the contract. Most employers, regardless of how often they're told to read everything, will just check to see if you signed it and then sign it themselves. We, as the prospective employee/contractor, have the ultimate power to force a change in how things get done. If you push back, most companies will cave regarding nearly anything if you have the right combination of skills and experience. Don't be afraid to negotiate your pay, a contract, even your benefits are all up for discussion and upgrade if you present the right case for it.
Something to consider: If everyone started to push back on the arbitration clause, and getting it struck from the contract, this wouldn't be an issue anymore. We all keep forgetting that we hold the ultimate authority over if that contract gets signed, *NOT* the employer. If the clause offends you, strike it from the signed copy and submit it. If they push back, remind them that you don't sign contracts with those clauses per policy. And be sure to have a written copy of said policy to hand over upon request.
I would have to agree with that one.
I have done this sort of thing before, and have had the same results. Something that most people seem to miss is that, while we all prefer Linux, it is a resource hog.
Mandrake and a few others are now taking up more the 200 MB of physical RAM. Windows and it's GUI only use about 60 MB. There is a major difference in the usage here as well. Older computers can benefit from Windows, or it could benefit from Linux.
It all depends on the distro used.
My $0.02 worth. For what it's worth.
I can, and the IP comes back to a DGC Systems in Sweden
If someone else can pull the whois information and verify that as well?
person: Jimmie Clareus
address: Softroom GDC
address: Box 1088
address: S-161 02 BROMMA
address: SE
e-mail: jimmie.clareus@softroom.se
phone: +46 8 410 22 600
mnt-by: DGCSYSTEMS-MNT
nic-hdl: JC2251-RIPE
Yet it does NOT> say anywhere on the bottom of the box that you MUST create a Steam account.
If someone would scan and show the whole bottom of the box showing the Steam account requirement, I am sure that will kill the entire arguement.
My understanding of the Internet Connection Required is that it must be able to connect to a server somewhere out there, assumed to be run by Valve/Steam, but it doesn't mention anywhere in there that I MUST create a Steam account to access the software that would, if I purchased it, cost ~$50.
Go play the game online if you like. I buy for the Single Player aspect of the game. I find the idea behind the authentication to be a decent attempt to protect their rights as well. However it does infrige on the rights of the purchaser in such a way as to render the software on the disc completely useless.
Now why should I go out and purchase this CRIPPLED piece of software?
However, Douglas Adams also released a Trilogy, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, that spanned 5 books and a short story IIRC.
Now that really is a strange definition of Trilogy, but it is a VERY funny trilogy + 2 books and the short story.
Some people just don't take the agreements that they sign seriously anymore. In the line of work I am in I had to sign an NDA, and I would NEVER violate that under any circumstances.
If you are unwilling to abide by that CONTRACT you signed, then DON'T SIGN IT!!!!!
The company you work for, if they find out you were the person who broke that contract, can go after the person who broke said contract for among other things, breach of contract.
Other charges can include theft of information, and god forbid, Identity Theft charges. Those carry prison terms if convicted. Don't you realize that you are in a trusted position, otherwise they wouldn't have made you sign that piece of paper in the first place, now would they?
Read your NDA sometime, and see what the minimal punishment would be. Suffice to say, breaking the NDA can cause you to be terminated from your place of employment. And, possibly, charges pressed for theft, or worse...
Now, is posting such things here anonymously worth the risk?
I have had it since Hotmail was started roughly.
Back in '95... So they may be going by seniority for this. My account is so old, they DON'T deactivate it after 30 days. It takes 90 for me.
I just checked my ancient Hotmail account, and it has been upped to 250MB. They are following through, by going for the oldest users first. I appreciate the fact that M$ is finally trying to toe the line, but sometimes it's to little to late...