Speaking as a former HP tech, the bloatware rarely lowers prices as most of the bloatware is HP-made, thus it should have cost them MORE. What makes the prices so low is the garbage manufacturers and components they utilize.
And half of the RAM is counterfeit Nanya, to boot.
My DV7 is a LEMON REPLACEMENT for the shit DV9000 I had - guess what? It's a couple weeks before warranty, battery is GONE, and the unit overheats without me doing anything intensive. Even a simple video makes the laptop hot enough to keep my sake very warm if I leave it over the power button. I'm on the phone with support right now (or should I say HOUR THREE ON FUCKING HOLD, thank god I'm calling via skype on my desktop so I can prepare to chew these fuckwits out ASAP,) and as always, support is dismal - another reason the laptops are so cheap, HP cut support costs by cutting staff.
HP is one of the worst-managed companies I've ever seen in my life. I run one of my own, and I certainly don't have half of the logistical nightmares (despite me sourcing parts from all over the globe,) or half of the quality issues (proper thermal design is my specialty.)
HP should fire their entire engineering team and hire me. I can cram well over 500w of heat into their typical 17" case and still keep all electronics inside very cool. And I run semiconductors that are much more sensitive to heat - high-output SMD.
"Did you know it is illegal to say: "I wish President Obama was killed by mortar fire on the White House. It could be set up across the park and use the flag on said White House to provide a rough wind measurement.""
BZZT! Wrong! I've had several talks with the SS, in person, regarding a phone call I had with someone stating similar things.
It is not illegal until you say "I plan to" or "I am going to."
Saying "I wish" is an opinion and is protected speech.
The whole thing revolves around INTENT. Wishing is not the same as saying you'll do it.
This has been a PSA from someone that has dealt with the Secret Service on multiple occasions - in fact some of my own./ postings have made the SS come to my house.
"Some proper organised crime group has usurped the name, surely."
And if we were to find out about that, that criminal group would be inundated with a CP shitstorm the likes of which this world has NEVER seen, then they would be reported to the police for said CP and that's the end of their asses.
You seriously underestimate the power of mob mentality.
"I think if your operating philosophy requires that you conclude tens of millions of people making a specific purchase decision must be idiots you should re-evaluate that philosophy because it obviously provides little to no predictive power."
I'll speak from experience here (especially dealing with the Chinese) most people are not very bright to begin with when it comes to purchasing things. Most will go ahead and buy if they're told that it will work for the customer's particular purpose. (I've had several LED equipment manufacturers from China come to me claiming this and that - nope, I know better. 92% power input/monochrome light output in a red diode? Seriously? No, only a completely ignorant person would fall for that.
But guess what? My job is much harder because multiple people have been easily fooled by marketing and big numbers, and they got burned.
To put it simply: Sadly, it appears that a majority of customers ARE idiots, or at the VERY least ill-informed of the sort of product that they wish to purchase.
"You sued them, or you hopped into a class action law suit by purchasing it, as there is a difference there. And who says that EULA may not violate law? Why can't it?"
I sued them, it was all over reddit, slashdot, digg, etc. After my suit was initiated, my technical knowledge over all other plaintiffs put me as the main class representative.
EULA may not violate laws, this has been firmly established precedent as part of contract law - you can't say in EULA "By agreeing to this, we reserve the right to kidnap your children at any time we see fit" as that's ILLEGAL.
"Look, if you are not going to research the products you buy, then you should be counter-sued by EA for lawyer fees (and I bet their lawyers are expensive too). You failed to research Spore. You failed to look into the game. You failed to read the EULA fully (I read it and it clearly states in the EULA that it does install DRM). You could have seen that, and did more research to find out what kind of DRM, find out it is a nasty DRM, and not purchase the product at all. "
I researched the product. I knew about the DRM. What I did not count upon was the DRM DESTROYING my graphics card. As soon as Spore: Creature Creator was installed, my GPU (even after fresh format and reinstall of windows and drivers) would NOT see any aspect besides 4:3 (thus forcing me to render 1600x1200 on my 32" 16:9 monitor.)
Bet you feel really stupid right now. Hold on, I'm not finished, yet, son.
"I mean seriously. I am a software developer myself, and people like you need to go away or let somebody else buy software for you. Suing over the EULA when you did not do the research yourself into the product you purchased and just blindly bought it and then try to sue over it (probably just hopped into the class action suit, but even still)."
Seriously, I'm a research director, and people like you just need to shut up with your wild baseless assumptions and ignorance. You don't even have ANY facts and you're making assumptions that are simply not true, and making yourself look like an absolute ass in the process.
"I can also tell from your response that it was either part of a class action or you totally failed in your attempt to sue."
Nope, I won, they settled before I could get the dangerous court precedent set. FAT check, was more than enough to help start my current business. Look at who still hasn't done any research, at ALL.
The moral of the story: you're too stupid to even be talking. I feel sorry for whichever company you're developing software for, and I pray they find you out fast and drop you like a rock.
Also - I program - raw ASM across three different architectures (ARM, x86, DEC Alpha) - are you even on my level?
Probably not - I design automated food production systems. You're just designing toys.
Raw molybdenum isn't bioavailable to plants, sorry. It needs to be paired with another element in order to make it past the plasma membrane around the roots. Molybdenum nitrate, molybdenum disulphide, molybdenum citrate, etc are what the plant will require, it simply can't use raw molybdenum until it has gotten past the barrier zone and is inside the plant tissues.
"you are the guy that claimed to need a more precise quadratic equation in order to make your LED lights for growing pot"
Umm, WHAT? Quadratic equation? What are you talking about? Citation, please. We don't use a quadratic equation in determining photosynthetic photon flux density.
Closest thing I ever said to that was Quad-BAND.
And to make a light for growing pot is bullshit. Almost any light is capable of growing pot, from incandescents to fluorescents to plasma.
"Because buying futures in metals is exactly the same as being a chip manufacturer...."
If you don't have the raw materials you can't make the chips. Can't have one without the other.
"First of all, this is Slashdot, please don't dilute the term "hack" any further than it already has been."
Says someone that obviously doesn't understand the actual definition - a hack is a useful modification that serves a purpose, per the TMRC from MIT, who coined the term back in the 50s.
Sony's modification is useful (to them) - it is a hack by the purest sense of the definition.
"You're talking about intangible features - nothing to deprive you of actual material possessions. Therefore, not theft, and not stealing."
If ONLY someone had their original Fat PS3 box, so we could clearly show in court that Sony advertised Linux, we would instantly win, because one of Sony's current defenses (as they scramble across the web to get any hint of advertising PS3 Linux capability,) is that they never officially 'advertised' it at all.
I'd be willing to pay ten grand just for the box. It would go straight to my lawyer and we would force Sony out of America.
"Actually, it kinda does. You should have read the EULA better"
Actually, no it doesn't. No contract may violate law. Also, EULAs have been found null and void several times in California alone. I nullified the option of an EULA defense from Electronic Arts when I sued them over Spore's DRM.
Slashdot Mirror
Speaking as a former HP tech, the bloatware rarely lowers prices as most of the bloatware is HP-made, thus it should have cost them MORE. What makes the prices so low is the garbage manufacturers and components they utilize.
And half of the RAM is counterfeit Nanya, to boot.
My DV7 is a LEMON REPLACEMENT for the shit DV9000 I had - guess what? It's a couple weeks before warranty, battery is GONE, and the unit overheats without me doing anything intensive. Even a simple video makes the laptop hot enough to keep my sake very warm if I leave it over the power button. I'm on the phone with support right now (or should I say HOUR THREE ON FUCKING HOLD, thank god I'm calling via skype on my desktop so I can prepare to chew these fuckwits out ASAP,) and as always, support is dismal - another reason the laptops are so cheap, HP cut support costs by cutting staff.
HP is one of the worst-managed companies I've ever seen in my life. I run one of my own, and I certainly don't have half of the logistical nightmares (despite me sourcing parts from all over the globe,) or half of the quality issues (proper thermal design is my specialty.)
HP should fire their entire engineering team and hire me. I can cram well over 500w of heat into their typical 17" case and still keep all electronics inside very cool. And I run semiconductors that are much more sensitive to heat - high-output SMD.
Your user name makes this so much more amusing.
Enjoy the SS visit. I'm pretty sure THAT is exactly the statement that will have them at your door! Good day, sir!
"Did you know it is illegal to say: "I wish President Obama was killed by mortar fire on the White House. It could be set up across the park and use the flag on said White House to provide a rough wind measurement.""
BZZT! Wrong! I've had several talks with the SS, in person, regarding a phone call I had with someone stating similar things.
It is not illegal until you say "I plan to" or "I am going to."
Saying "I wish" is an opinion and is protected speech.
The whole thing revolves around INTENT. Wishing is not the same as saying you'll do it.
This has been a PSA from someone that has dealt with the Secret Service on multiple occasions - in fact some of my own ./ postings have made the SS come to my house.
AVS isn't fully implemented properly in the system.
I run several online businesses. AVS is the number one problem in getting a credit/debit transaction completed.
Stores with those problems tend to ignore AVS verification and take the risk themselves.
You shouldn't be shopping at those stores, at all.
"Some proper organised crime group has usurped the name, surely."
And if we were to find out about that, that criminal group would be inundated with a CP shitstorm the likes of which this world has NEVER seen, then they would be reported to the police for said CP and that's the end of their asses.
You seriously underestimate the power of mob mentality.
They can't protect themselves.
These are the same idiots that leave nuclear infrastructure available on the internet.
A couple of IBM researchers broke in remotely and had control within two weeks.
You think we're safe against Stuxnet? You're sorely mistaken.
AVS will not allow that, so you are clearly talking nonsense here.
"If you're a pro you're cutting with Avid. Period."
Ha! HAHAHAH! AAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
No, real 'pros' cut with SCISSORS ON FILM.
You digital people aren't 'cutting' shit, so quit fucking up the industry terminology.
Pardon me while I go smell my wonderful nitrocellulose.
You guys and your silly passwords.
You don't have your stuff encrypted against your DNA profile?
No wonder your passwords are so easily broken.
I'd keep them in employ just because they actually had the balls to do such a thing.
Even more so if they did it to my face, hell I'd give them a raise.
"I think if your operating philosophy requires that you conclude tens of millions of people making a specific purchase decision must be idiots you should re-evaluate that philosophy because it obviously provides little to no predictive power."
I'll speak from experience here (especially dealing with the Chinese) most people are not very bright to begin with when it comes to purchasing things. Most will go ahead and buy if they're told that it will work for the customer's particular purpose. (I've had several LED equipment manufacturers from China come to me claiming this and that - nope, I know better. 92% power input/monochrome light output in a red diode? Seriously? No, only a completely ignorant person would fall for that.
But guess what? My job is much harder because multiple people have been easily fooled by marketing and big numbers, and they got burned.
To put it simply: Sadly, it appears that a majority of customers ARE idiots, or at the VERY least ill-informed of the sort of product that they wish to purchase.
Not so easy to do. Different PS3 models have different internal ROM sizes.
Older units might not be able to support it - newer slim models with the larger ROM size likely could.
"Labor. Obviously time is worth nothing to you."
Wanna know how I know you don't work in this field?
HINT: Optoelectronics and SMD/SMT is what I do for a living right now.
We have this thing called AUTOMATION. Labor costs? Pretty much non-existent.
Even me refurbishing an LED panel BY HAND is cheaper than scrapping it and ordering new stuff.
Page Rank boosting in Google.
01010010 01000001 01010111 00100000 01000010 01001001 01001110 01000001 01010010 01011001
"You sued them, or you hopped into a class action law suit by purchasing it, as there is a difference there. And who says that EULA may not violate law? Why can't it?"
I sued them, it was all over reddit, slashdot, digg, etc. After my suit was initiated, my technical knowledge over all other plaintiffs put me as the main class representative.
EULA may not violate laws, this has been firmly established precedent as part of contract law - you can't say in EULA "By agreeing to this, we reserve the right to kidnap your children at any time we see fit" as that's ILLEGAL.
"Look, if you are not going to research the products you buy, then you should be counter-sued by EA for lawyer fees (and I bet their lawyers are expensive too). You failed to research Spore. You failed to look into the game. You failed to read the EULA fully (I read it and it clearly states in the EULA that it does install DRM). You could have seen that, and did more research to find out what kind of DRM, find out it is a nasty DRM, and not purchase the product at all. "
I researched the product. I knew about the DRM. What I did not count upon was the DRM DESTROYING my graphics card. As soon as Spore: Creature Creator was installed, my GPU (even after fresh format and reinstall of windows and drivers) would NOT see any aspect besides 4:3 (thus forcing me to render 1600x1200 on my 32" 16:9 monitor.)
Bet you feel really stupid right now. Hold on, I'm not finished, yet, son.
"I mean seriously. I am a software developer myself, and people like you need to go away or let somebody else buy software for you. Suing over the EULA when you did not do the research yourself into the product you purchased and just blindly bought it and then try to sue over it (probably just hopped into the class action suit, but even still)."
Seriously, I'm a research director, and people like you just need to shut up with your wild baseless assumptions and ignorance. You don't even have ANY facts and you're making assumptions that are simply not true, and making yourself look like an absolute ass in the process.
"I can also tell from your response that it was either part of a class action or you totally failed in your attempt to sue."
Nope, I won, they settled before I could get the dangerous court precedent set. FAT check, was more than enough to help start my current business. Look at who still hasn't done any research, at ALL.
The moral of the story: you're too stupid to even be talking. I feel sorry for whichever company you're developing software for, and I pray they find you out fast and drop you like a rock.
Also - I program - raw ASM across three different architectures (ARM, x86, DEC Alpha) - are you even on my level?
Probably not - I design automated food production systems. You're just designing toys.
Raw molybdenum isn't bioavailable to plants, sorry. It needs to be paired with another element in order to make it past the plasma membrane around the roots. Molybdenum nitrate, molybdenum disulphide, molybdenum citrate, etc are what the plant will require, it simply can't use raw molybdenum until it has gotten past the barrier zone and is inside the plant tissues.
"you are the guy that claimed to need a more precise quadratic equation in order to make your LED lights for growing pot"
Umm, WHAT? Quadratic equation? What are you talking about? Citation, please. We don't use a quadratic equation in determining photosynthetic photon flux density.
Closest thing I ever said to that was Quad-BAND.
And to make a light for growing pot is bullshit. Almost any light is capable of growing pot, from incandescents to fluorescents to plasma.
"Because buying futures in metals is exactly the same as being a chip manufacturer...."
If you don't have the raw materials you can't make the chips. Can't have one without the other.
"First of all, this is Slashdot, please don't dilute the term "hack" any further than it already has been."
Says someone that obviously doesn't understand the actual definition - a hack is a useful modification that serves a purpose, per the TMRC from MIT, who coined the term back in the 50s.
Sony's modification is useful (to them) - it is a hack by the purest sense of the definition.
"Do you think they would be stupid enough to use a known broken signining system for a new mechanism?"
It's impossible to change (locked in hardware) so guess what?
They don't have a choice.
"Has Sony done anything worthwhile?
- invented CD."
BZZZT! Philips.
"You're talking about intangible features - nothing to deprive you of actual material possessions. Therefore, not theft, and not stealing."
If ONLY someone had their original Fat PS3 box, so we could clearly show in court that Sony advertised Linux, we would instantly win, because one of Sony's current defenses (as they scramble across the web to get any hint of advertising PS3 Linux capability,) is that they never officially 'advertised' it at all.
I'd be willing to pay ten grand just for the box. It would go straight to my lawyer and we would force Sony out of America.
"You're talking about intangible features - nothing to deprive you of actual material possessions. Therefore, not theft, and not stealing."
BUT it is FALSE ADVERTISING, and then it's also Bait and Switch.
"Actually, it kinda does. You should have read the EULA better"
Actually, no it doesn't. No contract may violate law. Also, EULAs have been found null and void several times in California alone. I nullified the option of an EULA defense from Electronic Arts when I sued them over Spore's DRM.
"when most plants use pure molybdenum found in the ground"
Actually, no, molybdenum disulphide is more bioavailable than pure molybdenum to a plant.
Where'd you get your biology degree from?