As someone who's had to build many a Windows XP system since SP2 came out, it would be very handy if Microsoft offered a single file (similar to Windows 2000's Update Rollup) that has all patches since the last service pack. It would save me (or my company) time, and would save Microsoft on bandwidth.
I'm aware there are third party ways to update fresh builds of XP in a more straightforward fashion (or integrate the updates in to the install disc), but where is mighty Microsoft on this? Where is the value here?
Apparently you are a foolish American that shouldn't bother going to vote.
That's needlessly insulting.
We're not a democracy, we are a republic, because a democracy is simply mob rule, whereas our system is supposed to protect the rights of minorities too.
As sumdumass notes below, the stiff destinction between "democracy" and "republic" isn't as clear as it was in the decades past. Our media and politicians use "democracy" for pretty much any place that votes on anything. I will conceed we are a Republic, but with classic Democratic elements.
Our hybrid system does a good job of protecting minorities while allowing for referendums. There are even specific cases where the vote of the people is required to change things, usually state constitution changes. The idea that we are too weak to do anything other than choose between two or three candidates is too close to the idea that we should not even be able to do that for my tastes.
I would not like people telling me what to do just because there are alot of other people that may agree. I certainly wouldn't like the majority to, say, dictate that I am to become a Christian.
If a particular state decided all civil servants should be of $Faith to get the job it would be struck down by the courts. And that would go for any unconstitutional "mob rule" diktats. Simply allowing referendums do not mean the end of the balances we have in place.
Now if we could get more than two meaningful political parties.
In the US,... the problem is that they also have to vote for millions of other little things. What's the point of electing people if you can't delegate to them some of the decision making.
Huh? We in America delegate some but not all decision making authority to our elected folks. Major issues should be voted on directly, that's the whole point of democracy. Or are you suggesting Americans are so foolish they cannot handle making decisions beyond looking for the (D) or (R) next to candidates' names?
I would like to be able to vote on more issues, but there are usually only a few issues on the ballot. In the last election there were 3 in my state, and only 1 I recall being of significant potential impact.
That's why the Government should be providing health insurance, and limiting the price of medication, like in every other first-world country.
Health insurance isn't the answer, health care is. Just watch the GOP create some scheme where "everyone is insured" but paying 90% of the cost of care out of pocket.
I wonder if the education and training to become a doctor is too much; is it not close to 10 years before seeing a patient?
Not sure if that's an American(R) thing or just a Verizon(TM) thing, but it disappoints me greatly that elsewhere phones are being used in innovative ways that America(R) can only dream of.
$5 for Internet on my phone per month, plus data? 10 cents a piece for a text message that is less than 250 bytes? $3 per ringtone that I can get on iTunes(TM) for a single $? Not to mention the numbers listed as having called my phone that I have never heard of? Measuring calls in minutes instead of seconds?
Microsoft disabled Internet activation on the keys given to major OEMs a while ago; this was done to prevent piracy. If you had branded manufacturer XP disks you could have skipped the activation, but most users never receive these from the manufacturer. I can't recall ever seeing one from HP.
Unless they're lucky enough to learn after work in a high-latitude winter, most people will never drive in the dark with an instructor. Which is pretty scary, when you think about it.
I don't believe most student driver are brought on the highway, at least based on the numbers of people I see trying to merge at only 30 MPH. Unfortunately, far too many people change lanes without using turn signals, or illegally block the passing lane in a vain attempt to slow others.
The RadioShark has some serious limitations that make it a poor purchase.
The recording program has a limit of only 2 hours, and does not natively encode into MP3. The program's interface is terrible, and it doesn't tag the files it creates. Even though it was sold as compatible with Windows 2000, the updated program isn't supported in 2000, even though it works with it. There is no place for an antenna, they suggest using headphones for better reception.
(for what reason would an OS not come with PS/2 generic mouse drivers?)
XP includes them, so how did you have trouble here?
I'm convinced one part of the horrible nature is that even today it seems that EVERY driver, EVERY re-configuration demanded a reboot though in my wildest imagination.
You didn't have to reboot after installing each driver, just when you're done installing all the ones you need.
(oh, yeah, about 100+ XP updates -- the CD was pre-SP1, go figure)
This sounds like the source of most of your issues. You're using a years-old copy of XP with a new system. Were you reusing an old license? Even small shops would at least give you a CDR of the OEM version of XP with SP2 on it.
The one thing you didn't mention is XP often requires a floppy disk with drivers on it just for setup to see the SATA drives. If you used an XP disc with no Service Packs, how did you get past this step?
I'm not looking forward to Vista either, thankfully my company is still largely using Windows 2000. We'll look at Vista once SP1 comes out.
Why is it that Avast and other AV vendors aren't complaining about the new security model and are releasing products already that work with Vista? Did Symantec and McAfee really think that Vista was another NT 5.x and their products for XP were going to operate perfectly without some work?
The reason he is suggesting is using an email account NOT tied to an ISP account is that you can change providers without worrying about emailing everyone with your new email address.
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There is plenty of proprietary in-house stuff that is not part of this discussion. In other words, stuff that is not "out there."
I'm aware there are third party ways to update fresh builds of XP in a more straightforward fashion (or integrate the updates in to the install disc), but where is mighty Microsoft on this? Where is the value here?
CommUNITY Network sounds nice, gets the point across, etc.
On the other hand, you may last more than a minute with an analog girl.
You mean all that high fructose corn syrup is bad for you? Don't tell the corn lobby. America has been using sugar tariffs since before the Spanish-American War over a century ago and does not appear to have stopped since then.
Jones Soda and some other less common brands are switching back to real sugar as a marketing strategy.
And thought this was "MIT to Invest Over $500 Million in Video Games." Oh well, at least they made Clocky.
That's needlessly insulting.
As sumdumass notes below, the stiff destinction between "democracy" and "republic" isn't as clear as it was in the decades past. Our media and politicians use "democracy" for pretty much any place that votes on anything. I will conceed we are a Republic, but with classic Democratic elements.
Our hybrid system does a good job of protecting minorities while allowing for referendums. There are even specific cases where the vote of the people is required to change things, usually state constitution changes. The idea that we are too weak to do anything other than choose between two or three candidates is too close to the idea that we should not even be able to do that for my tastes.
If a particular state decided all civil servants should be of $Faith to get the job it would be struck down by the courts. And that would go for any unconstitutional "mob rule" diktats. Simply allowing referendums do not mean the end of the balances we have in place.
Now if we could get more than two meaningful political parties.
Huh? We in America delegate some but not all decision making authority to our elected folks. Major issues should be voted on directly, that's the whole point of democracy. Or are you suggesting Americans are so foolish they cannot handle making decisions beyond looking for the (D) or (R) next to candidates' names?
I would like to be able to vote on more issues, but there are usually only a few issues on the ballot. In the last election there were 3 in my state, and only 1 I recall being of significant potential impact.
Both Taiwan and S. Korea could be taken as easily as the Low Countries were taken by the Germans.
StarCraft 2. Oh to be one with Kerrigan's Swarm again...
Health insurance isn't the answer, health care is. Just watch the GOP create some scheme where "everyone is insured" but paying 90% of the cost of care out of pocket.
I wonder if the education and training to become a doctor is too much; is it not close to 10 years before seeing a patient?
$5 for Internet on my phone per month, plus data? 10 cents a piece for a text message that is less than 250 bytes? $3 per ringtone that I can get on iTunes(TM) for a single $? Not to mention the numbers listed as having called my phone that I have never heard of? Measuring calls in minutes instead of seconds?
Microsoft disabled Internet activation on the keys given to major OEMs a while ago; this was done to prevent piracy. If you had branded manufacturer XP disks you could have skipped the activation, but most users never receive these from the manufacturer. I can't recall ever seeing one from HP.
What other games came with trinkets?
I don't believe most student driver are brought on the highway, at least based on the numbers of people I see trying to merge at only 30 MPH. Unfortunately, far too many people change lanes without using turn signals, or illegally block the passing lane in a vain attempt to slow others.
Who wants to see more of Ellen Fleiss?
The recording program has a limit of only 2 hours, and does not natively encode into MP3. The program's interface is terrible, and it doesn't tag the files it creates. Even though it was sold as compatible with Windows 2000, the updated program isn't supported in 2000, even though it works with it. There is no place for an antenna, they suggest using headphones for better reception.
Audacity and an analog cable work much better.
A very unhappy RadioShark owner
XP includes them, so how did you have trouble here?
You didn't have to reboot after installing each driver, just when you're done installing all the ones you need.
This sounds like the source of most of your issues. You're using a years-old copy of XP with a new system. Were you reusing an old license? Even small shops would at least give you a CDR of the OEM version of XP with SP2 on it.
The one thing you didn't mention is XP often requires a floppy disk with drivers on it just for setup to see the SATA drives. If you used an XP disc with no Service Packs, how did you get past this step?
I'm not looking forward to Vista either, thankfully my company is still largely using Windows 2000. We'll look at Vista once SP1 comes out.
Why is it that Avast and other AV vendors aren't complaining about the new security model and are releasing products already that work with Vista? Did Symantec and McAfee really think that Vista was another NT 5.x and their products for XP were going to operate perfectly without some work?
Doesn't LJ's terms of use indicate you've already signed your copyright over to them?
Taco wanted to having something in beta so he'd get some Google lovin'.
The reason he is suggesting is using an email account NOT tied to an ISP account is that you can change providers without worrying about emailing everyone with your new email address.
Surely, you mean the ThinkPad Button?
How long before a system maker like HP (or someone other than Apple) buys / starts their own Linux distro?
"How can you say the gods are merciless when the robbed the snake of its limbs to give other creatures a fighting chance?"