I think we can all agree is that the last thing we need on any technology is more legalistic regulation. Laws like these make criminals out of every-day people doing every-day things.
I do not want to have to manage my own personal network based on ridiculous laws. Of course, I would secure a wireless network if I had one (I currently don't), but I want to do it because I know it's what needs to be done to protect my privacy the way I need to, and not because I'm being forced to by law.
There may be some people who want to leave their network open, perhaps for their neighbor(s) to use, or perhaps a hotel that doesn't want to bother managing network security (it's certainly obvious enough at the time of connection when a network is not secured and that its users are to connect at their own risk). This could, in some cases, violate an ISP's terms of service, but then that's a matter for this customer's ISP to deal with, and should not be a criminal offense. And then, this kind of becomes a bit of a societal issue. When technology advances as is innovated, laws and service terms should change to embrace it, not restrict it. For example, an ISP providing a DSL or cable connection to a customer who shares the line wirelessly could simply charge for more bandwidth if their fixed-price "buffer" is exceeded. That would be an example of service terms embracing technology. But, now I'm getting to a whole other discussion for another story.
The point is: let people have their technology and use it how they want it. If you get burned somehow from not understanding the risks of using it in a certain way, then you'll learn from your mistake(s).
Companies should not be allowed to "own" formats. Eventually, they will be broken anyway. It's inherent with technology that if something is hidden or secret, it can and will be cracked (don't you remember what your mom said? There's always someone smarter than you).
Formats should be open and standardized. Eg.: Microsoft should not be allowed to monopolize the market by locking in users to their Office formats; and likewise, the media industries should not be allowed to screw over their own customers by creating formats that are designed to be combative against those customers.
Just imagine how many decades we'd be ahead in technology if things worked this way.
Coachroaches. The tech, once he'd removed the side of the unit, had exposed them to the light and they were trying to find a new place to hide. There must have been a hundred in there. Craziest thing I ever saw.
You previously worked with emotionally disturbed kids, but then you started working with emotionally disturbed adults. That's a different ballpark, man....
I developed the online help files for a webmail client a little while back. In one of the help files, I provide my (spam-proofed) email address so that users can email me if they have suggestions for the help files or if they can point out something that may have been overlooked. It even says that I have nothing to do with the actual webmail client -- only the help files, that's it -- and am only to be emailed for suggestions on the help files.
Despite these very clear instructions, I have received countless emails of people asking for technical support for the installation of the webmail client they use that could hosted on a server in Bulgaria for all I know. Most of the time, I reply with a stock message, but one in particular called for more...
Arrrgg!!!
I can't get into my mail account. I have tried [www.website.com/webmailclient] with the password of ********* ( I think that is the right combo) to no avail.... Any chance you can help me?
[Signature]
[Alternate email]
[Phone Number]
Please email me as I can give you any security info you may need including SS# and/or bank account number I am using to pay for your services.
I need to get access to my account as soon as possible as I think I am loosing business as I write this. Thanks for your help.
I say take the driver aids off and get rid of fancy electronics. Then we'll see who the real racers are.
(I'm not trolling for wise-guy comments here. By electronics, I mean things like paddle-shift gearboxes and remotely-controlled engine adjustments; not fuel injection and electric starters).
Customer had been angry from the start. Don't know why. Just was that way. We fixed her computer up nice and new and sent her home. About 30min later she calls. Screaming and yelling. "you broke the computer..".. lots of profanity and swearing. After awhile I got her to say that it wasn't even "booting". I asked if the power LEDs were on. Took another few minutes to get the answer "no" through all the yelling and screaming. They weren't. I asked if she could confirm that it was plugged into the powerstrip, she said "no".. more screaming and yelling at me. At this point every customer in the store is listening on my side of the conversation as they were all hushed and no longer really shopping. I asked why she couldn't check the powerstrip... more swearing.. finally she said something like.."okay whatever..".. and set the phone down. She came back and I asked "was it plugged in okay"... "I don't know I had to get a flashlight.." more yelling and swearing. "Why did you need a flashlight?" "The power is out and I can't see under the desk" She immediatly realized her mistake and hung up. The call lasted about 20minutes and was the most difficult customer I've ever had to help out over the phone.
I read a story very similar to that a while ago, but it ended a bit differently...
Support: Sir, you need to disconnect all of the cables from your computer, put back in the box, and take it back to the store where you bought it from.
Caller: Oh, is my computer defective?
Support: No. You, sir, are to stupid to own a computer.
Google is a big, juicy target for greedy ISPs wanting to cash in by dipping into other ISPs' customers' pockets. It's genuinely beneficial to Google and their users that Net Neutrality is implemented and protected. I hope Google does everything they can to protect it, too.
I hope Linus decides to use GPL3 for future versions of Linux. Eventually, they'd have to actually develop their own native operating system for their hardware or use Windows. That way, the player and it's associated DRM would never see the light of day or, in the latter case, it would be hackable the day that it does.
Slashdot Mirror
I think we can all agree is that the last thing we need on any technology is more legalistic regulation. Laws like these make criminals out of every-day people doing every-day things.
I do not want to have to manage my own personal network based on ridiculous laws. Of course, I would secure a wireless network if I had one (I currently don't), but I want to do it because I know it's what needs to be done to protect my privacy the way I need to, and not because I'm being forced to by law.
There may be some people who want to leave their network open, perhaps for their neighbor(s) to use, or perhaps a hotel that doesn't want to bother managing network security (it's certainly obvious enough at the time of connection when a network is not secured and that its users are to connect at their own risk). This could, in some cases, violate an ISP's terms of service, but then that's a matter for this customer's ISP to deal with, and should not be a criminal offense. And then, this kind of becomes a bit of a societal issue. When technology advances as is innovated, laws and service terms should change to embrace it, not restrict it. For example, an ISP providing a DSL or cable connection to a customer who shares the line wirelessly could simply charge for more bandwidth if their fixed-price "buffer" is exceeded. That would be an example of service terms embracing technology. But, now I'm getting to a whole other discussion for another story.
The point is: let people have their technology and use it how they want it. If you get burned somehow from not understanding the risks of using it in a certain way, then you'll learn from your mistake(s).
So would a Dell laptop battery be the electric equivalent to premium gasoline?
Several airlines have just announced that they are banning the in-flight use of Dell laptops.
Companies should not be allowed to "own" formats. Eventually, they will be broken anyway. It's inherent with technology that if something is hidden or secret, it can and will be cracked (don't you remember what your mom said? There's always someone smarter than you).
Formats should be open and standardized. Eg.: Microsoft should not be allowed to monopolize the market by locking in users to their Office formats; and likewise, the media industries should not be allowed to screw over their own customers by creating formats that are designed to be combative against those customers.
Just imagine how many decades we'd be ahead in technology if things worked this way.
Hey, I'd be pretty ticked at them too if they sold me a several-thousand-dollar network cable.
I developed the online help files for a webmail client a little while back. In one of the help files, I provide my (spam-proofed) email address so that users can email me if they have suggestions for the help files or if they can point out something that may have been overlooked. It even says that I have nothing to do with the actual webmail client -- only the help files, that's it -- and am only to be emailed for suggestions on the help files.
Despite these very clear instructions, I have received countless emails of people asking for technical support for the installation of the webmail client they use that could hosted on a server in Bulgaria for all I know. Most of the time, I reply with a stock message, but one in particular called for more...
Arrrgg!!!
I can't get into my mail account. I have tried [www.website.com/webmailclient] with the password of ********* ( I think that is the right combo) to no avail.... Any chance you can help me?
[Signature]
[Alternate email]
[Phone Number]
Please email me as I can give you any security info you may need including SS# and/or bank account number I am using to pay for your services.
I need to get access to my account as soon as possible as I think I am loosing business as I write this. Thanks for your help.
[Signature]
Maybe she thought I was Nigerian.
I say take the driver aids off and get rid of fancy electronics. Then we'll see who the real racers are. (I'm not trolling for wise-guy comments here. By electronics, I mean things like paddle-shift gearboxes and remotely-controlled engine adjustments; not fuel injection and electric starters).
Support: Sir, you need to disconnect all of the cables from your computer, put back in the box, and take it back to the store where you bought it from.
Caller: Oh, is my computer defective?
Support: No. You, sir, are to stupid to own a computer.
Google is a big, juicy target for greedy ISPs wanting to cash in by dipping into other ISPs' customers' pockets. It's genuinely beneficial to Google and their users that Net Neutrality is implemented and protected. I hope Google does everything they can to protect it, too.
What, exactly, about "you ain't got none" requires planning?
It was this one, right? Right??
they must be using Powerpoint again.
Cool! I'm an inventor! Yeehaw!
...in certain accents that put the emphasis on the first sylable of "eefoff" could make it sound like...well, perhaps "PR Brain Fart"?
How long until school's ban this "social" router?
What do you mean? This is pretty timely for Slashdot!
I hope Linus decides to use GPL3 for future versions of Linux. Eventually, they'd have to actually develop their own native operating system for their hardware or use Windows. That way, the player and it's associated DRM would never see the light of day or, in the latter case, it would be hackable the day that it does.
Ugh, never mind.
I haven't heard anything about them suing MacFixIt yet.
Apparently, GMail chooses recipes based on your incoming mail.