Posts by Michael Pearce

Security audit finds dev outsourced his job to China to goof off at work

Award for brilliance

http://www.theregister.co.uk/Design/graphics/icons/comment/thumb_up_32.png

So it's okay if the company throws people out of work by outsourcing to China but not when a worker does it? Everyone wins here - the company was satisfied with the results and what it cost them; Bob is happy because he is paid lots of money to do nothing but manage his source and verify the work before it's submitted, and China is happy because China always wins.

What really needs outsourcing is management.

Dell MacBook Air Adamo officially launched

Horse Puckey inside

The same thing is wrong with this as is wrong with the Vaio. Nice hardware, turned to crap by Microsoft. If they stated that all models shipped with Ubuntu that would be an improvement, but the reason the MacBook models are so desirable is the inherent superiority of the entire package. No one can compete with Apple on an equal level until they shower themselves clean of Windows.

The Mac OS 10.5.6 update saga continues

avoiding updates

You got it backwards - the smart user NEVER lets Software Update muck things up. Always wait a week after announcement and check Macintouch and MacFixIt to see how may people are having problems. The bugs in Mail app became apparent with 10.5.5 and got no better in 10.5.6 so you're better off staying at 10.5.4, which is the version that comes on the latest MacBookPros.

You'd be amazed at the number of MBPs that show up at the Linux Users Group meetings, oh trollers.

I think Apple has been hiring dropouts from the Bush administration to write their updates - they are consistently of the Heckuva Job Brownie class. The last good Safari was 3.1.2 and it still is dog slow compared to Camino. The Security Updates spray fecal firehoses all over anyone who is misfortunate enough to run them. Too bad, because there are some security holes that need fixing. And don't get me started on QuickTime 7.5.5 or iTunes 8.0.x.

Eventually someone will clean up the mess, but my guess is that will happen with 10.6.3.

I would still rather have my eyes chewed out by eels than run Windows of any stripe. If Apple died tomorrow I would install Ubuntu.

Save the BBC - by setting it free

The BBC should become a premium channel in the US

I would subscribe in a second. I am already paying $11/month for HBO and Showtime (each) in order to see the original programming they provide. Nothing would be better than to get all the BBC channels at the same time they are showing in the U.K.

As it is now, I am seeing most of the BBC programming I like via Usenet and BitTorrent. It was massive downloading of the first new season of Doctor Who that finally motivated the idiots at the SciFi channel to buy it - a year late. Could the Beeb use the millions of subscriber dollars that would come from becoming an American premium satellite channel? You bet, although they would have to force some tough negotiations on the content producers (outside of their own) to get it passed.

BBCA is a pathetic, commercial and censored shadow of the real thing, although it is improving. I wish someone with real influence would take up the cause of bring the real BBC inside our borders.

Michael in the Pacific NW