Posts by Bill Gould

Microsoft buries Sinofsky Era... then jumps on the coffin lid

Yay

More Win8 UI arguments &c. Adapt and evolve. It's not "worse" than the now ancient Start Menu, it's different and just as usable. I really just... ARGH. Some archaic throwbacks just make me furious. I'm out.

Apple coughs up 7 hours of profit to refund kids' $32.5m app spend spree

Re: RTFA

No, we're (or at least I'm) deriding the parents for leaving their credit card's linked to the services on the iThing. Always enter the information. Never store CC information for future use, that never ends well.

Now, if crApple requires you to have a valid CC linked at all times, well... their competition doesn't.

Microsoft to RIP THE SHEETS off Windows 9 aka 'Threshold' in April

If Metro got in the way, you were doing it wrong. Metro is no more annoying that a start menu.

Re: If...

"Yes, I keep an eye on the gaming side of things too, but I notice a certain ambivalence where the OS is concerned. As long as it will run the latest and greatest hardware and support the games, they're happy."

And this is why Linux (including OSX) has no place in my home.

Re: Save billions on marketing

They're just following Steve Jobs' method "People don't know what they want. I give them what I want and make them want that too."

Classy Oregon diners tipped waitress with 'crystal meth' – cops

But they look so classy. Where did they go wrong? Wait. Probably the meth.

Space Station bags extra 10yrs of life as SOLAR STORM scrubs resupply

The USA and the ISS

I think the nations that can get people to the ISS should have more of a say in which nations can participate. As the US is relying on the kindness of allies to get any of their own 'nauts up there, maybe they should sit down and let the adults cooperate.

Microsoft: Here, we'll make it easy for you Gmail lot. Meet our Outlook.com movers

Why not a full migration?

Migrate my email, contacts and calendar. Seriously. My calendar goes back to mid-2002, am I expected to create a PST and upload it? Also Outlook 2013 is crap (though I like the rest of the standard 2013 suite).

Telling people about a new address is just about the worst part of the migration, as was mentioned above by AC@1741, but forwarding can be a workaround. Currently I actually forward from a gmail account to a mygbiz account so I can use their Outlook sync tool because local Outlook 2010 is just about perfect for my needs. Over the years though you just end up with a public facing email name that follows a forward chain back to where you really are. Ugh. Just no.

I don't log in to my Win 8.1 gaming rig or work laptop with an MS account, but I do log in to my tablet and phone with a Google account so I actually have a use for one of those.

Sorry MS, you're just not quite there yet.

I KNOW how to SAVE Microsoft. Give Windows 8 away for FREE – analyst

Re: I wonder what the Pirate Bay stats are

"So I had to reinstall the laptop because the SSD died, and instantly it said it was pirated, despite using the key straight from the sticker. Ditto for the VM install.

I finally had to find and use a crack to use copies of Windows I bought."

No, you call the automated line and get a new key based on the digit string your PC gives you.

Re: Uhm, no?

Desktop icons? Arrange the start screen so the apps you allegedly use all the time are in the first column, first row? Better still, pin to taskbar and boot to desktop (Win8.1).

There are no "productivity" issues using Windows 8 (or 8.1) except that people don't like change, and of course poorly written legacy software that you shouldn't be using anymore anyway. Even then, WinXP VM right in your desktop.

To fel with you! There's an NSA spook in my World of Warcraft

Getting paid, plus a government pension, to play WoW (or whatever). What kind of metrics do they use? "I finally got that super rare shoulder drop in XYZ raid... Oh, and I reported a gold seller/terrorist."

NSA sez NO to prez: Spooks ban Obama from using iPhones

$85 CDN for my internet connection, 65$ CDN for my cell phone plan (which I can expense through work thanks to BYOD). No TV Cable or bundle of anything, that's what the internet is for (Netflix, &c).

He might have meant $100 USD per person.

Meet the FOUR-TON DINO that made little Tyrannosaurs SOIL THEMSELVES

How long until either this one or the T-Rex get ret-conned anyway? The brontosaurus never existing according to "new evidence*".

*New as of a few year years ago that is.

BOFH: Resistance is futile - we're missing BEER O'CLOCK

Re: I beg to differ!

If you hate people. But who doesn't? People. What a bunch of bastards.

Migrating from Windows XP – Time to move on...

Re: Finally

"Currently 2014- 2015 is looking unpleasant IT wise. Win7 and especially Win 8 simply isn't a viable alternative to XP."

I'm actually looking forward to it. Finally migrating people off WinXP and its weak host model for TCP/IP. Finally providing a Win7 VDI environment that simply fronts a Citrix environment with AppV virtualized applications to the user customized using AppSense.

On a personal note, I had no issues with Vista, though Win7 was an improvement. I enjoyed Win8 and there were very few things that helped me switch to Win8.1. For personal use *nix is useless to me (PC gamer) and if I wanted to use it for productivity only I'd just nab a Chromebook and use Google's services.

Skype is for talking to family. If you're using it for enterprise then you're using it wrong. Use an enterprise class solution like GoTo Meeting, &c.

That said, to each their own. Variety is a good thing, though it prevents a unified global solution.

A-DOH!-BE hack: Facebook warns users whose logins were spilled

Re: The F in FB Stands for "Fail"

The problem is password management. Let's face it, we have dozens, if not hundreds of passwords now. Every product site, forum, *aaS, desktop, server, social network, game, &c all require passwords. And aside from centralized models like AD, NDS or others where once is for all they -should- all be unique. There have bee books and articles by the truckload for years going on about how passwords are bad security. And they are. However, nobody has really come up with a practical (ie: cost effective, standards based, implementable on every device ever) alternative. The only alternatives that seem viable are all in distopian, 1984-esque, future movies. Massive globe spanning mega-corps that hold everything and people simply consume. It's headed that way, but we've got some competition to crush before someone comes out on top.

Get chipped early.

How to relieve Microsoft's Surface RT piles problem

Re: Shills

So because I dislike Linux because for me it is absolutely useless (gamer) I must be an MS shill according to the OP.

I concur with your summary AC.

Stephen Hawking: 'Boring' Higgs Boson discovery cost me $100

Tagline

"Steven Hawking: Avoiding Facts and Making Shit Up"

The truth about mystery Trojan found in space

Re: Autorun strikes again

Autorun can be disabled by default, and it should have been on ISS systems.

Death of the business Desktop

Corporate of course

I can see VDI removing the desktop for large and enterprise customers for sure. SMB might do the same but with BYOD programs. For me though a PC will always be a necessity just for PC gaming. Better looking than consoles, mouse/keyboard is far superior to gamepad as a controller, and being able to do so much more with a PC than with a console such as multi-tasking.

I've participated in roll-outs of VDI in concert with BYOD programs and when done right the cost savings and better UX are definitely there.

'Burning platform' Elop: I'd SLASH and BURN stuff at Microsoft, TOO

Re: Why not...

"MS are the world's most arrogant company, They know best, and you'll take what they deign to toss your way."

Exactly how the iPhone, iPad and the UX in IOS and OS X were designed. Except that it was only Steve's opinion that mattered. One guy. That was all. If he liked it, it was forced on everyone else. If he didn't like it, you reworked it until he did or you were canned.

Brit spymasters: Cheers, Snowden. Terrorists are overhauling their comms

No, but it's not really likely to work either. You would need a self created, or at least very new, crypto method because the NSA et al have backdoors into any of the existing ones.

You could always email in code where the receiver knows the code and can understand the message. Or use a dead, or nearly dead, language. The American Dad episode where the criminal was using Tolkien's elvish and the CIA couldn't decode it springs to mind. Navajoes worked in the past as well.

DEAD STEVE JOBS chap becomes ENGINEER ... at Lenovo

Godwin'd in two.

Pop OS X Mavericks on your Mac for FREE while you have LUNCH

Re: If they really wanted to stick it to Microsoft ...

I would install that. I've wanted to run an OS X VM for awhile, but I;m not willing to jump through the various hoops Apple requires to install a basic OS. Create vdisk > boot with .iso > install. Those are the only 3 steps that should be required.

Hardware vs Software

Apple is a hardware company. That's where they make their profit, it's where they spend the most development time and dollars. Of course they can bundle in OS and lots of other software for free. They weren't making more than a few points on it anyway.

Wozniak: Please, whatever you do, DON'T buy me an iPad Air

Storage indeed

I'm currently running on an Asus TF101 for my tablet, and a Galaxy S3 for my phone. Both have microSD slots. I want to update my tablet and I've been looking at either an iPad or a Nexus 2 10, and neither of those have storage expansions. The iPad goes to 128 at least, but ... iPad. Ugh. I don't want to*. I hope that when the Nexus 2 10 is announced, since Asus is rumored to be the manufacturer this time, there will be a microSD slot.

*Apple has great customer service in store, and their on screen keyboards are top-notch. I just don't like the brand, the lock-in, or value for my money.

Anonymous and pals gather in support of girl at centre of rape case

Re: The subject was rape NOT grammar

I've always considered sex, like all good things, to be opt-in.

Last living NEANDERTHALS discovered in JERSEY – boffins

Re: "Caveman" <> "Neanderthal"

No, no. I saw a TV special that showed Cro-Magnons as oppressive, dimensional sliding being bent on conquering all other homo-species.

Windows 8.1: A bit square, sure, but WAIT! It has a Start button

Minority?

Based on "media" articles I must be in the minority. It took a few days to get used to Win8 but after that it's been great. I have zero issues and the usability is the same as any other OS. All I read is "Win7 was great" "We should stick with Win7", &c. Absolutely, then in 8 years you can be my new "Migrate our company from WinXP ZOMG NOW!" customers.

Whinging. That's all I'm hearing.

(The 8.1 upgrade path is terrible, granted).

Coming soon to Twitter: Inboxes BULGING with DMs from world+dog

This will just add some overhead to the folks managing Celeb twitter accounts. As it is they generally ignore replies, now they'll have to parse DM's.

Re: The Kid: They did leave her with her siblings as well. No idea how old they were.

Windows 8.1: Microsoft's reluctant upgrade has a split-screen personality

"Will Microsoft or its OEM partners ever work out how to deliver Windows 8.1 devices that are simple, attractive and as cheap as they need to be to compete with Android /FULL STOP/?"

Don't put Apple products in a sentence with the word "cheap". Overpriced by a large margin.

That said, I found Win8 intuitive and easy to use as a desktop OS. Took about 5 minutes to get used to it.

Google Glass: Would you pay a mere $299 to plop one on your brow?

If I can simply add them to my current spec's I'd actually be interested.

US Congress proposal: National Park will be FOUND ON MOON

/headdesk

Maybe the US should focus on being able to GO to the moon, or anywhere in space, under their own initiative again before worrying about their litter.

Apple's head bean counter boasts WORLD'S BIGGEST PACKAGE

David Larcker

You're a tool.

Office Software Checkpoint

For me...

I'll stick with Outlook 2010 since 2013 strips two of the most useful features for me. For my docs I'll use Office 2013 for work items, but all my personal items have been, or are being, migrated over to Google Docs. Office 365 would also only be useful for my docs since I don't want to migrate 10+ years of calendar items and email to Outlook.com just to get back categories, and it still wouldn't show me more than the current days appointments.

CURSE you, EINSTEIN! Humanity still chained in relativistic PRISON

Scientists respond with "I dunno"

Give it a few years and they'll change their mind and start using new theories.

Microsoft: You want Office for Mac, fanboi? You'll pay Windows prices

Mail

Most people posting seem to stop their consideration of Office before reaching Outlook. Integrating mail and calendar better than any other app I've tried (most of them). Oh but Google Docs is... blah blah blah. GMail interface is ass unless you connect via IMAP from ... whoops, Outlook.

While email is falling into the legacy area for most personal use, in a corporate and SMB environment it's still the king. The increasing uptake of BYOD programs* means that people want/need a real mail client that talks to their Exchange clusters**. Or they're just like me and want to keep a good calendar integrated with a solid email platform.

Anyway, do what you will.

* In which they should only be using applications via Citrix anyway and ignoring their local apps for work use (small business is a special case, and they need helmets).

** Exchange, because lulz Domino.

Why you need a home lab to keep your job

When I pay for training and exams out of pocket...

... I'm polishing my skill set to find another job. Employers should watch for the tech worker that's ramping their desirability to competitors, all on their own time and out of pocket. That's a sign that the employee is not content, or that they want the training, and they're ready to move on and leave you hanging.

How to destroy a brand-new Samsung laptop: Boot Linux on it

Samsung

Samsung makes laptops?

Marvell: Ignore the $1BN PATENT JUDGMENT... Check out this new cache kit

Missing something

Why exactly can't CMU be countersued? They're just a private research university.

Black Ops 2 takes HALF A BEELLION DOLLARS in just ONE DAY

So... it's another generic shooter then? Pass.

NASA 'nauts personal DATA at risk after laptop SNATCH BUNGLE

Why was it on the laptop in the first place?

Facebook stock plunge halts - despite insiders being freed to sell

"That somewhat steady price suggests calmer investors are hanging on to the stock to see if Facebook can translate its success on the web into mobile ad revenue, which is what it needs to survive as more and more of its users access the site on their phones and tablets."

Except that on the web I block their ads, and on my phone and tablet the apps don't serve me ads. We'll see.

Android-loving suits boot BlackBerrys into 3rd place in the office

Who else is FIPS certified (legitimate question)?

Management is the reason leaks and insecurity abounds. The IT staff would happily lock the shit down to the point that management and sales people would be complaining about how annoying it is to do things. It would be secure however. We get over-ruled by high muckety-mucks that don't have a clue and just like things to be simple... like them. The entire desktop/laptop/wireless networks should be untrusted, yes, but then the CFO or CSO complains that they need to be able to use their local bullshit email program to connect to the Exchange environment and be able to modify network stored docs locally. Fuck no! What's that? I'm fired? Oh, well here's your network access then.

BOFH: Can't you just ... NO, I JUST CAN'T

Re: In the big organisations they only bypass you anyway

"Usually the IT manager/director has already agreed to the request before talking to you so just overrules your perfectly valid objections to it."

Which is why you express your concerns about it in an email to said folks, then get an email back saying to do it anyway. CYA. When it does come back to haunt you, and it will, you can pull out the email and show that you objected to it because of exactly what happened but the drooling sack of meat said to do it anyway so it''s really his fault, and can you have his office when he's gone.

Mozilla: Windows 7 browser bungle cost us nine MILLION downloads

Firesucks

I'm pretty sure it was more that Firefox became a fat, bloated piece of shitware that caused the problem.

N00bs vs Windows 8: We lock six people in a room with new OS

Switching from THIFKAM to Desktop and back

If your hardware doesn't have a Windows key, and yet has Windows installed, you have shit hardware. That's like a Mac not having a funny looking little symbol key (is that the command key? I don't know, they're fucking useless).

Top admen beg Microsoft to switch off 'Do Not Track' in IE 10

Clowns to the left... jokers to the right...

People would bitch and whine if they had DNT off by default, just as they are apparently doing when DNT is on by default. Can't please everyone.

LONDON iPHONE 5 MADNESS: 'You must be CRAZY to buy Apple'

Handicapped

These people are all "mentally handicapped" (to PC it up for general consumption). Absolute brainwashed raging retards is a plainer way to say it.