Posts by vmistery

C For Hell: Data centre meltdown for irate customers as C4L GOES TITSUP

Re: Another day...

If your business depends on uptime then yes duplicating things with another provider is exactly what you should be doing and have a tested plan to flip over to it.

Smartphone sales looking rosy for Asus, despite PC meltdown

"NT$99.37bn (£1.98)," I will have that exchange rate please :)

Carphone Warehouse coughs to MONSTER data breach – 2.4 MEELLION Brits at risk

Looking forward to finding out why they still have my details on record 2 years after ordering a contract. They is 0 reason for my bank details to be stored for that long and shows a serious lack of thought about security. I am also looking forward to them sucking it up and ensuring everyone's banks are contacted on their behalf and free fraud monitoring services for all former customers. You can bet I am a former customer by the way.

Webcast: How to survive Windows Server 2003 end of life - safely

As soon as your boss blocks it it ceases to be your responsibility. How can you be responsible for something out of your hands?

Windows Server 2003 end of support draws ever closer

It's the final countdown!

Chill, luvvies. The ‘unsustainable’ BBC Telly Tax stays – for now

Re: Am I the only person...

You are not the only one. People seem to forget that despite it being far cheaper than Virgin or Sky you also don't have endless adverts and you get radio too. I'd support something that made people who stream only pay a bit in but really we do have great value. Netflix is the only real competition and as yet it isn't as good.

Word to your mother: Office 2016 preview flung at world + dog

Bit of a shame they are not going to do a one year free upgrade for this too.

Microsoft's Ignite gabfest includes just ONE session about Windows Server

It actually surprises me MS are going to push another Server OS on us so soon. Makes choosing a 'standard' OS rather challenging. We have just stuck to the R2 releases as they have always sat 4 or more years from each other as we don't like to have too mixed environments. Also doesn't seem like it will have been very long for those on the non-R2 cycle since 2012 was released.

Is Windows RT not invited to the Windows 10 upgrade party?

At least RT owners will get security updates and what not for 7/8 more years which is more than Playbook owners will be getting. It might not be that much comfort consderin the App store will still be terrible but it is something! If all you want is a web browser then it is almost certainly better than having an Android tablet too from a security standpoint.

UKIP website TAKES A KIP, but for why?

Did the Tories and Labour team up for a DDOS? Or employ some hackers?

Or is it a publicity stunt to gain yet more media attention?

If BT gets EE, it will trigger EU treasure hunt for fixed lines

Seems to me that the only real solution is to have more consolidation between the different markets, perhaps Virgin, Sky, 3, O2 and Talktalk should start talking to each other about it. Virgin with its fixed line with 3 or O2 perhaps or Sky with its TV with O2 or 3, even talktalk with its landline bedding with 3. I have to say I don't think Talktalk taking Blinkbox from Tesco will really give it enough.

Microsoft lets YOU kill POODLE in Protected Mode sites

They are assuming people are using ie11 in businesses. I suspect a large amount are not!

El Reg Redesign - leave your comment here.

Did someone look at the design of the theinquirer.net and go "We can go one better than that!" because that is how it feels - all red and white and too much spaaaaaaaaace I could fall in it. I could at the very least do with the white being a bit less white as I can feel the retina in my eyes slowly burning away. As for getting a design helper in? Good luck. Go back to the old reg look, possibly tart up the edges and go home happy.

Thought your household broadband was pants? Small biz has it worse

Re: BT are the problem

"Why isn't another company stepping in to meet the demand? If there's demand and the chance of a profit, surely one company opting out of providing service just creates a gap that another will fill? Do Virgin operate in Edinburgh?"

Because Virgin do the same - extract more money from you by putting in proper Fibre. We had exactly this situation.

Re: No FTTC for us

We had this problem for ages until we just gave up and had Fibre installed. Your only real option is ADSL bonding if you just need download speeds or EFM if you want upload speeds too but you would cry at the speeds you will get compared to a FTTC connection! I am hoping that 4G will sort things out a bit.

Microsoft's dodgy new Exchange 2010 update breaks Outlook clients

Re: Linux v Windows updates

Sounds to me like you are comparing upgrading a server with no gui to a full GUI box, updates on Windows core I find quite quick as well. When I have used the Ubuntu graphical update tool it seems to take quite a bit of time.

Also you don't go via a browser anymore for Windows update you know...

That sub-$100 Android slab you got on Black Friday? RIDDLED with holes, say infosec bods

It is all very well saying manufacturers should update the software but there is little motivation for them to do so as once the unit is sold there is no financial benefit for them to keep it up to date (unlike with Microsoft or apple who make money from app sales after). If Google want updates pushed they need to take over more of the patching. Something like saying if you bung on 4.2 we will push out security updates for that point release for x years.

Ten excellent FREE PC apps to brighten your Windows

Re: Shite troll of the month award!

Downvote for the OP and Alan Bourke

OP - It gets very old the Windows VS Linux debate and I run plenty of critical Business software on Windows

Alan Bourke - It gets very old the Windows VS Linux debate and I run plenty of critical Business software on Linux

GiffGaff spanked for clumsy attempt at mum-and-dad-humping humour

Funniest thing for me was I had to watch an advert - to see the advert - marketing people well done, you indeed won here.

HSBC Turkey WON'T reissue cards despite 2.7 MILLION account details going AWOL

Just for a sec there I thought they were making a christmas related headline.

Looking for a job in Europe? Experienced IT staff needed in UK, Italy and Germany

What they mean is "A shortage of people willing to work for the pittance that companies want to pay experienced IT workers".

SKYPE has the HOTS for my NAKED WIFE

Re: I have a plaster stuck over my webcam

I went for second fix - plastered over it

I want to transplant your storage brains: WD desktop NAS refresh

What use is 45 usb3 ports on this new one?! Is that for some crazy new expansion capability or just a typo :(

Phones 4u slips into administration after EE cuts ties with Brit mobe retailer

As consumers we should also be concerned about this. Buying direct for me has almost always been more expensive than going via a 3rd party and often buying through a 3rd party has other benefits such as ready unlocked phones. This is essentially a first step towards direct selling only and higher prices for punters. I say this because phones4u is such a large company itself.

Brits' borked Samsung kit held up after repair centre slips into administration

Re: Pop goes Samsung's glossy image.

I would say you were lucky then Gill. My experience of Apple has been entirely opposite. I think it's really luck of the draw with all manufacturers

Lenovo posts an INCREASE in desktop PC and notebook sales

Of course they are seeing a sales and profit rise. They are doing 2 things, firstly operating on wafer thin margins to undercut rivals such as Dell and HP. Secondly they are giving the customer what they want, a no frills product that is the right price.

Want a cheap iMac? TOO BAD. But you can have a slow one for $1,099

The value in this new lower priced one seems terrible when compared to is £150 more sibling. I mean for £150 you get a 2.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 instead, Iris Pro graphics and a larger hard drive. I just cannot imagine why you would spend £900 on such a low spec on a non-portable machine? Who is this targeted at? I get low power CPUs in Laptops but in an iMac?

I am NOT a PC repair man. I will NOT get your iPad working

It does seem like very event I turn up to I get asked about PC problems and I often wonder if Plumbers or Electricians get the same sort of attention. These days I tell them to call me about it sometime which gets rid of at least 2/3rds of them. I am beyond caring if a few people feel I have been a bit short or rude to them, it might surprise them that although I enjoy my job when I get home a lot of the time I just want to forget about work and have fun.

And to those who wonder why I don't know how to do this particular strange thing in Word - I am a network engineer - I do a lot of typing but in Word it 'aint!

Broadband Secretary of SHEEP sensationally quits Cabinet

Re: @dogged

And do you say 'Ledswinger' its ok to make mistakes or thieve if you are rich but not if your poor? As that was the argument I made initially. At the end of the day anyone who cheats should be treated equally, rich or poor, MP or benefit claimant, it does not seem to be the case at the moment. This guy for example had to repay everything (housing benefit fraud which is essentially what this MP was doing).

http://www.basildonrecorder.co.uk/news/11125917.Swindler___s___16_000_benefit_scam_shame/?ref=var_0

I do often wonder if a benefit claimant had claimed incorrectly / played the system if they would get off as lightly as only having to pay a small amount back.

It's EE vs Vodafone: 'How good is my signal' study descends into network bunfight

I have been on O2, Voda, and 3. O2 for me is the best compromise with ok 3g and good 2g. Vodafone had excellent 2g and no 3g and 3 had good 3g but it was not strong enough to get inside buildings which is a problem as I spend time on call. I can't personally comment on EE but who knows next time I might jump in.

Help a hack: What's in your ultimate Windows XP migration toolkit?

If you are going to a bandwidth constrained place and are miles from anywhere then taking as much of what you need with you would be a good start. I know it sounds obvious but I remember my days of helping with peoples home computers when I had broadband and they were still on dial up.

You mention Windows 7 so I assume the licenses are already paid for and the specs of the current machines has been checked and are more than capable of Windows 7. Otherwise I'd mention checking this first and if required investing in upgrades or going to a more light weight OS. Also, Windows 7? I appreciate it is nicer than 8 however it has 3 years fewer support. To me an you this might be ok as we likely change our computers more often, but possibly just possibly here OS longevity should outweigh the benefits of sticking to Windows 7. Don't forget to get the drivers downloaded in advance.

before you go make an up to date Windows 7 image (including all current updates), instlal whatever you might want on it then shrink the size of the image and clonezilla the machine.

When you are there image that back to one computer install anything remaining then and sysprep it. Make an image from that,

Bung out the image from a clonezilla server machine and voilla.. Go round put in keys and activate and you are out of there other than the bits that just don't sysprep well like Kaspersky if you are using it.

Windows 8.1 Update 1 spewed online a MONTH early – by Microsoft

But what do the updates actually do? Now I am an intrepid explorer and all of all things new, beta and shiny but I do normally like to read the release notes or some comments about why it is so amazing first.

We test Intel's 730 480GB SSD Skulltrail scorcher

Re: Expensive Downgrade

Beat me to it. Still, get two in a RAID 0 and you should be able to get Windows XP on there and probably even Notepad++!

Apple's Windows XP moment: OS X Snow Leopard left to DIE

Re: 2007 hardware obsolete?

My 2006 Core2Quad desktop is running Windows 8 just fine thanks. Care to elaborate why you think double the price hardware should be supported with OS releases for less time? The reason my MacMini and the OH MacBook are not supported now is because apple cheaped out and sold £expensive units with the GMA 950 chipset in. That is it.

Dixons Retail and Carphone Warehouse mull merger

Ah PC World / Currys. The company that tried to do the pushy sell routine on an 88 year old man (who I help with his PC) a windows 8 machine even though he was specifically asking for Windows 7. I cannot bear them! No experience with CP warehouse so can't comment there

PSST! New PCs with Windows 7 preinstalled are out there – and will be into 2015, at least

Re: Article fails to mention service packs

MS would also probably benefit by saying they will extend windows 7 support another 3 years to 2023 as realistically if you are only thinking about moving off XP now by the time you finish you might only have 4-5 years of security support!

SCRAP the TELLY TAX? Ancient BBC Time Lords mull Beeb's future

Although the BBC is not perfect by any means it is still massively better in value than Sky / Virgin and has far better content than Ad only channels like ITV and 4. So if people want to scrap the BBC a suitable replacement where you can listen to Ad free Radio and watch Ad free TV for £12.13 a month needs to be offered. This for me is vital on the radio as the Adverts are so terrible!

WD My Cloud EX4 four-bay NAS

I would imagine most people who get products like this would either be able to cope with installing FreeNas and using their own old PC + disks (saving a fair amount of money) or would buy a much cheaper external drive or single bay NAS. I personally would prefer a cheaper, FreeBSD using ZFS based solution with more RAM for the benefit of caching, but then I know what I am doing and don't need the FreeNAS babysitting.

HP 'clarifies' firmware/support contract rules

So do I buy Dell who regularly ship me servers with faults and who have assigned me a rep I can't understand or HP who are not going to fix anything broken after the initial period. I have lost either way in my opinion. I hope Lenovo do what they did for ex IBM desktops to the servers very soon.

Dead Kim Jong-il's OS makeover takes a page from Dead Steve Jobs

Interestingly in Panorama on North Korea (in the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology) you could clearly see them using XP. Hope they have got their Win 7 roll-out program going!

Just makes me wonder how many computers in NK actually run RedStar or whether its just for show. I think they could get some respect if they did release it to the world too. But I suspect that is unlikely

A real life Romulan-Klingon alliance: Google, Samsung sign global patent pact

I wonder if they opened a barrel of bloodwine... as we all know Romulan Ale is illegal.

I cannot upvote you enough. When will the reg learn to stick to the facts. ;-)

WHEW! OpenBSD won't CloseBSD (for now) after $100,000 cash windfall

Yes opensource projects work on OpenElecticity, OpenBandwidth, OpenHardware built with Open materials.

Take that, BT: Vodafone and BSkyB mull over broadband tie-up - report

The only way to really shake up the fixed line market would be to err build out a competing fixed line network. Virgin certainly are not doing it so it would be good to see a new player going for it.

Intel confirms it will axe 5,400 workers in 2014

Re: Such a small dip in revenue

But from another point of view it might make sense. Look at Dell for example, they ignored their shrinking sales for so long they are now having to make huge, quick (read expensive) forced cuts which is good for nobody. Intel on the other hand are just making proportionally small cuts which can hopefully be done via people leaving normally (retirement, pissed off with the job) and at worst voluntary redundancies. Which would you prefer as an Employee? No it is not good news but it surely would be worse if they left it for 5 years and flooded the jobs markets with 100,000 people looking for what is likely quite specialised work.

Fine! We'll keep updating WinXP's malware sniffer after April, says Microsoft

I am not sure this is actually a good move supporting essentials , it might lull people into a false sense of security. If their aim is to get everyone onto Win 7 or above then they need to give as much encouragement as possible, how about another cheap upgrade deal? For those using Forefront they should already be aware of any increase risk to them so I can see why they would continue supporting that as they might loose an AV customer!

Bloke hews plywood Raspberry Pi tablet

Cant wait for the ifixit teardown!

ZyXEL router attack: HUNDREDS of Brit biz bods knocked offline

They were cost effective feature rich routers, a significant amount of Businesses who just needed basic internet connectivity and VPN features would have them. I might even have a couple lying around!

Bitcoin blasts past $1,000 AGAIN after Zynga accepts cryptocurrency

Re: Fluctuations

Currency no matter what it is fluctuates in value, just not the extreme bitcoin is currently. Its a young currency and I am sure in 10 years time if it hasn't died a death (if people deem it a fad) then it will be far more stable. Personally I am yet to be convinced by Crypto currency, but I am open to the concept once there is a genuinely convincing reason to use it over my lovely £.