Posts by Lil Endian 1284 publicly visible posts • joined 14 Jul 2021
Not sure about "want". They're selecting from what's available. I want an electricity supplier that responds to customer concerns promptly without a load of runaround, with customer services that service the customer, not the organisation. But I'm not delusional! So I pick one.
MS gained ground, in part, by buying out (eliminating) competition[1]. AFAIC, that's absolutely fine, it's a free market. It further retained that ground by creating vendor lock-in: contractually and by creating a perceived dependency on proprietary data formats. With a wee dash of sales spiel.
Until recently (say 2-5 years) application software required by SMEs, while available, weren't comprehensive on alternative platforms. The developers were raised on Windows at school (lock-in) so came out knowing that dev stack, so the majority of apps were developed on 'doze (meaning reduced training for software houses). Historically, software houses of expensive software (eg. CAD, DTP) were happy for students to use pirated software, as it ensured that when those students hit the market, they were au fait with that product: less training overhead for their new employer, stability for the software vendor and further OS lock-in. As most of the applications were on Windows, that created further dependency on that platform.
Now the up-and-comers have access to the web they can explore beyond that lock-in, so that situation's changing. Businesses are not now totally dependent on proprietary data formats, which is a good thing. But existing businesses will still stick with M$ as it's a huge professional risk for an owner/C-Suite to ditch the established and try something new. Only new organisation really have that option, which requires their education (by the IT industry) and understanding, without just following the flock.
I think what people (businesses) want are stable tools without monthly headaches and bullshit. People (home users), well, that depends on whether on not they can play their favourite games or use their desired sequencing software.
[1] If they could buy-out Linux, they would. But there's no one to pay off.
The function of an OS is to create a layer above hardware such that application programmers can produce applications without concern for the underlying hardware. So they (MS) would "need to test against every item of supported hardware" too, to be comprehensive. Clearly not an option per patch.
Windows is a broken OS, it far overreaches the functionality required of an OS and reduces its effectiveness as a result.
MS is driven by profit, and to make future purchases seem worthwhile is compelled to include new shiny-shiny to justify the next upgrade/sale - far, far beyond the requirements of an OS. This approach will only continue, creating an ever growing snowball whose only chance of survival is to remain too large to fit in hell, ie. it's ubiquitous, and no C-Suite is going to rip out "what works" to improve the overall industry.
Then, to pour salt into the open wound, Microsoft releases patches that break things in Windows.
Windows is to an OS what the Maxim Flying Machine is to a kite.
Given only those two options (rather than GTFO, pick a working platform) logic would clearly dictate staying with M$.
If you patch, the "bad actors" have new zero days to find, while you're waiting for December's patch Tuesday to be perfect (Touch the screen! Heal yourself!).
Either way, your system is borked for at least a month, but theoretically M$ are on your side, and you're already paying them thru the nose anyhoo.
Pick a working platform, and stop paying for shit.
Yes, of course, you are correct on all points.
I was using a bit of reductio to highlight the futility of fines, while devising a way of putting the fear of [insert deity of choice] up them.
They're certainly not going to a cushty open prison to be pampered at the tax payers expense. How about putting them I'm a celebrity.... or is that too cruel?
It's futile anyway, since we don't have jurisdiction over foreign individuals (unless of course, you're the States).
I've said before: CxOs that fail in their duties are no longer permitted to hold positions of influence. But the old boys' network will never permit that.
So, there's no real solution, other than the end users/orgs stop paying or the share holders pull out. Neither of which are happening. Fines to orgs don't work - the punter pays. Which directly parallels "That just adds more cost for tax payer." so clearly not an option and logically should be curtailed as a method of punishment/recourse. Fines to the individuals won't work, they'll just get brown envelopes from said old boys' network.
Which is why I stopped working directly with MS products (and other shash) years ago. My sanity has mostly returned! *twitch*
Agreed.
However, with capitalism/free market the cost always get passed on to the proles.
So how about: you're guilty, take a fine. Appeal fails: jail relevant CxO(s).
No point in fines, it hurts the punter, not the golden boys and girls.
[Edit: talking black & white here, obvs not quite that simple - just saying fines do SFA - incarcerate the fucktards. Do three months in a triple A cat, see how you feel.]
"This is not just unfair but clearly illegal," said Schrems in a statement.
Statute Law is not avoidable via Contract Law[1], so yeah, clearly illegal. Yet it still takes four years to move on a step, with the option of an appeal to further put the case in a holding pattern. That doesn't seem quite right to me.
Make the fine big. (Not advisable to hold one's breath.)
[1] Otherwise I'd bet all of Zuck's & Muck's ToSs would contain things like prima nocta and power of attorney.
AC, sounds like you're more of a fighter than you give yourself credit for. There's more to fighting for a cause than a bunch of bigoted morons running around tooled-up could understand. The weak kick down.
I despise all discrimination, both positive and negative. Each should be allowed to do as they please with one caveat: do not tread on non-consensual toes.
Peace and love to all.
I think if software had been bespoke, making it generally available (via app stores) would then make it OTS. Probably hair-splitting as I don't think that's your main point.
I write bespoke software. If a client wants mobile device functionality I provide that directly. I'm not about to cut $Corp in for any percentage, thank you very much!
Thanks for the tip re: OberonEmulator Liam.
I've not used Oberon before, so I'll give it a go. The first thing I code in any new language is a prime number generator (Ich bin ein Nerd!), which brings us nicely back to 68K assembler on the ST. I thought I'd made a mistake because it appeared there was nothing done, no run time detected. Wrong! "Primes to 1 million in what!?"
[TBH I don't recall if the first limit was a million, I still had plenty of opportunity to catch flies tho!]
IIRC my GFA Basic manual was printed normal black on white, spiral bound. I've still got a copy of "Internals" in the attic (or is that the Antic? <sorry!>). I might have a dig around to confirm whether or not I've got a memory underflow.
I remember the black on red for anti-copying though - a true PITA typing in codes from that, lots of squinting at tiny characters under a lamp needing loads of head tilting and page wiggling to see just one char, only to be wrong!
Atari 400 here. (Star Raiders anyone?)
With musicians at the time the Amiga was much in favour - which I've never understood. The Atari's MIDI ports alone had the Amiga pipped IMO [edit: and ST had an awesome sound chip]. I know studios used the ST for the MIDI, but for those playing at home at the time I expect the music/synth software was the winner for the Amiga.
Yeah, I loved my STs too, especially the Mega 2 (£800 at a trade show!). At our local Atari club, playing MIDI Maze! Ah, those days!
GFA Basic was really good, and 68000 assembler. Getting to college on a PDP 11/73 to find it was the same assembler kicked COBOL into touch pretty quickly!
Not every one has a unique face, though.
https://www.today.com/health/mom-rare-identical-quads-reflects-sons-1st-year-amid-pandemic-t219944
So either the technology must be able to distinguish between identical individuals using finer distinctions than humans can, or be a composite technology, eg. combined with gait analysis. Since facial recognition pretty much sucks at the mo, the former is not happening in the foreseeable future.
Much agreement.
so it's clearly about eliminating staff and not (gotta gag first, one mo *gag*) "yield[ing] a more streamlined passenger experience"
If it were you'd release your pos/neg hit rate, so as to improve travellers' confidences. No stats = no confidence.
Lemme guess: releasing those stats would compromise the security of the system/nation/Disney [1]? Erm, ever heard of security by obscurity? We have.
I'm very pleased to have been to the Left Bank of the Pond ('80s) - the people are so hospitable, the food is astounding and there was imported beer! (US beer... well! Happy for you that you have the micro-breweries now!) You wouldn't get me back there on an extradition.
[1] credit: TaabuTheCat :)
Update: shortly after posting this El Reg provided the latest episode in the series, which has further been updated to include Stephenson, et al. v. Rackspace Technology.
Thanks Vultures!
IANAL - Genuine Q
As I understand, these acts say: if the supplier cannot resolve the issue (within reasonable parameters), consumer(s) may go to another party to resolve the issue. (2nd party gets the first shot at resolution). Then the original supplier (2nd pty) foots the bill.
Does this apply here?
I'd guess there's no point in trying to get a US company to reimburse a UK company 1v1 (jurisdiction in this case), the question is about the law (UK). And then, class action (US) to get them taken down?
The origin of my question is the (protection of) non-techies that are mid-shaft, paying for someone else to clean up on SpackRace's clusterfuck.
Non-technical users rely on outsourced techies, on-prem or off.
Off-prem is cheaper, but business continuity is at risk (to a greater degree). As is evident through this incident.
If the incident were on-prem, the techies would be telling their client the details. Off-prem....
Can <your> business afford <unknown> days of incapacity?
I'm not sure anything will save this whale.
I've no idea the percentage of their customers are affected. The stock has dropped from ~$14 to ~$5 YTD. A steady decline.
Will those impacted return? I imagine the non-techies won't, as they've been sold hand holding to find none. I imagine techies wouldn't because they can grasp the shambolic response.
Wellington or Mossie carrying Little Boy, I don't think so. Lancaster would though, no probs. Assuming you mean:
Little Boy: 4400Kg
Payloads:
Wellington MK I: 2000Kg
Mosquito: 1400Kg (standard) 3600Kg (short range)
Lancaster: carried Blockbuster (5400Kg)
I agree with your sentiment though. Making "nuclear missile" a misnomer too.
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