OK, this got waaaaay out of hand.

Post #83,590 by Andrew Grygus 2/23/03 10:11:39 PM Reply	OK, this got waaaaay out of hand. It was supposed to be a few simple predictions for 2003, but it kept getting bigger and bigger. It isn't done yet (because there's stuff missing, and it keeps getting bigger every day) but I'm putting it up anyway for the entertainment of the critics. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com/editor/edit029.html\|2003 and Beyond] [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #83,593 by boxley 2/23/03 10:15:57 PM Reply	dunno if I'd trust that scary lookin guy in the tie do ya know him? will enjoy at leasure, thanx, bill will work for cash and other incentives [link\|http://home.tampabay.rr.com/boxley/resume/Resume.html\|skill set] questions, help? [link\|mailto:pappas@catholic.org\|email pappas at catholic.org] \ufffdOmni Gaul Delenda est!\ufffd Ceasar
Post #83,599 by Andrew Grygus 2/23/03 10:30:52 PM Reply	Doesn't everyone have an Evil Twin? [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #83,601 by n3jja 2/23/03 10:39:37 PM Reply	No, I am my Evil Twin! ;-)
Post #83,612 by Andrew Grygus 2/23/03 11:02:31 PM Reply	That's what my Evil Twin accuses ME of [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #83,616 by orion 2/23/03 11:27:26 PM Reply	My Evil Twin is named Kevin. I think you all saw his picture a while ago. But my web server is down until I can get the DSL mess straightened out. [link\|http://pub75.ezboard.com/bantiiwethey\| New and improved, Chicken Delvits!]
Post #83,619 by orion 2/23/03 11:38:58 PM Reply	I think you are right on in many areas The Telecom industry it saturated with fraud, take Montana Power who changed their name to Touch America. They went from a Power Utility company to a Telecommunications company without ever consulting the stockholders. The stock went down to 33 cents a share last I checked. Only the Baby Bells seem to be making money due to the packaging of services into one bill. DSL, LD, Local, Cell phones, etc into one big bill. IT jobs are being sent to other countries and they aren't coming back. This is true. The PC Industry is down, many $200USD systems will be coming out soon to saturate the market. Companies are selling computers at cost, or below cost, hoping to make up the money on upgrades and service charges to help desk calls. "White Box" PC systems usually don't have that $500 Internet rebate, or a $200 price tag. Not cheap unless cheap parts are used, like PC Chips Integrated motherboards, etc. "White Box" PCs make up for it when upgrades come and the video card, audio card, network card, etc can be recycled into the new motherboard and the system upgraded ala-cart. I could comment more, but my son is pestering me. It is his mother's turn to watch him, and it looks like I'll have to cut this short. Goodnight! [link\|http://pub75.ezboard.com/bantiiwethey\| New and improved, Chicken Delvits!]
Post #83,652 by Ashton 2/24/03 4:59:14 AM Reply	A Tour de Force {ugh} Once again - the most concise picture of the Emperor as Naked: and it's the same snivelling little rodent as it always was. This is most depressing, listed and annotated as you have done - and I don't personally have to rely on this shit for a living, even. This is a hideous situation, especially in reviewing all those elements I was already at least conversant with - then add in some connections you make which intensify the rest. This is no less than a massive Conspiracy, oft misused word perfectly justified here by the facts - now mix in the utter insouciance of the Murican Biznessman, and stir. Your hopeful signs of nascent awareness.. don't seem enough to generate much optimism (in me). Firstly, I'd think that your prose is clear enough that even an average PHB could.. comprehend each point and the whole (yes, I know - 'they don't read'). But IF they read -- Secondly, given the general level of rote-'expertise' of the many many M$ certificate holders (reported here, noted many elsewheres), the inherent unfixability of the mass/mess anyway.. is it an exaggeration to extrapolate your conclusions and predictions to: The Fact of M$ just may precipitate the largest meltdown of US (and other) companies in history! [??] This especially - to the extent that M$ are next left unrestrained, to proceed in the directions you have outlined. Lastly, even if an unprecedented number of the small-med. businesses (collectively: isn't that by far the mass US business?) were to immediately begin conscientious plans to rid selves of this cancer - where would the sufficient number of ept alternative techs come from? (And of course - no such epiphany will occur, for all obvious reasons deriving from dumbth.) cancer. Shouldn't this metaphor begin to be associated with the Beast SAP? Surely it is apt: Growth is its most important Product (like all US bizness - in their dreams). It is malignant: QED. It metastasizes.. the all-in-one interoperation makes that evident, within your explanations. It is impervious to surgery (What?? could you cut out?) radiation (Hah) and chemotherapy: pouring acid on your Intel won't kill the Doze-Virus. And eventually the cancer takes over [all the money in] Your Bizness == along with ownership of all your records. Maybe cancer is too weak a simile: advance that to Pandemic; it's long past the mere epidemic stage. Y'know, I can imagine.. A bunch who just lost their business, built over a decade or so -- and who stumble across this compilation. Sit around with a few beers and follow some links. Think about it and come back the next night. Trade notes. Get Really Pissed Off. Assassination comes to mind, really. Not just Ed Curry has died intertwined with the machinations of Billy n'Bally. Muricans are a violent people: why.. it's their Major Entertainment! and substitute for debate and civilized resolution. What a fucking mess this One autistic brat has wrought, simply because he couldn't get laid and had a broken greed gene. Ashton PS - His Dad kinda gets it though: I heard him on a Commonwealth Club bdcst. speaking strongly in favor of retaining the Inheritance tax; surely heresy in his caste.
Post #83,674 by ben_tilly 2/24/03 7:29:25 AM 2/24/03 10:53:34 PM Reply	Haven't had time to finish much of it yet but... thought I would let you know that partway down the source you have a typo. In the HTML you will find "<b.Web Services</b>" That period should be a >... Judging from what I read, I will have to read the whole thing later.. :-) Cheers, Ben PS I have finished it now. I saw many minor grammar nits, but I will wait until Drew slows before duplicating his work. :-) PPS I liked it enough to tell a few friends to read it as well... PPPS At least one of those friends liked it enough to tell me that it was a good pointer. :-) "good ideas and bad code build communities, the other three combinations do not" - [link\|http://archives.real-time.com/pipermail/cocoon-devel/2000-October/003023.html\|Stefano Mazzocchi] Edited by ben_tilly Feb. 24, 2003, 10:52:03 PM EST Edited by ben_tilly Feb. 24, 2003, 10:53:34 PM EST Expand All History
Post #83,693 by drewk 2/24/03 9:17:15 AM 2/24/03 11:32:11 AM Reply	Edits Under "White Box" Why such success for the "no names"?. Note the period after the question mark. Under "The Internet" Without an effective well designed and well promoted Web site, There should be a comma after 'effective'. More as I read the rest of it. BTW, depressingly good work. The only poroblem I see is the length. Which is why it's depressing: The problem is so large you can't describe it in any shorter format. More: Under "Web Services": ... promoted by three of the major proponents of Web Services, IBM, Bea Systems, and Sun Microsystems. Should have a colon instead of comma before "IBM". Under "Wireless Networking": You use wireless were it is impractical Should be "where". Also under "Wireless": and with broadband all less than 1.5-MB per Should be "at". Under "Mobile Devices": because it's similarity to a full function PC, means they can expect Lose the comma after "PC". Also under "Mobile": this will be a very dynamic field, allowing innovative companies Lose the comma after "field". (BTW I'm anal about extraneous commas, having once had a tendency to using too many.) now defunct Napster, not only bog down your network The comma. ;) Under "Microsoft 'Road Ahead'": familiar with all Microsoft's tricks, In markets Comma should be a period. And especially outside the U.S.. Note double closing period. Under "Longhorn": License 6 does force customers to upgrade on Microsoft's schedule, whether they want to or not, but a majority of the market has not adopted License 6, despite Microsoft's threats. Lose first and third commas. Where you write: I find it probable Longhorn will largely end the use of reliable, low cost servers (Linux, NetWare) for Windows users. You might want a footnote to explain that you're talking about SAMBA, and what that means. as did it's "universal filesystem" predecessor Drop the apostrophe. Under "Microsoft Office": Microsoft Office, not Windows is Microsoft's true cash cow, and it is Office, much more than Windows, that ties customers to Microsoft's expensive licensing plans. Need more commas, I'd write: Microsoft Office, not Windows, is Microsoft's true cash cow; and it is Office, much more than Windows, that ties customers to Microsoft's expensive licensing plans. Where you say that Office 2003 will only run on WXP and W2K w/ SP3 you might want to point out that the significant bit in W2K is not a technical issue but a licensing one. IOW that the only reason for ensuring it won't run on W2K without SP3 is that they don't want it to. (Thane has said as much, though I don't know where you could find public references/confirmation. Under "Paladium": and at lower prices than their original planned. Should be "they". Under "Licensing": Microsoft says to . Extra space before the period. (Damn, how'd I even see that?) === Implicitly condoning stupidity since 2001. Edited by drewk Feb. 24, 2003, 10:29:14 AM EST Edited by drewk Feb. 24, 2003, 10:30:42 AM EST Edited by drewk Feb. 24, 2003, 10:32:19 AM EST Edited by drewk Feb. 24, 2003, 10:33:50 AM EST Edited by drewk Feb. 24, 2003, 10:37:08 AM EST Edited by drewk Feb. 24, 2003, 10:40:13 AM EST Edited by drewk Feb. 24, 2003, 11:07:55 AM EST Edited by drewk Feb. 24, 2003, 11:08:43 AM EST Edited by drewk Feb. 24, 2003, 11:14:30 AM EST Edited by drewk Feb. 24, 2003, 11:18:33 AM EST Edited by drewk Feb. 24, 2003, 11:19:51 AM EST Edited by drewk Feb. 24, 2003, 11:23:12 AM EST Edited by drewk Feb. 24, 2003, 11:26:32 AM EST Edited by drewk Feb. 24, 2003, 11:29:43 AM EST Edited by drewk Feb. 24, 2003, 11:32:11 AM EST Expand All History
Post #83,697 by SpiceWare 2/24/03 9:46:03 AM Reply	saw another one Popa John's Pizza - 5th paragraph down from [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com/editor/edit029.html#costs\|here] Darrell Spice, Jr. [link\|http://www.spiceware.org/\|SpiceWare] - We don't do Windows, it's too much of a chore
Post #83,703 by Another Scott 2/24/03 10:08:24 AM Reply	Some more... "Digital Rights Management to force competitors ... is missing the closing quote. The biggest things going on in Internet technologies are and XML. Both of these will deeply change the way your business does business in the future. Something's missing after "are", and a closing tag around there seems to have been missed (but maybe Ben caught this one. I've forgotten.) I've only made it about half-way through. It's a great writeup. Thanks for sharing! Cheers, Scott.
Post #83,855 by tuberculosis 2/24/03 6:48:20 PM Reply	Yeah - should be Pope Johns Pizza Apologies to Father Guido Sarducci. I think that it's extraordinarily important that we in computer science keep fun in computing. When it started out, it was an awful lot of fun. Of course, the paying customer got shafted every now and then, and after a while we began to take their complaints seriously. We began to feel as if we really were responsible for the successful, error-free perfect use of these machines. I don't think we are. I think we're responsible for stretching them, setting them off in new directions, and keeping fun in the house. I hope the field of computer science never loses its sense of fun. Above all, I hope we don't become missionaries. Don't feel as if you're Bible salesmen. The world has too many of those already. What you know about computing other people will learn. Don't feel as if the key to successful computing is only in your hands. What's in your hands, I think and hope, is intelligence: the ability to see the machine as more than when you were first led up to it, that you can make it more. --Alan Perlis
Post #83,718 by Another Scott 2/24/03 10:42:20 AM Reply	Longer time deltas between updates, please. :-)
Post #83,719 by drewk 2/24/03 10:45:47 AM Reply	Sorry I've got the article in one browser window and this post in another. Every time I see something I edit the post again. Although if Andrew wanted a collaborative editing process he could always put his drafts into a Wiki and then post the final versions as straight HTML ... (hint hint[1]) [1] No, I'm not just bucking for new content on the TWiki, nor am I trying to hijack Andrew's content to the community's site. But he could put up his own TWiki on his own server, and allow trusted users edit rights on the drafts. === Implicitly condoning stupidity since 2001.
Post #83,699 by cwbrenn 2/24/03 9:51:07 AM Reply	Andrew, if I may I would like to link to this on ubersoft.net... "We are all born originals -- why is it so many of us die copies?" - Edward Young
Post #83,702 by Andrew Grygus 2/24/03 10:06:07 AM Reply	It's open for linking . . . . either to the whole article or to any specific topics within. That's what it's there for. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #83,704 by Silverlock 2/24/03 10:14:22 AM Reply	Edits Edits in italics/bold Into, 3rd paragraph. This article is a guide to trends that are already in full motion and well known by technology specialists, but are *far* from obvious to most business managers. I can't tell you what to do about them, without studying your particular business, but it will cast some light on what you should be looking at. Internet Technologies, last paragraph The biggest things going on in Internet technologies are ??? and XML. Wireless Networking, 2nd para, last sentence You use wireless where it is impractical to use wire.... 5th para, last sentence Industrial spys are thieves *who* are doing the same, but without the graffiti. Mobile Devices, 2nd para, 1st sent. Microsoft will be pushing the Tablet PC very hard, because it's similarity to a full function PC, means they can expect... drop the apostrophe and both commas More later if I find 'em. How many lives per gallon? --Sign outside of various churches
Post #83,720 by Andrew Grygus 2/24/03 10:53:31 AM Reply	Blanket thanks for the edits. It's damned hard to read for content, typos and punctuation all at the same time, especiall if you already know what it says. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #83,721 by drewk 2/24/03 11:06:08 AM Reply	Content question Under "Microsoft 'Road Ahead'" you write: An "unintended side effect" is that Bill Gates gets an extra $100 million a year, and if Bush's "stimulus" plan prevails, that'll be tax sheltered. Other than the gratuitous Gates bash (which seems to bank on a negative view of the proposed tax changes), why mention this? === Implicitly condoning stupidity since 2001.
Post #83,866 by Andrew Grygus 2/24/03 7:44:08 PM Reply	Rewritten. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #83,722 by boxley 2/24/03 11:07:59 AM Reply	ICLRPD (one of many) Right now, I can count the number of small businesses I know of that are 100% legally licensed on the fingers of one hand, without using any fingers. priceless, thanx, bill will work for cash and other incentives [link\|http://home.tampabay.rr.com/boxley/resume/Resume.html\|skill set] questions, help? [link\|mailto:pappas@catholic.org\|email pappas at catholic.org] \ufffdOmni Gaul Delenda est!\ufffd Ceasar
Post #83,723 by drewk 2/24/03 11:15:35 AM Reply	Don't know that you'd want to say that publicly That looks like setting yourself up to be an unwilling BSA tipster. If they come calling for your client list, what are you going to tell them? === Implicitly condoning stupidity since 2001.
Post #83,736 by Andrew Grygus 2/24/03 11:39:51 AM Reply	This isn't news to them. It's pretty universal. If they asked for my client list, I'd say no. Given they have an endless number of soft targets much larger than my clients, I doubt they're going to bother with someone who is obviously going to plaster anything they do all over the Internet. Even the BSA has PR concerns. I might have to modify that statement anyway, because I might have a client who's 100% licensed (a tax accounting office). I'll have to have a good look next time I'm over there [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #83,731 by inthane-chan 2/24/03 11:26:23 AM Reply	Guess we're a thumb. Licenses and everything. :) "Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music." -- Kristian Wilson, Nintendo, Inc, 1989
Post #83,730 by inthane-chan 2/24/03 11:25:19 AM Reply	Something I'm curious about... some of my clients weren't fixed in time and learned firsthand how serious the problem could have been (Re: Y2k issues) I'd be interested in hearing what kinds of troubles they experienced - with an "all names changed to protect the guilty^h^h^h^h^h^hinnocent" clause, of course. "Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music." -- Kristian Wilson, Nintendo, Inc, 1989
Post #83,743 by Andrew Grygus 2/24/03 11:57:30 AM Reply	Two client's were not fixed in time because . . . . their software vendors didn't get their fixes debugged in time. Both vendors had tried to combine the Y2K fixes with other stuff, and got behind on the release. One, an auto mechanic shop specializing in Land Rover and BMWs, lost all customer service records for January and half of February 2000 because the database couldn't store them in a retreivable manner. I had updated his machine from Xenix (not Y2K compliant) to Caldera Linux in time, but he had to run the old software on it until mid February. Another client, who refurbs and resells Nortel telephone equipment, had similar problems with his networked accounitng system. Reports were badly out of order and pretty meaningless until the fixed version was done (mid January). Fortunately, he didn't lose data and his reports were good after the fix. This was a DOS network system running with a Samba server. The accouning system we used in-house simply prevented all access as of 1 Jan 2000. It had to be given a false date even to let you in to review old data, and could post no transactions beyond 12-30-99. Fixes were available in October but I did not install them because I was moving to a different system. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #83,738 by drewk 2/24/03 11:42:26 AM 2/24/03 12:53:57 PM Reply	More edits (other post was getting waaaaaay out of hand ;) Coming as it did in the depths of an economic downturn, forcing immediate expenditure, and increasing the cost of Microsoft software about 30% on average, License 6 has been unpopular (L1), but so many companies felt they had no choice, Microsoft's revenue increased 10% for the quarter. Lose three or four of the commas. (I did mention I'm anal about extraneous commas, didn't I? ;) In fact, to save any further "lose the comma" remarks I'll just suggest you scan the whole thing for commas and delete any that don't set off an independent clause. Since I had it beaten into my head by a former editor that I overused the hell out of commas, I'm like a reformed smoker: I can't see them and not notice. Under Licensing: Expect ESL to be back in simplified form and with added incentives in conjunction with Office.NET (Microsoft never gives up on something they really want). Make the parenthetical a separate sentence. Under "Dot .NET": than Microsoft desires, High speed access Comma should be a period. Also ".NET": then by the U.S. government soon after the Bush/Ashcroft administration leaves office. Another one that sounds like a political shot above-and-beyond the realm of MS bashing. (And as with the other, whether I personally agree with that shot or not is immaterial.) security problems.. Doubled period. Under "XML": Even a causal reading Pretty sure you meant"casual". Under "Accounting": I predicted about a year ahead of the fact You should link to your prediction. And: PSA Integrates Microsoft Project, I think "integrates" should be lower case. And: Way too late - they've already forcing their customers Tense mismatch. Should be "they're" or "forced". And: "But", you say, "how can Microsoft displace Intuit. Everybody's using QuickBooks. Intuit is just too popular". Comma should be inside the quote. Period should be a question mark. Second period should be inside quote. Under "Software Development": written in Microsoft Visual Basic, While Visual Basic Comma should be period. And: It's easy to use "point and click" structure Should be "its". Couple other times through the piece. I won't point the rest out. Under "Who Do You Call": As Microsoft pushes it's market Should be "its". And: [ but for business management and accounting, CRM (Customer Relationship Management and Supply Chain Management. Microsoft has had to should be but for business management and accounting, CRM (Customer Relationship Management) and Supply Chain Management, Microsoft has had to Note closing paren and period changed to comma. Under "Entertainment": Microsoft collects all the money. and all the personal information The period should be a comma, or gone altogether. And: Sony encourage ...Sony is providing Is "Sony" treated as a singular or plural? I don't know if there is a definitive answer, but it should be consistent. And: MPIA (Motion Picture Industry Association) That's MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America). And: to PCs other devices "and other" And: Heidi Rosen's RIAA Unless it's a joke I missed, that's Hilary Rosen. Under "Security": Unfortunately, system security is rocket science, so most Microsoft shops do not have the skills to implement effective security. You might want to point out that this includes Microsoft themselves. (Slapper) Ah, I see that you have this down below. Nevermind. And: Microsoft has sold everyone that Windows doesn't require Should that be "told"? Unless you mean they've sold them on the idea, in which case that isn't clear. And: as with Windows 2000 SP3. and to install new Period should be a comma. Under "Legal Problems": judge CKK can pretty much have her way and her way of having it as far as remedies are concerned. This sounds awkward, like a few words are missing. And: in the transition to Windows. for instance, Period should be comma. Why Chose Microsoft Solutions? should be "Choose" I believe. what information systems will be used. even though they know period/comma this soothing ointment does comes with flys in it "come" More later, Christ that's long. === Implicitly condoning stupidity since 2001. Edited by drewk Feb. 24, 2003, 11:45:31 AM EST Edited by drewk Feb. 24, 2003, 11:49:15 AM EST Edited by drewk Feb. 24, 2003, 11:57:07 AM EST Edited by drewk Feb. 24, 2003, 11:59:58 AM EST Edited by drewk Feb. 24, 2003, 12:01:36 PM EST Edited by drewk Feb. 24, 2003, 12:04:12 PM EST Edited by drewk Feb. 24, 2003, 12:05:55 PM EST Edited by drewk Feb. 24, 2003, 12:07:27 PM EST Edited by drewk Feb. 24, 2003, 12:08:53 PM EST Edited by drewk Feb. 24, 2003, 12:53:57 PM EST Expand All History
Post #83,747 by admin 2/24/03 12:08:49 PM Reply	Dude... Collect all the edits in a file, then post them all at once. Please. :-P Regards, -scott anderson "Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson..."
Post #83,754 by inthane-chan 2/24/03 12:22:52 PM Reply	Bad link. # N8 - .NET - InfoWorld - Getting caught in a big hailstorm Link provided is: http : //www.aaxnet.com/editor/Dell mocks MS' mandatory-OS regime "Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music." -- Kristian Wilson, Nintendo, Inc, 1989
Post #83,757 by Andrew Grygus 2/24/03 12:31:57 PM Reply	Well, that's what happens when . . . . I forget to copy to the clipboard before paste. Fixed, thanks. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #83,773 by drewk 2/24/03 1:30:28 PM Reply	Yet more Under "Competitors": one disgruntled employee (who's identity will be kept secret) "whose" Under "Alternatives ... Linux": Disadvantage:. Note period after colon And: To date, Linux has displace Unix "displaced" Under "Response": How do you ... and is more scalable. Should be question mark. And: Next was to claim that "Linux is cheap to purchase, but license costs are a very small part of TCO (Total Cost of Ownership). No closing quote. Under "Industry Support" you list the DBs available for Linux but left out SAPDB. Under "Laws" you've got MPAA as MPIA again. And: outside the U.S.. Note the double period. OK, that's it from me. === Implicitly condoning stupidity since 2001.
Post #83,776 by Andrew Grygus 2/24/03 1:38:43 PM Reply	Well, that's a good number of corrections . . . . and I thank you for them all. On the other hand, I don't think I've achieved the high standards set by our English friends over at The Register, who can pack that many into a single page with ease. On the other hand, what'd ya think of the article? [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #83,780 by drewk 2/24/03 2:01:46 PM Reply	Like I said in the first post The over-riding feeling is depression that it takes so long to explain just what state the industry is currently in. On the one hand I'd want to break it into several smaller articles. On the other hand I think it's valuable to see just how big the issue is all on one page. If I were going to present this as part of a proposal to actually change my company's policies I'd want a little more footnoting for the more controversial passages. While I know it's at least as bad as you paint it, if I were trying to persuade someone I'd want more evidence. (Like the list at the bottom isn't already daunting.) Any one of the sections could easily be an essay in itself. As shown by the footnotes nearly every sentence actually has been an article in itself. Frequently whole series or articles. What I think is unique to your articles is that you recognize the sheer volume of negative activities attributed to Microsoft is itself an issue. === Implicitly condoning stupidity since 2001.
Post #83,786 by tseliot 2/24/03 2:14:43 PM Reply	Yes, please keep it all together. This was actually a point I made just now, sending it to our management. Many fears are born of stupidity and ignorance - Which you should be feeding with rumour and generalisation. BOfH, 2002 "Episode" 10
Post #83,789 by Andrew Grygus 2/24/03 2:21:45 PM Reply	Once it got big I thought of breaking it up . . . . but decided against doing so. It just wouldn't have the same impact. I do intend to add more references and perhaps a couple paragraphs, but it's going to stay basically as it is. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #83,837 by Ashton 2/24/03 5:21:24 PM Reply	Agree on the "single repository"; suggested Intro for others And hope that (if that is your intent?) this gets linked to Lots of other visible places - even as a project.. via everyone's er 'special connections'. I think I'm fairly ept at good English syntax (even if I often choose to break those rules here ;-) All your stuff scans well IMhO; it's neither verbose nor awkward - and that's a real achievement, considering the arcane nature of many of the underlying points that need inclusion.. for the edification of the better informed. Unfortunately I'm not a good test reader as "the non-Pro non-programmer" around here.. I've found the machinations of Billy n'B - through the years - to be an Interesting soap opera, just as any good English mystery == I've paid much more attention than the average non computer-geek would ever have [wasted]. Much of your content is already ~familiar to me, so it's hard to gauge just how well a lazy mind would react to the totality.. but a PHB could always pass it on to his actually literate hiree, for evaluation. I guess. (We always have to have hope) Possibly.. you or someone might write an 'suggested' Intro to every site which wants to link to aax. Something along the order of: "This compilation was created by a person who daily deals with the fallout from the widespread usage of unstable, flawed All-in-One software which was originally of the class, 'toy software'. This software retains much of that original character and underlying design flaws, as it has grown to a size that is now effectively Unmanageable, in the author's opinion." And/Or "This indexed overview of the concerns of small business is sufficiently complete (and annotated) that: a person in cold storage for the past ten years might glean a fair and accurate view of business software axioms. The article describes many pitfalls of trusting one's personal and business data - thus one's entire business - to an inherently unstable system. Further, it reminds of the consequences of allowing a single legally-discredited monopoly, random access to all of one's computer data of any kind. Via the included refs. one may verify the allegations via many other sources." Just a thought, Ashton
Post #83,966 by drewk 2/25/03 8:59:20 AM Reply	Send it to Kevin! ...a person in cold storage for the past ten years might glean a fair and accurate view of business software axioms. Someone like, say, Keven Mitnick? === Implicitly condoning stupidity since 2001.
Post #84,058 by Steven A S 2/25/03 3:24:00 PM Reply	One minor error in fact Hot Mail, MSN, Microsoft Instant Messaging, Windows Update, Product Activation - they all require a Passport account, and they are all being expanded into key parts of My Services. Currently in Windows XP (home) neither Windows Update nor Product Activation actually require a Passport account. That's not to say MS won't change that on future releases, nor does it mean that MS does not gather more information than necessary during these processes. ~~~)-Steven---- "I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country..." General George S. Patton
Post #84,060 by Another Scott 2/25/03 3:37:02 PM Reply	Speaking of which... TheInq story. [link\|http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=7980\|This] story on The Inquirer says that a German site ([link\|http://www.tecchannel.de/betriebssysteme/1126/index.html\|tecCHANNEL]) is saying that MS's XP update is grabbing lots of information about installed apps from other vendors and lots of information is sent back to Redmond - in contrast to earlier versions of Windows Update. From TheInq story: And, the site claims, the information can pass on to Microsoft a list of all of the software installed on an individual's computer, including software manufactured by other manufacturers. tecCHANNEL has a utility - tecDUMP - that'll show the collected information. It seems the utility has to be purchased (and is included with the rest of the article for 1.99 euros). Just passing along a pointer - I have no other information. Cheers, Scott.
Post #84,066 by Andrew Grygus 2/25/03 4:12:18 PM Reply	Yes, I have read the German site . . . . up to the point where you have to pay money. I have also incorporated it into my article (and have added a "change list" to keep track of such additions). [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #84,080 by CRConrad 2/25/03 4:31:57 PM 2/25/03 4:58:12 PM Reply	You used to get it all for free by clicking "Weiter>>" (1) [Edit 2: Past tense... And comments] It was just the convenience of getting it all on a single page(2) you had to pay for. (Or, conversely, the price for getting to read it without paying any money was to see that e-bay.de commercial fifteen times. :-) The sub-pages are also -- still -- linked directly, in the pale blue vertical bar on the right -- only, now most of them lead to a log-in page for subscribers. Fucking treacherous cheap-skate assmonkeys! :-( [Edit 1:] And "Zum Schlie\ufffden ins Bild klicken!" means, "To close, click the picture!"... Just so you don't' get any nasty surprises. :-) HTH! (1): "Weiter" means "on" (as in "go on") or "continue"; "Zurück" means "back". (2): And presumably in a less advertisement-cluttered format. [link\|mailto:MyUserId@MyISP.CountryCode\|Christian R. Conrad] (I live in Finland, and my e-mail in-box is at the Saunalahti company.) Your lies are of Microsoftian Scale and boring to boot. Your 'depression' may be the closest you ever come to recognizing truth: you have no 'inferiority complex', you are inferior - and something inside you recognizes this. - [link\|http://z.iwethey.org/forums/render/content/show?contentid=71575\|Ashton Brown] Edited by CRConrad Feb. 25, 2003, 04:39:04 PM EST Edited by CRConrad Feb. 25, 2003, 04:58:12 PM EST Expand All History
Post #84,082 by Another Scott 2/25/03 4:47:22 PM 2/25/03 5:01:47 PM Reply	Never mind. CRC error no more. :-) (See the edit history for the nitty-gritty.) Cheers, Scott. Edited by Another Scott Feb. 25, 2003, 05:01:47 PM EST Expand All History
Post #84,083 by CRConrad 2/25/03 4:53:36 PM Reply	Uh... No, I'm only on the second page... Wha?!? Noooo! Fucking goddamn cheapskate assmonkeys!!! May they rot in the nether dungeons of Hell for all eternity! It didn't used to work like that... This is the first time I see this behaviour. :-( [link\|mailto:MyUserId@MyISP.CountryCode\|Christian R. Conrad] (I live in Finland, and my e-mail in-box is at the Saunalahti company.) Your lies are of Microsoftian Scale and boring to boot. Your 'depression' may be the closest you ever come to recognizing truth: you have no 'inferiority complex', you are inferior - and something inside you recognizes this. - [link\|http://z.iwethey.org/forums/render/content/show?contentid=71575\|Ashton Brown]
Post #83,863 by cforde 2/24/03 7:34:58 PM Reply	couple of minor edits Remove space before the period: "...real trends well known in the industry ." Change "... Billy intends to yank your chain again." To "... Microsoft intends to turn the crank again." or something less obviously personal/infamitory. Complete the "All trademarks and trade names are recognized as property of their" sentence. Have fun, Carl Forde
Post #83,971 by drewk 2/25/03 9:08:24 AM Reply	Okay, just one more I promise Down in your links: W16< === Implicitly condoning stupidity since 2001.
Post #84,221 by Andrew Grygus 2/26/03 3:36:04 AM Reply	Well, now it's really getting out of hand. Apparently my article escaped into the wild a bit faster and more widely than expected. This evening I received an email including a copy of the article incorporating numerous corrections of typos and tags along with a dif run and some suggestions from one Eric S Raymond. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #84,235 by drewk 2/26/03 7:13:09 AM 2/26/03 8:49:54 AM Reply	Booyah! Hope it's on a good server, I'm about to submit it to /. [Edit] It was rejected. If anyone else wants to write it up, maybe you'll have better luck. === Implicitly condoning stupidity since 2001. Edited by drewk Feb. 26, 2003, 08:49:54 AM EST Expand All History
Post #84,276 by Andrew Grygus 2/26/03 10:35:43 AM Reply	My impression is: rejection by /. is a positive "Stuff that matters" to who? True, I haven't even looked at /. for years, it just never seemed to me like anything I wanted to tolerate. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #84,278 by drewk 2/26/03 10:41:58 AM Reply	Used to be worthwhile until fairly recently Worthwhile in the sense that there is an incredibly large readership that will eventually see and post just about everything. I've had my preferences set to only view posts at +5 for a while. That used to give me about four or five posts on each front-page article. A couple of months ago they apparently started giving out about 10 times the mod points, as just about every article now has over 20 +5 posts. On front-page articles 40 or more at +5 is now common. IOW there's just too much noise now. But it is still a good place to post press notices of something you want to get a lot of traffic. === Implicitly condoning stupidity since 2001.
Post #84,287 by inthane-chan 2/26/03 11:12:35 AM Reply	A trick for /. You can assign bonuses/penalties for different type of mod points - to, for example, get rid of all 'funny' posts, it's very simple to assign them a -6 value, and that will drop them out of the lineup VERY quickly. Hell, I hardly ever go into one of the articles, so I have no idea why I know this... Damn, I just went looking through there, and they have some hardcore ranking modification stuff in there now. [link\|http://slashdot.org/users.pl?op=editcomm\|http://slashdot.org/users.pl?op=editcomm] "Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music." -- Kristian Wilson, Nintendo, Inc, 1989
Post #84,290 by drewk 2/26/03 11:19:59 AM Reply	Doesn't help much Moderation used to be useful for keeping the total number of posts down. It used to work just about perfectly for me. To get back to the same usefulness, they'd have to allow posts to get modded higher, have more granular control of what I see. Now there is no difference between a moderately interesting post and a really worthwhile one: they're all +5. === Implicitly condoning stupidity since 2001.
Post #84,305 by Andrew Grygus 2/26/03 12:47:16 PM Reply	hits are coming in from slashdot.org now . . . . so someone put something up there. LWN is still in the lead. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #84,309 by drewk 2/26/03 1:14:28 PM Reply	I linked it in my sig Always wondered if anyone followed that. === Implicitly condoning stupidity since 2001.
Post #84,611 by Andrew Grygus 2/27/03 10:15:54 AM Reply	Slashdot hits - must have been from rejectrion process. They all happened before 6:00am PST and there were no more during the day. So far, Linux today is leading with about 700 referrals (out of 1700 views of their posting). [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #84,617 by drewk 2/27/03 11:04:24 AM Reply	What's the Linux Today link? === Implicitly condoning stupidity since 2001.
Post #84,623 by Andrew Grygus 2/27/03 11:40:07 AM Reply	Here it is: [link\|http://linuxtoday.com/news_story.php3?ltsn=2003-02-26-015-26-OS-BZ-MS\| AAxnet.com: 2003 and Beyond] [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #84,626 by drewk 2/27/03 11:42:48 AM Reply	Yeah, just saw it I don't generally follow LinuxToday. I didn't realize it was just a quote and link, thought there might be some discussion of it. I was hoping to see what some people outside our little piece of the world thought of it. === Implicitly condoning stupidity since 2001.
Post #84,630 by boxley 2/27/03 11:57:00 AM Reply	I like ganesh's comment #8 in the talk back will work for cash and other incentives [link\|http://home.tampabay.rr.com/boxley/resume/Resume.html\|skill set] questions, help? [link\|mailto:pappas@catholic.org\|email pappas at catholic.org] \ufffdOmni Gaul Delenda est!\ufffd Ceasar
Post #84,633 by drewk 2/27/03 12:02:39 PM Reply	Oh hey, didn't scroll down and see that, thanks === Implicitly condoning stupidity since 2001.
Post #84,634 by admin 2/27/03 12:06:04 PM Reply	Meesa think, yousa gonna be FAMOUS. It is a helluva read, Andrew. I'd take the advice of Ganesh. Regards, -scott anderson "Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson..."
Post #84,641 by jake123 2/27/03 1:18:47 PM Reply	Yep I agree ... and thanks for the plug, Andrew. /me having just finished his last midterm, has some time to relaaax. For a day or so. --\n-------------------------------------------------------------------\n* Jack Troughton jake at consultron.ca \n [link\|http://consultron.ca\|http://consultron.ca] [link\|irc://irc.ecomstation.ca\|irc://irc.ecomstation.ca] \n Kingston Ontario Canada [link\|news://news.consultron.ca\|news://news.consultron.ca] *\n-------------------------------------------------------------------
Post #84,350 by deSitter 2/26/03 4:16:20 PM Reply	Splooge for nerds, stuff that splatters I've hated /. from t=0. -drl
Post #84,242 by ben_tilly 2/26/03 7:50:12 AM Reply	That might be my fault :-) The "few friends" that I mentioned telling were the Free Software Business list. That list includes several fairly well-known people, and several of them know ESR quite well. Of course its reception in that group was all up to the quality of your article... Cheers, Ben "good ideas and bad code build communities, the other three combinations do not" - [link\|http://archives.real-time.com/pipermail/cocoon-devel/2000-October/003023.html\|Stefano Mazzocchi]
Post #84,351 by deSitter 2/26/03 4:21:52 PM Reply	Re: Well, now it's really getting out of hand. Biggest gig for the next few years: wireless + accounting + inventory control in vertical markets. -drl
Post #84,537 by kmself 2/26/03 11:59:10 PM Reply	Blame Ben He posted it to the Free Software Business list (I saw it there\r\nbefore I caught it here). After reading about a third of it, I shot a\r\nURL and strong endorsement to Robin Miller of NewsForge, who sounded\r\nlike he'd already seen it, as well as La Reg (haven't heard back from\r\nthem). Jon Corbet reads FSB directly and probably picked it up from\r\nthere on his own. \r\n\r\n That's really a class piece, Andrew. Many thanks for it. \r\n --\r\n Karsten M. Self [link\|mailto:kmself@ix.netcom.com\|kmself@ix.netcom.com]\r\n [link\|http://kmself.home.netcom.com/\|http://kmself.home.netcom.com/]\r\n What part of "gestalt" don't you understand?\r\n [link\|http://twiki.iwethey.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/\|TWikIWETHEY] -- an experiment in collective intelligence. Stupidity. Whatever.\r\n \r\n Keep software free. Oppose the CBDTPA. Kill S.2048 dead.\r\n[link\|http://www.eff.org/alerts/20020322_eff_cbdtpa_alert.html\|http://www.eff.org/alerts/20020322_eff_cbdtpa_alert.html]\r\n
Post #84,558 by Andrew Grygus 2/27/03 4:51:53 AM Reply	Went up on Linux Today Well received so far. Looks like I don't get fresh server stats until morning, though. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #84,666 by SpiceWare 2/27/03 3:35:50 PM Reply	404s I was checking a couple links and found a 404, so I tried them all(tab browsing is nice). The following links are 404 or "article gone". I didn't verify the actual contents of the other links, but at a brief glance they seemed to have the appropriate subject matter. Q4 Patent Suits - Wall Street Journal - Microsoft faces host of patent suits Q6 Sendo Sues Microsoft - Reuters - Sendo Sues Microsoft Q7 Intertrust Suit - The Register - InterTrust sues Microsoft (on just about everything) M1 Marketing - The Register - Experiences at a Firm Hostile to Free Software The reference #s also seem odd - some start with 1, others 0, one section begins with 5. In the X section there's two 41s and lots of #s skipped. Darrell Spice, Jr. [link\|http://www.spiceware.org/\|SpiceWare] - We don't do Windows, it's too much of a chore
Post #84,704 by n3jja 2/27/03 7:02:08 PM Reply	Need updated link. 404 - Not Found [link\|http://www.theregus.com/content/4/25943.html\|http://www.theregus....tent/4/25943.html] Anybody else able to pull this up?
Post #84,713 by a6l6e6x 2/27/03 7:37:09 PM Reply	Not here either. Alex "No man's life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session."\t-- Mark Twain
Post #84,717 by boxley 2/27/03 7:56:28 PM Reply	fine here is $MS at work? will work for cash and other incentives [link\|http://home.tampabay.rr.com/boxley/resume/Resume.html\|skill set] questions, help? [link\|mailto:pappas@catholic.org\|email pappas at catholic.org] \ufffdOmni Gaul Delenda est!\ufffd Ceasar
Post #84,738 by n3jja 2/27/03 9:46:36 PM Reply	Found Register retraction / apology [link\|http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/26745.html\|http://www.theregist...tent/4/26745.html] Seems there was a slight exaggeration according to the company named in the original article.
Post #84,751 by Andrew Grygus 2/27/03 11:33:20 PM Reply	Oh shoot - now I'll have to dig up another story . . . . thanks, for finding the reason for the dissappeared document. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #85,204 by Andrew Grygus 3/2/03 3:16:23 PM Reply	Oooff! I'm finally done . . . . answering the fan mail (even 15 minutes of fame is hard work), making corrections and resolving the (known) bad links. A few items have been added (change list at bottom). Got an email of appreciation from the guy who runs Ralph Nader's "Appraising Microsoft" email list. Only real complaint so far is a guy who takes offense at my dig at G.W.Bush in Foreign Threat / Venezuela. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #85,205 by kmself 3/2/03 3:49:39 PM Reply	Only complaint... \r\nOnly real complaint so far is a guy who takes offense at my dig at G.W.Bush in\r\nForeign Threat / Venezuela.\r\n \r\n\r\n Where I come from, that's spelled "c-o-m-p-l-i-m-e-n-t". \r\n\r\n Rock on, Andrew. \r\n --\r\n Karsten M. Self [link\|mailto:kmself@ix.netcom.com\|kmself@ix.netcom.com]\r\n [link\|http://kmself.home.netcom.com/\|http://kmself.home.netcom.com/]\r\n What part of "gestalt" don't you understand?\r\n [link\|http://twiki.iwethey.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/\|TWikIWETHEY] -- an experiment in collective intelligence. Stupidity. Whatever.\r\n \r\n Keep software free. Oppose the CBDTPA. Kill S.2048 dead.\r\n[link\|http://www.eff.org/alerts/20020322_eff_cbdtpa_alert.html\|http://www.eff.org/alerts/20020322_eff_cbdtpa_alert.html]\r\n
Post #85,210 by Andrew Grygus 3/2/03 5:46:35 PM Reply	OK, I finally answered that one. >Perhaps Bill Gates' buddy G.W.Bush can arrange a Grenada style invasion >or some other "regime change"? > >This is petty, IMO. Not to mention that you alienate some people right >out of the box by denegrating G.W. That little dig at W was, of course, intended to be more humorous than serious, but lets look at this logically: 1. W is not just willing, but anxious to commit Americans to a major shooting war in a distant country on behalf of Big Oil regardless of public or world opinion (If it wasn't all about oil, he'd be more concerned with North Korea, which is way ahead of Iraq in Weapons of Mass Destructions and ships weapons around the world). 2. W's administration refused to punish Microsoft AT ALL after they were convicted on major antitrust charges. Microsoft executives have admitted Microsoft has more power over computer OEMs AFTER the DOJ settlement than they did before it. 3. W's administration has already deployed the Department of State to influence the government of Peru on behalf of Microsoft. 3. W's administration has already been implicated in an attempted "regime change" in Venezuela (they have oil in Venezuela too, you know). 4. Logically, from the above, why would not W's administration be agreeable to perpretrating a small "regime change" in favor of Big Software, in a nearby, minor country, where they are already fully involved in covert action, when they have already shown substantial support for Big Software? [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]
Post #85,240 by Ashton 3/3/03 12:04:05 AM Reply	(and that's just surfin the high spots ;-)
Post #85,206 by ben_tilly 3/2/03 4:09:43 PM Reply	What Karsten said :-) "good ideas and bad code build communities, the other three combinations do not" - [link\|http://archives.real-time.com/pipermail/cocoon-devel/2000-October/003023.html\|Stefano Mazzocchi]
Post #85,283 by inthane-chan 3/3/03 12:14:23 PM Reply	Just in time, too. Guess who just made the headlines at slashdot... "Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music." -- Kristian Wilson, Nintendo, Inc, 1989
Post #85,292 by drewk 3/3/03 12:38:20 PM 3/3/03 12:59:13 PM Reply	Of course It seems they never accept anything the first time it's submitted, unless it's an announcement of a point release in the kernel. Naah, I'm not really bitter they rejected it when I sent it in. I've nearly stopped caring about /. since they upped the number of mod points. Cripes, I just went and looked and it's very nearly the write-up I gave it. But now it's running unattributed. Cool. [Edit] What a bunch of tools. If you scan the replies at +5 the first half are all either jokes or absolutely dismissive. But if you chack the timestamps on them, they're all posted within a half-hour of the article going up. There's no way any of them read the whole thing in that time, much less followed the links you offered in support. Yes, this is the other reason I've stopped caring much about /. [Edit 2] In update 6, I think you mean "overseas". === Implicitly condoning stupidity since 2001. Edited by drewk March 3, 2003, 12:47:56 PM EST Edited by drewk March 3, 2003, 12:59:13 PM EST Expand All History
Post #85,379 by ben_tilly 3/3/03 7:38:28 PM Reply	Also note... I believe that Microsoft long ago figured how to manipulate the slashdot moderation system. Watch. In any discussion about something that is possibly IMPORTANT to Microsoft, there are a ton of similar posts that go to +5 fast. Cheers, Ben "good ideas and bad code build communities, the other three combinations do not" - [link\|http://archives.real-time.com/pipermail/cocoon-devel/2000-October/003023.html\|Stefano Mazzocchi]
Post #85,380 by admin 3/3/03 7:40:29 PM Reply	Worth reading... ... if only to counteract, in the article, the specific objections being raised by the machine... (such as the OFS posts) Regards, -scott anderson "Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson..."
Post #85,411 by Andrew Grygus 3/4/03 4:38:21 AM 3/4/03 4:39:10 AM Reply	It's on The Inquirer now. I just got through answering the fan mail from /. and now I see [link\|http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=8090\|The Inquirer] has picked it up. The /. mail was all positive except one guy who said he liked the first part but complained that the rest was just "Microsoft bashing". He did admit to being "new to IT", so I hope I set him on the right path. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx] Edited by Andrew Grygus March 4, 2003, 04:39:10 AM EST Expand All History
Post #85,434 by Silverlock 3/4/03 9:07:46 AM Reply	Irony would be if Infoworld picked it up. Have your people talk to my people. We'll do lunch. How many lives per gallon? --Sign outside of various churches
Post #85,438 by boxley 3/4/03 9:27:12 AM Reply	Wonder if slugbug has seen it yet? will work for cash and other incentives [link\|http://home.tampabay.rr.com/boxley/resume/Resume.html\|skill set] questions, help? [link\|mailto:pappas@catholic.org\|email pappas at catholic.org] \ufffdOmni Gaul Delenda est!\ufffd Ceasar
Post #85,476 by admin 3/4/03 11:27:37 AM Reply	Bundeswehr banning MS software research flaw? [link\|http://www.winplanet.com/winplanet/newsarchives/3156/1/\|http://www.winplanet...sarchives/3156/1/] The German defense department was quick to deny a report by Der Spiegel claiming that two German governmental agencies had banned software produceed by the United States, including Microsoft operating systems. Regards, -scott anderson "Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson..."
Post #85,497 by Andrew Grygus 3/4/03 12:22:25 PM Reply	I will look into that more. The spokesperson added that additional security measures would be taken to secure information, including the use of security software by other companies. What does that mean? It could certainly mean that Microsoft software is being replaced in security sensitive areas. It is unclear whether the report of the ban was in fact unfounded, or if the Defense Ministry has done some speedy backpedalling to preserve good relations with the US Given other moves in Germany, I'd be very surprised if the original report was completely unfounded. It is probable the current contracts with Microsoft will be allowed to play out, since breaking them would make a mess, and as long as they're paying for the stuff, I'd expect them to actually use it somewhere. [link\|http://www.aaxnet.com\|AAx]

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