That's the news in Windows Secrets today: http://WindowsSecrets.com/comp/090205
If you've recently watched a live CNN video (eg Inauguration feeds), you've also installed and accepted the terms of service for a new applet that makes your PC part of a "Torrent"-like peer-to-peer streaming network.
As much as 30% of CNN's live inauguration-day bandwidth was shifted to end users, most of whom had no idea that CNN could use their systems this way.
It's a boon to CNN, reducing their bandwidth costs. But it doesn't eliminate the costs: It just shifts the costs to local ISPs and end users--- to us.
The terms of service are a wonder to behold, too. Everyone just clicks "accept" when these legalese things scroll by, but this one makes you promise not to modify or monitor whatever the applet does on your PC. Legally speaking, by using the live-streaming applet, you have to let it do whatever it wants, whenever it wants.
Good info: http://WindowsSecrets.com/comp/090205
Free to anyone; no subscription needed.
My stuff in that issue includes:
USB drives, mice, keyboards, flash drives, and other peripherals are great — when they work. Unfortunately, some PCs have problems recognizing and using USB devices at boot time. Here's what you can do.
Calling the final shot re: Vista vs. XP: It's your last chance to buy new systems with XP. Should you do that, or bite the bullet and go with Vista? And what about Windows 7, in the wings for next year...?
Allow or deny 'act as a server' requests? You get them, I get them: obscure messages from our firewalls asking whether some software component or another should be let loose online. Here's how to sort out such requests.
Voicing an opinion on text-to-speech software: Text-to-speech (TTS) and automatic speech recognition (ASR) are related technologies, both very cool but often funky in their implementation. (I've often found such tools more trouble than they're worth.) But here are some free tools (including one that I use almost every day) that can have your PC speaking to you and responding to voice commands in no time.
My column is in the paid-subscription version of Windows Secrets, but it's a kind of honor system: Pay only what you think it's worth, and you get access to the paid-for content for a full year.
http://WindowsSecrets.com/comp/090205
Thanks for your support!
Nice article re Vista vs XP for the corporate laptops, Fred. While you make some excellent points, there's one other question that's worth asking in this situation: which OS are they using everywhere else? It might make great sense to upgrade to Vista on the laptops for all the reasons that you mention (assuming you consider it an upgrade, but we can agree to differ on that:)), but if they have XP on all the workstations, it's going to lead to mass confusion. (That's assuming they're that advanced: at the enterprise I do contract work for, they're still on Windows 2000, and I bet that's not unusual.)
ReplyDeleteOne other comment: you point out that if you still have stone-age hardware, Vista is going to cause you driver problems. Quite right, of course, and I know you're just the messenger for an industry that treats printers like Kleenex, but can I just say: I HATE THAT! I have a trusty workhorse of a printer, an HP Laserjet 6MP. It barely made it along for the ride when I switched to XP x64, and when I switch up OSes again, it will be a doorstop. Unless there have been some amazing leaps in printer tech I haven't heard of, like they now make your coffee for you or print via telepathy, I will be throwing away a perfectly functional machine to buy one exactly the same except that it will have a Spiffy New OS Driver. Grr.
Like you, I hate to throw out perfectly good equipment. The waste just plain bugs me on economic, environmental and social levels. A throw-away mentality is part of what's gone wrong with the US.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, consider this:
1) As I write this, you can get a brand-new Vista-compatible HP Deskjet F2210 "All In One" printer / scanner / color copier (this unit http://tinyurl.com/cp2trl ) for — wait for it — $29.
It even has Vista 64-bit drivers. It's fully current. $29!
2) Many schools, churches, soup kitchens and similar low-budget operations would love to have your old, working printer. ( http://www.google.com/search?&q=donate+used+printer )
Maybe that specific HP printer won't work for you, but you see my point I'm sure. You can upgrade, get yourself a new printer, keep your old printer out of a landfill, AND do some social good, all for cheap--- and maybe as little as $29.
When you view it that way, upgrading can become a positive change all around. :)
(PS: Sales info on that printer: http://www.google.com/products?q=HP%20Deskjet%20F2210 )
You're right that the prices are ridiculously low now - here in New Zealand they're not quite as low as what you quote, but almost, and I could replace my Laserjet which cost me about a thousand dollars ten years ago with one costing just over a tenth of that. And giving electronic stuff away is a good idea, and I usually do it, BUT printers are the exception, because you can't get the ink cartridges for them any more. (I bought my last one from an antique shop.) It's a criminal waste of resources.
ReplyDeleteGoing back now to staring at your beautiful ice photos (we are in the middle of a heat wave)...