You must read this;
http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/15/hp-threatening-oems-to-fend-off-netbook-invasion/
Is it true? I'm sure we will know soon enough.
Posts
DOJ Files To Seize $225 Million In Crypto From Scammers
54 minutes ago
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Blu-Ray vs. standard DVD
Just went to purchase a video.
I'm not a big video watcher but I do have a HD video setup with a PS3 for the BR player, a 1080p television, and a surround amp. BR has been out for a while now, it's now the new technology that is supposed to take over by storm winning out over the HD format. Much to my disappointment the cost of BR disks are twice that of Standard def. What is with this -- sounds like typical Sony, once you have a standard, charge the end user for it, make them pay! This was seen with Beta Max, Sony Walkman cassette players, Sony memory sticks, and now Blu-Ray. Perfect example is the memory stick, 8GB will cost you 50 bucks, a comparable SD card you can pick up for 10-15 bucks.?
Did the right format win the HD format wars? Are we, the consumers, going to be forced into paying 2 times as much?
To me there is not enough value in BR to pay the price -- the decision was to purchase a Standard DVD. Up converted standard def look great too...
Sony, Please do not punish your users ----
I'm not a big video watcher but I do have a HD video setup with a PS3 for the BR player, a 1080p television, and a surround amp. BR has been out for a while now, it's now the new technology that is supposed to take over by storm winning out over the HD format. Much to my disappointment the cost of BR disks are twice that of Standard def. What is with this -- sounds like typical Sony, once you have a standard, charge the end user for it, make them pay! This was seen with Beta Max, Sony Walkman cassette players, Sony memory sticks, and now Blu-Ray. Perfect example is the memory stick, 8GB will cost you 50 bucks, a comparable SD card you can pick up for 10-15 bucks.?
Did the right format win the HD format wars? Are we, the consumers, going to be forced into paying 2 times as much?
To me there is not enough value in BR to pay the price -- the decision was to purchase a Standard DVD. Up converted standard def look great too...
Sony, Please do not punish your users ----
Friday, October 10, 2008
WALMART DRM flips 360
Several months ago there was a purchase from Walmart's online music collection. Of course before most of the other major re-sellers had started to drop DRM. On September 26th I received this notice;
Important Information About Your Digital Music Purchases
We hope you are enjoying the increased music quality/bitrate and the improved usability of Walmart's MP3 music downloads. We began offering MP3s in August 2007 and have offered only DRM (digital rights management) -free MP3s since February 2008. As the final stage of our transition to a full DRM-free MP3 download store, Walmart will be shutting down our digital rights management system that supports protected songs and albums purchased from our site.
If you have purchased protected WMA music files from our site prior to Feb 2008, we strongly recommend that you back up your songs by burning them to a recordable audio CD. By backing up your songs, you will be able to access them from any personal computer. This change does not impact songs or albums purchased after Feb 2008, as those are DRM-free.
Beginning October 9, we will no longer be able to assist with digital rights management issues for protected WMA files purchased from Walmart.com. If you do not back up your files before this date, you will no longer be able to transfer your songs to other computers or access your songs after changing or reinstalling your operating system or in the event of a system crash. Your music and video collections will still play on the originally authorized computer.
Thank you for using Walmart.com for music downloads. We are working hard to make our store better than ever and easier to use.
Walmart Music Team
This Morning I received this email from Walmart.
NOTE: This is a follow-up to our email titled "Important Information
About Your Digital Music Purchases" from 9/26/08.
Based on feedback from our customers, we have decided to maintain our
digital rights management (DRM) servers for the present time. What this
means to you is that our existing service continues and there is no
action required on your part. Our customer service team will continue
to assist with DRM issues for protected windows media audio (WMA) files
purchased from Walmart.com.
While our customer support team is available to assist you with any
issues, we continue to recommend that you back up your songs by burning
them to a recordable audio CD. By backing up your songs, you insure
access to them from any personal computer at any time in the future.
We appreciate your support and patience as we work to provide the best
service possible to you. As we move forward with our 100% MP3 store,
we'll continue to update you with key decisions regarding our service
and your account via email.
Thank you for using Walmart MP3 Music Downloads.
The Walmart Digital Music Team
Important Information About Your Digital Music Purchases
We hope you are enjoying the increased music quality/bitrate and the improved usability of Walmart's MP3 music downloads. We began offering MP3s in August 2007 and have offered only DRM (digital rights management) -free MP3s since February 2008. As the final stage of our transition to a full DRM-free MP3 download store, Walmart will be shutting down our digital rights management system that supports protected songs and albums purchased from our site.
If you have purchased protected WMA music files from our site prior to Feb 2008, we strongly recommend that you back up your songs by burning them to a recordable audio CD. By backing up your songs, you will be able to access them from any personal computer. This change does not impact songs or albums purchased after Feb 2008, as those are DRM-free.
Beginning October 9, we will no longer be able to assist with digital rights management issues for protected WMA files purchased from Walmart.com. If you do not back up your files before this date, you will no longer be able to transfer your songs to other computers or access your songs after changing or reinstalling your operating system or in the event of a system crash. Your music and video collections will still play on the originally authorized computer.
Thank you for using Walmart.com for music downloads. We are working hard to make our store better than ever and easier to use.
Walmart Music Team
This Morning I received this email from Walmart.
NOTE: This is a follow-up to our email titled "Important Information
About Your Digital Music Purchases" from 9/26/08.
Based on feedback from our customers, we have decided to maintain our
digital rights management (DRM) servers for the present time. What this
means to you is that our existing service continues and there is no
action required on your part. Our customer service team will continue
to assist with DRM issues for protected windows media audio (WMA) files
purchased from Walmart.com.
While our customer support team is available to assist you with any
issues, we continue to recommend that you back up your songs by burning
them to a recordable audio CD. By backing up your songs, you insure
access to them from any personal computer at any time in the future.
We appreciate your support and patience as we work to provide the best
service possible to you. As we move forward with our 100% MP3 store,
we'll continue to update you with key decisions regarding our service
and your account via email.
Thank you for using Walmart MP3 Music Downloads.
The Walmart Digital Music Team
Monday, October 6, 2008
Video Cards
In the market for a new video card? Go check out this very comprehensive video card analysis from Tom's Hardware. They have broken it down into several budget ranges.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/Best-Graphics-Card,2033.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/Best-Graphics-Card,2033.html
Prepay utilities????
Just read this on Techdirt
http://techdirt.com/articles/20081003/1659112452.shtml
Since when do I have to pay for someones bad credit?
So here is the rip in the economy. In my business I'm billing due on receipt, 6 months ago this would mean that I would receive payment in 15 business days or less, now I'm receiving payment 60 - 90 days. Which in turns puts my cash flow out to the same time frame.
Two ways to look at this
1. AT$T is going to be pre-paying their vendors.
or
2. The more likely scenario AT$T is not going to pay their vendors for 60-90 days as usual form of business -- and we the people are stuck paying in advance for services not rendered. (good luck getting this money back when you close your account with them.)
This is going to cause a huge gap between those that have to pay before service and the large business that will continue to pay 60-90 days. That puts a 120 day gap between the the people and business. That's 4 months!! Banks start to foreclose on secured loans after about 60 days.
In short AT$T is living the same as the rest of us, from paycheck to paycheck with no savings. Now they want us to give them a paycheck 30 days before payday. (Reminds me of a payday loan company except we don't get to make 50% interest on the loan.)
Will the extra 30 days of cash help them out, short term yes. Long term this eats up what ever reserve they may have had.
Here is a solution; Drop AT$T as a service provider, the bank will foreclose on its assets, the assets will be sold to a stronger company, and life will go on without AT$T.
Who's next;
Will it be the power company that wants to be paid for power that I have not used? (I guess they are already doing this on some billing where you pay a fixed rate all year long)
How about your local grocery store?
Gas Station?
We better tighten our belts and hunker down, it's going to be a long Winter.
http://techdirt.com/articles/20081003/1659112452.shtml
Since when do I have to pay for someones bad credit?
So here is the rip in the economy. In my business I'm billing due on receipt, 6 months ago this would mean that I would receive payment in 15 business days or less, now I'm receiving payment 60 - 90 days. Which in turns puts my cash flow out to the same time frame.
Two ways to look at this
1. AT$T is going to be pre-paying their vendors.
or
2. The more likely scenario AT$T is not going to pay their vendors for 60-90 days as usual form of business -- and we the people are stuck paying in advance for services not rendered. (good luck getting this money back when you close your account with them.)
This is going to cause a huge gap between those that have to pay before service and the large business that will continue to pay 60-90 days. That puts a 120 day gap between the the people and business. That's 4 months!! Banks start to foreclose on secured loans after about 60 days.
In short AT$T is living the same as the rest of us, from paycheck to paycheck with no savings. Now they want us to give them a paycheck 30 days before payday. (Reminds me of a payday loan company except we don't get to make 50% interest on the loan.)
Will the extra 30 days of cash help them out, short term yes. Long term this eats up what ever reserve they may have had.
Here is a solution; Drop AT$T as a service provider, the bank will foreclose on its assets, the assets will be sold to a stronger company, and life will go on without AT$T.
Who's next;
Will it be the power company that wants to be paid for power that I have not used? (I guess they are already doing this on some billing where you pay a fixed rate all year long)
How about your local grocery store?
Gas Station?
We better tighten our belts and hunker down, it's going to be a long Winter.
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