What ever happened to computers ?

[KernelPanic]

quote:Originally posted by Faust:
Who would buy a car that has a defective engine?  When buying cars those who have no idea what they are doing will get a knowledgable friend along to help them.  Yet when buying PC's everyone assumes the salesman knows what's best and gets Windows.  We need to start a "bring a geek to your next PC purchase" campaign.    

When Computer and Electrical salesmen in places like PCWorld and Dixons try to sell some newb something they don't need nor can afford, I usually have a quiet word with the customer and tell them the deal. It pisses off the salesmen, sorry salespeople, but it's the right thing to do  
Try it, geeks to the streets!

[Faust]

Hey I could lurk in Dick Smiths (big Aussie electronics chain)...
"Look dude I'm going to keep telling the customers the best deal here.  I don't care what you do.  BUT, you have a choice.  Either you let me keep on making you look like a rip off merchant, or you pay me lots of money to wear a badge so it looks like you're employing me to give good honest advice to the customers..."

[Fett101]

Or he calls security.

[solo]

I dont know if a direct statement like that would work, but you could just kinda look around until you overhear the deal and then move in for the kill  

[Fett101]

Or... if your that desperate for something to do, get a job at that place and let them pay you to inform the customer.

[neo_x500]

What happens when we DON'T agree with the terms of use when we plug our boxes in for the first time. Anyway we could get microsoft to refund our purchase?? We need an oem that has the balls to put linux on their boxes and say NO to the "tip" from microsoft to install windows. Those bastards are going to buy everybody out.

[realist]

Hey, I thought you kicked ass in the Matrix Reloaded by the way. Here's hoping you figure out a way to stop humanity being destroyed in the next movie.

Good luck.

[Pissed_Macman]

Next you're going to say I'm part man and part Mac?

[lazygamer]

quote:If i want to game i would get a games console...

Many PC gamers don't think this way. Alot if it has to do with not trusting consoles, being brought up on PCs, and feeling you get alot of advantages with PCs over consoles. There is also a "just because it's what I've chosen" factor too. You do get alot of advantages with PCs over consoles, but you also get alot of disadvantages. The biggest disadvantage of them all is Microsoft, who has turned a valid and interesting gaming rivalry into a losing battle for the PC(well not to the consumer, they don't know what is going on).

 

quote:
What happened to computers was people. There weren't a whole slew of script kiddies and what not writing code in the mid 80's. Most people had yet to hear of the net, or even touch a computer.

It was the people to some extent. BUT, it was Microsoft that made far too many of the wrong people show up.

Script kiddies don't write code.  

So it was a combination of the wrong people, plus Microsoft's OSes in general.

[Faust]

[OFF_TOPIC]
Oh and we don't have "superfast computers."  My University has superfast computers, compared to them desktops suck.  And what runs these computers?  Certainly not Windows!  In fact their latest Beowulf cluster runs Linux.  
And Fett how could he call security?  It's not like informing people is a crime no matter how much some people want it to be.  (Unless you live in China or North Korea etcetera...)  And why would I want a job ripping the customer off?  That's just not right.
[/OFF_TOPIC]

[Fett101]

Because it is a private buisness.

[Faust]

That doesn't mean private property, in fact most countries have laws denying a business to deny customers without due reason.  (ie criminal offences.)  These laws were designed to prevent "whites only" business but I'm sure they would extend to me.  And WTF is illegal with me talking to customers?  Would you like to point out the relevant law here?

[Fett101]

I doubt those laws extend to people hampering the buisness' operations, but more based upon race, gender, religion, physical ability and sexual orientation

Maybe if you were black and doing the same thing, you could hire Johnny Cochran and make some extra cash.

[jtpenrod]

quote:What happens when we DON'T agree with the terms of use when we plug our boxes in for the first time. Anyway we could get microsoft to refund our purchase?? We need an oem that has the balls to put linux on their boxes and say NO to the "tip" from microsoft to install windows. Those bastards are going to buy everybody out.

"What happens when we DON'T agree with the terms of use when we plug our boxes in for the first time." Sorry, you do that and you have already accepted the terms of the M$ EULA as soon as the POS boots.   :eek:  There are also other MS EULAs that specify that you agree as soon as you open the package. Pretty soon, just picking up the box from the shelf will constitute acceptance, and you can expect a bill from Redmond.   :rolleyes:  

I had that very problem in January, 2001. Bought a new Micron Millenia Xtreme with Win XP as an OEM install. I ditched it for Mandrake by putting the install CD on the tray before I ever plugged it in. Even though I never gave XP a chance to boot, sent all that M$ stuff back with an explanation that I refused the EULA, and detailing what I'd done with XP... well, I'm still waiting for that refund.   :mad:  
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