* Posts by Vince

677 publicly visible posts • joined 16 May 2007

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Microsoft brings SUNSHINE – but it's a CLOUDY DAY

Vince

Part of Microsoft's problem is the total inability to listen or understand.

They've gone full pelt into pushing Cloud as the answer to everything, and even when you're not interested, and actually want to purchase products the "traditional" way they're making it considerably more expensive than the cloudy version, pushing people into considering alternatives (note to MS: The alternative is not that we get forced into cloud, but instead go elsewhere or just don't change anything).

If they'd actually let people buy things the traditional way without so much fuss they'd actually get more sales!

Symantec sources claim exec teams in place by April Fools' Day

Vince

Yes the name was well loved because the products did actually work. Unfortunately the name won't put the products that Symantec have butchered and totally destroyed back together again will it!

Landlines: The tech that just won't die

Vince

Re: Line installation

They still do offer this - if you move into a property with an available line (eg it's still connected all the way back to the exchange...) you'll get reconnection at wholesale level for a lot less (whether your provider passes that on is another matter...)

Seagate's spinning rust most likely to crash, claims backup biz

Vince

Re: Seagate 3TB

You'll be wanting the WD Red PRO version if you want 7,200rpm

Vince

Re: Seagate 3TB

If you're using Green's I assume not in any sort of RAID installation, particularly half-baked RAID like Intel stuff, because if you do, expect them to have premature failure unless you first change the firmware to stop the auto-park. You'll get weird performance and they'll die because they have excessive parks.

Vince

Yes, that's not an analysis that amazes anyone I know. We don't put Seagate stuff into our servers for those very reasons. Our general experience is that HGST and WD are pretty much on a par - across makes and models - and as long as you know the tricks for using the cheaper models and avoiding sending them to premature death, life will be fine.

One Sync to rule them all: How Microsoft plans to fix OneDrive

Vince

Re: This is a regression

The rub is that they do mention it, that's the thing they call place holders. The thing they quote an MS rep on....

Vince

OneDrive (which I use mostly to sync photos from my Lumia) does generally work. And actually the "placeholder" feature is useful particularly on my laptop - because it has a smallish SSD and I have a few hundred GB of photos - especially when saving the raw 38 megapixel image files.

The only annoyance/bug/whatever is that it does take ages to fetch the full image when you request it - even if you're on a really meaty connection - so I assume it's an MS issue in the first place since everything else is zippy.

So now they'll launch W10 without it. So will I have everything forcibly downloaded, or just nothing at all including placeholders?

Microsoft giveth and taketh away...

Microsoft CAL licensing

Vince

Re: Microsoft CAL licensing

The Web Server thing is really very simple. Hosting Providers have other forms of licensing agreement from Microsoft that allow them to licence the software making this a non-issue. There are also other options (and yes, it will depend on the scenario).

For example, Windows Server Web Edition exists for pure Web Hosting scenarios (at least "did" - it might be gone now and personally I don't care enough to check).

There are External Connector licenses that permit usage you describe in some scenarios.

There are of course 2 options if you're confused:

(a) Get a Microsoft Licensing Specialist to give you the correct options to stop your constant moaning.

(b) Use a product that does not require those licenses. I hear that Open Source is often a good place to start if you're more concerned with licensing than other costs which may or may not in any given scenario work our more or less cost effective than the other.

It is recommended that instead of moaning a lot you get proper advice.

Apple in 2007: Who wants a stylus? Apple in 2010: We want a stylus!

Vince

Re: Apple, almost as many about turns as Microsoft...

"To be fair, NFC is pretty useless on pretty much every device other than the iPhone for ApplePay".

I use it every day to instantly connect my Sony Bluetooth receiver to my phone so it plays audio to my Hi-Fi.

I use it every day if I am reading a page on my Nexus 7 and want to start viewing same page on my Blackberry Passport (or vice versa).

I use it every day to switch my device profiles and configurations to suit where I am.

It doesn't sound "useless" to me.

Windows Phone bumping along the bottom

Vince

Re: I know this is heresy on the Reg comments but...

You're not alone in liking the Windows Phone UI.

I really like the interface and find it slick and quick at things. it's very much like my Blackberry in terms of getting the chuff on with it. I own 3 phones, and my Android phone is least used these days.

The Blackberry is by far the most used because my world is messaging centric, and it really has got that nailed, and the Windows Phone is good for "leisure" type stuff - and photography (since I have the Lumia 1020). The android phone is good for... er, submitting my electric and gas readings...

Microsoft patch mashes Office forms and macros

Vince

Re: Move along there, nothing to report

I had 6 computers in exactly that setup this week - all because they're unable (unwilling maybe) to update the MS Access stuff they did in 2007 version...

HOLD IT! Last minute gifts for one's nerd minions

Vince
WTF?

For the record, I have a Yoga Pro 2 and it is indeed the best thing. But not since the Start Menu was reintroduced. I wish it stayed gone. I don't need it, I certainly don't miss it and I don't get it.

BlackBerry CEO Chen says to expect profits ... in 2016

Vince

"Blackberry is still caught between a rock and hard place. Their devices have smaller screens due to the space the keyboard takes up, and even Apple has thrown in the towel and given people larger screens."

You've not been paying attention. I refer you to the Blackberry Z30, it has no "keyboard" and has a large screen. They also have a smaller Z10, also no keyboard.

Then they have the Passport (which I own, love and wouldn't swap) and the Classic which do have keyboards.

Some of us are quite happy with our Blackberry device, and don't feel like we're missing out - we just get stuff done.

Back dat app up: Microsoft opens Azure Backup to Windows PCs

Vince

Re: Out of the topic

What the hell is the picture necessary for anyhow?

The reg is now best read on the mobile site.

Chrome devs hatch plan to mark all HTTP traffic insecure

Vince

Given that this will just cause people to rush out and demand SSL Certificates, the net result will be plenty of pressure on the IPv4 space, because you know that's not an issue.

And once things are in SSL, it will give people a false impression of security.

What a totally retarded idea.

TalkTalk customers demand opt-out fix for telco's DNS ad-jacking tactics

Vince

I hate this sort of stuff. Recently I happened to be at my sisters, and she (foolishly) had chosen Virgin Media because they offered the usual cheap starting deal and then ramp it up jobbie.

Anyhow... I had connected to her Wi-Fi simply because there was no mobile service at all, so last resorts and was checking something by PING. It was a few minutes before I realised that no matter what host I would ping, it would always respond, even when it didn't exist.

I immediately VPN'd back to work so I could actually get reliable answers.

This stuff is so broken it is unreal - responding to PING though is really pathetic.

Plusnet could face DATA BREACH probe over SPAM HELL gripes

Vince

Re: How big a problem and why?

I think you're missing the point.

If multiple people suddenly start receiving spam TO an address that was exclusively given to one place, then either that place has had a breach, OR that place gave the address to others and THEY have had a breach.

It's unlikely that multiple people would randomly start getting mail to otherwise wholly unconnected addresses which is spam when in each case, a unique address was given to the one common provider.

Microsoft pulls a patch and offers PHANTOM FIX for the mess

Vince

Re: Here's the REAL fix

That couldn't sound further from a "fix" if it tried.

What if MS-A didn't like the change that MS-B was making and didn't want to include it, or felt it was worse than a feature they were adding?

It's easy to tell you - because in Open Source where this "public" exchange you talk of exists, you end up with a million forks and variants, or infighting, or someone ultimately ruling the product.

The real fix is simple - MS needs to go back to the QA side, and kick some ass. Of it has let them go, beg forgiveness. This is a worryingly new trend of every month a broken patch be giveth, and we've noticed it at $dayjob - but it isn't historically the case - overall problems had been pretty rare.

Microsoft's dodgy new Exchange 2010 update breaks Outlook clients

Vince

Something really seems to have gone a little wrong at MS recently when it comes to patches. It's been pretty rare overall considering the length of breath of what it does to have issues, but this is becoming a problem every month - patches released aren't ready for the big time.

It's not just the ones El Reg bothers to comment on either - we've had significant issues with several in the past 3-4 months with considerable effort involved in dealing with the mess it creates.

Did they fire the test and QA team!?

Trevor contemplates Consumer Netgear gear. BUT does it pass the cat hair test?

Vince

Netgear.... used to be good. No longer good.

ReadyNAS series unreliable piles of garbage. Can't tell you how many of those we've had in with various failures - our normal routine is to throw them away.

The switches are just about OK if you want unmanaged switches but they don't all deliver true gigabit for example.

The routers give poorer performance as a general rule in my experience for a given line - so you don't get the maximum potential from the dsl circuit.

And yes... then there are the virgin media super hub units which are of course netgear. Nuff said.

Roll up, roll up, Microsoft's rolled up dozens of OS fixes

Vince

Re: Windows Mess

I assume that's a relative statement... but no idea what against.

The fact of the matter is that all of the OSes are really a bit of a mess. Mind you, it's all a bit sodding complicated these days too.

Win Server at the very least seems anything but a mess if you're actually having to run infrastructure with it - it's far less of a mess than the Linux variants in our experience. YMMV of course...

BEST EVER broadband? Oh no you DIDN'T, Sky – ad watchdog

Vince

Sort of funny - BT clam Sky are trying to buy customers. From the Telco that gives £100 Sansbury's vouchers routinely...

But what BT are best at is the lock in - you must have our phone line they say (OK, everyone has joined that bandwagon of the big players), but hey take our broadband to get BT Sport and so on... all nicely tied in.

Of course Sky can be just as bad, but for either to claim they have the upper ground is a lie in itself.

Still, that's nothing compared to Virgin and its never ending "deals" that also require a phone line rental to achieve said price, even though they haven't even got the technical excuse of "needing" that line...

Gits the lot of them...

Samsung Galaxy Note 4: Spawn of Galaxy Alpha and a Note 3 unveiled

Vince

Re: Won't upgrade

I won't be upgrading from my note 2, because it does all I want from that device.

For email and messaging it's pants, which is what my BlackBerry is for, especially since I swapped to the passport and have blend.

For photos, the Lumia 1020 does the job and is excellent.

There's nothing different enough in any newer android stuff that is sufficiently interesting that I would change, just bells and whistles that don't improve my productivity, which is actually why I own a smartphone.

That dreaded syncing feeling: Will Microsoft EVER fix OneDrive?

Vince

I hate myself already, but briefcase had one really really really useful purpose.

Specifically when dealing with MS Access - it was a dead simple way to create useful replica functionality that actually worked - and I know of clients who still cry for it... they really miss it.

Vince

Yeah because Dropbox does not have any of those flaws. Oh wait... yeah it also can't cope if you access/modify a file in 2 places (and does the same thing as OneDrive) - actually most things do this.

They're all much the same.

4G is quicker than 3G, says Ofcom. Can't we get you on Mastermind, Sybil?

Vince

Re: 4G is faster than 3G

Nope, sorry.

As a three customer the coverage is excellent, perhaps you're still comparing based on a few years ago... speeds might not always be absolutely fastest but they give you the best allowances by far so you can use the network and smartphones etc freely unlike the rest.

Google DoubleClick goes TITSUP. ENJOY your AD-FREE WORLD!

Vince
Coat

Re: Subscription to the Reg...

Yeah I would. I'd pay the same amount I think the articles lately are worth.

Mines the one without any loose change in the pocket.

Behold the Lumia 535 NOTkia: Microsoft wipes Nokia brand from mobes

Vince

Re: Meh

"Why are Microsoft even trying. I have only ever seen 1 real person with a Windows phone..."

Can't have been looking very hard. I'd say there are increasing numbers of them around the place.

Nexus 9: Google and HTC deliver Android 5.0 'Lollipop' at iPad prices

Vince

The Nexus 7 (2013 version) is the perfect device for me. For our office, it's now deployed for engineers to use for tracking jobs (everyone has one mounted to a desk - the price makes it a simple fix to a relatively straightforward need).

At home, there is one pretty much in every room - used as the remote/control/home automation controller - again, great price and spec and device and decent enough that it'll last as various things change over time.

£200+ - no deal on any front, and I don't want it any larger thanks.

Seriously, for real this time, the 12in MaxiPad is totally on the way ...

Vince

"The report goes on to suggest that the plus-size "iPad Pro" would also use the Touch ID fingerprint reader introduced in the latest iPad models and the Apple Lightning connector interface"

Really? Wow, I'm glad someone figured that out. I don't even like Apple and it was obvious surely that if a new "maxipad" is coming (and it is let's face it, still speculation) the 2 most obvious things you'd expect would the new-standard connector and the new-standard fingerprint sensor.

Microsoft jolts awake, remembers it still makes Office for Mac

Vince

Bootcamp his mac with windows and give him real office?

Or just stop using a Mac.

Neither will earn me upvotes, but that's the easiest fix if it's causing so much hassle.

Amazon sells Fire Phone in UK ... on CONTRACT

Vince

O2. That's the network that is banging on about 4G contracts but STILL hasn't managed to provide 3G service with any degree of reliability in a ridiculously large number of places. Like my office. 2 minutes walk from the very city centre, 5 minutes from the O2 store and still nothing but 2G.

No deal. O2 suck.

Xen says its security policies might be buggier than its software

Vince

"you need shared storage" ... not on Hyper-V

"There are good reasons for not supporting migration in some cases - doing so means you need shared storage, which typically means decreased performance (unless you put in extremely expensive storage equipment to handle the same number of IOPS as fast local disks)."

Yeah, unless you're using something like say Microsoft Hyper-V where shared storage is not required, one of the things I like most precisely because I don't need another really expensive storage system that's always the cause of downtime and hassle.

Preview redux: Microsoft ships new Windows 10 build with 7,000 changes

Vince

Nice references to Office Space on the screenshot.

We are putting new coversheeets on all the TPS reports y'know...

ONE MILLION people already running Windows 10

Vince

Re: Sounds familiar

Yeah, but Windows 8 does have multiple taskbars for multiple monitors. Something I turn off immediately but my colleague loves. Do keep up...

Virgin Media DOUBLE-PUNCHED by BSkyB AND BT over ad fibs

Vince

Re: "We're no good, but we're the least shitiest."

Because invariably you then need a Virgin phone line to get anything near the advertised price (except that is never includes the £15.99 line rental).

At least BT have a reason for the phone line to deliver the broadband, Virgin are literally using it to make them seem competitive and giving themselves a healthy profit to boot.

Coughing for 4G, getting 2G... Networks' penny-pinching SECRETS REVEALED

Vince

People do moan about the quality. Maybe you couldn't hear them as you were receiving the moans in half-rate?

Microsoft confirms Surface NOT DEAD YET, next-gen version coming

Vince

It's a simple thing to fix...

What's wrong with the surface is actually quite simple...

1) Price. It is too high. Especially since the major point is that you can have a keyboard cover, except that costs another £100 odd. It's excessive and unreasonable. The net result is no deal over and over.

2) Availability. It's only available from a small number of places, hardly anywhere in reality. It's difficult to get in the channel and thus those of us who actively want to sell them and have people who actively want them often find they just can't get them. Why on earth MS have gone for the sales routes they've picked is anyone's guess.

3) Marketing. I don't think Microsoft could be much worse at marketing if they tried. They've got the money, it's just bad decision making. As usual.

They're insane. Completely insane.

Vodafone to stock BlackBerry Passport – on sale tomorrow

Vince

Re: £530...

Not being "discounted" - just some vendors have smaller margins - Expansys are always expensive, and often non-UK stock, as well as being generally poor at CS.

EE buys 58 Phones 4u stores for £2.5m after picking over carcass

Vince

Re: Smash and grab

Actually I believe you'll find Carphone Warehouse doesn't offer anything to customers wanting 3. They don't offer all networks, 3 dropped them ages back.

Clocks are ticking.

'Windows 9' LEAK: Microsoft's playing catchup with Linux

Vince

Oh god. Not the start menu back again. I hope I can choose to keep the modern interface.

Phones 4u slips into administration after EE cuts ties with Brit mobe retailer

Vince

I'm not on-board with your XP comment, but I do agree that we have in many ways reached a point where increasing numbers of people that would upgrade phones constantly no longer feel the need to do so.

I'm in that category. Next month I'll have kept a phone for 2 years. I can't recall when that last happened. The same goes for my other 2 mobiles - I see zero reason to change any of them... at all.

Vince

Actually I think you'll find it was Kudos to Three, who were the first to pull out. Which is presumably why Three offers significantly better value. And why I enjoy truly unlimited t'interwebs and not pathetic allowances of the Vodafone offerings.

Vince

Re: They are making profits of over £100m...

In reality, it's probably more than that. If the £100m is a net profit, then the real profit (or more specifically money the networks could save) is more since the net would include the huge overheads they'd have.

Only the foolish would believe networks wouldn't dispose of the "partners" once they've achieved critical mass.

Phones 4u website DIES as wounded mobe retailer struggles to stay above water

Vince

The website was showing the message at least as early as 8am today. Do keep up el reg.

Apple's ONE LESS THING: the iPod Classic disappears

Vince

Re: They've already started to go up in price

Or you could not buy Apple products. That's the easiest fix.

PHABBA-DABBA-DOO! Samsung Galaxy Note 4, Edge, Gear VR – feast your eyes

Vince

Re: Fab phones

Note 2 owner here. First phone I had kept for more than a few months. Still see no reason to change. Nothing sufficiently worthwhile outside gimmick land.

Equally my Blackberry Z10 meets every need as my business communicator so I'll shortly be retaining that without any further upgrade.

Meanwhile I doubt there would be a better camera available on a phone than the Lumia 1020 which really does take some fantastic shots.

...so I think it's really a case of "peak smartphone". I doubt the bitten fruit co will change that next week. It'll be another minor upgrade mostly based around software you could get if they wanted you to (actually, most of it they do anyhow IIRC). Same with tablets. There's just not much left to offer right now, but everyone is addicted to this rapid replacement way of doing things..

Sonos burns its Bridges: Our home-grown Wi-Fi mesh will do

Vince

Re: Slimp3

I'm still using my Squeezebox Setup in preference to Sonos. Work's a treat.

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