* Posts by Killraven

301 publicly visible posts • joined 28 Jan 2011

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Dear Reg: What is a 'Lag' and a 'Jacksey'?

Killraven

Where does she get off...

...calling our bloggers "journalists"?

ISPs' pirate-choking blocking measures ARE effective – music body

Killraven

Re: @Dr. Mouse

There have been other studies discussed here in the past year that stated that BitTorrent activity dropped rather at about the same rate as legal download services became available, on a country by country basis.

So, no real surprises here, just a change of marketing departments.

TV sales PLUMMET. But no one's prepared to say what we all know

Killraven

Re: "Lightbulbs, nylon tights, razor blades, can all be made to last years or decades"

"Next you'll be telling me that there's a good reason they use capacitors filled with cats urine instead of properly designed ones that can run twice as hot for twice as long."

Because the majority of consumers would rather pay $500 for a TV that lasts 3-5 years, instead of paying $750 for the same TV with better components lasting 8-10 years.

Keep your quinoa, hipsters: Boffins back healthy slabs of choc

Killraven

Re: Get off my lawn!

I could be wrong, but I believe, in the current American vernacular, plain "chocolate" is intended for baking, whereas Milk Chocolate and Dark Chocolate are meant for direct consumption. In this case, and depending on where you find it in your supermarket, Chocolate and Dark Chocolate bars are usually priced identically.

Microsoft DirectX 12 pushes gaming code closer to GPU bare metal

Killraven

Re: So, by the time DX14 or DX15 comes along...

Re: days of DOS

I can't remember what the software was called, but back in the mid '90s a lot of games were based on software that basically booted it's own OS, so that it didn't matter what your particular OS was. I think DirectX was originally developed to combat this sort of thing and strengthen installed Windows base. I've often thought that if anybody (Apple, various Linux companies) wanted to weaken the Windows base, the best thing they could do was to develop a foundation like a DirectX operating system, that could allow a game produced from a single compile to run on different OSes. Because honestly, how many PC gamers would be quite happy to run Linux instead as long as their games worked? Money spent on an OS can go into extra hardware instead.

GIANT FLESH-EATING DEVIL CHICKENS roamed North Dakota

Killraven

Re: the inoffensive, tiny chickens of today

Speaking as somebody who's actually raised chickens in North Dakota... they're really not that big anymore. :-)

Seriously though, as others have mentioned already, chickens are not inoffensive or, more accurately, non-offensive. If one chicken somehow becomes bloodied, say through accident or laying an egg a bit too large for the exit, the others will go completely cannibalistic and absolutely rip that one apart. Small critters like mice and frogs do not live long amongst chickens either.

Chickens will go as bonkers as any shark to the smell of blood and the taste of raw meat.

Eight hour cleansing to get all the 'faggots' and 'bitches' OUT of Github

Killraven

Make a disparaging remark on el' Reg regarding the usage of endeared terms such as freetard and commentard, then just sit back and bask in the rapid accumulation of downvotes.

They accused him of inventing Bitcoin. Now, Nakamoto hires lawyer to clear his name

Killraven

Re: Moderation

Spleen's interpretation is correct.

Not sure if you're STILL running Windows XP? AmIRunningXP.com to the rescue!

Killraven

Re: Your all up your own arse

"They are called "normal people"

You say it as if it was worth of praise. I wonder why?"

No, he's just saying it without the pretentiousness of the anti-anything-Microsoft crowd.

Universal Music mulls 'all you can eat' buffet of song downloads

Killraven

That's different

If nothing else, it's somewhat refreshing to hear of a big label actually consider something that is, for them at least, rather ground-breaking. Personally, I'd rather buy new CDs for $5.00. Digital only does it for me as a means of last resort.

Microsoft may slash price of Windows 8.1 on cheap 'slabs

Killraven

Re: When are they going to get it in their thick skulls...

To the contrary, I'm waiting for a W8 tablet to get under the $200 mark. I don't have a tablet yet, but I specifically want a Windows one for compatibility with my home network.

Official: British music punter still loves plastic

Killraven

Re: Owning music on CD and vinyl

Totally agreeing on the benefits of physical media vs downloaded. However, if the price were the same, or better, I'd be quite willing to buy lossless-format albums on some form of SD card or USB stick.

How NOT to evaluate hard disk reliability: Backblaze vs world+dog

Killraven

Re: Salary

I just assuming that the $10K/month employee cost was total cost.

Salary + Benefits + Government Programs (etc, etc) = $10K/month cost.

Bad luck, n00bs: Mozilla to splurge ADS inside empty Firefox tiles

Killraven

Re: @Fibbles - WTF is "tiles"?

"They're organised coherently into categories so that I can always find something no matter how obscure. However, this means that some of my most visited sites are buried 3 levels deep in the bookmarks menu."

Do you utilize the Bookmarks Toolbar on your browser page? I have folders created there by subject matter, then bookmarks within. For the sites I visit every day there is a separate folder, and with just two clicks I can open a tab for every site within. Otherwise it's an incredibly easy way to find individual bookmarks.

Killraven

Chrome is where this "feature" first appeared. FF quickly copied it.

Killraven

Re: WTF is "tiles"?

I'm with you, I found this "feature" to be utterly useless.

Friends don't do tech support for friends running Windows XP

Killraven

Re: Ignoring Reality

"Remember how when XP came out only serious gamers used even 128MB of memory? But with Service Pack 3 256MB will barely let you boot up?

128Mb? Come on, I was using more RAM than that with Windows 98."

When first released, Windows XP Professional had a minimum RAM requirement of 64MB, with 128MB recommended. And 64MB of RAM was a couple hundred dollars so 64MB was all most home computers had. Service Pack One basically doubled those requirements and by Service Pack 3 anything less than 256MB was basically unusable, and 256MB was not usable for much.

Killraven

Ignoring Reality

The reality of things is that if you have friends/family that are still running XP it's because the computer they have is running things perfectly fine.

The reality of things is that you probably have zero friends/family that have ever had a need to call up Microsoft for support on anything so they really don't see what the big deal about official support for XP ending in the first place, and they'll happily keep on going as long as they can find an anti-virus program that runs on XP. (But the secret reality of that is most of your friends/family are use a free anti-virus that is more than three years old already, and the truth is simply that they don't do anything so exciting as to even need bother with it.)

The reality of things is that even if that old XP machine isn't running so hot anymore, all you really need to do is reinstall XP, probably just a simple factory restore, and don't do the Service Pack upgrades unless their other software demands it. Without the newer service packs the hardware requirements for XP go way down. Remember how when XP came out only serious gamers used even 128MB of memory? But with Service Pack 3 256MB will barely let you boot up?

The final reality of things is that if your friends/family are still running XP the odds are really, really good that they would be much happier with any sort of tablet. As for me, two of my six gaming PCs still run XP and I'm quite happy with them; though I'm contemplating upgrading them to Windows 7 while it's still available.

Killraven

Re: "13 years. 13 years. 13 years is far too long to expect support."

@Peter

While I applaud your repair vs replace attitude, according to Microsoft if you replace the motherboard then it is no longer "the same computer" and your license for that OEM version of Windows is no longer valid.

Democrats introduce net neutrality legislation in Senate and House

Killraven

Re: consumer?

"Really? Sure of that are you? Seems to me I'm a content creator, not merely a consumer. So, um, GTFO my internet."

Then, as a creator, this thread of the conversation is not about you at all. Troll elsewhere.

Killraven

Re: passage

"These bills are typical for the Democrats, that feel the need to control every thing. If they get their way, everyone will have slow internet and investment will dry up."

You're funny, and terribly wrong, seeing as how not having net neutrality gives ISPs free reign to throttle your connection into oblivion and zero incentive to invest in anything. By forcing ISPs to be neutral in who their customers are connecting to, incentives to improve service are still there in order to keep the customer-base happy.

The internet is basically three components: Consumers, ISPs, and Data. The purpose of the ISP is to connect the other two, indiscriminately.

Killraven

Re: consumer?

In relation to the internet, we are consumers. In relation to our ISPs, we are customers. The usage of consumer, phrased as it is in this case, is correct.

Boffins demo re-usable paper and waterjet printers

Killraven

In the first place, why?

If said document will fade away in less than one day, then why did it need to be printed in the first place? Isn't this what e-mail is for?

Bonk to enter: Starwood Hotels testing keyless check-in via mobe

Killraven

Skeptical, but interested.

Definite potential for people traveling alone, but it will be interesting to see how it's adapted to handle groups and families. One potential issue I see is with fraud. Way too easy to change identification information on the device, and check in using stolen/unauthorized credit cards.

I work in the hotel industry, so I am very interested to see how this works out.

Killraven

Re: How secure is it?

Actually, with mechanical keys, hotels never switched out locks, and it was simply not possible to track "lost" keys. My first job out of high school was as a bellman for a 250 rm. Holiday Inn. One of my misc. duties during slow periods was to go cut new keys for rooms that our inventory was low on. The ultimate goal was to have six keys for every room at the front desk, and another ten down in the key room. Each month hundreds of keys would never be returned by customers and the only time a lock was replaced was if it physically stopped working.

Getting a swipe key (mag. strip) is not too difficult, people leave them laying around hotels all the time, especially pool areas and vending machines. If you have the capability to read and write them, most need nothing more than to update the time stamp in the data to access the original room the key was made for. The keys mostly function using nothing more than a room number and time stamp. The door lock holds the most recent time stamp used in memory and no key with an older stamp is allowed entry.

'Netflix bitch': CEO of vid-streaming site taunts HBO chief over results

Killraven

89% is over-rated

>>> "the one that doesn't do YouTube", and hence very unattractive indeed. With 89 per cent of Americans having a choice of two broadband suppliers <<<

That second supplier in the equation is almost always aDSL, which can't hold near the bandwidth required to stream HD, though it is slowly improving. For example, in my urban area, the majority of aDSL is still limited to a mere 1.5 Mb connection, and a small number of subscribers are starting to see upgrades to 7.5 Mb. That'll work, unless you have other people in the house also trying to stream, or playing online games.

AMD's 'Revolution' will be televised ... if its CPU-GPU frankenchip Kaveri is a hit

Killraven

Re: graphics? buy a graphics card

>>> Are you that far removed from computer technology? They do not put GPUs on motherboard chipsets anymore. Duh... <<<

At this moment, NewEgg offers 39 motherboards with motherboard-based GPUs. Granted a bunch of those are models that are more than a year old, but it's far from a dead market.

Killraven

Re: graphics? buy a graphics card

" If you are using a laptop for games then theres something wring with you."

Must be something wrong with millions of students who use their laptops for games, instead of trying to cram a couple more desktops into their dorm rooms. Not to mention limited budgets. Or people that have to travel a lot, and not being quite willing to haul their desktop along with them on flights.

How about the cost of power, straight juice or air-conditioning? My latest home build PC uses an AMD APU that allows me to play games quite happily at higher graphics settings and decent frame rates, but only requires a 250 watt power supply. It runs nice and cool, rather than heating up the room.

Mystery 'doughnut' materializes in front of Mars rover: 'OH MY GOD! It wasn't there before!'

Killraven

Gravity?

Perchance, is there a nearly hill from which it might have rolled down?

Killraven

Re: Like, oh my god!

All the credibility of journalists/bloggers/hacks who translate as "about the size of a jelly doughnut" to "jelly doughnut materializes".

FCC net neutrality blueprint TRASHED by US appeals court

Killraven

Re: @Trevor_Pott: What have you been smoking?

"Looking at your posting history you seem to mention Somalia a lot. Did you expect a round of applause here? Do you usually get one?"

Perhaps Somalia is mentioned a lot, because you're allowed to use a good example more than one time?

Coffee a memory enhancing drug, say boffins

Killraven

More Crap Headlines...

"See!" says me mum, "Coffee is good for your memory and I've just got back from buying a shipping pallets worth!"

"But mum!" says I, "the study says that CAFFEINE is beneficial, and you bought decaf coffee because of your heart problems."

Say's mum: "%$(&*%@ bloggers!"

ANYONE on Google+ can now email you, with or without your Gmail addy

Killraven

They've been doing it for ages and it drives me flippin' bonkers. It literally (and I don't mean figuratively) cuts my reading speed 90%. It's rather like trying to do those little puzzles where names or phrases are done in pictures. It's also why I loathe texting shorthand.

Killraven

Re: In answer to that question

Ditto that "no". Can't say that I've ever started typing out an e-mail without first filling out the "To:" and "Subject:" areas.

Scientists discover supervolcano trigger that could herald humanity's doom

Killraven

Re: I think the scale has eluded you.

Also keep in mind that the Yellowstone Supervolcano was partly discovered via a 1-meter layer of ash that covered Nebraska. A tish more than 10 km distant.

The Pirate Bay changes domain again … TWICE!

Killraven

Re: They're in an interesting battle...

Perhaps it's just the entertainment value?

Pirate Bay ties up in Peru

Killraven

Re: These pirates are thieves, not 'leftists'

"and whether they understand the seriousness of piracy for those that are affected by it."

According to multiple studies, in multiple countries, the seriousness of piracy is that it INCREASES legitimate sales.

You have a problem with that?

HOLD THE PHONE, NSA! Judge bans 'Orwellian' US cellphone records slurp

Killraven

Re: AC @ 23:44

"Unconstitutional is not the same as illegal."

When pertaining to government actions, unconstitutional is the ultimate illegal.

The real follow-up to this though, if it stands after appeal upon appeal, needs to be the booting from office of all of those who made statements to the effect of "it's okay to violate the constitution if it's for our protection".

We're not destroying the music biz: Spotify

Killraven

Re: Harder to make a living?

@Psyx

I totally agree, but only 20 years ago (i.e., pre-internet) these "guys who are already short of cash" had pretty much zero alternatives to local performances. Now they can still do their local performing while supplementing their income via outlets like Spotify. An new revenue source PLUS the ability to reach a worldwide audience for potential sales and performance opportunities. HOW is this a bad thing?

Killraven

Harder to make a living?

Just what sort of income is Spotify keeping artists from earning? Just because performers aren't getting as much as they want, doesn't mean their getting less than they deserve.

US Supreme Court says 'no sale' to Amazon's New York sales tax appeal

Killraven

Affiliate Program is the Problem

If Amazon would set up their Affiliate program to instead treat themselves as a distributor, and their "affiliates" as simple customers to them, then the affiliates would be the end-seller and therefore responsible for collecting all sales taxes.

That doesn't resolve Amazon's concern that the customer sees sales tax as part of the end cost, which makes it more difficult to compete with local stores, but it does eliminate the costs related to collecting and distributing sales tax monies on State-County-City levels.

Windows 7 outstrips Windows 8.x with small November growth

Killraven

Re: Not pleasant reading for Redmond

@JEDIDIAH

>> What distribution offers 10+ years of support at a price lower than Windows?

>You only need that support because you would be like a bound and gagged gimp left alone in the bad part of town otherwise.

I don't know anybody that's actually called Microsoft for support, with the exception of having to phone in for Activation/Licensing issues. Now, since support was the only thing you disputed, out of several reasons given why Linux is rather pointless in this discussion, under what circumstances will the average user ever consider Linux over Windows? The reality of life is that for 99%+ of users, the only debate in desktop operating systems is still Mac vs PC, and even there Mac is still a (growing) niche market.

REVEALED: How YOU PAY extra for iPHONES - even if you DON'T HAVE ONE

Killraven

I don't. Neither do more than 40% of the world population.

BOFH: Resistance is futile - we're missing BEER O'CLOCK

Killraven

I beg to differ!

Dueling Banjos played on bagpipes is bloody brilliant!

Firefox reveals new look: rounded rectangles

Killraven

Tabs on bottom...

Is there any other browser that supports keeping your tab bar directly above the web page? Tabs-On-Bottom is the only thing that's been keeping me on FireFox.

Killraven

Re: Extensions

The add-on bar is slated for complete removal, which is sheer idiocy IMHO.

Killraven

Because if I mistype a web address I don't want to get a stream of useless, and unrelated, search data back?

Google coughs up $17m to end Safari STALKER COOKIE brouhaha

Killraven

Precedent?

I am curious if this might have any potential effect on all those companies that said they would ignore any "Don't Track Me" settings within browsers?

How d'ya make a JPMorgan banker cry? Ask him questions on Twitter

Killraven

Re: That's weird.

It's a sub-category of self-preservation, filed under ego. The big read stamps reads "Don't bite the hand that feeds you articles."

Canadian teens cuffed over alleged Snapchat child sex pics ring

Killraven

Re: Child facing child pornography charges?

"That's exactly the point, it isn't regardless of age. If they had all been adults, it wouldn't have been a crime. Shitty thing to do, but not criminal."

Except that in more and more areas this sort of thing IS being made a crime when only adults are involved. It's acknowledging the wrongness of distributing naked images of somebody, without their permission, regardless of how they were obtained. Key word there: distribution. It's not (necessarily) about simple possession.

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