The Hopeful Bargain Hunter and The Broken Record

[Geek King]

..a LOT of corporate places are refusing to upgrade to Vista, and even the US Government has banned it on Federal systems.

Actually, government-wise, this is likely do to the woefully behind-the-times programs the government insists on using. As someone who used to work on a major program in use by the government, I can't begin to describe the convultions we had to put the code through to work on XP when the government finally decided they wanted to upgrade to their operating systems. They did not want to shell out cash for a new write of the program using modern methods, so we were basically updating a 20-year old COBOL program of about 750k lines (split into many, many functions, thank god). I can't imagine that will work on Vista without major re-writes, and that is a common issue with government use software. The cost for (officially) upgrading will likely put it off for several years.

[Imogene]

convultions

Huh? Convulsions, perhaps? You know, struggling?
Or convolutions, which is 'twists', I think.
Going off context, I'd be willing to peg it as convolutions.

[HawaiianShirts]

Stores aren't forbidden from selling XP anymore, it's just that they're not being sent XP anymore. It seems that microsoft stopped producing XP. As such, by default, the new machines all have Vista on them.

That's exactly it. In fact, the manufacturers stopped sending us XP computers three weeks before Vista released. We actually had four whole days where we had no computers to sell because all the XP systems had sold and the Vista ones were being held for the release date. That was a fun week.

[Tanasi]

Actually, government-wise, this is likely do to the woefully behind-the-times programs the government insists on using. As someone who used to work on a major program in use by the government, I can't begin to describe the convultions we had to put the code through to work on XP when the government finally decided they wanted to upgrade to their operating systems. They did not want to shell out cash for a new write of the program using modern methods, so we were basically updating a 20-year old COBOL program of about 750k lines (split into many, many functions, thank god). I can't imagine that will work on Vista without major re-writes, and that is a common issue with government use software. The cost for (officially) upgrading will likely put it off for several years.

I make a lot of money updating old COBOL programs. There's nothing wrong with them and if they still work why change? Usually it's not the cost of the software but the conversion of the data structures, the debugging process, documentation, and training of the drones. Besides you don't have a real program until you pass a million lines of code.
The problem with MS os is that they are eliminating some commands and functions that aren't used anymore.

[Ackee]

Me: I understand that, sir. That's why I'm suggesting you custom order your computer. If you absolutely have to have XP and cannot use Vista, then I can't help you. I have no computers that will fit your needs.
BR: So where are your XP systems?
Me: I don't have any.
BR: You're out?
Me: Yes. I'm out.
BR: When will you be getting more?
Me: Never.
BR: Okay. I'll come back in a couple of weeks then.

I can't wait.

Classic. I can taste of the lime jello of defeat.

[CorDarei]

i know this is going to be moderated so it probably won't be seen for a while..

but as far as the complaint about the way vista is being pronounced all i have to say is this:


po-tay-toe, po-tah-to.

to each their own. I actually use both pronunciations interchangably

[MadMike]

i know this is going to be moderated so it probably won't be seen for a while..

Wait... you mean to tell me you actually read that? I didn't think anyone did.

Seriously, we've seen quite a few "Why aren't my posts showing up" questions since we started moderating new users.

[purplecat41877]

Mad Mike (or any of the moderators/adminstrators), in the sections where all posts are moderated like the Jokes forum, it lets me know that the post needs to be approved first. Wouldn't it be the same for new members and moderated posters?

[Ree]

in the sections where all posts are moderated...it lets me know that the post needs to be approved first. Wouldn't it be the same for new members and moderated posters?

Yes, it is the same, purplecat, but unfortunately, not everyone seems to be able to see it, or the notice on the site explaining that new posts are moderated for a certain period.

I don't know why.

[CorDarei]

Wait... you mean to tell me you actually read that? I didn't think anyone did.

Seriously, we've seen quite a few "Why aren't my posts showing up" questions since we started moderating new users.

yes, i read EULAs (well, when they're short :P)

noticed that it said posts would be moderated..


as far as SCs go, i like to call them FI's cos the ones i normally deal with are not the brightest bulb in the batch. thankfully i haven't had to deal with one in a while, but when i do, it usually is a brain exploder similar to the guy in the OP.

[Andara Bledin]

For those wondering about the moderation for new users:

If you post a thread or click Post Reply or go to the Advanced response form, then you get the message about your post being moderated.

If, like me, you almost never do any of those things and just click the button to post a Quick Reply, you never get a message regarding your posts being moderated.

I was confused the first time I ran into it, but not enough to actually bother someone over it, since I had read that it would be happening.

^-.-^

[CorDarei]

so... uh... sorry to be so off topic... but how long does this moderation thing last?

is it a set # of posts, or is it moderator induced? (i.e. they can turn it off once they realize i'm not an insane poster)

[Ree]

The exact criteria is kept private for a reason.

If someone came here to stir up trouble, and they knew that after X number of posts, or X number of days or hours or weeks, X number of posts in a particular forum, or anything else that might be required, they would come off moderation, how difficult would it be for them to wait it out and then stir the pot?

Perhaps it's possible for us to approve once we know the member isn't an "insane poster" or perhaps the member just has to wait it out.
Again, that would be giving too much away and would, in the end, defeat the purpose of the probationary period.

I hope you understand.

[Freemage]

Heh. I was wondering that, myself, when I was in moderation. However, given the nature of the Forum, and the vaguaries of teh Innerwebnets, it's not surprising you've learned a bit of caution.

[CorDarei]

<snip>

yah, i read that after i posted. Kinda curious to see what happened in the old days if this is now in place :P