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Europe's Parliament called on the Commission, Member States and producers Tuesday to take measures to ensure consumers can enjoy durable, high-quality products that can be repaired and upgraded. On a related note, anyone have a spare Torx screwdriver? And one of those weird five pointed ones. And a spudger. Thanks in advance.
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Seemingly the EU is hell bent on destroying all vestiges of a free market where consumers decide (with their money) which products succeed and which products fail. 
In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. ~ Ronald Reagan
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..in a free market, my medication would be cheaper; in a free market, one would need freedom of currency - any country with a central bank is not a free market.
And no, you cannot always vote with your wallet. There will not be a second railroad-track that does the exact same route to compete on the price.
Bastard Programmer from Hell 
If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
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Gee... you're right. Let's allow politicians to design our smartphones and applications. What could possibly go wrong?
Eddy Vluggen wrote: And no, you cannot always vote with your wallet. There will not be a second railroad-track that does the exact same route to compete on the price.
I'll be sure to remember that the next time I'm in the market for a railroad-track.
In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. ~ Ronald Reagan
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Mike Mullikin wrote: Gee... you're right. Let's allow politicians to design our smartphones and applications. What could possibly go wrong?
I did not make that claim.
Just pointing out the nonsense that voting with your wallet isn't, even in a truly free market. Enough people under a (software) vendor-lockin that cannot vote anymore.
Mike Mullikin wrote: I'll be sure to remember that the next time I'm in the market for a railroad-track.
You don't have to; if you need a train (as a customer), you will have only one (count them: 1) choice. You go ahead and vote with your wallet on that one +)
Bastard Programmer from Hell
If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
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Eddy Vluggen wrote: I did not make that claim.
Did you read the article? Because it's pretty clear that they're talking about consumer electronics.
Eddy Vluggen wrote: You don't have to; if you need a train (as a customer), you will have only one (count them: 1) choice.
That's not what the EU is asking for. The article specifically stated consumer "tangible goods and software".
Not access to public transportation.
In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. ~ Ronald Reagan
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Mike Mullikin wrote: Did you read the article? Because it's pretty clear that they're talking about consumer electronics.
I was not reacting to the article, but your post.
Mike Mullikin wrote: That's not what the EU is asking for. The article specifically stated consumer "tangible goods and software".
Same principles apply.
Bastard Programmer from Hell
If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
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Eddy Vluggen wrote: I was not reacting to the article, but your post.
But my post was specifically about the article - not every aspect of consumerism and the economy.
I understand that the government has a place in some aspects of certain product regulations. Food & medicine quality, transportation safety, etc... I just think it's ridiculous when they stick their bloated bureaucratic hands into consumer electronics and consumer software design. Sheesh!
In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. ~ Ronald Reagan
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Mike Mullikin wrote: But my post was specifically about the article - not every aspect of consumerism and the economy.
You generalized in your post 
Mike Mullikin wrote: I understand that the government has a place in some aspects of certain product regulations. Food & medicine quality, transportation safety, etc... I just think it's ridiculous when they stick their bloated bureaucratic hands into consumer electronics and consumer software design. Sheesh!
I can only hope and pray that they will enforce data-security; as is, most companies don't invest in the security of their data, since it only costs money and does not add to the profit. As long as there is no financial incentive to protect their data, they won't. Same goes for the internet of thingies and stuffs; heart-regulators that can be hacked should not be sold.
..then, with the EU being that institute it is, they won't focus on that. They'll focus on money - without reading the article, I'm going to guess that they'll fine whomever doesn't follow their rules. With MS and Google being the prime target.
You read it; did I guess right?
Bastard Programmer from Hell
If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
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Eddy Vluggen wrote: You read it; did I guess right?
No. They were responding to a 3 year old survey that says ~70% of Europeans want to be able to repair their own products rather buy new. They specifically mention batteries and displays that are glued in rather then screwed in. They didn't mention data security at all.
However, as we are all well aware if consumers are using old hardware with it's old software to access their data then security is out the window. So by the "law of unintended consequences" the EU will actually reduce data security if they get their wish. 
In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. ~ Ronald Reagan
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Mike Mullikin wrote: displays that are glued in rather then screwed in. They didn't mention data security at all.
Yes, they're not stupid. Lots of people complaining about the way the lifetime of a product is undermined. Most people would consider that to be some form of fraud, and there is no way you can "vote" your way out of that with your wallet.
Mike Mullikin wrote: So by the "law of unintended consequences" the EU will actually reduce data security if they get their wish.
Color me surprised.
The good thing is that all these fails are leaving scars
Bastard Programmer from Hell
If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
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Eddy Vluggen wrote: there is no way you can "vote" your way out of that with your wallet.
Sure there is. When the first manufacturer started the practice you avoid it like the plague and do so vocally. Even now where all of the manufacturers are doing it you start grass roots efforts to sway them. Threaten boycotts. Work with the manufacturers directly.
Using the sledgehammer of government regulation is a sure fire way to get an overreaction and ultimately kill innovation.
In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. ~ Ronald Reagan
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Mike Mullikin wrote: Sure there is. When the first manufacturer started the practice you avoid it like the plague and do so vocally.
Imagine you have a company with lots of computers. You don't have the time to check out whether the monitor-manufacturer glues or screws; you just find out when half of the monitors need be repaired.
Now go vote, or get out with the voting-nonsense.
Mike Mullikin wrote: Using the sledgehammer of government regulation is a sure fire way to get an overreaction and ultimately kill innovation.
With pharmacy being the most regulated industry, one can simply point out that regulations do not kill (the purchase of government funded) research.
As for innovation, that is another nonsense-term that can go directly to the trash-bin.
Bastard Programmer from Hell
If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
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Eddy Vluggen wrote: You don't have the time to check out whether the monitor-manufacturer glues or screws;
Caveat emptor.
Eddy Vluggen wrote: As for innovation, that is another nonsense-term that can go directly to the trash-bin.
Human history proves otherwise but feel free to dismiss anything your nanny state discourages.
In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. ~ Ronald Reagan
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HumbleNet started out as a project at Humble Bundle in 2015 to support an initiative to port peer-to-peer multiplayer games at first to asm.js and now to WebAssembly. Because we all want our browsers opening various connections to assorted servers
I thought that was how we got into trouble in the past?
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What is it with people’s behavior online? Why the readiness to attack, the snarky tone, the lack of courtesy inherent to so many comments? Yeah, what is it with all the snark and crankiness online?
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Oh, yeah? Well Bob you, you bobbing Bob!
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Considering how prevalent trolls are online, that's legitimately worrying that psychopathy and low affective empathy are common traits of trolls 
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Two words: "anonymity;" "frustration."
«Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and it may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye.» Miss Piggy
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I would add "envy" and/or "minimal self-confidence" to that list
M.D.V. 
If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about?
Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you
Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.
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Bing is perceived as many things, but successful has never been one of them. It's amazing how well you can do when you set yourself as a default option
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I just see it as full-screen -- how much bigger could it be?
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It means you need to buy a bigger monitor. There, you have my permission.
TTFN - Kent
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Monitors are like women. Do you really want one huge one? Or a few mid-sized ones? 
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