(+) Starbucks

A little too much negativity here, so I thought a quick plus post was in order. I love Starbucks. For years I avoided them as an evil corporate entity, but I have changed my tune. Not only are they at least making an effort to be globally conscious by offering fair wages to coffee growers, but their products are good, their stores are comfortable and well-appointed, and in general their employees appear to me (and tell me they are) very happy working for Starbucks.

I used to drink Tim Horton's coffee, but don't now. I suspect they keep their prices down by totally exploiting the coffee growers. Starbucks coffee is just better, probably because you can't taste the blood of the peasants in it.

(-) HP, Dell, Toshiba, Sony, Gateway, etc.

Yes, all of these manufactures get a nice big minus sign. Want to buy a new notebook? Can't/won't run Microsoft Vista? Too bad if Vista comes pre-installed. All these manufacturers have done a deal with the devil, a.k.a. Microsoft, to pull their XP drivers. Microsoft desperately wants to see full adoption of Vista, and I speculate the company hasforced makers to pull the XP drivers to ensure compliance. I suspect this is the case because for years after the release of XP most makers continued to offer easy web access to drivers for Windows 2000, and even Windows 98. What's so different now?

For those who do not wish to run Vista until Microsoft works out its many bugs (and then introduces a host of new ones in Service Pack 1), you're out of luck. For those who have no choice, e.g., at the office where I buy and support the computers we use SAP Business One, which won't even run on Vista, it's an utter nightmare. How can we do business if we can't buy machines that will run the OS we must use?

I was able to get drivers from HP by going through a live chat with a tech, who sent me links to the drivers. I've heard Toshiba will also release drivers (which they initially claim do not exist) if you pester their techs sufficiently. My advice: pester, pester, pester! Be a complete nuisance to these jerks for the bad deal they made with Microsoft. Also, let me say: screw you Microsoft! (Sorry, just had to let that out.)

I'll also go on record to say I will not buy any computer that does not readily support XP. Purchasers, make the same declaration! Let's hit the fools who made this decision where it hurts.

More here.

Did I mention I use a Macintosh at home? So should you.