Would you pay $18 month for a warm butt?…. 
 

https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/12/23204950/bmw-subscriptions-microtransactions-heated-seats-feature

16 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

These days, I would never subscribe to any products from Microsoft, for example, such as Office.

I have Office 2007 (and 2010) which I never update) and about a couple of months ago they stopped working (I expect as a process to get me to update to office 365 - NO CHANCE). I use Libre Office - a learning curve but very similar to Office.

Similarly my GPS (SYGIC) offers me an "update" to premium for a very low price but I know if I bite that will be an annual subscription as opposed to my "lifetime" purchase for my original product and who knows what the next years "subscription" will be - I have asked but no answer.

I understand these companies have to make profits but now they want me to pay for their mistakes.

14 minutes ago, Negita43 said:

I have Office 2007 (and 2010) which I never update) and about a couple of months ago they stopped working (I expect as a process to get me to update to office 365 - NO CHANCE). I use Libre Office - a learning curve but very similar to Office.

Similarly my GPS (SYGIC) offers me an "update" to premium for a very low price but I know if I bite that will be an annual subscription as opposed to my "lifetime" purchase for my original product and who knows what the next years "subscription" will be - I have asked but no answer.

I understand these companies have to make profits but now they want me to pay for their mistakes.

you can activate office for free (later versions as well). https://massgrave.dev/

58 minutes ago, jaywalker2 said:

you can activate office for free (later versions as well). https://massgrave.dev/

Thanks for the link doesn't appear to support 2007 or 2010 which I have genuine licenses for but does supply url for 2016 download so I will give it a try tomorrow

Thanks again

I have Youtube, ThaiPod and New York Magazine. And Morningstar and Seeking Alpha for investing.

 

No to streaming services. I might get bored and cycle through Netflix and Hulu and then drop them at some point.

 

I share a password on Criterion Films. I passed on Spotify. Youtube has more music than I can ever hope to listen to.

16 hours ago, novacova said:

Downloading MS products off of torrents and goofy hacks isn’t necessary to getting around paying for MS software 

 

MS is garbage.

Why should I care about goofy MS hacks?

Just use Linux, and all will be well.

No stress.

 

Also, MS Office?

How do you use your goofy hacks to download and use Office, including MS Word????

 

 

In my past life I have never paid a subscription online to anything. And in my future life I never will. If anything demands subscription I just do without it. 

 

Of more concern to me is the free apps which are becoming more and more invasive. The model now is not to tempt the viewer with useful ad-ons but to irritate the life out of us with longer and longer unstoppable ads until we relent. That and re-directs that take you to another site like Lazada. 

 

I've ditched so many apps recently. 

5 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

MS is garbage.

That is your personal opinion.

Some software will not function on anything but a MS OS. Been using for research since the 80’s and still use it without any problems. Your Linux is limited and cannot come close to being able to handle the cross platform software I’ve used. Just use what works best for you, no sense in hyping up or cutting down, it appears to have a lack of understanding.

19 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Just use Linux, and all will be well.

No stress.

Not true I am afraid - massive learning curve

The point for me is this - I had licensed copies of office 2007 and 2010 and yet it seems Microsoft have stopped them being functional (and yes I know Microsoft's overbearing license terms) BUT it's sharp practise because they want to increase their profits - no other reason and don't give me the "security" arguement that's my risk and I am willing to take it.

The subscription process started years ago without most folks not even knowing it.

 

HP started it by basically giving away free inkjet printers and then making their revenue by charging an 'arm & leg' for a refill cartridge. 

Just now, dingdongrb said:

HP started it by basically giving away free inkjet printers and then making their revenue by charging an 'arm & leg' for a refill cartridge. 

That's a well known ploy for all printer manufacturers but there are many ways round it.

47 minutes ago, Negita43 said:

That's a well known ploy for all printer manufacturers but there are many ways round it.

Sure it's well known now but when it first started not many was one the wiser.... That strategy was the forerunner for the subscription process used today by nearly everyone who can.

 

NOTE: There's many ways around everything if you dig hard enough to learn them.....  streaming, SW apps, OS licensing.....and heaven forbid, even how to get a Thai Visa Extension without having the required money in the bank...... 😁

 

 

1 hour ago, dingdongrb said:

The subscription process started years ago without most folks not even knowing it.

 

HP started it by basically giving away free inkjet printers and then making their revenue by charging an 'arm & leg' for a refill cartridge. 

 

Yes.

And then....

HP Laser Jets became junk in storage as soon as the laserjet cartridge and fuser was used up, the first time.

 

 

4 hours ago, dingdongrb said:

around

I'm English!!!

Americans may have stolen and adulterated my language but I shall speak it as I was taught.

The prepositions around and round are often used interchangeably to describe enclosure or movement in a circular path, yet subtle differences exist in their usage. Around is more commonly accepted in American English as the go-to term for such situations, implying a more precise or metaphorical circuit. Conversely, round tends to be a more casual or colloquial form used primarily in British English, implying movement or a location in a generally circular shape.

 

I still subscribe to some, but have cut back as much as I can. Still another couple that I am planning to get rid of as I think I can either do without, or find a free, or paid for version of something similar.

 

A case in point is 1Password, a password manager. I paid for it, then it got some big investors and took on lots of staff. started being subscription. So I found another password manager (Enpass) that is just as good, that offered a one time payment, lifetime version.

 

 

20 minutes ago, Negita43 said:

I'm English!!!

Americans may have stolen and adulterated my language but I shall speak it as I was taught.

The prepositions around and round are often used interchangeably to describe enclosure or movement in a circular path, yet subtle differences exist in their usage. Around is more commonly accepted in American English as the go-to term for such situations, implying a more precise or metaphorical circuit. Conversely, round tends to be a more casual or colloquial form used primarily in British English, implying movement or a location in a generally circular shape.

 

 

And, round the mulberry bush we go.

 

5 hours ago, dingdongrb said:

HP started it by basically giving away free inkjet printers and then making their revenue by charging an 'arm & leg' for a refill cartridge. 

I think the idea started with low cost razors with detachable heads first one cheap then....

2 minutes ago, Negita43 said:

I think the idea started with low cost razors with detachable heads first one cheap then....

yeah that.

 

I buy mach 3.. handle with 2 blades for 199.

 

refill blades are 320 for 3.

 

whats up with that ?

1 hour ago, Ralf001 said:

whats up with that ?

Nothing now but the concept is still there - special offer to suck you in and then you are hooked into their "subscription"

24 minutes ago, Negita43 said:

Nothing now but the concept is still there - special offer to suck you in and then you are hooked into their "subscription"

 

you're not hooked, just cancel, it's not difficult.

 

what such companies rely on is people forgetting, or being disorganised, or lacking the basic ability to cancel. i've never had a problem. enough said.

On 12/21/2024 at 6:45 PM, GammaGlobulin said:

Most writers are bad writers, these days, and I do not want to mention names, here)

I will...GammaGlobulin.

On 12/21/2024 at 7:20 PM, jas007 said:

I finally gave up and cancelled the credit card that they were charging every month.

 

Yes.

This happens far more in places like China.

So many have had to cancel credit cards, multiple times.

These days, everyone fears clicking on a subscription.

 

9 hours ago, Negita43 said:

I'm English!!!

Who gives a chit?

The only subscription i have is spotify. It costs 200 baht per month, bought in Thailand 

5 hours ago, dingdongrb said:

Who gives a chit?

It wasn't me who tried to correct my spelling it was you - so clearly you do. Bet you are a Trump acolyte

On 12/21/2024 at 9:59 AM, KhunLA said:

Except for some invaluable info, freedom of speech, real news instead of MSM's lies, the world would be a better place without the internet.

the world would be a better place without the internet.

 

Fixed it for you.

 

Humans survived for 50,000 years without the internet.

Life may be simpler without 100,000 responses to a google search, but do we really need 100,000 responses to anything.

Some of us would miss porn at a click, but we might get off our backsides and have a life if the internet didn't exist. I can even remember life before the internet, social media, porn at a click, ability to steal movies and music, etc. It was pretty good.

21 hours ago, Negita43 said:

The point for me is this - I had licensed copies of office 2007 and 2010 and yet it seems Microsoft have stopped them being functional (and yes I know Microsoft's overbearing license terms) BUT it's sharp practise because they want to increase their profits - no other reason and don't give me the "security" arguement that's my risk and I am willing to take it.

I still use 7 and like it more than 10, which I'm using here. Hopefully I can get by without 11. MS is just a vile rip off organisation that managed to corner the market, for most computer users.

1 hour ago, Negita43 said:

Bet you are a Trump acolyte

Is that the best you can do?   .......and I bet your mommy helped you think of that.

On 12/21/2024 at 6:45 PM, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Another word for this is PAY WALL.

But, the idiots running these newspapers do not understand that PAYWALLs are actually counterproductive.

I think I uploaded an article weeks back which supported this reality.

 

So, you are correct:  Just move on until these pay-walls go away.

(probably not worth your time, to read, anyway. Most writers are bad writers, these days, and I do not want to mention names, here)

 

 

 

But I kind of like these paywalls on some sights. I agree they are def counterproductive. So when I take a glance at CNN and Fox News for example you can only read two or three articles at most in full. It's great they are biased , I move on. CNN the most biased.