Great to see the debate widening and the effectiveness of the junking within mail clients across all systems confirmed by users.
Mac the Knife's point regarding dial up users is well taken. Strip it out while on the server. However, you'll note that the tangent I take on just about all subjects on this, a specialised forum, is speaking on behalf of 'average Joe.'
I do this partly by inclination - I hate to see computer users becoming tech fashion victims - but mainly through my experience of running the site. My daily admin postbag is dominated by the problems of average PPRuNe Users. They often don't even know how to cut and paste let alone keep their system security updated along with virus definitions. They are utterly baffled by cookies and have never knowingly downloaded anything in their lives.
One of my jobs here is to keep the experts honest - to prevent this forum from straying for too long into boffin/extreme computing territory. The net is overwhelmed by specialist forums that go way up into the rarified tech-heads' stratosphere.
This forum isn't for that and never has been.
I'm always stirring it just to find the simplest, cheapest and most straightforward route to achieving a succesful integrated system for PPRuNers. Hardware, software, printers, cameras, scanners. Pull up my posts on this forum - the approach is totally consistent ever since it started. I write for the 99% who don't download things, who wouldn't hack their registry other than to save their firstborn and who get constantly ripped off not just by marketeers and crap sales people but most of all from keen, knowledgeable and very helpful enthusiasts
This is primarily a First Aid Station for PPRuNers with problems and queries. I'd have to step in far less often if our resident experts bore the real audience in mind. The person who has bought a mass market machine just to get on the net and do e-mail but is tentatively, very tentatively dipping their toe into the mysterious and often worrying waters of upgrading, networking, imaging and music.
I hope our aces will at least consider this and perhaps think of some of my rules of thumb. If someone
doesn't spend at least 80% of their time gaming or simulating what possible use can they have for a 2+ghz cpu and a high end video card??? When someone posts a tightly specified query (cost and spec) on a digital camera why did it only go for a couple of hours before we were launched into flights of fancy regarding 3, 4 and 5 mb cameras and their supposed merits. In that case Mac the Knife's emminently sensible and professional reply was trampled underfoot by the male jewelry brigade. Luckily the original poster stayed focussed but important point is a lot of other lurkers are always reading as well.
Sum Up: The vast majority of PPRuNers don't want to or can't download executable solutions. Remember, Microsoft themselves only acknowledge an
11% adoption of their updates. It's childsplay to you but unnerving to them. Please read that again - the average PPRuNer is in the 89% bracket, not your part................
The tech advice here is to a very high standard but the buying and practicality advice is dominated either by those who regard computers as an engaging and engrossing hobby which they fund accordingly or by pro's who spec and buy gear but don't pay for it out of their own after tax income.
As it's an aviation site lets put it this way: Much of this forum's advice can be compared to a student pilot being told that their 152 is useless - what they reall y need is a LearJet
Regards to all
Rob
PS - If you'd like to rebut or take issue with my thoughts please do me the courtesy of pulling up my posts for the last year - my approach is consistent even if you don't find yourself in agreement. On the subject of my Mac bias you'll have to counter this: I built and supplied PC's for 15 years and the phone still rings with queries and problems. I know that many of you are in the same situation with people you've helped. Doesn't happen with Macs - barring hardware failure it's that simple.
Anyway - about that spam
