Just to pick up on the fingerprint system idea, they don't make that blip as they search through every file (and good grief am I glad about that). We can get a ping on a hit if we want, as in just about any other software for doing anything ever, but the search gets shifted to my / one of my colleagues screens then anyway, so there's not really much point unless your "afk".

Not a "CSI" btw, just a lowly fingerprint tech, £16k a year if your curious.

It's quite interesting that the blipping in films / tv programs is essentially acceptable and useful as a tool to convey an edgy tech setup. I wonder what will denote this in the future.

What he's doing is completely legal. Quite how much money he makes would be interesting to see, anyone buying a 3d package would surely do a small amount of research. Law of averages will prevail I suppose.

He's been doing this for ages, and does it with various other software packages.

You should go down to the bookies and put all the money you have on that. You'll probably only get odds of something like 44/50, but at least you'll profit a bit.

Out of curiosity, do all broadband suppliers have different contracts or is there a standard in what you buy vs. what you end up getting after a few months?

For example, if I get an "unlimited" (that word can't go without inverted commas when related to broadband) package, but end up a few months later with a revised cap, can I cancel the contract or am I still bound by a "we can change this at any time" clause?

In my opnion, all online profile pictures should be run through a recapture type system to weed out that bizarre duck face phenomenon. Why do people do it?????????

That's an interesting point, what are the legalities when it comes to using these machines? I understand that even now you can be kicked out of a casino for counting cards on traditional black jack, but theres no law against it.

Does anyone know how far someone can take a slot machine exploit before it becomes illegal?

Has anyone made the wireless hotspot joke yet?

Yes, the courts apply copyright law, but that's not the point. Here, don't copy this string:

lksndf098sdfjn23409fgjnvdclkr098245n

I sell that string for 20 English pence, and if you ctrl+c and ctrl+v and don't pay me, thats piracy. And you don't even get a tasty chicken dinner or a box of cakes for your trip to court.

English for calling in sick, and the language of love to try and persuade the missus to make me a full english.

Yuo just made the common mistake of comparing copying software to actually stealing property.

The PC gaming market remains huge despite "piracy", and many people, myself included, are more than happy to pay for a well made and enjoyable software product.

Due to the unfinished and broken nature of a lot of games, and no demos or shareware to allow people to try before they buy, makes software piracy a tool for many, not just a source of getting free stuff.

I don't consider it sad in the slightest. Buying a little pet lizard in an MMO for £5... now that perhaps is a little sad.

.. it's quite often cheaper that the download equivalent. Even Valve releases are generally cheaper retail than they are on Steam (in the UK at least).

Also in other cases (eg Mount and Blade Warband) localised tax, for example VAT here in the UK), adds too much to make it viable to make an online direct download purchase. For me it would have been circa £26 download, whereas online hard copy on play.com (other websites are available) it cost £18.