Yup - except we don't have states in New Zealand. Or counties - unless you count Counties-Manukau, which is a Region.

We do have Government Departments, and Microsoft will have to go after each one, like any other vendor. That means tendering and the like. I imagine that many solutions will be provided by big vendors such as Gen-i and IBM. There are plenty of folk around to support roll outs.

Lobbyists get relatively little influence over here as well - they can be involved in the process like anybody else, but it is pretty transparent. The OSS folk are pretty good and pretty influential here - here's hoping they can keep pushing.

Why can't Microsoft give away Windows 7 for free here? At least if they sell it for very cheap, then there is no reason why OEMs won't put multiple versions of software on each netbook.

Then buyers can choose which OS they want, and Microsoft hopes and can reasonably expect that most will chose the free latest version of that old familiar - Windows.

After a while that the three application limit is begging to be broken, but Microsoft doesn't have to charge much for it - say $50. That fee will be collected directly, and even if this is relatively small, it is probably bigger than the OEM's are paying now.

Let's extend it - why not, if you are Microsoft, ship every computer with the free/crippled version, and take the OEM out of the equation entirely?

Actually that anaArtificial restrictions are quite common with motorcycles aimed at learners in many countries. The power output is crippled somehow (e.g. a gear is locked out, a different chip used, air flow restrictor plate) to comply with learner laws, and once you get your license you can legally de-restrict the vehicle. Obviously many people don't wait for their license to do so. It is, however, call uncrippling, not upgrading.

Failing that just apply force using a pointy object or a drill.

It isn't just the URL, but the URL is a great symptom of a site where being lean is not a design priority.

eBay url for an electronic item for sale:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SONY-5-1-Home-Theatre-Amplifier-Receiver-STRDE497_W0QQitemZ180339459830QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_HOME_CINEMA_SYSTEMS?hash=item180339459830&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

NZ's Trade Me url for a piece of electronic equipment:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics-photography/Home-audio/Headphones/auction-210021888.htm

There is no excuse for the difference in length, and eBay is not only confusing search engines and us, but is also making their pages slower to load.

Note that the ebay.com.au and Trademe sites have about the same number of listings. The url is a symptom, and a cursory analysis of the rest of the page and the site will see plenty of other examples of poor design for page loading speed.

Except the ISPs will not listen to you - under the draft code they will only listen to RIAA and the like.

Mod parent up - the author is the leader of the #blackout campaign and the main voice of reason against this bill.

ISP XNet was already cutting people off last year in anticipation of this law. They sent one email to folk's ISP accounts (and who ever checks that) and then snip - the connection was down. The ISP's have to disconnect you as if they do not then they are opening themselves up to a lawsuit from RIAA/RIANZ et al. The copyright holders will demonstrate that they have provided "proof" (from US based companies trawling the p2p sites) and there has been no action, and they will probably win. So the easiest thing for the ISPs to do it just warn then disconnect. The proposed code of practice means the ISP has to give 3 warning over 3 months to their customers, and the customer can dispute them. But the ISPs will find this onerous, the chilling effect is frightening, and the kicker is that only the giants (RIAA etc.) are pre-authorized to send copyright notices to ISPs - the ISPs are not obliged to treat individual copyright holders with the same due process.

NO - only the RIAA and similar can do this and have the ISPs listen. Under the proposed code of practice the little guys can't easily make complaints.

New Zealand ISP Xnet had already started taking down customers based on this law, and based on only one alleged infringement at that. There is a good discussion on geekzone. What is really sad is that they market themselves as the P2P ISP.