Comments on: Subsidized netbooks may come with remote kill switch

By: A Dark Cloud «The TNL.net weblog

A Dark Cloud «The TNL.net weblog — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 02:18:54 +0000

[...] limited community, it appears that such devices are now becoming more common in children computers, cheap laptops, and even cars. And while many will claim that the solution to this is to open up source code, the [...]

By: Dead On the Internet | Netbookfreaks

Dead On the Internet | Netbookfreaks — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 03:38:33 +0000

[...] there is a piece of technology that could serve as a gentle reminder by disabling the netbook from doing anything. I’ve [...]

By: oddone

oddone — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 21:56:47 +0000

And once again companies think they can just rent everything out to you, and have you on the hook forever…

I think I'll buy my own netbook at full price and just use their USB dongles, thanks. I like having my own computer.

By: oddone

oddone — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:56:47 +0000

And once again companies think they can just rent everything out to you, and have you on the hook forever…

I think I'll buy my own netbook at full price and just use their USB dongles, thanks. I like having my own computer.

By: Lee

Lee — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:38:17 +0000

Definitely a farce. It will never happen here. Not only would it be a marketing nightmare, but it clearly tells the consumer they don't own what they just bought, they are just renting it. Its ludicrous to think that any carrier in their right minds in the US would do this IF they could get away with it. NEVER gonna happen. Just some big brother hype.

By: DG

DG — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:55:16 +0000

Some top end smartphones cost at least as much as netbooks, and are trivial to unlock and use with someone else's cheaper tariff, so it's not really so very different – and as Mikez says, existing contract law should be adequate for enforcement.

By: Mikez

Mikez — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:28:46 +0000

There are laws against such interference with the operation
of a computer system in the U.S.A.
So don't expect the kill pill to happen here - -

In the U.S.A. a common carrier has two recourses -
Discontinue the data plan;
Try to collect money's owed under contract law.

By: Keith

Keith — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:20:49 +0000

It'll be cracked in under 24 hours.

By: Bolomkxxviii

Bolomkxxviii — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:17:21 +0000

Care to take a bet on how long it takes to bypass the “kill pill”?

By: DG

DG — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:57:32 +0000

Some top end smartphones cost at least as much as netbooks, and are trivial to unlock and use with someone else’s cheaper tariff, so it’s not really so very different – and as Mikez says, existing contract law should be adequate for enforcement.

[P.S. Thanks for rejigging comment submission while I was trying to post this! ]