Sympatico goes MSN

[JoeHill]

On Mon, 14 Jun 2004 11:52:58 -0400
Matthew Godycki disseminated the following:

> >     Did you notice that Sympatico has gone over to the dark side ?
> >     Acquired ? Partnered ? Assimilated ?
> >     Anyhoo, it's just a matter of time now before the "No Penguins" sign 
> > goes up. I spoke with customer service and they admitted that the last 
> > week has been pretty hectic, with the transition, and the bugs were not 
> > yet worked out. "Not yet worked in" I quipped, he didn't get it. When I 
> > told him that this new MSN thing would probably result in my move to 
> > another ISP, he was at first confused, but then (after connecting the 
> > dots between MSN and M$) admitted that it was likely to become an issue. 
> > I explained that Sympatico had been a technically functioning, if 
> > unsupported, linuxable ISP for years, and was now destined to becoming 
> > actively linux hostile. He agreed that it was a likely outcome.
> >     So there ya have it kids, the last straw.
> > Istop anyone ?
> > djp
> 
> As far as I know, it's only a content type partnership (ie, the portal).  At
> least that's my sole unlearned observation.  If there is more to it, is there
> somewhere we could read about what exactly is entailed in this?

I don't see any reason either that this 'portal' thing would change the basic
functionality of one's internet connection. It's only that to use this 'portal'
to access whatever 'special' content (the latest Britney Spears video or
something, woohoo), you would need to use IE presumably.

Now, as to whether there is a moral/political/philosophical reason, based on
this partnership, to switch providers, that is a whole other enchilada. I have
to say that the thought of my monthly bill contributing in even the most
miniscule of ways to the MS coffers does make me a little uncomfortable, at
least in the sense that I would rather support a more local solution, like IStop
which David mentioned.

-- 
JoeHill RLU #282046 /  www.orderinchaos.org
12:52:55 up 11 days, 23:15, 6 users, load average: 1.91, 1.82, 1.77
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