Is having a VPN worth it?

[Sam Vimes]

One of the biggest issues these days is - FOMO - Fear Of Missing Out. This is experienced by Governments, Corporations and Consumers. For Governments and Corporations its usually pressure from above with little understanding of what 'Make it so...' actually implies. For consumers its the race to be the first person on the block to have the latest and greatest, again, without any real understanding of what they're doing with it.

You've only got to look at the lemming like rush to incorporate AI into everything. Vaste amounts of money and energy being expended but so far little evidence of any real measurable return..... but maybe any day soon

In my professional life we listened to what our customers wanted rather than tell them what they need. In my personal life I still keep abreast of technological developments but I always ask the question - what's in it for me? I'm seldom an early adopter of anything.

 

[Buckman]

One of the biggest issues these days is - FOMO - Fear Of Missing Out. This is experienced by Governments, Corporations and Consumers. For Governments and Corporations its usually pressure from above with little understanding of what 'Make it so...' actually implies. For consumers its the race to be the first person on the block to have the latest and greatest, again, without any real understanding of what they're doing with it.

You've only got to look at the lemming like rush to incorporate AI into everything. Vaste amounts of money and energy being expended but so far little evidence of any real measurable return..... but maybe any day soon

In my professional life we listened to what our customers wanted rather than tell them what they need. In my personal life I still keep abreast of technological developments but I always ask the question - what's in it for me? I'm seldom an early adopter of anything.

I used to find it quite amusing reading about people who camped outside a shop to be one of the first to get the latest technology like an Apple or similar phone.

 

[Sam Vimes]

Or things like this..... look at the price

Introducing iPhone Pocket: a beautiful way to wear and carry iPhone

ISSEY MIYAKE and Apple today unveiled iPhone Pocket, designed to fit any iPhone as well as all pocketable items.

www.apple.com

 

[otherclive]

Or things like this..... look at the price

Introducing iPhone Pocket: a beautiful way to wear and carry iPhone

ISSEY MIYAKE and Apple today unveiled iPhone Pocket, designed to fit any iPhone as well as all pocketable items.

www.apple.com

And NO it is not 1st April yet!!!

 

[RogerL]

One of the biggest issues these days is - FOMO - Fear Of Missing Out. This is experienced by Governments, Corporations and Consumers. For Governments and Corporations its usually pressure from above with little understanding of what 'Make it so...' actually implies. For consumers its the race to be the first person on the block to have the latest and greatest, again, without any real understanding of what they're doing with it.

You've only got to look at the lemming like rush to incorporate AI into everything. Vaste amounts of money and energy being expended but so far little evidence of any real measurable return..... but maybe any day soon

In my professional life we listened to what our customers wanted rather than tell them what they need. In my personal life I still keep abreast of technological developments but I always ask the question - what's in it for me? I'm seldom an early adopter of anything.

The head of Alphabet, which owns Google, has warned of the AI bubble bursting at some point https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy7vrd8k4eo similar to the "dot.com crash" of 2000 - some companies will get wiped out and some investors will get hurt, including ordinary pensioners.

I subscribe to the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" philosophy.

 

[Buckman]

The head of Alphabet, which owns Google, has warned of the AI bubble bursting at some point https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy7vrd8k4eo similar to the "dot.com crash" of 2000 - some companies will get wiped out and some investors will get hurt, including ordinary pensioners.

I subscribe to the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" philosophy.

Amazon was almost part of the .com crash, but look where it is now.

 

[RogerL]

Amazon was almost part of the .com crash, but look where it is now.

Their shares dropped from $113 to $6 - that's a lot of hurt for those who were invested but a windfall for those who took the risk and bought at $6.

 

[GUMPY]

Or things like this..... look at the price

Introducing iPhone Pocket: a beautiful way to wear and carry iPhone

ISSEY MIYAKE and Apple today unveiled iPhone Pocket, designed to fit any iPhone as well as all pocketable items.

www.apple.com

Why does that remind me of this

 

[otherclive]

Their shares dropped from $113 to $6 - that's a lot of hurt for those who were invested but a windfall for those who took the risk and bought at $6.

But the shares came up again, so those who did not withdraw didn’t loose out, but it could affect those who were in a pension fund and had to buy an annuity. But funds do try to lower investors risk as they start to approach pension time, by balancing the stock market holdings with lower risk steady return holdings like government bonds.

 

[Buckman]

Going back to my original post regarding the VPN, I spoke with our son in law who is a business IT systems manager. They initially had VPN to access South African TV channels as they had already paid the subscription before they left in SA. Sadly this meant accessing Netflix etc was a hassle so they dropped the VPN several months ago.

 

[RogerL]

But the shares came up again, so those who did not withdraw didn’t loose out, but it could affect those who were in a pension fund and had to buy an annuity. But funds do try to lower investors risk as they start to approach pension time, by balancing the stock market holdings with lower risk steady return holdings like government bonds.

When a share drops from $113 to $6 it's a brave (or foolish) person who bets that $6 against going bust and losing everything.

Like lemmings, many investors big or small, sell when share prices drop significantly - which ironically forces the price even lower!

 

[Beachball]

I was with them for years, found the kit and technicians to be fine. But hated the so called customer service.

John

I would agree with you about customer service with Virgin the other day had a fault did what they said still no joy got a new remote and hub so far okay

 

[otherclive]

When a share drops from $113 to $6 it's a brave (or foolish) person who bets that $6 against going bust and losing everything.

Like lemmings, many investors big or small, sell when share prices drop significantly - which ironically forces the price even lower!

We did the opposite in 2008 and don’t regret doing so. But selling when a market weakens opens a downward spiral as sales aren’t instantaneous so by the time you get your money the return money is even less. Panic ye not🙈

 

[RogerL]

I would agree with you about customer service with Virgin the other day had a fault did what they said still no joy got a new remote and hub so far okay

I ordered Virgin fibre broadband some years ago - the first engineer said they'd need to cable it underground, the second said it it was too far from their access point, the third agreed with the first but then it was cancelled altogether.