Posts by John Holley

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  • Hard News: Ambition,

    What I don't buy is that doing this would unleash some sort of massive economic burst of activity as we invent clever new ways to take advantage of all this bandwidth. Nobody's ever produced any evidence of this that doesn't involve an awful lot of hand-waving.

    Check out the info from the New Zealand Institute.

    The New Zealand Institute has identified national economic benefits from broadband in the range of $2.7-4.4 billion per year with further upside potential possible.

    They state quite specifically that they have been conservative in the returns that they have defined.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 143 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Ambition,

    Reynolds really does seem sincere in his desire for co-operation on infrastructure. He doesn't see infrastructure as something to compete over - it is the services that run on the infrastructure that he want to compete on.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 143 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Ambition,

    Why build something that competes with cabinets? Reynolds is indicating an acceleration of the roll out to cabinets.

    Does defining LLU as being to the cabinet change things?

    Not sure, but Reynolds is saying that Telecom is committed to a more cooperative model - which must come with operational separation.

    But as Russell says, someone has to ride Telecom's ass on this.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 143 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Ambition,

    LLU needs to be defined as being to where the IP interface device that talks to the end user resides. If that is a cabinet, then so be it. The residence? So be it perhaps - get's more blurred. But I think LLU to the cabinet offers some real opportunities - we need physically bigger/architected cabinets, but I see that as a relatively straight forward issue to address.

    This would then drive partnership arrangements. Why would Telecom invest in Fibre to the cabinet on their own if others could just jump on it? Reynolds just said he would welcome more co-operation with partners/investors. As he said, "Telecom can't do it on it's own."

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 143 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Ambition,

    Like many I have been worried about the cabitenising of the Telecom Network but listening to Paul Reynolds has given me cause to think.

    As he points out, putting equipment in exchanges won't solve the issues for those at the end of long copper lines. Cabitenising can be seen as more customer focused than ISP. The issue is, of course, who can afford to put their equipment in each cabinet rather than the much smaller number of exchanges?

    From a purely technical perspective which option gives us the best possibilities for the future with respect to the customer? If the cabinet is the best option, and the economic model says only Telecom can afford to do it, is this a case of NZers paying for the infrastructure as Steve and Neil say?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 143 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Ambition,

    Had to agree with your summary Russell. The bits on investment, increased broadband reach and Internet Resilience (competition for the Southern Cross Cable).

    I'm just worried this may just be a talk fest with little concrete coming from it. As Lawrence Zwimper said, we must move from projects to policy.

    One real gripe though - who has a digital forum and doesn't provide free internet access? This is the most disconnected conference I have been to in ages. I, and several others, am amazed at the lack of digital capabilities provided!

    I guess it highlights the difference between those who live digitally and those who talk about it! :)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 143 posts Report Reply

  • Island Life: Good Bastards,

    It was a bloody good night. So many people from different sides of different fences all coming together for a wonderful cause, helping a guy and his family because we have known him (or friends invited them along) for a long or short time and he has influenced us all.

    It was a priviledge to be part of it. My praises go to those who organised it and donated stuff, but most of all it goes to Russell for exposing himself and his family to all of us for a great cause. It takes real bravery and passion to do what he did - it made it easy to contribute.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 143 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: Chew before swallowing,

    Having been a school Board Chair for a decile 2 school and with a partner who is a school principal (her's is a higher decile school) I do know that nutrition is a problem in schools. The principal at the school I was the chair of had a supply of food that was given out to children who turned up hungry, but that is only half the problem.

    As RB points out, the Herald showed little real analysis of the problem. The big issue, IMHO, is the absolute crap nutrition most kids get at school these days. Those who turn up to school hungry are just part of a bigger nutrition problem for our children that we as a society seem to be ignoring.

    Poor nutrition, whether hunger or sugar/fat laden processed food, means that children underperform in school and are disruptive. It also means that in later life they already have the "foundation" for poor health.

    The USA has some good resources for those who want to read more. The USDA in particular has a good collection.

    While many will say that "free will" is important here and society should not impose dietry standards for children at school it is the same society that will face the health bills in a few years time for the right to have "free will".

    So, the issue is not about the lack of nutrition some children face when going to school in the morning, but the nutrition of NZ children in general.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 143 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: The Suicide Note,

    It's a great article by Peter. Scared the sh*t out of me in many ways. I had been slowly becoming aware of some of the issues with Vista DRM e.g. no virtual machine is allowed to run protected content, but the more I read of his critique the more worried I became.

    One cannot but help think that there must be some governments around the world who aren't in the USA's "good" book who may well consider whether they want Vista in their country at all? Will this prove to be a boon for Linus/Mac OS X/[insert favourite unix here]?

    What does that mean for us all? Well, rather than then recent trends, which generally let users pick an OS/Hardware solution based on preference but still access the same content, we may find those days may be over.

    And Bill Gates wants us all to have a Windows Home server to run our homes?

    "Sorry honey, I can't download that Shortland Street Episode as that new video card/[insert other piece of hardware etc] doesn't work with Vista's DRM so everything is stuffed....yes...I took it out and put the old one back in but as I had already reauthorised Vista a couple of times for previous upgrades I need to go and get a new Vista license...."

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 143 posts Report Reply

  • Summer Holiday,

    Well Christmas day was at our place with some English friends who have been in NZ for about 5 years - so we had a laid back lunch/dinner on the deck with too many nibbles, a huge salmon done on the BBQ, too many deserts and lots of great NZ wine. My daughter was stoked to get a red iPod Nano with her name on it - great to have the Apple store in NZ now.

    I worked the non-stats, but we came up to my Aunt's place at Red Beach on the 28th - the place has views to die for across the Hauraki gulf, and it is great going to sleep with the sound of waves breaking on the beach.

    New Year's day was what I remembered as a child. Breakfast on the deck with a smooth blue ocean in front of us then a lazy lunch and a jigsaw was brought out. In the afternoon, we took the sea kayak down to the beach. Some kayaking and swimming in beautiful warm water - then some wine back on the deck. One of those beautiful hazy days of my childhood relived!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 143 posts Report Reply

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