[Anonymous]

[wittgenfrog]

[ronmoule]

Oh dear, another moaner. Well I used to read John's pages first too, when they were sharp, funny and revealing. All that is sharp now is the stench of the petard hoisted, and revealing the narrowmindedness (that's one word) of a writer who was once challenging and thought-provoking (that's two).

All this rant about the Olympics tells us is that John can't tell a disc from a discus, and wants to promote internet and connectivity above any other public spending. So why isn't he berating large, almost totalitarian, powers such as BT and Microsoft for NOT spending some of their huge profits on improving the IT infrastructure?
And did you know that much of the Olympic funding is being acheived through massive CUTS in arts and community spending over the nxt (at least) 5 years?

Of course we look forward to John's appearence in the IT Olympics, special events section, Moaning Over a Great Distance, followed by the anticipated attempt to break his own unbeaten record in the Grumpy Old Man Marathon. And can we have a picture of Honeyballs in that lycra outfit, PCPro colours, with a sweatband incorporating heatsink and mute button?

Ron Moule

[adidan]

Is there an athletic IT writer who agrees with JH?

Just an observation, but many complaining about the Olympics look like they've only ever watched sport rather than competed.

Not a judgement, just an observation...

[jimexbox]

Would any money not spent on an Olympic bid/staging, be spent on IT infrastructure? No, end of story.

[4nt_G]

I was a bit gutted when I stumped up the cash for the last PCPro, is very expensive for the little reading I do in it. the olympics story really was a waste of time and money though. I'm not a regular reader of PCPro, I usually pic up someone elses copy, although I do rate it as the best PC Mag on the market.

Was the story supposed to be sarcastic or ironic? I didn't get it? to me it is absolute crazyness to spend the money on the internet than something as big as the olympics, It is a huge honour to host the Olympics

[Anonymous]

If we don't put the high-speed communications backbone infrastructure in place across the country we will be sidelined totally. We are not talking about for people to use the internet , although that would be a side benefit, we are talking for business and government to communicate.

We all spend loads of time moaning about the awful commuting to work etc well if that infrastructure was in place large proportions of the commuters wouldn't have to ..... imagine how much pollution we would save.

I agree with JH the money would be better spent on that than the Olympics especially as the projected costs have already doubled

[jimexbox]

I dont get your argument. Its not the governments job or role to actually lay down a super fast Internet network. Imagine if they did, every ISP from A-Z would be crying 'nationalized network'. The Daily Mail would be shouting 'old Labour'.

Its the Government's job to encourage the private sector, maybe using tax breaks as an incentive, to make such a network feasible. If the private sector cant be bothered, more fool them.

[Anonymous]

Q - Who do you think provided our current back bone?

A - British Telecom before it was privatised e.g. the government did.

[jimexbox]

Exactly, there is no national Government ran telephone network anymore. I dont know what JH wants? A Government Internet network? Pie in the sky, it ain't going to happen.

Maybe if 1950's/60's attitude prevailed, which greenlighted Concorde. A truly beautiful white elephant, it might happen.

[adidan]

Well I didn't see the point myself.

Just about any magazine could have argued, 'don't spend money on the Olympics, spend it on this instead'.

[drog_uk]

The Olympics has the potential to be a good building block for many sectors of the economy. It is disappointing if the thoughts of all of the money that is budgeted is in the lines of a couple of playing fields in London for some people to run around and a big fireworks display.

Some of the opportunities will be short term, but the amount of technology that will need to be delivered between all of the different venues will be immense and will need longer and skilled involvement.

The Olympics can even be used as a focal point to get kids interested in computing and information technology. You just need the inspiration.

[stokegabriel]

Well personally I have always enjoyed Jon's articles. He has contributed to the mag since issue 1, and it would not be the same without him. If his monitors get any bigger, he is going to be living inside one soon.

I thought it was an excellent article and made some relevant points. I don't want to spend my money on the Olympics..

I would like to know how they propose to host the pistol shooting though, seeing as the hardware for this Olympic sport is classified as a prohibited weapons in this country, despite a target pistol never being used in connection with crime.

Keep up your off the wall articles Jon, I have enjoyed them all. Be nice if you responded to an e-mail occasionally though, you do publish your address. I guess you get a lot though.

[hjlupton]

aye i'd imagine jon gets a lot of emails, maybe i might have to send one myself at some point
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