Thursday, January 30, 2003

No TurboTax For Me It seems Intuit has included DRM features into TurboTax 2003. The bundled C-Dilla software implements a product activation scheme similar to the one in Windows XP. The software also reportedly monitors user's activities and hogs system resources. Users also report that the SAFECAST/C-Dilla copy protection software monitors activities on the system full-time, consuming more than a megabyte of memory and other resources even when TurboTax is not running. (The copy protection software remains even if one later uninstalls TurboTax.) Ironically, Intuit's FAQ regarding the new DRM cannot be read unless one's browser accepts cookies from Intuit's Web site. I just got my W2 today and was prepared to order TurboTax. Good thing I found about this before I did. Here's is some incentive not to use it. This site tells you how to get Taxcut Deluxe 2002 State & Local (a TurboTax competitor) along with Microsoft Money Standard 2003 for free after rebates. Not a bad deal. It looks like I am going that route. 10:34:02 PM

But Is She Hot? Eighteen year old Greek girl to inherit one billion dollars ** insert Dr. Evil pinky to mouth gesture **. On her birthday, +Athina+ plans to meet with Swiss authorities and KPMG Fides auditors, who have overseen the estate since 1999. At that time, the inheritance "officially will be passed into her hands," said Alexis Mantheakis, the former Roussel family spokesman and author of a book on Athina. "It will be a bureaucratic thing, telling her what she has ... this will take a while to wind down." Ok, she's: Rich Legal Unless she's JoJo the dog-faced billionaire grrl, where do I sign up? 12:58:36 PM

© Copyright 2003  Chris. Last update: 8/19/2003; 2:43:25 PM.