dslreports logo
 story category
Hoosiers Get a Gift
Free 'simdesk' account for all state residents
The state of Indiana (for whatever reason) is offering everyone in the state their own SimDesk account, thanks to a six million dollar investment by the company. The application service provider offers a suite of software tools tied to a single user account, which stores all applications and data on a remote server. "SimIndiana is the first statewide technology inclusion program of its kind, and we are making it available to all Hoosiers at no cost," announced Indiana Lt. governor Kathy Davis this morning. Every person in Indiana will have access to their e-mail, files, and a line of "office-esque" word-processing tools anywhere there's an internet connection. This Indianapolis Star article offers some additional specifics, and this pdf white-paper explains the technology in more detail. After two years, the state will vote to continue funding the project. Place your bets.
view:
topics flat nest 

Gbcue
Premium Member
join:2001-09-30
Santa Rosa, CA

Gbcue

Premium Member

Sounds shady

Sounds like spyware heaven. Or a hacker's heaven.

Mike
Mod
join:2000-09-17
Pittsburgh, PA

Mike

Mod

I RTFA and TFP

and I have still no clue what the heck any of this is about.

Karl Bode
News Guy
join:2000-03-02

3 edits

1 recommendation

Karl Bode

News Guy

Re: I RTFA and TFP

Someone at the Indiana state capital got a really impressive presentation using pie-charts presented by an attractive salesman/woman, who convinced them to trial technology they don't need - because someone somewhere with a fleeting understanding of technology believed this could bridge the digital divide and make the state more technologically relevant.

But that's just my take, I could be wrong.
joebear29
totesmcgoats
join:2003-07-20
Alabaster, AL

joebear29

Member

Re: I RTFA and TFP

To be fair, it seems Indiana is getting it free as a marketing move by Simdesk, so no actual taxpayer money was used.

Still looks worthless though.
sof0311
join:2001-01-21
Fortville, IN

sof0311

Member

Re: I RTFA and TFP

6 million free LOL, we are broke in Indiana and buying this junk.
joebear29
totesmcgoats
join:2003-07-20
Alabaster, AL

joebear29

Member

Re: I RTFA and TFP

What are you talking about? Did you read the article that was linked?
sof0311
join:2001-01-21
Fortville, IN

sof0311

Member

Re: I RTFA and TFP

Do you really think that we will not pay for this one way or other. Do you think this company is not getting some thing for this? I have not dug deep but will and I bet that my tax dollars will end up in this company some how.
joebear29
totesmcgoats
join:2003-07-20
Alabaster, AL

joebear29

Member

Re: I RTFA and TFP

said by sof0311:
Do you really think that we will not pay for this one way or other. Do you think this company is not getting some thing for this? I have not dug deep but will and I bet that my tax dollars will end up in this company some how.
Might your tax dollars end up there in the future? I don't know. Are they ending up there now? No.* Is it that unreasonable to think the company might give the crappy product away as a publicity stunt?

* - If I'm wrong, please show me where.

warlock56
Premium Member
join:2002-07-31
Dallas, TX

1 recommendation

warlock56

Premium Member

No thanks

Yeah, I think I'll take my chances in keeping my personal files on my own PC thank you.

Tursiops_G
Technoid
MVM
join:2002-02-06
Brooksville, FL
ARRIS TM1602

Tursiops_G

MVM

Re: No thanks

Done correctly, all personal files will only exist on the User's PC, NOT on the Central Server... I have a similar setup at work, where the Software Applications reside on a Server, but all User Data only exists on the individual Workstations.

Done INcorrectly, however...

Caveat Emptor!

-Tursiops_G.

tomsprat
Draw Me A "Cold One"

join:2000-11-03
Fort Lauderdale, FL

tomsprat

Re: No thanks

quote:
=user=Tursiops_G]]Done correctly, all personal files will only exist on the User's PC, NOT on the Central Server... I have a similar setup at work, where the Software Applications reside on a Server, but all User Data only exists on the individual Workstations.

Done Incorrectly, however...

Caveat Emptor!

-Tursiops_G.
quote:
Users documents are then stored on a remote, secure server and can be accessed from any Web-enabled device.
Nope. Doesn't sound like it.

My guess is this company wants to get users hooked on their e-mail addy's & stored documents then, two years from now, they hope everyone will be screaming about losing them unless, of course, the state picks up the tab...

Tursiops_G
Technoid
MVM
join:2002-02-06
Brooksville, FL
ARRIS TM1602

1 edit

Tursiops_G

MVM

Re: No thanks

Ack... I guess I didn't see that...

In that case, I Agree... No Thanks. I don't trust ANYBODY with my PERSONAL Data...

-Tursiops_G.

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
Netgear WNDR3700v2
Zoom 5341J

1 recommendation

KrK

Premium Member

Re: No thanks

said by Tursiops_G:
In that case, I Agree... No Thanks. I don't trust ANYBODY with my PERSONAL Data...

-Tursiops_G.

We here at the Department of Homeland Security wish to assure you that we won't release your data, either. Much. More then a few times anyway. Really. We mean it.

C0deZer0
Oc'D To Rhythm And Police
Premium Member
join:2001-10-03
Tempe, AZ

C0deZer0

Premium Member

... iDisk?

Is this supposed to be something like iDisk?

l33t
Premium Member
join:2003-01-23
Indianapolis, IN

l33t

Premium Member

Cool I live in Indiana

It looks neat I'll try it out and I'll tell you what I think about it.
l33t

l33t

Premium Member

Re: Cool I live in Indiana

I just tested it it looks okay. The only thing I want is the printing service. This link shows what SimIndiana can do.
»www.simindiana.com/produ ··· ault.asp

File Quit
Mac Geek
Premium Member
join:2002-11-28
Richmond, TX

File Quit

Premium Member

Re: Cool I live in Indiana

w00t w00t.. something free. im signin up.

ztmike
Mark for moderation
Premium Member
join:2001-08-02
La Porte, IN

ztmike

Premium Member

worthless

another worthless item indiana gets, what about fiber optic connections?
eldee
join:2001-10-11
Lake Village, IN

eldee

Member

Re: worthless

would be nice to get fiber, im using cable now and cant even ping sub 20 to chicago servers and im an hour away from it

pcscdma
hi
Premium Member
join:2004-01-14
Winterset, IA
ARRIS SB8200
Nest H2D

pcscdma

Premium Member

Re: worthless

Tracing route to dslreports.com [209.123.109.175]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 9 ms 11 ms 11 ms 10.16.176.1
2 11 ms 11 ms 11 ms 12-215-20-1.client.mchsi.com [12.215.20.1]
3 25 ms 26 ms 57 ms 12-215-6-18.client.mchsi.com [12.215.6.18]
4 26 ms 28 ms 25 ms gbr5-p80.cgcil.ip.att.net [12.123.5.218]
5 59 ms 44 ms 44 ms tbr1-cl1.n54ny.ip.att.net [12.122.10.1]
6 43 ms 43 ms 43 ms gar1-p3100.nwrnj.ip.att.net [12.123.214.181]
7 43 ms 45 ms 43 ms att-gige.esd1.nwr.nac.net [12.119.140.26]
8 43 ms 44 ms 43 ms 3.ge-3-0-0.gbr2.nwr.nac.net [209.123.11.189]
9 45 ms 44 ms 53 ms 0.so-0-3-0.gbr1.oct.nac.net [209.123.11.233]
10 45 ms 43 ms 43 ms www.dslreports.com [209.123.109.175]

I'm a little bit farther away, but I'm getting more closer to 20.

sapo
Cruising Down Memory Lane
Premium Member
join:2002-09-16
Sacramento, CA

sapo to eldee

Premium Member

to eldee
said by eldee:
would be nice to get fiber, im using cable now and cant even ping sub 20 to chicago servers and im an hour away from it

25ms 15ms will you notice the diffrence? I think not.

bolt
End of the line DSL sucks.
Premium Member
join:2003-11-11
Charlestown, IN

bolt to ztmike

Premium Member

to ztmike
Yea...WTF? Spend that money getting broadband out to the tons of unders-serviced rural areas.

Theo25
@attbi.com

Theo25

Anon

No way I would store everything externally

There is no way I would store my files externally like this! Its ok for some files I guess, but the majority of my files I want on my own pc and want control of my own backing up data.

ctceo
Premium Member
join:2001-04-26
South Bend, IN

ctceo

Premium Member

Psssh

Now why would I keep my hit list, contacts, Offshore Drug smuggling Accounts, and illegal Movies and MP3's in a remote server for Federal Eyes to see???
sof0311
join:2001-01-21
Fortville, IN

1 edit

sof0311

Member

junk junk more junk

If you read terms of service of this they can do what they want to with your information. It is stored on there server and this sounds like Big brother big time in Indiana. No thanks on this 6 million junk.
TercelChick
join:2002-08-13

TercelChick

Member

Re: junk junk more junk

I wouldn't even want this company to have my home address. This Simdesk is no way related to the IN government, and I definitely wouldn't want to keep my personal information anywhere I couldn't control.

Scott1
Premium Member
join:2002-09-30
Indianapolis, IN

Scott1

Premium Member

free! free is good..hope it is good

hmm
I get it free. I will scout it out.

fireflier
Coffee. . .Need Coffee
Premium Member
join:2001-05-25
Limbo

fireflier

Premium Member

Virtual MS Office?

Sounds like this web "software suite" resembles Microsoft's office bundle. I wonder if SimDesk's web interface also crashes intermittently to simulate real MS functionality?

OK, before you flame me, I'm joking. I have MS Office XP and like it a lot, I just couldn't resist the temptation to barb MS