The best of 'Reader Comments': You only Sting when your Win-ning

Having spent a reported $1bn on marketing, we're left wondering how much Gates paid Sting to turn up for the much-hyped XP launch in New York. Many of you went to work twisting Police and Sting songs to fit the occasion (http://www.silicon.com/a48550 ):

But first, the Mary Poppins fan...
From: Bruce McLauchlan

The new version of an old song Superceding fragile Linux XP ain't atrocious.

Now back to Sting
From: Gareth Tancred

Seeing as Sting is singing to an audience of Microsoft fans, perhaps 'Every Little Thing He Does Is Magic'.

Alternatively, to the user group frustrated with the numerous bugs and glitches that are bound to ensue, 'If I Ever Lose My Faith In You' could be appropriate.

Actually, I'm a fan. XP is now 'My One And Only Love'. It is so feature-rich, 'I Was Brought To My Senses'. After installation, my PC was 'Rock Steady'. In fact, 'I'm So Happy That I Can't Stop Crying' ...and no, I haven't got all his albums - just a good search engine.

Name that Dune
From: Paul Atreides (Not, we hope, his real name)

I think that Sting should reprise his role as Feyd-Rautha in David Lynch's 1984 flop, Dune. Think of it - 'The spice is the web, the web is the spice.' Steve Ballmer could be one of those people who eat too much spice and become a big red maggot with little arms.

Breaking the law...
From: Anon.

"Given Microsoft's affinity for the Courts surely any 'Police Record' would be appropriate.

Probably time to move on. Last month saw a squeeze on contractor rates and our story (http://www.silicon.com/a48454 ) caused a flurry of email from silicon.com readers.
Many expressed their disbelief...

Bad research...
From: David Macken

I both employ contractors and have recent contract experience - the rates and job descriptions you describe do not fit with what I know to be reality.
I suggest you ask some else.

I'd like to know your sources!
From: Steve Brown

Tell me where I can get a contract at those rates. I'm an accomplished J2EE engineer with 4 years Java, previous to that C++ and C experience, with Linux and Korn Shell. I've not seen a THING at those rates, not seen much above 40 to be frank... I'd like to know which agencies you got the info from and if the jobs were actually real.

Maybe they were reasonable figures a year ago, but they're certainly not today.

Bring it on!
From: Philip Tagg

Steve Brown's comments are a reality. The fees here quoted are a misrepresentation in the market and probably due to some less than accurate Job Postings!

It's a buyers market and organisations are maximising that opportunity and in absolute fairness, who can blame them? It wasn't so long ago that the boot was on the other foot as I recall. It hits everyone including the agencies, of which we are one. But the reality is, the work is still there in lesser amounts. It's a quality issue now as opposed to quantity as was the case a while back.

We are still crying out for the quality candidates for our clients needs across the UK and Europe in many disciplines. The demand is still very high in certain sectors. Bring it on! It's not all doom and gloom out there.

It might no all be doom and gloom, but money is not the only problem facing IT professionals.

So things aren't as bad as they seem. Feedback to our story about ageism in the industry (http://www.silicon.com/a48364 ) was also generally positive.

Life begins at forty...
From: David Richmond

If I said we were a software startup, offices in London and San Jose, with all our R&D done in London, and the average age of the company is probably low 40s and we are doing extremely well in these difficult market conditions, do you think there is a connection?

Blindingly obvious to me, in that the key technical skills acquired by many years of serious IT and the experience that has come with it is the killer asset that we have.

'Experts' with 3 years C++ and Java please don't bother applying!

...but fifty's the new forty
From: anon

30 years in IT and still enjoying the challenge and avoiding management. Joined my current employer at 45, and was the oldest in a department of over 100. I am pleased to say that I am no longer oldest. I have even been promoted 3 times in the last 5 years!!