While many of us have spent the past week winding down as the Christmas break approaches, IT Pro readers have been flooding the site's comment boxes with their thoughts on some of the week's biggest stories.
Debate has raged this week about whether the Government would be better off diverting funds for HS2 into superfast broadband projects. Meanwhile, the Amazon drones story continues to spark discussions about the logistics of using unmanned vessels to deliver goods.
And, just for good measure, a few of our regular readers have also shared their thoughts on Google's attempts to evade a UK court hearing in the Safari tracking case.
HS2 vs. Superfast broadband
Earlier this month saw calls for the Government to re-think its multi-billion pound investment in the HS2 high-speed railway link. It's claimed this money would be better spent on improving access across the UK to superfast broadband services, although IT Pro readers don't seem so sure.
"I agree totally. It's time to get this country digital," cheered IT Pro reader Chris Conder. "Decent, ubiquitous, affordable internet access is vital today [and] will save billions of pounds every year across many services.
I believe this is all about capacity anyway, squeezing more traffic on the same track. A little bit like standard and poor broadband then.
"Don't ask what it will cost. Ask what it will cost if we don't do it."
Another reader, going by the name of Tavistock Superfast Broadband (TSB), didn't sound quite so convinced.
"The UK Government can give the impression that superfast is better in the UK than it actually is by making the fast faster to up the average speed," TSB said.
"It's not possible with train speeds we are behind in that as well. I believe this is all about capacity anyway, squeezing more traffic on the same track. A little bit like standard and poor broadband then."
Google vs. Safari users
The long-running legal spat between Google and a troop of Apple users rumbled on this week, when the former made moves to get its case struck out of court in the UK.
The dispute centres on allegations Google circumnavigated Apple's security controls and privacy settings to monitor the internet browsing habits of Safari users, but the search giant claims it has no case to answer in the UK.
The story prompted a revolt (or sorts) among the site's readers, with Henry3Dogg calling on his fellow IT Pro fans close their Google accounts and start showing the firm who is boss.
"All non-US users of Google search should stop using the facility immediately and close their Google accounts," he cried.
"Google is basically claiming to have no responsibility to anybody outside the USA, but seeks to enrich itself by exploiting the personal data it collects from users all over the world."
All non-US users of Google search should stop using the facility immediately and close their Google accounts.
Henry3Dogg plea was answered by JW, who seemed to be in a bit of a rush.
"I am motivated to follow your plea and ditch my Gmail, but I have only three minutes of time to think about this before I move on to another thing on the net.
"Can you suggest any alternatives to Gmail that are free, hosted within the EEC, and strong enough to fight against all the other Big Brothers' on behalf of its customers?"
In response, regular IT Pro site commenter John Hodgson Artist said users will be hard-pushed to find a suitable alternative to Google.
"The very act of connecting to the internet means you are giving up some of your right to privacy. Use any free service and you give up even more," he reasoned.
"We are rushing headlong into the burgeoning world of 'big data' where your every move is monitored and recorded because this information is worth something to someone.
"Therefore, there are only two real alternatives: accept it and move on, or digitally isolate yourself from the world, and this is considerably more difficult than most would imagine."
Amazon drones vs. everyone
Amazon's plans to release unmanned drones into the skies to deliver parcels have really fired up the imaginations of IT Pro readers in recent weeks, and the comments on this story just keep on coming.
For example, one reader expressed a concern about being decapitated by one of these devices earlier in the week, while another queried who would come off worse if the drone was to collide with a bird.
Dean Shepherd also wondered what would happen if the person controlling the drone was having an off day.
"This is a legal nightmare. Remember the game Paperboy all those years ago on the ZX Spectrum? Imagine some bored controller (can't call them pilots) firing parcels through people's windows just for the fun of it. Never be able to work out who did it. Or, if one did, prove it.
"On the other hand, sounds like my dream job." Same here.
