this post was submitted on 22 Nov 2025
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They have a really weird definition of "upgrade"
One way to get around that is changing the user agent. I've never changed the user agent and had a loss of functionality, it always seems like they have a stupid user agent check just to make sure you're using windows/chrome.
man i hate those online content that you MUST pay to do homework for the courses. They were over priced and back when i use them, they didnt even grade the homework correctly. E.g. the stupid Mastering series Mastering Physics, Mastering Chemistry and Cengage. I once spent 3 days on a problem because the system didnt like how I wrote the answers. So something like
- coordinate (3x,space herey)
instead of what they want:
- coordinate (3x,y)
π΄ββ οΈπ΄ββ οΈπ΄ββ οΈ
pirate the book, they clearly don't deserve your money
The problem is most courses require a code that costs about ten dollars less than the book. Pearson did this to destroy the used book market.
The ONLY money I spent during my entire time at uni has been on these stupid Cengage and Connect courses. I blame the teachers, more than anyone, for using these awful services. I also blame the Uni for not advertising that it would be required for the coursework. The teachers are either too lazy or too overworked to make their own materials or teach from an analogue book which doesn't spoon-feed the lessons and grade things for them. It's a shit system and nothing made me madder than a required class using these services.
For a few of them, I just lobbied the department to pay for it saying I wasn't able to afford it, and they paid for my license or whatever.
I also blame the Uni for not advertising that it would be required for the coursework.
Just like Steam now says "REQUIRES KERNEL LEVEL ANTICHEAT" like a big ugly Surgeon General's warning, I think college courses should say stuff like this too.
Along with "REQUIRES INVASIVE KERNEL LEVEL REMOTE ACCESS MALWARE BROWSER TO TAKE EXAMS"
100% agree on both counts
DRM - the bane of good user experience.
GOG nailed it - no DRM, low prices, convenience.
If most book publishers released their texts with new features (e.g. linking references, or adding additional notes to proofs/solutions) they'd get their sales. Instead they just slap DRM on and...
Low prices end GOG ? Yea nah, not really. Sorry but their UI is kinda shitty, hasnβt improved in years, they donβt have a client of Linux, they take 30% just like Steam, and from my experience easily 25% of recent games there get updates far later than Steam, if they ever receive themβ¦ The Escapists is a good example of that.
I use the Heroic launcher with GOG and it works fantastic. Official apps are less needed if the open source ones are great.
Heroic is so aptly titled. Combined with one of those helper apps to install "Proton GE", it makes you just about unstoppable.
I'm finding that Linux has given me better compatibility with my game library as a whole!
For real legacy stuff, Bottles also works a treat. Never thought I'd get Sims 1 working again with so little hassle.
It's a wonderful time.
easily 25% of recent games there get updates far later than Steam, if they ever receive them
Blame the publishers, not GOG
Pearson is indirectly asking you to pirate their courses.
They did a long time ago. Overpriced books that only changed layouts yearly just so that they can charge you for it again. Like having to keep up with the editions so that you can follow the lessons.
Yarrrrrr
Nah, its pretty direct
Pearson, HMH, and all the major for-profit educational resource providers (and much of the not-for-profits, too) are literally actually evil.
Maybe they should upgrade to support other OSes?
My bank blocks it completely. I can never log in without changing the user agent.
Change banks.
Oh absolutely not. Lmao. Do you know how much work that would need after being with them for 15 years?
It's easier to spoof user agents.
"upgrade" no you mean emulate/switch.
I call it the "shame box."
Some websites do this.
Change the user agent to windows and it works.
Fuxk you piece of shit!
Amazon does this too. After you bought a movie you can't watch it in full hd on Linux. User agent doesn't help.
However if you tell their api that you are an smart tv running Linux it works....
However if you tell their api that you are an smart tv running Linux it works....
I wanna figure out how the heck to do this. 1080p doesn't particularly bother me, but it's pretty ridiculous getting discriminated against like that.
In my case the highest resolution was 360p Because Linux is bad.
Then I installed kodi, amazon vod plug in and it worked.
Same goes if you're running Firefox.
I once had Hotmail take forever to get past the loading screen, then actually navigating my mail was hellishly slow. Switched my user agent to Edge and "magically" it loaded instantly and everything was snappy...
Had a few other sites do similar slowdowns but that and Youtube were the most unashamedly blatant.
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They canβt even use proper punctuation in their error messages? Is this that AAAA+ software I keep hearing about?
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Ughgggh. Am I gonna need to get a device I can put propriety garbage on for school?
I should be fine right? A software dev program couldn't possible force you to use windows right?
All my professors taught and programmed in linux, but when it comes to exams, you need windows for the lockdown browser to do your exams. If you only had a linux machine, you won't be passing your classes!
At least for assignments, the professors requested pdfs and not docx or smth.
I used a Windows VM when I was in college. Even if you are pursuing a computer science degree, yes, some professors assume/expect that everyone will be using Windows. Using a VM also has the added benefit of you being easily able to get rid of all the programs they made you install as well once the semester is over.
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They can force you to use Windows.
What you can do is ask if using a virtual machine is fine. or don't ask at all and have a virtual machine image of windows ready.
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I have this exact problem when I have to manage Apple devices for work. Nothing that user agent switcher can't fix.
Pearson is a testing company. They use all sorts of sketchy shit under the guise of anti-cheating. Much of that requires specific plug-ins and stuff that only work in Windows.
Even if you could get it working, but they'll likely just say you were cheating, and take the $300+ you paid to take that required test.
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Seriously, fuck Pearson. Garbage company.
Hey now, garbage companies actually do something productive for society. :p
It's kinda wild that an IT Certification company can't handle Linux, but I'm sadly not surprised.
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