A whole raft of PC vendors and OEMs has complained that online magazine The Register has lost its sense of humour. The complaints started early January when we ran too many straight stories. According to a senior executive at HP: "We used to read you when you were funny but something has gone terribly wrong." He said: "You are too serious now. What is your agenda?" His remarks were echoed by a senior Intel UK source, who said: "What has happened to your sense of humour? This is why we read you." Compaq and IBM also lashed Thee Register for getting too corporate. The Compaq chap said: "What's happened to you guys?" The IBM geezer was even more cutting. He said: "I thought The Register was independent. Now I'm doubting it." ®