Yes, but synaptic only downloads from known repositories. Yes, you can add new ones, but that also requires admin access. Plus, synaptic doesn't let any old user install stuff (at least not without a root password). That same non-root user, however, can download and run progs from anywhere on the net in a controlled environment. Vista just assumes the user has admin access and does system wide installs, including kernel access. Yet you have to tell the machine that yes, you do in fact want to move that word document to the recycle bin. M$ definitely borked the security model on this one.
The great thing about linux is if you don't like one flavor, try a different one. There will always be more user friendly distros ie Ubu or RH, but i seriously doubt Gentoo or Slackware will ever relegate themselves to that category. Ubu might be just what Joe Average is looking for, but ther'll always be others out there (or build it from the ground up the way you want it.) Thats the beauty of FOSS. Plus, if more people use linux, then more apps will be written for it, which means more people will use it, etc...
from the article:
"We can use Live Services [a way to connect to Microsoft via the Internet] to know what you're interested in. So even if you drop by a [public] kiosk or somebody else's PC, we can bring down your home page, your files, your fonts, your favorites and those things."
Does anyone else out there find this the least bit troubling, from an Orwellian "Big Brother is watching you" standpoint?
The UN couldn't take over the internet even if it wanted to. They could CLAIM control, but thats right up there with a former US VPs claim that he invented it. Governments around the world have been trying to control the net for years. It has failed every single time. The beauty of the net is thats its completely free form outside influence. Besides, the UN's a paper tiger anyway. They have no enforcement ability whatsoever.
Norton for your car. It'll reduce max speed by 20 mph and suck your gas tank dry. Also, it'll take 10 minutes to start the car while it scans your engine, tranny, etc. for viruses.
Ubuntu does a pretty good job of this. For the non-techie, it automatically sets up a regular user account during installation, and still lets you monkey around as root for the advanced users. Plus the sudo command is nice.
I feel my soul being sucked out as I say this but...
M$ actually got something right for a change.
Now before you start flaming away @ this, hear me out. I am a longtime Linux user myself (Slack 11.0 as of this writing) and am as big a M$ hater as they come. This time, though, M$ actually has a good idea.
GASP...HORROR!!!!
One of the biggest draws for me to PCs and PC gaming was the indie game development. I got tired first of platformers, then of FPS's, now of third person sneak arounds. The PC seemed the ideal platform for me because of the fact that anyone could download a compiler and design a game however they saw fit. I knew that someone, somewhere, would eventually start designing, or had already designed, something I would enjoy. And in the rare cases where that didn't happen, I could always do it myself. This is also what attracted me to FOSS in the first place. Not only did we have the power of the compiler, but a ready made development team around the world. w00t!!!
What M$ is doing is trying to break into that market and bring that into the console world. Imagine that an indie game, spread across the internet, could be brought to the console world? Its a sad fact that most gamers today are moving towards the consoles. This might actually help breathe new life into the PC gaming world. Double w00t!!
Now, granted, M$ is doing this in its usual bloated, monopolizing fashion. But we can't expect miracles, now can we?
I'm done now, so flame on!!
"I think we might actually crash this time"-Mal Reynolds, Serenity
Unfortunately. Everyone uses Windows because everyone uses Windows. What we need is for WINE to become stable and reliable enough to run 90% of windows apps at least as well as Windows, and to be fully integrated into the kernel. Once that happens, you will hear funeral bells from Redmond.
Thats why OSS will eventually take over. You have a huge pool of coders and software engineers inputing changes into the code. Distributed development is the way of the future. Who cares if u have 30 million lines of code when you've got 3 million developers?
They enforce it alright...when they feel like it. Like against some kid who happens to be poking around in his university's mainframe. but against a large company (read: potential campaign contributor)? i dont think so.
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.
So how is this different from a rootkit or trojan? And if it isn't, why are these people still a company and not in jail w/ the rest of the black hats? and why are we more worried about some kid who downloads a couple Metallica CDs?
Use a firewall and wear a rubber - hitmanWilly1337
Mac and apple in general want to be just like M$. Granted, they deliver a better product (feel free to flame away on this), but they try to control not only your software, but your hardware too. Switch to Linux. I use slack 11 myself, and have never had a problem w/ it.
Talking about OS's is like talking about religeon. Everyone is sure theirs is the best, and they're all wrong.
Set up a couple web cams rigged to motion sensors. Should be able to find what you need @ Radio shack. 2 or 3 set up in critical locations would do the trick. Also reccomend a moisture sensor of some type in the basement (if u have one).
"I think we might actually crash this time." -Mal Reynolds, Serenity
Default to plan B-17. Repeat, Default to plan B-17.
Step1: Go on offensive. Try to marginalize all non-MS users as reactionary or zealots.
Step2: Create large, bulky, complex standards document full of security flaws, incomplete implementation, and legal loopholes.
Step3: Use litigation, hidden functionality, and mandatory updates to gain royalties from all Open Office users.
Step4: Paint ourselves as the "good-guys" by claiming to reach out to the open source community while providing a half-assed implementation.
Step5: Claim "user-friendliness" while decreasing functionality (at least to non-MS programmers).
Slashdot Mirror
"And synaptic won't run without root privileges."
Yes, but synaptic only downloads from known repositories. Yes, you can add new ones, but that also requires admin access. Plus, synaptic doesn't let any old user install stuff (at least not without a root password). That same non-root user, however, can download and run progs from anywhere on the net in a controlled environment. Vista just assumes the user has admin access and does system wide installs, including kernel access. Yet you have to tell the machine that yes, you do in fact want to move that word document to the recycle bin. M$ definitely borked the security model on this one.
"I think we have another ME here"
Been saying that since it came out.
Next version of DRM. Don't even THINK about pirating our IP!
The great thing about linux is if you don't like one flavor, try a different one. There will always be more user friendly distros ie Ubu or RH, but i seriously doubt Gentoo or Slackware will ever relegate themselves to that category. Ubu might be just what Joe Average is looking for, but ther'll always be others out there (or build it from the ground up the way you want it.) Thats the beauty of FOSS. Plus, if more people use linux, then more apps will be written for it, which means more people will use it, etc...
Microsoft for the moment has no expansion plans into humanitarianism.
Thank God. Can you imagine?
"Windows Genuine Eating Advantage" The package won't open unless it verifies the serial number with MS.
Microsoft cracks down on "sanitation pirates."
This is the most shocking thing ive heard since someone told me that the sky was blue!
In Soviet Russia, robot arm controls you!
from the article:
"We can use Live Services [a way to connect to Microsoft via the Internet] to know what you're interested in. So even if you drop by a [public] kiosk or somebody else's PC, we can bring down your home page, your files, your fonts, your favorites and those things."
Does anyone else out there find this the least bit troubling, from an Orwellian "Big Brother is watching you" standpoint?
Will the BSA give a refund? Perhaps the refund can go to a charity, like EFF?
http://marc.merlins.org/linux/refundday/Thats been tried before. One has to wonder at the validity of an EULA when even MS doesn't follow it.
"apparently Apple's engineers are much smarter than Microsoft's since they've packaged it all in one version"
No, BSD's engineers are smarter since that is basically all OSX is.
The UN couldn't take over the internet even if it wanted to. They could CLAIM control, but thats right up there with a former US VPs claim that he invented it. Governments around the world have been trying to control the net for years. It has failed every single time. The beauty of the net is thats its completely free form outside influence. Besides, the UN's a paper tiger anyway. They have no enforcement ability whatsoever.
Norton for your car. It'll reduce max speed by 20 mph and suck your gas tank dry. Also, it'll take 10 minutes to start the car while it scans your engine, tranny, etc. for viruses.
Windows 98 and Windows ME anyone?
[expletive deleted]
Probably need those specs for the Vista bloatware edition.
Ubuntu does a pretty good job of this. For the non-techie, it automatically sets up a regular user account during installation, and still lets you monkey around as root for the advanced users. Plus the sudo command is nice.
BANG!!!
Hey Jim Bob!! Did I get 'em?
Jim Bob......?
I feel my soul being sucked out as I say this but...
M$ actually got something right for a change.
Now before you start flaming away @ this, hear me out. I am a longtime Linux user myself (Slack 11.0 as of this writing) and am as big a M$ hater as they come. This time, though, M$ actually has a good idea.
GASP...HORROR!!!!
One of the biggest draws for me to PCs and PC gaming was the indie game development. I got tired first of platformers, then of FPS's, now of third person sneak arounds. The PC seemed the ideal platform for me because of the fact that anyone could download a compiler and design a game however they saw fit. I knew that someone, somewhere, would eventually start designing, or had already designed, something I would enjoy. And in the rare cases where that didn't happen, I could always do it myself. This is also what attracted me to FOSS in the first place. Not only did we have the power of the compiler, but a ready made development team around the world. w00t!!!
What M$ is doing is trying to break into that market and bring that into the console world. Imagine that an indie game, spread across the internet, could be brought to the console world? Its a sad fact that most gamers today are moving towards the consoles. This might actually help breathe new life into the PC gaming world. Double w00t!!
Now, granted, M$ is doing this in its usual bloated, monopolizing fashion. But we can't expect miracles, now can we?
I'm done now, so flame on!!
"I think we might actually crash this time"-Mal Reynolds, Serenity
Unfortunately. Everyone uses Windows because everyone uses Windows. What we need is for WINE to become stable and reliable enough to run 90% of windows apps at least as well as Windows, and to be fully integrated into the kernel. Once that happens, you will hear funeral bells from Redmond.
Thats why OSS will eventually take over. You have a huge pool of coders and software engineers inputing changes into the code. Distributed development is the way of the future. Who cares if u have 30 million lines of code when you've got 3 million developers?
PEBKAC
But seriously, isnt that the same as saying "She was asking for it?"
They enforce it alright...when they feel like it. Like against some kid who happens to be poking around in his university's mainframe. but against a large company (read: potential campaign contributor)? i dont think so.
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.
So how is this different from a rootkit or trojan? And if it isn't, why are these people still a company and not in jail w/ the rest of the black hats? and why are we more worried about some kid who downloads a couple Metallica CDs?
Use a firewall and wear a rubber - hitmanWilly1337
Mac and apple in general want to be just like M$. Granted, they deliver a better product (feel free to flame away on this), but they try to control not only your software, but your hardware too. Switch to Linux. I use slack 11 myself, and have never had a problem w/ it.
Talking about OS's is like talking about religeon. Everyone is sure theirs is the best, and they're all wrong.
Set up a couple web cams rigged to motion sensors. Should be able to find what you need @ Radio shack. 2 or 3 set up in critical locations would do the trick. Also reccomend a moisture sensor of some type in the basement (if u have one).
"I think we might actually crash this time." -Mal Reynolds, Serenity
WARNING!!!
The Anti-MS types have found our secret out!!
Default to plan B-17. Repeat, Default to plan B-17.
Step1: Go on offensive. Try to marginalize all non-MS users as reactionary or zealots.
Step2: Create large, bulky, complex standards document full of security flaws, incomplete implementation, and legal loopholes.
Step3: Use litigation, hidden functionality, and mandatory updates to gain royalties from all Open Office users.
Step4: Paint ourselves as the "good-guys" by claiming to reach out to the open source community while providing a half-assed implementation.
Step5: Claim "user-friendliness" while decreasing functionality (at least to non-MS programmers).
Remember: Reach out, embrace, eradicate.