Not if your favorite rootkit is the Sony music CD rootkit. Sony have wisely decided to only annoy Windows users...;-)
So what - we are all NAT'ed anyway?
on
Hardening Linux
·
· Score: 1
I bet that 99% of Linux users are behind a NAT router (because as IT geeks they have tons of networked gear and a private network). The remaining 1% with a public IP directly on their Linux box probably know what they are doing.
And don't give me the "what if there is port forwarding rules on the router" argument. If the user has port forwarding rules then he/she also knowledgeable enough to secure the target Linux box.
I know a lot of IT geeks (being one myself) and I seriously don't know ANY IT geek who is not using a NAT router for their local machines. The few that do have a machine on a public IP (hobby mail servers, game servers, etc) already know what they are doing and don't need an article about open ports on a default-installed Linux box.
- Jesper
Re:Lots of linux stories on the front page
on
Hardening Linux
·
· Score: 2, Insightful
There is more to being an IT Geek than pushing Linux to the world.
There are other kinds of FOSS products than Linux btw - so why is Linux the only one to get 30% of the index page?
Allthough I like and use Linux, I think the point is valid.
- Jesper
Re:Someone update the Wiki pls?
on
SCO Loses
·
· Score: 1
Mjeah... but didn't you RTFA or the ruling?
Since the judge has ruled that Novell is owner of the sourcecode in question in the SCO vs IBM case, and Novell has chosen to free IBM of any obligations regarding this source code, the IBM vs. SCO case is pretty much over before it began.
Which is why the judge chose to start with the SCO vs. Novell case.
- Jesper
Someone update the Wiki pls?
on
SCO Loses
·
· Score: 2, Informative
Could somebody please update the Wiki article? English is not my first language, so I don't think I should touch it;-)
That is just so plain wrong. I have followed the case on Groklaw and a couple of other sites, and the ruling today is very solid and was in no way "won" or manipulated by the lawyers of the winning parties.
The simple fact is, that SCO had no case (they probably knew that from the start, and hoped for an out-of-court settlement). And that has nothing to do with lawyers or the size of the companies involved.
Besides, SCO's case has been (indirectly) financed by a number of anti-linux corporations (including Microsoft). Money for lawyers really hasn't been an object for them - but they still lost. If your case is utter garbage, no amount of money is going to help you.
I use FF myself and love it. And every chance I get, I install it (with permission) on computers belonging to family, friends and business contacts. But I am absolutely sure that not all of them actually use it as their default browser after that. Some of them try it out for a few days, then shift back to IE. And I totally respect that, since having a CHOICE is what really matters.
If there are many more like me, we are partially "guilty" of statistics in question. We download FF on many occasions, and not all of these downloads result in an active FF user.
- Jesper
While i do have some understanding of business processed, IT architecture and basic programming I am no way near geeky enough to undertake such a project.
I am the guy who would be able to push such a product/distro/add-on to the SMBs... not the guy who can code it. In other words I can increase the use once it is there - but not create it from scratch.
I will be following SUSE and openSUSE more closely in the future though. I think that the more business-oriented approach that Novell has, strengthens Linux community - not the opposite (as some might say).
Diversity is not at all a bad thing. And I dont think anybody has said that either.
Also, diversity and "myriads of choices" is not per definition a function of "free software". Nor is the opposite.
But confusion, bad overview, high demands for planning and high demands for technical skills *IS* the result of too much diversity and an abundance of choices. This is true for any kind of software or product - free, open, closed and commercial.
While the power of Linux and FOSS in general is its diversity it is also its Achilles heel. It scares a lot of potential users away because the extreme freedom increases the demand for deep insight and technical skills.
The solution is to make "packages" that target a specific use. And that is in fact a very common Linux approach. There are distros dedicated to serve info-kiosks, firewalls, routers, Media computers, company network clients, etc.
Now, for the first time, someone has made a distro (or rather: an add-on for a distro) which specifically targets the needs for non-Linux-geeks in the education sector.
How on earth did you turn this debate into a "free vs. non-free operating system" topic???:-)
It would be great if the SUSE folks also made a similar add-on CD for the SMB segment. They face many of the same technical challenges as the schools/educators, just wrapped in different words and scenarios.
Making tools which allow educators and people in small businesses to deploy and administer a small networked Linux environment is a great idea. And the lack of such tools is often what intimidates non-Linux-geeks from adopting Linux.
Making the CD as an add-on is a great idea. One of the nightmares most educators face when they attempt to introduce Linux into their school is the myriad of distros and choices they have to somehow analyze and understand. By simply adding the tools an educator needs for administrating a collection of Linux computers in a school, they make the distro a lot more attractive.
Schools generally don't have large IT department loaded with hardcore Linux geeks.
For a "UI researcher" you certainly make strange statements.
Most PC users wouldn't buy iPods if they were forced to use iTunes before deciding on an MP3 player.
Would you care to provide some sources that support that statement?
Every iPod owner I know of, had tried iTunes before they bought their iPod. In fact, many of them bought an iPod *BECAUSE* of iTunes. For common users, using an iPod with iTunes is a lot easier than using almost any other MP3 player with Windows Media or the horrible 3rd party media players that some of them are locked to (Sony devices for example are locked to Sonicstage).
iTunes is missing a lot of features, sure, but the features it DOES have are easy to use and understand. The media library is easy to browse, ripping is easy, updates in the iPod firmware are 100% fully automated, and the terms of use for DRM protected files bought in iTunes are the best in the industry. I personally hate DRM but that does not change the fact that Apples DRM terms are more "friendly" that anybody else's. Even streaming digital music over wireless networks is easy with an AirTunes device. It all simply works.
Because I am a more technical minded user, I am not using iTunes as my primary media app but I can definitely understand why my mother/aunt/neighbour would prefer it over other apps.
That is perhaps the most patronising, egocentric and self-promoting post I have ever read on/.
And your reply doesn't even address the criticism I gave you.
If you had taken the time to review my profile, you would have known better than to insinuate that I am a common geek livining in my parents basement. I have a decent insight in matters of both business processes and software development. And certainly in the analysis of design specs and user experiences.
I don't know what kind of people pays you consulting fees for your self-centred and coloured views on IT matters. And I don't know what companies you own. But I certainly do know, that if your reports or your companies are anything like your posts on/. I would advise my customers to stay the hell away from them.
Keeping an open mind is (or at least should be) the top priority for any researcher or consultant.
Responding to criticism with something OTHER that a long self-centred babble about how cool you supposedly are should be the second one.
I believe, with all respect, that you have failed on both accounts.
People with real technical insight use whatever suits a particular purpose for a particular task in a particular situation.
Personally, I am a Windows, OSX and Linux user. I use the platform that suits my needs in different situations.
Your statement makes you sound like a short-sighted religious type, who refuses to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different platform... like a member of a fanatic sect who mocks or offends other people's choices. It's almost like OS racism.;-)
If you want to promote what you believe to be the one-and-only platform, you better start taking diplomacy lessons... mocking others will only alienate yourself and the platform you think you are "helping".
Personally I would agree with many of your points. But you overlook several important things, and make a lot of very bad errors for a "researcher". The most important one of them is so obvious, that if an employee from "a UI research group" submitted a report to me with such an obvious error I would fire him. (I guess that kinda fits that you would fire a graphical designer who submitted Safari as an example of his work?)
You seem so focus on the ideas and opinions you have picked up in your job as "part of a UI research group" that you totally ignore the point in my first post. And that makes you a horrible researcher - with all respect. You should be a little more willing to LISTEN if you are so proud of being "in a UI research group" (you ARE pretty proud of that, right?).
My own opinions aside (and I already admitted to using FF on all my 3 platforms), the non-technical users I know *DO* think that Apples UI is sleek and user-friendly. As a researcher it is not your job to tell them they are wrong - it is your job to investigate WHY they have that opinion, and which good things can be extracted from that.
The next time you hear someone state "I know a lot of people who think Apple makes good and userfriendly apps" you should investigate. Not engage in heavy criticism colored by your personal opinions.
No matter how much you mock Apple or their software on the Windows platform, it will not change the fact that a very large group of common end-users I know actually think that Apples look'n'feel is better than many other applications. That is not an issue for debate - it is a simple observation of their views on software.
I already wrote, that people who think skinning is the hottest thing since the deep plate, will stick to FF or something. If you think the colour of your browser is a very important thing, then get a skinnable browser. Just remember that not everybody feels as strongly about the colours as you do.
(Some people think that skinning is SO 2001... but hey, each to his own *s*)
Bottom line: Safari for Windows has a GUI that is more appealing to some users than IE7. On top of that it doesn't use the infamous new "Ribbons". Using Safari makes these non-technical users feel more "at home" than IE7 does.
The reason Safari for Windows might actually be a serious competitor on the browser market, is because Apple has something many others have not: Talented GUI oriented developers who can add that extra "spice" that will make ordinary people actually switch IE7 with something else.
Think about it. People with technical insight choose FF/Opera over IE because it offers them features that IE doesn't have. People without technical insight just don't care about these features - they don't use plug-ins, skins, or strange shortcut keys.
If I were to convince "regular non-technical users" like my mother, aunt, neighbour, etc. to switch to a non-IE browser, I would need something that appealed to them. Fancy plug-ins ad strange/smart hotkeys is not what they are looking for - they want a sleek, graphically appealing and (for them) intuitive user experience.
Apple is in the business of delivering that EXACT experience! Not too many fancy settings and details, just the sleek and appealing interface that common people understand.
If Apple play their cards right, they could be a serious challenge.
Personally I'll stick with FF (on all 3 platforms I use) but I can certainly understand why the less technical "common users" would fall for the "Apple experience". They are really good at adding that extra GUI spice...
Slashdot Mirror
Not if your favorite rootkit is the Sony music CD rootkit. Sony have wisely decided to only annoy Windows users ... ;-)
I bet that 99% of Linux users are behind a NAT router (because as IT geeks they have tons of networked gear and a private network). The remaining 1% with a public IP directly on their Linux box probably know what they are doing. And don't give me the "what if there is port forwarding rules on the router" argument. If the user has port forwarding rules then he/she also knowledgeable enough to secure the target Linux box. I know a lot of IT geeks (being one myself) and I seriously don't know ANY IT geek who is not using a NAT router for their local machines. The few that do have a machine on a public IP (hobby mail servers, game servers, etc) already know what they are doing and don't need an article about open ports on a default-installed Linux box. - Jesper
There is more to being an IT Geek than pushing Linux to the world.
There are other kinds of FOSS products than Linux btw - so why is Linux the only one to get 30% of the index page?
Allthough I like and use Linux, I think the point is valid.
- Jesper
Mjeah ... but didn't you RTFA or the ruling?
Since the judge has ruled that Novell is owner of the sourcecode in question in the SCO vs IBM case, and Novell has chosen to free IBM of any obligations regarding this source code, the IBM vs. SCO case is pretty much over before it began.
Which is why the judge chose to start with the SCO vs. Novell case.
- Jesper
Could somebody please update the Wiki article? English is not my first language, so I don't think I should touch it ;-)
:-)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCO_v._IBM
- Jesper
That is just so plain wrong. I have followed the case on Groklaw and a couple of other sites, and the ruling today is very solid and was in no way "won" or manipulated by the lawyers of the winning parties.
The simple fact is, that SCO had no case (they probably knew that from the start, and hoped for an out-of-court settlement). And that has nothing to do with lawyers or the size of the companies involved.
Besides, SCO's case has been (indirectly) financed by a number of anti-linux corporations (including Microsoft). Money for lawyers really hasn't been an object for them - but they still lost. If your case is utter garbage, no amount of money is going to help you.
- Jesper
Ahemm... Why on earth would we want to kiss your ass for that??? - Jesper
I use FF myself and love it. And every chance I get, I install it (with permission) on computers belonging to family, friends and business contacts. But I am absolutely sure that not all of them actually use it as their default browser after that. Some of them try it out for a few days, then shift back to IE. And I totally respect that, since having a CHOICE is what really matters. If there are many more like me, we are partially "guilty" of statistics in question. We download FF on many occasions, and not all of these downloads result in an active FF user. - Jesper
What? I get a Troll mod for that post?
... you gotta be kiddin ... :-D
*LOL*
In Soviet Russia, internet banking systems intrude on YOUR privacy.
... wait a minute ...
Oh
In A.D. 2007, internet fraud was beginning.
....
(or: a quiet evening at the Petersons)
Mom: What happen ?
Dad: Someone set up us the malware.
Son: We get signal.
Mom: What !
Son: Main screen turn on.
Mom: It's you !!
BANK: How are you gentlemen !!
BANK: All your PC clients are belong to us.
BANK: You are on the way to destruction.
Mom: What you say !!
BANK: You have no chance to survive make your time.
BANK: Ha Ha Ha Ha
Son: Mom !!
Mom: Take off every 'Internet banking app.' !!
Mom: You know what you doing.
Mom: Remove 'Internet banking app.'.
Mom: For great justice.
^true
:-)
While i do have some understanding of business processed, IT architecture and basic programming I am no way near geeky enough to undertake such a project.
... not the guy who can code it. In other words I can increase the use once it is there - but not create it from scratch.
I am the guy who would be able to push such a product/distro/add-on to the SMBs
I will be following SUSE and openSUSE more closely in the future though. I think that the more business-oriented approach that Novell has, strengthens Linux community - not the opposite (as some might say).
Diversity is not at all a bad thing. And I dont think anybody has said that either.
:-)
Also, diversity and "myriads of choices" is not per definition a function of "free software". Nor is the opposite.
But confusion, bad overview, high demands for planning and high demands for technical skills *IS* the result of too much diversity and an abundance of choices. This is true for any kind of software or product - free, open, closed and commercial.
While the power of Linux and FOSS in general is its diversity it is also its Achilles heel. It scares a lot of potential users away because the extreme freedom increases the demand for deep insight and technical skills.
The solution is to make "packages" that target a specific use. And that is in fact a very common Linux approach. There are distros dedicated to serve info-kiosks, firewalls, routers, Media computers, company network clients, etc.
Now, for the first time, someone has made a distro (or rather: an add-on for a distro) which specifically targets the needs for non-Linux-geeks in the education sector.
How on earth did you turn this debate into a "free vs. non-free operating system" topic???
It would be great if the SUSE folks also made a similar add-on CD for the SMB segment. They face many of the same technical challenges as the schools/educators, just wrapped in different words and scenarios.
Making tools which allow educators and people in small businesses to deploy and administer a small networked Linux environment is a great idea. And the lack of such tools is often what intimidates non-Linux-geeks from adopting Linux.
Making the CD as an add-on is a great idea. One of the nightmares most educators face when they attempt to introduce Linux into their school is the myriad of distros and choices they have to somehow analyze and understand. By simply adding the tools an educator needs for administrating a collection of Linux computers in a school, they make the distro a lot more attractive.
Schools generally don't have large IT department loaded with hardcore Linux geeks.
^true
:-)
Every iPod owner I know of, had tried iTunes before they bought their iPod. In fact, many of them bought an iPod *BECAUSE* of iTunes. For common users, using an iPod with iTunes is a lot easier than using almost any other MP3 player with Windows Media or the horrible 3rd party media players that some of them are locked to (Sony devices for example are locked to Sonicstage).
iTunes is missing a lot of features, sure, but the features it DOES have are easy to use and understand. The media library is easy to browse, ripping is easy, updates in the iPod firmware are 100% fully automated, and the terms of use for DRM protected files bought in iTunes are the best in the industry. I personally hate DRM but that does not change the fact that Apples DRM terms are more "friendly" that anybody else's. Even streaming digital music over wireless networks is easy with an AirTunes device. It all simply works.
Because I am a more technical minded user, I am not using iTunes as my primary media app but I can definitely understand why my mother/aunt/neighbour would prefer it over other apps.
*LOL*
/.
/. I would advise my customers to stay the hell away from them.
That is perhaps the most patronising, egocentric and self-promoting post I have ever read on
And your reply doesn't even address the criticism I gave you.
If you had taken the time to review my profile, you would have known better than to insinuate that I am a common geek livining in my parents basement. I have a decent insight in matters of both business processes and software development. And certainly in the analysis of design specs and user experiences.
I don't know what kind of people pays you consulting fees for your self-centred and coloured views on IT matters. And I don't know what companies you own. But I certainly do know, that if your reports or your companies are anything like your posts on
Keeping an open mind is (or at least should be) the top priority for any researcher or consultant.
Responding to criticism with something OTHER that a long self-centred babble about how cool you supposedly are should be the second one.
I believe, with all respect, that you have failed on both accounts.
People with real technical insight use whatever suits a particular purpose for a particular task in a particular situation.
;-)
... mocking others will only alienate yourself and the platform you think you are "helping".
Personally, I am a Windows, OSX and Linux user. I use the platform that suits my needs in different situations.
Your statement makes you sound like a short-sighted religious type, who refuses to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different platform... like a member of a fanatic sect who mocks or offends other people's choices. It's almost like OS racism.
If you want to promote what you believe to be the one-and-only platform, you better start taking diplomacy lessons
Personally I would agree with many of your points. But you overlook several important things, and make a lot of very bad errors for a "researcher". The most important one of them is so obvious, that if an employee from "a UI research group" submitted a report to me with such an obvious error I would fire him. (I guess that kinda fits that you would fire a graphical designer who submitted Safari as an example of his work?)
You seem so focus on the ideas and opinions you have picked up in your job as "part of a UI research group" that you totally ignore the point in my first post. And that makes you a horrible researcher - with all respect. You should be a little more willing to LISTEN if you are so proud of being "in a UI research group" (you ARE pretty proud of that, right?).
My own opinions aside (and I already admitted to using FF on all my 3 platforms), the non-technical users I know *DO* think that Apples UI is sleek and user-friendly. As a researcher it is not your job to tell them they are wrong - it is your job to investigate WHY they have that opinion, and which good things can be extracted from that.
The next time you hear someone state "I know a lot of people who think Apple makes good and userfriendly apps" you should investigate. Not engage in heavy criticism colored by your personal opinions.
No matter how much you mock Apple or their software on the Windows platform, it will not change the fact that a very large group of common end-users I know actually think that Apples look'n'feel is better than many other applications. That is not an issue for debate - it is a simple observation of their views on software.
I already wrote, that people who think skinning is the hottest thing since the deep plate, will stick to FF or something. If you think the colour of your browser is a very important thing, then get a skinnable browser. Just remember that not everybody feels as strongly about the colours as you do.
... but hey, each to his own *s*)
(Some people think that skinning is SO 2001
Bottom line: Safari for Windows has a GUI that is more appealing to some users than IE7. On top of that it doesn't use the infamous new "Ribbons". Using Safari makes these non-technical users feel more "at home" than IE7 does.
Lets wait with the "it crashes when I use function XYZ" panic until it is officially released. An unreleased product is bound to have lots of errors.
The reason Safari for Windows might actually be a serious competitor on the browser market, is because Apple has something many others have not: Talented GUI oriented developers who can add that extra "spice" that will make ordinary people actually switch IE7 with something else.
...
Think about it. People with technical insight choose FF/Opera over IE because it offers them features that IE doesn't have. People without technical insight just don't care about these features - they don't use plug-ins, skins, or strange shortcut keys.
If I were to convince "regular non-technical users" like my mother, aunt, neighbour, etc. to switch to a non-IE browser, I would need something that appealed to them. Fancy plug-ins ad strange/smart hotkeys is not what they are looking for - they want a sleek, graphically appealing and (for them) intuitive user experience.
Apple is in the business of delivering that EXACT experience! Not too many fancy settings and details, just the sleek and appealing interface that common people understand.
If Apple play their cards right, they could be a serious challenge.
Personally I'll stick with FF (on all 3 platforms I use) but I can certainly understand why the less technical "common users" would fall for the "Apple experience". They are really good at adding that extra GUI spice
Get WinAmp. It really kicks the llamas ass ... ;-)