Also... i did check the wiki - the instructions did not work.
I just tried following them again - and although I've got MP3s working in Juk - following them to the letter gives:
rosej@kubuntu:~$ sudo apt-get install libarts1-xine Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree... Done The following NEW packages will be installed: libarts1-xine 0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 8 not upgraded. Need to get 93.5kB of archives. After unpacking 426kB of additional disk space will be used. Get:1 http://au.archive.ubuntu.com/ dapper/universe libarts1-xine 4:3.5.2-0ubuntu3 [93.5kB] Fetched 93.5kB in 0s (340kB/s) Selecting previously deselected package libarts1-xine. (Reading database... 71958 files and directories currently installed.) Unpacking libarts1-xine (from.../libarts1-xine_4%3a3.5.2-0ubuntu3_i386.deb)... Setting up libarts1-xine (3.5.2-0ubuntu3)... rosej@kubuntu:~$ sudo apt-get install libxine-extracodecs Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree... Done Package libxine-extracodecs is not available, but is referred to by another package. This may mean that the package is missing, has been obsoleted, or is only available from another source E: Package libxine-extracodecs has no installation candidate
As I said - it helps if the documentation works...
And again, I could figure it out (back in the day I compiled KDE1.0 pre releases, etc from source on slackware 3.x) - but ubuntu isn't aiming at that market.
I have run Linux on/off for 10 years (including previous Ubuntu releases without hassle).
MP3s don't work in dapper (Kubuntu).
I have tried finding which libraries to install, and the documentation is broken (i.e., following the directions on the Kubuntu home page does not work).
Back to FreeBSD methinks... at least the docs work.
(K)Ubuntu is nice, but really... if *I* (i.e., a fairly competent *nix user) can't get MP3s working out of the box within 10 minutes (I lost interest after that, it shouldn't be that hard for an "easy to use" OS), it's not going to fly as a home user OS - which will hobble it's use as business O/S as well...
Translation: I bought windows hardware without drivers support and i'm cranky that someone hasn't reverse engineered my closed-spec hardware!
Yes, it sucks... but really, if you're serious about ditching windows, until companies actually start writing drivers, this is likely to happen a bit unless you actively request compatible hardware.
Drivers for windows are supplied by the hardware manufacturer to be included with Windows. Linux drivers are often reverse-engineered unless the company concerned writes their own drivers (many are getting better with this now)...
How about Microsoft simply work on open formats, open standards, and then things will inter-operate?
I don't see open-source products deliberately designing stuff that will not work with Windows - there's nothing for the open source community to change - the changes required are all on Microsoft's side as far as I'm concerned.
PR spin.... trying to blame us for their incompatibility etc...
As Microsoft continues along its road of interoperability, it wants to ensure that it will be able to work with software licensed under the GPL and that people will be able to build solutions under the GPL that interoperate with Microsoft's offerings, he said.
"Continues"?? Marketing bullshit... to get on the inter-operability path, they need to adopt open standards... not modified variants that are unusable/undocumented for use by anyone else.
That still makes below 1GB. What the hell they filled the rest with, no clue.
The 100,000 frames of photo-realistic, full screen search-puppy animation, clippy NG (tm), skynet distributed computing client and Windows geniune (dis)advantage, no doubt...
Releasing the source to Windows 98 would make it easier for large amounts of the Win32 API to be cloned.
This is very bad from Microsoft's perspective, as it would make it much easier for people to get the Win32 version of Office up and running on other operating systems - which is a large part of why Windows is "indespensible" (not exactly true, but the perception is definately there) for many users in the business world.
Thats one thing ive never understood, why use custom memory for saving games
when flash drives are big and cheap and the usb 2.0 port is fast, dirt cheap
and proven technology.
$
That's the reason. If you need to buy a memory card to save games, that's another $x in Sony/Microsoft's pocket.
If there is no other way, then you get a CD burned or USB written, and deliver the data via sneakernet. If cdwriters and usb are blocked, as they often are, then they get a special permit and have it done anyway(it HAS to be done, after all), only it creates bigger delays.
This is the way you go. It creates bigger delays? Then you should take that into account when putting a timeline on the project, or get a better relationship with your IT dept and include them in the planning of such projects.
If you can't get a permit/get a CD burned within a day or so (and the project really is that time critical), then your company has serious organisational problems, IMHO.
Sorry, but as I posted above - security is NOT optional in one of these environments - and if it is considered optional, you're opening yourselves up to a lawsuit if/when data escapes - as IMHO (and i'm quite sure others would argue the same) - due care was not taken with your customer's personal details.
I agree, it's not as easy as just slapping in a thumb-drive and copying what you like - but when the shit hits the fan (and believe me, sooner or later it WILL in that environment) - you're leaving yourself open to being legally fucked.
If more game and utility companies would make linux versions, you might have a point. Unfortunately, unless programmers are making an income off of the product, it doesn't get updated, or it does during "hobby-time". Linux today reminds me of DOS in the mid 90's. There were 7 versions of DOS, but MS-DOS won the battle by being compatible with all the application and game software.
It's really not quite that bad. Go with one of the Ubuntus and there's generally an installer for anything you need. Ubuntu also has commercial support available (haven't checked pricing, but my bet is that it's competitive with getting support for Windows when you take purchase price into account).
As to games having Linux versions - well, most modern games aren't supported on Windows 98 either - especially not on hardware old enough to have shipped with it.
My point is that because of people clinging to legacy Windows O/Ses and citing lack of funds as an excuse, they're not using Linux (or something else). Because of that, game manufacturers, software vendors, etc are not providing more support to the Linux/other market.
The gaming situation for old software on Linux isn't *that* dire - particularly if you're talking about "hand me down" hardware that wouldn't run recent games anyway. Most abandonware/old dos games will work in Dosbox these days - which runs on Linux as well as it does on Windows. There's transgaming for more recent directX stuff (admittedly it's not perfect, but it's better than nothing - and will get better if more people support/use it).
Look, I agree that Microsoft *could* patch Windows 98, but seriously... how many years of support do you expect for your $100 operating system - particularly when the solution is quite simple: turn off SMB file sharing, or put the machine behind a firewall?
The main issue I see with the situation is that Microsoft needs to be more up-front and put something in writing on the box when they sell software with regards to their support plans. (ie: Windows XP* *supported until 2008) or whatever. Or change to a subscription model, which they are trying to do in the near future, if i'm not mistaken...
When i first started running Linux (Slackware 3.1 ftw:D), quake ran faster, doom ran faster, the web was faster, etc. I mean hell, a couple of years later, on a pentium, i could run 4 copies of doom at once, in 4 Windows (and I did for a laugh).
It wasn't quite as pretty, but FVWM was kinda cool even in a quirky kind of way, and multiple desktops kicked ass.
The ONLY complaint I have ever had about Linux in the 10 years I've been using it, is application support...
So, how long should a company support their code for?
3 years? 5 years? 10 years? Should microsoft still be supporting DOS 5.0?
Windows 98 is old and broken - and Microsoft has droppped support for it over 2 years ago now.
If you can't afford to run Windows 2k/XP, run Linux - you'll be able to do far more these days that with some old broken O/S with a broken security model and no vendor support.
If you RTFA (or perhaps, understood properly) you would know this is port 139 which is windows file sharing, which is not part of Internet Explorer.
Unless you're going to completely rip out Windows file sharing, you're not getting rid of this vulnerability - installing firefox and using it instead of IE *WILL NOT HELP*.
Most of the comments in this thread are of the "USB drives are a big security hole! Disable them!" variety. What a classic example of IT snobbery. A good administrator, one who understands his users, would stop to think WHY people use USB drives, and try to create a solution that balances the benefits vs. risk to the users.
Keep in mind, we're not talking about mum+dad's small business here. We're talking about a financial institution. Disabling removable media should be fairly high up there on the list of things to do.
Users require USB disks to work from home? No they don't.
*IF* they need to work from home, provide a more secure solution (such as ISDN call-back, etc) to their house. Yes, this costs money, however see the point above regarding what sort of business this is.
In the field we're talking about (dealing with people's finances), security isn't something you should be negotiating with your users just because it is a potential inconvenience.
A small office in a different industry (where the only risk of monetary loss is your own)? Perhaps USB drives are an acceptable risk... Dealing with customer finances? No f*cking way...
There's precautions you can take - however having a network policy which allows any and all untrusted media to be installed/used in your machines is not taking due care.
It's all about managing risk.
If you require users to work from home, a better bet is a VPN connection allowing only the relevant protocols to pass through. Yes, it's still a risk, but less so than untrusted media.
A far better option is point to point connection via leased line.
We're not talking about a small regular company office here - we're talking about a credit union, who should be taking more care with security related matters.
Slashdot Mirror
I just tried following them again - and although I've got MP3s working in Juk - following them to the letter gives:
As I said - it helps if the documentation works...
And again, I could figure it out (back in the day I compiled KDE1.0 pre releases, etc from source on slackware 3.x) - but ubuntu isn't aiming at that market.
I myself, could quite easily.
The point is, I shouldn't *have* to buggerise around because of some idealogical crap.
That is the sort of thing that will prevent ubuntu from taking hold in a big way.
Other distros work out of the box (as did ubuntu 5.10) - (dumb user mode on) - "I don't care why it does / doesn't work".
Well, any O/S is secure when locked up in a development lab with no attack vector from the world at large.
I'll let the next 3 years decide what's most secure in reality thanks ;)
Correct or not... that was my first thought :D
I have run Linux on/off for 10 years (including previous Ubuntu releases without hassle).
MP3s don't work in dapper (Kubuntu).
I have tried finding which libraries to install, and the documentation is broken (i.e., following the directions on the Kubuntu home page does not work).
Back to FreeBSD methinks... at least the docs work.
(K)Ubuntu is nice, but really... if *I* (i.e., a fairly competent *nix user) can't get MP3s working out of the box within 10 minutes (I lost interest after that, it shouldn't be that hard for an "easy to use" OS), it's not going to fly as a home user OS - which will hobble it's use as business O/S as well...
Yes, it sucks... but really, if you're serious about ditching windows, until companies actually start writing drivers, this is likely to happen a bit unless you actively request compatible hardware.
Drivers for windows are supplied by the hardware manufacturer to be included with Windows. Linux drivers are often reverse-engineered unless the company concerned writes their own drivers (many are getting better with this now)...
How about Microsoft simply work on open formats, open standards, and then things will inter-operate?
I don't see open-source products deliberately designing stuff that will not work with Windows - there's nothing for the open source community to change - the changes required are all on Microsoft's side as far as I'm concerned.
PR spin.... trying to blame us for their incompatibility etc...
"Continues"?? Marketing bullshit... to get on the inter-operability path, they need to adopt open standards... not modified variants that are unusable/undocumented for use by anyone else.
Apparently it's more newsworthy than the submission i had rejected regarding the pirate bay's traffic doubling since they were raided... :D
Hmmm what a product name. Sounds like the name of some obscure porno featured on stile project...
I think you mean "gall"
The 100,000 frames of photo-realistic, full screen search-puppy animation, clippy NG (tm), skynet distributed computing client and Windows geniune (dis)advantage, no doubt...
This is very bad from Microsoft's perspective, as it would make it much easier for people to get the Win32 version of Office up and running on other operating systems - which is a large part of why Windows is "indespensible" (not exactly true, but the perception is definately there) for many users in the business world.
I'm referring to "crap" code that I've never read, but have had to deal with the bugs/interface inconsistancies in.
My point is that the vast number of security vulnerabilities and bugs in the current version(s) of Windows are not all to do with legacy code.
If i can write it off on tax, then i can effectively get it very cheap.
I just recently purchased a wide-screen LCD tv with VGA input actually - thanks for the tip :D
So i'd say it's quite feasible.
Also, our video network runs entirely on a customised Linux-based O/S.
That's the reason. If you need to buy a memory card to save games, that's another $x in Sony/Microsoft's pocket.
There is NO technical reason for it...
This is the way you go. It creates bigger delays? Then you should take that into account when putting a timeline on the project, or get a better relationship with your IT dept and include them in the planning of such projects.
If you can't get a permit/get a CD burned within a day or so (and the project really is that time critical), then your company has serious organisational problems, IMHO.
Sorry, but as I posted above - security is NOT optional in one of these environments - and if it is considered optional, you're opening yourselves up to a lawsuit if/when data escapes - as IMHO (and i'm quite sure others would argue the same) - due care was not taken with your customer's personal details.
I agree, it's not as easy as just slapping in a thumb-drive and copying what you like - but when the shit hits the fan (and believe me, sooner or later it WILL in that environment) - you're leaving yourself open to being legally fucked.
It's simply too risky.
It's really not quite that bad. Go with one of the Ubuntus and there's generally an installer for anything you need. Ubuntu also has commercial support available (haven't checked pricing, but my bet is that it's competitive with getting support for Windows when you take purchase price into account).
As to games having Linux versions - well, most modern games aren't supported on Windows 98 either - especially not on hardware old enough to have shipped with it.
My point is that because of people clinging to legacy Windows O/Ses and citing lack of funds as an excuse, they're not using Linux (or something else). Because of that, game manufacturers, software vendors, etc are not providing more support to the Linux/other market.
The gaming situation for old software on Linux isn't *that* dire - particularly if you're talking about "hand me down" hardware that wouldn't run recent games anyway. Most abandonware/old dos games will work in Dosbox these days - which runs on Linux as well as it does on Windows. There's transgaming for more recent directX stuff (admittedly it's not perfect, but it's better than nothing - and will get better if more people support/use it).
Look, I agree that Microsoft *could* patch Windows 98, but seriously... how many years of support do you expect for your $100 operating system - particularly when the solution is quite simple: turn off SMB file sharing, or put the machine behind a firewall?
The main issue I see with the situation is that Microsoft needs to be more up-front and put something in writing on the box when they sell software with regards to their support plans. (ie: Windows XP* *supported until 2008) or whatever. Or change to a subscription model, which they are trying to do in the near future, if i'm not mistaken...
Fair enough - i was comparing slackware to Windows 95, as that was when *I* switched to linux :D
When i first started running Linux (Slackware 3.1 ftw :D), quake ran faster, doom ran faster, the web was faster, etc. I mean hell, a couple of years later, on a pentium, i could run 4 copies of doom at once, in 4 Windows (and I did for a laugh).
It wasn't quite as pretty, but FVWM was kinda cool even in a quirky kind of way, and multiple desktops kicked ass.
The ONLY complaint I have ever had about Linux in the 10 years I've been using it, is application support...
3 years? 5 years? 10 years? Should microsoft still be supporting DOS 5.0?
Windows 98 is old and broken - and Microsoft has droppped support for it over 2 years ago now.
If you can't afford to run Windows 2k/XP, run Linux - you'll be able to do far more these days that with some old broken O/S with a broken security model and no vendor support.
Unless you're going to completely rip out Windows file sharing, you're not getting rid of this vulnerability - installing firefox and using it instead of IE *WILL NOT HELP*.
So no, what you suggest will not help.
My bet is that they still let out e-mail. Own and you're home free...
Keep in mind, we're not talking about mum+dad's small business here. We're talking about a financial institution. Disabling removable media should be fairly high up there on the list of things to do.
Users require USB disks to work from home? No they don't.
*IF* they need to work from home, provide a more secure solution (such as ISDN call-back, etc) to their house. Yes, this costs money, however see the point above regarding what sort of business this is.
In the field we're talking about (dealing with people's finances), security isn't something you should be negotiating with your users just because it is a potential inconvenience.
A small office in a different industry (where the only risk of monetary loss is your own)? Perhaps USB drives are an acceptable risk... Dealing with customer finances? No f*cking way...
It's all about managing risk.
If you require users to work from home, a better bet is a VPN connection allowing only the relevant protocols to pass through. Yes, it's still a risk, but less so than untrusted media.
A far better option is point to point connection via leased line.
We're not talking about a small regular company office here - we're talking about a credit union, who should be taking more care with security related matters.