Why would you ever want to hack it? I always thought the vendor would have thought of everything and made sure it all worked before selling and deploying it?;-)
All motorists are at least licensed to drive. Also, they are expected to know how to check their oil, change a flat, and refill their vehicles fuel even if those tasks aren't part of the licensing test.
I think those tasks are very analogous to basic system configuration and administration. I would think basic administration tasks would include knowing that you need to go to Windows Update and also do an update to your antivirus software every couple weeks.
Actually, and this is getting way off topic, I have a little theory: a new draft will be started to help the war against terrorism. Most of these draftees won't be taught how to kill people, but how to break into computers, capture information/evidence, and secure computers.
After this war we will have a large population of people who know how to properly secure systems and who will be well aware of the costs of not securing them.
The only places I've seen.biz for sale are in IT industry rags. I haven't seen a single ad from a company listing a.biz url. All of the big companies already have their.com. Most existing organizations (commercial or otherwise) already have their url registered and don't need a.biz.
Who really needs a.biz, or any other tld, and who's going to care if they do get one?
Training and Planning are the keys.
on
KDE 2.2.1 Up
·
· Score: 4, Interesting
Linux is soooo ready for the desktop. I know this comes up every time KDE or Gnome are brought up, but it actually pains me to keep hearing ignorant arguments.
The Windows 98SE desktop (and 2000, XP, etc.) in its default installation is not office desktop ready. There are several confusing or worthless icons that need to be cleaned up, display properties to adjust, shortcuts to create, etc. I've spent at least 40 hours honing my company's system images to get them 'just right'.
I haven't used Gnome at work, and so can't comment on it. But I've set up KDE systems and it didn't take me near 40 hours to set up 'just right'.
And guess what I found out? When I put new employees/users through their mandatory IT training they picked up on KDE at least as fast as with Windows. Most of these users have had very little computer experience.
I wish I had better documented this when I started. But the users were able to use their word processor and spreadsheet, surf the web, check and send e-mail, print, use network storage and printers, and not fuck up their workstation at least as well on KDE 2.2 as on Windows 98SE.
The key here, and the key that seems to be missing in all other discussions on this topic, is that the users were trained to use KDE. I don't know of any organization with a moderately organized IT system that doesn't have a training department or IT training of some sort.
I've found it's easier to teach users Linux than Windows, so here's what all you code monkeys and sys admins need to do: teach the teachers linux. They'll see that it's easier to use and to teach and will back you up when you go to the CTO/CIO.
KDE is great. It is ready for the desktop. Get your training department's shit together and teach users how to use linux. Plan and test the desktop and start menu so your people can use it. No one can figure out how to use a computer by just sitting in front of one, they need to be taught. It's easier to teach if you're the one who's set the system up.
Honing our Windows images has dramatically cut Help Desk calls. I'm sure the Help Desk techs will be showering me with even more free lunches and drinks on them when Linux spreads throughout our organization.
We just bought a new LED signboard at work, the kind you see at banks in the US flashing APRs and the temperature. It's controlled by connecting the sign to a box, and the box to your computer's serial port.
The coolest thing about it was the appendix in the back of the user manual that contained complete schematics to the sign and the box. It also had some instructions on how to create neat graphic effects.
The client software that comes with it is for Windows, but with the appendix info I could create a client for whatever system I wanted.
My question is why don't more companies do this? I mean all of this schematic info should be copyrighted/patented anyway, so you don't have to worry about someone ripping you off. Are they just lazy or what?
Or is Microsoft going to port Microsoft Office to 64 bit Windows as well?
Yes, I'm sure they will port Office to 64 bit when they release the 64 bit client version of XP. Why they would do so for their server operating system I'm not sure.
All of their server class software will be ported to 64 bit. That includes Exchange, SQL, IIS, etc.
From the FAQ:
Interoperable with existing 32-bit Windows. With Windows Advanced Server, Limited Edition customers will see transparent integration between their Windows clients and servers, and between all their Windows servers.
also
A key feature of Windows Advanced Server, Limited Edition is its ability to run 32-bit Windows-based applications unmodified on the 64-bit platform.
and
WoW64 is a 32-bit Windows subsystem that allows you to run 32 bit applications on 64-bit Windows. Because applications run slower in WoW64, for optimum performance Microsoft recommends running 32-bit applications on 32-bit hardware for optimal performance.
You can find the FAQ at http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/64bit/aslefaq.asp
As the (one and only) sysadmin for a medium sized business, I'm interested in what an all IP6 network would do for our systems. Does it make things faster, make address management easier, make my network more secure, do I need a new ISP? Could someone reply with a link to an IP6 FAQ of some sort?
Searching google for IP6 brought up a lot of links to herbal cancer cures (!?), but nothing that looked very useful.
I once had an MCSE ask me, in all seriousness, why he couldn't type a fully-qualified hostname to choose a DNS server. It's a paper qualification; it implies no real skill or insight into the system's operation, or any sort of reasoning into consequences of limited design.
The Microsoft Certfied Systems Engineer certification does not claim to certify any knowledge of planning, implementing, configuring, or supporting DNS.
It tests a limited and well defined check list of skills, most having to do with installation and configuration. Only with the Windows 2000 series did the tests begin to measure planning and design skills.
The Windows 2000 and XP/.NET required tests - and the skills measured by each - are listed here:
http://www.microsoft.com/trainingandservices/defau lt.asp?PageID=mcp&PageCall=requirements&SubSite=ce rt/mcse&AnnMenu=mcse
Strangely, these days, the home console market is the only place where sophisticated computer games have a fair chance of being profitable. The sales volumes are significantly greater than those sales for Linux... and Windows.
There is nothing strange about it. From the consumer's POV, console gaming has none of the hassles of PC gaming: no need to learn a complex interface just to get the game installed and running; no hardware hassles - no incompatibilies, constant upgrades, or significant initial investment; and no needing to patch the software you just paid USD$50 just to make it playable.
Check out E-bay, or another auction site. I just bought a one-year-old, 17" Trinitron monitor that functions and looks like new for $60 plus shipping. I'm not going to do graphic design on it, but the picture is sharp, text is crisp, and I'm very happy.
==========foo fighter==========
Do not mistake understanding for realization,
I, as a North Dakotan, welcome the ice age.
If we have four seasons of cold instead of three, it's not a big deal.
And we could stand the ocean being a little closer, it's a bitch to get to a good beach now-a-days.
==========foo fighter==========
Do not mistake understanding for realization,
My advice is to go to a two year school and get an AS degree in Computer Information Systems, Computer Programming, or Desktop Publishing.
Computer related employment is the industry with the fastest wage and employment growth and it's projected to stay that way until at least 2006.[1] In that industry, the fastest growing occupations include computer support specialists, systems analysts/administrators, database administrators, and desktop publishing specialists.[2] All of these occupations' entry- to mid-level positions typically require only an Associates degree, possibly with a couple years experience.
Benefits of two year degrees include more topical and relevent information that can be directly applied to the job, a quicker entry into the workforce, lower student loans, and an almost 100% guarantee of good paying, relevent employment after you graduate.
[1]http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/ecopro.t03. ht m
[2]http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/ecopro.t06. ht m
==========foo fighter==========
Do not mistake understanding for realization,
After reading some of the comments above I have to point something out. Microsoft has called these things a "Pocket PC" for a reason: they're not a PDA!!!!
When I think PDA I really think PIM. A device to keep track of appointments, contacts, to-do stuff, etc. That's not what Microsoft is doing here.
What they are doing is trying to compress the entire PC (at least, Wintel PC) experience into a little machine that fits, kinda, into your back pocket. Sure you can still do all of the regular PIM stuff. But what's really amazing is how they go beyond the PIM.
It has Word, Excel, and Internet Explorer out of the box. None of these are perfect, but they are a lot more than the Palm comes with out of the box. AvantGo sucks. Nuff said.
They are in color. They have been in color for awhile. They look better than the Palm's lame excuse for color. The Palm isn't great in the sun either. It is better, but not so good that I'd hold it against the CE. I guess if you are some kind of fanatic of Hercules monochrome or a CLI junky you may go for grayscale. But I'll take color any day of the week.
Ok, only 32MB for MP3s. How many MP3s can the Palm play? Thought so.
Even if you don't like the Windows GUI, the Pocket PC barely resembles it. In its latest iteration it can't even honestly be compared to the Win 9x GUI. Use it for awhile and you'll see what I mean. It's still more alike Windows than the Palm, but it's logically, and well, done for the small screen.
The Palm Vx I have has been great: It looks really cool when I whip it out in public. But feature for feature, Microsoft has really done something special here.
I've run Linux, FreeBSD, and Solaris at home for years, and love all of them much more than Windows. But it's a shame when people are blinded to true inovation and a great product do to whatever reason.
The little Espresso got rave reviews on/. for its remarkable size/feature ratio. Microsoft's been doing the same thing for years but has been completely ignored. It's a shame.
==========foo fighter========== Do not mistake understanding for realization,
Slashdot Mirror
Why would you ever want to hack it? I always thought the vendor would have thought of everything and made sure it all worked before selling and deploying it? ;-)
All motorists are at least licensed to drive. Also, they are expected to know how to check their oil, change a flat, and refill their vehicles fuel even if those tasks aren't part of the licensing test.
I think those tasks are very analogous to basic system configuration and administration. I would think basic administration tasks would include knowing that you need to go to Windows Update and also do an update to your antivirus software every couple weeks.
Actually, and this is getting way off topic, I have a little theory: a new draft will be started to help the war against terrorism. Most of these draftees won't be taught how to kill people, but how to break into computers, capture information/evidence, and secure computers.
After this war we will have a large population of people who know how to properly secure systems and who will be well aware of the costs of not securing them.
The only places I've seen .biz for sale are in IT industry rags. I haven't seen a single ad from a company listing a .biz url. All of the big companies already have their .com. Most existing organizations (commercial or otherwise) already have their url registered and don't need a .biz.
.biz, or any other tld, and who's going to care if they do get one?
Who really needs a
Linux is soooo ready for the desktop. I know this comes up every time KDE or Gnome are brought up, but it actually pains me to keep hearing ignorant arguments.
The Windows 98SE desktop (and 2000, XP, etc.) in its default installation is not office desktop ready. There are several confusing or worthless icons that need to be cleaned up, display properties to adjust, shortcuts to create, etc. I've spent at least 40 hours honing my company's system images to get them 'just right'.
I haven't used Gnome at work, and so can't comment on it. But I've set up KDE systems and it didn't take me near 40 hours to set up 'just right'.
And guess what I found out? When I put new employees/users through their mandatory IT training they picked up on KDE at least as fast as with Windows. Most of these users have had very little computer experience.
I wish I had better documented this when I started. But the users were able to use their word processor and spreadsheet, surf the web, check and send e-mail, print, use network storage and printers, and not fuck up their workstation at least as well on KDE 2.2 as on Windows 98SE.
The key here, and the key that seems to be missing in all other discussions on this topic, is that the users were trained to use KDE. I don't know of any organization with a moderately organized IT system that doesn't have a training department or IT training of some sort.
I've found it's easier to teach users Linux than Windows, so here's what all you code monkeys and sys admins need to do: teach the teachers linux. They'll see that it's easier to use and to teach and will back you up when you go to the CTO/CIO.
KDE is great. It is ready for the desktop. Get your training department's shit together and teach users how to use linux. Plan and test the desktop and start menu so your people can use it. No one can figure out how to use a computer by just sitting in front of one, they need to be taught. It's easier to teach if you're the one who's set the system up.
Honing our Windows images has dramatically cut Help Desk calls. I'm sure the Help Desk techs will be showering me with even more free lunches and drinks on them when Linux spreads throughout our organization.
Get to it!
We just bought a new LED signboard at work, the kind you see at banks in the US flashing APRs and the temperature. It's controlled by connecting the sign to a box, and the box to your computer's serial port.
The coolest thing about it was the appendix in the back of the user manual that contained complete schematics to the sign and the box. It also had some instructions on how to create neat graphic effects.
The client software that comes with it is for Windows, but with the appendix info I could create a client for whatever system I wanted.
My question is why don't more companies do this? I mean all of this schematic info should be copyrighted/patented anyway, so you don't have to worry about someone ripping you off. Are they just lazy or what?
Or is Microsoft going to port Microsoft Office to 64 bit Windows as well?
Yes, I'm sure they will port Office to 64 bit when they release the 64 bit client version of XP. Why they would do so for their server operating system I'm not sure.
All of their server class software will be ported to 64 bit. That includes Exchange, SQL, IIS, etc.
From the FAQ:
also andYou can find the FAQ at http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/64bit/aslefaq .asp
Thanks for the useful links.
I also found my problem; You need to search for "ipv6" instead of "ip6". Duh.
As the (one and only) sysadmin for a medium sized business, I'm interested in what an all IP6 network would do for our systems. Does it make things faster, make address management easier, make my network more secure, do I need a new ISP? Could someone reply with a link to an IP6 FAQ of some sort?
Searching google for IP6 brought up a lot of links to herbal cancer cures (!?), but nothing that looked very useful.
I once had an MCSE ask me, in all seriousness, why he couldn't type a fully-qualified hostname to choose a DNS server. It's a paper qualification; it implies no real skill or insight into the system's operation, or any sort of reasoning into consequences of limited design.
The Microsoft Certfied Systems Engineer certification does not claim to certify any knowledge of planning, implementing, configuring, or supporting DNS.
It tests a limited and well defined check list of skills, most having to do with installation and configuration. Only with the Windows 2000 series did the tests begin to measure planning and design skills.
The Windows 2000 and XP/.NET required tests - and the skills measured by each - are listed here:u lt.asp?PageID=mcp&PageCall=requirements&SubSite=ce rt/mcse&AnnMenu=mcse
http://www.microsoft.com/trainingandservices/defa
At least they've learned that cluttered "portal" interfaces aren't conducive to actually finding anything.
I am not able to understand how greater access to security information is not a victory.
I haven't come across any files encoded with SDMI. I consider that a great victory.
And, as others have mentioned, this is far from over. Their is still an important lawsuit in the court system.
There is nothing strange about it. From the consumer's POV, console gaming has none of the hassles of PC gaming: no need to learn a complex interface just to get the game installed and running; no hardware hassles - no incompatibilies, constant upgrades, or significant initial investment; and no needing to patch the software you just paid USD$50 just to make it playable.
It isn't strange, it's common sense.
==========foo fighter==========
Do not mistake understanding for realization,
==========foo fighter==========
Do not mistake understanding for realization,
==========foo fighter==========
Do not mistake understanding for realization,
Computer related employment is the industry with the fastest wage and employment growth and it's projected to stay that way until at least 2006.[1] In that industry, the fastest growing occupations include computer support specialists, systems analysts/administrators, database administrators, and desktop publishing specialists.[2] All of these occupations' entry- to mid-level positions typically require only an Associates degree, possibly with a couple years experience.
Benefits of two year degrees include more topical and relevent information that can be directly applied to the job, a quicker entry into the workforce, lower student loans, and an almost 100% guarantee of good paying, relevent employment after you graduate.
[1]http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/ecopro.t03
[2]http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/ecopro.t06
==========foo fighter==========
Do not mistake understanding for realization,
The point is Linux may lose potential users as well as current users on all platforms.
The key question OS X brings to the table is this: "Will people looking for a Microsoft alternative now turn to OS X rather than a Free OS?"
It all goes back to the debate on whether we, as a community, want Linux accepted by the mainstream and whether that mainstream will accept us.
==========foo fighter==========
Do not mistake understanding for realization,
After reading some of the comments above I have to point something out. Microsoft has called these things a "Pocket PC" for a reason: they're not a PDA!!!!
When I think PDA I really think PIM. A device to keep track of appointments, contacts, to-do stuff, etc. That's not what Microsoft is doing here.
What they are doing is trying to compress the entire PC (at least, Wintel PC) experience into a little machine that fits, kinda, into your back pocket. Sure you can still do all of the regular PIM stuff. But what's really amazing is how they go beyond the PIM.
It has Word, Excel, and Internet Explorer out of the box. None of these are perfect, but they are a lot more than the Palm comes with out of the box. AvantGo sucks. Nuff said.
They are in color. They have been in color for awhile. They look better than the Palm's lame excuse for color. The Palm isn't great in the sun either. It is better, but not so good that I'd hold it against the CE. I guess if you are some kind of fanatic of Hercules monochrome or a CLI junky you may go for grayscale. But I'll take color any day of the week.
Ok, only 32MB for MP3s. How many MP3s can the Palm play? Thought so.
Even if you don't like the Windows GUI, the Pocket PC barely resembles it. In its latest iteration it can't even honestly be compared to the Win 9x GUI. Use it for awhile and you'll see what I mean. It's still more alike Windows than the Palm, but it's logically, and well, done for the small screen.
The Palm Vx I have has been great: It looks really cool when I whip it out in public. But feature for feature, Microsoft has really done something special here.
I've run Linux, FreeBSD, and Solaris at home for years, and love all of them much more than Windows. But it's a shame when people are blinded to true inovation and a great product do to whatever reason.
The little Espresso got rave reviews on /. for its remarkable size/feature ratio. Microsoft's been doing the same thing for years but has been completely ignored. It's a shame.
==========foo fighter==========
Do not mistake understanding for realization,