The issues with Linux have not changed in the past 10 years. It's disappointing that no progress has been made.
Sure it's easier to install than it used to be, but for most people it's not as simple as putting the disk in and running the installer. You'll end up with devices that don't work and that Joe Average can't troubleshoot.
Despite the fact that it's become easier, it's still not easy enough for the general public. Compounding this problem, the "Easy" bar has moved significantly further away now that OSX and iOS are becoming the consumer platforms of choice.
The desktop platform is, for average consumers, on the way out. There's really no need to worry about it now. The resources poured into Linux for desktop PCs would be better spent building a competent, truly private, truly free, easy to install and again, truly free - distro of Android.
I run adblock and flashblock at all times. I also do not use IE, I don't have Adobe et al. installed, JRE and the OS itself are kept meticulously updated.
In a larger sense - in all my years of home computing under Windows, almost all of that time running Norton or later McAfee - I never got a virus warning.
Call me crazy, but it doesn't seem like most people have virus issues unless they engage in high risk behavior.
No, I don't use flash drives or open email attachments that aren't from trusted senders or use p2p specifically for that reason.
I think the real truth is, if have some computer savvy and you use a little common sense your chances of getting a virus even on Windows is pretty low.
Because most of it is due to user stupidity, I simply don't feel bad at all about not running virus software on my Mac so Windows users can continue to click "happybirthday.jpg.exe" when it shows up in their email.
It's always been a good idea to have a virus scanner on a Mac - at the very least, it's a courtesy to users of other platforms who may be more vulnerable to any infectious crap you may pick up without realizing.
(I use OSX exclusively at home)
You want me to pay for an antivirus suite, or devote system resources to it all the time, as 'courtesy to users of other platforms'?
If your Windows boxes are vulnerable to whatever the infection is, forcing these users to use PCs instead of Macs does not lessen your vulnerability, it increases it.
Wait - Microsoft invested $240 million into facebook, and in return Microsoft... sold facebook $650 million worth of patents to 'protect an investment'?
This will have no impact whatever on the structure of the patent system. Perhaps one in one thousand of the general public could even explain what a patent is.
I'm sure AOL (for all its failings) never did a single thing in its entire existence that was patent-able while it ran (held captive?), for a time, nearly the entire online world.
I noticed that as well - the page numbers were not always the same because the size of paper was slightly different.
The thing you have to be careful of is that you buy the same version. I needed a Version 6 one time and bought Version 5 from two years prior, thinking the differences would be minor, but it was a completely different book.
When I was doing my MBA, I was able to find "international versions" of textbooks on Ebay or the like. They were identical to the domestic versions but were not hardcover, in some cases printed on cheap paper - those kinds of differences. Nice way to save yourself 50% or so.
I'm not sure why publishers foist the high-grade materials on everyone especially at the college level where the book will never be used again - that is, unless it's meant to be fit for resale.
It is mandatory in any/. discussion of cellphones that crusaders from the Obvious League of America swoop in and meticulously and pedantically point out that you have to pay for service in addition to the cost of the phones.
You can cancel your contract and incur an early termination fee, which is calibrated to be just enough to make it not worth paying (just below the cost of a new phone).
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The issues with Linux have not changed in the past 10 years. It's disappointing that no progress has been made.
Sure it's easier to install than it used to be, but for most people it's not as simple as putting the disk in and running the installer. You'll end up with devices that don't work and that Joe Average can't troubleshoot.
Despite the fact that it's become easier, it's still not easy enough for the general public. Compounding this problem, the "Easy" bar has moved significantly further away now that OSX and iOS are becoming the consumer platforms of choice.
The desktop platform is, for average consumers, on the way out. There's really no need to worry about it now. The resources poured into Linux for desktop PCs would be better spent building a competent, truly private, truly free, easy to install and again, truly free - distro of Android.
I run adblock and flashblock at all times. I also do not use IE, I don't have Adobe et al. installed, JRE and the OS itself are kept meticulously updated.
In a larger sense - in all my years of home computing under Windows, almost all of that time running Norton or later McAfee - I never got a virus warning.
Call me crazy, but it doesn't seem like most people have virus issues unless they engage in high risk behavior.
No, I don't use flash drives or open email attachments that aren't from trusted senders or use p2p specifically for that reason.
I think the real truth is, if have some computer savvy and you use a little common sense your chances of getting a virus even on Windows is pretty low.
Because most of it is due to user stupidity, I simply don't feel bad at all about not running virus software on my Mac so Windows users can continue to click "happybirthday.jpg.exe" when it shows up in their email.
I don't use p2p, I don't use pron sites, and I don't use Windows or IE. Viruses aren't really a part of my life.
Don't ask me to pay for the shortcomings of the platform you've chosen.
It's always been a good idea to have a virus scanner on a Mac - at the very least, it's a courtesy to users of other platforms who may be more vulnerable to any infectious crap you may pick up without realizing.
(I use OSX exclusively at home)
You want me to pay for an antivirus suite, or devote system resources to it all the time, as 'courtesy to users of other platforms'?
Nah. I'm good.
If your Windows boxes are vulnerable to whatever the infection is, forcing these users to use PCs instead of Macs does not lessen your vulnerability, it increases it.
Wait - Microsoft invested $240 million into facebook, and in return Microsoft... sold facebook $650 million worth of patents to 'protect an investment'?
Who is investing in who?
This will have no impact whatever on the structure of the patent system. Perhaps one in one thousand of the general public could even explain what a patent is.
Whooooooooosh!
I'm sure AOL (for all its failings) never did a single thing in its entire existence that was patent-able while it ran (held captive?), for a time, nearly the entire online world.
So because your bias that all vaccines all the time are good and doctors don't make mistakes
So because you just made up whatever you like about my beliefs
I read on prisonplanet that your BLOOD is full of chemicals! ahhh! Get it out of me!
'zactly. Mind control nanomachines.
The tinfoil hat crowd is probably pleased by this. Now they can invite kids with whooping cough to their chicken pox parties.
I noticed that as well - the page numbers were not always the same because the size of paper was slightly different.
The thing you have to be careful of is that you buy the same version. I needed a Version 6 one time and bought Version 5 from two years prior, thinking the differences would be minor, but it was a completely different book.
The book was being sold within the United States. I didn't import it. I simply bought a secondhand book.
When I was doing my MBA, I was able to find "international versions" of textbooks on Ebay or the like. They were identical to the domestic versions but were not hardcover, in some cases printed on cheap paper - those kinds of differences. Nice way to save yourself 50% or so.
I'm not sure why publishers foist the high-grade materials on everyone especially at the college level where the book will never be used again - that is, unless it's meant to be fit for resale.
-Big as a whale
-Seats about 20
-About to set sail
It is mandatory in any /. discussion of cellphones that crusaders from the Obvious League of America swoop in and meticulously and pedantically point out that you have to pay for service in addition to the cost of the phones.
Nothing was wrong with it - I just decided what I really wanted was one of the old-style Kindles.
AC, his scorn wide.
Shaka, when the walls fell.
Obviously, returning Blu Rays is more dangerous than casting a fake vote.
Presumably, it's one unique item per 90 days.
This is not a new policy. I bought a Kindle Fire on release day and ended up returning it - they scanned my DL then. This was November of 2011.
You can cancel your contract and incur an early termination fee, which is calibrated to be just enough to make it not worth paying (just below the cost of a new phone).