Another thing I like about Slashdot.
on
Lightning Research
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· Score: 1, Offtopic
That's another thing I like about Slashdot. Everyone is so kind!
Too often, Slashdot is off topic.
on
Lightning Research
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· Score: 0, Flamebait
I would like to be a Wizard, and be able to throw thunderbolts from my
fingers.
Can you believe it? That comment is on topic.
Too often, Slashdot is off topic. I like science, but I would like to see a
higher percentage of computer-related articles.
We are in the middle of one of the biggest and most amazing social revolutions
in history. More than 100,000 very well-educated people have decided to form a
loose brotherhood and sisterhood to give the world a complete computer
operating system. There are many stories in that.
I think there should be more stories about software development. Many of the
big issues aren't being discussed enough, in my opinion. For example, there
needs to be a more vigorous debate about computer language development.
I have never understood why people say there is no money in Linux. The value of the Windows software I have sold to my customers is far, far less than they pay me for support.
Friends who know more about Linux than I have converted the server farm of a school district to Linux. Judging from what they say, the support time required is about 1/8 that of Microsoft Windows. But, there is still support needed. The cost of support is still more than the cost of OS software, from any vendor.
A friend of mine was lead administrator for a $200,000,000 per year company. The company had problems with Microsoft SQL Server. Microsoft was unable to fix the problems for more than a year. (I reduced the gross income of the company, so that it cannot be identified.)
You said, "It's a mixed bag..." We have learned to live with Microsoft. Can't we find ways of making Linux support work for us, also?
As someone said in an earlier post, when you have problems with Linux and other GNU programs, it is usually possible to communicate directly with the writers of the software. Maybe what we are seeing here is a lack of creativity on the part of Red Hat. They could try to get software repairs done on a "best effort" basis.
I've had really bad experience with Microsoft technical support, and so did the large company I mentioned. In the real world, would Linux be worse?
The Microsoft Windows registry error I was discussing in my earlier post is not repairable with RegEdit. RegEdit will always export a registry, but it won't always import one.
The unrepairable Microsoft Windows registry error problem occurs when the damage is not immediately noticed, and several other applications and upgrades and drivers are intstalled. It is not then possible to drop back to an earlier registry, because the files have changed. Besides, going back to an earlier registry would mean re-installing all the new applications. And there is no guarantee the problem will not happen again.
I have no problem with repeating myself, especially when the subject is so important. Only some of the previous comment is repeated, the rest has been edited for clarity.
I suggest you stay on topic and consider the issues, which are very important in this case. Slashdot should not be a forum for acting out hostility.
I don't need any more karma. It's already at the karma cap. And, more karma will not increase my income. *grin*
dlb, we must have very different support needs. Microsoft has never been able
to help my company with Windows operating system problems. They never know the
answers, and can't find them. True, we only call with difficult problems.
My experience has been identical to that discussed in the article published by
the Boston Mac User's Group (BMUG) about who is better at answering Microsoft
product technical support calls: Microsoft Technical Support, or The Psychic
Friends Network? You can read it at
http://www.bmug.org/news/articles/MSvsPF.html
Great comment. It seems to me that GNU/Linux has many advantages not normally
discussed. Your comment begins to show more of the potential advantages.
Also, Windows has many disdvantages most people don't understand. For example,
with Microsoft Windows there is a potential of unrepairable operating
system corruption. Microsoft Windows has a file called the registry
(SYSTEM.DAT) that often becomes damaged and unrepairable. Below is a message
copied without change from a Microsoft error display. As you read it, please
keep in mind that registry damage is extremely common.
Registry Repair Results
Windows found an error in your system files and was unable to fix the
problem. Try deleting some files to free up disk space on your Windows drive.
If that doesn't work then you will need to install Windows to a new directory.
The computer with the bad registry has gigabytes of free disk space.
"Installing Windows to a new directory" also means re-installing ALL the
applications, and driver updates, and so on. "Installing Windows to a new
directory" is equivalent to re-formatting your hard disk and starting over.
This is not file system corruption, which is easily fixed. This is
unrepairable operating system corruption.
Please also realize that this is only one of MANY such issues.
One reason to use GNU/Linux is that it is of much higher quality. Linux
doesn't seem to have the same vulnerabilities as Windows. I don't think there
is a Linux message that says, "The corruption is too great to repair. You will
have to install everything again."
Why does Microsoft use a single file for most configuration information?
Apparently Microsoft uses this as a method of copy protection. A user can copy
a program's files, but the program will not operate without the registry
entries. Unfortunately for Microsoft Windows users, this single file can become
corrupted by a buggy application. If the corruption is great enough, the
entire operating system becomes corrupted and unusable and
unrepairable.
The dot-com failures were more than a failure of tech journalism. They were a national failure.
Even after the dot-coms failed, the press did not bother to analyze what happened. There was a little analysis, but nothing in depth, either in the tech press or the business press.
The failures were a huge tragic loss of money and time. But the mood was, oh well, on to something else.
Slashdot readers, in my experience, know that Microsoft software is of poor
quality, but don't really understand how poor the quality really is.
For example, Microsoft Windows has a file called the registry (SYSTEM.DAT)
that often becomes damaged and unrepairable. Below is a message copied without
change from a Microsoft error display. As you read it, please keep in mind
that registry damage is extremely common.
Registry Repair Results
Windows found an error in your system files and was unable to fix the
problem. Try deleting some files to free up disk space on your Windows drive.
If that doesn't work then you will need to install Windows to a new directory.
The computer with the bad registry has gigabytes of free disk space. You
should also know that "Installing Windows to a new directory" also means
re-installing ALL your applications. "Installing Windows to a new directory"
is equivalent to re-formatting your hard disk and starting over.
Please also realize that this is only one of MANY such issues.
One reason to use Open Source software is that it is of much higher quality.
The United States National Security Agency is a spy agency. It's purpose is to discover things that other people want to keep secret. It is the official U.S. agency for snooping. Democracy means acting openly; the NSA is, in this sense, anti-democratic.
Nevertheless, it is possible that not all people who work for the NSA believe in sneakiness. Remember that the purpose of DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Administration) was to find better ways to kill people and destroy their property. However, people within Darpa intented the Internet.
NSAs work should be carefully audited. But things are not so wonderful that the Open Source Community can turn down honest contributions from any source.
"I did not see this question answered in the article and I find this a serious omission."
I agree, it is definitely a serious admission. However, I think that, whatever the policy is, there will be store managers and employees who don't follow the policy.
What happens when these cameras are everywhere? Will they be used for other purposes? Will they be used by the employees to alert themselves when the boss is present? Will they be used to track political opponents? There were many questions not considered in the article.
I will probably not go back to Borders. There are other bookstores.
I've never stolen anything, and until now have been a loyal Borders customer. However, suppose the equipment makes a mistake? (Has any Slashdot reader ever known software to be less than perfect?) Suppose the equipment thinks I resemble someone else? The Border's management may think they've caught someone; they will find it difficult to recognize that the equipment has failed.
Sure the liklihood is small. But I stay away from dangerous areas of my city for the same reason. I don't want even a small chance of a hassle.
I would like to see a higher percentage of computer-related articles.
We are in the middle of one of the biggest and most amazing social revolutions in history. More than 100,000 very well-educated people have decided to form a loose brotherhood and sisterhood to give the world a complete computer operating system. There are many stories in that!
I like the general science topics, but I think there should be more about software development. Many of the big issues aren't being discussed enough, in my opinion. For example, there needs to be a more vigorous debate about computer language development, in my opinion.
Slashdot Mirror
That's another thing I like about Slashdot. Everyone is so kind!
I would like to be a Wizard, and be able to throw thunderbolts from my fingers.
Can you believe it? That comment is on topic.
Too often, Slashdot is off topic. I like science, but I would like to see a higher percentage of computer-related articles.
We are in the middle of one of the biggest and most amazing social revolutions in history. More than 100,000 very well-educated people have decided to form a loose brotherhood and sisterhood to give the world a complete computer operating system. There are many stories in that.
I think there should be more stories about software development. Many of the big issues aren't being discussed enough, in my opinion. For example, there needs to be a more vigorous debate about computer language development.
Have you ever noticed how kind and considerate Slashdot readers are?
I have never understood why people say there is no money in Linux. The value of the Windows software I have sold to my customers is far, far less than they pay me for support.
Friends who know more about Linux than I have converted the server farm of a school district to Linux. Judging from what they say, the support time required is about 1/8 that of Microsoft Windows. But, there is still support needed. The cost of support is still more than the cost of OS software, from any vendor.
A friend of mine was lead administrator for a $200,000,000 per year company. The company had problems with Microsoft SQL Server. Microsoft was unable to fix the problems for more than a year. (I reduced the gross income of the company, so that it cannot be identified.)
You said, "It's a mixed bag..." We have learned to live with Microsoft. Can't we find ways of making Linux support work for us, also?
As someone said in an earlier post, when you have problems with Linux and other GNU programs, it is usually possible to communicate directly with the writers of the software. Maybe what we are seeing here is a lack of creativity on the part of Red Hat. They could try to get software repairs done on a "best effort" basis.
I've had really bad experience with Microsoft technical support, and so did the large company I mentioned. In the real world, would Linux be worse?
Very interesting.
But, Microsoft certainly won't patch their software for you, will they? Won't you have to wait until the next service pack?
The Microsoft Windows registry error I was discussing in my earlier post is not repairable with RegEdit. RegEdit will always export a registry, but it won't always import one.
The unrepairable Microsoft Windows registry error problem occurs when the damage is not immediately noticed, and several other applications and upgrades and drivers are intstalled. It is not then possible to drop back to an earlier registry, because the files have changed. Besides, going back to an earlier registry would mean re-installing all the new applications. And there is no guarantee the problem will not happen again.
Very interesting. But maybe the company in question had always outsourced most of its support. Then there would be no fighting over a switch.
Definitely! Thank you for saying that.
I don't understand this, dlb. Why not just contract with one of the many Linux support companies, like Red Hat?
I have no problem with repeating myself, especially when the subject is so important. Only some of the previous comment is repeated, the rest has been edited for clarity.
I suggest you stay on topic and consider the issues, which are very important in this case. Slashdot should not be a forum for acting out hostility.
I don't need any more karma. It's already at the karma cap. And, more karma will not increase my income. *grin*
dlb, we must have very different support needs. Microsoft has never been able to help my company with Windows operating system problems. They never know the answers, and can't find them. True, we only call with difficult problems.
My experience has been identical to that discussed in the article published by the Boston Mac User's Group (BMUG) about who is better at answering Microsoft product technical support calls: Microsoft Technical Support, or The Psychic Friends Network? You can read it at http://www.bmug.org/news/articles/MSvsPF.html
Great comment. It seems to me that GNU/Linux has many advantages not normally discussed. Your comment begins to show more of the potential advantages.
Also, Windows has many disdvantages most people don't understand. For example, with Microsoft Windows there is a potential of unrepairable operating system corruption. Microsoft Windows has a file called the registry (SYSTEM.DAT) that often becomes damaged and unrepairable. Below is a message copied without change from a Microsoft error display. As you read it, please keep in mind that registry damage is extremely common.
Registry Repair Results
Windows found an error in your system files and was unable to fix the problem. Try deleting some files to free up disk space on your Windows drive. If that doesn't work then you will need to install Windows to a new directory.
The computer with the bad registry has gigabytes of free disk space. "Installing Windows to a new directory" also means re-installing ALL the applications, and driver updates, and so on. "Installing Windows to a new directory" is equivalent to re-formatting your hard disk and starting over. This is not file system corruption, which is easily fixed. This is unrepairable operating system corruption.
Please also realize that this is only one of MANY such issues.
One reason to use GNU/Linux is that it is of much higher quality. Linux doesn't seem to have the same vulnerabilities as Windows. I don't think there is a Linux message that says, "The corruption is too great to repair. You will have to install everything again."
Why does Microsoft use a single file for most configuration information? Apparently Microsoft uses this as a method of copy protection. A user can copy a program's files, but the program will not operate without the registry entries. Unfortunately for Microsoft Windows users, this single file can become corrupted by a buggy application. If the corruption is great enough, the entire operating system becomes corrupted and unusable and unrepairable.
Yes, and I am able to compress all of Slashdot down to 10 bytes.
The dot-com failures were more than a failure of tech journalism. They were a national failure.
Even after the dot-coms failed, the press did not bother to analyze what happened. There was a little analysis, but nothing in depth, either in the tech press or the business press.
The failures were a huge tragic loss of money and time. But the mood was, oh well, on to something else.
File system corruption is easily fixed. Microsoft Windows sometimes has unrepairable operating system corruption. See the original post.
I agree with what you said. However, the point was that Linux doesn't seem to have the same vulnerabilities.
I don't think there is a Linux message that says, "The corruption is too great to repair. You will have to install everything again."
There is such a Windows message; read my original post.
your Windows box
We are computer dealers, with years of experience with Windows.
Slashdot readers, in my experience, know that Microsoft software is of poor quality, but don't really understand how poor the quality really is.
For example, Microsoft Windows has a file called the registry (SYSTEM.DAT) that often becomes damaged and unrepairable. Below is a message copied without change from a Microsoft error display. As you read it, please keep in mind that registry damage is extremely common.
Registry Repair Results
Windows found an error in your system files and was unable to fix the problem. Try deleting some files to free up disk space on your Windows drive. If that doesn't work then you will need to install Windows to a new directory.
The computer with the bad registry has gigabytes of free disk space. You should also know that "Installing Windows to a new directory" also means re-installing ALL your applications. "Installing Windows to a new directory" is equivalent to re-formatting your hard disk and starting over.
Please also realize that this is only one of MANY such issues.
One reason to use Open Source software is that it is of much higher quality.
I agree. Don't compare money, compare purchasing power.
The United States National Security Agency is a spy agency. It's purpose is to discover things that other people want to keep secret. It is the official U.S. agency for snooping. Democracy means acting openly; the NSA is, in this sense, anti-democratic.
Nevertheless, it is possible that not all people who work for the NSA believe in sneakiness. Remember that the purpose of DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Administration) was to find better ways to kill people and destroy their property. However, people within Darpa intented the Internet.
NSAs work should be carefully audited. But things are not so wonderful that the Open Source Community can turn down honest contributions from any source.
"I did not see this question answered in the article and I find this a serious omission."
I agree, it is definitely a serious admission. However, I think that, whatever the policy is, there will be store managers and employees who don't follow the policy.
What happens when these cameras are everywhere? Will they be used for other purposes? Will they be used by the employees to alert themselves when the boss is present? Will they be used to track political opponents? There were many questions not considered in the article.
I will probably not go back to Borders. There are other bookstores.
I've never stolen anything, and until now have been a loyal Borders customer. However, suppose the equipment makes a mistake? (Has any Slashdot reader ever known software to be less than perfect?) Suppose the equipment thinks I resemble someone else? The Border's management may think they've caught someone; they will find it difficult to recognize that the equipment has failed.
Sure the liklihood is small. But I stay away from dangerous areas of my city for the same reason. I don't want even a small chance of a hassle.
It's easy to just switch bookstores.
Worried that too much computer gaming stunts your social skills? Try Pirates!
Worried that too much computer gaming stunts your social skills? Try socializing!
I would like to see a higher percentage of computer-related articles.
We are in the middle of one of the biggest and most amazing social revolutions in history. More than 100,000 very well-educated people have decided to form a loose brotherhood and sisterhood to give the world a complete computer operating system. There are many stories in that!
I like the general science topics, but I think there should be more about software development. Many of the big issues aren't being discussed enough, in my opinion. For example, there needs to be a more vigorous debate about computer language development, in my opinion.