I think the way autopackage would be used on something like SUSE would be that it would replace rpm packages. It would be integrated into yast, and you wouldn't notice the difference.
I don't think you or anyone would be expected to use it in its current state. I think it would be a good idea to let it become integrated into your distro first.
An email virus can only really work reliably on something with a userbase as large as Windows though. When it posts itself, it has a pretty damn good chance of finding other Windows boxes. A Mac virus finding other Macs in this way would have much, much less success.
Interesting you should bring that up. I'm sure I read somewhere that it's only copyright infringement if you store a copy on your computer for over 24 hours - to avoid the sticky area of accidentally downloading something.
I think it's fair to blame Microsoft for that one. Integrating a web browser and a file manager together is totally unnecessary, and confusing for a new user.
I think they have some use in industry, basically as a glorified clipboard which can connect wirelessly to a server, but for the home or office user, I would think they'd be of limited use.
Interesting, thanks for the link - but there is the following piece of text:
The fact that Microsoft has given access to any patents they might hold on.NET does not mean that a third party that has a patent that is required to implement ECMA (or Java) will grant that license.
However the fact that MS have openend all the patents for the standards is a good start.
He's actually right there. Before fully adopting Mono, it would be rather nice to know if it infringes any patents, and what will be done about it. Having Mono heavily integrated into Gnome could be just asking for trouble.
However, don't forget that, as the article says, it's not the only thing that's threatened. They could take away our porn.
This is not a case of not angering a bully, this is a case of the users and the content industry coming to an agreeable compromise - where a simple, fair security is placed on the music files, which infringes fair use as little as possible.
What people like Jon are doing is showing that this doesn't work, and prolonging the circus act that has been going on for years and years now.
You have to wonder who's the bully here anyway, Jon, or the music industry. IMHO, both are as bad as each other.
OK, let me be more clear on that. No DRM is going to be fully secure. Ever. iTunes was an example of weak DRM implemented in a fair way, and showing it working was a good example of why not to bother with hardware DRM. If iTunes moves to "stricter rules" in a few weeks, can you honestly say it'll be nothing to do with Jon?
That is not a valid reason to crack a system which has been working quite well for a while now. And the idea that if he doesn't do it then someone else will is no excuse whatsoever. DeCSS was different, because it was used for circumventing region control and other nasty, unethical 'features'. This, however, is just Jon being a dick.
Don't encourage the little shit. I don't want to end up having to get a modchip for my computer just because dicks like him are circumventing existing methods.
I totally agree. It's dickheads like him who are going to make the content industries look towards trusted computing. What's the fucking point of it if you can decrypt it later anyway? He's just trying to show off.
I wonder how much of a market there is for PC DIY types, who aren't complete morons?
The same market that there is for people who run small computer shops. It's kind of a gradual thing - you can get expensive, but tasteful and functional cases like this, or.. there are cases like this or this. I don't think there's anything wrong with making a computer look attractive, but when people start using cases that look like robots or whatever, and that daft RAM with flashing lights on it, it gets a bit stupid.
Actually, I reckon the total reverse is better. Underclock the sucker. Take for example a Gainward Golden Sample graphics card, and leave it at its default clock speed. That means that you end up with:
1) A graphics card which has more-than-sufficient cooling. 2) A GPU which is one fuck of a lot more stable because it's running below (instead of over) the frequency it's capable of.
A stable system is a hell of a lot better than one that gets an extra 3fps in Doom 3.
Maxtor, Seagate or Western Digital all seem to have similar reliability. It usually is specific to the model/batch. A massive mistake people make (as mentioned in the article) is not cooling their hard drives properly.
I have a total of 4 WD drives (don't ask), all are actively cooled, and I haven't had a single problem yet (and that includes read errors from dmesg).
Don't blame the government for providing tools that the recipients are unwilling to learn how to use correctly.
I know that this is hard to comprehend for most of us, but 'normal' people see their computer as an appliance, like a video recorder or washing machine. They are simply not aware that there is more to learn. All they see is advertising telling them they can get a faster internet connection for a cheap subscription fee.
When they get the hardware, they get a modem with a colourful picture of a modem plugging into a phone line and a computer. Very rarely do they get a firewall, anti-virus or something similar.
And they cannot even begin to understand the idea that their internet connection it being used to turn their computer into a zombie. They will however, slowly learn. Now there is a big push for that 'Broadband Britain' shite, you get an enormous amount of computers, all connected to the internet, ready to be used for DDoS or spamming.
Slashdot Mirror
I think the way autopackage would be used on something like SUSE would be that it would replace rpm packages. It would be integrated into yast, and you wouldn't notice the difference.
I don't think you or anyone would be expected to use it in its current state. I think it would be a good idea to let it become integrated into your distro first.
Parent is not 'Flamebait', dumbass moderators.
Yes, that's basically one of the two main Microsoft marketing strategies:
1) "It'll be faster, more stable and more secure this time. Honestly. We promise." (Win95 -> Win98)
2) "Woo! Look at that! Pretty Colours!" (Win2K -> WinXP)
I doubt Longhorn will be satisfactory - they'll want to sell everyone an upgrade 2-3 years after.
You'd actually think that was a troll. Even the zealotry on slashdot has some limits, but that guy seems completely insane.
An email virus can only really work reliably on something with a userbase as large as Windows though. When it posts itself, it has a pretty damn good chance of finding other Windows boxes. A Mac virus finding other Macs in this way would have much, much less success.
I don't know why, but the general public seems to like crap. Microsoft is just giving them what they want - crap.
Look at the most popular fast-food chains, the most popular music, the most popular TV programs, etc.
Interestingly enough however, Ogg is used as the music format in Unreal Tournament 2003/4.
Intereesting. Whoever made that site is obviously really bitter. Could well be an ex-employee.
Interesting you should bring that up. I'm sure I read somewhere that it's only copyright infringement if you store a copy on your computer for over 24 hours - to avoid the sticky area of accidentally downloading something.
I think it's fair to blame Microsoft for that one. Integrating a web browser and a file manager together is totally unnecessary, and confusing for a new user.
How would sabotaging Windows sell more units?
Remember that Windows 98 had pretty much exactly the same functionality as Windows 95, yet a load of people upgraded to it. Why do you think that was?
Remember that academic skill != common sense, in fact they can often be inversely proportional to one another.
I'm sure most of us have played the game with ants and a magnifying glass. This guy could take it a few steps further.
I think they have some use in industry, basically as a glorified clipboard which can connect wirelessly to a server, but for the home or office user, I would think they'd be of limited use.
..and for those of you using Linux it's a similar deal - print to a file and use ps2pdf, or 2pdf.
Could you post a link? I'm not questioning you, I'm genuinely interested.
However the fact that MS have openend all the patents for the standards is a good start.
He's actually right there. Before fully adopting Mono, it would be rather nice to know if it infringes any patents, and what will be done about it. Having Mono heavily integrated into Gnome could be just asking for trouble.
However, don't forget that, as the article says, it's not the only thing that's threatened. They could take away our porn.
This is not a case of not angering a bully, this is a case of the users and the content industry coming to an agreeable compromise - where a simple, fair security is placed on the music files, which infringes fair use as little as possible.
What people like Jon are doing is showing that this doesn't work, and prolonging the circus act that has been going on for years and years now.
You have to wonder who's the bully here anyway, Jon, or the music industry. IMHO, both are as bad as each other.
OK, let me be more clear on that. No DRM is going to be fully secure. Ever. iTunes was an example of weak DRM implemented in a fair way, and showing it working was a good example of why not to bother with hardware DRM. If iTunes moves to "stricter rules" in a few weeks, can you honestly say it'll be nothing to do with Jon?
That is not a valid reason to crack a system which has been working quite well for a while now. And the idea that if he doesn't do it then someone else will is no excuse whatsoever. DeCSS was different, because it was used for circumventing region control and other nasty, unethical 'features'. This, however, is just Jon being a dick.
Don't encourage the little shit. I don't want to end up having to get a modchip for my computer just because dicks like him are circumventing existing methods.
I totally agree. It's dickheads like him who are going to make the content industries look towards trusted computing. What's the fucking point of it if you can decrypt it later anyway? He's just trying to show off.
I wonder how much of a market there is for PC DIY types, who aren't complete morons?
The same market that there is for people who run small computer shops. It's kind of a gradual thing - you can get expensive, but tasteful and functional cases like this, or.. there are cases like this or this. I don't think there's anything wrong with making a computer look attractive, but when people start using cases that look like robots or whatever, and that daft RAM with flashing lights on it, it gets a bit stupid.
Actually, I reckon the total reverse is better. Underclock the sucker. Take for example a Gainward Golden Sample graphics card, and leave it at its default clock speed. That means that you end up with:
1) A graphics card which has more-than-sufficient cooling.
2) A GPU which is one fuck of a lot more stable because it's running below (instead of over) the frequency it's capable of.
A stable system is a hell of a lot better than one that gets an extra 3fps in Doom 3.
Maxtor, Seagate or Western Digital all seem to have similar reliability. It usually is specific to the model/batch. A massive mistake people make (as mentioned in the article) is not cooling their hard drives properly.
I have a total of 4 WD drives (don't ask), all are actively cooled, and I haven't had a single problem yet (and that includes read errors from dmesg).
Don't blame the government for providing tools that the recipients are unwilling to learn how to use correctly.
I know that this is hard to comprehend for most of us, but 'normal' people see their computer as an appliance, like a video recorder or washing machine. They are simply not aware that there is more to learn. All they see is advertising telling them they can get a faster internet connection for a cheap subscription fee.
When they get the hardware, they get a modem with a colourful picture of a modem plugging into a phone line and a computer. Very rarely do they get a firewall, anti-virus or something similar.
And they cannot even begin to understand the idea that their internet connection it being used to turn their computer into a zombie. They will however, slowly learn. Now there is a big push for that 'Broadband Britain' shite, you get an enormous amount of computers, all connected to the internet, ready to be used for DDoS or spamming.