(scene of operating system "Windows", the captain "Luser" is attempting to make a ships log) LUSER: Captain's log stardate 2246. We've finished our quest to deliver anti-virus software to the (interrupted) MICROSOFT PROGRAMMER: Excuse me, who are you talking to? L: Well, the ship's log. MP: Oh. It's broken. L: Well, why don't you fix it? MP: Because I'm busy fixing the pixellating intuitive freon database. L: And what does that do? MP: It makes it user-friendly! L: You mean to tell me, that off all the sh*t that's broken in this operating system, you're fixing the f*cking GUI?! MP: Now you listen to me you short purple dung-heap. I'm the operating system's programmer and I decide what gets fixed first. If you don't like it you can go screw yourself. L: That's it! Come here! I've had just about enough of you, you've had this coming for a long time! (LUSER then proceeds to beat MICROSOFT PROGRAMMER senseless.) L: Now fix this f*cking operating system!
(with apologies to Chris Moeller and Chuck Austen)
But...But...BSD let us use their code and make money off of it! Why don't you meanie GNU guys let us?
(TROLL-MODE=on) (FLAMEBAIT-MODE=on) Because we aren't short sighted like the BSD'ers? (ducks, tucks and rolls while putting on asbestos armor) (FLAMEBAIT-MODE=off) (TROLL-MODE=off)
This is kinda/sorta like the highschool kid who spends $60 on a bag of off-the-shelf herbs and spices.
Huh? Can someone explain this to me? Has potpurri become that popular among teenagers? I mean, I know I'm 23 and a geek, but I didn't think I was that out of touch with popular culture (no matter how much I may try to be).
. . . but I'll say it again: the majority of software engineers (read: anyone who writes code) do not make money solely from selling their software. The majority of programmers are doing service jobs. The majority of programmers are not employed by Microsoft. They are employed all over the world, in different industries, making software that works. Most of it won't ever see the light of day. Most of it wouldn't be possible with out open source tools. And most of it could be easily made open source without the sponsoring companies losing a nickel. And the programmers that write this code would still be employed.
So yeah, open source is "flawed" in that there is no way to make money writing it in and of itself. Is this really a problem? Only for companies like Microsoft, who believe that users should have to pay good money over and over again for the same product. If open source software suddenly became the norm, and companies like Microsoft folded overnight, I know I'm not the only one who wouldn't cry.
Yeah, but it's still easier for the admin to secure the machine if he doesn't have to start with swiss cheese.
"Only a bad carpenter blames his tools, but even a master carpenter cannot build a house out of rotten wood."
This has been my mantra as I've been trying to get Windows to do the impossible - run - over the past couple of days. Not that I'm a master carpenter or anything.
The world's greatest browser took over four years to be made, and you're complaining? I bet you would have complained that Michelangelo couldn't finish a simple roof painting job overnight.
The linux community has had more than its fair share of guffaws over "the unstoppable NT" or "unbreakable Oracle," and they should be taking their own lessons to heart.
Agreed. However, it should be noted that out of three companies listed as behind this initiative one of them could be considered part of the Linux community. RedHat is not THE Linux community, and of all the Linux distro's I've ever used (Slackware, RedHat, Mandrake, Debian), I've found RedHat to be the most insecure.
It might take me awhile, especially since I would have a lot to learn, but Yes.
Hell, can you cook your own food?
Yes, and I often do. I point out in particular, that while I am not an expert at "house building" as you would put it, I would be willing to learn. All too often, people just want their hand held, and I don't mean a Palm Pilot. They want to be coddled and told how to do things. I can appreciate that maybe not everyone has the time to learn the ins and outs of computers. But not caring? Then why are they using a computer? If it's important enough that they NEED to use it, then it seems to me that it's important enough that they should learn something about it. Trying to get free technical support out of people whose time is already constrained will net you no new friends.
Ummmm, in the days of Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven they didn't have recording media and the world's largest distribution network. Kind of an apples to oranges comparison, bro...
Not really. I believe that the original poster was pointing out that creative works will be made whether or not copyright exists. Some people would even go so far as to say that anything created solely for compensation will be inferior to things created because the creator was "inspired". One simple example: Microsoft Windows vs. Linux. This all kind of goes back to the concepts of quality and caring that seem to be so lacking in this our "modern" society. Try reading "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" sometime.
I'm amazed! For the first time ever (I think), I heard about this *before* it got posted to slashdot. Ironically enough, it was sent to me by a Mac Zealot. As for them being funded by Microsoft, anyone have any evidence to back this up?
But what is stopping someone from unplugging the workstation, plugging in a linux laptop with the IP of the legitimate workstation and mount the share, "su - user", and voila, you now have all the user's files.
I'll agree that NFS has it's problems. But if you can't control physical access to your network then YOU have some problems. And as for intermezzo, does it work on non-linux? Didn't think so. How about Coda? Not really ready for the real world, I'm afraid.
As for the no crypto "on the linux" as you say, if you had been paying attention (or even using Linux), you would have known that crypto laws have made it impossible to put crypto into the kernel by default. There are crypto patches readily available, not to mention other cryptopackages.
I hate NFS just as much as the next guy. But let's face it: it just works, and is actually ideal for a home network. And until something better comes along, it will be the defacto standard.
First, let me tell you my setup. I just finished putting this together last weekend:
A fileserver running Debian GNU/Linux stable and NFS, Samba, and Netatalk. Also does internal DNS.
A gateway/firewall running Debian GNU/Linux and the IPMasq package.
An AMD desktop machine running Debian GNU/Linux, FreeBSD, and Windows 2000. All three OS's mount/home off the file server.
An iBook running Mac OS X, Mac OS 9, and Debian GNU/Linux. All three OS's mount/home off the file server.
While I haven't got the whole setup tweaked exactly the way I want it yet, it works pretty nicely for now. With this setup, I can work on stuff under one OS, save it, then continue work under another. I also have a tape drive on the fileserver for backup. I still need to get a setup (coda maybe) to do disconnected work on the iBook. I also don't serve anything through the firewall, but I have the fileserver setup with an MTA for the internal network for the OS's that don't automatically run their own (Mac OS, Windows).
As for something that might help you keep things synchronized, I know of something related that will at least help if you ever have to do a reinstall. It's called Gutinteg and was very widely used for reinstalling a machine from scratch with both Windows 95 and Linux dual boot at the NMT Computer Center.
Can slashdot posters quit talking out of their rear-ends for even one article?
No. You're new here aren't you? Well, if you realize that slashdot posters talk out of their ass, then you can't be that new.
I dearly wish there was a "strip all comments labeled "Funny" button.
Considering what passes for funny on slashdot, I'd have to agree with you.
(hell, slashdot doesn't even have color barcharts on the front page!)
Oh, so this is supposed to be a funny post, right?
Several years ago, comments included information from computer scientists, sysadmins, and knowledgable hobbyists.
I'm a computer scientist. See, it says so right there on my degree. Do you feel better now?
The moderation system that once worked well is failing miserably because almost all moderators are as stupid as the posters.
Hey! I resent you calling me as stupid as the moderators! And for implying I voted for any of the idiots in Washington, DC! I only turned 18 in 1996, and by that time the elections were already over. That and I didn't vote for Dubya.
Beyond technical comments, why does everyone feel a need to deride RMS and the GNU project all the time?
Umm, I think you answered your own question with this choice quote: "As anyone can tell, I'm pretty pissed that a bunch of whiney losers in diapers, who couldn't spell "algorithm" if they had a copy of CLR on their desk, or explain why CISC was a natural choice for microprocessors in the 1960s, have drowned out any hope of interesting discussion on a technical topic.". That, and my general theory is that people will a) generally attack what they don't understand and b) will use ad hominem attacks against things they disagree with.
1) Think for yourself
Hey! Who are you to tell me what to do? Besides, I'm already doing that.
2) Listen careefully to what people say, in comments and otherwise
Umm, didn't you just argue that most of what is in the comments here is not worth listening to?
If we follow those rules, then maybe we'll be able to learn stuff from slashdot comments again.
Agreed. I for one am still curious as to why we never see posts that are truly informative, like ones that list otheroperatingsystems that are making faster progress than HURD, and are very different.
How have we allowed the notion of copyright to become so twisted?
We (Americans in general) have become lazy. America has become decadent. There have always been greedy, selfish people who will take advantage of any chance to screw others over if it means they get "more". That chance has come and hasn't left yet.
"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."
-- Benjamin Franklin
Slashdot Mirror
I always thought that mainstream entertainment was a joke - much like popular culture is an oxymoron.
. . .
The Japanese were already negotiating their surrender before anyone outside Los Alamos knew about the bomb.
Not to mention the fact that Los Alamos is in New Mexico, not Nevada.
(scene of operating system "Windows", the captain "Luser" is attempting to make a ships log)
LUSER: Captain's log stardate 2246. We've finished our quest to deliver anti-virus software to the
(interrupted)
MICROSOFT PROGRAMMER: Excuse me, who are you talking to?
L: Well, the ship's log.
MP: Oh. It's broken.
L: Well, why don't you fix it?
MP: Because I'm busy fixing the pixellating intuitive freon database.
L: And what does that do?
MP: It makes it user-friendly!
L: You mean to tell me, that off all the sh*t that's broken in this operating system, you're fixing the f*cking GUI?!
MP: Now you listen to me you short purple dung-heap. I'm the operating system's programmer and I decide what gets fixed first. If you don't like it you can go screw yourself.
L: That's it! Come here! I've had just about enough of you, you've had this coming for a long time!
(LUSER then proceeds to beat MICROSOFT PROGRAMMER senseless.)
L: Now fix this f*cking operating system!
(with apologies to Chris Moeller and Chuck Austen)
(TROLL-MODE=on)
(FLAMEBAIT-MODE=on)
Because we aren't short sighted like the BSD'ers?
(ducks, tucks and rolls while putting on asbestos armor)
(FLAMEBAIT-MODE=off)
(TROLL-MODE=off)
Better yet, just make it like these flashlights that you shake to power.
No, seriously, these do exist. The military loves 'em, because it means less batteries you have to carry and never worry about running out of power!
Huh? Can someone explain this to me? Has potpurri become that popular among teenagers? I mean, I know I'm 23 and a geek, but I didn't think I was that out of touch with popular culture (no matter how much I may try to be).
Yes, but even a master carpenter can't build a house out of rotten wood.
This has been my mantra over the past couple of weeks as I've been forced to try to get low level hardware and software working with Windows.
So yeah, open source is "flawed" in that there is no way to make money writing it in and of itself. Is this really a problem? Only for companies like Microsoft, who believe that users should have to pay good money over and over again for the same product. If open source software suddenly became the norm, and companies like Microsoft folded overnight, I know I'm not the only one who wouldn't cry.
If this had been an article in the Onion and Slashdot had believed it. As it is, I think the Onion missed out on a prime opportunity.
Oh well. I guess sometimes truth is just funnier than fiction, or something like that.
Oh! I think I hit a nerve! And what witty repartee!
BTW, YHBT. YHL. HAND.
Wow. Someone who reads slashdot AND IRCs at the same time. And I thought I was a loser.
You're new here aren't you? Welcome to slashdot!
"Only a bad carpenter blames his tools, but even a master carpenter cannot build a house out of rotten wood."
This has been my mantra as I've been trying to get Windows to do the impossible - run - over the past couple of days. Not that I'm a master carpenter or anything.
The world's greatest browser took over four years to be made, and you're complaining? I bet you would have complained that Michelangelo couldn't finish a simple roof painting job overnight.
Some things are just worth waiting for.
Agreed. However, it should be noted that out of three companies listed as behind this initiative one of them could be considered part of the Linux community. RedHat is not THE Linux community, and of all the Linux distro's I've ever used (Slackware, RedHat, Mandrake, Debian), I've found RedHat to be the most insecure.
Yes, and I routinely do.
Build your own house?
It might take me awhile, especially since I would have a lot to learn, but Yes.
Hell, can you cook your own food?
Yes, and I often do. I point out in particular, that while I am not an expert at "house building" as you would put it, I would be willing to learn. All too often, people just want their hand held, and I don't mean a Palm Pilot. They want to be coddled and told how to do things. I can appreciate that maybe not everyone has the time to learn the ins and outs of computers. But not caring? Then why are they using a computer? If it's important enough that they NEED to use it, then it seems to me that it's important enough that they should learn something about it. Trying to get free technical support out of people whose time is already constrained will net you no new friends.
Don't just take my word for it, see what other people have to say about asking for help in a stupid way.
Not really. I believe that the original poster was pointing out that creative works will be made whether or not copyright exists. Some people would even go so far as to say that anything created solely for compensation will be inferior to things created because the creator was "inspired". One simple example: Microsoft Windows vs. Linux. This all kind of goes back to the concepts of quality and caring that seem to be so lacking in this our "modern" society. Try reading "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" sometime.
Agreed. So, you're going to start running Qmail right away then? I am.
I'm amazed! For the first time ever (I think), I heard about this *before* it got posted to slashdot. Ironically enough, it was sent to me by a Mac Zealot. As for them being funded by Microsoft, anyone have any evidence to back this up?
A: When they are created.
Considering the state of NES emulators, and the fact that you can no longer get NES's, I would have to say I'd rather play it through an emulator.
I'll agree that NFS has it's problems. But if you can't control physical access to your network then YOU have some problems. And as for intermezzo, does it work on non-linux? Didn't think so. How about Coda? Not really ready for the real world, I'm afraid.
As for the no crypto "on the linux" as you say, if you had been paying attention (or even using Linux), you would have known that crypto laws have made it impossible to put crypto into the kernel by default. There are crypto patches readily available, not to mention other crypto packages.
I hate NFS just as much as the next guy. But let's face it: it just works, and is actually ideal for a home network. And until something better comes along, it will be the defacto standard.
While I haven't got the whole setup tweaked exactly the way I want it yet, it works pretty nicely for now. With this setup, I can work on stuff under one OS, save it, then continue work under another. I also have a tape drive on the fileserver for backup. I still need to get a setup (coda maybe) to do disconnected work on the iBook. I also don't serve anything through the firewall, but I have the fileserver setup with an MTA for the internal network for the OS's that don't automatically run their own (Mac OS, Windows).
As for something that might help you keep things synchronized, I know of something related that will at least help if you ever have to do a reinstall. It's called Gutinteg and was very widely used for reinstalling a machine from scratch with both Windows 95 and Linux dual boot at the NMT Computer Center.
No. You're new here aren't you? Well, if you realize that slashdot posters talk out of their ass, then you can't be that new.
I dearly wish there was a "strip all comments labeled "Funny" button.
Considering what passes for funny on slashdot, I'd have to agree with you.
(hell, slashdot doesn't even have color barcharts on the front page!)
Oh, so this is supposed to be a funny post, right?
Several years ago, comments included information from computer scientists, sysadmins, and knowledgable hobbyists.
I'm a computer scientist. See, it says so right there on my degree. Do you feel better now?
The moderation system that once worked well is failing miserably because almost all moderators are as stupid as the posters.
Hey! I resent you calling me as stupid as the moderators! And for implying I voted for any of the idiots in Washington, DC! I only turned 18 in 1996, and by that time the elections were already over. That and I didn't vote for Dubya.
Beyond technical comments, why does everyone feel a need to deride RMS and the GNU project all the time?
Umm, I think you answered your own question with this choice quote: "As anyone can tell, I'm pretty pissed that a bunch of whiney losers in diapers, who couldn't spell "algorithm" if they had a copy of CLR on their desk, or explain why CISC was a natural choice for microprocessors in the 1960s, have drowned out any hope of interesting discussion on a technical topic.". That, and my general theory is that people will a) generally attack what they don't understand and b) will use ad hominem attacks against things they disagree with.
1) Think for yourself
Hey! Who are you to tell me what to do? Besides, I'm already doing that.
2) Listen careefully to what people say, in comments and otherwise
Umm, didn't you just argue that most of what is in the comments here is not worth listening to?
If we follow those rules, then maybe we'll be able to learn stuff from slashdot comments again.
Agreed. I for one am still curious as to why we never see posts that are truly informative, like ones that list other operating systems that are making faster progress than HURD, and are very different.
We (Americans in general) have become lazy. America has become decadent. There have always been greedy, selfish people who will take advantage of any chance to screw others over if it means they get "more". That chance has come and hasn't left yet.