Schwab - how about all of the security holes in RedHat and the other kajillion versions of Linux? Very easy to forget about those, because 80% of using Linux is supporting the source code with new code/fixes/patches/useless-comments-about-who-did- this-and-who-did-that.
Linux is several orders of magnitude less robust than the current MS-OS offerings - go back to the slashdotted article about the triumph/milestone that Linux made concerning supported maxiumum usable filesystem size - some mention of a 100-petabyte "ceiling" being reached by Linux (original articel from TheReg here. Windows NT using NTFS can support 16 Exabyte volumes - and how long has NT been shipping.vs Linux?
Linux is as robust as the "C" programmer adding their favorite modules and code add-ins is - especially if he gets the "make" options correct *grin*.
In regards to your "claim" of Bill Gate's "porting" the BASIC Interpreter for the Altair/IMSI systems; every new compiler/interpreter has virtually been a porting of another, previous compiler/interpreter for a given OS/Platform, because they all have to spit-out ASM or OBJ files in the same format. Nice attempt to cloud the issuse.
It just totally amazes me how disingenuous 99.9999% of the people who post here are. It's as if this was a damned "Holy War" between Microsoft and Linux users/fans - with the Linux-o-philes being the disingenuous ones with the irreverent pokes-and-jabs at the pro-Microsoft Community, and the Microsoft-ians trying to defend their position - as if they had to. I'm sure that to some here it IS a Holy War of sorts; The Linux & Open Source Elitests controlling the use of their OS by making updates or changes to the OS understandable and achievable only by the "Washed, Blessed and Annointed" of the Technology Gods....PROGRAMMERS! Try having your mom or dad install RedHat - they'll end-up using the CD's for coffee-coasters or window-hangings because they had no idea what "make" or "chmod" meant, or that the version of (insert your favorite flavor of Linux) that they were installing didn't support their soundcard, or that they couldn't install the copy of PrintMaster that they got from their son so they could do cute birthday cards because it won't run under (insert your favorite flavor of Linux)
It must have been the "Cynicism 101" and "Sarcasm & Pomposity 201" classes that got snuck-in on you while you attended College - or were you all born that way?
Here's some cynicism for you: Let's have all of you Microsoft users who want to "stick it" to the Linux-o-philes and Open-Source fetishists file petitions with your Congress-persons (gotta be "Politically Correct" for the "liberals/leftists" in here so they won't sue me for gender-bias) calling for government protections against Open-Source software due to the Elitest-fostering tenents of Open-Source Software; that the average user has to know how to program in C or some other language to fix their own problems with the OS/Application/Utility/POS-Emulation-of-Microsoft- Office, and which, by it's own definition, will be excluded from the masses because of the technical background needed to use the OS/Application/Utility/POS-Emulation-of-Microsoft- Office.
I, for one, am very pleased with Microsoft's offer to provide the technology to disadvantaged schools so the children attending those schools can have a future that doesn't include State-sponsored Welfare (but that's what the liberals/leftists want; to continue and expand LBJ's experiments in Socialism), State-sponsored Housing (read "segregation") and other social ills that their parents suffer under. To take this settlement offer and twist it around to make it look anything other than what is is - an attempt to make ammends for their Judicially-decided errors in business ethics and practices - is the height of disingenuity.
It's unfortunate that we live in a time where access to information can also foster such scenarios where people fear that some 14-year-old punk is going to steal their VISA & MasterCard info on their computers, thanks to those who think that hacking and cracking is just another form of social recreation.
Here's a better idea:
1) Make it a Federal Crime to hack, crack, break software protections or reverse engineer ANY software, or to be involved in any kind of "hacktivism" activities - and make it a 20-year manditory sentence, with no possibility of parole.
2) Revoke the Domain Names and IP addresses of sites that espouse these activities under current RICO laws.
3) Demand that every OS Developer, from Microsoft to RedHat make their OS absolutely air-tight and unable to be used for such purposes, and fine that company 100% of their revenue from such products and have that money go to humanitarian projects such as feeding and housing the homeless. Of course, this would put an end to the hackers...oops....Open Software initiatives out there, because such protections could be easily circumvented by just modifying the source code. Like I've said many times here before: Open Source OS's belong in academia, and not on Mom & Dad's PC.
4) Enact Federal Legislation in connection with #1 and #3 that would also make it a Federal Crime to be in possesion of software that is either cracked/hacked or is illegally used in such activities. Of course, this would cause software makers for producse such as SoftICE much more liable. Also, this would end the warez-pipeline - which is an adjunct to the activities of most hackers/crackers.
5) Enact Federal Legislation against IP spoofing, unsecured VHOSTS and proxys in connection with #1 through #4, and make such providers of these unsecured systems liable under current RICO statutes, in connection with #2
All of the above are technically feasable and possible through current software technology. Machine-types can be identified while connected to the Internet, activity can be monitored, and evidence collected.
To prevent hacking, cracking, and so on, you must do two things: Make it extremely prohibitive and downright dangerous to hack/crack, and remove the tools or make them also as prohibitive and dangerous.
For myself, I'm a regular emailer to piracy@microsoft.com, and have had a hand (although a small one) in having many hacking/cracking/warez sites shut-down - and I'll continue to fight hacking/cracking/warez as much as I can on a personal level.
And for those that think that the issues I raise here are "Free Speech" or "Protected Speech" issues are sadly mistaken, and if you'd care to prove me wrong, have at it.
Remove the space between the "Q" and the 93 - this is in error, and interestingly enough that is *exactly* where the textbox for this submission to slashdot cuts-off and puts the rest on a new line.
If I were a linux-o-phile and was posting something on a predominantly-Microsoft site, I'd start crying "Conspiracy" because my link got modified by the site's posting engine.
The link:
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles /Q 93/4/96.ASP
Linux: the Academian's choice - and that's why it will *never* be accepted and used in mass quantities in the business world, and the only reason that it has made any kind of foothold in the business/corporate environment is that the people that implemented it in those corporations have been only out of college for 4 years or less and want to feel "comfortable" while working in the stress-ridden corporate world.
I took a peek at the ccianet.org "document" and had a nice giggle.
How is "government" supposed to "create competition"? Isn't that called SOCIALISM???
I can see it now:
"Buy the US Government-Approved Linux!!"
Would all the anti-MS bigots do us all a favor and grow the hell up and understand that the reason that Microsoft's OS is all over the place is that there is *not* a viable option for the 98% of the people that use a Microsoft OS that doesn't want to spend a week installing their OS and finding that it's not going to work with their hardware because someone getting drunk at frat parties at college hasn't written a stable-enough driver.
To paraphrase Robin Williams:
"Free Market: what a concept!!"
I used to work for a major West Coast Tier 1 backbone provider that had a huge share of PSINet's service, as well as providing additional bandwidth for companies like WorldCom, Verizon, GC, Verio and dozens of other CLECs. Due to the "economic down-turn", the insolvency of my former employer's customers and/or their inability to understand what "net 90" meant in billing terms (some customers owed them millions of dollars and were in arears by months), I am now forced by a substantial lay-off to start looking for a new job in the Telecom Industry.
The only people to blame in all of this down-turn in the Technology sector of the economy are the companies that got started by some yuppie yutz thinking it would be a cool way to make $$$ by riding on the coat-tails of the "Internet Revolution" - sadly, the only thing "revolutionary" was the investors and company-owners/shareholders/Venture Capitalist's greed.
The major problems with the nefarious "last mile" are:
who owns the right-of-way?
who will pay for the CO upgrades (if needed)?
I happen to live in a small town (pop. 5000), and the switch served by this down is an antiquated Nortel DMS-10 - which is really nothing more than a souped-up PBX...no digital service, unless you want to buy a T1 or higher; hence, no ability to install DSLAMs. The Cable Monopoly here just recently upgraded to Digital service, but we've yet to hear about Cable Modem access for nearly a year.
If the area you are in is not economically condusive to having additional services provided to you, you can kiss any kind of broadband access good-bye - and don't even talk to me about Starband: 512kbits/sec is ok, but with 700mils latency, you can count me out there as well.
I sure hope you can sleep at night, you hearless BASTARD! All you think about is bashing Microsoft when over 5,000 people lie DEAD in the smouldering rubble of the World Trade Center.
Go look into the 82-page list of grants at:
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/
Does the vaulted "Linux Community" donate on the scale of Microsoft? Does the "Linux Community" make the level of Income that Microsoft and Bill Gates does? If either was true, I'd be using Redhat at work instead of Windows NT - because Linux would be the dominant OS in the market.
It's not about "how much money will Microsoft lose", you stupid putz...It's how much money the R3 (Relief, Rescue & Recovery) work gets to replace expendables and pay for other services that can't be donated.
Question: How much time would it take to design/build/create this "shelter on a truck"? 2 weeks? 3 weeks? 3 months? Too late.
Question: How much time would it take to develop/design/test/build this nifty-sounding "person finding system"? 3 months? 6 months? 3 years? Too late.
GET REAL, AND GET OFF THE MICROSOFT-BASH SOAP-BOX - THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS GOING ON, YOU STUPID ASS!!!!
Typical post from a/. dork - and he doesn't even have the cohones to use anything but "Anonymous Dink...oops, meant to say Coward".
Get a freakin' life.
ScottKin - Penguin-hunter.
(Yes, I said "Penguin-hunter" - as in "tux", that stupid, dazed-looking mascot for the Linux-ophiles; you dorks can bash Microsoft all day long and do it between breaths, so I believe the addage of "turn-about is fair play" equally applies. If you don't like it, root yourself!)
So, please tell us how that equates to the Sklyarov case? You can check books and materials out of a Library, they fine you if you don't return the items you borrowed. Copyright laws do not (under most circumstances) extend to the "fair-use" guidelines under current copyright law (remember when libraries were thinking of tossing-out all of the photocopiers they had because some nutcase at the American Library Association thought that having photocopiers at Libraries was fostering copyright violations?? Franklin's work in starting the first Libraries did not include plaigerism and any potential copyright infringement.
The software that ElComSoft and Mr. Sklyarov wrote has specific components in it that were specifically designed to unlock Adobe's encryption protection for their ebook software, and sold it in the USA for profit. The commerce for this software occured in in many places, including Issaquah, WA (a small town just east of Bellevue and Redmond, WA - and from I can remember from living there, it's still in the USA). Since the commerce and transations took place via the online order processing company, the Government is within it's rights to prosecute the seller of this software within the fullest extent of the Law. The fact that there are (according to press releases from the EFF) legitimate uses for this software does not mitigate the illegal utility within the software.
No such device existed in the first published stories of the Mahdi by the Umma. The Lisan-al-Gaib never needed such a device, because all things within the Universe were his to control. The Fedaykin only used Crysknife or Maula Pistol to fight for Muad'dib. To suggest anything else would be Blasphemy...
...but it was really cool to see those in the movie! (heh)
CHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAA-CHACHSHA!!!!!!
(one of the/. servers disintegrates!)
Dang - now I'm going to have to watch the movie tonight!!!
Geez!! Throw some pixie-dust in there and fly away to Never-Never-Microsoft-Land!!
<p>
This is one amazing reply to a post. Python may be a cool language with some real dev-time features, but how quickly is it going to be as widely adopted as C++? Name one *major* software house developing real-world applications using Python - you can't, and probably won't for at least 10 years.
<p>
We also get to see the standard battle-cry of the pinko-leftist "socialistas" about "free people". So now, we have "Communist/Socialis Software" - "software for the good of the People". Why did Communism fail? Because the only people who could make decent money were at the TOP of the social structure. Yeah, you may have lived in Government housing, but could you ever move, or buy a car on your own? From someone who's been in the trenches Yeah, that's "freedom" for ya!
<p>
Who here has made any money from Open Source development besides all the Dev-$$$ going into Linus's pocket? "What? Linus getting PAID for Linux???" YOU BETCHA, BABY!!!!!
Open Source software is great - for Academia, hobbyists and haqrs, and it will always be at that level until Applications Developers like Adobe, AutoDesk, Kinetic, and (gasp) Microsoft start developing and porting their MAJOR applications for Open Source OS's like Linux and FreeBSD. Of course, if they develop Open Source applications they'll loose money, fire 95% of their staff and end-up in the DOT-COM trash-heap.
Wake up and smell the coffee before "Open Souce" goes the way of Communism. Closed Source/Compiled Code is the heartbeat of the Democratic/Captialist system - where you can actually get PAID for writing software!
And the Linuxophiles don't do the same? Let's examine your own post for examples:
"MacroShaft Winblows 98se(shitty edition)"
I see you learned about "humor" from "South Park"?
Linux, without all of those security patches and fixes you mentioned ("...linux/unix when not properly secured and maintained can look like "swiss cheese" with security holes every where..."), stumbles around worse than a druken Sen. Ted Kennedy!
Then, you go on talking about how Windows being "more secure out-of-the-box" but then in the next breath saying "being more secure means less productivity"??
"PUT THE CRACK-PIPE DOWN AND STEP AWAY, SIR!!!"
Of course your OS is going to crash if you screw-up the configs!
Also, the security model for Linux is based on the multi-user model for UNIX, where as the security model for Win98/ME is single-user with profiles for multiple users - or what about that DIDN'T you understand????
Your BSOD with your dad's system when you tried to shut-down was more than likely due to a glitch in the power-saving settings in the BIOS or a problem with the video drivers. Chances are that you used the older, pre-ME drivers for that video card.
If I was your dad I wouldn't let you within 50 YARDS of my computer!
I find it refreshingly funny how you totally avoided the meat of my post and picked on one singular point - thanks for vindicating 95% of my post!
If any technology is un-proven in the market-place, it's Linux. I have yet to see a major corporation completely drop the Win32 platform and have Linux running on every desktop in that corporation. Let's give Linux the 10 years of growth that NT has had, and then we'll talk.
Actually, I have a Sun Ultra 5 running Solaris with CDE sitting at my desk, and I also run Exceed 6.1 to access other X11 boxes on our Network, so your assumptions that we *only* ran on a Win32 environment is incorrect. I have personally seen UNIX go through so many of it's own mutations since I first worked on BSD 3.1 back in 1979 when I was a Computer Operator at Lawrence Berkeley Lab (yeah, I'm realy *that* old!) that it's a mere shadow of it's former self.
Organizations that are "screaming" for Solaris and Linux usually fall under three categories:
1) IT departments run by recent College Grads who got hooked on Linux and feel naked at the workplace without a Gnome footprint on their system's desktop.
2) IT departments run by "old school" UNIX mavens who still get a thrill out of typing "csh" and "grep".
3) IT departments that carefully examine the strongest and best tools, regardless of the Operating System or platform those tools are on, and *then* purchase the OS and platform to host those tools on.
The only people I see doing any "screaming" in the "market" are those people who are vehemently Anti-Microsoft - against the actual market strength that Microsft carries because of their longevity and historical ubiquitousness - not Anti-Windows. They're also "screaming" for Solaris and Linux because they've been told by "the media" that Linux and Solaris are "cool" and are the newest thing on the block - when they really aren't. Don't you just love how "the media" lies to you?
The company that thoughtfully chooses the proper mix of hardware and *commercially available* software is one that *will* choose Win32 for the Desktop, because of the vast quantity of *commercially available* Applications for their users/employees. Chances are that they'll also choose UNIX for large Server-based apps and services because of the long-standing record of reliability and stability, with a mix of NT/Win2k, and maybe a web server or two running Linux w/ Apache.
In regards to this "failed experiment" you refered to in Network Management, I'd like to see your non-propaganda sources for this info - If anything, the NT platform has excelled in LAN/WAN Management functions for some time now; in fact, HP's OpenView - the de facto standard in Network Managment - has been running and available for NT for a while now, and is one of the most popular Network Managment tools running on NT with full support for either DMI or SNMP. Consider your point as "moot"
The hard facts are this:
1) Linux will only become as ubiquitous as Win32 on your average user's system when the quantity of third-party applications are available for Linux as they are for Win32, not just the comparative handfull of apps for Linux. There also has to be an incentive beyond Anit-Microsoft sentiment for a company to adopt a replacement OS for their computers. StarOffice != market-share.
2) Microsoft Windows will remain the dominant OS for general use on the Desktop for the near future and will continue to eat-away at the UNIX market-share in Servers because of Microsoft's historical dominance in the Industry - regardless if some so-called "competitor" wants to employ the US Justice Dept. as their attorney to try to sue Microsoft and cause it's break-up into "Baby Bills". It will continue to do so until some other company can come up with a better solution and have the third-party market support for that solution.
Now, bear this in mind: I think Linux, for what it offers, is awesome; a relatively cost-free and maturing OS. I love the stability of UNIX, specifically Solaris on my Sun Ultra 5. I love the stability of a *properly configured* machine running NT / Win2k. Linux *does* have a place in the world of Computing, but for now it's not going to be on your average user's desktop. I also think that the divisiveness exhibited by the "Linuxophiles" is childish and will do nothing to enhance the broader acceptance of Linux as an alternative to the OS offerings from Microsoft.
Be pragmatic, and you'll succeed - be an extremist, and you'll fall flat on your ass from hitting your head against the brick-wall of logic.
btw - I haven't had to re-boot my NT system at work for 3 weeks - and I didn't have to compile the OS! How's your record?
I'll see your "heh" and raise you 2 more "heh"'s and a "HAH"...
Concerning your comment, "but we won't tell you what unstable aplications we were running or how well our employees understand the os"
I just love working with new things that I don't fully understand but want to learn about - it's a theraputic stresser for the brain, an exercise in cognitive abilities. Everyone should just stop whining, get a copy of RedHat or Mandrake - or better yet, a Debian distro - and just install it, tinker with it, experiment with it, learn and become proficient with their chosen brand of Linux. Remember: "Knowledge is Strength"
Never mind that I work at a *huge* Telecom company as a Transport Network Engineer and have to support literally *thousands* of our customers when their 56k Frame Relay ckt does down, or when another CLEC (Competitive Local Exchange Carrier) is having problems on their portion of a customer's circuit, or even when a new customer turn-up has gone sour and I'm asked to "resolve the issue". I want to learn how to make my system run Linux!! I want to be as cool as the geeked-out 23-year-old uber-hacker that lives down the street and who hasn't seen daylight for a week because he just can't get SuSE to work as well as his similarly geeked-out friend who spent 3 weeks of constant work (excluding breaks for food and "elimination of bodily waste") to port his favorite Enlighenment theme over to the Linux "flavor-of-the-week".
In fact, I think *everyone* should run and install and/or compile Linux (again, depending on the Linux distro I just received) on their computers, and just start using it - destroy Micro$oft's "Desktop Monopoly"...YEAH!!!
...I just won't get any work done, because a lot of my Circuit Design diagrams are in Visio, our Circuit Design & Ticket Management system runs under Win32, our CRM (Customer Relations Management) software also runs under Win32, and our LAN / WAN is managed by Novel. I'll try getting WINE to work so I can get access to those applications...I'll lose my job!!...but that's cool, because then I'll have more time to tinker and play with Linux!!
It's posts like yours - ones that claim not to be "flame-bait" at the end of the tirade (because that's all it is...a childish tirade) that usually end-up being the equivalent of a massive, topical heat-sink.
Do us all a favor and drop the leftist double-talk..."talking head"...sheesh - say what you freakin' mean. Linus is just as wrapped-up in your so-called "PR speak", because he's trying to sell something, too! I'm sure that Linus gets a pretty penny for licensing fees and such - he's not as altruistic as your saintly adoration would evoke. You look more like a "talking head" for Linux yourself - look in the mirror once in a while.
Care to tell us where Mundie lied? Show me; I figure that you saw it due to the blows inflicted on your skull from the other protests you were attending in Seattle or elsewhere - because you sound like one of the same ilk of people who just love get angry to vent their own frustrations.
You want "reality"? Here you go;
Linus Torvalds != God
Bill Gates != God
Steve Jobs != God
And where do you get this "...have made contributions to humanity, and by most accounts did so with passion and vigour..." brand of bovine fertilizier? He wrote a freakin' Operating System, he didn't create a cure for cancer!!
Do us all a huge favor and make sure to take your hypertension medicine next time you post this bullcrap - you're about ready to bust an aneurism.
'nuff said!
ScottK
Microsoft blurs definitions? Open Source = myopic
on
MS VP Speech Online
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· Score: 1
Yamla's information is a little incorrect, for the following reasons:
1. Windows CE, Windows 9x (including ME), and Windows 2000 are *DIFFERENT* Operating Systems for *DIFFERENT* uses and, in the case of Windows CE, a totally different architecture and processor-family. As pointed-out throughout the last 7 years by a variety of people who like to call themselves "Systems Engineers", Windows 9x really is just MS-DOS with a new suit.
2. Windows NT & Windows 2000 have as much in-common with MS-DOS as RSTS/E or RSX-11M+ does to VaxVMS; interestingly, NT actually has more in common with VaxVMS than it does MS-DOS (David Cutler, one of the creators of Windows NT, was one of the architects of VaxVMS - hence the internal similarities)
3. The only thing that someone could even elude to for "common lineage" is that they all came from Microsoft.
4. Regarding "Code Forking": Can I expect to run the exact same binary on the multitude of Linux variants in the current market? Can I go to my local store and buy Win32 software and run it on *any* version of Windows NT or 2000? You answer the question; My experience shows "No" and "Yes", respectively. "Code Forks" are defined as: a change or divergence in source code that a) deviates from the original source code and b) such changes in the source code that can cause subtle changes (or drastic ones) in the use or intended functions of the executable software.
Here's the rub: The concept for "Open Source" software works wonderfully - in Academia or as a hobby. GNU GPL *does* have it's place, to be sure. But the Open Source advocates tend to forget some very salient points:
1) Applying the GNU GPL License to to other things in life: If I go to a museum and find a wonderful painting that took the artist many years to create, and take a felt-tip marker to that piece of art, what happens to that piece of art? It no longer has the intrinsic value it once had, and I can now claim that it is *everyone's* piece of art - true or false? I changed it, so now under the GNU GPL rules it's now everyone's!!
2) Let's say, for example, that Yamla wrote some wonderful code, and released it under the GNU GPL. I like it so much that I take what I want from it...ok, I took ALL of it...and make a very nice program that I compile and release commercially and *don't* release it under the GNU GPL. People like my new program so much that they wish to throw money at me so they can have my program, too. Since I compiled my software and did not release the source code under the GNU GPL, Yalma would be very hard-pressed to prove that I used his code in my product, since "reverse engineering" is prohibited under the DMCA. So, I benefited from someone else's hard work, Yalma is screwed out of some money for his hard work, and I laugh all the way to the bank. "Open Source" is totally dependant on the honesty of the people involved. (Yamla, I would never do such a thing - the inference was needed for the illustration)
There is no real protection for the authors / code writers who choose to go the "Open Software" avenue. Even the GNU GPL License itself (http://www.opensource.org/licenses/gpl-license.ht ml) does not provide any kind of protection against plagiarism or Protection of Intellectual Property.
Other people like to blur the connection between "Open Source" and "Freeware". Open Source is, by it's own definition "Freeware", because anyone can get the source code, get one of the many free compilers available, compile the source code and get an executable for absolutely NOTHING!
The harsh realities of life are:
1) Apply "Occam's Razor" to the question of honesty, and you find that everyone is a liar.
2) Money is MUCH thicker than Blood.
3) Given half a chance, someone you know (and quite possibly respect) will screw you out of your chance to obtain riches and fame if it comes down to "you or them" as the recipient.
Open Source Software or "Freeware" is not the problem - it's the greed of Commerce that makes people want to sell the software they make. "Open Source" software will always be hard-pressed to make any kind of *real* (read "economic") difference in the Software Industry because it lacks one, vitally important component: someone paying for it to generate revenue so the development process can continue.
Don't get me wrong, here - "Open Source" products are excellent in many ways, but it's no way to build a business.
Leave it for BMUG and the Silicon Valley "sissies" to try to do a comparison between PSS (Product Support Services) and the Psychotic Friends Network. How utterly LAME!
For starters, the wholse scenario stinks of a set-up by the original authors at some banal attempt at what most of us call "humor". Next, the actual problem appears to be one they created for themselves; if the authors were using OBDC drivers and connectivity to the Sybase SQL data-source and had the proper target server. addresses and data-sources configured properly in their Access query, there should not have been any problem extracting from the correct data-source.
For the 2nd "test" of theirs, it would have been much easier to scale the data at the front within Microsoft Access - that was just a plain-old bone-head job on their part, and points to some incredulity on their part.
For the 3rd test, their approach was absolutely stupefying - their request would have required Access to gain an entry into the hndWin process - which, if they were going to use VB (how STUPID is THAT!!?!), they would have to write a c wrapper for that VB function. The PSS person was absolutely correct in his estimation of the situation and acted as any Tech Support person would.
Leave it to the BMUG lackeys of Apple to try to smear Microsoft with this sophomorific experiment. Their use of the Psychotic Friends Network in their little fun-time "experiment" makes as much sense as calling Home Depot or HomeBase for questions on performing a Mitral Valve Replacement (one of the valves in your heart) or a Quadruple Coronary Bypass.
ScottKin - who is *not* a Microsoft Employee, contractor or consultant to Microsoft.
Slashdot Mirror
Linux is several orders of magnitude less robust than the current MS-OS offerings - go back to the slashdotted article about the triumph/milestone that Linux made concerning supported maxiumum usable filesystem size - some mention of a 100-petabyte "ceiling" being reached by Linux (original articel from TheReg here. Windows NT using NTFS can support 16 Exabyte volumes - and how long has NT been shipping .vs Linux?
Linux is as robust as the "C" programmer adding their favorite modules and code add-ins is - especially if he gets the "make" options correct *grin*.
In regards to your "claim" of Bill Gate's "porting" the BASIC Interpreter for the Altair/IMSI systems; every new compiler/interpreter has virtually been a porting of another, previous compiler/interpreter for a given OS/Platform, because they all have to spit-out ASM or OBJ files in the same format. Nice attempt to cloud the issuse.
Peace,
ScottKin
It must have been the "Cynicism 101" and "Sarcasm & Pomposity 201" classes that got snuck-in on you while you attended College - or were you all born that way?
Here's some cynicism for you: Let's have all of you Microsoft users who want to "stick it" to the Linux-o-philes and Open-Source fetishists file petitions with your Congress-persons (gotta be "Politically Correct" for the "liberals/leftists" in here so they won't sue me for gender-bias) calling for government protections against Open-Source software due to the Elitest-fostering tenents of Open-Source Software; that the average user has to know how to program in C or some other language to fix their own problems with the OS/Application/Utility/POS-Emulation-of-Microsoft- Office, and which, by it's own definition, will be excluded from the masses because of the technical background needed to use the OS/Application/Utility/POS-Emulation-of-Microsoft- Office.
I, for one, am very pleased with Microsoft's offer to provide the technology to disadvantaged schools so the children attending those schools can have a future that doesn't include State-sponsored Welfare (but that's what the liberals/leftists want; to continue and expand LBJ's experiments in Socialism), State-sponsored Housing (read "segregation") and other social ills that their parents suffer under. To take this settlement offer and twist it around to make it look anything other than what is is - an attempt to make ammends for their Judicially-decided errors in business ethics and practices - is the height of disingenuity.
Linux: "Linus, I Now Understand Xenophobia"
Peace,
ScottKin
It's unfortunate that we live in a time where access to information can also foster such scenarios where people fear that some 14-year-old punk is going to steal their VISA & MasterCard info on their computers, thanks to those who think that hacking and cracking is just another form of social recreation.
Here's a better idea:
1) Make it a Federal Crime to hack, crack, break software protections or reverse engineer ANY software, or to be involved in any kind of "hacktivism" activities - and make it a 20-year manditory sentence, with no possibility of parole.
2) Revoke the Domain Names and IP addresses of sites that espouse these activities under current RICO laws.
3) Demand that every OS Developer, from Microsoft to RedHat make their OS absolutely air-tight and unable to be used for such purposes, and fine that company 100% of their revenue from such products and have that money go to humanitarian projects such as feeding and housing the homeless. Of course, this would put an end to the hackers...oops....Open Software initiatives out there, because such protections could be easily circumvented by just modifying the source code. Like I've said many times here before: Open Source OS's belong in academia, and not on Mom & Dad's PC.
4) Enact Federal Legislation in connection with #1 and #3 that would also make it a Federal Crime to be in possesion of software that is either cracked/hacked or is illegally used in such activities. Of course, this would cause software makers for producse such as SoftICE much more liable. Also, this would end the warez-pipeline - which is an adjunct to the activities of most hackers/crackers.
5) Enact Federal Legislation against IP spoofing, unsecured VHOSTS and proxys in connection with #1 through #4, and make such providers of these unsecured systems liable under current RICO statutes, in connection with #2
All of the above are technically feasable and possible through current software technology. Machine-types can be identified while connected to the Internet, activity can be monitored, and evidence collected.
To prevent hacking, cracking, and so on, you must do two things: Make it extremely prohibitive and downright dangerous to hack/crack, and remove the tools or make them also as prohibitive and dangerous.
For myself, I'm a regular emailer to piracy@microsoft.com, and have had a hand (although a small one) in having many hacking/cracking/warez sites shut-down - and I'll continue to fight hacking/cracking/warez as much as I can on a personal level.
And for those that think that the issues I raise here are "Free Speech" or "Protected Speech" issues are sadly mistaken, and if you'd care to prove me wrong, have at it.
Peace,
ScottKin
A slight correction:
s /Q 93/4/96.ASP
Remove the space between the "Q" and the 93 - this is in error, and interestingly enough that is *exactly* where the textbox for this submission to slashdot cuts-off and puts the rest on a new line.
If I were a linux-o-phile and was posting something on a predominantly-Microsoft site, I'd start crying "Conspiracy" because my link got modified by the site's posting engine.
The link:
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/article
Linux: the Academian's choice - and that's why it will *never* be accepted and used in mass quantities in the business world, and the only reason that it has made any kind of foothold in the business/corporate environment is that the people that implemented it in those corporations have been only out of college for 4 years or less and want to feel "comfortable" while working in the stress-ridden corporate world.
Peace, y'all
ScottKin
I took a peek at the ccianet.org "document" and had a nice giggle.
How is "government" supposed to "create competition"? Isn't that called SOCIALISM???
I can see it now:
"Buy the US Government-Approved Linux!!"
Would all the anti-MS bigots do us all a favor and grow the hell up and understand that the reason that Microsoft's OS is all over the place is that there is *not* a viable option for the 98% of the people that use a Microsoft OS that doesn't want to spend a week installing their OS and finding that it's not going to work with their hardware because someone getting drunk at frat parties at college hasn't written a stable-enough driver.
To paraphrase Robin Williams:
"Free Market: what a concept!!"
Peace, y'all
ScottKin
Amen, and Amen!!!
I used to work for a major West Coast Tier 1 backbone provider that had a huge share of PSINet's service, as well as providing additional bandwidth for companies like WorldCom, Verizon, GC, Verio and dozens of other CLECs. Due to the "economic down-turn", the insolvency of my former employer's customers and/or their inability to understand what "net 90" meant in billing terms (some customers owed them millions of dollars and were in arears by months), I am now forced by a substantial lay-off to start looking for a new job in the Telecom Industry.
The only people to blame in all of this down-turn in the Technology sector of the economy are the companies that got started by some yuppie yutz thinking it would be a cool way to make $$$ by riding on the coat-tails of the "Internet Revolution" - sadly, the only thing "revolutionary" was the investors and company-owners/shareholders/Venture Capitalist's greed.
Wish me luck!
An excellent observation!
The major problems with the nefarious "last mile" are:
who owns the right-of-way?
who will pay for the CO upgrades (if needed)?
I happen to live in a small town (pop. 5000), and the switch served by this down is an antiquated Nortel DMS-10 - which is really nothing more than a souped-up PBX...no digital service, unless you want to buy a T1 or higher; hence, no ability to install DSLAMs. The Cable Monopoly here just recently upgraded to Digital service, but we've yet to hear about Cable Modem access for nearly a year.
If the area you are in is not economically condusive to having additional services provided to you, you can kiss any kind of broadband access good-bye - and don't even talk to me about Starband: 512kbits/sec is ok, but with 700mils latency, you can count me out there as well.
Peace,
ScottKin
I sure hope you can sleep at night, you hearless BASTARD! All you think about is bashing Microsoft when over 5,000 people lie DEAD in the smouldering rubble of the World Trade Center.
Go look into the 82-page list of grants at:
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/
Does the vaulted "Linux Community" donate on the scale of Microsoft? Does the "Linux Community" make the level of Income that Microsoft and Bill Gates does? If either was true, I'd be using Redhat at work instead of Windows NT - because Linux would be the dominant OS in the market.
Rot in HELL!
ScottKin
It's not about "how much money will Microsoft lose", you stupid putz...It's how much money the R3 (Relief, Rescue & Recovery) work gets to replace expendables and pay for other services that can't be donated.
Question: How much time would it take to design/build/create this "shelter on a truck"? 2 weeks? 3 weeks? 3 months? Too late.
Question: How much time would it take to develop/design/test/build this nifty-sounding "person finding system"? 3 months? 6 months? 3 years? Too late.
GET REAL, AND GET OFF THE MICROSOFT-BASH SOAP-BOX - THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS GOING ON, YOU STUPID ASS!!!!
'nuf said!
ScottKin
Typical post from a /. dork - and he doesn't even have the cohones to use anything but "Anonymous Dink...oops, meant to say Coward".
Get a freakin' life.
ScottKin - Penguin-hunter.
(Yes, I said "Penguin-hunter" - as in "tux", that stupid, dazed-looking mascot for the Linux-ophiles; you dorks can bash Microsoft all day long and do it between breaths, so I believe the addage of "turn-about is fair play" equally applies. If you don't like it, root yourself!)
The software that ElComSoft and Mr. Sklyarov wrote has specific components in it that were specifically designed to unlock Adobe's encryption protection for their ebook software, and sold it in the USA for profit. The commerce for this software occured in in many places, including Issaquah, WA (a small town just east of Bellevue and Redmond, WA - and from I can remember from living there, it's still in the USA). Since the commerce and transations took place via the online order processing company, the Government is within it's rights to prosecute the seller of this software within the fullest extent of the Law. The fact that there are (according to press releases from the EFF) legitimate uses for this software does not mitigate the illegal utility within the software.
'nuff said!
ScottKin
SACRILEGE!!!!
/. servers disintegrates!)
No such device existed in the first published stories of the Mahdi by the Umma. The Lisan-al-Gaib never needed such a device, because all things within the Universe were his to control. The Fedaykin only used Crysknife or Maula Pistol to fight for Muad'dib. To suggest anything else would be Blasphemy...
...but it was really cool to see those in the movie! (heh)
CHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAA-CHACHSHA!!!!!!
(one of the
Dang - now I'm going to have to watch the movie tonight!!!
Have Fun....Play Hard....Play-do
ScottKin
Geez!! Throw some pixie-dust in there and fly away to Never-Never-Microsoft-Land!!
<p>
This is one amazing reply to a post. Python may be a cool language with some real dev-time features, but how quickly is it going to be as widely adopted as C++? Name one *major* software house developing real-world applications using Python - you can't, and probably won't for at least 10 years.
<p>
We also get to see the standard battle-cry of the pinko-leftist "socialistas" about "free people". So now, we have "Communist/Socialis Software" - "software for the good of the People". Why did Communism fail? Because the only people who could make decent money were at the TOP of the social structure. Yeah, you may have lived in Government housing, but could you ever move, or buy a car on your own? From someone who's been in the trenches Yeah, that's "freedom" for ya!
<p>
Who here has made any money from Open Source development besides all the Dev-$$$ going into Linus's pocket? "What? Linus getting PAID for Linux???" YOU BETCHA, BABY!!!!!
Open Source software is great - for Academia, hobbyists and haqrs, and it will always be at that level until Applications Developers like Adobe, AutoDesk, Kinetic, and (gasp) Microsoft start developing and porting their MAJOR applications for Open Source OS's like Linux and FreeBSD. Of course, if they develop Open Source applications they'll loose money, fire 95% of their staff and end-up in the DOT-COM trash-heap.
Wake up and smell the coffee before "Open Souce" goes the way of Communism. Closed Source/Compiled Code is the heartbeat of the Democratic/Captialist system - where you can actually get PAID for writing software!
'nuff said!
ScottKin
This should be a fun one!!!
"MS puts down open source/linux community... "
And the Linuxophiles don't do the same? Let's examine your own post for examples:
"MacroShaft Winblows 98se(shitty edition)"
I see you learned about "humor" from "South Park"?
Linux, without all of those security patches and fixes you mentioned ("...linux/unix when not properly secured and maintained can look like "swiss cheese" with security holes every where..."), stumbles around worse than a druken Sen. Ted Kennedy!
Then, you go on talking about how Windows being "more secure out-of-the-box" but then in the next breath saying "being more secure means less productivity"??
"PUT THE CRACK-PIPE DOWN AND STEP AWAY, SIR!!!"
Of course your OS is going to crash if you screw-up the configs!
Also, the security model for Linux is based on the multi-user model for UNIX, where as the security model for Win98/ME is single-user with profiles for multiple users - or what about that DIDN'T you understand????
Your BSOD with your dad's system when you tried to shut-down was more than likely due to a glitch in the power-saving settings in the BIOS or a problem with the video drivers. Chances are that you used the older, pre-ME drivers for that video card.
If I was your dad I wouldn't let you within 50 YARDS of my computer!
'nuff said!
ScottK
I find it refreshingly funny how you totally avoided the meat of my post and picked on one singular point - thanks for vindicating 95% of my post!
If any technology is un-proven in the market-place, it's Linux. I have yet to see a major corporation completely drop the Win32 platform and have Linux running on every desktop in that corporation. Let's give Linux the 10 years of growth that NT has had, and then we'll talk.
Actually, I have a Sun Ultra 5 running Solaris with CDE sitting at my desk, and I also run Exceed 6.1 to access other X11 boxes on our Network, so your assumptions that we *only* ran on a Win32 environment is incorrect. I have personally seen UNIX go through so many of it's own mutations since I first worked on BSD 3.1 back in 1979 when I was a Computer Operator at Lawrence Berkeley Lab (yeah, I'm realy *that* old!) that it's a mere shadow of it's former self.
Organizations that are "screaming" for Solaris and Linux usually fall under three categories:
1) IT departments run by recent College Grads who got hooked on Linux and feel naked at the workplace without a Gnome footprint on their system's desktop.
2) IT departments run by "old school" UNIX mavens who still get a thrill out of typing "csh" and "grep".
3) IT departments that carefully examine the strongest and best tools, regardless of the Operating System or platform those tools are on, and *then* purchase the OS and platform to host those tools on.
The only people I see doing any "screaming" in the "market" are those people who are vehemently Anti-Microsoft - against the actual market strength that Microsft carries because of their longevity and historical ubiquitousness - not Anti-Windows. They're also "screaming" for Solaris and Linux because they've been told by "the media" that Linux and Solaris are "cool" and are the newest thing on the block - when they really aren't. Don't you just love how "the media" lies to you?
The company that thoughtfully chooses the proper mix of hardware and *commercially available* software is one that *will* choose Win32 for the Desktop, because of the vast quantity of *commercially available* Applications for their users/employees. Chances are that they'll also choose UNIX for large Server-based apps and services because of the long-standing record of reliability and stability, with a mix of NT/Win2k, and maybe a web server or two running Linux w/ Apache.
In regards to this "failed experiment" you refered to in Network Management, I'd like to see your non-propaganda sources for this info - If anything, the NT platform has excelled in LAN/WAN Management functions for some time now; in fact, HP's OpenView - the de facto standard in Network Managment - has been running and available for NT for a while now, and is one of the most popular Network Managment tools running on NT with full support for either DMI or SNMP. Consider your point as "moot"
The hard facts are this:
1) Linux will only become as ubiquitous as Win32 on your average user's system when the quantity of third-party applications are available for Linux as they are for Win32, not just the comparative handfull of apps for Linux. There also has to be an incentive beyond Anit-Microsoft sentiment for a company to adopt a replacement OS for their computers. StarOffice != market-share.
2) Microsoft Windows will remain the dominant OS for general use on the Desktop for the near future and will continue to eat-away at the UNIX market-share in Servers because of Microsoft's historical dominance in the Industry - regardless if some so-called "competitor" wants to employ the US Justice Dept. as their attorney to try to sue Microsoft and cause it's break-up into "Baby Bills". It will continue to do so until some other company can come up with a better solution and have the third-party market support for that solution.
Now, bear this in mind: I think Linux, for what it offers, is awesome; a relatively cost-free and maturing OS. I love the stability of UNIX, specifically Solaris on my Sun Ultra 5. I love the stability of a *properly configured* machine running NT / Win2k. Linux *does* have a place in the world of Computing, but for now it's not going to be on your average user's desktop. I also think that the divisiveness exhibited by the "Linuxophiles" is childish and will do nothing to enhance the broader acceptance of Linux as an alternative to the OS offerings from Microsoft.
Be pragmatic, and you'll succeed - be an extremist, and you'll fall flat on your ass from hitting your head against the brick-wall of logic.
btw - I haven't had to re-boot my NT system at work for 3 weeks - and I didn't have to compile the OS! How's your record?
'nuff said!
ScottKin
/me hands bonzoesc a Homer Simpson costume, complete with instructions on how to say:
"DOH!"
A suggestion: never let relatives - no matter how close - install software on your machine; the results can lead to embarasement. <grin>
ScottK
I'll see your "heh" and raise you 2 more "heh"'s and a "HAH"...
Concerning your comment, "but we won't tell you what unstable aplications we were running or how well our employees understand the os"
I just love working with new things that I don't fully understand but want to learn about - it's a theraputic stresser for the brain, an exercise in cognitive abilities. Everyone should just stop whining, get a copy of RedHat or Mandrake - or better yet, a Debian distro - and just install it, tinker with it, experiment with it, learn and become proficient with their chosen brand of Linux. Remember: "Knowledge is Strength"
Never mind that I work at a *huge* Telecom company as a Transport Network Engineer and have to support literally *thousands* of our customers when their 56k Frame Relay ckt does down, or when another CLEC (Competitive Local Exchange Carrier) is having problems on their portion of a customer's circuit, or even when a new customer turn-up has gone sour and I'm asked to "resolve the issue". I want to learn how to make my system run Linux!! I want to be as cool as the geeked-out 23-year-old uber-hacker that lives down the street and who hasn't seen daylight for a week because he just can't get SuSE to work as well as his similarly geeked-out friend who spent 3 weeks of constant work (excluding breaks for food and "elimination of bodily waste") to port his favorite Enlighenment theme over to the Linux "flavor-of-the-week".
In fact, I think *everyone* should run and install and/or compile Linux (again, depending on the Linux distro I just received) on their computers, and just start using it - destroy Micro$oft's "Desktop Monopoly"...YEAH!!!
...I just won't get any work done, because a lot of my Circuit Design diagrams are in Visio, our Circuit Design & Ticket Management system runs under Win32, our CRM (Customer Relations Management) software also runs under Win32, and our LAN / WAN is managed by Novel. I'll try getting WINE to work so I can get access to those applications...I'll lose my job!!...but that's cool, because then I'll have more time to tinker and play with Linux!!
ScottK
Reading this post brings two words to mind
"Rabble-rouser"
It's posts like yours - ones that claim not to be "flame-bait" at the end of the tirade (because that's all it is...a childish tirade) that usually end-up being the equivalent of a massive, topical heat-sink.
Do us all a favor and drop the leftist double-talk..."talking head"...sheesh - say what you freakin' mean. Linus is just as wrapped-up in your so-called "PR speak", because he's trying to sell something, too! I'm sure that Linus gets a pretty penny for licensing fees and such - he's not as altruistic as your saintly adoration would evoke. You look more like a "talking head" for Linux yourself - look in the mirror once in a while.
Care to tell us where Mundie lied? Show me; I figure that you saw it due to the blows inflicted on your skull from the other protests you were attending in Seattle or elsewhere - because you sound like one of the same ilk of people who just love get angry to vent their own frustrations.
You want "reality"? Here you go;
Linus Torvalds != God
Bill Gates != God
Steve Jobs != God
And where do you get this "...have made contributions to humanity, and by most accounts did so with passion and vigour..." brand of bovine fertilizier? He wrote a freakin' Operating System, he didn't create a cure for cancer!!
Do us all a huge favor and make sure to take your hypertension medicine next time you post this bullcrap - you're about ready to bust an aneurism.
'nuff said!
ScottK
Yamla's information is a little incorrect, for the following reasons:
t ml) does not provide any kind of protection against plagiarism or Protection of Intellectual Property.
1. Windows CE, Windows 9x (including ME), and Windows 2000 are *DIFFERENT* Operating Systems for *DIFFERENT* uses and, in the case of Windows CE, a totally different architecture and processor-family. As pointed-out throughout the last 7 years by a variety of people who like to call themselves "Systems Engineers", Windows 9x really is just MS-DOS with a new suit.
2. Windows NT & Windows 2000 have as much in-common with MS-DOS as RSTS/E or RSX-11M+ does to VaxVMS; interestingly, NT actually has more in common with VaxVMS than it does MS-DOS (David Cutler, one of the creators of Windows NT, was one of the architects of VaxVMS - hence the internal similarities)
3. The only thing that someone could even elude to for "common lineage" is that they all came from Microsoft.
4. Regarding "Code Forking": Can I expect to run the exact same binary on the multitude of Linux variants in the current market? Can I go to my local store and buy Win32 software and run it on *any* version of Windows NT or 2000? You answer the question; My experience shows "No" and "Yes", respectively. "Code Forks" are defined as: a change or divergence in source code that a) deviates from the original source code and b) such changes in the source code that can cause subtle changes (or drastic ones) in the use or intended functions of the executable software.
Here's the rub: The concept for "Open Source" software works wonderfully - in Academia or as a hobby. GNU GPL *does* have it's place, to be sure. But the Open Source advocates tend to forget some very salient points:
1) Applying the GNU GPL License to to other things in life: If I go to a museum and find a wonderful painting that took the artist many years to create, and take a felt-tip marker to that piece of art, what happens to that piece of art? It no longer has the intrinsic value it once had, and I can now claim that it is *everyone's* piece of art - true or false? I changed it, so now under the GNU GPL rules it's now everyone's!!
2) Let's say, for example, that Yamla wrote some wonderful code, and released it under the GNU GPL. I like it so much that I take what I want from it...ok, I took ALL of it...and make a very nice program that I compile and release commercially and *don't* release it under the GNU GPL. People like my new program so much that they wish to throw money at me so they can have my program, too. Since I compiled my software and did not release the source code under the GNU GPL, Yalma would be very hard-pressed to prove that I used his code in my product, since "reverse engineering" is prohibited under the DMCA. So, I benefited from someone else's hard work, Yalma is screwed out of some money for his hard work, and I laugh all the way to the bank. "Open Source" is totally dependant on the honesty of the people involved. (Yamla, I would never do such a thing - the inference was needed for the illustration)
There is no real protection for the authors / code writers who choose to go the "Open Software" avenue. Even the GNU GPL License itself (http://www.opensource.org/licenses/gpl-license.h
Other people like to blur the connection between "Open Source" and "Freeware". Open Source is, by it's own definition "Freeware", because anyone can get the source code, get one of the many free compilers available, compile the source code and get an executable for absolutely NOTHING!
The harsh realities of life are:
1) Apply "Occam's Razor" to the question of honesty, and you find that everyone is a liar.
2) Money is MUCH thicker than Blood.
3) Given half a chance, someone you know (and quite possibly respect) will screw you out of your chance to obtain riches and fame if it comes down to "you or them" as the recipient.
Open Source Software or "Freeware" is not the problem - it's the greed of Commerce that makes people want to sell the software they make. "Open Source" software will always be hard-pressed to make any kind of *real* (read "economic") difference in the Software Industry because it lacks one, vitally important component: someone paying for it to generate revenue so the development process can continue.
Don't get me wrong, here - "Open Source" products are excellent in many ways, but it's no way to build a business.
'nuff said
ScottKin
Leave it for BMUG and the Silicon Valley "sissies" to try to do a comparison between PSS (Product Support Services) and the Psychotic Friends Network. How utterly LAME!
For starters, the wholse scenario stinks of a set-up by the original authors at some banal attempt at what most of us call "humor". Next, the actual problem appears to be one they created for themselves; if the authors were using OBDC drivers and connectivity to the Sybase SQL data-source and had the proper target server. addresses and data-sources configured properly in their Access query, there should not have been any problem extracting from the correct data-source.
For the 2nd "test" of theirs, it would have been much easier to scale the data at the front within Microsoft Access - that was just a plain-old bone-head job on their part, and points to some incredulity on their part.
For the 3rd test, their approach was absolutely stupefying - their request would have required Access to gain an entry into the hndWin process - which, if they were going to use VB (how STUPID is THAT!!?!), they would have to write a c wrapper for that VB function. The PSS person was absolutely correct in his estimation of the situation and acted as any Tech Support person would.
Leave it to the BMUG lackeys of Apple to try to smear Microsoft with this sophomorific experiment. Their use of the Psychotic Friends Network in their little fun-time "experiment" makes as much sense as calling Home Depot or HomeBase for questions on performing a Mitral Valve Replacement (one of the valves in your heart) or a Quadruple Coronary Bypass.
ScottKin - who is *not* a Microsoft Employee, contractor or consultant to Microsoft.