I prefer GNU/Linux distributions to the BSDs... I find the userland to be a lot more friendly and modern. But I absolutely loathe the fact that every time I do a default install of nearly any Linux distribution, I have to spend lots of time either (a) downloading security patches; or (b) disabling extra software I don't need.
For one thing, whomever believes it's a good idea to continue relying on sendmail and BIND deserves broken bones. There are secure, faster alternatives available, and while they're whining about backwards compatibility and the fac that DJB doesn't want them butchering his software, their users are getting rooted.
We also need to remember the distinction of what Linux really is. I'm not RMS, but we do have to remember that Linux is simply a kernel. It has indeed had security problems (the most recent that comes to mind is the ptrace exploit), and sometimes this is unescapable. But when I hit up for instance the slackware security advisory list, I notice that while there are a handful of system problems, they are also listing problems with software that has little to do with running the Linux system (BitchX, EPIC4, etc).
And then I remember that each time I go to Windows Update, I'm slammed with a list of critical security updates, some of which are even rollout packages containing many other security updates. And the volume of security updates on Windows Update still far surpasses that of my favorite distro.
Handing your average computer user your average linux distribution's default installation is like handing a baby a bunch of knives... the system usually works damn well and quite stable from the get-go, so they install it in a dark corner and forget about it.
Shit, when I was running boomgames.com, I remember that crackhead taking my age-old test results from a cooler and blatantly ripping them without my permission, saying "We're too lazy to do the tests ourselves, so here are the numbers BoomGames got:"
I think another reason he hated Kyle is because Kyle called him on it and informed me when Mr. Tweak asked for a link in Kyle's news.
My friend is a coder for the avbotz.com team. While sitting here screwing around doing nothing worthy, he would be IM'ing me constantly about his B-tree optical algorithm.
1: Linux is a kernel. Name the last security hole in the kernel.
2: There are TONS of Linux distributions. Hundreds. There's also gobs of software includd in your standard Windows distribution. If you count ALL of their security vulnerabilities from ALL DISTRIBUTIONS and ALL SOFTWARE PACKAGES, I'm not surprised it's a bit higher than the number of holes in the *core Windows OS*.
3: The rate of release of Linux is much faster.
4: Linux distributors are still relying on the wrong software (sendmail/bind/inetd).
Bullsh*t. Microsoft is just getting tired of being caught with their pants down. If source to exploits was not published, the concern to fix holes would be dramatically lower, and rather than learning to patch your software after your machine crashes you can learn to patch it after a real cracker uses information on the server to defraud you or your customers out of their money.
After being an extensive user of MP3's for years, I happened across Ogg almost by accident. Since then I will never turn back.
MP3's sound flat while Ogg's have more of a spacial quality. Also - to get the best results - try the very latest encoder. It's still a work in progress and with each encoder release the sound gets better and better.
There is a major disadvantage in hardware players because there are only a few that support Ogg. The one I know about is the Iomega HipZip.
I like Ogg not only because it sounds great, but because it is an open-source, patent-free format. Frauenhauffer has started to clamp down on their patents which will eventually be a real kick-in-the-balls to the users.
I listen to music on either my Sony MDR-V6 headphones, my Cambridge dtt2500 5.1 set, or my dad's stereo (5.1 set of Paradigm pro series speakers + a Marantz SR-19 receiver [which has total thd of.05%:P]).
.... is to convince the makers of all of the popular anti virus software to mark this software as a virus, because that is perhaps the best way to describe it. See if they can wither out of that one.
I would recommend Slackware to any newcommer. At first, it might be more difficult to get used to as it doesn't tend to wipe your rear for you. However, once you are used to Slackware, you will find that your understanding of how GNU/Linux works has gone up. Then you can chose any distribution you want.
Linuxconf is ruining our children! Quick! Send out the fleet!
Enough of these *can* cause a company to evaluate its situation.
Hello,
I wish to submit some feedback regarding the open-source community and Dolby AC-3. I understand your generic action taken in contacting the NetBSD site in regards to their linking of ac3dec.
I think it would be in Dolby's best interests as a company to issue a license to the developers of ac3dec. This software is offered for free for use on a platform that does not have any competing commercial products. Thus, Dolby stands to lose nothing from allowing the development of an open-source UNIX Dolby decoding package.
There is a large battle taking place in the industry right now for control over media formats in the twenty-first century. Let's take the example of Fraunhoffer - the ones responsible for the industry-standard MP3 format. Fraunhoffer's iron fist approach to their technology is eventually going to cost them their market share - as formats such as the superior Ogg Vorbis (www.vorbis.com) have sprung up to appease the open source community's failing ability to use patented technologies.
Given some research, I think your company would find that the open source community does contain a significant amount of programmers/geeks in various fields. If the Dolby AC-3 standard is to continue as the market leader in as many areas as it is, these people cannot be alienated. Your company may have no interest in UNIX systems whatsoever, but many die-hard UNIX users also develop software for other platforms that is selling on the shelves, and would be interested in continuing to license AC-3 technology for their commercial products.
Count me in - I am also probably not going to be using DivX except when I have to. I don't like to support Microsoft, or patented technology in general because I am against *all* patents.
Yeah, Lawmakers are the pinnacle of brilliance, right? What was showing them a simulation supposed to accomplish? Are they going to outlaw bioterrorism now?
Perhaps it was diversionary - to give the lawmakers something else to pay attention to while the agency offed a few people or something.
Thank you for a worthless post. When the open source community comes out with a video format that's not a joke (DivX isn't original, it's just some trickery to access Microsoft's MPEG 4 technology. What happens when they, or the patent holders get mad?) then sampling movies might be more of an option than it is now.
I support the freedom of distribution of all forms of entertainment, but until that becomes a reality, encouraging people to break the law for spite is a bad thing.
I'm not one to watch much TV. With the exception of Family Guy, I get my entertainment in the form of DVDs I legally purchase.
The problem with emerging technology is this much the same to this... the broadcast, cable, etc. companies that traditionally relied on analog start selling digital cable and whatnot. That's fantastic... except for the fact that the majority of the channels are still analog at some point in the network.
Broadcasters, cable companies, whoever will say they have HDTV broadcasts... yeah, well, I'll believe em when the TV picks it up.
Slashdot Mirror
I prefer GNU/Linux distributions to the BSDs... I find the userland to be a lot more friendly and modern. But I absolutely loathe the fact that every time I do a default install of nearly any Linux distribution, I have to spend lots of time either (a) downloading security patches; or (b) disabling extra software I don't need.
For one thing, whomever believes it's a good idea to continue relying on sendmail and BIND deserves broken bones. There are secure, faster alternatives available, and while they're whining about backwards compatibility and the fac that DJB doesn't want them butchering his software, their users are getting rooted.
We also need to remember the distinction of what Linux really is. I'm not RMS, but we do have to remember that Linux is simply a kernel. It has indeed had security problems (the most recent that comes to mind is the ptrace exploit), and sometimes this is unescapable. But when I hit up for instance the slackware security advisory list, I notice that while there are a handful of system problems, they are also listing problems with software that has little to do with running the Linux system (BitchX, EPIC4, etc).
And then I remember that each time I go to Windows Update, I'm slammed with a list of critical security updates, some of which are even rollout packages containing many other security updates. And the volume of security updates on Windows Update still far surpasses that of my favorite distro.
Handing your average computer user your average linux distribution's default installation is like handing a baby a bunch of knives... the system usually works damn well and quite stable from the get-go, so they install it in a dark corner and forget about it.
Shit, when I was running boomgames.com, I remember that crackhead taking my age-old test results from a cooler and blatantly ripping them without my permission, saying "We're too lazy to do the tests ourselves, so here are the numbers BoomGames got:"
I think another reason he hated Kyle is because Kyle called him on it and informed me when Mr. Tweak asked for a link in Kyle's news.
My friend is a coder for the avbotz.com team. While sitting here screwing around doing nothing worthy, he would be IM'ing me constantly about his B-tree optical algorithm.
I have a few points to make.
1: Linux is a kernel. Name the last security hole in the kernel.
2: There are TONS of Linux distributions. Hundreds. There's also gobs of software includd in your standard Windows distribution. If you count ALL of their security vulnerabilities from ALL DISTRIBUTIONS and ALL SOFTWARE PACKAGES, I'm not surprised it's a bit higher than the number of holes in the *core Windows OS*.
3: The rate of release of Linux is much faster.
4: Linux distributors are still relying on the wrong software (sendmail/bind/inetd).
Bullsh*t. Microsoft is just getting tired of being caught with their pants down. If source to exploits was not published, the concern to fix holes would be dramatically lower, and rather than learning to patch your software after your machine crashes you can learn to patch it after a real cracker uses information on the server to defraud you or your customers out of their money.
After being an extensive user of MP3's for years, I happened across Ogg almost by accident. Since then I will never turn back.
.05% :P]).
MP3's sound flat while Ogg's have more of a spacial quality. Also - to get the best results - try the very latest encoder. It's still a work in progress and with each encoder release the sound gets better and better.
There is a major disadvantage in hardware players because there are only a few that support Ogg. The one I know about is the Iomega HipZip.
I like Ogg not only because it sounds great, but because it is an open-source, patent-free format. Frauenhauffer has started to clamp down on their patents which will eventually be a real kick-in-the-balls to the users.
I listen to music on either my Sony MDR-V6 headphones, my Cambridge dtt2500 5.1 set, or my dad's stereo (5.1 set of Paradigm pro series speakers + a Marantz SR-19 receiver [which has total thd of
.... is to convince the makers of all of the popular anti virus software to mark this software as a virus, because that is perhaps the best way to describe it. See if they can wither out of that one.
Linuxconf is ruining our children! Quick! Send out the fleet!
Enough of these *can* cause a company to evaluate its situation.
Hello,
I wish to submit some feedback regarding the open-source community and Dolby AC-3. I understand your generic action taken in contacting the NetBSD site in regards to their linking of ac3dec.
I think it would be in Dolby's best interests as a company to issue a license to the developers of ac3dec. This software is offered for free for use on a platform that does not have any competing commercial products. Thus, Dolby stands to lose nothing from allowing the development of an open-source UNIX Dolby decoding package.
There is a large battle taking place in the industry right now for control over media formats in the twenty-first century. Let's take the example of Fraunhoffer - the ones responsible for the industry-standard MP3 format. Fraunhoffer's iron fist approach to their technology is eventually going to cost them their market share - as formats such as the superior Ogg Vorbis (www.vorbis.com) have sprung up to appease the open source community's failing ability to use patented technologies.
Given some research, I think your company would find that the open source community does contain a significant amount of programmers/geeks in various fields. If the Dolby AC-3 standard is to continue as the market leader in as many areas as it is, these people cannot be alienated. Your company may have no interest in UNIX systems whatsoever, but many die-hard UNIX users also develop software for other platforms that is selling on the shelves, and would be interested in continuing to license AC-3 technology for their commercial products.
Just one man's opinion.
Chase
Count me in - I am also probably not going to be using DivX except when I have to. I don't like to support Microsoft, or patented technology in general because I am against *all* patents.
Is it just me or do I have a monster case of deja vu?
Perhaps it was diversionary - to give the lawmakers something else to pay attention to while the agency offed a few people or something.
I support the freedom of distribution of all forms of entertainment, but until that becomes a reality, encouraging people to break the law for spite is a bad thing.
Or better yet... send a Beowulf cluster of those through your window.
The problem with emerging technology is this much the same to this... the broadcast, cable, etc. companies that traditionally relied on analog start selling digital cable and whatnot. That's fantastic... except for the fact that the majority of the channels are still analog at some point in the network.
Broadcasters, cable companies, whoever will say they have HDTV broadcasts... yeah, well, I'll believe em when the TV picks it up.