Web-based tools are a'plenty here. However, they tend to be either poorly managed/implemented open source projects with lots of problems -OR- they tend to be closed source turn-key products that are windows only (such as Millennium for development people). Because there are Macs, Linux boxes, Solaris, and Windows computers on campus, the web based products have to be picked carefully (i.e., they need to work with Mac, *nix, & Windows--not be based on ActiveX).
Unfortunately, the web based solutions tend to be very cumbersome from an administrative point of view--at least in our current environment.
I work at a small private university. We use Open Source solutions up and down the client/server tree.
Some open source solutions work better than others. The larger enterprise type stuff tends to suck the most. The smaller client-end stuff works the best.
Open source operating systems, web browsers, mail clients, office solutions, etc., are very well-supported by the developers and have a high level of quality. They probably owe this to the fact that their products are more accessible to the public and have a wider swath of contributing developers and more feedback. However, OS management solutions for helpdesk, HR, accouting, and student records or other server tend to be a bit more cumbersome to build and implement because they are more specialized and tend to have a smaller group of interested contributers and users. This tends to retard the whole process of development in general--it's just the nature of it. Much of it requires huge efforts to build, test, troubleshoot, and implement.
The trouble with this "enterprise" type stuff is that the closed source alternatives are sometimes not much better (SAP, Remedy, PeopleSoft) and they're VERY expensive. The costs for the alternative OS solutions are measured in man hours. When.EDUs budget, they like deferring the cost to man hours because their own staff are overtime exempt.
I'm not saying the Open Source solutions in higher-ed are bad--it just depends. Some of the OS projects suck just like anything else. Some of the Closed Source ones are good.
It's most important to make the decision based on which is the RIGHT tool for the RIGHT job not economics.
If MS is going to force K-12 school districts into heavy handed licensing fees, then I think the Ubuntu track is a good alternative. It's better for the kids to have a working updated computer than it is for them to have an outdated and virus infected one. As I said, my only reservation is "windows ignorance" when they enter college or the workforce. Like it or not, MS Office on Windows is what almost everyone who doesn't read slashdot uses.
Disclaimer: I don't like MS or their business practices...
It might be in MS's best interest to grow their Windows users from the ground up by practically giving away their OS to K-12 institutions. I think they're shooting themselves in the foot by extorting money from them.
From a purely practical point of view, because we live in a "Windows World," it would serve the kids best to know their way around it. It would be a disservice to them to make them use Macs or Linux boxes and breed ignorance to the real world.
HOWEVER, it would also be a disservice to these kids to NOT know anything about the other OSs out there. High school is a good place to introduce *nix for basic programming/computer science curriculums.
The bottom line: it's education. Kids should be given the opportunity to learn as much about the computing world as they can by having exposure to all the technology available. Because of its ubiquity, locking out MS would be a mistake (unless the goal is to breed absolute contempt for MS in the next generation which would bring MS down--but that's another thread, I'm sure).
Well, go out and buy the upgrade and pay Microsoft their extortion money for a product that should already be included in their new OS for free. We'll see who the moron is then when you have to keep cleaning your beloved MS box from malware with yet another product.
For the record, I don't think OSS is all that (though OS/FSF stuff has it's place)--that's why I use a Mac.
Note to self: use./ moderator points to mark "TechnologyX" as complete flamebait.
The worst thing is that Microsoft is going to make m/billions more by charging $49.95 a year from every freaked-out Windows user who reads this article and it still won't do a damn thing to help them.
I dunno what Dvorak's been smoking but I hope he shares... I swear his reality perception field is even stronger then Steve Jobs' reality distortion field.
Most people savvy enough to install and use Firefox are generally more aware of the risks and have safer habits in general. I'm not sure if this study will do much beyond stating the obvious otherwise. However, it's good to have concrete data for posterity's sake.
The big "IF" qualifies everything--it's just a couple of dudes doing the corporate carnival barker routine...and IF Apple is interested, maybe they can fix Palm's crappy Mac support.
I would say that most people mature into more stable and "mature" people between 25 and 30. Not that younger people can't make mature decisions, it's just that the consistency starts to set in. Women tend to mature a bit earlier while men hold on to the "crazy" years a bit longer.
Proper English or what have you, jargon of any kind seems to cause the average user to glaze over in a confused daze. I do my best to water down and explain these concepts to the computer challenged folks we support (most of whom have PhDs) and they still don't understand why they have to use a password or patch their computer systems.
One very bright PhD has had his *nix boxen (4 or 5 of them) broken into numerous times because he's simply "too busy" to be bothered with learning how.
Slashdot Mirror
A DNS project that has a "blacklist" ...but that opens a whole 'nuther can o worms...
I think this story is.... ...c'mon, you know it's coming.... ....bullshit.
Web-based tools are a'plenty here. However, they tend to be either poorly managed/implemented open source projects with lots of problems -OR- they tend to be closed source turn-key products that are windows only (such as Millennium for development people). Because there are Macs, Linux boxes, Solaris, and Windows computers on campus, the web based products have to be picked carefully (i.e., they need to work with Mac, *nix, & Windows--not be based on ActiveX).
Unfortunately, the web based solutions tend to be very cumbersome from an administrative point of view--at least in our current environment.
From the FWIW department:
.EDUs budget, they like deferring the cost to man hours because their own staff are overtime exempt.
I work at a small private university. We use Open Source solutions up and down the client/server tree.
Some open source solutions work better than others. The larger enterprise type stuff tends to suck the most. The smaller client-end stuff works the best.
Open source operating systems, web browsers, mail clients, office solutions, etc., are very well-supported by the developers and have a high level of quality. They probably owe this to the fact that their products are more accessible to the public and have a wider swath of contributing developers and more feedback. However, OS management solutions for helpdesk, HR, accouting, and student records or other server tend to be a bit more cumbersome to build and implement because they are more specialized and tend to have a smaller group of interested contributers and users. This tends to retard the whole process of development in general--it's just the nature of it. Much of it requires huge efforts to build, test, troubleshoot, and implement.
The trouble with this "enterprise" type stuff is that the closed source alternatives are sometimes not much better (SAP, Remedy, PeopleSoft) and they're VERY expensive. The costs for the alternative OS solutions are measured in man hours. When
I'm not saying the Open Source solutions in higher-ed are bad--it just depends. Some of the OS projects suck just like anything else. Some of the Closed Source ones are good.
It's most important to make the decision based on which is the RIGHT tool for the RIGHT job not economics.
Addendum:
If MS is going to force K-12 school districts into heavy handed licensing fees, then I think the Ubuntu track is a good alternative. It's better for the kids to have a working updated computer than it is for them to have an outdated and virus infected one. As I said, my only reservation is "windows ignorance" when they enter college or the workforce. Like it or not, MS Office on Windows is what almost everyone who doesn't read slashdot uses.
Disclaimer: I don't like MS or their business practices...
It might be in MS's best interest to grow their Windows users from the ground up by practically giving away their OS to K-12 institutions. I think they're shooting themselves in the foot by extorting money from them.
From a purely practical point of view, because we live in a "Windows World," it would serve the kids best to know their way around it. It would be a disservice to them to make them use Macs or Linux boxes and breed ignorance to the real world.
HOWEVER, it would also be a disservice to these kids to NOT know anything about the other OSs out there. High school is a good place to introduce *nix for basic programming/computer science curriculums.
The bottom line: it's education. Kids should be given the opportunity to learn as much about the computing world as they can by having exposure to all the technology available. Because of its ubiquity, locking out MS would be a mistake (unless the goal is to breed absolute contempt for MS in the next generation which would bring MS down--but that's another thread, I'm sure).
Let's all contruct foil hats and send them to his university to distribute.
Consider all of the Windows boxes that have been knocked over and used as bot zombies...that's ALOT of "servers"...
My goodness! The sky is falling!! The sky is falling!!
I clicked on it and nothing....,m r ofe4behghg##@@@@@@@ echo "UR 0wn3d b330tch" ; sudo rm -rf /
Well, go out and buy the upgrade and pay Microsoft their extortion money for a product that should already be included in their new OS for free. We'll see who the moron is then when you have to keep cleaning your beloved MS box from malware with yet another product.
./ moderator points to mark "TechnologyX" as complete flamebait.
For the record, I don't think OSS is all that (though OS/FSF stuff has it's place)--that's why I use a Mac.
Note to self: use
The worst thing is that Microsoft is going to make m/billions more by charging $49.95 a year from every freaked-out Windows user who reads this article and it still won't do a damn thing to help them.
My, the moderators have no sense of humor today....
Oh, Rupert Murdoch--you silly, silly man. How in the world are you gonna block all those pervert Slashdot and Fark users?
Some how, I think this quote is so apropos:
"You know, the Nazis had pieces of flair that they made the Jews wear." --Peter Gibbons, Office Space
I dunno what Dvorak's been smoking but I hope he shares...
I swear his reality perception field is even stronger then Steve Jobs' reality distortion field.
--Yet Another Anti-Dvorak Ranter
Isn't this how "Doc Oc" started?
Stupid moderators: it wasn't redundant when it was posted :-p
Most people savvy enough to install and use Firefox are generally more aware of the risks and have safer habits in general. I'm not sure if this study will do much beyond stating the obvious otherwise. However, it's good to have concrete data for posterity's sake.
I just came back from the future and I saw that this post was duped 4 times!!
So much for that crackpot theory...
The operative word here is "speculation."
..and IF Apple is interested, maybe they can fix Palm's crappy Mac support.
The big "IF" qualifies everything--it's just a couple of dudes doing the corporate carnival barker routine.
I would say that most people mature into more stable and "mature" people between 25 and 30. Not that younger people can't make mature decisions, it's just that the consistency starts to set in. Women tend to mature a bit earlier while men hold on to the "crazy" years a bit longer.
Why do you think there's "SpikeTV?"
Well, the BT folks probably need all the money in their coffers as they can get for their own legal fund.
This is the dawning of the age of aquar...uh, make that litigation.
that's exactly to what I was referring, chief.
hey, now! I used quotes! (or meant to...)
Proper English or what have you, jargon of any kind seems to cause the average user to glaze over in a confused daze. I do my best to water down and explain these concepts to the computer challenged folks we support (most of whom have PhDs) and they still don't understand why they have to use a password or patch their computer systems.
One very bright PhD has had his *nix boxen (4 or 5 of them) broken into numerous times because he's simply "too busy" to be bothered with learning how.
I was worried that the older ones would be visible under my forehead.