When dealing with MS scare tactics a lawyer should be your first call. This guy was entirely correct in doing that. If MS had a real beef with him they would send specific instructions for him to follow. Then the lawyer would get with him and balance the risks. There in lies the first line of defense.. the lawyer will ask for specific licenses that allow inspection and specific software in question. If MS can't come up with that the lawyer will GTH them.
When you're talking about RSA, you're talking about ISVs expected to have "0-day" compatibility. IT people will want to buy a windows vista box for dev purposes then find out they can't authenticate to their network for months because there's no plugin available.
There's 3 problems here.. all Microsoft's.
first, this is not enough notice for heavy duty security testing. Things like log in script changes should have been final with the first beta. Trivial changes would be OK, but at this point nobody should have to expect sweeping API changes. ID security products expect to have long term testing completed by the time Vista is on the shelf... that's not a starting point for testing key security features.
Why didn't Microsoft work with providers to solidify the API first, then maybe tweak it if necessary? Apple gives Devs a 3 - 6 month start for stuff like this at WWDC with the new features... why can't MS? I understand this is a huge change.. all the more reason to DOCuMENT it up front!!!
Lastly, if security is so important, why are they still mucking about with login changes 6 months before release?! Authenticating to networks is the core of security! cutting out the key providers of enterprise level stuff is just embarassing. All the more reason to look for MS on the way out soon.
I'd have to agree, content is not taught as much as the mechanics. I found the best class I had was Creative Writing rather than Engineering writing. Where Engineering writing falls down is that it focuses on the techinical rather than why you're writing it. Creative writing is all about saying something meaningful to YOU. That's what language is all about, sort out the other stuff later. Untill collage, I could ace grammer, but not SAY anything.
Even when you're writing instructions, you're writing to show somebody else something important to you. While it may be necessarily dry and techinical, it's still in your interest to get the readers to DO something. How this works, why they need to push that button. It's your creation you're explaining, not a book report!
I've often thought that the purpose of the delays and gradual piracy crackdowns is that Vista will have super-locked-down DRM for the OS. Due to including HD-DVD support the OS will HAVE to be locked to the motherboard... that leads to interesting possibilities for further MS domination.
Fact, MS already views non-windows OS on x86 as piracy. Fact, MS views every PC sold as "theirs" they have finally settled on the Motherboard as the core "computer" in recent licensing clarifications. Fact, the new DRM specs for WMA, HD DVD, etc all require certified hardware & OS combinations. Final Fact, MS is trying to "grow" their OS sales when they're already a monopoly.
There's only several ways they can do this, all bad for slashdotters. White box accounts for almost 20% of the PC market still. That's local shops and newegg sales roughly. I see MS as cutting out the "grey" OEM license market all together. I could see MS taking the "basic" version of windows to Asus, Gigabyte, Tyan, etc and forcing them to bundle it with all their motherboards [for a fee of course] or be called "pirates". It would probably be a condition of getting the equipment certified for all the DRM. The biggest market of "pirates" are whiteboxers and resold used hardware, this makes sure every Mobo leaves the line gauranteed to have a MS OS. If makers don't use the MS option then you and I will never be able to buy "full" windows for the hardware. Hence, OSS will be severely hampered because windows will finally be forced on all mobos off the line! I can't see MS saying you "can't" run linux, but could see them forcing the Mobo makers to bundle a copy with every piece as "piracy prevention".
with all the fuss about late shipping and need for more profit, MS is setting us up for something? I think the "switch" to do this already exists in XP but they're waiting for Vista to "flip" it then mop up XP a little while later.
The EU knows exactly what they are asking for and it ties directly to samba. They are asking for a SMB CIFS manual that can tell other people how talk to windows servers that dominate the market. They want documentation that a group like Samba can use "free and clear". That's not requiring Microsoft to release their software for "free" or their precious secret "IP" considering most of that's not valid in Europe (yet). So it's just as valid as requiring GM or Ford to allow mechanics to read the codes on engine computers.
You're right, the x64 edition of windows is a horrible example of everything wrong right now. It took Microsoft almost a full year after the processor was released to get a BETA out to the public. I'm sure some was techincal, but more was probably was political because AMD stepped "out of line" by pushing the 64bit tech earlier than anybody wanted. It still took another YEAR to release a retail edition of windows 64 and it's still a sad joke... you're better off with linux if you want 64 bits.
on another note, with all this talk of starting new, last I heard MS is planning on the new server products to run only on 64 bit server platforms. Whether this is a nod to intel, or a real start over, who knows. All it's going to mean is that you'll have to buy upgrades to all your stuff, which will be costly, and probably not covered under maintenance, for all those companies already paying for the software "assurance".
I might point out that the guys that wrote the US constitution tweeked the idea a little. One house was supposed to be popular elected, and the other appointed by heads of the individual states to represent their interests. They limited Senators to 6 years because of just the reasons you said.. they need to be accountable to somebody. Like I said in my post, Popular election of Senators kills the effect because they're supposed to be directly responsible to Goveners or state legislatures, people elected to represent their state's interest.. popular election makes them not accountable to anybody... you can't trust the "voters" to get it right all the time.
This whole case is what's wrong with the US system though. The case was asking for clarification BEFORE they get hauled off to jail... the Supreme court stuck their heads in the sand about the scope of the law and basically declared a free-for-all in enforcement.
of course at 17 he wasn't legally a "man" yet, that's why he was in jail for 6 months so they could try him as an adult. Then it stacked the deck because she was still a minor so he couldn't defend himself by calling her into court. In my book rulings like that are judical and procecutorial misconduct because they "destroyed evidence" by letting the paperwork change the rules.. that's no different that the whole Bush "enemy combatant"/gitmo thing.... and why so many govt. people see nothing at all wrong with twisting the rules to get "bad guys".
That's exactly what the whole gay marrige thing was about, they were trying to get it passed by specific juristictions, then have the consitiution's clause kick in to force it to be legal everywhere.
I'd suppose there's three types of laws in this case. Laws that grant you permenancy of title [property ownership, marriage, adoption, etc] cannot be taken away between states; laws that Grant you a privelage [CCW, driving, doctor, lawyer, teacher, etc] fall to the state that you're physically in as to how you conduct yourself.. i.e. non-transferable; Laws that prevent you from doing something [jay walking, speeding, porn] are only under juristiction when you're actually in the physical jusistiction, otherwise we could pull over people from Ohio [55mph] in Michigan for going our speed limit [70mph] because it's still illegal for them to do that? What if I solicit a prosititute at a brothel in Nevada where it's legal? Could I return home to Michigan to be arrested for it.. that'd be foolish. this whole obsenity thing is exactly the same thing.
Who's going to keep track of all the banned localities? That would be a huge chore and never up-to-date. You'd still have to contend with local law enforcement trying to break the system then use their "hacking" as proof you knew it might be illegal but you're not trying hard enough. The falacy I see in all of this is that it requires somebody to be in the locality recieving the obscene material.. why can a law enforcement person search out or even posess illegal material [drugs, contraband, etc] but then use that as evidence against somebody. After all, in most cases it is law enforcement that is breaking local laws by soliciting the material in the first place from the locality. That difference needs to be made more clear by the courts.
Unfortunately, what you're all missing is that the person didn't commit a crime in that state's juristiction to begin with. trying to use postal laws or telcom laws to "put" the person in another state should not be allowed at all. say you put Goatse.cx [that's a good example because of it's notority it could now be considered "art" and social commentary] on your page in your community that would tolerate it. Now how could you be responsible for somebody from 3 states away across the internet violating some local obsenity law? That's like a state with 55mph speed limit sending tickets when you drive across from your 75mph state while obeying the limit in their state. The consititution is supposed to protect against that also.
not gonna happen... Bush all but admitted to breaking the FISA law and instead of talking impeachement they debate how they're going to legalize what he did. Congress has enough on both the prez and vice to hang them both. But they won't act... they tried to impeach Clinton over what might have been a lie, in a deposition, tied to a civil case, in Arkansas... but this prez openly admits to violating a law that's already SECRET and they look away!!!
They provide stability and reason to the system. That's why there's two houses in a system. They can decide if a law is really good or bad, not just fashionable. That tends to be Conservitive in the correct useage of the word.. getting changes by them means they have to be Real changes, it makes the system more resistant to changes.
as an aside, that's the problem with the US govt right now. We NEED the senate to be appointed by state governments and not elected. Having senators elected sounds more democratic, but makes the federal govt unaccountable to the states that make it up. Hence, the feds make laws completely out-of-touch with the real wishes of the country.
exactly, Dell needs profits from somewhere, Alienware makes a lot of profits off their machines and Dell would probably like to stop the constant squeezing and do something else.
What the judge needed was the ability to throw some asses in lockup for a few nights. Microsoft was bullying wittnesses like Dell and Gateway to not talk to the court... and the judge knew that. They were within "one more word" of committing purgery on countless ocassions and the judge was sick of it. Much like judges hate dealing with wife-beaters... the cops file the reports, and the judges rule... but the witnesses are badgered and threatened into backing down. Between the testimony of guys like Dell and others, the judge SHOULD have had enough to throw people in jail...and he knew that but Microsoft's lawyers kept "hiding" the evidence just long enough to get by. Microsoft threw so much money into lawyers that totally took the court for granted and make a mockary of him in court and out of court. Unfortunately, the DOJ didn't really do a good job of the case either, they missed so much of the point, and argued all the wrong things. This case shows just how poorly the us court system works because it's only based on "injury" and "charges" which Microsoft will always be able to dodge because the injury and charges are always moving targets... after the damage is done they can "play fair" again then use the "monopoly money" to duke it out in court.
Frankly, I think after the DOJ is so totally screwed by the current "agreement" I think I'd be really funny if they put microsoft back into punishement phase under Jackson when they give up.
Except that the Fundies just had Bush shoot down the ICANN request for.xxx domain. Because it would provide access for kids curious about it to know where to find it. It was Slashdotters that brought up the "corrale & conquer" idea presented by these guys.
And that has been Google's point all along. There are research companies out there that specialize in trolling the search engines for results. There's something fishy going on here, or the DOJ doesn't understand how Google really works.
The first case is that the DOJ is just too used to supeonaing records that they don't understand they don't have to supeona google, just plug in a PC and go to town. It could be typical Govt. power-mongering. Unless...
Unless they are after something specifically to use at a later date in a criminal matter. One of the purposes of the orginal law was outlawing "allowing" minors to access porongrphic material. That's a huge scope for something like Google. That's the only reason for the manner they are using to get this info. The DOJ must have in their list of searches/IPs/Websites some idea which ones were entered by schoolchildren or pedophillies and want to cast the net and see just how far it goes. Are they after some kids seach that 245,786 items down has a porn site? That's the only reason I can see. Maybe they are trying to show all these search engines were "flagrantly" breaking the law. If they had search terms say lots of school children enter, they they could just enter the terms themselves and look for people trying to "trick" google into access to Kids. They had some idea of sites they'd shut down for illegal activity, they could still search Google's cache without a supeona. Unless they're after the IPs of Who searched for the illegal web sites. The whole thing stinks, and it looks like they want to use Google as "big brother" to do their law enforcement for them.
of couse what they miss is the fact that commercial pirates are usually working with professional recording hardware anyway... probably "borrowing" time or equipment from the actual producers of the ones we buy at the store. They just run a few "extras" for spending money. Of course the content industry can't get their OWN guild members to take piracy seriously, look at all the leaked Oscar * Grammy discs. They can't get directors and producers to keep media "secret" from their own housing staff... how do they expect to solve the internet problem???
really, who's going to back up DVDs to Blue Ray? That's backing up a 15$ disc to a $30 writeable... Not much sense to me. That's what dual layer DVDs are for anyway.. but again, the cost per copy + time and hassle, just buy it used or on sale.
but he was only granting some interviews after Microsoft PR was publicly attacking him after every day in court. What Judge Jackson amounted too was "hearsay", venting, if you will. But the Microsoft PR was attacking him and making big publicity about it, so some reporter printed it. Microsoft's PR comments were boardering on contempt, and it's too bad the appeals court didn't take that into consideration as well.
I looked at the blog, and you're right, there's a lot of stuff to do. But seriously, what OS right now can do what they need? Sure an OS like windows can be MADE to work like they need it to, but not really very well... with the best software and hardware in the american superstores! The $100 laptop guys are really shooting for the moon here. They are trying to create a system BETTER than the ones we have now.. and package it for dirt cheap. Some of the things on the Blog only exist now in the largest Enterprise IT departments... let alone in the third world. They bring up great things, like intermittent local power, distances from schools, and lack of tech support.
They are asking questions Microsoft hasn't bothered to ask yet after 30 years of selling PC's for profit. It's a tall order, but if they make it work, Microsoft is DEAD on so many levels.
Exactly, they aren't fighting to win, just to keep fighting. There will always be somebody they can recruit to drive a car bomb, or ambush a supply convoy. After all, if they ambush 1 convoy our troops demand we reinforce EVERY convoy or they won't be safe. If they drop 1 bomb in a subway, we shutdown the ENTIRE subway until we're sure it's "safe". It's a game they can play all day. We'll never find all of them and as long as we keep sending in more troops they will get enough supporters to fill the small ranks they need. Like other posters said, we taught Bin Laden to fight this way... he's drawing more and more of our troops in to the theater. That by itself causes new independant groups to rise up and oppose our troops "just because". All the while here at home spending goes up, more boys come back in coffins and we generally get sick of fighting something that's obviously not going to stop.
On top of all that, our prez is already making plans to start the NEXT war with Iran. I don't envy them at all. Keep pumping up their forces to make a war at least messy and we try to "pre-emptively" attack. Quit nuclear activities and the prez pumps out false info to gain support for an attack anyway. One thing we should be wary of is that Iran will not be a "policing" action. Their govenrment is legit, elected and above board. The guy in charge is very similar to early US presidents... He's put down gun and worked for politics now. But he's been in the trenches steping over the dead comrades. He's got a good following of citizens willing to defend their country. we need to make our leaders aware that Iran will be a real War against the entire country, not just a petty dictator.
I'm waiting for native Japaneese military hardware. Remember, Mitusibishi and other big name companies were big suppilers of the japaneese military machine. Frankly, I'd like to see what the Japs could do, espically if they worked together. I just know in the basement of some manufacturer there's anime inspired "giant robot fighters" working or being designed. Sounds like fun, but scary as hell for washington.
Automatix really isn't for beginners. It's got too much "hard" stuff in it that most newbies don't need. It's an awsome attempt to take a really messy linux system and really make it simple to do really hard stuff like Riping and burning DVDs. Easy Ubuntu is better for just the basics. The scope is smaller so the script works a little better.
For all those newbies out there, try Easy Ubuntu first and save yourself some pain! Save Automatix after you have a little more experience. Trust me, I've installed Ubuntu on 6 boxes so far and Easy Ubuntu is a safer bet.
Slashdot Mirror
When dealing with MS scare tactics a lawyer should be your first call. This guy was entirely correct in doing that. If MS had a real beef with him they would send specific instructions for him to follow. Then the lawyer would get with him and balance the risks. There in lies the first line of defense.. the lawyer will ask for specific licenses that allow inspection and specific software in question. If MS can't come up with that the lawyer will GTH them.
There's 3 problems here.. all Microsoft's.
first, this is not enough notice for heavy duty security testing. Things like log in script changes should have been final with the first beta. Trivial changes would be OK, but at this point nobody should have to expect sweeping API changes. ID security products expect to have long term testing completed by the time Vista is on the shelf... that's not a starting point for testing key security features.
Why didn't Microsoft work with providers to solidify the API first, then maybe tweak it if necessary? Apple gives Devs a 3 - 6 month start for stuff like this at WWDC with the new features... why can't MS? I understand this is a huge change.. all the more reason to DOCuMENT it up front!!!
Lastly, if security is so important, why are they still mucking about with login changes 6 months before release?! Authenticating to networks is the core of security! cutting out the key providers of enterprise level stuff is just embarassing. All the more reason to look for MS on the way out soon.
Even when you're writing instructions, you're writing to show somebody else something important to you. While it may be necessarily dry and techinical, it's still in your interest to get the readers to DO something. How this works, why they need to push that button. It's your creation you're explaining, not a book report!
Fact, MS already views non-windows OS on x86 as piracy.
Fact, MS views every PC sold as "theirs" they have finally settled on the Motherboard as the core "computer" in recent licensing clarifications.
Fact, the new DRM specs for WMA, HD DVD, etc all require certified hardware & OS combinations.
Final Fact, MS is trying to "grow" their OS sales when they're already a monopoly.
There's only several ways they can do this, all bad for slashdotters. White box accounts for almost 20% of the PC market still. That's local shops and newegg sales roughly. I see MS as cutting out the "grey" OEM license market all together. I could see MS taking the "basic" version of windows to Asus, Gigabyte, Tyan, etc and forcing them to bundle it with all their motherboards [for a fee of course] or be called "pirates". It would probably be a condition of getting the equipment certified for all the DRM. The biggest market of "pirates" are whiteboxers and resold used hardware, this makes sure every Mobo leaves the line gauranteed to have a MS OS. If makers don't use the MS option then you and I will never be able to buy "full" windows for the hardware. Hence, OSS will be severely hampered because windows will finally be forced on all mobos off the line! I can't see MS saying you "can't" run linux, but could see them forcing the Mobo makers to bundle a copy with every piece as "piracy prevention".
with all the fuss about late shipping and need for more profit, MS is setting us up for something? I think the "switch" to do this already exists in XP but they're waiting for Vista to "flip" it then mop up XP a little while later.
The EU knows exactly what they are asking for and it ties directly to samba. They are asking for a SMB CIFS manual that can tell other people how talk to windows servers that dominate the market. They want documentation that a group like Samba can use "free and clear". That's not requiring Microsoft to release their software for "free" or their precious secret "IP" considering most of that's not valid in Europe (yet). So it's just as valid as requiring GM or Ford to allow mechanics to read the codes on engine computers.
on another note, with all this talk of starting new, last I heard MS is planning on the new server products to run only on 64 bit server platforms. Whether this is a nod to intel, or a real start over, who knows. All it's going to mean is that you'll have to buy upgrades to all your stuff, which will be costly, and probably not covered under maintenance, for all those companies already paying for the software "assurance".
I might point out that the guys that wrote the US constitution tweeked the idea a little. One house was supposed to be popular elected, and the other appointed by heads of the individual states to represent their interests. They limited Senators to 6 years because of just the reasons you said.. they need to be accountable to somebody. Like I said in my post, Popular election of Senators kills the effect because they're supposed to be directly responsible to Goveners or state legislatures, people elected to represent their state's interest.. popular election makes them not accountable to anybody... you can't trust the "voters" to get it right all the time.
This whole case is what's wrong with the US system though. The case was asking for clarification BEFORE they get hauled off to jail... the Supreme court stuck their heads in the sand about the scope of the law and basically declared a free-for-all in enforcement.
of course at 17 he wasn't legally a "man" yet, that's why he was in jail for 6 months so they could try him as an adult. Then it stacked the deck because she was still a minor so he couldn't defend himself by calling her into court. In my book rulings like that are judical and procecutorial misconduct because they "destroyed evidence" by letting the paperwork change the rules.. that's no different that the whole Bush "enemy combatant"/gitmo thing.... and why so many govt. people see nothing at all wrong with twisting the rules to get "bad guys".
I'd suppose there's three types of laws in this case. Laws that grant you permenancy of title [property ownership, marriage, adoption, etc] cannot be taken away between states; laws that Grant you a privelage [CCW, driving, doctor, lawyer, teacher, etc] fall to the state that you're physically in as to how you conduct yourself.. i.e. non-transferable; Laws that prevent you from doing something [jay walking, speeding, porn] are only under juristiction when you're actually in the physical jusistiction, otherwise we could pull over people from Ohio [55mph] in Michigan for going our speed limit [70mph] because it's still illegal for them to do that? What if I solicit a prosititute at a brothel in Nevada where it's legal? Could I return home to Michigan to be arrested for it.. that'd be foolish. this whole obsenity thing is exactly the same thing.
Who's going to keep track of all the banned localities? That would be a huge chore and never up-to-date. You'd still have to contend with local law enforcement trying to break the system then use their "hacking" as proof you knew it might be illegal but you're not trying hard enough. The falacy I see in all of this is that it requires somebody to be in the locality recieving the obscene material.. why can a law enforcement person search out or even posess illegal material [drugs, contraband, etc] but then use that as evidence against somebody. After all, in most cases it is law enforcement that is breaking local laws by soliciting the material in the first place from the locality. That difference needs to be made more clear by the courts.
Unfortunately, what you're all missing is that the person didn't commit a crime in that state's juristiction to begin with. trying to use postal laws or telcom laws to "put" the person in another state should not be allowed at all. say you put Goatse.cx [that's a good example because of it's notority it could now be considered "art" and social commentary] on your page in your community that would tolerate it. Now how could you be responsible for somebody from 3 states away across the internet violating some local obsenity law? That's like a state with 55mph speed limit sending tickets when you drive across from your 75mph state while obeying the limit in their state. The consititution is supposed to protect against that also.
not gonna happen... Bush all but admitted to breaking the FISA law and instead of talking impeachement they debate how they're going to legalize what he did. Congress has enough on both the prez and vice to hang them both. But they won't act... they tried to impeach Clinton over what might have been a lie, in a deposition, tied to a civil case, in Arkansas... but this prez openly admits to violating a law that's already SECRET and they look away!!!
as an aside, that's the problem with the US govt right now. We NEED the senate to be appointed by state governments and not elected. Having senators elected sounds more democratic, but makes the federal govt unaccountable to the states that make it up. Hence, the feds make laws completely out-of-touch with the real wishes of the country.
exactly, Dell needs profits from somewhere, Alienware makes a lot of profits off their machines and Dell would probably like to stop the constant squeezing and do something else.
Frankly, I think after the DOJ is so totally screwed by the current "agreement" I think I'd be really funny if they put microsoft back into punishement phase under Jackson when they give up.
Except that the Fundies just had Bush shoot down the ICANN request for .xxx domain. Because it would provide access for kids curious about it to know where to find it. It was Slashdotters that brought up the "corrale & conquer" idea presented by these guys.
The first case is that the DOJ is just too used to supeonaing records that they don't understand they don't have to supeona google, just plug in a PC and go to town. It could be typical Govt. power-mongering. Unless...
Unless they are after something specifically to use at a later date in a criminal matter. One of the purposes of the orginal law was outlawing "allowing" minors to access porongrphic material. That's a huge scope for something like Google. That's the only reason for the manner they are using to get this info. The DOJ must have in their list of searches/IPs/Websites some idea which ones were entered by schoolchildren or pedophillies and want to cast the net and see just how far it goes. Are they after some kids seach that 245,786 items down has a porn site? That's the only reason I can see. Maybe they are trying to show all these search engines were "flagrantly" breaking the law. If they had search terms say lots of school children enter, they they could just enter the terms themselves and look for people trying to "trick" google into access to Kids. They had some idea of sites they'd shut down for illegal activity, they could still search Google's cache without a supeona. Unless they're after the IPs of Who searched for the illegal web sites. The whole thing stinks, and it looks like they want to use Google as "big brother" to do their law enforcement for them.
of couse what they miss is the fact that commercial pirates are usually working with professional recording hardware anyway... probably "borrowing" time or equipment from the actual producers of the ones we buy at the store. They just run a few "extras" for spending money. Of course the content industry can't get their OWN guild members to take piracy seriously, look at all the leaked Oscar * Grammy discs. They can't get directors and producers to keep media "secret" from their own housing staff... how do they expect to solve the internet problem???
really, who's going to back up DVDs to Blue Ray? That's backing up a 15$ disc to a $30 writeable... Not much sense to me. That's what dual layer DVDs are for anyway.. but again, the cost per copy + time and hassle, just buy it used or on sale.
but he was only granting some interviews after Microsoft PR was publicly attacking him after every day in court. What Judge Jackson amounted too was "hearsay", venting, if you will. But the Microsoft PR was attacking him and making big publicity about it, so some reporter printed it. Microsoft's PR comments were boardering on contempt, and it's too bad the appeals court didn't take that into consideration as well.
They are asking questions Microsoft hasn't bothered to ask yet after 30 years of selling PC's for profit. It's a tall order, but if they make it work, Microsoft is DEAD on so many levels.
On top of all that, our prez is already making plans to start the NEXT war with Iran. I don't envy them at all. Keep pumping up their forces to make a war at least messy and we try to "pre-emptively" attack. Quit nuclear activities and the prez pumps out false info to gain support for an attack anyway. One thing we should be wary of is that Iran will not be a "policing" action. Their govenrment is legit, elected and above board. The guy in charge is very similar to early US presidents... He's put down gun and worked for politics now. But he's been in the trenches steping over the dead comrades. He's got a good following of citizens willing to defend their country. we need to make our leaders aware that Iran will be a real War against the entire country, not just a petty dictator.
I'm waiting for native Japaneese military hardware. Remember, Mitusibishi and other big name companies were big suppilers of the japaneese military machine. Frankly, I'd like to see what the Japs could do, espically if they worked together. I just know in the basement of some manufacturer there's anime inspired "giant robot fighters" working or being designed. Sounds like fun, but scary as hell for washington.
For all those newbies out there, try Easy Ubuntu first and save yourself some pain! Save Automatix after you have a little more experience. Trust me, I've installed Ubuntu on 6 boxes so far and Easy Ubuntu is a safer bet.