Dell Guy: That's because Ubuntu detected that it's an unlicensed pirate copy of Office that you borrowed from the office. Rather than get you in trouble with the BSA, Ubuntu has installed OpenOffice for you. Just go to Applications->Office->Writer. Thank you for calling Dell.
As a publicly traded company they have an obligation to maximise shareholder value.
If there's a potential revenue stream to be tapped, how can they justify not doing so?
Unless, of ourse, it's all a lot of bullsh^WFUD...
including that the user running as full admin with UAC turned off. (Obviously not the default configuration.)
Not the default? In which parallel universe?
admin is still the only functional account, and UAC is so annoying everyone I know turns it off almost immediately (just like the telletubies theme is the first to go on XP).
Every other day I have a little star on my desktop notifying me of updates to various libraries, applications, and yes the kernel itself.
There's your answer: your distotr (ubuntu?) patches _everything_ you have, from the kernel to your desktop theme (using the same simple mechanism!). No wonder there's a patch every couple of days.
Microsoft only patches your kernel, window manager, web browser, email client and a few apps (min hunter, solitaire..). One patch a month sounds about right.
Except there's one bundle of patches a month...
I spotted a typo in you post:
... designed by the computer illiterate...
Windows is designed by lawyers, marketing analysts and people who watch other people using Macs.
lower entry barriers
You're joking, right? Microsoft is nothing but barriers to entry. $$$ for this, $$$ for that, $$$ for the other. And then more $$$ to keep it all safe. And then the same again next year.
THIS is why I despise the low-quality junk that's being released as 'software' these days.
It trains users to expect crashes, misbehaviour, random corruption and god knows what else.
Rule #1 in programming, don't trust the input data until you've validated it.
Rule #2 is _never_ trust input data, especially from users, until you've validated it.
Rule #3 is _always_ validate your input data.
This is not rocket science, this is basic defensive programming.
"aborting" on bad input data, hopefully with a nice message about what's bad, is fine.
"crashing" on bad input data is unacceptable.
gcc doesn't crash every time you misplace a semicolon in a source file, it just tells you about it and aborts.
Why can't Word do the same?
The one that gave us region coded DVDs?
Or the one that has 90+% of desktops running malware-magnet software?
Or the one that gave us DRM?
Or the one that.....
Monopoly != Free Market. We have a monopoly on the desktop and a cartel controlling content distribution. Until that changes we're gonna be stuck with this stuff.
WinDVD 8 is still actively supported, and it's a software player so it's relatively easy to upgrade the key.
What happens when, in a few years, a HW player is compromised and the manufacturer can't/won't distribute a new key?
(forgot how, can't be bothered, out of business, can't find receipt to prove you're entitled to the key, more interested in selling you a new player....)
Also, the WinDVD replacement key is free (as in beer). What about a replacement key for a hardware player? Will it be a free ISO to download to flash your player, or will it be a 'free' (plus $39.95 for postage and handling) CD mailout?
I have an 8 year old TV and VCR and a 4 year old DVD player. I doubt I'm going to get ANY support for any of them from the manufacturer.
I doubt I'll get any support for any HW player I buy today in a few years time, and that includes replacement keys.
If I buy a hardware HW player today, and in 3 years someone compromises the key, I'll probably be left with a warm brick!
I am able to run a vista with "a few" things turned off (the "required" anti virus you mention, windows 2k interface, indexing, etc) idling on 270M of ram.
This nicely illustrates the point of the article.
Machines with as little as 256M are being sold as "Vista Ready".
Even with all the tuning you did (which is _way_ above what a normal user should be expected to do) you'd still be struggling just to the the OS running, let alone any applications.
What makes you think that AV is "required" rather than required!!?
Firefox has 44 groups of certification authorities!
Each group seems to be a company which holds (in the case of Verisign) 15 individual certificates.
Each of these certificates can be used to set up a 'trusted' HTTPS connection.
If you don't know what that means, google for "verisign microsoft fake certificate"
I'm as paranoid as the next guy, but I think that haing companies with stellar security track-records like verisign issuing browser certificates is much more of a problem that DHS messing with DNS.
If you're worried about DNS/CAs/??? don't use them. Set up an SSH tunnel or a VPN, exchange keys securely (i.e. off-line, in person, verifying signatures) and live happily ever after.
Honestly, given the general state of computer security this is like complaining that someone might mess with your street-directory while driving a Pinto with "USA forever" stickers through Baghdad in rush-hour.....
Slashdot Mirror
In this hand, I hold an apple. In the other, an orange.
But dude, it's an exclusive special edition orange!!
Dell Guy: That's because Ubuntu detected that it's an unlicensed pirate copy of Office that you borrowed from the office. Rather than get you in trouble with the BSA, Ubuntu has installed OpenOffice for you. Just go to Applications->Office->Writer. Thank you for calling Dell.
... NOT sue?
As a publicly traded company they have an obligation to maximise shareholder value.
If there's a potential revenue stream to be tapped, how can they justify not doing so?
Unless, of ourse, it's all a lot of bullsh^WFUD...
the toadying twat that runs my country
Look, there are a _lot_ of British, Australian and American slashdotters reading this.
You're going to have to be a bit more specific...
including that the user running as full admin with UAC turned off. (Obviously not the default configuration.)
Not the default? In which parallel universe?
admin is still the only functional account, and UAC is so annoying everyone I know turns it off almost immediately (just like the telletubies theme is the first to go on XP).
Did they even QA this thing? The size is huge and now it also stole the default browser setting.
Of course they QA tested!!
Changing your browser setting took months, and 5MB, to get right!
but why would a patch change a system's default browser in the first place?
Because it can?
Every other day I have a little star on my desktop notifying me of updates to various libraries, applications, and yes the kernel itself.
..). One patch a month sounds about right.
There's your answer: your distotr (ubuntu?) patches _everything_ you have, from the kernel to your desktop theme (using the same simple mechanism!). No wonder there's a patch every couple of days.
Microsoft only patches your kernel, window manager, web browser, email client and a few apps (min hunter, solitaire
Except there's one bundle of patches a month...
It seems you can copyright a random number (like an encryption key).
That advice was bad enough to rate me as "Dell Linux Technical Support"?
Damn.... I was aiming for "Arrogant Linux Bigot".
I must have overshot.....
DDNS is a wonderful thing :-)
i guess it should be noted that an unplugged computer won't boot regardless of the installed operting system.
...
Speak for yourself!
I'm running my DELL laptop with the Sony battery, unplugged and
what's that funny burning smell???
NO CARRIER...
UbuntuNewbie: "Well, it works OK but I don't like the color scheme, how to I get the bright blues and reds my old computer had?"
/abuser/local/done/sudont-apt-get --themefier --fgcolor=FF0000 --bgcolor=0000FF -i -g -aqd +qweryt /2
Typical newbie... IMnot-soHO Linux is better off withOUT people like that!
Isn't that obvious?!?!?!?
I spotted a typo in you post:
... designed by the computer illiterate ...
Windows is designed by lawyers, marketing analysts and people who watch other people using Macs.
lower entry barriers
You're joking, right? Microsoft is nothing but barriers to entry. $$$ for this, $$$ for that, $$$ for the other. And then more $$$ to keep it all safe. And then the same again next year.
Not really three words you want to see in the same sentence :-)
I'm pretty sure anyone who has Windows ME will gladly give it to you for free. Maybe they'll even pay you to take it.
Unfortunately that's not allowed under the EULA.
If you missed that, you are simply not informed enough to be qualified to contribute to this discussion.
/. after all!
Come on, this _is_
If you can figure out how to post you're qualified to do so!
Heck, you don't even have to know hot to RFTA!
Windows ME again?
Almost all the programs crash on invalid input
THIS is why I despise the low-quality junk that's being released as 'software' these days.
It trains users to expect crashes, misbehaviour, random corruption and god knows what else.
Rule #1 in programming, don't trust the input data until you've validated it.
Rule #2 is _never_ trust input data, especially from users, until you've validated it.
Rule #3 is _always_ validate your input data.
This is not rocket science, this is basic defensive programming.
"aborting" on bad input data, hopefully with a nice message about what's bad, is fine.
"crashing" on bad input data is unacceptable.
gcc doesn't crash every time you misplace a semicolon in a source file, it just tells you about it and aborts.
Why can't Word do the same?
I mean, they don't allow you to sit in the cockpit any more.
What, Pilots have to stand nowadays?
I thought they were glorified bus-drivers, not glorified tram-drivers!
That's the beauty of the free market;
.....
Which 'free' market would that be exactly?
The one that gave us region coded DVDs?
Or the one that has 90+% of desktops running malware-magnet software?
Or the one that gave us DRM?
Or the one that
Monopoly != Free Market. We have a monopoly on the desktop and a cartel controlling content distribution. Until that changes we're gonna be stuck with this stuff.
Oh... I just notices the [/sarcasm] tag.......
WinDVD 8 is still actively supported, and it's a software player so it's relatively easy to upgrade the key.
....)
What happens when, in a few years, a HW player is compromised and the manufacturer can't/won't distribute a new key?
(forgot how, can't be bothered, out of business, can't find receipt to prove you're entitled to the key, more interested in selling you a new player
Also, the WinDVD replacement key is free (as in beer). What about a replacement key for a hardware player? Will it be a free ISO to download to flash your player, or will it be a 'free' (plus $39.95 for postage and handling) CD mailout?
I have an 8 year old TV and VCR and a 4 year old DVD player. I doubt I'm going to get ANY support for any of them from the manufacturer.
I doubt I'll get any support for any HW player I buy today in a few years time, and that includes replacement keys.
If I buy a hardware HW player today, and in 3 years someone compromises the key, I'll probably be left with a warm brick!
Luna?
I always though it was based on this:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/teletubbies/
Over the hills, and far away....
I am able to run a vista with "a few" things turned off (the "required" anti virus you mention, windows 2k interface, indexing, etc) idling on 270M of ram.
This nicely illustrates the point of the article.
Machines with as little as 256M are being sold as "Vista Ready".
Even with all the tuning you did (which is _way_ above what a normal user should be expected to do) you'd still be struggling just to the the OS running, let alone any applications.
What makes you think that AV is "required" rather than required!!?
Firefox has 44 groups of certification authorities!
Each group seems to be a company which holds (in the case of Verisign) 15 individual certificates.
Each of these certificates can be used to set up a 'trusted' HTTPS connection.
If you don't know what that means, google for "verisign microsoft fake certificate"
I'm as paranoid as the next guy, but I think that haing companies with stellar security track-records like verisign issuing browser certificates is much more of a problem that DHS messing with DNS.
If you're worried about DNS/CAs/??? don't use them. Set up an SSH tunnel or a VPN, exchange keys securely (i.e. off-line, in person, verifying signatures) and live happily ever after.
Honestly, given the general state of computer security this is like complaining that someone might mess with your street-directory while driving a Pinto with "USA forever" stickers through Baghdad in rush-hour.....