Jeez, I make comments like this against Microsoft and those posts get flamed to TROLL. How funny.
I too went to my local mom/pop shop that was Microsoft Certified Partner among others. They also do Netware and that's where I wanted a little backup (just in case:).
I go with them because they work with me. They have no issues with me cracking a case and pulling the power supply and handing it to them for warranty replacement.
The day I walked in and tried to purchase NO OPERATING SYSTEM PC's (to run Linux) as was told they couldn't sell them to me that way was the day I literally stopped using Microsoft Windows.
I paid the Microsoft tax to get the hardware -- and those PC's still run Linux to this day. For every Windows license I've had to purchase (I am the IT mgr here:) there have been three Linux or OS.X boxes going out the door with it.
All over a few thousand dollars in Windows licensing. I swear Microsoft can't see the forrest through the trees sometimes. Ironic that our corporate network has -0- Windows servers and has now about 35% Windows desktops and dropping off every year.
I've been personally hooked on OS.X since its beta days. Originally the only games in town were OmniWeb (preferred), IE (ack), and Netscape (good 2nd choice).
Back in my Windows days IE never really got my attention -- it was always Netscape (up to 4.79 was decent).
The releases of Netscape that followed (Windows or OS.X) were pretty much not installed/forgotten. On the Windows end it was Mozilla/Opera and on OS.X 99% Safari.
This Netscape will get installed and hit the distribution cycle. It is very fast on OS.X and worth taking a look at (!)
This is exactly why we are doing the same. I did have to replace one IBM Thinkpad (Win2K) that was stolen recently. Putting 512M memory in it and a CD-RW drive along with a hard drive upgrade easily put it in the $2,300 - $2,500 range which was exactly what I paid a couple of years ago for the original.
I now have about a 50/50 mix of OS X Powerbooks (about $2,600 in cost) and some Thinkpads, Dell's, and a few other personally purchased, but company supported laptops (TP's were what we supplied). I always seem to hear from the Windows users all the time with misc problems which usually resolve back to the OS screwing up somewhere again. The Mac users literally never call.
I personally rolled Mac's out first to field guys who never really touched a computer before (no bias to fight). At the same time it was replacing home systems for the top management.
Wait six months and watch the trickle down happen. The CEO, President, VP of Operations, etc -- all had no issue when as systems were depreciated (ANOTHER concept Microsoft seems to not understand:) they are being replaced with Mac's where it makes sense.
Unfortunately I haven't come across the Linux or OS X based CAD application that can be seriously considered against AutoCAD. Ironically it's the engineering department that is drooling the most over the new G5's -- and as it stands right now will be the last to see them.
Personally I go home to Linux in the basement (and BSD and Netware for testing work configs:) with the Mac used as my main desktop/GUI system. Heck, 99% of my Linux/BSD based work can easily be done through the terminal and most of the applications can be compiled/tested directly on OS X as needed.
As soon as the economy allows and/or a server truly dies (3 years left to depreciate:) the next incoming server WILL be a X-Serve as it stands now. Currently I've never allowed/wanted/needed a Windows server with the core network being run on Netware with Linux and BSD being used more heavily recently. I never understood companies that got Windows servers when their Netware was running just fine. Personally I had one Netware 3.12 server that finally died last year sometime after running for over a DECADE non-stop 24/7 with really no issues other than dust.
The only case where I can see using Windows and be more productive than on any other system is with CAD as mentioned. Otherwise it's OS.X hands down for now. I know the only why I'll pry the lowly G4 450Mhz Cube from my brothers hands will be with a G5. I personally started on that Cube and was my first Mac purchase to go after OS.X in the BETA time. Before that (OS 9 and prior) I had absolutely no interest in the Mac.
Kind of like when I went to purchase PC's through a local reseller who had to charge me the Windows tax if they wanted to keep _their_ license to sell -- even though those PC's _still_ run Linux to this day...
THAT kind of extorsion?
Or do you mean the kind where up until recently there really hasn't been a decent word processing and spreadsheet package -- at least not like there _used_ to be -- and the main picker, being M$-Office, is $450?
THAT kind of extorsion?
Perhaps you're referring to the fact that in a few cases I have NO CHOICE but to run Windows... but to run Windows means constant security updates -- even though I can't get those updates unless I agree to basically make my computer's data property of Microsoft...
Agreed and known -- NAT is not a firewall, but it is used (by me:) as a good first line of defense. On the corporate network(s) I've the Internet coming in, sometimes T1(s), wireless, OC3 and some small/remote offices with ISDN -- whatever.
This goes into the router -> firewall -> managed switch -> sub-switches as needed -> workstations.
Yeah, somebody could easily setup a route box on the network (oops, just got a arpwatch page on the cell phone:), and connect out somewhere on any higher port and tunnel back internally to whatever they want/need.
Don't think the entire local network isn't regularly scanned? At least the corporate networks I overlook _are_.:)
No, at home I have no "firewall" box pattern matching, trying to shape the traffic as needed, so on and so forth. $$$. A little NAT -- a few Linux boxes, BSD box, and the Mac's. Of course the Linux boxes are used for up front testing and were where the initial scanning was written (and is employed:). Low impact on the network -- why anyone wouldn't map and re-map their own network is beyond me, but I digress...
My biggest [paranoid] point being that I really don't see too many instances when _I_ have to be DIRECTLY connected to the Internet. Heck, I've seen ISP's try and setup friends with a wireless connection which their workstations got a IP via DHCP __on their netowrk__ where I could easily see open boxes and in some cases IPX/SPX traffic being passed around.
I got the strangest look from the install tech when they wanted a architect buddy hookup like this. I asked him how he should print to his jetdirect via TCP/IP in his plotter. Here's a switch and a ethernet to the Internet was their answer. I let my friend go with the hookup, went home, and started rolling paper off his plotter while I called him laughing. He understood some of the isssues all of a sudden...
You know, call me weird or something, but I happen to like NAT and, well, pretty much fully understand IPv4.
Yeah -- I know how to use a Linux box as a decent router and setup Firewall's as needed, etc.
The fact that I'm not doing anything SERIOUSLY complex helps: - Web servers (port 80 and 443) - imaps (port 993) - ssh2 (private port with honey-pots all over:) - other misc needed ports and tunnels as well.
ONLY ports I specifically opened up and re-directed are available to the general Internet. Firewalls run internally as well, but many more services (lpr, smb, hell IPX is stilled used/preferred for accounting work)...
With IPv6 I'm probably going to go the route of: 1) Ok -- I *basically* understand it, but honestly haven't wrapped my brain around it... learn it.
2) Try and get a few IPv6 addresses as needed 3) Update front end router to use it work with it. 4) Tunnel it back into my IPv4 network per port as needed. IPv6 NAT if you will...
I really don't want anything/everything directly connected to the Internet. At anytime. Except the Internet network router. These ISP's selling "Windows DSL modems" where it plugs directly into USB or the Ethernet is NUTS, IMHO.:)
Once in a blue moon I'll come across a Linux box that has ftp (for example) enabled and there really isn't the want/need for it. Oops, not Firewalled either... Glad it wasn't directly on the 'Net (!)
Even when the need _has_ arisen to put a box completely on the Internet directly it's been easy enough to setup a 1:1 map on the router... While the video feed was going on I personally would be nmap'ing the box to double check the firewall settings...
Of course the problem exists because, well, it is TOO easy to get on the Internet. Too many have no clue what they are doing, but they get email (!) Yeah. Those are the ones spreading virus' and not knowing it or have a hacked box spewing spam around the world. Some problems could also become moot with IPv6 in regards to security and accountability...
That's all fine and good. Those were the terms to the deal that they signed.
It's not MY problem, is it? I still won't buy album's for one or two songs. Not anymore...
I'm thinking -- into the far future -- that after the music industry isn't what it is anymore... that the indies will end up making the most money.
Good for them. Artists getting paid for what they like to do and what they're good at -- while entertaining me. I seriously doubt that a "nobody" will try and force more music down my throat when all I want is that one song.
This is one of the funnier things I've seen myself -- being the MIS/IT Mgr here.:)
Funny, but the Mac's that are running here now are the least of my worries and problems. I rarely hear from the Mac users needing help.
The Windows 2000 "Professional" users are endlessly calling for help it seems some days. Due to Microsoft Windows based virus' it became obvious that AT NO TIME should any single platform have 100% control over any sub-system (server/desktop)...
So with OS.X started rolling those out... with Linux. Haven't purchased a Windows box in over two years now -- and the ones remaining are still the biggest problem.
Oh -- and those employees with XP based laptops... BANNED. Due to virus' of course...:)
It didn't take us two years to decide Windows is full of security holes and problems. I personally knew that with Windows 95 (never deployed here -- stuck with WFW3.11).
The remains Windows boxes are primarily used for AutoCAD work. I've yet to come across a product that comes close to what we would expect for other platforms -- the exception being a outside-our-needs $40K package.
Those remaining Windows boxes have long ago been on a segmented private subnet with NO ACCESS what-so-ever to the Internet for obvious security reasons.
Frankly -- I don't give a rats ass what the rest of the world does (to a point -- we still need to share data). The "TCO" for Windows is a hell of a lot higher than Microsoft would like you to think it is. A whole LOT.
Even when Windows was the #1 desktop on our network there has never been one (1) virus infection or outbreak. Of course Outlook and Explorer were banned from day one (which helped:).
I'm still amazed by the Windows weenies out there -- isn't it interesting that a guy like me doesn't like Windows? 20 years experience "in the business", multiple computer science degrees along with accounting and business management for that matter... I like Netware, BSD, Solaris, Linux, OS/2, BeOS, and OS X among others -- it's just so obviously how fundamentally flawed Windows is.
But I'm sure I don't know shit or what I'm talking about. Yeah, that's it. Too funny.
This may be too little too late for us. With the release of SP3 for Windows 2000 "Professional" we went to a "code freeze" with Microsoft Windows (among other things).
With this SP we also decided it was time to completely ditch them from operations and have been rolling out Linux and Mac OS.X workstations as existing systems reached their EOL.
Fortunately we may actually use SP4 for the existing Windows boxes (about 35% left now) -- but our budget for Microsoft products has been placed at -0- per the board of directors.
I beg to differ. I was sitting here thinking the EXACT SAME thing.
I can setup and use/maintain at work various Unix's. Linux, BSD, and OS X. At home I went to install my HP 1100 (connected to my Mac upstairs) on my RH box.
I downloaded drivers. Jiggled this. Played with that. Spent almost an hour on it before I gave up. Started playing with my RH test laptop which I typically only use for GUI stuff (while my main box is 99% command line use).
The printer was just there. I went back to my original box and put everything back and tried a "cat file | lpr" and it printed upstairs as expected. Wow.
Ask me to setup a network printer and the queue for any of the Netware's and I could do it in my sleep as well. Actually, Netware has ALWAYS run our queues at work.
I'm now at the same point and wondering how to setup a forwarding queue on Linux from the command line from scratch -- I'm 3,000 miles away perhaps.
Personally I print next to nothing -- my office only has paper in it people feel compelled to give me.
There HAVE BEEN "Do not call" lists for many years. The phone still rings.
There HAVE BEEN "Do not mail" lists for many years. I get more and more junk mail.
We all know how many "Do not email" lists exists. Regardless of action the spam keeps coming.
How about a "STAY OUT OF MY FACE AND GET A REAL JOB/LIFE" list to cover everything. Damn, my doorbell just rang, I bet somebody wants to witness with me something about their God...
I like the convenience idea of it. The magnetic strip in my credit cards are usually destroyed/useless before the card even expires. Between rubbing against other credit cards, contact with the leather, and/or body sweat highly used cards are usually replaced before they ?expire?.
Where?s the security? I often wonder why the heck credit card purchases don?t require a PIN at the very least. Yeah, we?re all high tech and thumb prints and/or eye scans would be cool, but I?m all for having to know and enter a PIN on each and every purchase.
I tend to go for EFT payment whenever possible as I do have to enter a PIN. Shoulder surfing or a corrupt security camera guy is always a problem. I?m smart enough to remember a purchase PIN and a ATM/Cash type transaction PIN too. I suppose insurance costs and ?shrink? just isn?t too expensive yet?
I?d be impressed if there was a thumb reader built into each plastic card I waived around buying all my shit.
Whatever. His basic statement is to ditch your existing email, get a new one, get a couple of others for misc purposes, and never give out your email address.
Go Hide.
Bad answer to spam my friend. And frankly, it IS bullshit. I have had my email since 1992. It is me @ my domain. I absolutely possitively REFUSE to give it up.
IT IS MINE.
I won't jump through hoops and do this and that for the spammers to hide from them. I also just happen to have hundreds of spam trap addresses and they silently eat the spam and block the IP subnets. No questions asked. Hoops like this I'll jump through -- because logically it is more fun than "just hit delete". I personally like a good challenge.
The only way to get unblocked is a phone call to me. I have been doing it this way for a while (years) and have gotten now four (4) such calls across a half a dozen domains I manage. I see maybe 1 spam a week now.
There are, however, THOUSANDS of attempts daily and ~100 new subnets being added daily (recently). Shortly I'll have ALL the dialup & dsl lines identified across the entire Internet. Sad really.
I personally like the RMX record setup myself. I've always questioned why it isn't like this already. Can the spammers themselves properly setup a mail server and spam away? Sure. I can also block them that much easier. It's going to be a LOT harder for them to move around all the time. Hi-jacking dialup's and just using them will no longer work (and this has been their #1 method to date). The #2 method, hi-jacking mail servers themselves, will continue, but their numbers are limited (if not already all blocked:).
This won't mean one more bit of work for the end dialup user moving from ISP to ISP (legit). It will mean another configuration for the domains, but if it works as planned? Problem seriously cut back if not solved.
I, as IT director, would fire my IT staff if they pulled this. Considering that I have some systems with uptimes in YEARS, a few going on a DECADE, and over-all the _entire_ network has worked 24x7 for the last 10 years. Our business operations isn't even Internet based (we just happen to use it -- primarily for email) and the operations of the systems isn't life-critical. We just like our computers/networks to work.
Of course I'm the one that implemented a testing domain (live on the Net) for just such purposes. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER "test" anything on a production system. I can't even think of any installations that were not tested for MONTHS "offline" before being implemented. When the day comes to install there usually aren't any shockers either. It just works.
Of course I'm the one that's NEVER allowed a Windows server to even be a consideration. "Are you NUTS?"
Back in my day I had to write games in BASIC, on a 4.7Mhz computer with no hard disk and 128K of RAM. And I was grateful
You had it easy... Back in my day I had to write in BASIC on a 1Mhz computer with no hard drive and it had 38,911 bytes available for basic. C=64 anyone?:)
Slashdot Mirror
You mean something like: ManOpen
You know -- with a few billion dollars I'd think he'd be able to get a hair cut that doesn't look like somebody put a bowl on his head and cut away.
Jeez, I make comments like this against Microsoft and those posts get flamed to TROLL. How funny.
:).
:) there have been three Linux or OS.X boxes going out the door with it.
I too went to my local mom/pop shop that was Microsoft Certified Partner among others. They also do Netware and that's where I wanted a little backup (just in case
I go with them because they work with me. They have no issues with me cracking a case and pulling the power supply and handing it to them for warranty replacement.
The day I walked in and tried to purchase NO OPERATING SYSTEM PC's (to run Linux) as was told they couldn't sell them to me that way was the day I literally stopped using Microsoft Windows.
I paid the Microsoft tax to get the hardware -- and those PC's still run Linux to this day. For every Windows license I've had to purchase (I am the IT mgr here
All over a few thousand dollars in Windows licensing. I swear Microsoft can't see the forrest through the trees sometimes. Ironic that our corporate network has -0- Windows servers and has now about 35% Windows desktops and dropping off every year.
Too funny. I get marked TROLL for stating the FACTS on how Microsoft is a theifing back-stabbing rip-off of a company.
I get it...
I also get how much money I'm saving NOT using Windows anymore. Both from the IT end and from a business owner's perspective.
Moderate THAT
I've been personally hooked on OS.X since its beta days. Originally the only games in town were OmniWeb (preferred), IE (ack), and Netscape (good 2nd choice).
Back in my Windows days IE never really got my attention -- it was always Netscape (up to 4.79 was decent).
The releases of Netscape that followed (Windows or OS.X) were pretty much not installed/forgotten. On the Windows end it was Mozilla/Opera and on OS.X 99% Safari.
This Netscape will get installed and hit the distribution cycle. It is very fast on OS.X and worth taking a look at (!)
This is exactly why we are doing the same. I did have to replace one IBM Thinkpad (Win2K) that was stolen recently. Putting 512M memory in it and a CD-RW drive along with a hard drive upgrade easily put it in the $2,300 - $2,500 range which was exactly what I paid a couple of years ago for the original.
:) they are being replaced with Mac's where it makes sense.
:) with the Mac used as my main desktop/GUI system. Heck, 99% of my Linux/BSD based work can easily be done through the terminal and most of the applications can be compiled/tested directly on OS X as needed.
:) the next incoming server WILL be a X-Serve as it stands now. Currently I've never allowed/wanted/needed a Windows server with the core network being run on Netware with Linux and BSD being used more heavily recently. I never understood companies that got Windows servers when their Netware was running just fine. Personally I had one Netware 3.12 server that finally died last year sometime after running for over a DECADE non-stop 24/7 with really no issues other than dust.
:)
I now have about a 50/50 mix of OS X Powerbooks (about $2,600 in cost) and some Thinkpads, Dell's, and a few other personally purchased, but company supported laptops (TP's were what we supplied). I always seem to hear from the Windows users all the time with misc problems which usually resolve back to the OS screwing up somewhere again. The Mac users literally never call.
I personally rolled Mac's out first to field guys who never really touched a computer before (no bias to fight). At the same time it was replacing home systems for the top management.
Wait six months and watch the trickle down happen. The CEO, President, VP of Operations, etc -- all had no issue when as systems were depreciated (ANOTHER concept Microsoft seems to not understand
Unfortunately I haven't come across the Linux or OS X based CAD application that can be seriously considered against AutoCAD. Ironically it's the engineering department that is drooling the most over the new G5's -- and as it stands right now will be the last to see them.
Personally I go home to Linux in the basement (and BSD and Netware for testing work configs
As soon as the economy allows and/or a server truly dies (3 years left to depreciate
The only case where I can see using Windows and be more productive than on any other system is with CAD as mentioned. Otherwise it's OS.X hands down for now. I know the only why I'll pry the lowly G4 450Mhz Cube from my brothers hands will be with a G5. I personally started on that Cube and was my first Mac purchase to go after OS.X in the BETA time. Before that (OS 9 and prior) I had absolutely no interest in the Mac.
I was running Linux at home.
Kind of like when I went to purchase PC's through a local reseller who had to charge me the Windows tax if they wanted to keep _their_ license to sell -- even though those PC's _still_ run Linux to this day...
... but to run Windows means constant security updates -- even though I can't get those updates unless I agree to basically make my computer's data property of Microsoft...
THAT kind of extorsion?
Or do you mean the kind where up until recently there really hasn't been a decent word processing and spreadsheet package -- at least not like there _used_ to be -- and the main picker, being M$-Office, is $450?
THAT kind of extorsion?
Perhaps you're referring to the fact that in a few cases I have NO CHOICE but to run Windows
THAT kind of extorsion?
Would you like to super-size that?
Agreed and known -- NAT is not a firewall, but it is used (by me :) as a good first line of defense. On the corporate network(s) I've the Internet coming in, sometimes T1(s), wireless, OC3 and some small/remote offices with ISDN -- whatever.
:), and connect out somewhere on any higher port and tunnel back internally to whatever they want/need.
:)
:). Low impact on the network -- why anyone wouldn't map and re-map their own network is beyond me, but I digress...
:)
This goes into the router -> firewall -> managed switch -> sub-switches as needed -> workstations.
Yeah, somebody could easily setup a route box on the network (oops, just got a arpwatch page on the cell phone
Don't think the entire local network isn't regularly scanned? At least the corporate networks I overlook _are_.
No, at home I have no "firewall" box pattern matching, trying to shape the traffic as needed, so on and so forth. $$$. A little NAT -- a few Linux boxes, BSD box, and the Mac's. Of course the Linux boxes are used for up front testing and were where the initial scanning was written (and is employed
My biggest [paranoid] point being that I really don't see too many instances when _I_ have to be DIRECTLY connected to the Internet. Heck, I've seen ISP's try and setup friends with a wireless connection which their workstations got a IP via DHCP __on their netowrk__ where I could easily see open boxes and in some cases IPX/SPX traffic being passed around.
I got the strangest look from the install tech when they wanted a architect buddy hookup like this. I asked him how he should print to his jetdirect via TCP/IP in his plotter. Here's a switch and a ethernet to the Internet was their answer. I let my friend go with the hookup, went home, and started rolling paper off his plotter while I called him laughing. He understood some of the isssues all of a sudden...
Blah
You know, call me weird or something, but I happen to like NAT and, well, pretty much fully understand IPv4.
:)
... learn it.
:)
Yeah -- I know how to use a Linux box as a decent router and setup Firewall's as needed, etc.
The fact that I'm not doing anything SERIOUSLY complex helps:
- Web servers (port 80 and 443)
- imaps (port 993)
- ssh2 (private port with honey-pots all over
- other misc needed ports and tunnels as well.
ONLY ports I specifically opened up and re-directed are available to the general Internet. Firewalls run internally as well, but many more services (lpr, smb, hell IPX is stilled used/preferred for accounting work)...
With IPv6 I'm probably going to go the route of:
1) Ok -- I *basically* understand it, but honestly haven't wrapped my brain around it
2) Try and get a few IPv6 addresses as needed
3) Update front end router to use it work with it.
4) Tunnel it back into my IPv4 network per port as needed. IPv6 NAT if you will...
I really don't want anything/everything directly connected to the Internet. At anytime. Except the Internet network router. These ISP's selling "Windows DSL modems" where it plugs directly into USB or the Ethernet is NUTS, IMHO.
Once in a blue moon I'll come across a Linux box that has ftp (for example) enabled and there really isn't the want/need for it. Oops, not Firewalled either... Glad it wasn't directly on the 'Net (!)
Even when the need _has_ arisen to put a box completely on the Internet directly it's been easy enough to setup a 1:1 map on the router... While the video feed was going on I personally would be nmap'ing the box to double check the firewall settings...
Of course the problem exists because, well, it is TOO easy to get on the Internet. Too many have no clue what they are doing, but they get email (!) Yeah. Those are the ones spreading virus' and not knowing it or have a hacked box spewing spam around the world. Some problems could also become moot with IPv6 in regards to security and accountability...
!fp
That's all fine and good. Those were the terms to the deal that they signed.
... that the indies will end up making the most money.
It's not MY problem, is it? I still won't buy album's for one or two songs. Not anymore...
I'm thinking -- into the far future -- that after the music industry isn't what it is anymore
Good for them. Artists getting paid for what they like to do and what they're good at -- while entertaining me. I seriously doubt that a "nobody" will try and force more music down my throat when all I want is that one song.
And these artists are ALREADY making how much?
Piss on them.
*I* am the customer who's money they are trying to get.
Guess what? NO MORE. You know -- I have absolutely never done the Kaza thing or stolen one song.
I suppose I'll have to learn now. Stupid artists...
This is one of the funnier things I've seen myself -- being the MIS/IT Mgr here. :)
... with Linux. Haven't purchased a Windows box in over two years now -- and the ones remaining are still the biggest problem.
:)
Funny, but the Mac's that are running here now are the least of my worries and problems. I rarely hear from the Mac users needing help.
The Windows 2000 "Professional" users are endlessly calling for help it seems some days. Due to Microsoft Windows based virus' it became obvious that AT NO TIME should any single platform have 100% control over any sub-system (server/desktop)...
So with OS.X started rolling those out
Oh -- and those employees with XP based laptops... BANNED. Due to virus' of course...
Two Words for the Honda tail-gating me: BREAK CHECK (!)
Un-USB'n believable (!)
:)
Bait -n- switch anyone?
At least when I sell my Mac (QuickSilver flavor) to upgrade
I'll be able to sell it listed as "USB 2 - Full Speed" to the poor
E-Bay'er.
I'll even list it with "Firewire - HIGH Speed".
All so I can go buy a new G5 (if they REALLY are coming out
with it's "Firewire - UltraHIGH Speed" and "USB 2" connections.
And Microsoft wonders why so many DO NOT trust them?
Duh.
fp
It didn't take us two years to decide Windows is full of security holes and problems. I personally knew that with Windows 95 (never deployed here -- stuck with WFW3.11).
:).
The remains Windows boxes are primarily used for AutoCAD work. I've yet to come across a product that comes close to what we would expect for other platforms -- the exception being a outside-our-needs $40K package.
Those remaining Windows boxes have long ago been on a segmented private subnet with NO ACCESS what-so-ever to the Internet for obvious security reasons.
Frankly -- I don't give a rats ass what the rest of the world does (to a point -- we still need to share data). The "TCO" for Windows is a hell of a lot higher than Microsoft would like you to think it is. A whole LOT.
Even when Windows was the #1 desktop on our network there has never been one (1) virus infection or outbreak. Of course Outlook and Explorer were banned from day one (which helped
I'm still amazed by the Windows weenies out there -- isn't it interesting that a guy like me doesn't like Windows? 20 years experience "in the business", multiple computer science degrees along with accounting and business management for that matter... I like Netware, BSD, Solaris, Linux, OS/2, BeOS, and OS X among others -- it's just so obviously how fundamentally flawed Windows is.
But I'm sure I don't know shit or what I'm talking about. Yeah, that's it.
Too funny.
This may be too little too late for us. With the release of SP3 for Windows 2000 "Professional" we went to a "code freeze" with Microsoft Windows (among other things).
:)
With this SP we also decided it was time to completely ditch them from operations and have been rolling out Linux and Mac OS.X workstations as existing systems reached their EOL.
Fortunately we may actually use SP4 for the existing Windows boxes (about 35% left now) -- but our budget for Microsoft products has been placed at -0- per the board of directors.
Too little, too late... (fp
I beg to differ. I was sitting here thinking the EXACT SAME thing.
I can setup and use/maintain at work various Unix's. Linux, BSD, and OS X. At home I went to install my HP 1100 (connected to my Mac upstairs) on my RH box.
I downloaded drivers. Jiggled this. Played with that. Spent almost an hour on it before I gave up. Started playing with my RH test laptop which I typically only use for GUI stuff (while my main box is 99% command line use).
The printer was just there. I went back to my original box and put everything back and tried a "cat file | lpr" and it printed upstairs as expected. Wow.
Ask me to setup a network printer and the queue for any of the Netware's and I could do it in my sleep as well. Actually, Netware has ALWAYS run our queues at work.
I'm now at the same point and wondering how to setup a forwarding queue on Linux from the command line from scratch -- I'm 3,000 miles away perhaps.
Personally I print next to nothing -- my office only has paper in it people feel compelled to give me.
There HAVE BEEN "Do not call" lists for many years.
The phone still rings.
There HAVE BEEN "Do not mail" lists for many years.
I get more and more junk mail.
We all know how many "Do not email" lists exists.
Regardless of action the spam keeps coming.
How about a "STAY OUT OF MY FACE AND GET A REAL JOB/LIFE" list to cover everything. Damn, my doorbell just rang, I bet somebody wants to witness with me something about their God...
Do you have NOTHING better to do on a Saturday morning and/or afternoon?
What are you trying to tell us? That with Microsoft's next IE move we should all just bend over because we're about to get screwed?
no, loser...and ironically all the ?'s came from a Microsoft (c) Word (tm) cut/paste. Typical Windows crap.
I like the convenience idea of it. The magnetic strip in my credit cards are usually destroyed/useless before the card even expires. Between rubbing against other credit cards, contact with the leather, and/or body sweat highly used cards are usually replaced before they ?expire?.
Where?s the security? I often wonder why the heck credit card purchases don?t require a PIN at the very least. Yeah, we?re all high tech and thumb prints and/or eye scans would be cool, but I?m all for having to know and enter a PIN on each and every purchase.
I tend to go for EFT payment whenever possible as I do have to enter a PIN. Shoulder surfing or a corrupt security camera guy is always a problem. I?m smart enough to remember a purchase PIN and a ATM/Cash type transaction PIN too. I suppose insurance costs and ?shrink? just isn?t too expensive yet?
I?d be impressed if there was a thumb reader built into each plastic card I waived around buying all my shit.
Mobile gas anyone?
Whatever. His basic statement is to ditch your existing email, get a new one, get a couple of others for misc purposes, and never give out your email address.
:).
Go Hide.
Bad answer to spam my friend. And frankly, it IS bullshit. I have had my email since 1992. It is me @ my domain. I absolutely possitively REFUSE to give it up.
IT IS MINE.
I won't jump through hoops and do this and that for the spammers to hide from them. I also just happen to have hundreds of spam trap addresses and they silently eat the spam and block the IP subnets. No questions asked. Hoops like this I'll jump through -- because logically it is more fun than "just hit delete". I personally like a good challenge.
The only way to get unblocked is a phone call to me. I have been doing it this way for a while (years) and have gotten now four (4) such calls across a half a dozen domains I manage. I see maybe 1 spam a week now.
There are, however, THOUSANDS of attempts daily and ~100 new subnets being added daily (recently). Shortly I'll have ALL the dialup & dsl lines identified across the entire Internet. Sad really.
I personally like the RMX record setup myself. I've always questioned why it isn't like this already. Can the spammers themselves properly setup a mail server and spam away? Sure. I can also block them that much easier. It's going to be a LOT harder for them to move around all the time. Hi-jacking dialup's and just using them will no longer work (and this has been their #1 method to date). The #2 method, hi-jacking mail servers themselves, will continue, but their numbers are limited (if not already all blocked
This won't mean one more bit of work for the end dialup user moving from ISP to ISP (legit). It will mean another configuration for the domains, but if it works as planned? Problem seriously cut back if not solved.
What, only Windows XP was used for the tests as well? Why not run tests also against Linux and BSD on the same hardware too? Your result will vary...
... driving a Pinto. You certainly won't be getting the full eXPerience.
Testing just Windows is like test driving the Indy 500
I, as IT director, would fire my IT staff if they pulled this. Considering that I have some systems with uptimes in YEARS, a few going on a DECADE, and over-all the _entire_ network has worked 24x7 for the last 10 years. Our business operations isn't even Internet based (we just happen to use it -- primarily for email) and the operations of the systems isn't life-critical. We just like our computers/networks to work.
Of course I'm the one that implemented a testing domain (live on the Net) for just such purposes. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER "test" anything on a production system. I can't even think of any installations that were not tested for MONTHS "offline" before being implemented. When the day comes to install there usually aren't any shockers either. It just works.
Of course I'm the one that's NEVER allowed a Windows server to even be a consideration. "Are you NUTS?"
Back in my day I had to write games in BASIC, on a 4.7Mhz computer with no hard disk and 128K of RAM. And I was grateful
:)
You had it easy... Back in my day I had to write in BASIC on a 1Mhz computer with no hard drive and it had 38,911 bytes available for basic. C=64 anyone?