Microsoft has these virus problems because they are #1. They are the market leader. If Linux was #1, people would write the viri for Linux.
So, what you are saying is market share is the determining factor of security? What a load of shit. Back in the day, even before Linux, there was this little company that had a 90%-95% share of the desktop PC market. It was called Apple. Also, in the server world, there were many companies that all used the same code base for their OS, it was called Unix. Now, recently, Microsoft has a 95%ish share of the desktop PC market. if you would copy the following link into your browser (remembering to delete the space Slashcode inserts) you will know one of the places I researched before posting (it is a subsidiary of IDG, the guys behind PCworld, among other mags.) http://www.csoonline.com/opinion/comments/ 653.html?action=print
total identified viruses for Unix: 5 total indentified viruses for Apple: 40 or so total indentifed viruses for Linux: 40 or so total identified viruses for Windows: 60,000 or so
Now, if your ramblings about being #1 and number of viruses are related, then shouldn't Apple have about 60,000 viruses also? They were #1 for many years. And Unix, the #1 server OS for well over twenty years should have at the very least 60,000 viruses as well. Linux isn't yet #1, but if what you say is true, then when it does become #1, it would probably have 120,000 viruses, as they would be GPL'ed, and there can't be any Linux project without two competing groups (Vi vs. Emacs, KDE vs. Gnome, Mozilla vs. Konquerer.) I tell you what, if you go out and get some cold, hard facts that prove the only reason Microsoft has virus problems is because they are #1, instead of the lame excuse you are regurgitating from some Microsoft Fanboy, I will change my tune. Until then, remember MARKET SHARE DOES NOT AFFECT SOFTWARE SECURITY, it only affects the size of the bullseye on it's back.
As for blaming the user for not knowing anything about security, well, that does have a bit to do with it, but I return to the Apple user in this case. The average Apple user doesn't know a damn thing about computer security. They barely know more than "Well, if I click this icon, the internet comes up." (And go ahead flame me Mac gurus, but I work with the average user [Mac or Windows], I know they are all ignorant about computers.) I have yet to see the Apple world be deluged in viruses, remote exploits, "ownz0rd" systems, and the myriad other things that routinely sweep through Microsoft powered systems, so I don't completely agree the users are solely to blame either. There is an old saying about "it is a poor man that blames his tools." Well, if that man keeps using a broken tool, he is a very poor man indeed!!
...but the only people who are going to care about vulernabilities are server admins not mr. pda user
Actually, since Microsoft has stated one of its ultimate goals is to have only one codebase for all of their versions of OS, mr. PDA had damned well better be concerned about the same vulnerabilities the "server admins" are concerned about. Search Microsoft's web site for their version of the "smart" home. Then, think to yourself, if my entire home is running Microsoft OS, and MS has achieved their goal of every appliance being internet enabled, what happens when the Slammer2008 (or whatever) worm hits? It won't be just you locked out of your PC, but you locked out of your home. It won't be a matter of your e-mail client filling up, and annoying you with 600+ "emails" an hour, it will be your house cooking every bit of food you have stored, at 500 degrees, all afternoon while you're at work. I could go on, but what's the point? Call me a paranoid, but I have a cabin in the hills, which will not be automated. As an interesting side note, Microsoft has stated they could not afford (even with >$50BILLION) to go back to the drawing board and rewrite their OS in a modern and secure manner. They are now telling AMD and Intel to enable code security in the CPU. Must be nice to make others clean up your own mess all the time, huh?
if not all, government contracts come with the clause: "All documents shall be prepared in MS Word format."
I know there are some juicy government contracts out there, but are they really worth it? I once worked for a pipe insulation outfit that got a few "juicy" government contracts for some pipe insulation. Even though they doubled the charge, the company still lost a ton of money, as the government contract actually forced the pipe insulation company to re-tool their entire packing line to add a single line to the shipping label, no stencils allowed.
I haven't had trouble like what you are saying with OpenOffice, but then again, I haven't done government paperwork either. I do know all the school papers I've written change back and forth from the DOC format to the native format with no troubles. I know you couldn't or wouldn't do such a thing, but it would be kinda funny to prepare the entire document in MS Word, as save it as straight text (Word can do that) and see what kind of argument they give you over it.
I can't see DRM hooking into the OS like anti virus software, scanning every access to every file and blocking access to files it thinks *might* be dodgy.
Actually, that is exactly what Microsoft is planning for DRM. I don't think they will be able to implement DRM exactly the way they want, but yeah, it is what they want.
Man, This story keeps showing up. Oh well, at least his story doesn't change, not even the amount of time he's owned the store, and this story is getting over a year old now. I still swear this is just an edited version of some chain letter running around years ago, that used to whine for money, and now just whines.
Maybe you ought to "obey the rules of society" and get a new career, like the rest of us do when the one we're in goes to Hell. When everyone believes 2 + 2 = 5, to simply state the truth, that 2 + 2 = 4, is a courageous act. Only if you are using any base >4. Base three will get you 2+2=11, or thereabouts.
...copyright for both the public and the holder, is a very narrow grant of power implicitly to further 'science and the useful arts.'
You know, this brings to mind an interesting quandry. Who determines "useful arts"? Is the blather that pours out of the radio today useful? I don't consider any 'music' distributed by the Clear Channel stations to be useful. Of course, since I don't consider it to be useful, I also don't consider it to be worthy of copying.
...but you are party and complicit in assisting access to illegal materials.
Actually, according to the article, the links were to pages that had legal MP3s for download, i.e., not controlled by the music organization, and were authorized by the artists for download. Maybe that isn't the case, as the article doesn't interview any of the linked sites.
Also, by saying there are terrorists are operating out of Afghanistan, and showing someone a map to get there, does this mean you are as guilty as a recruiter for said terrorists? I mean, you are not actually one, but you are party and complicit in assisting access to them.
When this whole SCO thing started, I actually went to Microsoft from Libux. Why? As an idealist, I cannot abide by the fact that although SCO has yet taken the whole thing through a rigorous court process, I refuse to use any code that may be owned by Mormons. Since they are a cult, I also quit using Google as their CEO is a Mormon.
Man, are you screwed. I know some guys I went to high school with who now work at Microsoft. Oh, and they write code for XP. Oh, and above all else, they are Mormons. Looks like you'll just have to write your own OS, bub, There are Mormon coders at Apple also. There are Mormon people who work at food places too, and build cars, and, Shit man, get a life... Mormonism isn't any different than Catholicism, or whatever. They are all "Cults" according some people. Mormons have their quirks, just like Catholics have priests who chase little boys, and, even though there are over a million members of the Jehova's Witnesses, they believe there will be only 700,000 souls saved at rapture time (I think it's them, don't know for sure), anyway, ALL organized religions could fit the criteria for the status of a "Cult", So who gives a flying fuck what the religion of some CEO is, as long as the product isn't crap??
No, but it's a start. We are just seeing the begining of the "snowball" effect. It starts out small, but starts growing exponentially. If the U.S. doesn't watch it, it will be the little cartoon house at the bottom of the Alps, with a snowball 5 times its size bearing down on it at an unstoppable pace. Germany, Brasil, other Latin American countries, the E.U.... Hopefully the U.S. won't get bought and paid for too soon, or it will become the world's Former Super-Power.
I'm saying take the security, reliability, and transparency of Linux and box it up in a seamless and slick package, something it just ain't got right now, in any flavour (and don't even start on Lindows; its a laudable effort, but it doesn't go far enough in either direction).
That would be nice. Can't say anything about Lindows, I've never used it nor seen it run. As for the rest, maybe I shouldn't read Slashdot after pulling a 14 hour day on 3 hours of sleep with nothing more than a quart of chocolate milk for food. I re-read my post, and I came across rather peeved. oops!
Either way, I'm not so sure that if Dell, et.al. offered any OS you wanted people would buy it in droves. Didn't Dell try that to almost no effect with Linux on desktop machines?
True, I doubt people would buy anything else in droves, but when Dell tried it, they didn't offer Linux on every model, nor did they make it easy at all to order a Linux system, but even if they did make it easy, few people would buy them probably. Most people who want such systems usually will build their own. I know even though I let people know I'll do it for them, I sell very few non-Windows systems.
Maybe it has something to do with brand loyalty. People know the MS stuff will get better so they just buy it, deal with the short commings and wait for the next version to come out.
You maybe have this attitude, but most people don't. It really has nothing to do with brand loyalty for most people, it has everything to do with the fact that Microsoft has a stranglehold on PC makers, through pricing schemes and threats, to the point that no major PC manufacturer will release a system that can be bought off the shelf without Windows. If, say, HP, Dell, or Compaq would offer the buyer his choice of OS on whatever system the buyer wanted, Microsoft would charge the manufacturer at least full-retail price for Windows, and possibly ban them from selling Windows systems at all. Since every major corporation in the world cares for nothing but money, they would rather sell-out and let Microsoft basically force them to do what Microsoft wants them to than give their customer any choice.
That is the beauty of small business. I build PCs and sell them. If you want Windows XP, I'll make sure you have a properly licensed legal copy. If you want Linux, I'll make sure you get the distro you want, installed and configured, and guaranteed, no different than a Windows box. If you bring in your old copy of O/S2 Warp, I'll get it going for you. If you want BeOS, I'll do that. After all, it is your machine I am building for you. However, I cannot get the same price for Windows XP as Dell or Gateway, therefore, it will cost you more from me than them. That is fine with me. If some entity comes to me with some "sweetheart" deal, but tries to tell me what I can and cannot do with my business, and there is no law saying I must obey, I ask them to leave, immediately. This is my shop, not theirs. I would rather repeatedly plunge the splintered end of a broken two-by-four through their skulls, then my own than voluntarily give control over to another, especially one such as Microsoft. So I may never be the next Dell. That's fine. I can live with that. I won't sell myself to anyone, nor will I force my customers into an either/or situation. If you want a quad Opteron box, a beowulf cluster, G5 Mac, or Hell, even a Dell, I will make it happen for you.
The biggest difference between Microsoft and the Open Source crowd is, Microsoft is shareholder and profit oriented, and Open Source people are people and solution oriented.
OTOH, we have the Linux camp; earnest, determined people with a clear view of what they want and how to get there. The problem is that what they want isn't good enough. Where they want to go just doesn't hack it for the VAST majority of the populace. Linux was written by techies for techies. Say what you want about the latest Mandrake release, or KDE's usability; until Grammy Walkin Dude can wrap her gums around installing it and using it without assistance, Linux and open source in general have got nothing that'll make a difference, reported statistical shifts notwithstanding.
Uh, what do you mean, "what they want isn't good enough"? You actually know what is good enough for the VAST majority of people? Maybe you know what is good enough for your circle of people, but the VAST majority of people is a bit large in scope, don't you think?
...until Grammy Walkin Dude can wrap her gums around installing it and using it without assistance...
Honestly, you think Grammy Walkin Dude is able to install and use Windows without assistance? You must not work in the computer industry if you think that. I spend the majority of my time at work installing Windows for Grammy Walkin Dude after they bork it up because they don't know how to use Windows without assistance, and are not confident enough to install it themselves. Every arguement I've ever heard about how Linux is so bad for "Joe Delluser" is something that can be applied to "Joe Delluser" running Windows. The major difference is that people don't even notice the issue with Windows, as Windows is so pervasive.
I guarantee if a person can install and configure Windows (any flavor), get it on the internet, and use it with no help from another perosn, they could do the very same with Linux. Some flavors of Oses are easier to install than others (Mandrake Linux is "easier" than Rock Linux, just as Windows XP is "easier" than Windows 3.1.)
I don't know about the spyware/controlware issue, but I can say, I've never used any version of Microsoft Office. Before OpenOffice, I used Lotus Suite on my Windows box, now I use OpenOffice, mainly because I don't run any Microsoft products at home anymore. At work, I use OpenOffice on Windows, Linux, and OSX. It does everything I need it to. I do my webpage design in Quanta or a text editor, so the code, while far from perfect, is truly clean, nothing is there that I didn't put there. Why should I use a preview mode for e-mail? I just look at the header, and who it's from, what more do you need?
I am two years into a computer science degree, and so far, nothing I've had to do was Microsoft specific. All C++, HTML and JAVA code I've written for school has been done in Linux, and all school papers done in OpenOffice or Lotus. I have yet to have any problems.
That being said, I don't use any sort of collaboration feature at work, I'm lucky if my clients can even figure out how to email, much less attach a Word document for my editing, and I have yet to come across any business around here that uses any Microsoft Office product for more than simple word processing, cheesy slide shows, or forwarding that latest stupid joke to every person they can figure out an e-mail address to. So, yeah, I'm sure there are companies who use more features in an office suite, but it doesn't happen where I'm at (not even at the three companies who employee over 5,000 people.)
So, if that statement is true, then should we not all do what others do? I love eating peanut-butter and mayonaise sandwiches with sardines on the side. If you were in my shoes, you would do the same. I would like to stab the splintered end of a broken two-by-four through the head of every government official, so, if you were in my shoes, you would do the same. Actors need drugs, so if you were in their shoes you would do the same. Give me a break.
The purpose of a business is to make money, and by controlling the market, you therefore make the most money. Really? So, the whole basis of business is control of the market? I believe that is what they teach MBAs now, but that is also the foremost reason America is suing itself to death. There was a time when the purpose of a business was to produce a product, or see where something needed improvement, and to produce that improvement. Now, as you say, "every corporate exec knows and wants" to make the most money, irregardless of anything else. That is exactly why they are evil. Look at Enron. By the sound of your post, you must get a hard on every time you see a corporate exec being charged with a felony. You must touch yourself when you think of insider trading, or suing over a recent patent that covers public knowledge. If there is such a need to make money, so you can control a market, to make more money so you can be declared "The Winner", then you must not see anything wrong with a little bribery, well, Hell, why stop there? If controlling the market means you must indulge in a little murder, well, hey, that's okay, you're not evil, you are just a corporate exec, and, after all, you need to make money right? I'm going to go puke at your post now, maybe you'll have some sort of revelation about the world when I get back...
Actually, Mandrake is more idiot proof than any WIndows, can't say about OSX, as I haven't used it (All my Macs are runningYellowdog Linux.) I have never had to use the command line, but I do on occasion, because I can burn an ISO image to disc a hell of alot quicker from the command line than from GUI programs (the Bash history is a wonderful thing.) I've set my wife's system up with Mandrake 9.1, and she uses it just fine, no different than she would a Windows box.
As others have stated in the thread, the ease of install is a false argument, for the simple fact that if you install any OS from scratch, you have to know more about computers than the average Mom or Pop wants to know. Sure, the big shops will include a restore disc, that makes it somewhat easier to install, but a from scratch install of any Windows will be more complicated and harder than any linux install I've done in the last year.
Oh, and I work on computers all day, and build at least 7 a week. I have experience that proves Mandrake installs (Three CDs) in 1/3 the amount of time XP takes, and I have yet to have to install any drivers after Linux is installed. This is just not so with XP.
That being said, I do think Linux is ready for the desktop, it's just most end-users aren't ready for the desktop (no matter what OS is on it.)
I have been using Mandrake since the 7 series, and I can't remember the behavior on versions prior to 9.1(as it's what I'm running now,) but my install of Mandrake 9.1with KDE 3.1 shows a watchface next to the mouse cursor whenever I click a program. I might also mention I never tweaked anything on install, just installed and started using it. Also, I might add, I get the watchface on my YellowDog installs also. It sounds as if somewhere, there is a setting to turn that feature on or off. I might try and find it, but then again, my attention span may not last that long, so we'll see.
I do realize the blame lies mostly on the end-user, but at the same time I can't help but think, between Bill Gate's own "worth", and the "worth" of of Microsoft, there is just about $100 BILLION in US dollars. With that kind of capital at their disposal, I do place a vast amount of blame squarely on Microsoft. That is enough capital that Microsoft could actually close it's doors, and either do a complete, from the ground up rewrite of it's entire OS, or a complete, entire audit of it's code base, even if that took years to complete. Sure, they'd take a big hit, but Jumping Jiminy, they are not putting things right by dribbling out a few patches here and there that may or may not work. It doesn't help that Microsoft includes full productions of "how to email" training videos, which never mention security, or that they put a (very crappy) firewall in, that, if the user acutally finds where to turn it on, only looks one way.
So, yeah, the blame lies with the end-user, but Microsoft doesn't want the end user educated, nor do they want to fix their OS properly.
Why? Who knows. I do think a large part of that is Microsoft's main agenda is to become like a public utility, where they can charge a monthly fee, or shut you off. Their entire movement towards trusted computing, embedded systems, multi-media rich platforms, and information access has exactly nothing to do with empowering the enduser, no matter what the marketing arm spouts off. It is 100% about control. Not your control over your personal stuff, but Microsoft's control over information, from it's storage, it's disemmination(sp?), it's creation, and it's use.
Do I sound paranoid yet? I hope to every power there is that's all I am. But the more I find out about Microsoft, the scarier the future looks. And, no, this information doesn't come from Slashdot, it comes from Bill Gate's mouth, in his book "the road ahead" or whatever it's called, it come from their own website, from their press releases, and from their R&D.
The saddest part about even having IE on a system is that there are many security holes that affect a system just by having IE installed, whether it be used or not for browsing. I don't have time to dig the links, but just read some of the update package information for Microsoft's Windows update.
That is why a web browser should NEVER be integrated into an OS.
The truth is that kids (especially young ones) will mimic what they see in games/movies/etc
True enough, and this is where parenting comes in. Children actually have no sense of good and evil, no experience between reality or fantasy. Young children will eat whatever they dig out of a cat box, until you teach them otherwise. This is what the parent is supposed to do, to teach them.
As for violent video games causing violent behavior, I don't agree. Why, you ask? Because when I was a child, I played Monopoly over and over, to the point of obsession. Monopoly is a game about making money, so I should be the richest person on Earth, for I was "conditioned" by my game playing, and I almost always won the game. However, I haven't even worked up to what's considered middle-class income (after 20 years of working!!)
How does using a scarce resource (bandwidth) to create an abundant resource (disk space) make any economic sense?
Well, in a strict economic sense, how does using a scarce resource(diamonds) to create an abundant resource(money) make any econimic sense?
Ask the broker who sold Kobe Bryant the $4,000,000 diamond ring for Mrs. Bryant. The broker probably never spent more than $10,000 to get the ring to him, and probably less. And yes, in terms of abundancy, money is a much larger pile than diamonds.
Sorry, I can't find hard links at the moment, but I do remember hearing on CNN, and from around the internet that there is a large movement among the corporations most influential around the world to get the status of equal to human. This is to explicitly circumvent things such as anti-trust laws, and afford the corporations protection under the U.S. Constitution.
Some scary shit, and the corporations are doing a pretty good job of hiding their intentions, i.e. if company A is considered a "citizen" of the U.S., then international relations would be made easier for the state dept.
Don't waste my state's resources with your harassment, please.
If that is your feeling, then how 'bout your state getting the fuck out of the United States?
Huh? you say? Why the hostility? Well, it's because every state has an input to how all states are governed. The state I live in has to put up with bullshit gun laws, DMCA laws, PATRIOT ACT laws, and other completely ANTI-AMERICAN laws that your state voted into law. Do not ever presume to think I cannot call your state's elected representative and tell him what I, as a citizen of the UNITED States thinks. Sure, your representative won't listen to me, but I guarantee you he/she won't listen to you either.
Slashdot Mirror
Microsoft has these virus problems because they are #1. They are the market leader. If Linux was #1, people would write the viri for Linux.
/ 653.html?action=print
So, what you are saying is market share is the determining factor of security? What a load of shit.
Back in the day, even before Linux, there was this little company that had a 90%-95% share of the desktop PC market. It was called Apple. Also, in the server world, there were many companies that all used the same code base for their OS, it was called Unix. Now, recently, Microsoft has a 95%ish share of the desktop PC market. if you would copy the following link into your browser (remembering to delete the space Slashcode inserts) you will know one of the places I researched before posting (it is a subsidiary of IDG, the guys behind PCworld, among other mags.)
http://www.csoonline.com/opinion/comments
total identified viruses for Unix: 5
total indentified viruses for Apple: 40 or so
total indentifed viruses for Linux: 40 or so
total identified viruses for Windows: 60,000 or so
Now, if your ramblings about being #1 and number of viruses are related, then shouldn't Apple have about 60,000 viruses also? They were #1 for many years. And Unix, the #1 server OS for well over twenty years should have at the very least 60,000 viruses as well. Linux isn't yet #1, but if what you say is true, then when it does become #1, it would probably have 120,000 viruses, as they would be GPL'ed, and there can't be any Linux project without two competing groups (Vi vs. Emacs, KDE vs. Gnome, Mozilla vs. Konquerer.) I tell you what, if you go out and get some cold, hard facts that prove the only reason Microsoft has virus problems is because they are #1, instead of the lame excuse you are regurgitating from some Microsoft Fanboy, I will change my tune. Until then, remember MARKET SHARE DOES NOT AFFECT SOFTWARE SECURITY, it only affects the size of the bullseye on it's back.
As for blaming the user for not knowing anything about security, well, that does have a bit to do with it, but I return to the Apple user in this case. The average Apple user doesn't know a damn thing about computer security. They barely know more than "Well, if I click this icon, the internet comes up." (And go ahead flame me Mac gurus, but I work with the average user [Mac or Windows], I know they are all ignorant about computers.) I have yet to see the Apple world be deluged in viruses, remote exploits, "ownz0rd" systems, and the myriad other things that routinely sweep through Microsoft powered systems, so I don't completely agree the users are solely to blame either.
There is an old saying about "it is a poor man that blames his tools." Well, if that man keeps using a broken tool, he is a very poor man indeed!!
...but the only people who are going to care about vulernabilities are server admins not mr. pda user
Actually, since Microsoft has stated one of its ultimate goals is to have only one codebase for all of their versions of OS, mr. PDA had damned well better be concerned about the same vulnerabilities the "server admins" are concerned about. Search Microsoft's web site for their version of the "smart" home. Then, think to yourself, if my entire home is running Microsoft OS, and MS has achieved their goal of every appliance being internet enabled, what happens when the Slammer2008 (or whatever) worm hits? It won't be just you locked out of your PC, but you locked out of your home. It won't be a matter of your e-mail client filling up, and annoying you with 600+ "emails" an hour, it will be your house cooking every bit of food you have stored, at 500 degrees, all afternoon while you're at work. I could go on, but what's the point? Call me a paranoid, but I have a cabin in the hills, which will not be automated.
As an interesting side note, Microsoft has stated they could not afford (even with >$50BILLION) to go back to the drawing board and rewrite their OS in a modern and secure manner. They are now telling AMD and Intel to enable code security in the CPU. Must be nice to make others clean up your own mess all the time, huh?
FACTS: 1) Ninjas are mammals 2) Ninjas fight ALL the time 3) The purpose of the ninja is to flip out and kill people
Hey, that works for me....
...a page dedicated to pictures of computers?
Well, now you can see the difference between Porn and Pr0n, from a geek standpoint...
if not all, government contracts come with the clause: "All documents shall be prepared in MS Word format."
I know there are some juicy government contracts out there, but are they really worth it? I once worked for a pipe insulation outfit that got a few "juicy" government contracts for some pipe insulation. Even though they doubled the charge, the company still lost a ton of money, as the government contract actually forced the pipe insulation company to re-tool their entire packing line to add a single line to the shipping label, no stencils allowed.
I haven't had trouble like what you are saying with OpenOffice, but then again, I haven't done government paperwork either. I do know all the school papers I've written change back and forth from the DOC format to the native format with no troubles.
I know you couldn't or wouldn't do such a thing, but it would be kinda funny to prepare the entire document in MS Word, as save it as straight text (Word can do that) and see what kind of argument they give you over it.
I can't see DRM hooking into the OS like anti virus software, scanning every access to every file and blocking access to files it thinks *might* be dodgy.
Actually, that is exactly what Microsoft is planning for DRM.
I don't think they will be able to implement DRM exactly the way they want, but yeah, it is what they want.
Man, This story keeps showing up. Oh well, at least his story doesn't change, not even the amount of time he's owned the store, and this story is getting over a year old now. I still swear this is just an edited version of some chain letter running around years ago, that used to whine for money, and now just whines.
Maybe you ought to "obey the rules of society" and get a new career, like the rest of us do when the one we're in goes to Hell.
When everyone believes 2 + 2 = 5, to simply state the truth, that 2 + 2 = 4, is a courageous act.
Only if you are using any base >4. Base three will get you 2+2=11, or thereabouts.
...copyright for both the public and the holder, is a very narrow grant of power implicitly to further 'science and the useful arts.'
You know, this brings to mind an interesting quandry. Who determines "useful arts"? Is the blather that pours out of the radio today useful? I don't consider any 'music' distributed by the Clear Channel stations to be useful. Of course, since I don't consider it to be useful, I also don't consider it to be worthy of copying.
...but you are party and complicit in assisting access to illegal materials.
Actually, according to the article, the links were to pages that had legal MP3s for download, i.e., not controlled by the music organization, and were authorized by the artists for download. Maybe that isn't the case, as the article doesn't interview any of the linked sites.
Also, by saying there are terrorists are operating out of Afghanistan, and showing someone a map to get there, does this mean you are as guilty as a recruiter for said terrorists? I mean, you are not actually one, but you are party and complicit in assisting access to them.
When this whole SCO thing started, I actually went to Microsoft from Libux. Why? As an idealist, I cannot abide by the fact that although SCO has yet taken the whole thing through a rigorous court process, I refuse to use any code that may be owned by Mormons. Since they are a cult, I also quit using Google as their CEO is a Mormon.
Man, are you screwed. I know some guys I went to high school with who now work at Microsoft. Oh, and they write code for XP. Oh, and above all else, they are Mormons. Looks like you'll just have to write your own OS, bub, There are Mormon coders at Apple also. There are Mormon people who work at food places too, and build cars, and, Shit man, get a life... Mormonism isn't any different than Catholicism, or whatever. They are all "Cults" according some people.
Mormons have their quirks, just like Catholics have priests who chase little boys, and, even though there are over a million members of the Jehova's Witnesses, they believe there will be only 700,000 souls saved at rapture time (I think it's them, don't know for sure), anyway, ALL organized religions could fit the criteria for the status of a "Cult", So who gives a flying fuck what the religion of some CEO is, as long as the product isn't crap??
but it wouldn't wipe M$ from the planet...
No, but it's a start. We are just seeing the begining of the "snowball" effect. It starts out small, but starts growing exponentially. If the U.S. doesn't watch it, it will be the little cartoon house at the bottom of the Alps, with a snowball 5 times its size bearing down on it at an unstoppable pace. Germany, Brasil, other Latin American countries, the E.U....
Hopefully the U.S. won't get bought and paid for too soon, or it will become the world's Former Super-Power.
I'm saying take the security, reliability, and transparency of Linux and box it up in a seamless and slick package, something it just ain't got right now, in any flavour (and don't even start on Lindows; its a laudable effort, but it doesn't go far enough in either direction).
That would be nice. Can't say anything about Lindows, I've never used it nor seen it run.
As for the rest, maybe I shouldn't read Slashdot after pulling a 14 hour day on 3 hours of sleep with nothing more than a quart of chocolate milk for food.
I re-read my post, and I came across rather peeved. oops!
Either way, I'm not so sure that if Dell, et.al. offered any OS you wanted people would buy it in droves. Didn't Dell try that to almost no effect with Linux on desktop machines?
True, I doubt people would buy anything else in droves, but when Dell tried it, they didn't offer Linux on every model, nor did they make it easy at all to order a Linux system, but even if they did make it easy, few people would buy them probably. Most people who want such systems usually will build their own.
I know even though I let people know I'll do it for them, I sell very few non-Windows systems.
Maybe it has something to do with brand loyalty. People know the MS stuff will get better so they just buy it, deal with the short commings and wait for the next version to come out.
You maybe have this attitude, but most people don't. It really has nothing to do with brand loyalty for most people, it has everything to do with the fact that Microsoft has a stranglehold on PC makers, through pricing schemes and threats, to the point that no major PC manufacturer will release a system that can be bought off the shelf without Windows. If, say, HP, Dell, or Compaq would offer the buyer his choice of OS on whatever system the buyer wanted, Microsoft would charge the manufacturer at least full-retail price for Windows, and possibly ban them from selling Windows systems at all.
Since every major corporation in the world cares for nothing but money, they would rather sell-out and let Microsoft basically force them to do what Microsoft wants them to than give their customer any choice.
That is the beauty of small business. I build PCs and sell them. If you want Windows XP, I'll make sure you have a properly licensed legal copy. If you want Linux, I'll make sure you get the distro you want, installed and configured, and guaranteed, no different than a Windows box. If you bring in your old copy of O/S2 Warp, I'll get it going for you. If you want BeOS, I'll do that. After all, it is your machine I am building for you.
However, I cannot get the same price for Windows XP as Dell or Gateway, therefore, it will cost you more from me than them. That is fine with me. If some entity comes to me with some "sweetheart" deal, but tries to tell me what I can and cannot do with my business, and there is no law saying I must obey, I ask them to leave, immediately. This is my shop, not theirs. I would rather repeatedly plunge the splintered end of a broken two-by-four through their skulls, then my own than voluntarily give control over to another, especially one such as Microsoft.
So I may never be the next Dell. That's fine. I can live with that. I won't sell myself to anyone, nor will I force my customers into an either/or situation. If you want a quad Opteron box, a beowulf cluster, G5 Mac, or Hell, even a Dell, I will make it happen for you.
The biggest difference between Microsoft and the Open Source crowd is, Microsoft is shareholder and profit oriented, and Open Source people are people and solution oriented.
OTOH, we have the Linux camp; earnest, determined people with a clear view of what they want and how to get there. The problem is that what they want isn't good enough. Where they want to go just doesn't hack it for the VAST majority of the populace. Linux was written by techies for techies. Say what you want about the latest Mandrake release, or KDE's usability; until Grammy Walkin Dude can wrap her gums around installing it and using it without assistance, Linux and open source in general have got nothing that'll make a difference, reported statistical shifts notwithstanding.
...until Grammy Walkin Dude can wrap her gums around installing it and using it without assistance...
Uh, what do you mean, "what they want isn't good enough"? You actually know what is good enough for the VAST majority of people? Maybe you know what is good enough for your circle of people, but the VAST majority of people is a bit large in scope, don't you think?
Honestly, you think Grammy Walkin Dude is able to install and use Windows without assistance? You must not work in the computer industry if you think that. I spend the majority of my time at work installing Windows for Grammy Walkin Dude after they bork it up because they don't know how to use Windows without assistance, and are not confident enough to install it themselves.
Every arguement I've ever heard about how Linux is so bad for "Joe Delluser" is something that can be applied to "Joe Delluser" running Windows. The major difference is that people don't even notice the issue with Windows, as Windows is so pervasive. I guarantee if a person can install and configure Windows (any flavor), get it on the internet, and use it with no help from another perosn, they could do the very same with Linux. Some flavors of Oses are easier to install than others (Mandrake Linux is "easier" than Rock Linux, just as Windows XP is "easier" than Windows 3.1.)
I don't know about the spyware/controlware issue, but I can say, I've never used any version of Microsoft Office. Before OpenOffice, I used Lotus Suite on my Windows box, now I use OpenOffice, mainly because I don't run any Microsoft products at home anymore. At work, I use OpenOffice on Windows, Linux, and OSX. It does everything I need it to. I do my webpage design in Quanta or a text editor, so the code, while far from perfect, is truly clean, nothing is there that I didn't put there. Why should I use a preview mode for e-mail? I just look at the header, and who it's from, what more do you need?
I am two years into a computer science degree, and so far, nothing I've had to do was Microsoft specific. All C++, HTML and JAVA code I've written for school has been done in Linux, and all school papers done in OpenOffice or Lotus. I have yet to have any problems.
That being said, I don't use any sort of collaboration feature at work, I'm lucky if my clients can even figure out how to email, much less attach a Word document for my editing, and I have yet to come across any business around here that uses any Microsoft Office product for more than simple word processing, cheesy slide shows, or forwarding that latest stupid joke to every person they can figure out an e-mail address to.
So, yeah, I'm sure there are companies who use more features in an office suite, but it doesn't happen where I'm at (not even at the three companies who employee over 5,000 people.)
If you were in their shoes, you'd do the same.
So, if that statement is true, then should we not all do what others do? I love eating peanut-butter and mayonaise sandwiches with sardines on the side. If you were in my shoes, you would do the same. I would like to stab the splintered end of a broken two-by-four through the head of every government official, so, if you were in my shoes, you would do the same. Actors need drugs, so if you were in their shoes you would do the same.
Give me a break.
The purpose of a business is to make money, and by controlling the market, you therefore make the most money.
Really? So, the whole basis of business is control of the market? I believe that is what they teach MBAs now, but that is also the foremost reason America is suing itself to death.
There was a time when the purpose of a business was to produce a product, or see where something needed improvement, and to produce that improvement.
Now, as you say, "every corporate exec knows and wants" to make the most money, irregardless of anything else. That is exactly why they are evil. Look at Enron. By the sound of your post, you must get a hard on every time you see a corporate exec being charged with a felony. You must touch yourself when you think of insider trading, or suing over a recent patent that covers public knowledge. If there is such a need to make money, so you can control a market, to make more money so you can be declared "The Winner", then you must not see anything wrong with a little bribery, well, Hell, why stop there? If controlling the market means you must indulge in a little murder, well, hey, that's okay, you're not evil, you are just a corporate exec, and, after all, you need to make money right?
I'm going to go puke at your post now, maybe you'll have some sort of revelation about the world when I get back...
Actually, Mandrake is more idiot proof than any WIndows, can't say about OSX, as I haven't used it (All my Macs are runningYellowdog Linux.) I have never had to use the command line, but I do on occasion, because I can burn an ISO image to disc a hell of alot quicker from the command line than from GUI programs (the Bash history is a wonderful thing.) I've set my wife's system up with Mandrake 9.1, and she uses it just fine, no different than she would a Windows box.
As others have stated in the thread, the ease of install is a false argument, for the simple fact that if you install any OS from scratch, you have to know more about computers than the average Mom or Pop wants to know. Sure, the big shops will include a restore disc, that makes it somewhat easier to install, but a from scratch install of any Windows will be more complicated and harder than any linux install I've done in the last year.
Oh, and I work on computers all day, and build at least 7 a week. I have experience that proves Mandrake installs (Three CDs) in 1/3 the amount of time XP takes, and I have yet to have to install any drivers after Linux is installed. This is just not so with XP.
That being said, I do think Linux is ready for the desktop, it's just most end-users aren't ready for the desktop (no matter what OS is on it.)
I have been using Mandrake since the 7 series, and I can't remember the behavior on versions prior to 9.1(as it's what I'm running now,) but my install of Mandrake 9.1with KDE 3.1 shows a watchface next to the mouse cursor whenever I click a program. I might also mention I never tweaked anything on install, just installed and started using it. Also, I might add, I get the watchface on my YellowDog installs also. It sounds as if somewhere, there is a setting to turn that feature on or off.
I might try and find it, but then again, my attention span may not last that long, so we'll see.
I do realize the blame lies mostly on the end-user, but at the same time I can't help but think, between Bill Gate's own "worth", and the "worth" of of Microsoft, there is just about $100 BILLION in US dollars. With that kind of capital at their disposal, I do place a vast amount of blame squarely on Microsoft. That is enough capital that Microsoft could actually close it's doors, and either do a complete, from the ground up rewrite of it's entire OS, or a complete, entire audit of it's code base, even if that took years to complete. Sure, they'd take a big hit, but Jumping Jiminy, they are not putting things right by dribbling out a few patches here and there that may or may not work. It doesn't help that Microsoft includes full productions of "how to email" training videos, which never mention security, or that they put a (very crappy) firewall in, that, if the user acutally finds where to turn it on, only looks one way.
So, yeah, the blame lies with the end-user, but Microsoft doesn't want the end user educated, nor do they want to fix their OS properly.
Why? Who knows. I do think a large part of that is Microsoft's main agenda is to become like a public utility, where they can charge a monthly fee, or shut you off. Their entire movement towards trusted computing, embedded systems, multi-media rich platforms, and information access has exactly nothing to do with empowering the enduser, no matter what the marketing arm spouts off. It is 100% about control. Not your control over your personal stuff, but Microsoft's control over information, from it's storage, it's disemmination(sp?), it's creation, and it's use.
Do I sound paranoid yet? I hope to every power there is that's all I am. But the more I find out about Microsoft, the scarier the future looks.
And, no, this information doesn't come from Slashdot, it comes from Bill Gate's mouth, in his book "the road ahead" or whatever it's called, it come from their own website, from their press releases, and from their R&D.
The saddest part about even having IE on a system is that there are many security holes that affect a system just by having IE installed, whether it be used or not for browsing. I don't have time to dig the links, but just read some of the update package information for Microsoft's Windows update.
That is why a web browser should NEVER be integrated into an OS.
The truth is that kids (especially young ones) will mimic what they see in games/movies/etc
True enough, and this is where parenting comes in. Children actually have no sense of good and evil, no experience between reality or fantasy. Young children will eat whatever they dig out of a cat box, until you teach them otherwise. This is what the parent is supposed to do, to teach them.
As for violent video games causing violent behavior, I don't agree.
Why, you ask? Because when I was a child, I played Monopoly over and over, to the point of obsession. Monopoly is a game about making money, so I should be the richest person on Earth, for I was "conditioned" by my game playing, and I almost always won the game. However, I haven't even worked up to what's considered middle-class income (after 20 years of working!!)
How does using a scarce resource (bandwidth) to create an abundant resource (disk space) make any economic sense?
Well, in a strict economic sense, how does using a scarce resource(diamonds) to create an abundant resource(money) make any econimic sense?
Ask the broker who sold Kobe Bryant the $4,000,000 diamond ring for Mrs. Bryant. The broker probably never spent more than $10,000 to get the ring to him, and probably less.
And yes, in terms of abundancy, money is a much larger pile than diamonds.
Sorry, I can't find hard links at the moment, but I do remember hearing on CNN, and from around the internet that there is a large movement among the corporations most influential around the world to get the status of equal to human. This is to explicitly circumvent things such as anti-trust laws, and afford the corporations protection under the U.S. Constitution.
Some scary shit, and the corporations are doing a pretty good job of hiding their intentions, i.e. if company A is considered a "citizen" of the U.S., then international relations would be made easier for the state dept.
Don't waste my state's resources with your harassment, please.
If that is your feeling, then how 'bout your state getting the fuck out of the United States?
Huh? you say? Why the hostility?
Well, it's because every state has an input to how all states are governed. The state I live in has to put up with bullshit gun laws, DMCA laws, PATRIOT ACT laws, and other completely ANTI-AMERICAN laws that your state voted into law. Do not ever presume to think I cannot call your state's elected representative and tell him what I, as a citizen of the UNITED States thinks. Sure, your representative won't listen to me, but I guarantee you he/she won't listen to you either.