I have wondered why someone has not taken the "free OSS" version of a given product (Scalix comes to mind), and removed the restrictions it imposes (Scalix limits the number of "premium" users in its free version).
Is there anything to stop someone from doing this ? If it's under an OSI compliant license, I don't see why not.
Yes, there is the argument that you should support the products creator. But some restrictions placed on "free" version's are _very_ low, and the cost to jump to the paid version is out of proportion for a small user.
Small UPS / Battery Backup for power and an old mobile phone for backup net connection (modem style to a second ISP). Done. Get a minimal net connection for the phone as (hopefully) you won't use it all that often. Make sure it _is_ reliable though - cause when you _need_ it, you really need it.
A couple of points...
If you are paying for a Linux distro (such as what has been proposed here), the codecs can be licensed and installed. There should be no reason media doesn't "just work".
Again - specifically related to this story, HP would obviously use hardware and drivers they know to work. Should be no problem with hardware.
Having said all that - yeah, the story is a rabid fan-boi gone mad. I'm a Linux user/developer/lover as much as anyone, but I don't see this happening anythime soon. HP _could_ prove me wrong though, hint, hint, HP, hint...
I work for a bank, in the IT Dept. We have internet banking. Our internet banking has NEVER (thank God) been hacked. EVERY SINGLE CLAIM we have had, has been the fault of the customer. We have paid every claim anyway. Having said that - I don't think there is an easy answer. I can see (in general) the Slashdot crowds point of view. I too run Linux, and would not be happy about "presenting your PC" for inspection. I'm guessing though, that most people running Linux are more tech savy than Mum & Dad running Win98, and GIVING AWAY their details to phishers... Yep, you'd be surprised how many people fall for phishing emails - not even ones that direct you to "change you password" with a copied site. Some very simple "give us your details, and you can transfer some money for us type stuff.... We have (and continue to do so) attempted education with newsletters, etc but on a basic level - it does not work. Computers have been sold by major retailer like toasters. They're just an appliance... No user education. THIS is the problem IMHO.
Back on subject - I don't believe the banks should have the right to inspect PCs. I do believe the onus should be put on the customer to be more educated. There is no answer. people with no idea will continue to use PCs, and lose their money. They will complain that it is the banks fault - when IMHO 99.9% of the time, it is the customers fault. It is a lose-lose situation. If a bank does not offer Internet Banking, they will most assuredly lose business. If they do offer it, they will suffer through incompetence of their customers.
Please don't bother to respond by saying "If the banks security" blah blah blah. Yes, I know some things can theoretically be cracked, and some things can be cracked for real. The point is - the weak link of the chain is the customer. Bad guys know this. Bad guys target the customer. This accounts for nearly all monetary loss - the customer looses the money, not the bank. Disagree if you want - I work in the IT Dept of a bank - do you ???
Re:Any advantages over having only one connector?
on
eSATA Connectors
·
· Score: 0
I have had more than one user destroy a USB port by forcing the connector in upside down.... idiots.
FYI, I have an XPS M1210 running Ubuntu 6.10 and love it. Everything 'just works', including wireless. Options include an NVidia GPU - also working great. 12inch screen and big battery life (9cell option) make this a portable notebook you can work on, for some time away from the mains power. Trying not to sound too much like an advertisement, but I really do like this laptop.
I have a Dell XPS 1210 laptop. I used common sense and checked the hardware BEFORE I bought it. End result - works out of the box with Ubuntu Edgy. Wireless, NVidia, everything just works (caveat - haven't checked the modem, have no use for it).
As long as Dell works with manufacturers to make sure the components are supported by Linux (ie have drivers - and preferably free drivers), all would be OK with this deal.
Most people who would order a system with Linux would know enough (or know how to find out), to get it working with their distro of choice.
Something like the mozilla framework. Someone did an Amazon client in the mozilla XML framework recently... is that what you mean ? Basically, install a framework, and 'download' the application to it ? Link to MAB - Mozilla Amazon Browser.
This is exactly the argument I was making on the Ubuntu boards a while back. We need some "complete" sets of packages, ready to go, that have the hard work of integration done. Stuff like a Groupware server based on existing programs (Sendmail, Postfix, iCal Server, some AntiVirus, Spamassassin), yes, I know there are eGroupware, et al - this is an example.
Ubuntu has gone some of the way with their Ubuntu Server - just select LAMP, and there you go. What about others for OpenLdap, some sort of SharePoint replacement, etc, etc. I'm sure the individual programs exist, they just need to be packaged together in a single apt-get install (sorry for the Apt bias) integrated package...
Same problem here. Tried using Ubuntu Dapper, but apparently it has known issues, that will NOT be fixed. I have an Edgy CD (which has apparently resolved this issue), am gonna try again this weekend... If this fails, I'll try Inst Linux.
I think (in the case of online games), they should give the game away FREE. It should be FREE for LAN use, and pay-for-play to go online. Your characters (if there are any), should be transferrable between online and LAN play (maybe some restrictions are needed to stop farming, etc). I like getting together with friends to have a LAN Party. I like to play online. If I play online I pay. If I have friends that only play at LANs, they'll just pirate the game anyway. Maybe giving it to them with a "trial" for online would encourage more online (hence paying) play.
THIS is what the EU should be looking at in terms of monopolistic practises (embrace & extend) - I'm picking EU, cause we all know how the US caved.... MS should be made to support the W3C STANDARDS. They are the standards upon which the web is based. MS is a convicted monopoly, and behaving like this (non standard implementations of existing standards, the default browser, therefore creating a defacto standard) is a bad thing. MAKE them fix IE. Sure, keep the ActiveX stuff if you want - I could care less (Ubuntu/Firefox user). But at least implement the W3C complete standard so it WORKS.
Oh - and make them include/support OpenDocument, while I'm on my wishlist, as well....
Title says it all. It may not be 100% perfect, but it's damn good. Write the code with a text editor, then check the page with Firefox and the ext. Most of the time IE is damn close to working (IE6 anyway), the way Firefox does. Caveat - I am not a pro designer, and do not use heavy javascript, and only moderate amounts of CSS. Check OSWD for compliant designs, and use them as a base. This saves me lots of time (once again, I'm not a pro designer).
Yes, the govt should look to an Australian supplier - do you know of any Australian company that can come anywhere near Novell's products and support ? Even an Australian distro (surely there must be one or two) ?
Couldn't Apple make i386 hardware, control the devices like they do with normal Macs - specific graphics card, sound chips, etc, etc. Then use some sort of hardware dongle to only enable OSX (or whatever OS they are using), to run if the dongle is present ? Essentially it's an encryption on a chip. Encryption is always being cracked, I know.... maybe they could tie each single OS install to a specific chip ? Just thinking out aloud...
Slashdot Mirror
http://www.open-audit.org/ Try it - GPL Licensed. Version 2 coming soon. Rewritten from scratch, using 10 years worth of network inventory and open source knowledge. OAv2 interface video http://www.open-audit.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3068
I have wondered why someone has not taken the "free OSS" version of a given product (Scalix comes to mind), and removed the restrictions it imposes (Scalix limits the number of "premium" users in its free version). Is there anything to stop someone from doing this ? If it's under an OSI compliant license, I don't see why not. Yes, there is the argument that you should support the products creator. But some restrictions placed on "free" version's are _very_ low, and the cost to jump to the paid version is out of proportion for a small user.
Small UPS / Battery Backup for power and an old mobile phone for backup net connection (modem style to a second ISP). Done. Get a minimal net connection for the phone as (hopefully) you won't use it all that often. Make sure it _is_ reliable though - cause when you _need_ it, you really need it.
A couple of points... If you are paying for a Linux distro (such as what has been proposed here), the codecs can be licensed and installed. There should be no reason media doesn't "just work". Again - specifically related to this story, HP would obviously use hardware and drivers they know to work. Should be no problem with hardware. Having said all that - yeah, the story is a rabid fan-boi gone mad. I'm a Linux user/developer/lover as much as anyone, but I don't see this happening anythime soon. HP _could_ prove me wrong though, hint, hint, HP, hint...
I work for a bank, in the IT Dept. We have internet banking. Our internet banking has NEVER (thank God) been hacked. EVERY SINGLE CLAIM we have had, has been the fault of the customer. We have paid every claim anyway.
Having said that - I don't think there is an easy answer. I can see (in general) the Slashdot crowds point of view. I too run Linux, and would not be happy about "presenting your PC" for inspection. I'm guessing though, that most people running Linux are more tech savy than Mum & Dad running Win98, and GIVING AWAY their details to phishers... Yep, you'd be surprised how many people fall for phishing emails - not even ones that direct you to "change you password" with a copied site. Some very simple "give us your details, and you can transfer some money for us type stuff.... We have (and continue to do so) attempted education with newsletters, etc but on a basic level - it does not work.
Computers have been sold by major retailer like toasters. They're just an appliance... No user education. THIS is the problem IMHO.
Back on subject - I don't believe the banks should have the right to inspect PCs. I do believe the onus should be put on the customer to be more educated. There is no answer. people with no idea will continue to use PCs, and lose their money. They will complain that it is the banks fault - when IMHO 99.9% of the time, it is the customers fault. It is a lose-lose situation. If a bank does not offer Internet Banking, they will most assuredly lose business. If they do offer it, they will suffer through incompetence of their customers.
Please don't bother to respond by saying "If the banks security" blah blah blah. Yes, I know some things can theoretically be cracked, and some things can be cracked for real. The point is - the weak link of the chain is the customer. Bad guys know this. Bad guys target the customer. This accounts for nearly all monetary loss - the customer looses the money, not the bank. Disagree if you want - I work in the IT Dept of a bank - do you ???
I have had more than one user destroy a USB port by forcing the connector in upside down.... idiots.
FYI, I have an XPS M1210 running Ubuntu 6.10 and love it. Everything 'just works', including wireless. Options include an NVidia GPU - also working great. 12inch screen and big battery life (9cell option) make this a portable notebook you can work on, for some time away from the mains power. Trying not to sound too much like an advertisement, but I really do like this laptop.
I have a Dell XPS 1210 laptop.
I used common sense and checked the hardware BEFORE I bought it.
End result - works out of the box with Ubuntu Edgy.
Wireless, NVidia, everything just works (caveat - haven't checked the modem, have no use for it).
As long as Dell works with manufacturers to make sure the components are supported by Linux (ie have drivers - and preferably free drivers), all would be OK with this deal.
Most people who would order a system with Linux would know enough (or know how to find out), to get it working with their distro of choice.
Something like the mozilla framework. Someone did an Amazon client in the mozilla XML framework recently... is that what you mean ? Basically, install a framework, and 'download' the application to it ? Link to MAB - Mozilla Amazon Browser.
This is exactly the argument I was making on the Ubuntu boards a while back. We need some "complete" sets of packages, ready to go, that have the hard work of integration done. Stuff like a Groupware server based on existing programs (Sendmail, Postfix, iCal Server, some AntiVirus, Spamassassin), yes, I know there are eGroupware, et al - this is an example.
Ubuntu has gone some of the way with their Ubuntu Server - just select LAMP, and there you go. What about others for OpenLdap, some sort of SharePoint replacement, etc, etc. I'm sure the individual programs exist, they just need to be packaged together in a single apt-get install (sorry for the Apt bias) integrated package...
See the below thread for some more info.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=191858
Same problem here. Tried using Ubuntu Dapper, but apparently it has known issues, that will NOT be fixed. I have an Edgy CD (which has apparently resolved this issue), am gonna try again this weekend... If this fails, I'll try Inst Linux.
Agreed. My comment here.
I think (in the case of online games), they should give the game away FREE. It should be FREE for LAN use, and pay-for-play to go online. Your characters (if there are any), should be transferrable between online and LAN play (maybe some restrictions are needed to stop farming, etc). I like getting together with friends to have a LAN Party. I like to play online. If I play online I pay. If I have friends that only play at LANs, they'll just pirate the game anyway. Maybe giving it to them with a "trial" for online would encourage more online (hence paying) play.
Just thinking out loud...
THIS is what the EU should be looking at in terms of monopolistic practises (embrace & extend) - I'm picking EU, cause we all know how the US caved.... MS should be made to support the W3C STANDARDS. They are the standards upon which the web is based. MS is a convicted monopoly, and behaving like this (non standard implementations of existing standards, the default browser, therefore creating a defacto standard) is a bad thing. MAKE them fix IE. Sure, keep the ActiveX stuff if you want - I could care less (Ubuntu/Firefox user). But at least implement the W3C complete standard so it WORKS. Oh - and make them include/support OpenDocument, while I'm on my wishlist, as well....
Yep - works great (onboard).
Does this really come as a surprise ??? Happily using Ubuntu for 6 months.
Title says it all.
It may not be 100% perfect, but it's damn good.
Write the code with a text editor, then check the page with Firefox and the ext. Most of the time IE is damn close to working (IE6 anyway), the way Firefox does.
Caveat - I am not a pro designer, and do not use heavy javascript, and only moderate amounts of CSS.
Check OSWD for compliant designs, and use them as a base. This saves me lots of time (once again, I'm not a pro designer).
I agree.
SpamBayes works fine.
My 2cents.
I write this software. http://winventory.sourceforge.net/ Next version is coming "soon", and will be called Open-AudIT - also on Sourceforge.
Exactly - but NSW DO think they run the country !!!
Novell Certification AND a degree - all in Oz.
See this - http://www.itmasters.com.au/ [itmasters.com.au]
Yes, the govt should look to an Australian supplier - do you know of any Australian company that can come anywhere near Novell's products and support ? Even an Australian distro (surely there must be one or two) ?
Rainbow Power Company has some stuff that may be of interest.
http://www.rpc.com.au/
They're Australian, too.
Mod parent up - I aggree, there's much more to this than initially meets the eye...
Google ain't stupid.
Couldn't Apple make i386 hardware, control the devices like they do with normal Macs - specific graphics card, sound chips, etc, etc. Then use some sort of hardware dongle to only enable OSX (or whatever OS they are using), to run if the dongle is present ? Essentially it's an encryption on a chip. Encryption is always being cracked, I know.... maybe they could tie each single OS install to a specific chip ? Just thinking out aloud...
Windows Inventory