I don't think they should be required to give you printed manuals. But I see no reason why they should not be required to make all available documentation available on-line for downloading, reading and printing. They have internal documentation and it costs practically nothing to put it on the web.
I agree with you that some of the stuff on GoogleWatch is just silly, but I agree with GW about the implications for privacy of Google's perpetual logging and refusal to account for it.
1. No I didn't get around to urpmi so I can't comment on it. But with Debian testing and apt-get I can upgrade forever, fairly seamlessly, without having to do a global version change.
2. Sorry, I wasn't clear. With Mandrake you can fiddle with all those configs when you're ready, but you don't (in my experience) have to do so from the start. When I installed Debian, however, X, the CD-writer and the USB devices did not work: I had to edit XF86Config-4 manually to get the right graphics driver, configure lilo to scsi-emulate/dev/hdd and change the kernel module configuration. I wouldn't want to subject a Linux beginner to those issues!
I started using Linux with Mandrake 8.0 and was very impressed with its correct auto-detection of hardware and automatic setup. But after a while I tried Debian out on a spare computer and was even more impressed with apt-get (especially upgrade). Getting everything working (CD-RW, fax software, X configuration) from scratch is however a lot more work on Debian, and I wouldn't have been able to do that as a newbie.
I would still recommend Mandrake or RedHat for new Linux users, but Debian for the more experienced who are in a position to fiddle with lilo.conf, modutils, etc.
I've heard some similar complaints about SPEWS too, as well as SORBS. But the worst they can do is put an IP address on a blacklist which some parties use and some do not. That's nothing compared to the effects of enforcing closed computing (TCPA, DMCA, etc.) throughout a jurisdiction.
I see your point about cars and guns, but computing is IMHO too closely tied to freedom of expression to be treated the same way. (I'm not saying there should be no restrictions.)
I'm curious why you're opposed to SPEWS but favour some restrictions that many people would consider draconian.
Even if every computer in the world were running free software, the users would be the same. Yes. Those who run as root
Not exactly right: most Windows home OSs actively encourage users to run as root all the time, whereas all Unix-like OSs have separate user accounts by default and you have to choose deliberately to act as root.
and click on every goddamn mail attachment.
But I agree with you here.
controlled net hardware (punishments in the same class as dealing "class A controlled substances")... a compulsory international e-identity (smartcard/bio authentication; equivalent of a passport) without which you cannot even access the net.
So, no privacy or freedom and compulsory TCPA? Do you work for Microsoft?
But you think a command line would make using a digicam easier? A microwave? A thermostat?
Getting off-topic...
I'd find my microwave a lot more user-friendly if it had a numeric keypad (as they did years ago) instead of the buttons it has ("10:00"; "1:00"; "0:10"; "0:01"; a power button that you press repeatedly to cycle through HIGH, DEF, MED, LOW; etc.). And if it didn't beep on every keypress.
Basically the man system is only useful if you already know 95% of what the man page is trying to tell you -- and even there it falls down as a reference work because all the real information is in the info system.
That's so true. I find man pages helpful only for commands I already know roughly how to use. They are very good for answering specific questions like "Is recursive foo -r or foo -R?" but not for "Someone told me to use foo for this problem: I wonder how?" You need treeware for that.
If I were to write a very in-depth web page on the mechanics of kicking someone's ass, and the best ways to do it, should it not be protected under freedom of speech?
You don't have to go that far back to find the great debates about how comic books supposedly was a major driver for violence, and a bit further to find debates about how TV and before that radio supposedly does the same thing.
Now it's moved on to the internet.
Coincidentally I just saw Shallit's Three Laws of New Media this morning:
1. Every new medium of expression will be used for sex.
2. Every new medium will come under attack, usually because of the first law.
3. Protection afforded for democratic rights and freedoms in traditional media will rarely be understood to apply to new media.
(Jeffrey Shallit, "Public Networks and Censorship", in Peter Ludlow, ed., High Noon on the Electronic Frontier, MIT, 1996)
If you want a left-leaning government propaganda station, how about you pay for it out of your own pocket and let other people watch whatever they want to watch?
And if you want right-leaning propaganda, watch a TV network run by a big corporation, e.g. Sky/Fox News! Most of the broadcasting media are owned by big corporations (because they have the money) which are inherently right-wing (because they want more money). Without public services there would be no balance.
Besides, in which way does Flash exclude other operating systems?
It excludes blind users with screen readers and people who don't or can't install superfluous plug-ins. Flash is great for entertainment but it should never be required for getting information.
A checkbox under advanced search that says "Don't display me any sites that are trying to sell me something" and possibly another that says "Don't display any sites that are reviewing something".
Good idea! I would also, on rare occasions, like to have a box "Display only sites that want to sell me something".
I must say that I find this article astonishing on two levels:
1) Why on earth does Joe User believe that his employer needs to install Linux before he can read his email and log his keystrokes? Surely its easy for a corporate system admin to do this under Windows?
It's amazing the stuff that people will believe! Is it possible that the minions of MS were spreading this nonsense?
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I don't think they should be required to give you printed manuals. But I see no reason why they should not be required to make all available documentation available on-line for downloading, reading and printing. They have internal documentation and it costs practically nothing to put it on the web.
I agree with you that some of the stuff on GoogleWatch is just silly, but I agree with GW about the implications for privacy of Google's perpetual logging and refusal to account for it.
Hey, that's useful! Thanks.
I agree with you 100% but in fact the courts have never properly upheld this amendment against conscription.
2,000,000 served
500,000 evaded the draft
100,000 deserted
34,000 were court-martialled and imprisoned
2. Sorry, I wasn't clear. With Mandrake you can fiddle with all those configs when you're ready, but you don't (in my experience) have to do so from the start. When I installed Debian, however, X, the CD-writer and the USB devices did not work: I had to edit XF86Config-4 manually to get the right graphics driver, configure lilo to scsi-emulate /dev/hdd and change the kernel module configuration. I wouldn't want to subject a Linux beginner to those issues!
How does one tell which copy-protected CDs are really protected, and which ones can actually be ripped with cdparanoia?
I would still recommend Mandrake or RedHat for new Linux users, but Debian for the more experienced who are in a position to fiddle with lilo.conf, modutils, etc.
I've heard some similar complaints about SPEWS too, as well as SORBS. But the worst they can do is put an IP address on a blacklist which some parties use and some do not. That's nothing compared to the effects of enforcing closed computing (TCPA, DMCA, etc.) throughout a jurisdiction.
I'm curious why you're opposed to SPEWS but favour some restrictions that many people would consider draconian.
I did this for years with my Apple IIe 5.25" disks and never had any problems! I think I learned it from my high school computer science teacher.
It sounds harsh, but that's basically the theory behind preventive security for your house or car.
Holy crap, that's useful -- thanks very much!
Not exactly right: most Windows home OSs actively encourage users to run as root all the time, whereas all Unix-like OSs have separate user accounts by default and you have to choose deliberately to act as root.
and click on every goddamn mail attachment.
But I agree with you here.
controlled net hardware (punishments in the same class as dealing "class A controlled substances") ... a compulsory international e-identity (smartcard/bio authentication; equivalent of a passport) without which you cannot even access the net.
So, no privacy or freedom and compulsory TCPA? Do you work for Microsoft?
Been there, done that.
Getting off-topic...
I'd find my microwave a lot more user-friendly if it had a numeric keypad (as they did years ago) instead of the buttons it has ("10:00"; "1:00"; "0:10"; "0:01"; a power button that you press repeatedly to cycle through HIGH, DEF, MED, LOW; etc.). And if it didn't beep on every keypress.
Libraries will destroy the book industry!
That's so true. I find man pages helpful only for commands I already know roughly how to use. They are very good for answering specific questions like "Is recursive foo -r or foo -R?" but not for "Someone told me to use foo for this problem: I wonder how?" You need treeware for that.
What about the world's only ass-kicking machine?
Now it's moved on to the internet.
Coincidentally I just saw Shallit's Three Laws of New Media this morning:
1. Every new medium of expression will be used for sex.
2. Every new medium will come under attack, usually because of the first law.
3. Protection afforded for democratic rights and freedoms in traditional media will rarely be understood to apply to new media.
(Jeffrey Shallit, "Public Networks and Censorship", in Peter Ludlow, ed., High Noon on the Electronic Frontier, MIT, 1996)
And if you want right-leaning propaganda, watch a TV network run by a big corporation, e.g. Sky/Fox News! Most of the broadcasting media are owned by big corporations (because they have the money) which are inherently right-wing (because they want more money). Without public services there would be no balance.
What about Google's perpetual data retention and refusal to say what they may or may not do with the info?
It excludes blind users with screen readers and people who don't or can't install superfluous plug-ins. Flash is great for entertainment but it should never be required for getting information.
Good idea! I would also, on rare occasions, like to have a box "Display only sites that want to sell me something".
1) Why on earth does Joe User believe that his employer needs to install Linux before he can read his email and log his keystrokes? Surely its easy for a corporate system admin to do this under Windows?
It's amazing the stuff that people will believe! Is it possible that the minions of MS were spreading this nonsense?