Macs are great for people who can use them but when you take the general public (idiots in general hence why we have so many virus problems) and start to mix MS things become messy.
People may be more familiar with the use of Windows computers, but they are also more familiar with the abuse of Windows computers. Let the little hax0rs on your PC and see what happens. Yes, you can POLEDIT until your heart's content, until the hax0rs bring in their Linux boot CD with the Windows password cracker on it so they can get administrative rights and turn off the site blocker.
Keep in mind that there are NO known viruses for OS X, NO known spyware applications, and NO known adware applications. Not to start a flame war here, but the Mac system will likely be running the same way when you first put it in service as it will be months from now.
As for the setup of the computer, I would set up an administrator account and a user account. That's it. Do not allow the users to add/remove/modify accounts, change passwords, or even modify the dock. It works here at the school I work for -- it will work there too.
% host -t mx mail.aol.com
mail.aol.com mail is handled by 15 yc.mail.aol.com.
mail.aol.com mail is handled by 15 yd.mail.aol.com.
mail.aol.com mail is handled by 15 yg.mail.aol.com.
mail.aol.com mail is handled by 15 yh.mail.aol.com.
mail.aol.com mail is handled by 15 za.mail.aol.com.
mail.aol.com mail is handled by 15 zb.mail.aol.com.
mail.aol.com mail is handled by 15 zc.mail.aol.com.
mail.aol.com mail is handled by 15 zd.mail.aol.com.
mail.aol.com mail is handled by 15 yb.mail.aol.com.
Any driver can affect how your hardware/BIOS works, not just Windows drivers. This how "plug and play" works.
My bad: I did not explain myself clearly.
The supervisor said that the settings in Windows affect the settings in BIOS, not the other way around. You are correct in saying that BIOS settings affect Windows drivers, however that was exactly the opposite of what the supervisor was saying.
I'm so sick of having to deal with Dell. I work at a college with several labs full of the pieces of shit.
Recently, I spent 96 minutes on the phone "troubleshooting" an integrated NIC that would not illuminate it's link lights.
After escalating twice, the supervisor wanted to check the Windows drivers again, even though the PXE boot in BIOS reported that it wasn't seeing a network connection.
I angrily asked what the connection between Windows drivers and BIOS was. He said it does affect the BIOS if your drivers aren't set properly in Windows! WTF?
I asked him, what about Linux? He said, "We don't support Linux."
It frustrates me to no end to deal with a technician who wasn't even born when I took my first computer class, and have him (or her) treat me like I don't know the first thing about computers or troubleshooting.
I've often wondered if defragging and defrag utils are more of a placebo for people concernced with system performance.
I couldn't agree more. For years now, I've recommended that people do not use DEFRAG on their systems -- even FAT systems. Why? Because DEFRAG does not defragment the FAT table. That makes it pretty much useless.
Other applications, such as Norton Speed Disk (or OPTUNE for the DOS/Windows 3.x/FAT16 users out there), defragment the FAT table and the files, making caching a lot more efficient.
Does the pizza delivery boy deliver your $15 pizza and charge you $95 because of the $80 traffic ticket he received while speeding to make it there in 30 minutes or less?
BULLSHIT MICRO$OFT! You broke the law, YOU eat the cost.
It's almost like the people who were killed in the World Trade Center... their cell phone voice mailboxes were kept running by their loved ones so they could hear their voice one more time...
Yes, making a voting system (or any software package for that matter) on top of a GUI OS makes development much faster and easier.
However, when your GUI OS has problems, what makes you believe that your applications -- no matter how bug-free and perfect it is -- won't have any problems!
I wonder how much more effort it would take to write the entire voting application in good old DOS. Touch screen interfaces don't need anything other than large on-screen "buttons". That can easily be accomplished in DOS.
There are even programs that can play AVI files from DOS for those full-motion videos for people who need assistance.
In short, I think the K.I.S.S. method needs to be implemented for such an important thing as online voting.
You missed another one: What about poor people who cannot afford their own computers? You know that the losing party will always say, "It's because the poor people weren't counted fairly."
With the parent modded "flamebait", I would like to un-flame toupsie's comments, because I agree.
Linux and Mac OS X don't have the facilities for ActiveX applications and Internet Explorer plugins that are easily crafted to hijack personal information.
Although, I do have to say, spyware keeps my consultation business going...
Man, come on, seriously now. What's this now, a Mac being more sturdy than a PC?
Okay, the plastics that both computers (PCs and Macs) are similar, I'm sure, but what MarcQuadra's trying to say is that the Dells at his school are falling apart because of poor design and construction.
I'm finding the same problem at the school I work at. The Mac labs look as good as they did when we installed them, except for some dirt on the keyboards. The PC labs, however, look like they've been run through the mill.
The front panels that covers the front USB ports and audio jacks have fallen off, the floppy and CD-ROM bezels have fallen apart and are missing on some of the computers.
What's worse, on our Dell Optiplex GX150s, the on-board NIC frequently breaks. We have a lot of networking classes that plug and unplug network cables. I've had to replace 4 motherboards because the network jacks have failed from use. If you wiggle the network connectors with your fingers, you can see how poorly assembled and designed the case and motherboard are.
This has nothing to do with my computer can beat up your computer.
The hardware limitations are part of the reason Apple offers such a solid, well-functioning OS.
Exactly! If PCs would ditch their circa-1981 BIOS and architecture, it could be the ideal platform.
But, even today's Pentium IV systems still have the BIOS call for turning on and off the cassette drive. Why? God forbid we lose backwards compatibility with our libraries of GWBASIC applications on cassette!
Sorry to feed the troll, but since when can you put together a PC fast enough for video capture/DVD authoring with 8X DVD-RW drive, 17" flat CRT monitor, Firewire, USB 2.0, 80GB drive, Radeon 9200 32MB graphics, and a GREAT suite of video, photo, and DVD-authoring utilities for $333? (Example based on the eMac released today at $999.) If you could, maybe I would switch back to PCs.
I'm glad Gator/Claria hasn't invaded the Macintosh yet. When it does, I guess I'll move to Linux. If they invade Linux, I may have to break out my trusty TI-99/4a. Hmmm. Now how to get my wireless network functioning on the TI...
Heh! I did something quite similar. I worked for an educational toy store at the time that sold Teddy Ruxpins. I put Prince's 1999 cassette into Teddy, and when Prince screamed, Teddy's mouth opened wide and his eyes rolled back into his head!
This is NOT a virus. A "trojan horse" is malicious code that does something bad when executed, then terminates (just like any other application). A "virus" is code that stays resident, embedding itself into the system -- something Mac OS X will not allow unless the administrator password is entered.
This "proof of concept" is complete crap. Why? First, Mac OS X applications are composed of many files, not just a single file like an MP3. (Control-click on an application, select "Show Contents" and see what I mean.) You would have to download a compressed archive with the MP3 trojan inside.
Additionally, this same spoof can happen MORE EASILY on Windows systems. Create a trojan horse application and give it an icon file of an MP3 file (very easy using Microsoft Visual Basic). Then name the application "trojan.mp3.exe". Windows 2000 and XP, by default, hide the extension of applications, so what would the user see? "trojan.mp3".
Hello! That is the exact same issue they're making a big deal about on OS X, except it's even easier on Windows because they can download the.exe file directly, not putting the file into an archive.
Unlike Mac OS X, Windows applications *can* be composed of a single file. Although someone downloading "trojan.mp3.exe" is about as likely as a Mac OS X user downloading "trojan.mp3.app.sit".
This is another Windows lover's attempt to make Mac OS X look bad.
I would still like to know what the law says about obscene music, blasted from car speakers? Some of the "gangsta rap" is even more profane than the pr0n videos watched.
Example of a lyric I heard on XM channel 66: "I stuck my foot up her ##### and make her suck my toes..."
I just registered a domain using my correct information (my registrar would not allow an "invalid" e-mail address), and voila... I've gotten over 500 spam a day on that e-mail address. Previous to the registration, I was getting about 1/10th of that, which is still far too many.
As long as we follow the rules and fill out valid information, there will be bastards that won't follow the rules and will take advantage of us.
To do this, in Windows 95/98, edit the SYSTEM.INI file and change the line SHELL= from EXPLORER.EXE to WINVER.EXE. When their computer starts, they see a pleasant message displaying the version of Windows running with an OK button. Clicking OK shuts down the PC. Repeat as necessary.:)
This also works in 2000/XP, but requires a registry hack and doesn't have the added benefit of shutting down the PC after OK is pressed. However, the user is left with a screen with no icons and no start button. (Warning: It's difficult to undo this one since it is a registry hack...)
My Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Win dows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon -- change value of Shell key from Explorer.exe to Winver.exe and watch your co-workers cry.
Slashdot Mirror
People may be more familiar with the use of Windows computers, but they are also more familiar with the abuse of Windows computers. Let the little hax0rs on your PC and see what happens. Yes, you can POLEDIT until your heart's content, until the hax0rs bring in their Linux boot CD with the Windows password cracker on it so they can get administrative rights and turn off the site blocker.
Keep in mind that there are NO known viruses for OS X, NO known spyware applications, and NO known adware applications. Not to start a flame war here, but the Mac system will likely be running the same way when you first put it in service as it will be months from now.
As for the setup of the computer, I would set up an administrator account and a user account. That's it. Do not allow the users to add/remove/modify accounts, change passwords, or even modify the dock. It works here at the school I work for -- it will work there too.
Did anyone else notice that iTunes has an OGG icon in it's Resource folder in the package (Mac OS X version)? Maybe OGG support isn't so far away...
% host -t mx mail.aol.com
mail.aol.com mail is handled by 15 yc.mail.aol.com.
mail.aol.com mail is handled by 15 yd.mail.aol.com.
mail.aol.com mail is handled by 15 yg.mail.aol.com.
mail.aol.com mail is handled by 15 yh.mail.aol.com.
mail.aol.com mail is handled by 15 za.mail.aol.com.
mail.aol.com mail is handled by 15 zb.mail.aol.com.
mail.aol.com mail is handled by 15 zc.mail.aol.com.
mail.aol.com mail is handled by 15 zd.mail.aol.com.
mail.aol.com mail is handled by 15 yb.mail.aol.com.
My bad: I did not explain myself clearly.
The supervisor said that the settings in Windows affect the settings in BIOS, not the other way around. You are correct in saying that BIOS settings affect Windows drivers, however that was exactly the opposite of what the supervisor was saying.
Recently, I spent 96 minutes on the phone "troubleshooting" an integrated NIC that would not illuminate it's link lights.
After escalating twice, the supervisor wanted to check the Windows drivers again, even though the PXE boot in BIOS reported that it wasn't seeing a network connection.
I angrily asked what the connection between Windows drivers and BIOS was. He said it does affect the BIOS if your drivers aren't set properly in Windows! WTF?
I asked him, what about Linux? He said, "We don't support Linux."
It frustrates me to no end to deal with a technician who wasn't even born when I took my first computer class, and have him (or her) treat me like I don't know the first thing about computers or troubleshooting.
My Macintosh can beat up your Windows PC!
I couldn't agree more. For years now, I've recommended that people do not use DEFRAG on their systems -- even FAT systems. Why? Because DEFRAG does not defragment the FAT table. That makes it pretty much useless.
Other applications, such as Norton Speed Disk (or OPTUNE for the DOS/Windows 3.x/FAT16 users out there), defragment the FAT table and the files, making caching a lot more efficient.
I've lost my mojo, but I've still got good karma!
Does the pizza delivery boy deliver your $15 pizza and charge you $95 because of the $80 traffic ticket he received while speeding to make it there in 30 minutes or less?
BULLSHIT MICRO$OFT! You broke the law, YOU eat the cost.
It's almost like the people who were killed in the World Trade Center... their cell phone voice mailboxes were kept running by their loved ones so they could hear their voice one more time...
I stole this sig.
However, when your GUI OS has problems, what makes you believe that your applications -- no matter how bug-free and perfect it is -- won't have any problems!
I wonder how much more effort it would take to write the entire voting application in good old DOS. Touch screen interfaces don't need anything other than large on-screen "buttons". That can easily be accomplished in DOS.
There are even programs that can play AVI files from DOS for those full-motion videos for people who need assistance.
In short, I think the K.I.S.S. method needs to be implemented for such an important thing as online voting.
You missed another one: What about poor people who cannot afford their own computers? You know that the losing party will always say, "It's because the poor people weren't counted fairly."
Posted from fe80::20a:95ff:fe78:97b8
Linux and Mac OS X don't have the facilities for ActiveX applications and Internet Explorer plugins that are easily crafted to hijack personal information.
Although, I do have to say, spyware keeps my consultation business going...
Okay, the plastics that both computers (PCs and Macs) are similar, I'm sure, but what MarcQuadra's trying to say is that the Dells at his school are falling apart because of poor design and construction.
I'm finding the same problem at the school I work at. The Mac labs look as good as they did when we installed them, except for some dirt on the keyboards. The PC labs, however, look like they've been run through the mill.
The front panels that covers the front USB ports and audio jacks have fallen off, the floppy and CD-ROM bezels have fallen apart and are missing on some of the computers.
What's worse, on our Dell Optiplex GX150s, the on-board NIC frequently breaks. We have a lot of networking classes that plug and unplug network cables. I've had to replace 4 motherboards because the network jacks have failed from use. If you wiggle the network connectors with your fingers, you can see how poorly assembled and designed the case and motherboard are.
This has nothing to do with my computer can beat up your computer.
Exactly! If PCs would ditch their circa-1981 BIOS and architecture, it could be the ideal platform.
But, even today's Pentium IV systems still have the BIOS call for turning on and off the cassette drive. Why? God forbid we lose backwards compatibility with our libraries of GWBASIC applications on cassette!
Sorry to feed the troll, but since when can you put together a PC fast enough for video capture/DVD authoring with 8X DVD-RW drive, 17" flat CRT monitor, Firewire, USB 2.0, 80GB drive, Radeon 9200 32MB graphics, and a GREAT suite of video, photo, and DVD-authoring utilities for $333? (Example based on the eMac released today at $999.) If you could, maybe I would switch back to PCs.
I'm glad Gator/Claria hasn't invaded the Macintosh yet. When it does, I guess I'll move to Linux. If they invade Linux, I may have to break out my trusty TI-99/4a. Hmmm. Now how to get my wireless network functioning on the TI...
Heh! I did something quite similar. I worked for an educational toy store at the time that sold Teddy Ruxpins. I put Prince's 1999 cassette into Teddy, and when Prince screamed, Teddy's mouth opened wide and his eyes rolled back into his head!
This "proof of concept" is complete crap. Why? First, Mac OS X applications are composed of many files, not just a single file like an MP3. (Control-click on an application, select "Show Contents" and see what I mean.) You would have to download a compressed archive with the MP3 trojan inside.
Additionally, this same spoof can happen MORE EASILY on Windows systems. Create a trojan horse application and give it an icon file of an MP3 file (very easy using Microsoft Visual Basic). Then name the application "trojan.mp3.exe". Windows 2000 and XP, by default, hide the extension of applications, so what would the user see? "trojan.mp3".
Hello! That is the exact same issue they're making a big deal about on OS X, except it's even easier on Windows because they can download the .exe file directly, not putting the file into an archive.
Unlike Mac OS X, Windows applications *can* be composed of a single file. Although someone downloading "trojan.mp3.exe" is about as likely as a Mac OS X user downloading "trojan.mp3.app.sit".
This is another Windows lover's attempt to make Mac OS X look bad.
-Aaron-
I don't know about you, but sake makes my wood more pliable as well... :P
Example of a lyric I heard on XM channel 66: "I stuck my foot up her ##### and make her suck my toes..."
I just registered a domain using my correct information (my registrar would not allow an "invalid" e-mail address), and voila... I've gotten over 500 spam a day on that e-mail address. Previous to the registration, I was getting about 1/10th of that, which is still far too many.
As long as we follow the rules and fill out valid information, there will be bastards that won't follow the rules and will take advantage of us.
To do this, in Windows 95/98, edit the SYSTEM.INI file and change the line SHELL= from EXPLORER.EXE to WINVER.EXE. When their computer starts, they see a pleasant message displaying the version of Windows running with an OK button. Clicking OK shuts down the PC. Repeat as necessary. :)
This also works in 2000/XP, but requires a registry hack and doesn't have the added benefit of shutting down the PC after OK is pressed. However, the user is left with a screen with no icons and no start button. (Warning: It's difficult to undo this one since it is a registry hack...)My Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Win dows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon -- change value of Shell key from Explorer.exe to Winver.exe and watch your co-workers cry.
You mean the moon? It really doesn't hurt my eyes though. It does make me want to howl...