Someone could write programs that send flag words and phrases interspersed with things that would be used in normal innocuous conversation and have these programs communicate with each other 24/7.
Intercepts could become pretty useless since they have to filter for certain "flag" keywords, such as maybe "bomb", ", and "terrorist" and a good selection of names of mideastern origin.
If enough people ran such programs it would become pretty frustrating for the spies until they pass some laws against doing such stuff.
The initial price of a computer is only a fraction of its true cost. This is especially true if your time is valuable. For portables the price difference between an iBook and a similarly equipped Wintel system is actually in Apple's favor, especially if you figure in the expense in time and money to get the Wintel system reasonably secure against all the malware it is susceptible to. This is an ongoing effort not needed for the iBook.
I'd much rather buy two $1300 G5 iMacs built into a 17" flat display in a little over two years than the rock bottom, stripped down Dell for which you give no model number or other info. Also,buying four bottom of the barrel Dells does in no way even come close to one $2000 dual processor G5 tower.
Also, you know enough about computer to be able to not have to suffer with Windows and are able to deal with Linux. However, I suspect you aunt or grandma would not make it through a typical Linux install and be able to e-mail you about their success. They'd likely get stuck somewhere in the process of getting their cheap Dell running and in their frustration call you for help.
...installations require an administrator password...
That can be a tremendous security enhancement for multi-user Macs in schools an businesses. Just make sure the ordinary users don't have admin privileges. In Windows, withholding admin privs will not allow many pregrams to function properly.
Why is it so hard to remove *any* program from a Windows computer? On old OS9 and new OSX Macs all one needs to do is drag the program into the trash and empty the trash. One can also delete stuff from the startup and extension folders and that is the end of the unwanted software. Simple free utilities make "invisible" files visible so they too can be trashed.
The problem with Windows is that you can install a brand new, genuine copy of any flavor of Windows on a computer and then be infected within minutes of connecting that system to a high speed Internet connection. No user action is needed other than plugging the computer into the network. Most of the time you won't even be able to download and install the needed patches/service packs in time to prevent getting the system infected.
THAT vulnerability is clearly the fault of MS, not the stupidity of the users. That, in you car analogy, is equivalent to driving a car off the showroom floor and having the car catch on fire before you get it home.
For the average Joe user a computer should be at least as secure as Mac OSX which, out of the box comes with only commonly used function enabled and everything else is turned off. It is much harder, if not impossible to infect a Mac without some stupid action on the part of the user.
Yes you do. Warranties cannot be denied just because you did not register the product. If you claim warranty however, you must have dated proof of your purchase. Therefore big brother will not know who owns the printer until the owner needs to have warranty work done.
Who is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to upgrade? If it works, don't fix it. If you lust after, and can genuinely be more productive with a newer computer/software, then upgrading may be cost effective. MS and others would love to rent you their wares, and for some, like renting a car, this is advantageous.
For most users however, a system that does what you want reasonably well is desired. MS has never made anything really great, but it has been and is always just good enough for most users, especially those who don't know or care that there are better solutions out there.
...but most of your files would be remotely stored...
I don't think so. I would not want to have my private and important data only accessible via a tenuous data link that is dependent on who knows how much breakable equipment. Besides, until 1GB/s networking becomes cheap enough, networks are MUCH too slow for large graphical and sound data files. So far, I have found also that local hard drives are much more reliable and secure than *any* computer network.
Actually, Netscape died when MS offered a browser for free. That is not illegal. MS did plenty of other illegal stuff, but what they did to kill Netscape was not illegal. It is hard to compete against a competitor who offers a similar product for nothing.
Indeed, you have hit the nail on the head. Batteries that need to be recharged can only be used for cars that never go more than a half charge away from home. Even if such batteries were perfect, never wore out and had no diminished capacity over time, the rapid recharge problem would remain.
One gallon of gasoline contains about as much energy as 1000lbs of fully charged lead-acid batteries. Even a battery technology ten times better than this would still require a 100lb battery for each gallon of gas. For electric cars with roughly the same characteristics as the ones on the road today, fuel cells or hybrid is the only way to go. Hydrogen for these could be made with solar energy, eliminating the need for oil.
...a well logging software package that only runs on windows...
I was not talking about a specific or specialized software package. There is much more software for Windows than for Macs only because Windows running computers are so numerous. However, there is no reason that well logging software or any other could not be ported to the Mac or Linux and work just as well, or most likely better, since the latter systems are more reliable. There are after all many programs out there that run well on all platforms. Some of these (such as Photoshop) began their life on the Mac and were later ported to Windows.
Exactly that is the problem. We here on/. know what we're doing (mostly), but the vast majority of computer users know far less about their computers than about their cars. Some makers of hardware and software know this and some still have not caught on. It is the manufacturers of cars that are compelled to make them safe and I think the computer makers (and software writers) should also be required to make safe, easy to use computers.
Of course developers for Windows need to run Windows, but the only reason you have to develop for Windows in the first place is that the majority of malware plagued computer users run it. I was talking about computer users and the jobs they need to do. Processing text, pictures, video, sound, scientific and business data etc., not writing software for a particular platform.
As for games, buying a 2K or 3K general purpose computer to just play games, to me, is a collossal waste of money. Any of the game boxes, such as X-box or Playstation is a much more economical way of playing games. If you do like games and have need of a decent computer anyway, Windows is a better choice, although you have to continually work and pay money to keep it secure against all the malware out on the Internet. Games work on Macs and Linux also, but only the best or most popular ones get ported to it.
Unless you are a Mac user that is. Every time there is anything in the news or/. about another piece of malware, there is always the refrain: "Does not affect Mac users". Unless you are running some proprietary vertical app, why still suffer Windows? What computing JOB can be done in Windows that can't be done as well or better by a Mac or Linux?
...we'll never know if the universe is changing....
If the universe IS changing, we'll never know from these clocks since they would also be subject to change. The atomic forces that control the vibrations of the atoms that govern these clocks also could change, and if they do, all the clocks they are based on would change and we would never detect any differences.
If the basic parameters of space-time change, the properties of the atoms within the space-time would also have to change. All equations governing atoms have a time units associated with them, whereas the equations of gravity do not. Therefore, in order to detect any variation in these atom based clocks, their timing would have to be compared to clocks that use the force of gravity, rather than atomic behavior. The orbital motions of heavenly bodies are based on gravity and therefore the atomic clocks would have to be compared to this motion. Unfortunately, measuring gravitational clock ticks to this kind of accuracy over the short time periods that are available to us humans is exceedingly difficult.
There is some astrophysical evidence that atomic properties have changed dramatically since the universe began. There are NO laws of physics that mandate that these fundamental time-based "constants" must be invariant.
I have read here on/. recently that good IT jobs are becoming scarcer in the US. Many of them are outsourcing to India.
Solution: re-educate and become a lawyer -- you will have full employment as everybody is suing everybody. If you can't "lick'em" join 'em. Good lawyers make MUCH more money than a good systems administrator or programmer.
...ads you don't want is a betrayal of the customer...
Many/.ers are probably to young to remember the days before cable tv existed. There was only broadcast over the air. At first, cable was touted to the consumer as a way to get commercial free tv and consistent high quality reception. It did not take long and there were lots of commercials on the "commercial free" cable channels. So now with Tivo it will be just a repeat performance of past history in a new technology.
I hope you are fascetious there. Why should anyone pay a Hollywood tax for backing up their own data to CD's or DVD's? I don't download crap from the Internet and then record it on optical disks. I am glad we don't have such a stupid tax here in the USA and we don't have sales tax here in Oregon either. I like it that way.
DVD's are quite cheap compared to music CD's and paying a dollar a song from iTunes is not bad because you only have to pay for music you actually like and will listen to repeatedly. Besides, most movies are only worth watching once, if that, so renting them for a couple of dollars is the way the whole family gets to see a movie on a large projection screen.
True, but fingerprints CAN be copied and fingerprint systems have been fooled. Now when such a compromise happens, how does the legitimate owner of that fingerprint get proper access again? Security ALWAYS is a tradeoff. Biometric security seems easier, but has problems of its own.
...ultimately a far different beast than information security...
The inverse relationship between security and convenience applies to all areas of life, including computers. The goal is to make the security sufficient for the need with minimal increase of work, but there will always be SOME extra work for more security. There is no such thing as a free lunch in security. Someone has to do extra work and it usually is the person needing access to the computing resources. The more valuable the thing being protected, whether tangible or intangible, the more security is needed and the more work it will be for the authorized access thereof.
The reason most people don't use encryption is because they feel it is not needed for most of their mundane communications.
Whether in computing or in the physical world, added security is increased work which will only get done when there is a perceived need for it. I remember when I was a youth, we and most neighbors NEVER locked the door on their house where we lived in Palo Alto CA. It was not needed and nothing was ever stolen. Today that is not possible, because people are no longer honest to the degree they were then and so now the houses are locked up tight and have elaborate alarm systems.
Security and convenience are opposites and that is an ironclad law that no fancy studies by academics with more degrees than a thermometer can refute. The best that can be hoped for is to make the added work for security as little as possible, but it will ALWAYS without fail mean more work for the users.
When the house did not get locked, we did not need to worry about carrying keys, misplacing them or forgetting them in the house and having to call a locksmith to get in.
Actually, I like AOL because the amount of SPAM I get in my AOL e-mail accounts has been dropping dramatically lately, but increasing in other ISP accounts. Their combined legal/technical SPAM fighting effort must be bearing some fruit.
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...have to put an intercept ...
Someone could write programs that send flag words and phrases interspersed with things that would be used in normal innocuous conversation and have these programs communicate with each other 24/7.
Intercepts could become pretty useless since they have to filter for certain "flag" keywords, such as maybe "bomb", ", and "terrorist" and a good selection of names of mideastern origin.
If enough people ran such programs it would become pretty frustrating for the spies until they pass some laws against doing such stuff.
...they weren't so overpriced...
The initial price of a computer is only a fraction of its true cost. This is especially true if your time is valuable. For portables the price difference between an iBook and a similarly equipped Wintel system is actually in Apple's favor, especially if you figure in the expense in time and money to get the Wintel system reasonably secure against all the malware it is susceptible to. This is an ongoing effort not needed for the iBook.
...buy a brand new Dell for $499...
I'd much rather buy two $1300 G5 iMacs built into a 17" flat display in a little over two years than the rock bottom, stripped down Dell for which you give no model number or other info. Also,buying four bottom of the barrel Dells does in no way even come close to one $2000 dual processor G5 tower.
Also, you know enough about computer to be able to not have to suffer with Windows and are able to deal with Linux. However, I suspect you aunt or grandma would not make it through a typical Linux install and be able to e-mail you about their success. They'd likely get stuck somewhere in the process of getting their cheap Dell running and in their frustration call you for help.
...installations require an administrator password...
That can be a tremendous security enhancement for multi-user Macs in schools an businesses. Just make sure the ordinary users don't have admin privileges. In Windows, withholding admin privs will not allow many pregrams to function properly.
...actively combats uninstalling...
Why is it so hard to remove *any* program from a Windows computer? On old OS9 and new OSX Macs all one needs to do is drag the program into the trash and empty the trash. One can also delete stuff from the startup and extension folders and that is the end of the unwanted software. Simple free utilities make "invisible" files visible so they too can be trashed.
..trouser zipper undone..
If the zipper were made the way MS makes their software, the zipper would come apart on its own at the most embarrassing moment.
...tell them not to open the attachments...
The problem with Windows is that you can install a brand new, genuine copy of any flavor of Windows on a computer and then be infected within minutes of connecting that system to a high speed Internet connection. No user action is needed other than plugging the computer into the network. Most of the time you won't even be able to download and install the needed patches/service packs in time to prevent getting the system infected.
THAT vulnerability is clearly the fault of MS, not the stupidity of the users. That, in you car analogy, is equivalent to driving a car off the showroom floor and having the car catch on fire before you get it home.
For the average Joe user a computer should be at least as secure as Mac OSX which, out of the box comes with only commonly used function enabled and everything else is turned off. It is much harder, if not impossible to infect a Mac without some stupid action on the part of the user.
...you don't get warranty coverage...
Yes you do. Warranties cannot be denied just because you did not register the product. If you claim warranty however, you must have dated proof of your purchase. Therefore big brother will not know who owns the printer until the owner needs to have warranty work done.
... being forced to upgrade...
Who is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to upgrade? If it works, don't fix it. If you lust after, and can genuinely be more productive with a newer computer/software, then upgrading may be cost effective. MS and others would love to rent you their wares, and for some, like renting a car, this is advantageous.
For most users however, a system that does what you want reasonably well is desired. MS has never made anything really great, but it has been and is always just good enough for most users, especially those who don't know or care that there are better solutions out there.
...but most of your files would be remotely stored...
I don't think so. I would not want to have my private and important data only accessible via a tenuous data link that is dependent on who knows how much breakable equipment. Besides, until 1GB/s networking becomes cheap enough, networks are MUCH too slow for large graphical and sound data files. So far, I have found also that local hard drives are much more reliable and secure than *any* computer network.
...their revenue stream was cut off...
Actually, Netscape died when MS offered a browser for free. That is not illegal. MS did plenty of other illegal stuff, but what they did to kill Netscape was not illegal. It is hard to compete against a competitor who offers a similar product for nothing.
...running 18 megawatt hours...
Indeed, you have hit the nail on the head. Batteries that need to be recharged can only be used for cars that never go more than a half charge away from home. Even if such batteries were perfect, never wore out and had no diminished capacity over time, the rapid recharge problem would remain.
One gallon of gasoline contains about as much energy as 1000lbs of fully charged lead-acid batteries. Even a battery technology ten times better than this would still require a 100lb battery for each gallon of gas. For electric cars with roughly the same characteristics as the ones on the road today, fuel cells or hybrid is the only way to go. Hydrogen for these could be made with solar energy, eliminating the need for oil.
...a well logging software package that only runs on windows...
I was not talking about a specific or specialized software package. There is much more software for Windows than for Macs only because Windows running computers are so numerous. However, there is no reason that well logging software or any other could not be ported to the Mac or Linux and work just as well, or most likely better, since the latter systems are more reliable. There are after all many programs out there that run well on all platforms. Some of these (such as Photoshop) began their life on the Mac and were later ported to Windows.
...if you know what you're doing...
Exactly that is the problem. We here on/. know what we're doing (mostly), but the vast majority of computer users know far less about their computers than about their cars. Some makers of hardware and software know this and some still have not caught on. It is the manufacturers of cars that are compelled to make them safe and I think the computer makers (and software writers) should also be required to make safe, easy to use computers.
...developers, get hired to work on Windows....
Of course developers for Windows need to run Windows, but the only reason you have to develop for Windows in the first place is that the majority of malware plagued computer users run it. I was talking about computer users and the jobs they need to do. Processing text, pictures, video, sound, scientific and business data etc., not writing software for a particular platform.
As for games, buying a 2K or 3K general purpose computer to just play games, to me, is a collossal waste of money. Any of the game boxes, such as X-box or Playstation is a much more economical way of playing games. If you do like games and have need of a decent computer anyway, Windows is a better choice, although you have to continually work and pay money to keep it secure against all the malware out on the Internet. Games work on Macs and Linux also, but only the best or most popular ones get ported to it.
... but if you are on the net, you aren't safe...
/. about another piece of malware, there is always the refrain: "Does not affect Mac users". Unless you are running some proprietary vertical app, why still suffer Windows? What computing JOB can be done in Windows that can't be done as well or better by a Mac or Linux?
Unless you are a Mac user that is. Every time there is anything in the news or
...we'll never know if the universe is changing....
If the universe IS changing, we'll never know from these clocks since they would also be subject to change. The atomic forces that control the vibrations of the atoms that govern these clocks also could change, and if they do, all the clocks they are based on would change and we would never detect any differences.
If the basic parameters of space-time change, the properties of the atoms within the space-time would also have to change. All equations governing atoms have a time units associated with them, whereas the equations of gravity do not. Therefore, in order to detect any variation in these atom based clocks, their timing would have to be compared to clocks that use the force of gravity, rather than atomic behavior. The orbital motions of heavenly bodies are based on gravity and therefore the atomic clocks would have to be compared to this motion. Unfortunately, measuring gravitational clock ticks to this kind of accuracy over the short time periods that are available to us humans is exceedingly difficult.
There is some astrophysical evidence that atomic properties have changed dramatically since the universe began. There are NO laws of physics that mandate that these fundamental time-based "constants" must be invariant.
...and suing and suing --and suing and suing....
/. recently that good IT jobs are becoming scarcer in the US. Many of them are outsourcing to India.
I have read here on
Solution: re-educate and become a lawyer -- you will have full employment as everybody is suing everybody. If you can't "lick'em" join 'em. Good lawyers make MUCH more money than a good systems administrator or programmer.
...ads you don't want is a betrayal of the customer...
/.ers are probably to young to remember the days before cable tv existed. There was only broadcast over the air. At first, cable was touted to the consumer as a way to get commercial free tv and consistent high quality reception. It did not take long and there were lots of commercials on the "commercial free" cable channels. So now with Tivo it will be just a repeat performance of past history in a new technology.
Many
...available for the Windows computer operating system...
:-) !!
Too bad I have a Mac -- seems I'm left out in the cold -- again
...Yeah, that blank media fee is quite nice...
I hope you are fascetious there. Why should anyone pay a Hollywood tax for backing up their own data to CD's or DVD's? I don't download crap from the Internet and then record it on optical disks. I am glad we don't have such a stupid tax here in the USA and we don't have sales tax here in Oregon either. I like it that way.
DVD's are quite cheap compared to music CD's and paying a dollar a song from iTunes is not bad because you only have to pay for music you actually like and will listen to repeatedly. Besides, most movies are only worth watching once, if that, so renting them for a couple of dollars is the way the whole family gets to see a movie on a large projection screen.
...You can't forget your fingerprint....
True, but fingerprints CAN be copied and fingerprint systems have been fooled. Now when such a compromise happens, how does the legitimate owner of that fingerprint get proper access again? Security ALWAYS is a tradeoff. Biometric security seems easier, but has problems of its own.
...ultimately a far different beast than information security...
The inverse relationship between security and convenience applies to all areas of life, including computers. The goal is to make the security sufficient for the need with minimal increase of work, but there will always be SOME extra work for more security. There is no such thing as a free lunch in security. Someone has to do extra work and it usually is the person needing access to the computing resources. The more valuable the thing being protected, whether tangible or intangible, the more security is needed and the more work it will be for the authorized access thereof.
...PGP is not used by the masses....
The reason most people don't use encryption is because they feel it is not needed for most of their mundane communications.
Whether in computing or in the physical world, added security is increased work which will only get done when there is a perceived need for it. I remember when I was a youth, we and most neighbors NEVER locked the door on their house where we lived in Palo Alto CA. It was not needed and nothing was ever stolen. Today that is not possible, because people are no longer honest to the degree they were then and so now the houses are locked up tight and have elaborate alarm systems.
Security and convenience are opposites and that is an ironclad law that no fancy studies by academics with more degrees than a thermometer can refute. The best that can be hoped for is to make the added work for security as little as possible, but it will ALWAYS without fail mean more work for the users.
When the house did not get locked, we did not need to worry about carrying keys, misplacing them or forgetting them in the house and having to call a locksmith to get in.
...AOL users are, well, AOL users?...
Actually, I like AOL because the amount of SPAM I get in my AOL e-mail accounts has been dropping dramatically lately, but increasing in other ISP accounts. Their combined legal/technical SPAM fighting effort must be bearing some fruit.