I can't say I'd agree with anything in the article.
The points about KDE and Gnome are totally the opposite from all of my experiences. OS X it utterly counter-intuitive, especially when you don't have a scroll wheel or a right-click! Open Source interface design varies, I'll agree with that, but I wouldn't class it as fundamental problem.
Documentation in Open Source projects is world class! A wealth of HOWTOs, extensive in-project documentation, an amazing community - its all there. Compare this to Mac OS and Windows where the "built in" help is meant to guide you through. Trying to do something other than click on an icon in Microsoft Windows? Want the documentation for it? You're out of luck...
The whole article is pure insanity. It seems like the author holds some sort of grudge against certain Open Source projects!
What holds Open Source back is a lack of a coherent marketing campaign with extensive brand awareness.
Which is why I now give Jane and Jow blow Linux instead. I got so fed up of updating the virus software each time for them, and patching the firewall, running Microsoft Update over a 56k modem. I wanted my life back! (Oh and trust me; don't even think about giving them simple security guidlines - it just results in an increase of support calls!)
Bang! In came Open Office, Firefox, CUPS, iptables and Kopete. Wave bye-bye to the strange firewall messages, the defrag, the scandisk the "do I have to Norton this now?". Sure, it takes me over 30 mins to install and configure each desktop to each John, Jane and Joe, but now they can just concentrate on clicking on icons and everyone is happy! Phew! Plus if they really want a new icon I can just ssh in from wherever I am and put it on their desktop for them. No longer do I have to take 3 hours out of my day on house calls.
Mind you, if John or Joe were to read that Washington Post article, they'd think they were still at risk! Apparently the "Netsky worm" affects "computers". Tsk. Don't worry Joe and Jane; the Netsky worm affects those with Microsoft Software only.
There. Thats more like it.
This (http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA04-099A.h tml) article clearly marks both the Microsoft Windows "operating system" and Microsoft application "Internet Explorer", rather than just claiming something outlandish like "computers that access the internet using a browser".
I do hope none of those stupid users go clicking on any URLs or reading web pages or e-mails. They should now better than that, now shouldn't they?
Does typing in caps make your points any more valid? You really don't get it do you? Please, go and educate yourself and stop ranting.
If Microsoft software wasn't faulty then they wouldn't release patches, would they? Simple as that.
As an experiment, why not do exactly as you suggest - move eveyone onto virtually any other operating system and see how many virus infections you get?
Like I just said, if the software wasn't faulty in the first place the virus would not infect. A lot of virus infections don't even require a click because of Microsoft's faulty software. Simply receiving an e-mail is enough to infect the unsuspecting user. And its not only e-mail. Connecting to the internet with your Microsoft system leaves you open to attack. Remember "code red"?
Your "example" of someone driving into a tree is not really an example, is it? If you're just going to be silly then please don't even bother.
Please take the time to read about and understand some of issues here, rather than just ranting.
There is a Free version of Real Player?
on
Real Problems
·
· Score: 1
And I though an rpm was a RedHat package;)
Anyway, the RealPlayer for Linux link is right there on the right-hand side... oh wait...
Well thats just plain silly. Obviously both the software vendor and the user are to blame. If the software wasn't faulty in the first place, even the most ignorant of users wouldn't be infected.
Like you say, a lot of people are ignorant... and because so many Microsoft Windows users fall into this category is why it needs to be pointed out in every media article that they are the ones at risk. A picture of Bill Gates, the Microsoft logo, a scary representation of a "bug" and whatever else to jog the mind of the public so that they think, "Oh yeah. Maybe that is something that I have on my computer? Perhaps I'd better pay attention?". They need to know that "Microsoft" and "Virus" go together hand-in-hand and that the problem won't go away by itself.
Like I said, it needs pointing out because people need to understand that it affects them.
For example, my father uses an Apple Macintosh system. When people he knows who use Microsoft Windows got infected by various viruses and started flooding his inbox, he was scared that he had been infected by a virus! So people need the information in plain and clear language. Virus = Microsoft.
I don't think that your statement of
Now, the Internet is Windows boxen, so that's what the virus writers are targeting.
really holds true either. It is more that of all the systems attached to the internet, the Microsoft Windows operating system and Microsoft Applications are those that are most bug-ridden and insecure. Take OpenBSD for example; they haven't had more than 1 remote exploit in over 7 years!
These viruses affect the Microsoft Operating system only
Nowhere in this article, or in many other article, is this made plain and clear. For example,
"We're seeing more, more and more viruses -- an average of 15-25 a day,"
Should be something more like
"We're seeing more, more and more viruses on Microsoft systems -- an average of 15-25 a day, while Linux, Mac OS, Solaris and others remain uninfected"
"Computers" != "Microsoft"
Previous posters have mentioned that they are astounded that users of the buggy, unsecure Microsoft Windows operating system actually get infected. Well, what would else would they expect? If this is the level of "Joe Average", surely the news also needs to be more specific about the systems that are infected. Perhaps even pictures of the Microsoft logo associated with virus attacks will help prompt peoples memories about the systems that are in danger.
Interesting how the article fails to place any blame with Microsoft - the company that provided the faulty platform for the spread of this malicious software.
Imagine if you bought a microwave oven that didn't have sufficient shielding to protect you from the "criminal" radiation within.
And this malicious software "evolves" too. Oh yes. Its not the platform itself that becomes more and more buggy. No. the malicious software "evolves".
Microsoft are also committed to major investments in customer education as well. Thats right. its your fault you got a virus. Stupid customer.
So Microsoft create this problem and now its "really funky and groovey" because it is trying to patch its own mess up. And who is going to pay for all of this, dear customer? You guessed it.
Much as I like their 3 steps to "protect your pc", they seem to miss out the obvious one: Don't use faulty software.
Worse, some THINK they DO get it
on
Why PHBs Fear Linux
·
· Score: 2, Insightful
You can never put a PHB down, so when they "know about" Linux - thats it, you're dead. Some of them know about the evils of "Open Source" software too. Open Source immediately makes something bad.
"Whats that you're doing?"
"Its this great Open Source project - here, check out the url"
"Why are you using that Open Source crap? *scowl* Can't we buy some proper software? Stop using it now."
You also get those PHBs who know they don't get it, and will never get it. They hate you because you do get it, and it makes the PHB feel inferior and stupid. It is then his job to put you down and make your life a misery, just like you have done to him.
It is also this same PHB that will happily run his entire company on pirate copies of the software that he loves so much, when Open Source implementations could legally save him all that money and create a more effective and productive team! I guess he wouldn't be a PHB otherwise...;) How many times have *you* heard "Lets just buy 1 copy and then we can install that everywhere".
Personally, I think more education is needed but that is not going to happen with a PHB. A PHB gets his learnin' from banner adds and the gutter press (assuming they can read). Maybe if there were "Linux makes you smarter and better looking" adverts they'd go with it? After all, its just as true as "Microsoft Software helps protect your data against virus attacks"...
Slashdot Mirror
I can't say I'd agree with anything in the article.
The points about KDE and Gnome are totally the opposite from all of my experiences. OS X it utterly counter-intuitive, especially when you don't have a scroll wheel or a right-click! Open Source interface design varies, I'll agree with that, but I wouldn't class it as fundamental problem.
Documentation in Open Source projects is world class! A wealth of HOWTOs, extensive in-project documentation, an amazing community - its all there. Compare this to Mac OS and Windows where the "built in" help is meant to guide you through. Trying to do something other than click on an icon in Microsoft Windows? Want the documentation for it? You're out of luck...
The whole article is pure insanity. It seems like the author holds some sort of grudge against certain Open Source projects!
What holds Open Source back is a lack of a coherent marketing campaign with extensive brand awareness.
It can't be the cops, there wasn't any mention of Freecell...
Which is why I now give Jane and Jow blow Linux instead. I got so fed up of updating the virus software each time for them, and patching the firewall, running Microsoft Update over a 56k modem. I wanted my life back! (Oh and trust me; don't even think about giving them simple security guidlines - it just results in an increase of support calls!)
Bang! In came Open Office, Firefox, CUPS, iptables and Kopete. Wave bye-bye to the strange firewall messages, the defrag, the scandisk the "do I have to Norton this now?". Sure, it takes me over 30 mins to install and configure each desktop to each John, Jane and Joe, but now they can just concentrate on clicking on icons and everyone is happy! Phew! Plus if they really want a new icon I can just ssh in from wherever I am and put it on their desktop for them. No longer do I have to take 3 hours out of my day on house calls.
Mind you, if John or Joe were to read that Washington Post article, they'd think they were still at risk! Apparently the "Netsky worm" affects "computers". Tsk. Don't worry Joe and Jane; the Netsky worm affects those with Microsoft Software only.
I do hope none of those stupid users go clicking on any URLs or reading web pages or e-mails. They should now better than that, now shouldn't they?
If Microsoft software wasn't faulty then they wouldn't release patches, would they? Simple as that.
As an experiment, why not do exactly as you suggest - move eveyone onto virtually any other operating system and see how many virus infections you get?
Your "example" of someone driving into a tree is not really an example, is it? If you're just going to be silly then please don't even bother.
Please take the time to read about and understand some of issues here, rather than just ranting.
And I though an rpm was a RedHat package ;)
Anyway, the RealPlayer for Linux link is right there on the right-hand side... oh wait...
Well thats just plain silly. Obviously both the software vendor and the user are to blame. If the software wasn't faulty in the first place, even the most ignorant of users wouldn't be infected.
Like you say, a lot of people are ignorant... and because so many Microsoft Windows users fall into this category is why it needs to be pointed out in every media article that they are the ones at risk. A picture of Bill Gates, the Microsoft logo, a scary representation of a "bug" and whatever else to jog the mind of the public so that they think, "Oh yeah. Maybe that is something that I have on my computer? Perhaps I'd better pay attention?". They need to know that "Microsoft" and "Virus" go together hand-in-hand and that the problem won't go away by itself.
People need all the help they can get!
Well we're not in the 80's now!
Like I said, it needs pointing out because people need to understand that it affects them.
For example, my father uses an Apple Macintosh system. When people he knows who use Microsoft Windows got infected by various viruses and started flooding his inbox, he was scared that he had been infected by a virus! So people need the information in plain and clear language. Virus = Microsoft.
I don't think that your statement of
Now, the Internet is Windows boxen, so that's what the virus writers are targeting.
really holds true either. It is more that of all the systems attached to the internet, the Microsoft Windows operating system and Microsoft Applications are those that are most bug-ridden and insecure. Take OpenBSD for example; they haven't had more than 1 remote exploit in over 7 years!
These viruses affect the Microsoft Operating system only
Nowhere in this article, or in many other article, is this made plain and clear. For example,
"We're seeing more, more and more viruses -- an average of 15-25 a day,"
Should be something more like
"We're seeing more, more and more viruses on Microsoft systems -- an average of 15-25 a day, while Linux, Mac OS, Solaris and others remain uninfected"
"Computers" != "Microsoft"
Previous posters have mentioned that they are astounded that users of the buggy, unsecure Microsoft Windows operating system actually get infected. Well, what would else would they expect? If this is the level of "Joe Average", surely the news also needs to be more specific about the systems that are infected. Perhaps even pictures of the Microsoft logo associated with virus attacks will help prompt peoples memories about the systems that are in danger.
Interesting how the article fails to place any blame with Microsoft - the company that provided the faulty platform for the spread of this malicious software.
Imagine if you bought a microwave oven that didn't have sufficient shielding to protect you from the "criminal" radiation within.
And this malicious software "evolves" too. Oh yes. Its not the platform itself that becomes more and more buggy. No. the malicious software "evolves".
Microsoft are also committed to major investments in customer education as well. Thats right. its your fault you got a virus. Stupid customer.
So Microsoft create this problem and now its "really funky and groovey" because it is trying to patch its own mess up. And who is going to pay for all of this, dear customer? You guessed it.
Much as I like their 3 steps to "protect your pc", they seem to miss out the obvious one:
Don't use faulty software.
"Whats that you're doing?"
"Its this great Open Source project - here, check out the url"
"Why are you using that Open Source crap? *scowl* Can't we buy some proper software? Stop using it now."
You also get those PHBs who know they don't get it, and will never get it. They hate you because you do get it, and it makes the PHB feel inferior and stupid. It is then his job to put you down and make your life a misery, just like you have done to him.
It is also this same PHB that will happily run his entire company on pirate copies of the software that he loves so much, when Open Source implementations could legally save him all that money and create a more effective and productive team! I guess he wouldn't be a PHB otherwise... ;) How many times have *you* heard "Lets just buy 1 copy and then we can install that everywhere".
Personally, I think more education is needed but that is not going to happen with a PHB. A PHB gets his learnin' from banner adds and the gutter press (assuming they can read). Maybe if there were "Linux makes you smarter and better looking" adverts they'd go with it? After all, its just as true as "Microsoft Software helps protect your data against virus attacks"...