When people buy a PC, they buy it with Windows ALREADY installed, with the drivers ALREADY installed.
In other words, the users have done ZERO WORK to make Windows usable. (for this it doesn't matter if Windows is the worst, most unstable and prone to viruses OS. The installation "just works" and that's what we're discussing here). What we want to do is insert a CD that says "Installing Linux", ask very simple questions as what country i live in and what keyboard layout we have, and be done with it.
When I installed WinXP on my machine, Windows already had drivers for all its hardware. It didn't require me to install an additional driver. Of course, when I upgraded the motherboard, it was a very different thing (I really can't speak about this, since this was about the same time SP2 came up, and there were other complications).
But for most of the machines i've installed WinXP on, installation went flawlessly. It "just worked". Yes, I had to install the video driver, but it went flawlessly, too.
Now compare with my installation of Ubuntu Hoary, where the internet didn't work (thank God I installed it in a dual boot, otherwise i'd be locked out), the audio drivers didn't work, so I had to boot windows to google for help installing ubuntu with PPPoE modems (which are the grand majority in my country). I'd reboot back to Linux and try, and if it didn't work, I'd have to reboot to Windows again, browse the web... do you have any idea of how exhausting that is for a technical user? A Joe user would be COMPLETELY CLUELESS about it.
And if the OS can't just install right, we're talking about a SHOWSTOPPER. So no, Linux is *NOT* ready yet. However, when Ubuntu Dapper comes out, i'll try again and compare.
The distros that he looked at all have companies backing them and are the most popular because of this fact.
And shouldn't those distros be the BEST ONES because they have companies BACKING THEM UP? I had NEVER heard of PCLinuxOS, or Kanotix. I heard of SimplyMEPIS in some linux discussions.
But seriously, when you have more than 300 different distros to choose from, how could POSSIBLY you choose and make a wise decision? Do you really think a Joe User can have the intelligence, wisdom and patience to do such a titanic task?
1. Screw the Cell processor. We want more standard stuff. Like an 8-core or something. 2. Give us a physics coprocessor. 3. Keep the backwards compatibility.
it appears that the public values security over privacy
Then they'll have neither.
Hahahah, this is so ironic... the US citizens can't have access to public information (AT&T spying), but a UK hacker can get TOP-SECRET information from the govt. at any time. No, the government doesn't have enough security OR privacy for that matter - Ooooh..... I see it now!
Most teenagers i've met in the internet in "social sites" (i mean forums) have problems about abortion, parents beating them (or telling them that they're worthless), depression, anorexia, suicide problems, drugs... (you should read more teenager blogs , people). And I'm not talking about 18 or 19 yo's... I'm talking about people 15 years old in average.
Families are practically becoming prison camps for kids... and you're telling me that the greatest danger are sexual predators on the internet? Are you f*cking kidding me?
Around 1992 or so. My favorite was Computer Game Review. I loved the reviews. Each reviewer (with different videogame tastes) would give his own opinion about certain videogame, and they would all give a certain opinion and I just loved the screenshots of all the games. There were dozens, hundreds of new games I'd like to try out.
Unfortunately, this golden era of videogames came to an end with consoles. Not only you had to pay suborbital prices for the consoles, the games were much more expensive. And my fascination for videogames was gone.
Good point, but they're dealing with water at the nanoscale level. In this scale, water molecules act like glue. Besides, after reading another article on water running thru nanotubes below the freezing temperature, I think it's not possible for so water to form ice at the nanoscale.
I'm *really* looking forward to the followup article which will tell us all how to "fix" this. Mayhaps a rant on buffer overflows? the virtues of "safe" languages? sane input validation? sigh.
Good point. IMO, all operating systems from now on should implement mandatory virtualization/caging. No HD access outside the program's installed path, no registry (or equivalent) access outside the program's parameters, and using a warning for programs which would do said access.
This would keep us at least protected from trojans posing as games or DRM stuff.
This is why houses have something called BARS, and there are more advanced key locks that you can purchase. As an added measure, you can use TWO locks to enter your house (3 or 4 if you're paranoid), PLUS an alarm.
The problem with Windows machines is not only that new backdoors are found constantly, but that then they can be used to attack other computers. It's like an "insecurity virus", it multiplies. If we use the house analogy, every broken house would become a thieve's HQ.
Having said that, I have to clean my father's computer of spyware EVERY WEEK. I just hope it's not been rootkitted YET.
my point is that the disabled users need a hired support group of programmers to do the programming and revising for them. Since Open Source is mostly about volunteering, finding volunteers who will program (for FREE) to help disabled users is gonna be quite difficult.
I guess this is where companies/orgs like Apache, Mozilla, RedHat, Google, OSTG can give us a hand.
Slashdot Mirror
is if we can make a functional distro (i.e. Ubuntu) on top of Minix 3. Is it possible? What must be changed?
When people buy a PC, they buy it with Windows ALREADY installed, with the drivers ALREADY installed.
In other words, the users have done ZERO WORK to make Windows usable. (for this it doesn't matter if Windows is the worst, most unstable and prone to viruses OS. The installation "just works" and that's what we're discussing here). What we want to do is insert a CD that says "Installing Linux", ask very simple questions as what country i live in and what keyboard layout we have, and be done with it.
When I installed WinXP on my machine, Windows already had drivers for all its hardware. It didn't require me to install an additional driver. Of course, when I upgraded the motherboard, it was a very different thing (I really can't speak about this, since this was about the same time SP2 came up, and there were other complications).
But for most of the machines i've installed WinXP on, installation went flawlessly. It "just worked". Yes, I had to install the video driver, but it went flawlessly, too.
Now compare with my installation of Ubuntu Hoary, where the internet didn't work (thank God I installed it in a dual boot, otherwise i'd be locked out), the audio drivers didn't work, so I had to boot windows to google for help installing ubuntu with PPPoE modems (which are the grand majority in my country). I'd reboot back to Linux and try, and if it didn't work, I'd have to reboot to Windows again, browse the web... do you have any idea of how exhausting that is for a technical user? A Joe user would be COMPLETELY CLUELESS about it.
And if the OS can't just install right, we're talking about a SHOWSTOPPER. So no, Linux is *NOT* ready yet. However, when Ubuntu Dapper comes out, i'll try again and compare.
The distros that he looked at all have companies backing them and are the most popular because of this fact.
And shouldn't those distros be the BEST ONES because they have companies BACKING THEM UP? I had NEVER heard of PCLinuxOS, or Kanotix. I heard of SimplyMEPIS in some linux discussions.
But seriously, when you have more than 300 different distros to choose from, how could POSSIBLY you choose and make a wise decision? Do you really think a Joe User can have the intelligence, wisdom and patience to do such a titanic task?
do *NOT* manage business through e-mail! And if I have to, I'll make sure to add the involved people to my "safe list" or "address book".
:P )
(Actually, it also helps when 90% of your mails are in spanish
If it's enforced, it's not binding anymore, is it?
I'm sure there's some ammendment out there that could be used.
This isn't going to stop until the Internet has been turned into TV.
SPAMfomercials, GAHH!!! *jumps out the window*
why was I modded funny? :(
1. Screw the Cell processor. We want more standard stuff. Like an 8-core or something.
2. Give us a physics coprocessor.
3. Keep the backwards compatibility.
There.
But isn't hospital care, by definition, a SOCIAL SECURITY?
Why TF are SSN's used to AUTHENTICATE a person's identity? A SSN should just be used for REFERENCE.
Or am I wrong?
it appears that the public values security over privacy
Then they'll have neither.
Hahahah, this is so ironic... the US citizens can't have access to public information (AT&T spying), but a UK hacker can get TOP-SECRET information from the govt. at any time. No, the government doesn't have enough security OR privacy for that matter - Ooooh..... I see it now!
They just want us to follow their example!
We're talking about a country where people watch 30-minute commercials to sell them crap AND THEY LIKE IT.
As someone said, the people have the government they deserve.
Well, there's already an invention which takes control of your MIND.
It's called T.V.
I agree on censoring, but go to the main page and you see a lot of question marks. China, you've gone TOO far this time!
The following instructions are for members of the congress, and specifically, the ICANN, to stop internet pornography.
1. Put hands on the level of your face
2. Open your hands.
3. Face your palms towards your face.
4. Cover eyes with palms.
CONGRATULATIONS! You have stopped pornography!
Most teenagers i've met in the internet in "social sites" (i mean forums) have problems about abortion, parents beating them (or telling them that they're worthless), depression, anorexia, suicide problems, drugs... (you should read more teenager blogs , people). And I'm not talking about 18 or 19 yo's... I'm talking about people 15 years old in average.
Families are practically becoming prison camps for kids... and you're telling me that the greatest danger are sexual predators on the internet? Are you f*cking kidding me?
they'd just need to add a holographic "This is a DRM Anti-Piracy Copyright Protection Seal" label on the seam of each case.
:-(
:D
Paid with OUR taxes, of course!
*Puts on asbesto suit*
Correction: With YOUR taxes, I live outside the US!
Around 1992 or so. My favorite was Computer Game Review.
I loved the reviews. Each reviewer (with different videogame tastes) would give his own opinion about certain videogame, and they would all give a certain opinion and I just loved the screenshots of all the games. There were dozens, hundreds of new games I'd like to try out.
Unfortunately, this golden era of videogames came to an end with consoles. Not only you had to pay suborbital prices for the consoles, the games were much more expensive. And my fascination for videogames was gone.
*ahem* *ahem*
:D I'm 31 in 2 months! woo hoo!!! :D *whistles*
Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to express my dearest congratulations for our founder, CmdrTaco.
(And now that it's been said...
I'm older than Taco!! Yay!!!!!
)
*ahem ahem*
(puts on tuxedo)
Thank you very much for allowing me to contribute. Have a nice day.
Good point, but they're dealing with water at the nanoscale level. In this scale, water molecules act like glue. Besides, after reading another article on water running thru nanotubes below the freezing temperature, I think it's not possible for so water to form ice at the nanoscale.
I'm *really* looking forward to the followup article which will tell us all how to "fix" this. Mayhaps a rant on buffer overflows? the virtues of "safe" languages? sane input validation? sigh.
Good point. IMO, all operating systems from now on should implement mandatory virtualization/caging. No HD access outside the program's installed path, no registry (or equivalent) access outside the program's parameters, and using a warning for programs which would do said access.
This would keep us at least protected from trojans posing as games or DRM stuff.
This is why houses have something called BARS, and there are more advanced key locks that you can purchase. As an added measure, you can use TWO locks to enter your house (3 or 4 if you're paranoid), PLUS an alarm.
The problem with Windows machines is not only that new backdoors are found constantly, but that then they can be used to attack other computers. It's like an "insecurity virus", it multiplies. If we use the house analogy, every broken house would become a thieve's HQ.
Having said that, I have to clean my father's computer of spyware EVERY WEEK. I just hope it's not been rootkitted YET.
They prefer size impaired galaxies...
They don't want your help. Remember that NOBODY tosses a dwarf!
The Brain: I told you, Pinky! My genetic manipulation machine WORKED!
Pinky: Yes, Brain, but I'm tired of the needles... zort! poit!
my point is that the disabled users need a hired support group of programmers to do the programming and revising for them. Since Open Source is mostly about volunteering, finding volunteers who will program (for FREE) to help disabled users is gonna be quite difficult.
I guess this is where companies/orgs like Apache, Mozilla, RedHat, Google, OSTG can give us a hand.