You are correct. What they get in a regular user's hands is broken.
I meant to ask how they performed in a competent admin's hands. It could also be interesting to derive the marketing fudge-factor -- if you know what you measured and what they claimed, you should be able to say how truthful they are.
I'd be interested in how well it works after the following:
Coffee spilt in one of the CPU PSUs. Coffee spilt on the keyboard (if present). Coffee spilt in one of the disk system PSUs. Swapping two of the disks in an pack......while the system is on....while the system is off.
More seriously, it would be handy to know the ratio of workload handled to watts consumed. Workload:cooling required would also be handy.
Real-world numbers from some inductry-standard benchmarks would be good. You can get TPC-C and SPECint from most vendors, but those are run after weeks of tuning by their internal experts.
I would like to see what they get in a regular user's hands.
They bear the brunt of the support-call cost for a subscriber's entire PC (particularly for viruses, spyware, pagejacking, and increasingly fraud). Moving their userbase away from IE would surely save them a fair amount of this, and that's real dollars and cents.
holds up. You assume that IE is actually inherently less-secure than Firefox. I personally doubt that this is the case.
Remember, IE has been top-browser for many years now. This means your average zombificator targets IE for preference as it will give the largest possible target for a single vector. I would be very surprised if they even think it worthwhile to look for holes in Gecko/Necko et al.
The known-vulnerability exposure of a currently-patched IE is extremely small, as it is for a currently-patched firefox. But look at the stats for IE split by version from various sites -- the majority are not patched to current.
Keeping IE up-to-date is as simple as enabling automatic updates for windows. Keeping firefox up-to-date is more difficult, and thus will be done even less than IE is now.
There are several good reasons to move from IE to Firefox, but untested security superiority is not one of them.
The roadster is actually pretty good looking. It certainly compares favourably to most of its competitors in looks.
They're also said to have excellent road-holding, although they are down on acceleration. From my experiance american-designed cars, you guys can't have too many corners, so this probably isn't a big deal.
If I had the cash for a low-end sports car, I'd buy a VX220 Turbo, but I'd keep a Smart Roadster rather than sell it for the cash if given one...
Of course, you probably can't get the VX220 Turbo in the USA.
Local government (and possibly for most central departments) is obliged to award the contract to the lowest bidder. This is usually EDS. EDS than cock it up, get paid extra to fix it cos the contracts are badly written, rinse and repeat.
EDS should be dissolved for bringing the industry into disrepute. Why is it only lawyers and footballers that works on?
I personally will use whatever technology allows me to achieve my objectives most efficiently.
I won't use the web browser, email facilities, calendar, and contacts database on my phone because they're crap compared to the facilities on my Tungsten C. The TC is crap compared to my laptop, but you have to think in terms of cost-benefit: the hassle of carrying the TC+phone over just the phone is less than the benefit of having both with me, but the hassle of carrying laptop+phone is more than the benefit over having TC+phone with me.
If, one day in the future, the balance changes I'll change my behaviour. But for now I'd rather have my phone limited to calls+SMS so the interface isn't cluttered with crap I know I will never use.
And it looks like they even have sensible package names (at least until it gets to pkgadd.
Does anyone else find that it gets tedious to explain to people that the C compiler is in a package called SUNWspro. I mean how can people not guess the names when the packaging scheme is that intuitive!?!
I too find all the zealotry on here rather odd. I can understand SuSE/RedHat et al wanting everyone to use linux -- they make money from it. And I can understand developers wanting people to use their software because of the warm fuzzy feeling/ego trip/feeling of superiority they get.
But I can't understand why so many people who just happen to use linux are so evangelical about it. It's a mystery. Listen carefully:
** Getting your granny to use linux will NOT make it any better for you. **
If linux ever does get the kind of desktop market which windows enjoys, we'll have all the problems we used to have all over again. I moved to linux way back when it was a PITA to use, mainly so I could tell my family "Oh, you use Windows. Sorry can't help." For the last 5 years or so I've been able to avoid giving free tech support to all and sundry, and I do not want that to change.
Zealots, please, for the sake of familial-tech-support victims everywhere: turn your advocacy to the Mac cause! That way (a) we destroy the evil that is microsoft, (b) we can get a hemi-demi-semi-decent shell when we go to visit grandma and most importantly (c) we can still claim ignorance.
Sun has, in Solaris 10, arguably the most powerful core OS of any on the market for general/server/production use(not counting embedded, rt, or mainframe systems and I know not enough about them).
I've used (in the last 6 months) all of:
HP-UX (on PA)
AIX
Solaris (Sparc)
RHEL3AS (x86)
Gentoo (amd64)
for extended periods of time.
Of those 5, the only one which stands out is Solaris. Why? Because every other OS has a package-management scheme that actually works. SAM, SMIT, RPM and portage are all pretty good. pkgadd and friends are the dumbest things ever. For instance: why is it that when you've just installed everything from a location it prompts you with the list of installable packages again? What possible use does it serve?
Most of systems administration these days is in the package management - installing patches and new software. Life's too short for pkgadd.
If you want a supported UNIX, do yourself a favour and get an eServer p5 running AIX. Sun dropped out of the performance war some time ago, and HP's Itanium 2 systems now seem to be struggling to catch the POWER5.
Phil
PS: If you must run Solaris, for pity's sake run it on a Fujitsu rather than a Sun box. Cheaper, faster, and still supported; what's not to like?
I prefer the Palm database model to the desktop file model for use on handhelds, as it fits in nicely with how the majority of handheld applications want to work.
As someone who's used Palm and PocketPC devices (and developed my own programs for both) I definitely preferred the Palm approach. Which is why my Tungsten C gets carried around and my HP Jornada is at the bottom of a box somewhere.
Of course the main reason is that my jornada used to crash a couple of times a day, whereas my Tungsten C has crashed a couple of times (both when an 802.11 connection got dropped by a faulty access point).
How would jamming them help? It would (obviously) prevent transmission of the pictures, but most camera-phones I'm aware of can store the photos internally for an indefinite period of time.
I think the concern is that voyeurs will use camera-phones to take "naughty" photos without their victim being aware. If phones _by default_ make it obvious that a picture is being taken it will deter the casual abuser.
Yes, any safeguard which is built into the device can be bypassed; but there is no reason to forego the safeguards because of this. It is always possible to break the law, but there is no reason to make it easy.
The Java ring was a Dallas Semiconductor DS1955A iButton in a signet ring holder. The 1955A could only hold one key. The 1955B is a bit more useful, as it can hold about 30 keys. I have the dog-tag holder for it, but I wish I'd gone for the USB fob.
Don't waste your time by getting the parallel-port adapter, as most modern machines seem to have trouble providing enough power to the iButton for the compute-intensive parts of the process. On the last 3 machines I've had it's been impossible to generate keys because the parallel port can't deliver the necessary oomph.
The serial adapter is probably the best bet for iButtons if you want to use them from Unix/Linux.
I've had one of these Java-powered iButtons since 2001. If you have the PKI in place it's a very easy technology to use. If you don't, it just gives you bragging rights in the my-computer-is-smaller wars.
Slashdot Mirror
At least he doesn't claim it's Sun's Linux.
If it fits under any desk ever created, it ain't big iron.
Phil
You are correct. What they get in a regular user's hands is broken.
I meant to ask how they performed in a competent admin's hands. It could also be interesting to derive the marketing fudge-factor -- if you know what you measured and what they claimed, you should be able to say how truthful they are.
Phil
I'd be interested in how well it works after the following:
...while the system is on. ...while the system is off.
Coffee spilt in one of the CPU PSUs.
Coffee spilt on the keyboard (if present).
Coffee spilt in one of the disk system PSUs.
Swapping two of the disks in an pack...
More seriously, it would be handy to know the ratio of workload handled to watts consumed. Workload:cooling required would also be handy.
Phil
Real-world numbers from some inductry-standard benchmarks would be good. You can get TPC-C and SPECint from most vendors, but those are run after weeks of tuning by their internal experts.
I would like to see what they get in a regular user's hands.
Phil
Easy to ask. Hard for them to answer...
Phil
holds up. You assume that IE is actually inherently less-secure than Firefox. I personally doubt that this is the case.
Remember, IE has been top-browser for many years now. This means your average zombificator targets IE for preference as it will give the largest possible target for a single vector. I would be very surprised if they even think it worthwhile to look for holes in Gecko/Necko et al.
The known-vulnerability exposure of a currently-patched IE is extremely small, as it is for a currently-patched firefox. But look at the stats for IE split by version from various sites -- the majority are not patched to current.
Keeping IE up-to-date is as simple as enabling automatic updates for windows. Keeping firefox up-to-date is more difficult, and thus will be done even less than IE is now.
There are several good reasons to move from IE to Firefox, but untested security superiority is not one of them.
Phil
The roadster is actually pretty good looking. It certainly compares favourably to most of its competitors in looks.
They're also said to have excellent road-holding, although they are down on acceleration. From my experiance american-designed cars, you guys can't have too many corners, so this probably isn't a big deal.
If I had the cash for a low-end sports car, I'd buy a VX220 Turbo, but I'd keep a Smart Roadster rather than sell it for the cash if given one...
Of course, you probably can't get the VX220 Turbo in the USA.
Phil
Local government (and possibly for most central departments) is obliged to award the contract to the lowest bidder. This is usually EDS. EDS than cock it up, get paid extra to fix it cos the contracts are badly written, rinse and repeat.
EDS should be dissolved for bringing the industry into disrepute. Why is it only lawyers and footballers that works on?
Phil
I personally will use whatever technology allows me to achieve my objectives most efficiently.
I won't use the web browser, email facilities, calendar, and contacts database on my phone because they're crap compared to the facilities on my Tungsten C. The TC is crap compared to my laptop, but you have to think in terms of cost-benefit: the hassle of carrying the TC+phone over just the phone is less than the benefit of having both with me, but the hassle of carrying laptop+phone is more than the benefit over having TC+phone with me.
If, one day in the future, the balance changes I'll change my behaviour. But for now I'd rather have my phone limited to calls+SMS so the interface isn't cluttered with crap I know I will never use.
Phil
Looks useful, and suspiciously apt-like.
And it looks like they even have sensible package names (at least until it gets to pkgadd.
Does anyone else find that it gets tedious to explain to people that the C compiler is in a package called SUNWspro. I mean how can people not guess the names when the packaging scheme is that intuitive!?!
Phil
I too find all the zealotry on here rather odd. I can understand SuSE/RedHat et al wanting everyone to use linux -- they make money from it. And I can understand developers wanting people to use their software because of the warm fuzzy feeling/ego trip/feeling of superiority they get.
But I can't understand why so many people who just happen to use linux are so evangelical about it. It's a mystery. Listen carefully:
** Getting your granny to use linux will NOT make it any better for you. **
If linux ever does get the kind of desktop market which windows enjoys, we'll have all the problems we used to have all over again. I moved to linux way back when it was a PITA to use, mainly so I could tell my family "Oh, you use Windows. Sorry can't help." For the last 5 years or so I've been able to avoid giving free tech support to all and sundry, and I do not want that to change.
Zealots, please, for the sake of familial-tech-support victims everywhere: turn your advocacy to the Mac cause! That way (a) we destroy the evil that is microsoft, (b) we can get a hemi-demi-semi-decent shell when we go to visit grandma and most importantly (c) we can still claim ignorance.
Phil
I've used (in the last 6 months) all of:
- HP-UX (on PA)
- AIX
- Solaris (Sparc)
- RHEL3AS (x86)
- Gentoo (amd64)
for extended periods of time.Of those 5, the only one which stands out is Solaris. Why? Because every other OS has a package-management scheme that actually works. SAM, SMIT, RPM and portage are all pretty good. pkgadd and friends are the dumbest things ever. For instance: why is it that when you've just installed everything from a location it prompts you with the list of installable packages again? What possible use does it serve?
Most of systems administration these days is in the package management - installing patches and new software. Life's too short for pkgadd.
If you want a supported UNIX, do yourself a favour and get an eServer p5 running AIX. Sun dropped out of the performance war some time ago, and HP's Itanium 2 systems now seem to be struggling to catch the POWER5.
Phil
PS: If you must run Solaris, for pity's sake run it on a Fujitsu rather than a Sun box. Cheaper, faster, and still supported; what's not to like?
Dude, if I could find the bloody thing I'd give it away.
Phil
Or go back to the PalmOS 5 way of storing data.
I prefer the Palm database model to the desktop file model for use on handhelds, as it fits in nicely with how the majority of handheld applications want to work.
As someone who's used Palm and PocketPC devices (and developed my own programs for both) I definitely preferred the Palm approach. Which is why my Tungsten C gets carried around and my HP Jornada is at the bottom of a box somewhere.
Of course the main reason is that my jornada used to crash a couple of times a day, whereas my Tungsten C has crashed a couple of times (both when an 802.11 connection got dropped by a faulty access point).
Phil
How would jamming them help? It would (obviously) prevent transmission of the pictures, but most camera-phones I'm aware of can store the photos internally for an indefinite period of time.
I think the concern is that voyeurs will use camera-phones to take "naughty" photos without their victim being aware. If phones _by default_ make it obvious that a picture is being taken it will deter the casual abuser.
Yes, any safeguard which is built into the device can be bypassed; but there is no reason to forego the safeguards because of this. It is always possible to break the law, but there is no reason to make it easy.
Phil
The Java ring was a Dallas Semiconductor DS1955A iButton in a signet ring holder. The 1955A could only hold one key. The 1955B is a bit more useful, as it can hold about 30 keys. I have the dog-tag holder for it, but I wish I'd gone for the USB fob.
Don't waste your time by getting the parallel-port adapter, as most modern machines seem to have trouble providing enough power to the iButton for the compute-intensive parts of the process. On the last 3 machines I've had it's been impossible to generate keys because the parallel port can't deliver the necessary oomph.
The serial adapter is probably the best bet for iButtons if you want to use them from Unix/Linux.
Phil
There used to be a PAM module to use the Java iButton on Linux here:
i button.html
http://www-users.rwth-aachen.de/dierk.bolten/pam_
but it's 404 now, and I can't find a live mirror.
Anyone got it?
Phil
See this page:
http://www.ibutton.com/ibuttons/java.html
I've had one of these Java-powered iButtons since 2001. If you have the PKI in place it's a very easy technology to use. If you don't, it just gives you bragging rights in the my-computer-is-smaller wars.
Both good.
Phil
Joke. Of. The. Year.
Phil
He's making an oblique reference to the sony VAIO line. +3 will do, just so it isn't hidn.
It claims to be "The Fastest And Most Powerful Traffic Generating System Ever".
I thought we already had that here?
Phil
According to the C standard anyway.
Phil
First thing on slashdot I've actually laughed at...
It doesn't. Xsan is apple's large-scale storage solution, and is not suited to inter-host communication (unless you bounce it off a disk).
Phil