On Feb 21, 5:44 am, BearItAll <s...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Roy Schestowitz wrote:
> > World of open-source software continues to evolve
> > ,----[ Quote ]
> > | The learning curve has changed, Wolff said. The operating system
> > | was once usable only for skilled computer people, but now he
> > | says his mother, who is not so computer literate, can use
> > | Linux with ease.
> > `----
Keep in mind that the OEM created a special version of Windows
customized for that machine. If you tried to use the recovery media
from an HP Prolinea on a Dell Demension, it wouldn't work. The
drivers you needed weren't provided, the support lines weren't
available, and even if you could get it up in "safe" mode, it was
pretty much treated, by both Microsoft and Dell, as a pirated system.
I've had to do emergency recoveries of windows systems, or move an old
Windows hard drive to a different (replacement) machine to recover
data, but it's not easy to move from one machine to another on
Windows.
Linux on the other hand, has only a few files that aren't 100%
recoverable, and those are log files that don't have to be recovered,
or at least no serious damage is done if you don't get it 100% right.
Keep in mind that the EXT2, EXT3 and REISER have the ability to move a
file that is being used (rename or even delete) and replace it with a
newer and better version of the same file. Even the kernel can be
replaced. In fact, the only time a reboot is always necessary is when
you are replacing the kernel. You can replace libraries,
applications, and whatever else is needed. The programs that still
have the old files open will continue to use them until the processes
terminate. Any program that starts after the replacement uses the new
files.
Remember, UNIX was designed to run in 24/7 environments where shutting
down, even for a few seconds was generally not an option. Systems
like telephone switching equipment (do you really want to drop 30,000
calls all at once?), utility and power line switching (do you really
want to wipe out all of NYC every time you need to upgrade a system),
or 911 emergency dispatch systems (sorry that you husband is having a
heart attack, please call back in 15 minutes while we reboot the
computer). How about military command and control centers (sorry you
are being attacked on 3 sides, but we can't bring in the air strike
until we finish rebooting the computer).
This isn't to say that there has never been a UNIX related disruption,
but when it happens, it's front page news.
Although Linux is a different kernel, nearly all of the core design
principles are the same. Linux implemented the same public standards,
in some cases even using code created for or by the government. In
most cases, the Linux implementations are even superior to the
original designs because there were several competing candidates and
only the best options were chosen. It wasn't enough to just be fast,
it also had to be reliable.
Even today, the "weakest link" is the "bare metal" code used by the
X11 server to access the hardware registers of the graphics cards.
Still, the vendors are often willing to provide binary drivers which
seem to be quite reliable. I installed the NVidia 3D drivers on SUSE
and was astonished at how fast everything was. I haven't had a glitch
of any kind since. My understanding is that many of these glitches
are from not responding to interrupts in time. Even those problems I
haven't seen anywhere near as often.
Newer versions of Linux also automate the partitioning for you. It
will shrink down the windows partitions, leaving a 20% buffer, taking
the rest of the space for Linux. Users who want more can manually
change the resizing or users can copy a really big file to save some
disk space, then delete it when they are done. For best results,
users should defragment their hard drives before installing Linux, but
not defragmenting can still provide enough space for both Linux and
Windows for both to be functional. With Xen, a "dual-boot" system
becomes a "dual mode" system, running one instance of Windows (don't
try to run more than one) and one or more instances of Linux. VMWare
can also provide a "dual-mode" system, but you need VMWare Workstation
to configure a VM based on the windows boot partition and memory
restrictions (might be a good VMWare player appliance).
At this point, Linux has no trouble "playing nice" with Windows XP,
but Microsoft is hell-bound and determined to make Vista play dirty
with Linux. They don't understand that playing nice with Linux has
become a FEATURE of XP, and Microsoft's determination to be the only
OS on the machine is actually becoming a barrier to acceptance -
especially in the corporate environment.
Virtualization on the Server became a mainstream practice on Servers
in 2005, and throughout 2006, virtualization on the desktop has become
a mainstream practice, and is likely to become the primary
configuration - allowing Linux users to use Windows as a client.
Microsoft's legal department has shot itself in the foot.
Home Basic - the one best suited for use as a VM - forbids use as a
VM.
Business - permits use as VMs, but the license expressly forbids any
use of
multimedia functions - including with 3rd party products.
Ultimate - removes all legal restrictions EXCEPT the use of Vista
DLLs
with WINE, but consumes so much memory, bandwidth, and
hard drive that it is unsuitable as a VM Client.
The problem, for Microsoft is that all versions of Vista use the same
image, but each version has software that can be "switched on".
Turning on these features costs Microsoft a few cents per feature, but
Microsoft charges hundreds of dollars for the "upgrades".
What is wierd is that the licenses actually place the restrictions on
the operating system, not just the application bundleware. According
to the license, if you have Vista Business, or Home Basic, and you
install Real Media player, you violate the license, which forbids any
form of MP3 or MPEG4 use and Microsoft can deactivate your license.
Will Microsoft wait until 50-60 million licenses are delivered and
then auto-audit and deactivate those machines because you are using a
feature which is forbidden by the license, even for 3rd party
products?
We didn't think that Microsoft would enforce it's "3 strikes your out"
rule with XP did we? But they did!
We didn't think they would deactivate XP machines under VMLs if their
support contract expired, did we? But they did!
We didn't think Microsoft would release upgrades or fixes that would
sabotage 3rd party software, did we? But they did!
We didn't think that Microsoft would openly defy and disobey multiple
court orders related to antitrust issues, did we? But they did!
We didn't think that Microsoft would openly declare themselves to be
above the law, did we? But they did?
When one reads a Microsoft license agreement, one has to reach each
clause and look for the "worst case" scenario. Under Microsoft's
worst case scenario, anyone who doesn't buy Vista Ultimate and
attempts to watch movies, listen to music, play games, install Linux,
or ANY OTHER restricted activity, Microsoft could wait until an
appropriate date and shut down all of the machines at once!
What if they did this in the days before an election?
What if they did this during a national crisis?
What if they did this during a drop in stock prices?
What if they did this during a terrorist attack?
History has shown us that nearly all of Microsoft's back doors have
been exploited by hackers, ranging from the benign "script kiddie" to
the extortionist who demanded $10 million or they would unleash their
weapon, to the hard core criminal who drained nearly $600 million from
nearly 100 million credit cards - by grabbing information from Money
and Quicken files.
Imagine the impact of a terrorist organization like Al-Queda, Hamas,
or Shin Fein, unleashing a virus that would trigger the Microsoft
"deactivation feature" on 200 million Vista Machines - in a few
seconds!
In 1987, the largest single-day drop in the stock market occurred,
because the switches used to carry news wires and ticker information
were jammed. The news at 10 AM EST was that Iraq and Iran had started
blowing up each other's oil facilities in the persian gulf. Stock
began to drop a few points, but as more people dialed in or connected
to X.25 networks to get the news, the switches seized, and nobody was
getting any messages. Investors, began to panic and phoned in sell
orders. Some even began selling short, causing a further drop.
Before long, margins were being called in, with at least the warning
that a margin call was likely. This triggered even more sell-off.
Perhaps the only consolation to a "windows shut-down" is that most
people who have on-line capabilities wouldn't be able to place sell
orders.
|
|
