2 images that just totally make sense...

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- Luke.

Even those companies running Windows Servers have people who are paid to "harden" them and keep them safe.

So even Microsoft's server products are so prone to malware that they require an IT Pro to do a lot of stuff to them so they are secure.

I suppose that is why *nix is used in most public internet facing boxes.

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[snip]
Again, no one cares to write malware for a platform that has less than 5% of the market, especially one dominated by geeks alone (and the few non-techies that were convinced to switch under the premise of no viruses get the false sense of security by proxy).
[snip]

You'd clearly be surprised how widely *nix is used by business today. You seem to be under the misapprehension that desktops and smaller are the only markets that are worth considering. Sure the desktop business is large, but *nix servers are not exactly small concerns. *nix is the most popular home for Oracle RDBMS, Oracle Corp is the world's 2nd largest software company (after Microsoft), they own about 1/2 the RDBMS market and > 3/4s of their license revenue comes from *nix. The Windows based RDBMS market is less than 20% of the total RDBMS market by revenue (and mainly MS SQL Server).

Why do you think companies big and small put their business critical data on *nix rather than Windows?

Not at all. I'm well aware that there's a very large server market out there, and that many large corporations are using Unix/Linux.

The reason why I've discounted this market is because servers require people with letters after their names to run them. These people are highly educated and thus are not the focus of malware attacks in most cases (perhaps some, sure). Most malware writers are looking for the "dumb" users, and thus the primary attack target is desktop systems.

It's akin to a petty theif or pickpocket targeting the clueless passerby instead of planning an all out attack on Fort Knox.

Even those companies running Windows Servers have people who are paid to "harden" them and keep them safe. Why don't we hear more often about these companies and the "massive" exploits in Windows causing lots of data loss or the like. Because they have good SysAdmins to prevent that. The home user does not, and hackers know this.

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[snip]
Again, no one cares to write malware for a platform that has less than 5% of the market, especially one dominated by geeks alone (and the few non-techies that were convinced to switch under the premise of no viruses get the false sense of security by proxy).
[snip]

You'd clearly be surprised how widely *nix is used by business today. You seem to be under the misapprehension that desktops and smaller are the only markets that are worth considering. Sure the desktop business is large, but *nix servers are not exactly small concerns. *nix is the most popular home for Oracle RDBMS, Oracle Corp is the world's 2nd largest software company (after Microsoft), they own about 1/2 the RDBMS market and > 3/4s of their license revenue comes from *nix. The Windows based RDBMS market is less than 20% of the total RDBMS market by revenue (and mainly MS SQL Server).

Why do you think companies big and small put their business critical data on *nix rather than Windows?

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I think you'll find it's a bit more complicated than that ...

You don't need me to piss you off. Everything you post seems to be a rant.

iStack 'em

I'm going to buy an iPad.

Stack 'em.

So your either buying said iPad just to piss me off or just because you don't have your priorities in life right?

One thing I would definitely have said yes to is the TechCrunch CrunchPad. What a shame it never made it out of manufacturing.

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- Luke.

I'm going to buy an iPad.

Stack 'em.

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I could mention the Microsoft driver "hell" where you need an install disk or a download and half a day (for registration and "customer surveys") for each individual hardware item you add to a Microsoft system...

If it's hell for you, you've been doing it wrong. No wonder you hate Windows.

Personally, I install my drivers and go. No need to spend half a day doing so. ...and it depends on the age of the OS. Modern Windows OSes have very little need to install separate drivers. Older Windows OSes that do no recognize modern hardware would of course need a driver to make it functional.

This is the very same thing for any other OS, including OS X and Linux. The difference is that Windows is very well supported, OS X wants to control everything and tell you what you can and can't use on their system, and Linux you just have to pray (even those of us who don't believe) that it's supported or the hardware manufacturer made a driver, or trust some pimply faced youth to have written a halfway decent driver on their own. Or simply buy old hardware and be smug about your superior OS and how you're getting more out of your hardware than you would have under Windows. Yay!

As for "lack of applications"... I'll admit there's very little of the plethora of "clean up your computer" applications that you see for Windows systems. Linux simply doesn't have a Windows style system registry to get corrupted or choked.

Oh yeah, no system registry. It's not needed if you don't actually run anything other than web browsers and office programs. Yay productivity apps!

For the main Linux distros, you do get tens of thousands of applications already packaged and ready for use at a single click. Last I looked, Ubuntu lists about 40000 applications.

Some general sites to glance at are:

linux.org/apps

Linux App Finder

10 must-have Linux office applications

Linux applications I can't live without

Wow. I guess you showed me. All those apps and yet still no enticing reason to switch. Must be these chains of Microsoft (they give a +10 to imprisonment you know) keeping me shackled to their OS. Or it could be that Microsoft is better supported, and any must-have app is on that platform.

A user should be able to just switch on and go and do their business. They should not need to waste their time having to nursemaid vulnerable and fragile systems. From what I see, Microsoft systems are unique in continuing to support such an elaborate array of malware, often way beyond the users' (victims') control.

That includes the fact that users shouldn't have to mess with executable bits after they download a file just to get it to run. Or maybe an installer that might actually help set up the application for the user to begin using. Or an Uninstaller to remove it for them if they no longer with to have it on their system.

You're right. Far less time "wasted" nursing Linux systems than Microsoft's. But you're right, Microsoft continues to "support" "elaborate" "arrays" of malware merely by design. Certainly malware would never infect any other OS if they actually gained enough popularity. No, they'd be protected by the Almighty Hand of God (+50 to security) right from the start.

As far as I'm aware, ALL OTHER OSes are designed and are updated such that the Microsoft style of malware affliction was eradicated long ago. Good system security is an aspect that is not unique to Linux.

Eradicated long ago, huh? So Macs and Linux/Unix had viruses once upon a time, then they got serious and no more, is that right? Wow. You've convinced me! Where do I sign up?

I do love how you put that though: "eradicated". Sounds authoritative. "They no longer exist, and will never exist again!" "We've eradicated the vandals!" Yeah. Not so much. Again, no one cares to write malware for a platform that has less than 5% of the market, especially one dominated by geeks alone (and the few non-techies that were convinced to switch under the premise of no viruses get the false sense of security by proxy).

I simply use my Linux systems. I don't lose or waste time with registration and license gymnastics or with anti-virus voodoo...

I simply use my Windows system.s I don't lose or waste time with registration or license gymnastics, or with anti-virus voodoo (it isn't voodoo if you know what it's doing, unless that is more fear, uncertainty, and doubt you're attempting to spread).

I have, however, lost and wasted lots of time trying to get Linux properly configured. Then wasted lots of time trying to get a program I downloaded to actually work. Then wasted lots of time trying to figure out the disk hierarchy. Then wasted lots of time trying to find decent apps that were the equivalent to the ones I loved on Windows (must admit, I found a few, such as FireFox, but that was one of them that wouldn't run after downloading). I've also lost and wasted lots of time trying different versions of Linux, trying to find the one that's right for me, which of course requires a format and clean install to try each and every one of them.

Yeah, you're right. Linux does save lots of time over dealing with Window's malware. Sign me up!

Shame about all the spam I get from zombied Microsoft systems and all the Microsoft targeted viruses and trojans forever pestering my inbox.

Shame about all the FUD I get from the Linux gurus who want to spread the word to everyone about how great Linux is, and how Linux is going to save us all from the evil Microsoft lock-in, or the endless blathering about Microsoft's marketing department or business practices.

...but really. If you're getting so much email (spam) from Microsoft systems trying to target you for viruses and trojans, seriously, stay off the porn sites. I've been using Windows since before Linux existed and the only time I ever got that much spam was from frequenting sites I shouldn't have been out of sheer curiosity. I don't have that problem now, and neither should anyone else.

Linux rocks!

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I am laughing in pain right now. Apple has just introduced the "iPad" a tablet that sounds like a unmentioned women's product.

Rafe Needleman of CBS has called it a "ergonomic disaster", people are panning it's 10 hour battery life, it can only currently play games and read books. ...

I thought a "10 hour" battery life was considered reasonable for a lightweight portable device. That is certainly better than a lot of heavyweight laptops.

It'll be interesting to see what is made of the new hardware format. Is it a "big iPhone" or a graphics tablet? Or something that morphs into many things??

I cynically suspect that developers will just treat it like another PC system rather than do anything new and useful with the ergonomics of the GUI...

Is it one tap or two?... (Do we next get an iCup? (TM)(R)(C)(DRM)(Patented) )


Cheers,
Martin

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

There should still be a better way than the "Microsoft three Rs" for 'fixing' such very frustrating and expensive repeat problems. I see far too much of that myself with exasperated and bewildered Windows users who feel they have nowhere to turn for a cheap fix to 'repair' something that doesn't work even though they've already paid for it...

I'll take Microsoft's three "R's" any day over Linux's library hell, lack of applications (especially games), poor out-of-the-box configuration, bad driver/hardware support (mainly for the latest hardware offerings).

Don't see what you're incoherently gibbering at.

I could mention the Microsoft driver "hell" where you need an install disk or a download and half a day (for registration and "customer surveys") for each individual hardware item you add to a Microsoft system...


As for "lack of applications"... I'll admit there's very little of the plethora of "clean up your computer" applications that you see for Windows systems. Linux simply doesn't have a Windows style system registry to get corrupted or choked.

For the main Linux distros, you do get tens of thousands of applications already packaged and ready for use at a single click. Last I looked, Ubuntu lists about 40000 applications.

Some general sites to glance at are:

linux.org/apps

Linux App Finder

10 must-have Linux office applications

Linux applications I can't live without

Of course, if users actually learned how to take care of their machines.... oh, but wait. It's not the user's fault when the OS should be built from the ground up for security. Linux would never suffer from malware, no matter how popular it becomes because all the problems are out in the open, and people fix them right away! Therefore we can conclude that Linux is the better OS as it has better security principals.

A user should be able to just switch on and go and do their business. They should not need to waste their time having to nursemaid vulnerable and fragile systems. From what I see, Microsoft systems are unique in continuing to support such an elaborate array of malware, often way beyond the users' (victims') control.

As far as I'm aware, ALL OTHER OSes are designed and are updated such that the Microsoft style of malware affliction was eradicated long ago. Good system security is an aspect that is not unique to Linux.

Yeah. Right. Linux rocks!

I simply use my Linux systems. I don't lose or waste time with registration and license gymnastics or with anti-virus voodoo...

Shame about all the spam I get from zombied Microsoft systems and all the Microsoft targeted viruses and trojans forever pestering my inbox.


Regards,
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

I am laughing in pain right now. Apple has just introduced the "iPad" a tablet that sounds like a unmentioned women's product.

Rafe Needleman of CBS has called it a "ergonomic disaster", people are panning it's 10 hour battery life, it can only currently play games and read books. And Apple stocks actually dropped 5% as it became clear halfway through the presentation that the media wasn't impressed!

Apple has introduced the most stupid technological product I've ever seen.

I'm pretty annoyed at what I'm seeing in iPad so far. Just a new extension and level of the New Apple's arrogance.

Apple Ego +1
AT&T and Verizon +1
Media Fanboi Spin +1

Consumer -1

Okay, I've chimed in on my opinions about it...
Apple Introduces the Underwhelming iPad

You would not believe how painful it was to type that...

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- Luke.

I am laughing in pain right now. Apple has just introduced the "iPad" a tablet that sounds like a unmentioned women's product.

Rafe Needleman of CBS has called it a "ergonomic disaster", people are panning it's 10 hour battery life, it can only currently play games and read books. And Apple stocks actually dropped 5% as it became clear halfway through the presentation that the media wasn't impressed!

Apple has introduced the most stupid technological product I've ever seen.

---

- Luke.

At least their machines don't get zombied to then pollute the internet for everyone else.

Yeah. Damn those hackers who don't want to write malware for an OS that has less than 5% of the market. It must be secure if there's no malware for it, right?

Lack of evidence is not evidence of lacking. Same goes for Linux.


Linux rocks!

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There should still be a better way than the "Microsoft three Rs" for 'fixing' such very frustrating and expensive repeat problems. I see far too much of that myself with exasperated and bewildered Windows users who feel they have nowhere to turn for a cheap fix to 'repair' something that doesn't work even though they've already paid for it...

I'll take Microsoft's three "R's" any day over Linux's library hell, lack of applications (especially games), poor out-of-the-box configuration, bad driver/hardware support (mainly for the latest hardware offerings).

Of course, if users actually learned how to take care of their machines.... oh, but wait. It's not the user's fault when the OS should be built from the ground up for security. Linux would never suffer from malware, no matter how popular it becomes because all the problems are out in the open, and people fix them right away! Therefore we can conclude that Linux is the better OS as it has better security principals.

Yeah. Right. Linux rocks!

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For the cost of ONE Mac, I can build 3 quad core machines....nuff said.

Apple have their way of making money just as other vendors/suppliers do. I certainly don't agree with some of their practices for their way of doing that...

At least their machines don't get zombied to then pollute the internet for everyone else.

Regards,
Martin

---

See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

For the past 12 months (as the systems were on warranty), I have done my best to keep my customers sweet. Unfortunately, they won't or don't want to learn the basics of computing. Got fed up of repairing the same problem time & time again....Repair system only for those users to install torrent programs time after time.....tut,tut,tut.....Microsoft's & Windows fault!

Let me guess...

They were repeatedly downloading files that included Windows 'malware'?

TOO many people want everything for nothing!

Unfortunately, that problem isn't going to go away any time soon. You also get the corporate greed that isn't going to go away any time soon either...


There should still be a better way than the "Microsoft three Rs" for 'fixing' such very frustrating and expensive repeat problems. I see far too much of that myself with exasperated and bewildered Windows users who feel they have nowhere to turn for a cheap fix to 'repair' something that doesn't work even though they've already paid for it...

Regards,
Martin

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See new freedom: Mageia Linux
Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
The Future is what We all make IT (GPLv3)

Re last post.........AND still have change to buy lunch............

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For the cost of ONE Mac, I can build 3 quad core machines....nuff said.

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Linux is great..........truly it is..........

Used it for the past 2 working days to kiss off 11 customers I no longer want on my books.

WHY, it isn't the end users fault.........don't make me die laughing......

For the past 12 months (as the systems were on warranty), I have done my best to keep my customers sweet. Unfortunately, they won't or don't want to learn the basics of computing. Got fed up of repairing the same problem time & time again....Repair system only for those users to install torrent programs time after time.....tut,tut,tut.....Microsoft's & Windows fault! TOO many people want everything for nothing!

Linux ROCKS......it proved that the components on those systems are in full working order......that's about all it's good for!

Hurry up the day that Linux overhauls Windows......I'll give it 24 hours before those very same torrent programs that brings down Windows machines, destroys the faith people have in Linux.......Then I will die laughing...........

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