* Posts by D. M

300 publicly visible posts • joined 24 Aug 2007

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Kaminsky: MS security assessment tool is a 'game changer'

D. M
Thumb Down

Would you

trust a drug dealer to clean up street with drug problems?

History tells us, MS and security doesn't go together.

Great Aussie firewall claims first victim

D. M
Flame

It is not even funny

I'm ashamed for what my gov is doing. They are determined to kill free speech. It just shows we can never trust any politician. The bar has been left 6 feet under for too long, it's time to lift it up.

Opera chief: Microsoft's IE 8 ‘undermines’ web standards

D. M
Gates Horns

Opera is half right

First, I'm not opera user. I like it, but I stick with FF.

The problem with Opera is not Opera isn't good enough. Matter of fact, Opera is a superb software by itself. What "kills" it is there is seriously lack of plug-in and extension. FF on the other hand is really winner in this area. FF itself isn't perfect, in fact far from it. IMO, if we only compare the "naked" browser, Opera > FF > IE. however, we don't use "naked" browser.

For MS, why can't it kill the old rubbish, and start with standard? If your car has a bad wheel, it is broken. Do you want to fix it completely, or do you want to adjust everything else just to make it "working"? It is perfect time for MS to follow the standard, and start over. Maybe it will help them to sale more copy of their next Windows 7.

BOFH: Aspie no questions

D. M
Happy

Good one

What if they have to deal with CICS? That would be an idea. *kick* the boss.

New Zealand bolts net filtering regime into place

D. M

@ AC

You are living in la la land if you think you can get rid of a bad government and replace with a good one. They are all the same, you cannot trust any politician, once a bad law is in place, it is impossible to get rid of it.

Apple's latest patent brilliance: the iGlove

D. M

Patent System is FUBARed

As the title said. anyway, I want to patent iDiot and iTard.

Redmond security guru explains IE vuln miss

D. M

I've seen this practice

This is simple to understand - MS doesn't know what it is doing, simple really. This practice is rather common. The underline problem:

1. The design team doesn't fully understand what they want. They gave a fuzzy outline and objectives, without giving all the requirements to the team do the coding.

2. The coders don't know what they are doing. They may do their best based on what they understood of the partial requirement. Plus some of those so called "developers" really cannot code anything there days.

3. There is no/little documentation, and the test team doesn't really test properly.

To "fix" the problem, the design/review team must know what they want and what they look for. This requires the team to understand the technology, environment, and the will to do some work, rather than sit there and saying "I want these, these and that, now write it".

NASA inks deal for ISS plasma drive tests

D. M

TIE fighter anyone

One step closer to build TIE fighter. Bring it on, I'm looking forward to our own clone troops.

Apple more closed than Microsoft

D. M

We do need to care

To those who say "who cares", you should care.

It is simple matter that we should do the right thing. It's not like we have to choose which one is less evil. What we should do is get rid of all evils.

I can catch bus to work, or I can drive. I can say who cares, drive myself is slightly more convenience. But I either catch bus or share car with some else, because that's the right thing to do.

Human is deemed to be doomed, the general public is always stupid, selfish, greedy.

Employees sue for unpaid Windows Vista overtime

D. M
Jobs Horns

It is normal

@AC: some companies have policy to force you turn off PCs when you leave. It will save the company power bill.

@AC & sceptical bastard: they are not talking about stand alone home PC. There are gozzilion of things running on company network, the normal waiting time is very long. It has less to do with the operating system however. The status of network, how the network was setup, servers and how many programs at auto start/run are the major issues. However, how OS handles those tasks does has impact. If the time tracking system only starts when user login certain specified software, you will have to understand the waiting time will have to include PC start time + network login time + all background programs startup time + time to start the "production" software.

North Korea photoshops stroke from Kim Jong Il

D. M
Paris Hilton

It could be real photo

It could be a real photo. As pointed out before, he was standing slightly forward then the rest. I also noticed the "wall" behind him is not the same. However if you look closely, you should notice it is not a wall, but a steel case or step. It is possible that the center of platform is not as the same height. More likely slightly lower to have a stairway to the top. When taking the photo, they added some steel case/step to make them same height as the rest of platform, so the poor guy in the upper level all seem to be on level.

PH, 'cos she doesn't need to fake photo either.

Microsoft will show world+dog how to write secure code

D. M
Linux

@Fraser

Yes, everything and anything that company does is evil and all about money grabbing.

And please name one useful good thing that company innovated?

Internet Explorer - now with 35% less FAIL

D. M

@AC

"Sounds like your admin might've died, or just stopped caring. I'm an admin too. I use IE6 to punish people. Extremely large networks aren't all that different-- one just updates by department, and has a couple test machines. Methinks you might want to hire a couple consultants to scare your admin out of his complacency."

We out sourced most of networking/admin ages ago, that's what big company/department/agency do. That's real world.

Do they care, hell no, the two current out source companies managing our networks got to be the worst of worst.

However, back to your point:

1. Couple of test machine is not enough, that's part of the problems we have had. Some of the special software/applications we use, don't like changing anything. I think our Intranet is pretty much locked with IE6. Matter of fact, changes are more likely to break our software/applications.

2. Don't you dare to use the word "consultant". Those blood suckers are the worst of IT world. Currently one of the biggest IT form is doing what they do best - charging us sky high amount of money for their consultants, while producing "products" worse than piece of shit.

D. M
Unhappy

@mechBgon

Well, I have to ask if you really know what you are talking about. In real world, update is not an issue with any browser for large network for very simple reason:

1. the upgrade/update is very very slow comparing to "home users". Often, there will be no update at all. In large network, every upgrade/update should be tested, to ensure it doesn't break existing function/software. The most important thing would be keep business systems/environment running. The company Intranet, any web based applications, are not likely to change. So does the browser, once it is set, no change will be made to it.

2. Users are not accessing the Internet directly, they will all go through proxy and firewall. Certain sites or type of files will be blocked, users have no option any way.

At work, we stuck with IE6. The crap web application we must use is heavy activeX controlled. We don't have any "update". IE7 or 8 might work with our existing environment, but no one will risk it. This is the real world.

I'd very much like to use FF, however it is not an option for most users. Some from other sections can use FF for everything else, and IE6 for activeX controlled apps.

Microsoft dishes dirt on IE8 'pr0n mode'

D. M
Paris Hilton

Sure FF already had it

for ages. However, for average uneducated IE users, do you expect they would know a single thing about FF? All they need is the ability to check email and watch pr0n. This will be a huge help for them.

Houston, we have a virus

D. M
Paris Hilton

@ilago

No amount of test can save that piece of crap called "Microsoft Windows".

By the way, I seem to remember your British navy uses/will use win2k for weapon control system on warship. That's really scary. They are meant to be able to carry nuclear warhead ...

PH, because even she won't make suck stupid decisions.

D. M

I think I read they run Windows server too

Now, that's one of the real Blue Screen of DEATH.

Why the hell they couldn't use something decent, like BSD/UNIX/Linux?

CERT: Linux servers under 'Phalanx' attack

D. M
Linux

Shouldn't they already patched?

I'm relatively new to Linux, but it seems everytime there is vulnerability reported, Linux already patched the hole.

If the BOFH cannot patch "his" machine, then he is not BOFH.

US judge says University can ignore Christian course credits

D. M
Flame

WTF?

that's all I can say. How stupid US has become.

Some idiots poison youth with bullshit, yet, they sue the uni which doesn't agree with them?

The sooner we get rid of those idiots, the better this world will become.

Ban all religions.

Man buys $1,000 worth of iPhone pixels by accident

D. M

I wish I thought this idea earlier

Can someone write a program that displays a diamond, and sells for $100,000?

The fact this guy bought iPhone is enough to say he is iDiot. For those who bough this iPhone crap, I will sell for iNothing for 1 Million USD each. That's right, you will get nothing, but you can display your richness by spending million bucks for nothing.

IBM's Ubuntu deal favors the server

D. M
Gates Horns

Notes is still used by many

Well, the place I work for, use Notes (but old version 6.xx). We have sites across many countries, and internal users at least 7000 (not include many contractors and external service provider). Notes works okay. However, the client side is pretty bad (slow, buggy, configuration nightmare, etc), the server side must be really hard to manage (I work for IT devision, tech support area for business systems, our networking were out sourced). There are many issues we hate Notes, however, I don't believe MS exchange will be any better. In fact, with our usage, exchange server may never work.

As far as I know, many large companies/org/dept use Notes, and any support for Linux Notes is good.

Vista SP1 downloaders bite back

D. M

@Erik Aamot

win2k was before ME.

Man buys MacBook Air, pulls it apart, takes pics

D. M
Thumb Down

the real question is

Is every die hard Mac fanboy/girl missing a screw or two?

I just don't get it. Apple is always overprice, underpowered, nice looking, lock-in user to Apple only, treat its user like crap. Why do people put up with this Apple abuse? Same I couldn't understand why people put up with M$ crap.

You buy any computer using your head, think before making decision. Ask yourself what does product X do for me, and what I can do with it, AND who control this machine - myself or someone else.

Latest Vista SP1 tweak open to everyone with a week to spare

D. M

What beta?

M$ does test by public using so call released final products. What beta you are talking about? Nowadays, there is no such thing as beta. What used to be beta, is now final release. For M$, it is not even beta, it is alpha release as final.

Microsoft takes a shine to Logitech?

D. M

@risky

You must be either M$ funboy or haven't used the real good stuff.

Once M$ did made a decent mouse and gained respective position in market, then their standard began to drop, and they stopped on improvement. Nowadays, their mice are full of sh!t. Just try a Logitech G5 mouse, you will never touch any other crap ever again.

And the keyboard war was long over, M$ hasn't had one decent keyboard for a long long time.

D. M
Unhappy

This is bad

Logitech is the only brand I would buy myself for mouse/keyboard/steering wheel/etc.

If you haven't used the real stuff, you would not know how crap your M$ so called hardware is. I was thinking to buy an extra G5 laser mouse for backup reason. Hell, I should now buy two, just in case. And I was thinking to wait for the new steering wheel to drop price. Looks like I have to buy now, quickly before the last good stuffs are gone.

BOFH: Balancing the budget...

D. M
IT Angle

It happens everywhere

So true. And I tell ya this is true everywhere.

I have a true story from my workplace. One dept had "this project budget" to spend on IT. Just before the end of 30/06 (our financial year), they spent it to order IT stuff for the planned stuffs which they should spend at the beginning. Then there was a problem, the receive party had same budget problems and ordered the lot of stuff because they have money have to go, and used the our dept lack of action as the perfect excuse. Our goods arrived earlier then their order, and suddenly they have "extra" money they cannot spend. A "war" broke off, and our dept held on.

And I can tell ya same thing happens in other country as well. It seems all gov use the same budget model.

Dell moves 40,000 Ubuntu PCs

D. M

RE: Hummm

That was strange, what do you do at uni?

Myself is a total Linux noob. I know pretty good deal about windows and general computing (I studied an worked for years in IT), I even had the useless M$ certificate when it was "hot".

To be honest, I did have a few problems with Linux setup, but it is nothing new comparing what I've been doing for living and my experience with windows. These days, Linux is no worse than windows in term of "make it work". Most of things just work straight out of box. For the things don't work, you don't have more trouble than what you'd do in windows. I found it is very odd that you have monitor problem with Linux.

Now consider this: since most people will have to ask a handy friend or pay for some else to look after their computers, what different it makes between windows and Linux? If both have the same kind of applications software that users want, do you think average user will know any difference at all?

I said it before, what things that limit Linux use:

1. Application software (include games, hell, games might be the only thing windows is good at).

2. Hardware drivers support (getting much better now, even Canon printer works now).

3. FUD (M$ fanboyz, Mac zealot, M$ itself).

4. User don't know what Linux is (most of them only heard about M$).

D. M

Re: bleh

Daniel, your idea will kill Linux.

The only way Linux can develop big and become competitive is exactly what Ubuntu, Mandriva are doing. You must make Linux user friendly and include most common applications average users would use.

I recently blow way windows XP and installed Mandriva on my father's laptop. He have no tech knowledge about computer/OS, and as majority of users, just want the machine "work". I had a few problems with Linux setup to do what he wanted it to do. but at the end, apart from one last thing I need to work out, he can just use the machine to do what he wants it to do. That's the most important for him.

OpenOffice is important for Linux, users need a application they can use and able to exchange document with the rest of windows world. And guess what, average users do play card games that "no one wants to play"., same as bluetooth stuff/power management/etc.

Microsoft loses battle of the piggybacking passwords

D. M
Jobs Horns

Patent is out of control

The current patent system is crazy, it is safe to invalidate 99.9% of them, and still having stupid patent left.

Just in case, I patented the method that requires "push a button in order turn on a computer". Time to pay, all of you.

Wii grasses up cheating wife

D. M

Sick

Just how sick people become? Cheating is cheating, of 'cos the guy knew she was married. And the wife? They both deserve to be punished. The husband clearly shows he is a nice guy, otherwise I'm expect he shoot both of them, and they deserve it.

Man wrongly detained for 50 days has ISP to thank

D. M
Black Helicopters

small correction

@Glen Turner

Just small correction. First, he didn't give an old phone, but an old SIM card to his second cousin YEARS ago while he was NOT in Australia. His second cousin, is not bomber, only a suspect.

Also worth notice is police made number of F*ck up, and Immigration minister just keeps trying to show selective so called "evidence", in order to justify his action. And to date, the so called "real stuff" are just non existing.

By the way, you do know that under the same law he was arrested, we already broke the law by speaking the poor guy was arrested by police.

Welcome to Australia, *we* will happily lock you up.

D. M
Black Helicopters

Try aussi, this guy will be held forever

under our "new" law, this poor guy will be secretly locked-up for as long as it takes (aka, forever or unless his death), and report/known his detention will be a crime. So if you read this news, and if this guy was in our "great" country, you are also breaking the law.

Consider yourself lucky.

Ubuntu laptop clan trapped in hard drive hell

D. M

It is sort of Linux fault

First, I fully support Linux. However, if Linux developer knows certain BIOS/firmware setting harms hard drive, it should control the harmful action by override BIOS/firmware.

It is technically not Linux fault, but who do you think the uneducated users will blame?

On the other hand, disable this crazy "power management", the same uneducated users will than blame Linux for "using more power".

You cannot win, but I'd rather choose the less blame.

More gnashing of teeth after Microsoft update brings PCs to a standstill

D. M
Black Helicopters

@Abdul

You have no idea how real world works.

Do you know why Webster ("the guy with 18000 PC") had no problem? Because people at that level has no idea what the real world looks like, and they won't listen anyway. So they think everything is perfect, if there is anything goes wrong, it is the "worker". Often, even they know their ideas won't work, they will push it anyway, because they are so used to order "small people". Everything for them "will work out", as long as they bully enough. Most knowledgeable people won't waste time with them, since there is no hope for so called management to do the right thing.

You have no idea how ill informed and f*cked up the top management are. They take 110% credit if things work; they take absolutely zero responsibility if things don't work; they only listen what they want to hear; and try to tell them they are wrong - don't even think about it.

D. M
Flame

@Chris C & Webster P

I work for a large department, and I'm not talking about a small number of PCs here. I also worked with other big or small companies.

From what I've seen, it is people like you who give M$ green light to do whatever it wants. you do not need to give in, as customer, M$ should listen to you, not the reverse. Yes, it is your fault.

It is true that some software are windows only, but most of time, not everyone uses them. Say if only accounting people required windows to do their work, there is no reason why everyone else has to use it too.

My work is (part of IT division) to support our business system, everything can go wrong will go wrong with M$ software. A lot of the problem are far beyond any reasonable explanation apart form "it is M$".

When I spoke with our external IT service provider, the only disadvantage they could think to go majority Linux desktop is "users will requires more training", plus they may not be able to mess up their PCs. Well, our average users, will not tell any difference between Windows or a Ubuntu Linux, and since when "user cannot mess up their PCs" a disadvantage?

French court says non to pre-loaded Windows on Acer laptop

D. M

How stupid people can be

This is proof how stupid people can get. This case is about choice. I bet those who say "go somewhere else" or "it's like buying a car without engine" never passed their primary school exam.

It is simple matter that we should all have a choice to exclude the piece we do not need/want. eg. Go to Dell website, try to order a desktop PC without OS, monitor, keyboard, mouse. You will find the best you can is to convince them to take out the monitor after you make a rather long phone call to their sales rep.

I'm sure if you walk in a car dealer, you can ask to take out want you do not want, or change the part to your spec, as long as it fits to the car you are going to buy. Why we cannot do the same with computer?

Why Microsoft vs Mankind still matters

D. M

About what average Jo thinks, and why the standard is so low

You will be wrong that average Jo thinks Windows = computer and IE = Internet. Many people do think that way, but many also are scared to try anything else because years of FUD + false information given by many so call IT expert who knows nothing about IT.

It is shock for me to learn that many people been told and believe that buy a new PC without buy Vista is illegal. No kidding, even "asking new PC with WINDOWS XP instead of Vista" will be illegal and "get you into serious trouble".

For people who has an idea, this is nothing but laughing bullshit. But think for those people who don't, and have no intention to get into trouble.

D. M

windows does NOT work, but FUD does

I'm not developer, but I've always been in either directly IT support, or closely related areas. And I also have worked for both small and big "places". I'm now over 3 years in this huge gov department.

Windows never worked, never works, chance are, never will.

Why we still have "all" windows environment? Stupid management (please keep in mind that IT person does NOT make IT decision) + FUD. From my experience, small business/company would be the same.

For personal market, regardless what Linux can do or capable to do. The environment is against Linux.

1. Software availability and the matter of installation keep a lot of people who are willing to switch OS away. Let's just face it, without the right software, some people cannot do their job. And the installation process for Linux software is still beyond what average people will cope. On personal market, many people are scared about false information on Linux. Give you a real example, after I gave a ubuntu CD to my co-worker, she was so pissed because she was driven away from Linux (which she wished she could knew the truth much earlier) by so called "expert opinions".

2. Hardware support. I know it is getting better, but getting Linux drive is still a pain. Install the driver can be nightmare, it just drives average users away.

3. Games. Yes, many (should I dare to say majority) PC today are mainly for Porn/Games. I'm not expert on the former, but games on Linux = not happening for majority of games that count.

D. M

@ crashIO

Since when you get any support for windows?

Anyway, the biggest problems for linux:

1. software installer. It gets better now, but it is still hard to install software package for linux. Windows software installation is a no brainer.

2. Hardware support. Try to install new hardware driver is a huge problem for less-than-linux-expert users; finding the right driver for your hardware can be impossible.

Man sues God

D. M

There is only one problem

Can anyone possible proof God exists? And even so, which one?

"Act of God" is just what western legal systems allow greedy insurance companies to abuse the system and rip people off.

However, to think about it, as the way how "Act of God" can be used in legal systems, God must be responsible for the damages, and would be indeed guilty of charge.

Aussie politicos in a froth over naval boob jobs

D. M

Not really

I'm not sure what about labor, the current gov has been in power over 11 years. and We (Australian) is really not what you think. We have a king - King Howard. Whos word is the law, and we all must be enslaved.

Any way, I doubt labor gov had this happened, or King Howard will surely speak loudly "you have done it before".

Speaking of our military recruitment, it has been in talking for years that there is no enough people join the military, and especially lack of women. So it appears a good idea they have there.

Microsoft thanks EU after losing its appeal

D. M

Good news I guess

Well, I'm sure M$ will fight for it. they didn't pay the army of lawyers for nothing. I only hope M$ will finally lose, and start thinking what it has been doing wrong. And hopefully starts to do the right thing.

SCO files for US bankruptcy protection

D. M

@Anton Ivanov

What do you mean? I'm not from states. Do you mean US laws are not only bad, but it is so corrupted, that allows bankrupted company to continue abuse the law (if there is any), and blackmail people around?

D. M

But they have too much more unpaid bill ...

SCO deserve it. I only hope not only SCO management, but the lawyers too burn in hell.

Bring down all the evils - Sony, RIAA, MPAA, M$ ..., all of them.

BOFH: Building changes

D. M

Where is the cable

Well, nothing compare to some of your guys, but: Years ago, I was working for a small company. One of our clients moved office and called us because part of their network were "gone". I was sent do check it out. There were couple of offices suffering from bad cabling (move the machine away, to a known good office, it works), and one of the "very important" machine was not connected (in a locked room). I was surprised that I pull the cat5 cable easily out from the wall, and the other end was not connected to anywhere. When asked if they have a floor plan to show all the cabling, etc.. None could provide one. It seemed they asked the floor to be changed to have more rooms and offices block, but no one thought about data cable. One "manager" just assumed the builder would connect everything and test them.

D. M

It is commonly known

that in any big company/department/organizations/etc the one who makes decision has absolutely no knowledge on how to make the proper decision; and the one who has the knowledge is either not involved, or has absolutely no say to the decision.

At my workplace, the only correct word for big decisions been make is - "brain dead". No one has ever asked the person/people who know how it should be done, or the management asks for an opinion, then throw them away.

Microsoft promises less-annoying Vista OS early next year

D. M

You will find many

brain dead IT managers around. the bigger the org, the easier they can be located. It is simple because the one who make decision usually knows next to nothing about IT.

At my work place (a big place), we finally changed from win98/win2k to XP about 3 years ago. It is still now a bad decision. The best option would be a full Linux desktop environment, the second best would be staying with win2k. Moving to XP offer nothing but trouble over "existing win2k".

BioShockers delivered from DRM hell

D. M

Who cares

We will only see more DRMs. The future is depending on how stupid people really are.

People are stupid, "we" forget that it is the consumer drives business. If we gave in easily, then they (business) will feel free to rip us off, and force us to accept what ever they feel like.

Stop buying any product from any company who support DRM for a year. We will be fine, but they will be gone.

NSA surveillance and the dream police

D. M

Come to OZ

Same here. Our PM just copies whatever GWB does.

Human rights? never heard of it.

Prime minister? what was that, he is King Howard, he is the law, just do what ever he says.

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