[Leaplist] Re: A letter to my Windows friends...

Wed Nov 29 13:18:40 EST 2006

What about games that need the internet to run? I've switched back and forth
between Linux and windows several times now. I use Firefox and Thunderbird
under Windows and never touch IE (unless it's for the Sun learning
connection that for some reason ONLY works with IE *grumble* and I have to
use it for school. I never have a reason to use Outlook Express and never
do. I would switch to Linux permanently, but my favorite game, Everquest,
doesn't work with Linux. They recently added a mac port, but I don't have
the cash right now to buy a mac. Linux is great and can meet the needs of
most people, but there are always little hangups that people will have
because so many companies tailor their programs to Windows. In my case, I
could just stop playing EQ, but I don't want to. In other cases, like the
Sun learning connection, I'm pretty much stuck. It really blows my mind that
a company like Sun would be so narrow minded as the rest of them.

OK, I just rechecked and it seems that the site works now with Firefox 2. :)
Also, another login site that didn't work previously with 1.5 works with 2.0.
So it seems that if you are happy waiting 3-6 months for IE features to be
cracked and supported by Firefox, you can use that instead as a browser.
I've tried others like Opera and had even less success with some of the
sites I need.

That still doesn't solve my video game dilemma. The new winex/cedega/whatver
it is now doesn't support EQ anymore and probably never will again. Sure, it
would be nice if enough of us used Linux to force companies to support
something besides Windows, but it will be an uphill battle and probably
never happen.

On 11/29/06, leaplist-request at leap-cf.org <leaplist-request at leap-cf.org>
wrote:
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Chris <Chris at NeptunePCTech.com>
> To: "LEAP is Linux Enthusiasts and Professionals, a Linux User Group." <
> leaplist at leap-cf.org>
> Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2006 15:27:42 -0500
> Subject: [Leaplist] A letter to my Windows friends...
> I'm sending the following to everyone in my address book. Yeah,
> I'm having an old fart grumpy moment after spending my "Holiday"
> cleaning up three friends/relatives PCs - sheesh.
>
> ----------
>
> What's wrong with this article?
>
> http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/11/27/uk.spam.reut/index.html
>
> Here's what's wrong - nowhere in this article is Microsoft, and
> their products, such as Internet Explorer, Outlook, Outlook
> Express and Windows mentioned. And that's just wrong. Because
> Microsoft is largely culpable for the plague of spam infesting
> your email. And your Windows PC is helping.
>
> ----
>
> Computer columnist Robert Cringely wrote, back in 2001:
>
> "The wonder of all these Internet security problems is that they are
> continually labeled as "e-mail viruses" or "Internet worms," rather
> than the more correct designation of "Windows viruses" or "Microsoft
> Outlook viruses." It is to the credit of the Microsoft public relations
> team that Redmond has somehow escaped blame, because nearly
> all the data security problems of recent years have been Windows-
> specific, taking advantage of the glaring security loopholes that
> exist in these Microsoft products."
>
> ----
>
> In November of 2003, John Dvorak wrote:
>
> "The [Outlook Express] product has been under fire since its
> release, and almost every major virus uses Outlook's open-door
> security policy to turn individual mailboxes into spam-o-matic
> emailing machines."
>
> ----
>
> The mainstream media seldom makes the distinction between
> "computer" trojans/viruses and "Microsoft" trojans/viruses. The
> mainstream media maybe don't know any better. Or maybe, the
> mainstream media gets a heck of a lot of advertising revenue
> from Bill Gates.
>
> Look, it's this simple. Windows desktop PCs are a disaster on
> the Internet that have cost literally billions of dollars of damage
> to computer users.
>
> You didn't know this - and that's not your fault. But the fact is,
> you were sold a PC that had severe security problems in the
> fundamental design of it software, and even worse problems
> in its default setup. If it weren't for the agreement you made
> in the form of  the MS EULA (Yes, you agreed to it) you'd have
> the right to a class action lawsuit.
>
> But it's time to grow up. Now you know better. And my message
> is simple - run something besides Windows - at least when you're
> connected to the Internet. Chances are, your machine can run
> Windows and Linux. I'll even help you set it up. Use Linux to surf
> and do email. Run Windows for what it's safe for - playing games.
>
> Or buy a Macintosh. But please, don't sit there, and wonder
> why your inbox is flooded with spam while running five zombie
> tasks on your PC that are spreading viruses and flooding the
> Internet with spam without your knowledge.
>
> Are you afraid to learn how to use Linux or a MacIntosh?
> Don't be. You weren't born knowing Windows, and the
> transition is easier than you think. Personally, I'd be a LOT
> more afraid of passing out my credit card numbers, my
> social security number, my address. I'd be a LOT more afraid
> about giving out all my bank account information and passwords.
> I'd be a LOT more afraid of the FBI knocking at my door wanting
> to know about the kiddie porn I've been emailing out.
>
> Awwww, it couldn't be that bad, could it? Consider, in 2003,
> the Norwegian telco provider, Telenor shut down a server
> controlling a "bot-net" of 10,000 "zombie" PCs.
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/09/09/telenor_botnet_dismantled/
>
> But 10,000 PCs - that's nothing, right? OK, how about this:
> In September of 2005, Dutch police arrested a trio controlling
> a zombied network of 1.5 million (yeah, million) PCs.
>
> The currents levels of spam, viruses and trojans points to even
> bigger networks. Much bigger. And none of the people using
> these millions of PCs even know anything is wrong with their
> computer.
>
> Look at it this way. You worked hard. You saved. You bought
> your PC. You thought you owned it. But Bill Gates gave it away
> to some Ukrainian criminal organization. They're running your
> PC, and the only reason you can use it at all is because you
> have their permission. And you still want to surf the web with
> Windows?
>
> Be my guest. But when you get tired of wondering why your
> browser doesn't go where you want it to, when you get your
> fill of the slow machine that used to be fast, when you start
> wondering if your entire identity isn't for sale on a foreign
> website... give me a call.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Chris
>
>
>
>
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>
>
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