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Ted's Radio Weblog
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Wednesday, April 28, 2004 |
Off for the day: a client meeting in Massachusetts, followed by a
meeting of the Boston Area FoxPro User Group, where Steve Lundahl will be presenting a talk on Visual FoxPro and SQL Server: DTS and SQL-DMO
9:42:12 AM 
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Tuesday, April 27, 2004 |
Microsoft Needs Geek Appeal. "I thought I had a pretty good handle on the differences between the
open-source community and the traditional proprietary approach to
software development.
But watching a Microsoft spokesperson defend his company
and its whole approach to business in front of a room full of Linux
zealots last week helped crystallize the gulf between the two
camps--not just in business strategy but in fundamental philosophy and
political bent." Read the full article on ZDNet. Link posted via OSNews
9:27:57 AM
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Monday, April 26, 2004 |
Miguel de Icaza, leader of
several interesting Open Source projects, says that Cringely makes nice
but incorrect statements in claiming that you can't win playing
Microsoft's game, and proposes his own strategies.
"In Miguel de Icaza's latest blog entry
the Mono project leader discusses the threat Longhorn's new
technologies and frameworks pose to Linux and open source. He also
directs uses to this recent USENET post about the goals of Mozilla, which is a very interesting read." From OSNews.com
11:40:29 AM
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Sunday, April 25, 2004 |
Internet Week reports "Yankee Group Disputes Linux' Claim To Lower Cost: Research report indicates most large firms won't replace either Windows or Unix machines with Linux" while ITWeb reports "Yankee Linux findings rigged too."
Studies funded by a vendor, studying the narrowly-framed questions that favor the vendor, are advertising, not impartial studies, and need to be clearly disclaimed that way. The study sets up a foolish scenario of "either-or" a proposterous solution, asking the CEO/CIO/CTO-types whether they favor revolution over evolution:
"In a fully-realized enterprise environment that's built around Windows, you know where the trouble spots are," she said. "Why would you then switch to Linux, and take a couple of steps backwards? Enterprises have this huge embedded [Windows] infrastructure. How do you rip out and tear down what you have?"
No one would sign on for such a plan. Instead, if the questions had been posed to focus on the trouble spots - exploited web servers, expensive licensing, poor desktop controls - and asked if the CxOs would consider other alternatives, evolutionarily and not revolutionarily, we might have a much better view of what is really happening in corporations. CxOs not considering such alternatives are not meeting their fiduciary responsibility to their shareholders.
I have no doubt that Windows Server 2003, the first significant OS released since the so-called "Bill security memo" of early last year, finally closes a whole series of holes in the Microsoft security model. But the OS is new. There's no track record of success, no experienced network technicians to support it. And Linux is no panacea - bugs exist, some software is incomplete, installation is vastly improved, but some areas still need work. Security, too, is not a done deal. "Security is a process, not a product." Something will always be breaking and need repair.
A survey of Microsoft shops asking whether switching or upgrading, in their opinion, would be more expensive, is pretty silly. These people have managed to justify Microsoft purchases up until now. Should they admit they were wrong? I think so, but then, I'm not risking my job over it.
9:47:40 AM
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Wednesday, April 21, 2004 |
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Tuesday, April 20, 2004 |
In a CNet article titled "Software makers ready desktop lockdown," journalist David Becker misses the blindingly obvious solution:
An ancient e-mail message embarrasses Microsoft in a key legal case. A leaked memo has Linux antagonist SCO Group scrambling to explain apparently secret Microsoft connections. A leaked message from RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser reveals his behind-the-scenes maneuvering to get a stake in Apple Computer's booming iPod business.
All it takes is a quick run through the headlines to see why some software makers might think there's a market for products that lock down common types of business documents by restricting access to authorized recipients.
How about: if it would be embarrassing to read in the headlines, don't write it down. Even better: don't do it. Nah, that's naïve.
2:35:01 PM
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Monday, April 19, 2004 |
Matt Asay, director of Novell's Linux business office, suggests that Linux needs to avoid trying to be an "almost clone" of Windows and win on its own strengths on the desktop, in this interview with "WhatPC" magazine. Link via OSNews news story, "Novell's Linux Gamble is Paying Off."
2:15:54 PM
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Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world: indeed it's the only thing that ever has!
-- Margaret Meade
2:06:28 PM
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Friday, April 16, 2004 |
So far, there's only one Mac in the house here, Laura's, but I certainly have been impressed with what the machine can do. Ernie the Attorney blogs: The Joys of Apple Computers. So I've been using my Apple Powerbook for over a year now. I obviously like Apple or else I wouldn't have added to my collection by getting an iMac desktop last Christmas. At first, my kids weren't too happy about... Posted at Ernie The Attorney
1:40:24 PM
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After Cringely's last column saying there was no way to beat Microsoft, other than their inevitable suicide, I was ready to toss in the towel. On the other hand, in this weeks's column, "Shake Your Groove Thing: The Only Way to Beat Microsoft is by Ignoring Microsoft," he ties in the Google phenomenon with Sun's capitulation and concludes that Sun is done. His quotable pull quotes:
... paying too much attention to Microsoft simply allows Microsoft to define the game. And when Microsoft gets to define the game, they ALWAYS win.
And his thoughts on the winning game plan:
Start by completely removing Microsoft from your thoughts. Develop a good and sound business plan. It should in no way be based on Microsoft, either for or against. Microsoft should not be part of your business. What is important is to run YOUR business, and not be distracted by Microsoft. If it makes business sense to YOUR company to do business with Microsoft, do so on your terms. Limit your dependence, limit your exposure.
Thought-provoking stuff.
11:20:24 AM
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Tim O'Reilly, head of O'Reilly & Associates, the folks with the animals on the cover, presents this analysis of the book market.
9:12:57 AM
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Thursday, April 15, 2004 |
According to ComputerWorld, "Microsoft releases patches to fix 20 flaws" in four Security Bulletins, MS04-011, -012, 013, and -014. All but one are rated critical. As the time between patch release and exploit seems to be dropping to a few days, I'd encourage you to patch your systems asap.
It's the 16th week of the year. Microsoft's patches and further information are available at http://www.microsoft.com/security.
4:19:02 PM
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Wednesday, April 14, 2004 |
Rick Ross summarizes one of the big problems with proprietary software: Those of us on the outside have no access to the particulars of the settlement and have no way to know whether Sun has sold us out.
8:18:34 PM
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On a recent adventure attempting to install the SubVersion client on Laura's iMac, I complained (some said whined, I didn't mean to whine) that sometimes assembling and configuring Open Source software was hard, but soon confessed that the problem was primarily me, failing to careful read and follow the instructions. With determination, care, a good night's sleep and some coffee, I was able to make it through.
The maintainer of the SubVersion package for fink, Christian Schaffner, found my blog post, and was kind enough to respond with a better explanation of why I was having so many challenges (it was a new package and I was attempting to install it from source code, which involves a lot more configuration, pre-processing and compiling) and pointed out that there was now a (much simpler to install) binary version of the SubVersion client available for the Mac as well. Oh, and to gently remind me to rtfm :)
The Answers Are Out There.
2:01:33 PM
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Friday, April 09, 2004 |
And in other news, Slashdot reports Microsoft Clips Longhorn:
Gr8Apes writes "Microsoft is clipping Longhorn to get the already-delayed follow-up to Windows XP out the door by 2006. MS has decided to remove some of the most ambitious features. Blackcomb is the version to follow Longhorn, and is expected at the end of the decade. The full new file system feature has been moved to Blackcomb. Other notable parts of the story, in MS's efforts to get its DRM into play, a new version, Windows XP Premium will start shipping with new PCs, which will include a new version of the infamous Windows Media Player. This version will have the ability to shop at on-line stores like the one MS plans to launch later this year. It's their move to 'outflank Apple'."
12:47:27 PM
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Thursday, April 08, 2004 |
Wow. Someone was asleep at the switch. Slashdot reports Cisco Products Have Backdoors
Cbs228 writes "A Cisco Security Advisory released yesterday admits that "A default username/password pair is present in all releases of the Wireless LAN Solution Engine (WLSE) and Hosting Solution Engine (HSE) software. A user who logs in using this username has complete control of the device. This username cannot be disabled." Can we really trust closed-source vendors, such as Cisco, to develop secure products that are free of backdoors?"
It's a valid question. Many eyes make for shallow bugs.
5:50:28 PM
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An interesting article on the Witty worm, remarkable in several ways: small size (637 bytes!), speed and method of propogation (launched from a bot network, done in 45 minutes) and destructiveness. While the author writes "Let's hope that the Witty worm was just an anomaly, an exception...," this could also be an indication that there may be an entirely new class of malware out there: more sophisticated, better written and more destructive. Witty extinction. "Evil new 'firsts' in the ever-changing world of worms and viruses By Kelly Martin, SecurityFocus ." From The Register
9:29:33 AM
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Wednesday, April 07, 2004 |
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Tuesday, April 06, 2004 |
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Monday, April 05, 2004 |
John Koziol blogs: "Before Microsoft made the mistake of actually hiring me (heh), I worked as a vendor to the company for the VFP 6 certification tests. The test teams always debated what could reasonably be expected knowledge of a developer. You see, at that time the concept was to find the MQC - Minimally Qualifed Candidate. What magic set of knowledge indicates that someone should be certified in a tool?
I'll never forget that Ted Roche, one of the team members, made a fascinating point..."
11:14:21 AM
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Sunday, April 04, 2004 |
Finally finished reading the usability piece I linked to on Friday, and its links, on usability, and I was surprised and disappointed at how it turned out. While I agreed with John Gruber's early assertions that silly interfaces like the CUPS disaster aren't a problem for "Aunt Tilly" but rather a problem for each and every one of us, he stretched and stretched this point until he came to the conclusion that Open Source software was never going to be as usable as Windows or Mac. Nonsense. I think FOSS is coming out of the back room and off of the servers onto the desktop, and developing desktop UI is non-trivial, but that progress is being made. RedHat made huge leaps in versions 7, 8, and 9, Ximian is vastly better than what came before it, and even Walmart computers are likely to drive Sun to improve usability. It's a matter of time and effort.
Slashdot picks it up with Still More on Open Source Usability
Dan Gillmor's eJournal, on the other hand, must not have gotten the memo, as he reports Linux on Desktop Making Big Strides. "It looks like I'm going to have to reconsider something I'd been taking for granted -- that Linux on the desktop, and especially the laptop, was a non-starter in the operating systems race. While I wasn't paying sufficient attention, the proverbial tortoise has been playing some serious catch-up."
Glad everyone's talking...
4:07:25 PM
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Saturday, April 03, 2004 |
CNET News.com reports that Microsoft has determined, using the Windows Update process, that the number of infected windows systems is orders of magnitude greater than the numbers previously estimated by security firms and academics. Chilling.
MSBlast epidemic far larger than believed. "Researchers previously estimated that the virus infected hundreds of thousands of computers. The latest information from Microsoft indicates that the worm compromised millions of systems."
7:49:26 PM
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Friday, April 02, 2004 |
OSNews follows up on a response to esr's recent CUPS rant. Making things easy is really hard. There are still areas that need to be addressed, on all platforms. *What it Really Takes to Get Good Usability on a Product*. John Gruber wrote a public response to Eric Raymond's articles regarding bad usability/UIs on many open source applications. "Good user interfaces result from long, hard work, by talented developers and designers. The distributed, collaborative nature of open source software works for developer-level software, but works against user-level software. [...] Technical documentation is also hard work, and requires talent to be done well. Writers need paychecks, too" says John. Short commentary follows....
4:31:56 PM
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Thursday, April 01, 2004 |
Poor Bill has taken a hammering for a quote pulled out of context in a recent speech, where he was claiming that hardware costs will become insignificant, not that hardware will be "too cheap to meter." (Bill, if you've got one of those nifty Bluetooth keyboard/mouse combinations sitting around, you've got my address...).
What is true is that the cost per CPU process (MIPS or gigaflops or whatever you like to measure) is going down, but software always seems to find a way to bloat and get more sluggish to keep up with it. On the hardware side, Bill Machrone had a PC Magazine column about once a year where he observed his dream machine still cost about $3,000. My dream notebook still costs $4,500, 10 years after it first cost that much.
But software is a different matter, and here are some ideas that should be worrying Bill. Hardware is likely to be a relatively constant cost, and software costs will always exist for development, installation, configuration, maintenance and customization. But some software, once written, ought not need to be written again.
Hard facts for software. "Bill Gates says hardware will be almost free. But CNET News.com's Michael Kanellos says software is more likely to go that way." Link from CNET News.com
7:32:15 PM
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Mac OS X hints reviews TrailBlazer - a new idea in presenting browser history. It's about time someone took this one on. How many times have you recalled a web page you'd seen recently, but been unable to find it? Wouldn't you like to have a Google on your own machine, for your own browser history? This is a move in that direction. Great idea!
TrailBlazer - The browser history file rethought. The macosxhints Rating:[Score: 10 out of 10]Developer: MacWarriors. Posted on macosxhints
7:20:41 PM
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