Recent Posts

8701

General Software Discussion / Re: Microsoft's dropped feature is Linux's gain

« Last post by 40hz on December 02, 2010, 04:29 PM »

But Foundation Server 2008 is awfully cheap with entry level server hardware it's (approx) $600.

-Stoic Joker (December 02, 2010, 03:32 PM)

Agree. But when you get right down to it, it's little more (more?) than a glorified NAS. (Hello! Can you say Linux?) 

You could also run WHS on comparable hardware (especially now that Vail requires 64-bit) and get a whole lot more bang for the buck unless you see a looming need for what active directory can provide. For most small offices, AD is overkill. (And if AD glitches, it won't be something they'll be able to fix for themselves.)

Then there's the issue of needing CALs, which comes as a nasty shock to most first-time business server owners...

8702

General Software Discussion / Re: Microsoft's dropped feature is Linux's gain

« Last post by 40hz on December 02, 2010, 04:11 PM »

Who are these pinheads who make such idiotic decisions?

-timns (December 02, 2010, 03:48 PM)

Ultimately?

This guy.

Any questions?  

8703

General Software Discussion / Re: Microsoft's dropped feature is Linux's gain

« Last post by 40hz on December 02, 2010, 04:01 PM »

Microdoft is discovering it's hard to sell a small office on the advantages of dropping semi-serious money on SBS or their stripped-down entry-level server products when you can score a tricked-out little gem like WHS for about $150. Network backups, storage media pooling, simple workable RAS, media server features, good system management tools that don't take an MS Certification to understand and use - what's not to like?

-40hz (December 02, 2010, 02:31 PM)

Ya gotta good point there - But Foundation Server 2008 is awfully cheap with entry level server hardware it's (approx) $600. The SOHOs that are jumping to WHS are workgroup/homegroup users that are actually upselling themselves to WHS by not using the (completely insane) working server model.

-Stoic Joker (December 02, 2010, 03:32 PM)

Actually, the really big selling points I've seen for WHS-SOHO users are the network-based workstation backups and the slick implementation of remote access (where MS handles the DDNS part) if you don't have a fixed IP. I could sell a SOHO client on WHS with that alone.

The fact they could also stream music and video in the office with WHS was another big plus since most of these people effectively live in their place of business for the first ten years trying to make it a success.

So dumb as it may sound, you shouldn't overlook providing some 'entertainment' features for a smaller company network. SOHO businesses may even need such entertainment more than a home user would. I'd put this under the "mental health" heading on the requirements planning sheet. Right up there with realtime antivirus protection and automated backup.

It ain't just tunes, folks..it's Sanity Insurance!  

8704

General Software Discussion / Re: Microsoft's dropped feature is Linux's gain

« Last post by 40hz on December 02, 2010, 03:39 PM »

Does this mean that one day I'll auto-update my WHS and discover I've lost its most important features? 

-timns (December 02, 2010, 03:05 PM)

Probably not. Microsoft doesn't usually disable anything once it's installed, unlike say...an iPhone or a Kindle?

So updates shouldn't be a problem.

BUT it's a done deal that DriveExtender will disappear once you do an upgrade to a new version of WHS unless Microsoft rescinds its decision.
 

8705

General Software Discussion / Re: Microsoft's dropped feature is Linux's gain

« Last post by 40hz on December 02, 2010, 02:31 PM »

Supposedly, it was primarily motivated by reliability concerns. I never encountered any serious reliability problems with WHS after they got the first batch of problems ironed out - but there ya go...

I think a large part of it is product differention. WHS is showing up in a lot of small offices where it performs admirably within it's intended range of functions. Unfortunately, Microdoft is discovering it's hard to sell a small office on the advantages of dropping semi-serious money on SBS or their stripped-down entry-level server products when you can score a tricked-out little gem like WHS for about $150. Network backups, storage media pooling, simple workable RAS, media server features, good system management tools that don't take an MS Certification to understand and use - what's not to like?

So it may be they were concerned about data/file integrity issues.  And who wouldn't with drive capacities now in excess of 2TB!? BUT... I still suspect it's at least partially motivated by the need to make WHS a little 'less good' than it currently is.

Just my tuppence anyway.  

8706

Living Room / Re: How to waste 2 hours on a stupid error

« Last post by 40hz on December 01, 2010, 07:59 PM »

Wow! Sounds like one of my days.  

Very nice of you not to bill for the 2 hours. (Know where you're coming from. Been there, done that.) Just hope they're a 'good client' that appreciates your commitment come contract renewal time.  

8707

General Software Discussion / Re: Looking for a good no-frills podcatcher

« Last post by 40hz on December 01, 2010, 07:41 PM »

Thanks for the suggestion. I actually do have VLC. It's a fine app, but not quite what I'm looking for in a podcatcher.

The search continues...

8708

General Software Discussion / Looking for a good no-frills podcatcher

« Last post by 40hz on December 01, 2010, 04:16 PM »

I've been looking for an up-to-date no frills podcatch client. So far I haven't found anything I can really say I like.

Most are either loaded down with a pile of video and shopping features I don't want (Miro/iTunes); are ghastly to look at (gPodder); have a pile of additional stuff (i.e. garbage) that doesn't do much for improving the podcast listening experience (Ziepod); or are beginning to show speed & reliability issues because they haven't been updated in years (Juice).

What I'm looking for is:

• the ability to stream podcasts (i.e. not be required to download and save them first)
• the ability to selectively download and play podcasts
• the ability to subscribe to a podcast feed
• some rudimentary folder organization functions
• an intuitive and logical interface
• bullet proof reliability running under Windows 7 64-bit

and that's it .  

I DO NOT   want it to provide:

• video capabilities
• crowdsourced recommendations
• suggestions for 'similar' podcasts
• rating systems
• preconfigured "channels"
• "social" anything (i.e. "likes", tweets, etc.)
• a dog-ugly interface

Right now I'm reaching the conclusion that iTunes just might be doing it better than anything else out there.

And I hope I'm very wrong on that score.

So...does anybody have any recommendations?

8709

General Software Discussion / Re: RSSOwl Alternative?

« Last post by 40hz on December 01, 2010, 10:41 AM »

^ If you have a big feed list, do a lot with RSS, and you do decide to go with Firefox/Sage, I suggest you set it up under a different profile. That way you can use it like a standalone reader without further bloating up your day-to-day Firefox setup.

Also might consider syncing your list with GoogleReader (*choke*) for when you're not @home and don't have your own PC with you.  

8710

Living Room / Re: The SSL certificate industry is a messy business

« Last post by 40hz on December 01, 2010, 10:10 AM »

damn app is ahead of me once again.

-mouser (November 30, 2010, 10:58 PM)

No doubt. I can't count how many times I read posts from app103 here or on Facebook and and up following links all over the place. She's a wealth of cool, new information.

-Renegade (December 01, 2010, 07:07 AM)

+1 x 10E2! April is definitely one of the 'go to' members at DC.

Be really cool if somebody had a paid blogging position they could offer her. She's better than some of the recognized "names" out there.

Any corporate, techsite, or publishing lurkers reading this?

8711

Living Room / Re: The worm as a 'cyber missile'

« Last post by 40hz on December 01, 2010, 05:49 AM »

What's absolutely crazy is that systems controlling important infrastructure is
1) buggy as hell.
2) insecure.
3) CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET.

-f0dder (December 01, 2010, 05:28 AM)

re: #3

Who says they have to be connected? In 2008, the US took a major hit to one of it's secure military networks courtesy of a USB flash drive. Foreign Affairs had an article on it here:

In 2008, the U.S. Department of Defense suffered a significant compromise of its classified military computer networks. It began when an infected flash drive was inserted into a U.S. military laptop at a base in the Middle East. The flash drive's malicious computer code, placed there by a foreign intelligence agency, uploaded itself onto a network run by the U.S. Central Command. That code spread undetected on both classified and unclassified systems, establishing what amounted to a digital beachhead, from which data could be transferred to servers under foreign control. It was a network administrator's worst fear: a rogue program operating silently, poised to deliver operational plans into the hands of an unknown adversary.

 

-----
Addendum: Oops! Looks like Eóin beat me to it.  

8712

Living Room / Re: The worm as a 'cyber missile'

« Last post by 40hz on December 01, 2010, 05:39 AM »

Very cool!

Reads like a segment out of John Brunner's 1975 sci-fi classic The Shockwave Rider which I believe was the first time the notion of a cyber "worm" was put forth.

Interesting article. And a good read. But since it comes from Fox, I wonder how much of the story they got right - and how much of it they got wrong.

Their record for accuracy when reporting on computer and web tech isn't too stellar. And their political agenda tends to color their coverage.

8713

General Software Discussion / Re: RSSOwl Alternative?

« Last post by 40hz on December 01, 2010, 05:14 AM »

(And it does do folders.)

-40hz (November 29, 2010, 05:48 PM)

Folders vs. subfolders?

-Tuxman (November 29, 2010, 05:55 PM)

Sorry I missed your question.

Yes, Sage does subfolders.  

8714

Living Room / Re: December has arrived...Are YOU Prepared for Christmas?!

« Last post by 40hz on December 01, 2010, 05:02 AM »

"Always ready - but seldom prepared!" has been my Holiday Season motto since forever.

8715

Living Room / Re: The SSL certificate industry is a messy business

« Last post by 40hz on December 01, 2010, 04:58 AM »

+1 with f0dder.

They're better than nothing, but far from being a panacea.

8716

Living Room / Re: Five Reasons Why People Hate Apple

« Last post by 40hz on November 30, 2010, 05:27 PM »

Bloody! I really wanted one of those Jobs dolls.

I was gonna get one to keep my Lil Cthullu figurine company.

Eldritch Horrors need to stick together.   

8717

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows Live Sync Alternative?

« Last post by 40hz on November 30, 2010, 03:41 PM »

@40hz - I promise to do my best to give proper credit when I use California Fruit Phone ... It just sums the whole thing up with a bow so nicely - I truly applaud you for that brilliant description!

-Stoic Joker (November 30, 2010, 03:25 PM)

Thx. I also have a few other 'other' names for it when it won't let me do what I want. 

8718

Official Announcements / Re: Preparing for a new master DonationCoder server

« Last post by 40hz on November 30, 2010, 12:39 PM »

Out of curiosity, which VMWare product are you using for this? Are you just running server or did you spring for something bigger like Sphere?

8719

General Software Discussion / Re: 27 Good Reasons to Love Linux

« Last post by 40hz on November 29, 2010, 06:19 PM »

Zoiks, how far did they go with the Mac style desktop? Is it a total one button mouse deal, or can you still right click?

Think I like Linux better when it looks like Linux...this is just frightening.

-Stoic Joker (November 29, 2010, 01:14 PM)

It's still Gnome. Menu and right click away if you prefer.

BTW: between Gnome, KDE (ver 3 & 4), Enlightenment, Fluxbox, XFCE , Compiz eye-candy, and Unity (i.e. Mark Shuttleworth's new 'girlfriend') what exactly is it Linux is "supposed" to look like?

Avid Linux watchers want to know.  

-----

P.S. I'm also semi-with you on the launchers and docks. I'm not sure I like them all that much either. But most of the novices that saw and used PinguyOS seemed to like them a lot so I figured I was the odd-man out. Nice to know I'm not. Or at least not the "only one."

8720

General Software Discussion / Re: RSSOwl Alternative?

« Last post by 40hz on November 29, 2010, 06:08 PM »

My Firefox is fat enough. 

-Tuxman (November 29, 2010, 05:55 PM)

Agree 100% 

But I'll make an exception for Sage. It's one add-on I actually use on a regular basis. 

8721

General Software Discussion / Re: RSSOwl Alternative?

« Last post by 40hz on November 29, 2010, 05:48 PM »

I've used a few feedreaders (GreatNews, Feedreader, RSSbandit) and flirted with several more. In the end, I keep coming back to using Firefox with the Sage add-on. While Sage doesn't have all the bells & whistles some newsreaders come with, I can't say I miss them all that much. (And it does do folders.)

In the end, I gave up on wanting one tool to do it all. For me, the ideal newsreading/web research/archiving setup is the following combo:

Firefox + Sage + ReadItLater + Canaware NetNotes + CintaNotes

There's a few other items in my "keeping up" toolkit, but the above five handle the "web part. "

8722

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows Live Sync Alternative?

« Last post by 40hz on November 29, 2010, 05:24 PM »

One reason I use DropBox, besides being generally happy with how it works, is because it's platform agnostic. Since I straddle Win/Nix/BSD, with an occasional need for OS X to accommodate some of my clients, DB is the current best for my requirements.

Being able to get to things from a smartphone is also a big plus. Never saw the point of it until the first time I desperately needed to get into something and all I had on me was my overpriced "California fruit phone."

Some of the hacks you can pull off with DB also garner bonus points in my book.  

8723

General Software Discussion / Re: 27 Good Reasons to Love Linux

« Last post by 40hz on November 29, 2010, 12:42 PM »

@SKA: Current 'best' beginner Linux for somebody who just wants to use it: PinguyOS

This an enhanced Ubuntu remaster. Like Mint (which is also excellent), except I think Pinguy edges it out. This is the distro I'm currently recommending to my non-geek friends.

PinguyOS website w/more info and download links here.

Good independent tech review here.

8724

Living Room / Re: Regular Expressions (Regex) - Your Thoughts?

« Last post by 40hz on November 29, 2010, 10:50 AM »

I *think* I read a number of years ago about AWK and it being common to have TCL/Tk front ends for it. Is that right, or am I confused there?

-Renegade (November 28, 2010, 08:13 PM)

Never saw that although there's no reason why you couldn't wrap a GUI around an AWK program's functionality. Don't know why you'd bother since there's already things like GUI search and replace utilities where it's already been done. Also sorta defeats the purpose of AWK since it's really intended to be used as a programming language rather than an app.

Note: you can do much (or all) of what AWK does with PERL. If my memory serves, I seem to remember Larry Wall cited AWK (along with SED and shell) as contributing influences on the design of his baby.

One interesting thing about AWK is that it's like riding a bike. It takes practice to use it effectively. But once you learn it, you never seem to forget. I haven't done any serious AWK-ing for a number of years. But I had an oddball project a few months ago where an AWK script was the perfect way to get the job done.

After a few false starts, and a look in the manual (RTFM right? ), I was back in business. I doubt I'd be able to do that with many other languages I've learned and allowed to lapse over the years. That alone is testimonial to just how logical and well designed a tool AWK is IMHO.



Also +1 w/rjbull on The AWK Programming Language book. One of the clearest and best written computer books of all time. Too bad they couldn't all be like that.

8725

General Software Discussion / Re: Windows Live Sync Alternative?

« Last post by 40hz on November 29, 2010, 10:30 AM »

There's an article about IDriveSync up on the I Love Free Software website that looks promising. Link here.

IDriveSync is a free application  to synchronize your files on your Windows PC or MAC OS and across any five computers. The free file synchronization software is simple to use and you can easily sync and share your files across computers just in few simple clicks. Once you set-up IDriveSync, your camera uploads is synchronized everywhere automatically in original resolution just by installing and logging into the application. The application is free of cost and you can sync up to 5 Windows PCs and Mac computers.

Haven't gotten a chance to try it yet, but it looks good if the description is anything to go by. Of course, the devil is always in the implementation and details so we'll have to see.

(Note: I'm not sure what the bit about the camera is about in the above.  The rest of the article indicates it's for all files and folders, and not just for photo sharing from a camera. I suspect it's an editorial 'typo.')

There's some additional links at the bottom for other articles about products that perform similar functions.

Those might be worth a 'drive-by' too.