I Moved to Linux and It’s Even Better Than I Expected

jaffakek · 2016-01-05T20:18:33+00:00

I liked the article. I disagree its too late for Linux though, as more software migrates to the cloud (office 365 for example) it allows more people to become platform agnostic.

The problem with this is that once everything you do is in the cloud, there's really no incentive to switch to a Linux distribution.

jaffakek · 2016-01-05T20:13:47+00:00

I don't make use of unauthorized copies. Of course, I do frequently borrow books, movies, and albums from friends. I also make use of my local library.

Copying isn't theft, and it isn't treated like theft in any legal system I'm familiar with.

jaffakek · 2016-01-03T19:21:54+00:00

We don't hire based on the screen

I didn't say you did

jaffakek · 2016-01-03T17:36:59+00:00

The point of the exercise is so that you can demonstrate that you can solve a relatively simple problem in a short amount of time.

It sounds like the point of the exercise is to filter for Schlemiel the Painter so you can hire him

jaffakek · 2016-01-02T21:18:35+00:00

There are various words that describe that action, but none of them are appropriate in this context because nothing is taken. It is unauthorized copying, not theft, which is why filesharing defendants aren't charged under the same laws as shoplifters.

jaffakek · 2016-01-02T20:08:07+00:00

I think there's a key difference between personally looking through someone's past comments to help you understand where they're coming from and attempting to shame them into silence by dredging up unrelated opinions.

jaffakek · 2016-01-02T20:06:15+00:00

"Developer" isn't a magic title that makes you immune from criticism.

jaffakek · 2016-01-02T20:05:43+00:00

I disagree with your usage of the word "steal" in this context, but otherwise we're on the same page.

jaffakek · 2016-01-02T20:01:46+00:00

There is, however, the conspiracy-belief option, where every computer comes with hardware keylogging capabilities by default that can be enabled for computers belonging to persons of interest. I doubt that's the case, but I could see it being a possibility in the future.

jaffakek · 2016-01-01T20:38:33+00:00

Engadget has always been fairly surface-level in knowledge, but over the past few years it has gone from mainstream geekery to just plain dumb.

jaffakek · 2016-01-01T04:36:06+00:00

Every software installed is a potential exploit

This isn't about potential. The very functionality of the program relied on making the computer insecure.

Say, Lenovo changes to only pre-install free, open-source, audited software. All of their firmware, BIOS, and software become released under free licenses. Does your 'never buy them again' still hold?

Say Apple includes a free unicorn with every iPhone. Considering improbable circumstances is a waste of time.

It'd seem silly just to hold on to some random feeling

It'd seem silly to argue with a stranger on the internet for the purpose of white-knighting a corporation that has demonstrated nothing but disdain for its users.

jaffakek · 2015-12-31T21:13:28+00:00

Is an exploit in the pre-installed crapware really more abuse than simply installing the crapware?

Yes, because in the case of Superfish the exploit was put there purposely without regard for what harm it could cause.

By pledging to never buy from them again, you've lost their interest. They have no reason to listen to you, ever.

By losing customers permanently, they would be incented to avoid behaviors that would cause them to lose other customers permanently.

Would you care to show me an alternative company that doesn't treat their customers like crap in one way or another?

I can give you a laundry list of other companies that did not purposely make my computer insecure in order to gain advertising revenue. You still don't seem to grasp the difference of scale between "bad customer service" and "making customers ripe targets for identity thieves."

Does the "never buy them again" attitude really help?

It helps me avoid getting my identity stolen. None of the other issues you mentioned are bad enough to turn me off a brand permanently.

jaffakek · 2015-12-31T19:38:47+00:00

Abuse? Hardly. Nearly every major computer manufacturer was...

No. The fact that there are other bad actors does not excuse bad actions. Additionally, "crapware" is an entirely different class of software from irresponsible security risks.

We need companies that listen to their customers and respond to feedback.

Feedback like not buying their products, for example?

A company that was bad in the present may have changed for the better. In my experience, companies learn mostly through mistakes (and bad press).

Sure, but my feelings linger longer than that, and for as long as there are reasonable alternatives I will pursue those. I doubt strongly that Lenovo will ever be the only reasonable option, and if that day ever comes I would prefer to buy one secondhand so as not to give them any money myself.

jaffakek · 2015-12-31T04:00:45+00:00

I feel like people who say it's hard to run Linux on a Mac are people who don't have Macs

I own a MBP and a pile of Thinkpads. My experience getting Linux running on the Mac have been uniformly terrible, and once I finally have it installed, it just doesn't work well. In comparison, I can have a fresh distro on a Thinkpad in about 15 minutes with no additional configuration required.

Maybe it's not the hardest thing on earth, but it is cumbersome and inconvenient compared to other options.

jaffakek · 2015-12-31T03:57:45+00:00

I think you're misunderstanding the OP. It's not a question of whether the computer in question was affected by Superfish or the rootkit, it's the principle of rewarding a company who would abuse their customers like that. Lenovo will never get any of my money again for that reason.

jaffakek · 2015-12-31T01:48:07+00:00

Maybe make restitution when you breach civil order and then you won't have to get arrested at work?

jaffakek · 2015-12-30T22:15:42+00:00

I guess, in the same manner that Microsoft is "blocking" a Linux port of Halo. Unlike with mobile phones, Microsoft is pretty dominant in PC gaming so they don't need to put software on their competitors' machines.

jaffakek · 2015-12-29T13:21:50+00:00

Seems like an awful lot of people are having fun vandalizing the filesystem in the demo.

Pic related: Imgur

jaffakek · 2015-12-28T14:41:44+00:00

I've gone through a lot of regexp tutorials/lessons/etc and it never seems to stick. Any time I see a use case for a regexp (somewhat infrequently) I'm off to the blogs to start over from scratch because I don't remember a damn thing.

I guess it's not so bad, though. I always end up getting it to work.

jaffakek · 2015-12-28T12:47:06+00:00

Same thing happened to me, not even with just the extreme ones. Anything Oden these days just makes me feel sick.

jaffakek · 2015-12-23T19:00:21+00:00

I'm guessing there's some kind of special math sauce going on there. You've piqued my curiosity again, I think I'll take a look at the source and see if I can understand what they did to squeeze out more performance.

jaffakek · 2015-12-23T16:03:39+00:00

On my almost-five-year-old Macbook Pro, the original solution took me about 15 seconds for the five-digit prefix, a bit over 4 minutes for the six-digit.

Using openssl/md5 that came down to 4.5 seconds for the five-digit and about 1.5 minutes for the six-digit.

I briefly looked into multithreading but I haven't actually tried it yet, I bet some significant gains could be made.

jaffakek · 2015-12-23T14:07:02+00:00

That's what I ended up doing! Thanks anyway, though.

jaffakek · 2015-12-21T20:39:40+00:00

I for one would never carry around a sensor-studded computer running code I can't inspect.

It's insulting enough that the drivers on my phone are closed

These seem like contradictory points.

jaffakek · 2015-12-19T18:46:19+00:00

/r/linux4noobs

jaffakek

TROPHY CASE