* Posts by Chemist

2677 publicly visible posts • joined 24 Mar 2010

Torvalds: 'We're not doing Linux95 … for a few years, at least'

Chemist

Re: If it's too hard for the experts...

"i.e. an amateur in all but name"

Better (by far) a very talented amateur than an anonymous loser

(Not, of course, that he is an amateur BTW)

Microsoft's VDI deals make Windows Server cheapest desktop OS

Chemist

Re: simpler to move to FLOSS?

"I don't know a single professional person that uses Linux on their desktop/laptops"

Well I do and I guess almost all computational chemists use Linux or Unix and that was 200 seats in the company I was in + protein scientists + x-ray structural people

Chemist

Re: @ribosome

"Also you're just as AC as other commenters who post under a nom de plume, and your comments don't have that much weight."

Absolute nonsense - he/she has a posting history - ACs can be anyone or more suspiciously just one.

Incidently Munich ALWAYS intended to take a LONG time to move to Linux - it's the sensible way, it's certainly the German way.

Chemist

Re: I wioder if this will tip the balance towards TUX?

"you'd probably be better off stopping calling the users of Windows ignorant."

If you are SO smart you would have realised that he/she didn't. He/she called SOME people buying PC's (almost always) supplied with Windows ignorant. That is the CORRECT usage :

ignorant

Use Ignorant in a sentence

ig·no·rant

[ig-ner-uhnt]

adjective

1.lacking in knowledge or training; unlearned: an ignorant man.

2.lacking knowledge or information as to a particular subject or fact: ignorant of quantum physics.

3.uninformed; unaware.

4.due to or showing lack of knowledge or training: an ignorant statement.

Plenty of SAs here would describe their users as ignorant whatever OS they used !

Chemist

Re: simpler to move to FLOSS?

"I can't think of one replacement to Microsoft RDP that allows users to......"

My wife used krdc for YEARS to access her school's Windows server for remote access - no problems and indeed faster than using Windows and not prone to crashing.

BTW thanks for joining The Register TODAY to post this ! It all helps to validate your impartiality !

Google Nexus 7 2013: Fondledroids, THE 7-inch slab has arrived

Chemist

Re: On-The-Go?

"it doesn't need rooting though, Nexus Media Importer does the job very nicely, no root required."

And we use Samba via WiFi for storage anyway

Clear next Tues: Incoming Outlook, IE, Windows critical security patches

Chemist

Re: With @Chemist

"Dear clueless idiot,"

Cheeky sod !

Please learn to separate critical kernel vulnerabilities from trivial program problems. I'm ending this now as arguing with a faceless AC, yes just the one, is rather pointless, esp. with the constant repetition of worn, unproven, unprovable garbage.

What is it with you ? So insecure ? Afraid WIndows isn't as perfect as you like to suggest ?

I'm happy to use Linux, and indeed only Linux. You use what you want

Chemist

Re: I don't give a fiddlers anymore

"If I started listing monthly patches for any enterprise flavour of Linux, it would usually be a far longer list than the above."

That will be true after all I have dozens of programs and libraries that get upgraded fairly regularly . ALMOST always because of improvements to the code HARDLY ever due to vulnerabilities esp.not the kernel.

Chemist

Re: With

"That's not a very informed comment. Windows has far fewer patches / vulnerabilities than other OSs like Linux or OS-X."

. Windows has far fewer patches / vulnerabilities than other OSs like Linux or OS-X. - That's not a very informed comment

Chemist

Re: I don't give a fiddlers anymore

"nb - Office is not part of the OS. You would need an additional exploit to gain any additional rights over standard user..."

Just like a proper OS then these days.

Nota bene - the coming Windows security update include 4 critical remote execution and 10 important remote execution, elevation of privilege and DOS patches.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/bulletin/ms13-sep

Includes :

Bulletin 1 Critical Remote Code Execution May require restart Microsoft Office,

Microsoft Server Software

Bulletin 2 Critical Remote Code Execution May require restart Microsoft Office

Bulletin 3 Critical Remote Code Execution Requires restart Microsoft Windows,

Internet Explorer

Bulletin 4 Critical Remote Code Execution May require restart Microsoft Windows

Bulletin 8 Important Remote Code Execution May require restart Microsoft Office

Bulletin 9 Important Elevation of Privilege May require restart Microsoft Office

Chemist

Re: I don't give a fiddlers anymore

"Well that reminds me of the worst virus / worm attack ever - the Morris Worm - which was based on a Sendmail exploit on UNIX systems..."

Ah, the Morris worm, remind me 1988 wasn't it - powerful argument indeed !

Chemist

Re: I don't give a fiddlers anymore

"Don't tell me you think that any other OS doesn't have exactly the same issues as MS."

They certainly don't have exactly the same issues - what other OS allows execution of mal-code by merely previewing an e-mail ?

Chemist

Re: Anyone an idea?

"The vulnerability in Microsoft Office 2007 and 2010, which "can be triggered simply by previewing an email in Outlook, even without explicitly opening the email", obviously needs to be patched as soon as possible. The Internet Explorer fixes also need to be rushed through."

Reports: NSA has compromised most internet encryption

Chemist

Re: @ Chemist

"I would think someone as world-wise as you would know better than to get in front of a two minute hate."

??

Chemist

Re: Really?

"The CIA found that among a subset of job seekers whose backgrounds raised questions, roughly one out of every five had “significant terrorist and/or hostile intelligence connections,”"

Where does this state that 1 in 5 of ALL applicants have a connection to terrorism ?

NAO: UK border bods not up to scratch, despite billion-pound facial recog tech

Chemist

Re: I find it odd that it is more difficult ...

"but is it really necessary to make all the UK passport holders wait through that process"

We came back via Calais a couple of weeks ago, the queue was far longer than normal, each car was taking 90-180 seconds and only 3 points were manned. Because the checks take place in France and before the ferry check-in any delay can cause a missed ferry even when arriving, in this case, with an hour to spare.

(This was, as usual, the ONLY passport check on the trip UK->France->Switzerland->Italy->Switzerland->France->UK)

Microsoft's Nokia plan: WHACK APPLE AND GOOGLE

Chemist

Re: You've all missed the point

"Its not about the phones its about Nokia's patents"

AFAIK MS have only licensed the patents NOT bought them.

Redmond's certification chief explains death of MCM and MCA

Chemist

Re: Reality sinks in perhaps?

"I will have to assume no such source exists and thus your statements are merely opinion."

I'm fairly sure that such sources might exist but only on Vogsphere

Microsoft: YES Windows 8.1 is finished, but NO you can't have it

Chemist

"YES Windows 8.1 is finished YES Windows 8.1 is finished "

Agree !

Germany warns: You just CAN'T TRUST some Windows 8 PCs

Chemist

Re: Nothing to fear unless you have something to hide....

By the way :-

Microsoft refuses to release study challenging Munich Linux success

"I would struggle to see how a Windows deployment would be cheaper than a Linux installment," said Roy Illsley, principal analyst at Ovum, who added that he couldn't imagine why Microsoft wouldn't release a study that actually proved that Microsoft is cheaper than Linux. "I would suspect that they read it and they suspected that there are some errors in there," he said.

Chemist

Re: Nothing to fear unless you have something to hide....

"They tried that in Munich and it has been an unmitigated disaster, that cost tens of millions in investment from IBM, etc. that will never be recovered."

References ?

Chemist

Re: Now definitely my last Windows machine.

"Can you explain how I can update COTS software from a repo?"

I'd hope the vendor would provide a repo. as Google does for GoogleEarth.

I suggest that you are now picking Pediculus humanus capitis

Chemist

Re: Now definitely my last Windows machine.

"No, linux updates all applications which come from a repo."

It is however possible, indeed normal, to have a number of repositories, I have all the OpenSUSE for my version +packman. A little care is needed when installing certain applications ( for example kdenlive needs the programs/libraries melt, mlt, ffmpeg and vlc to be from the same repo.) to get all the necessary helper programs from the same repo but otherwise as stated all software will be updated automatically, semi-automatically or not at all depending on the user's wishes.

Good luck with your decision John, try a few live CDs first

Lenovo to ship all new PCs with Start Menu replacement

Chemist

Re: Jesus guys, let it go

"So...what DO you do with your PC...just so we know? CAN you do anything worth the effort?"

Edit 1080p/50 video

Edit RAW photos

Generate panoramic photos

Scan/print in colour & B&W

Program in a considerable number of languages

Layout & design PCBs

Program PIC microcontrollers

Access my other (remote) machines by ssh/fish/rdp

Run a file/odds&sods server and a Samba server for the wife's Nexus 7 & phone

Run considerable amounts of scientific software including hardware 3D modeling

+ all the usual wp/spreadsheets/browsing/video watching/GoogleEarth/Skype/e-mail

More to the point there isn't anything that I want to do that I can't.

Microsoft warns of post-April zero day hack bonanza on Windows XP

Chemist

Re: Wait, hear that?

"erm, you realise that most Linux distributions have far MORE vulnerabilities than Windows XP?"

So you KEEP telling us. Makes no difference to me I wouldn't use MS OSs if you offered me a free trip to Vogsphere. Guess I'll just have to be careful

(You might actually learn something if you analysed the levels of severity of these 'vulnerabilities' )

Chemist

Re: Left hand, meet right hand @shawnfromnh

"Try kdenlive, fantastic software with a terrible name."

Agree !

Chemist

"Erm, GIMP is not a direct functional replacement for Photoshop. "

I know several professional photographers who use Linux, but they don't just use Gimp. There are a number of RAW photo conversion/editing/tweeking programs that are available.

Personally I do as little to a RAW photo as possible maybe resize/tweek exposure/tweek the curves/ unsharp/save in appropriate format usually.

Chemist

Re: Left hand, meet right hand @shawnfromnh

Agree. I installed OpenSUSE 12.3 recently on a new dual-core Intel system and it took less than 20 mins.

YouTube Wars: Microsoft cries foul as Windows Phone app pulled again

Chemist

Re: A special message for downvotards

"Where's the Linux support? Where's the Free BSD support? Those markets are just too small to justify supporting them."

Well I know what you means, but Nvidia provide drivers for Linux, Google provides Google Earth for Linux, Firefox, Opera .......

Chemist

Re: When all else fails, find a scapegoat

"It isn't working though. WP sales are growing at 70% year on year, and are about to break through 10% market share in the UK...."

Do you know I've heard exactly that MANY times from some AC who posts here

Microsoft: That $900m Surface write-down is smarting

Chemist

Re: The time when people bought anything are over

"Unless you want to run business software or play games. Or do CAD. Or a load of other things."

All the more reason to explore the alternatives now before MS really let you down or turn the screw !

Acer to downplay Windows in favor of Android, Chrome OS

Chemist

Re: Next step??

I've often wondered how insecure some Windows' users are that they seem obsessed by attacking, usually quite inaccurately, an OS that apparently only 1% of desktop users use. Maybe a little paranoia, a feeling of uncertainty. ?

Chemist

Re: Next step??

""it's not MS / it is free" pseudo-religious aspect"

Nothing of the sort - I've been using MS software since the days of single-board computers with 6502 8-bit BASIC ( and even that had an infuriating bug ), DOS, Windows from the start upto W2000 and it's always been mediocre , and the company has always been trying to tie it's customers into its ecosystem. Fair enough if that's what you want to do or don't know any better.

I started using Linux about 1994-5 and even though there were plenty of limitations early on the system was clearly far superior for what I wanted.

As a scientist I've mainly used PDP-11s, VAX , alphas, SGIs and then big Linux workstations and compute farms - WIndows had no place in that except for the usual corporate guff of Exchange/Word. ( Excel was never powerful enough or indeed capable of handling the dataset sizes needed for our research work )

Chemist

Re: Next step??

"(1) Since I buy "complete kit" from Dell/Lenovo/HP etc. since more than a decade instead of self-assemble the Windows is "no extra cost" for all practical purposes"

The 'cost' is that you buy into and reinforce a monopoly and one that has shown itself to have only one interest - itself. People here are always going on about not wanting even a duopoly in mobile and yet de facto is a desktop monopoly (an arrogant and increasingly irrelevant one)

Chemist

Re: Next step??

"Existing hardware does not run or only with certain distribution/kernel combinations"

The usual solution is to try a live Linux distribution to SEE if all your hardware works - it usually will.

Chemist

Re: Next step??

"no higher cost "industrial solutions""

All my stuff is consumer grade, cheap Samsung laser, cheap Brother laser, old Epson laser cheapest Epson scanner/printer, the only 'special' I bought was a new Nvidia card so I could use hardware video acceleration for playing back 1080/50p H264 video without using all the processor and that was only £50.

Chemist

Re: Next step??

"Software for i.e my DSLR is Win only"

Guess what - I have 2 DSLRs Canon 300D and 550D and I don't use Windows. There are plenty of RAW processing programs for Linux. Occasionally if you buy a very new camera as I did with the 550D it takes a little whole for the programs to catch-up - 2 weeks in the case of the 550D.

The situation you raise with unsupported hardware is not one I have experienced.

I've had 3 laser printers, 1 inkjet, 1 scanner/printer, accelerated graphics card, 3G dongle, serial/USB converter, PIC programmer, 4 cameras, 2 video cameras, 6 webcams/notebook cams, USB telephony headset. Even the HDTV will work as a dual-monitor setup with the laptops/netbook

This with OpenSUSE 12.3 or earlier

'Hand of Thief' banking Trojan reaches for Linux – for only $2K

Chemist

Re: I guess we'll find out

That wasn't really the point. I was trying to show that that downloading or compiling a program in a user space wasn't a very subtle way of introducing a malicious program

Chemist

Re: suprised they bothered with the freetard crowd

By the way even if I was as rich as Gates I wouldn't even contemplate using Windows.

Chemist

Re: So how does it get onto the system?

"I tried it in Chromium just now"

It certainly wouldn't in Firefox !

Chemist

Re: I guess we'll find out

"You can install software on Linux without the admin password"

Well of course you can, you can also compile your own and run it from within your own account - but you can't readily allow global execution. Neither of these is a subtle introduction of malicious code to a machine

Chemist

Re: suprised they bothered with the freetard crowd

"I do not know any Linux desktop users who have any money to steal."

Well I'm sitting here in my Swiss apartment reading this on my Linux desktop, with a Linux netbook nearby and connected by fish: to my Linux server in UK. When we go home I'll process my holiday videos/photos on one of the Linux workstations and then go on holiday again in our motorhome . Rich ? not by Gates' standard but pretty well off after a lifetimes work and saving and investment.

Linux by choice - it does all that I want

How are holidays on Vogsphere ?

Cognitive computing: IBM unveils software for its brain-like SyNAPSE chips

Chemist

"The initial phase of the project simulated the cortex of a cat brain on an IBM BlueGene massively parallel supercomputer with 147,456 cores and 144TB of memory developing the basic synaptic circuits for the brain chip. ®"

After immense amounts of 'thinking' about going out or eating the compu-cat decided to wash its bum instead

REVEALED: Cyberthug tool that BREAKS HSBC's anti-Trojan tech

Chemist

Re: Lee D

"I'm assuming here your bank doesn't force JRE down your throat then?"

Have you got an example - I've never found one. ( 3 banks, 2 building socs, 1 credit card company)

Davros liable to criticism for huge STRAW DALEK he never built

Chemist

Re: Snugsburys Famous Ice Cream

"You really can't take a straw Dalek seriously"

Period !

Qualcomm exec on eight-core mobile chips: They're 'dumb'

Chemist

Re: "Dumb" until Qualcomm are able to produce an 8 core chip

"Indeed - a lot of the time my workstation is like that, then again a lot of the time it spends with a load way over 7"

Agreed, I'm rendering 1080p/50 video in H.264 and both cores are running melt @ ~70% cpu whilst letting me browse this forum smoothly. If I had more cores available I'd be transcoding already rendered video to 720p/25 for playback on a laptop and if I had more I'd be setting up another editing session by generating proxy clips.