It's lonely being a linux user in a windows world.

[Mazate]

I'm sitting in a class right now and I was about to lean over and tell the guy next to me that ever since the new kernel update came out a few days ago the fan on my laptop doesn't come on when it isn't supposed to. Then I realized that he would have absolutely no idea what I was talking about so I just kept it to myself... until now.

[CharlesA]

Lol. Done that, or at least whined about it after I got it fixed...

Try trying to talk someone into using a *nix solution for virtualization when they are dead set on using Windows Hyper-V when the *nix solution would be better in the long run.

[Scott Harrison]

Heh, I work in IT with 2 other technicians - one with 10 years experience and another with nearly 30 years experience. I'm the only one here that uses a GNU/Linux desktop on a frequent basis.

[CharlesA]

Heh, I work in IT with 2 other technicians - one with 10 years experience and another with nearly 30 years experience. I'm the only one here that uses a GNU/Linux desktop on a frequent basis.
I know how that is. Where I work, the IT guys deal with Windows almost all the time. If they have to deal with a *nix box they get the deer-in-the-headlights look on their face.

I guess they are glad I know some *nix. :lolflag:

[afixane]

http://i3.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/005/393/i-know-that-feel.jpg

[Scott Harrison]

I know how that is. Where I work, the IT guys deal with Windows almost all the time. If they have to deal with a *nix box they get the deer-in-the-headlights look on their face.

I guess they are glad I know some *nix. :lolflag:
The tech with 30 years experience (also owns the company) did his apprenticeship as a developer on UNIX machines, so he's not "deer in the headlights" in any way. I just don't understand how people can work with Windows all day and want to go home to a Windows desktop as well... Insanity!

[szymon_g]

jeez, just get a girlfriend (or boyfriend, whatever)

[Metallion]

If you're from Phoenix then why not give these guys a call? Phoenix Linux Users Group (http://plug.phoenix.az.us/)

If they're anything like the Tokyo Linux Users Group, you won't be disappointed.

[Peripheral Visionary]

I have the opposite problem! At work and school everyone uses Windows. I mentioned once that I use Linux at home and now people assume I'm some sort of computer expert. When they have some sort of issue with their Windows box they ask me what to do! All I can do is throw my hands up and say "I'm not familiar with Windows."

[Primefalcon]

I have honestly been having that issue a little myself of late, I helped people with computers a lot over the years....

The last Windows version I used was XP which was quite a few years ago.... now when someone asks for help, I am finding myself more and more.... honestly lost trying to work out the fundamentals on a windows system...

I've been thinking about reinstalling XP just to stay familiar but.... that'd also mean I'd probably have to upgrade to 7 since people are switching to that.... and I am not paying several hundred dollars just to familiarize myself with something that I wont use...

[t0p]

I have a virtual XP on my desktop, but I rarely used it. I recently bought myself a laptop that came with Windows 7 "Home Premium" (whatever that means) already installed, along with a bunch of applications (Photoshop Elements comes to mind); I decided to keep the Windows so I did a side-by-side installation of Precise. I haven't really used the Windows 7 yet - but I'm a keen photographer and I'm always hearing how Photoshop pwns Gimp, so sometime I gotta try it. Anyway, the HDD is 500GB and I also have a 1TB external drive, so it's not a problem giving Windows a bit of disk space.

I have a friend staying at my place at the moment, and she loves Android on phones, but she's got Windows 7 on her laptop and she's not interested in trying Ubuntu. But because I've been a keen computer user longer than her, she thinks I can solve any problems that arise on her laptop - she's no dummy, but still she thinks I must be a XP/7 genius. Ahh, there's no telling some people... :p

[Scott Harrison]

Most frustrating thing to remember about Windows systems is their directories are separated by "\" rather than "/..." Like, it doesn't even make sense...

The way I see the logic of the Linux system - we go from / to home to scott, so forward to home and forward to scott... Hence the forward slash! Why Windows decided on a back slash is beyond me.:confused:

[trivialpackets]

Most frustrating thing to remember about Windows systems is their directories are separated by "\" rather than "/..." Like, it doesn't even make sense...

The way I see the logic of the Linux system - we go from / to home to scott, so forward to home and forward to scott... Hence the forward slash! Why Windows decided on a back slash is beyond me.:confused:

Clearly Windows is a backwards OS. Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all week...

[Metallion]

Most frustrating thing to remember about Windows systems is their directories are separated by "\" rather than "/..." Like, it doesn't even make sense...

The way I see the logic of the Linux system - we go from / to home to scott, so forward to home and forward to scott... Hence the forward slash! Why Windows decided on a back slash is beyond me.:confused:

Here in Japan directories are actually separated by the yen symbol in Windows. Appropriate? :)

[Hari5g900]

I don't know about you but I think that Linux is the best when it comes to speed and almost everything that matters to me!

[Mikeb85]

Meh, Linux just works better so I could care less if I'm the only one using it around me. Ubuntu works for my wife and I, does everything we need, and I always hear about issues with Windows from those who use it, so I don't mind us being the only Linux users...

[rg4w]

If you're from Phoenix then why not give these guys a call? Phoenix Linux Users Group (http://plug.phoenix.az.us/)
+100 for the Phoenix LUG!

Der Hans is my favorite presenter at the SoCal Linux Expo each year, and after enjoying a lengthy late-night discussion with him at the last one I've been tempted to drive to Phoenix just to participate in that LUG. The scope of activities they do there is impressive, esp. the business outreach event, ABLEconf:
http://www.ableconf.com/

In between LUG events, if you're still jonesing for more camaraderie you might consider starting an Ubuntu Hour in your neighborhood:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Hour/

We have one monthly at a coffee shop in Pasadena, CA, and we regularly get between six and ten people sharing our Ubuntu tips, stories, gripes, and lots of good learning about tweaking the system to be exactly what we want it to be.

I attend a lot of meetings for professional orgs in my area, but the Ubuntu Hour is the most fun.

[mike acker]

won't be for long. Windows/8 is going ditzy.

Linux already owns the server business; w/ Windows/8 we take the Desktop next. From the bottom up Android systems are dominating in small and mobil devices. Game Over.

[jockyburns]

won't be for long. Windows/8 is going ditzy.

Linux already owns the server business; w/ Windows/8 we take the Desktop next. From the bottom up Android systems are dominating in small and mobil devices. Game Over.

Many a true word

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18996377

Seems Microsoft could be on to a big time loser.

[madjr]

I look at it more as an underground society with the secret handshake and all (well kinda) :D

[sakamoto]

http://i3.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/005/393/i-know-that-feel.jpg

i also want a hug :mrgreen:

[mike acker]

Many a true word

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18996377

Seems Microsoft could be on to a big time loser.

http://napfn.com/untergang_msft.jpg
Wir sehen den Beginn des Untergangs von microsoft

why? In my view "windows" is a toy, not a tool. Because of that "hot" is more important than secure. Window's build on top of its Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) together with its extensive use of remote procedure calls (RPC) creates an attack surface too large for a practical defense. ...just my opinion though

The damage done by insecure software is measured in billions and billions. I just read this morning the cost of the Global Payments Hack goes to $84mm

https://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/072712-global-payments-data-breach-cost-261204.html?hpg1=bn

this poor lady had her life ruined, just about

https://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/071812-cybercrime-victim-260960.html

not all of these stories trace back directly to the details of the failure but Windows has been a common culprit, and today Macs are starting to get hit pretty hard as well.

Suggested reading
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/10/22/security_report_windows_vs_linux/

also: _ROOTKIT ARSENAL_ (get from amazon) for discussion of HAL and Storage Protection v. Virtual memory.

also: GEEKONOMICS: The real cost of insecure software (David Rice ).
~~

I'm putting together the parts list for my first computer build. it should be a lot of fun. right now i have 'bunt running on a 1GHZ/1MB system. It does OK but I wanna see how it does on a 64-bit 4 core system . I'm getting the AMD Phenom chipset and 8GB ram

[CharlesA]

The damage done by insecure software is measured in billions and billions. I just read this morning the cost of the Global Payments Hack goes to $84mm

https://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/072712-global-payments-data-breach-cost-261204.html?hpg1=bn

this poor lady had her life ruined, just about

https://www.networkworld.com/news/2012/071812-cybercrime-victim-260960.html

not all of these stories trace back directly to the details of the failure but Windows has been a common culprit, and today Macs are starting to get hit pretty hard as well.


Neither of those two blame Windows. Systems get cracked all the time and a security weakness in an application such as a web server or browser isn't necessarily the fault of the OS. It just gets more publicity when it involves money.

[na5h]

Cheer up, mate...because Steam is coming to Linux! And Skype recently got updated too (was about time)! :D

[sakamoto]

Cheer up, mate...because Steam is coming to Linux! And Skype recently got updated too (was about time)! :D

this :P

[leclerc65]

And Skype recently got updated too (was about time)! :D
...to be able to SPY on you.:(

[cyberhood]

Here in Japan directories are actually separated by the yen symbol in Windows. Appropriate? :)
HAHA! Really? <snip>

[na5h]

...to be able to SPY on you.:(

No more than Facebook (or practically any other social website/app these days), I'm sure...

[Ravi5kumar]

I am also alone because all my classmates uses windows.. What is worse is that they know nothing about Linux!! Hopefully, I have converted 4 of my friends to ubuntu (but they still need windows for games and some apps) and a cybercafe which now uses Lubuntu on their computer! And yeah, Lubuntu gived a new life to my uncle's old lappy....:).

[mike acker]

{snip} Systems get cracked all the time and a security weakness in an application such as a web server or browser isn't necessarily the fault of the OS. {snip}

excellent comment

one of the huge concerns in security is how well does the O/S protect its application software?

the browser is a perfect example: can a script running in the browser corrupt the browser's programming? not just in loaded memory (for the current session) but in its permanent program libraries (affecting all subsequent sessions as well ) ?

"drive by" infections via browser seem to be a HUGE problem. Where an O/S does not make use of the security features of the chip: Ring1,2 as "userland" or storage protection -- ( not just virtual memory ) -- it offers a greater attack surface than what should probably be considered best practice.

Much of this trouble is the child of what I like to call "executable" documents: documents containing Java, php, vbs or other type of scripting or executable macros. These documents are what I like to call "transient" software ( as opposed to installed software). These present a huge risk particularly when they are copied from one area of a system or network to another -- which may result in a "privilege escalation" -- possibly opening the path for un-authorized programming updates.

it is true that systems get cracked a lot. I refer the reader to _GEEKONOMICS: The Real Cost of Insecure Programming_ (David Rice ) .

We must not resign ourselves to an "inevitable" loss but rather analyze how un-authorized programming is distributed so that this problem can be reduced

I particularly liked this article: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/10/22/security_report_windows_vs_linux/

it's a little dated but still relevant

this article (posted today) http://www.darkreading.com/threat-intelligence/167901121/security/vulnerabilities/240004459/javascript-botnet-sheds-light-on-criminal-activity.html

hints at the degree to which browsers are vulnerable -- but -- without detailing which browsers or which o/s are affected.

It is my view that security will be a principle factor in moving Linux more into general use -- so that when we check out software there will be generally 3 options,-- Win, Mac, or Linux -- rather than 2. So we won't be lonely Linux users much longer. MSFT going off half-cocked again with this Win/8 thing will also be a factor.

[Dry Lips]

won't be for long. Windows/8 is going ditzy.

Linux already owns the server business; w/ Windows/8 we take the Desktop next. From the bottom up Android systems are dominating in small and mobil devices. Game Over.

I wouldn't count on it. I tried the developer preview, and I wasn't convinced, but now that I'm running the latest Windows release preview I think it is coming very nicely together. If the metro interface was the only available option, then they definitively would have some trouble, but you do have a traditional desktop there, just like in windows 7.

To put things in perspective; unity and gnome shell is a far more radical departure from the former desktop experience, than windows 8 is compared to 7/vista/xp. I think the new features are rather intuitive, and the use of hotspots is a lot more functional than the way you see it implemented in KDE, Gnome Shell, Cinnamon, etc.

I'm not saying that Windows 8 is unproblematic, but it definitively won't drive people to Linux overnight.

[ctyc]

It's NOT lonely being a linux user in a windows world.

You are just doing things the right way<wink>.