Microsoft: No security updates for 98, ME after JuForum: Linux �and Free Software Topic: Microsoft: No security updates for 98, ME after Ju started by: noalternative Posted by noalternative on Jan. 31 2006,17:28
Several interesting news items related to this.
Microsoft is already leaving these customers high and dry for the WMF security flaw.
Here is someone in the reply section.
< Korea is responding by trying to go linux. >
but is the linux community offering an alternative to these former customers of Microsoft? Afterall, while there may be distros designed to work on older legacy computers, none of them are designed to be as easy to use as windows 98. Problems include, having to mount the disk drive from the command line, no control panels for easier customization and the greater difficulty encountered when installing a linux program. I can untar tarballs, but I can never configure one. make and "make install" never work. According the same article more asinine members of the linux community are probably gearing up to infect these people with viruses in July.
I personally feel the efforts of all those code vigilantes would be better spent creating an easy to use distro for older computers but what do I know? According to Wikipedia, small business customers of Microsoft who can't pay for an upgrade to xp are being offered a < thin client > but the program is getting no advertising from Microsoft, and it is not being offered to home users of of Win 98 and ME. There is a something like a thin client being offered developing countries called < Windows XP Starter Edition >, but Microsoft is not offering this to home users in the developed countries and we may not be able to afford the latest thing either. Yes, I am biased because I am a Win 98 user. I switched to feather as a dual boot, but I don't find it easy to use, and I started out with a Dos system so I am not ignorant of command lines like most 98 people. The heavier distros just run way slow. I have tried Debian Woody with KDE and and Red Hat 7.3 with Gnome. Neither Gnome nor Kde were much easier to use than Fluxbox despite the more familiar appearance. They still made it difficult to install programs, and there plug n play wasn't nearly as good as Feathers. They also didn't have easy to use control panels though the control panels existed. Windows 3.1 and 95 users were left in the cold in 2002. This didn't harm 3.1 users as much since the hackers focused on 32 bit Windows after 95 was invented, but most any virus that involved NT/Xp will harm 95, 98, and ME. Blaster harmed 95 users badly, and I remember having to work on a number of friends computers as a result of it. I posted this at feather as well. Know of any other good places? Posted by doobit on Jan. 31 2006,18:22
I am not known as one to flame, but I take exception to this post. I'm getting tired of people whose idea of justice is that we support their laziness when the resources for success are already at their fingertips, and in front of their faces. Every good thing has a learning curve. Granted, there are those with challenges who we should and can accomodate, however, I don't believe Windows 98 users are challenged in this way. Incidentally, I also use Windows 98. 1. I can think of no good place for your post, including here. 2. Linux is not Windows. See this site: < http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm > 3. Linux distros that are easy to use are already available - DSL, for example. They may be different from Windows but they are easy. To install a program in a Frugal install, one only needs to download it to the same partition as the KNOPPIX directory and reboot. What could be easier than that? All menus are available with a single right click on the desktop. What is easier than one mouse click? The control panel is right there on the desktop and is also availble from the right click menu. Mounting a hard drive means opening a file manager (similar to My Computer), navigating to the drive location, right clicking on the drive letter and, choosing "mount" (like picking "open" in Windows) OK, that takes one more step than Windows. 4. Why should anyone support your unwillingness to change for the better? Posted by noalternative on Jan. 31 2006,18:46
and just who are you or the person you linked to, and why should I care. Linux is opensource so if someone wanted to make it act more like windows they could.
Posted by doobit on Jan. 31 2006,18:56
I am a newbee with an opinion, like yourself, and I should ask the same question of you. Why should anyone care?That said, and my anger subsided, I would add that I and others that I know are perfectly willing to accomodate other Windows or former Windows users, and to help them into the world of Linux through education. If Linux changes, as the community changes it, then it changes, and we must all learn it's course together. Posted by noalternative on Jan. 31 2006,19:05
Why should you be angry at all? Just because i violated your arbitrary rule. You're not god. Also your post was a flame, so you should be known flaming even if you aren't, and it also seemed you violated the first rule of the forum which was to be respectful to the forum posters. Saying my post shouldn't be posted anywhere doesn't exactly qualify. You also make assumptions. Like the idea that anyone that won't learn the command line is lazy or that the person didn't seek help. I spent hours and hours online trying to figure our the make install problem to no avail. It is also pretty obvious that I have read a howto or three or I wouldn't even know about the make install command. Posted by doobit on Jan. 31 2006,19:14
OK, then, I apologize. You deserve better for your effort.
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