Why Apple's 'consumer' Macs are enterprise-worthy

The sub-header reads; "Not everyone needs a Mac Pro; sometimes a mini might do."

With the coming of Vista and it's increased costs both for licensing, software, hardware and retraining, some of the businesses I have dealings with are indeed looking toward Macs. Make no mistake about it; they WILL move away from Windows. The question is to what.

The learning curve for Linux is perceived to be too steep. The perception is more drastic than the reality, here, but there is no doubt that it will take a while to get used to the new regime.

Macs have MS Office if events prove you must have that. The OS is tied to the hardware, which is seen as an advantage for business because there is only one basic flavor of it, not the dozens of Linux distributions or the 3-4 versions of Vista that need choosing between. Macs are seen as "intuitive" and so with less of a learning curve. (I don't find that true and in fact dumped the Mac OS X when the learning curve proved too steep. I went to Linux on the Mac.) Java on the Mac is good enough that one can run one's Java software with little or no modification.

In the end; the cost of switching to Macs looks not much worse than the cost of switching to Vista. Upgrades are more manageable, as well. There is not much reason not to.

Jack

RSS in 7 minutes

RSS is da bomb! Its the ONLY way I could possibly read as many websites as I do. It turbocharges your web browsing, really!
--MissM

Learn Ubuntu Linux with freely available e-book - Lifehacker

At LifeHacker I found the following post:
Tech-book aggregator eBookSpyder has the complete text of the Ubuntu Linux Bible available for download as a PDF.

As you might expect from the title, the 931-page book covers everything you need to know about installing, configuring and using Ubuntu. It teaches you groups, graphics, gaming, spreadsheets, e-mail and much more. It's an impressively comprehensive guide--highly recommended for anyone interested in Ubuntu. Indeed, if you find the e-book useful, why not support the author and buy the hardcopy version? Either way, you'll need a password to unlock the PDF: It's 'ebookspyder.net' (without the apostrophes, of course). — Rick Broida
Ubuntu Linux Bible [eBookSpyder]
--MissM
Learn Ubuntu Linux with freely available e-book - Lifehacker

Dissection of a Rootkit The Dissection of a Rootkit

Here is a decent, short article about rootkits at EWeek.com. The author takes a realistic and pessimistic view of defenses available now for dealing with rootkits. It's somewhat scary.

The best part of the article is the links to two PDFs on the subject. One is text, the other is a slide show to go with it. I recommend these for anyone who still doesn't get what rootkits are and how dangerous they are.

Jack

Patch Your FireFox! Mozilla Foundation Security Advisory 2007-09

This is a critical flaw, introduced with a patch for another security problem that was issued in the middle of last December. It's very important you patch this right away. Evidently a lot of folks think so, too, as the Mozilla servers are apparently almost swamped, as of 11:30 a.m. US Central time.

Some notices of this flaw state that disabling javascript will protect against this privilege escalation flaw. The Mozilla Foundation states this is not true. There is no workaround. You must update your Firefox, Sea Monkey or Thunderbird installation.

Jack

Anti-Virus Comparisons

This is an independent site (at least they claim to be and to all appearances are) which compares anti-virus and anti-malware applications.

I've resisted posting stuff like this because all the sites I have seen comparisons at are allied with security companies and so at least appear to have an agenda. Hopefully, this site can give objective results.


Jack

OnComputers Radio show Podcast 03-04-07

This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 03-04-07. You can listen live every Sunday from 10AM to 1PM Pacific thats 1PM to 4PM Eastern. If you prefer, you can download the same MP3 file here via ftp.

One little bit more on DTX form factor computers

I was just assured by one of my contacts that DTX motherboards and cases with power supplies will be available within the next couple weeks. Now, I'm going to lie back and see if the really smart early-adopters I know, like MissM, invest in it and what kind of experiences they have. I think all will be well and my next computer may very well be a DTX unit, though I am not aware of any OEMs making computers using this form factor, yet.

Jack

Firmware rootkits are the latest threat

Like we really need some new security issues to worry about, right? This is one that we have to be aware of and follow as it develops because we are vulnerable on this score. So start your keeping up with the news with this link at ZDNet.

Jack

Restoring Vista functionality once in reduced functionality mode

ZDNet UK has a series of images that will tell you just how to restore functionality, and so access to your files, should Vista lock you out.

Jack

"Links from the Gregg Zone!"

1) It just amazes the heck out of me how interesting it can be cruising around the net looking for something. One day last week I found in my pocket, a 1983 penny without a copper coating. Thinking it might be worth something I started looking into it on Google. It seems if you have a 1983 copper penny it may be worth a bunch, but not zinc, only worth a penny, no surprise. But, as the radio guy Paul Harvey says; “Now for the rest of the story”. I found out that people are now hording pennies not the copper ones, the newer zinc ones, seems the melt down value is at .8 cents, and they are speculating it will go up. Arizona is the main pusher to abolish the penny, because they will make tons of money on copper, if the nickel replaces the penny, HUH!! Here’s the site check it out. armchairpresident.com I found out how to melt down three pre 1982 penny’s and five post 1982 penny’s and make brass. This site will tell you how to do it. matse1.mse.uiuc.edu . Here is a site that mathematically, in a very scientific way, breaks down everything involved to determine if a penny is worth picking up, pointless but interesting. everything2.comSaved the best for last, just shows how it can pay off researching the mundane stuff in your life, I thought it was pointless to look at my pocket change since they converted everything in 1964, and 1982 this site tells you the ten top most valuable modern coins. Ranging from a real stunner a 1969 penny worth over $35,000.00, a 2005 nickel worth $1,400.00, and 2004 quarter @ $600.00, there’s more but, you get the idea. coins.about.com

2) This is a pretty neat site, for novices like me it is an on line computer encyclopedia site, any term, or subject related to computers, explained. I still have no idea what they are talking about half the time, but it is a start. Makes me at least feel like I have a place to look up those terms you guy’s insist on confusing me with. whatis.techtarget.com

3) For any Art Bell fans that may be out there I decided I would start putting up some of the related links I run across, I like on line movies, I guess because they are free, any way here is a link to William Hennery’s “Star Gates of the Gods” about 40 min. video.google.com