If you've never tried Linux, then there's probably a host of reasons why you haven't done so; and no, I won't bring up the whole 'well, Linux is more secure' canard thrown around by true believers--the fact is most Windows users never experience any malware whatsoever, or if they do, it's only a minor inconvenience that is easily fixed. It just isn't much of an issue anymore. Oopsie, I seemed to have missed this bit:
"I downloaded and installed Safari for Windows 2 hours ago, when I started writing this," Larholm wrote, "and I now have a fully functional command execution vulnerability, triggered without user interaction simply by visiting a web site."
Now, before you call 'FUD' I'd like to point out that Safari is (up until now) a Mac OS X only browser, and is being delivered to Windows as the SDK for the upcoming iPhone; indeed, Safari will be the SDK for any platform, though there is no word yet if there is going to be a Linux version.
Though I have no doubt that the iPhone will be the greatest Apple invention ever--and that's saying a lot for a great Apple admirer (indeed to say otherwise might be a bannable offense, but I digress), and it will be a killer cell phone, though the lack of a stable Windows software development kit might hurt it in the short run. As the two year contract and the hefty price tag might as well. Best to wait for version 2.0, when the prices drop considerably, and the memory gets ever bigger.
But how does that tie in to Linux? Ahh, yes, security.And I promised not to mention that. Well, it seems that many big corporations are embracing Linux with greater gusto than ever; Intel plans to release a low-powered MID (mobile internet device) in early 2008, and it will run none other that Ubuntu's own UME (Ubuntu Mobile and Embedded). No mention if they will be able to run Windows CE or not.
Dell has its Ubuntu boxes, and may soon offer Suse boxes as well; ATI just released some open source drivers for their R500 graphics chips; AMD has promised to deliver more support for their other devices well, 'just' as in a month ago (and I'm not holding my breath on this one); Linspire will soon go live with its Click 'N Run software warehouse; and several Taiwanese firms are working with Ubuntu to get Mythbuntu up as an open source alternative to the TIVO.
But where's the fear? Well, if I'm judging this correctly, sometime between now and June 29th, there will be some new legislation to 'protect the children' that has a nifty few lines that make the GPLv3 akin to funding Al Qaeda. It'd be more gutsy if they just wrote it in the anti-net neutrality bill, and said quite openly, 'yeah, TIVO lobbied hard, and so we's got to protect them'.
Not much of a stretch, especially when you consider that the RIAA has Da Man working for them openly, to the point of using local law enforcement officials to do their dirty work. Oh, and those who are biggest on anti 'piracy' (i.e., copyright infringement)? Many have a 'D' in front of their locales.
B-b-b-b-ut I never pirate infringe the copyright of stuff! So what do I have to worry about? Well, somebody is doing it; and if it's not you, then that's great--personally I prefer the DVD boxed sets of things, with subtitles, and the latest pop music (outside of Linkin Park and Jay Z) holds no appeal, so I'm with you there; but this is much larger than that.
It's about the use of free and open source software, without restriction, without fear of lawsuits, copyright or otherwise (did you pay for that Photoshop?), and in the other corner are a few well-fed giants that want payment for every single digital bit that flows through the internets, and guess who's going to foot the bill? The Onion article from a few years back, stating that Microsoft had patented the numbers one and zero, now seems so prescient. Nice diary on Internet safety month here.
So roll up your sleeves, boys and girls, we have some Xorg.conf files to edit in the shell, through a remote SSH login. The learning curve is murderously steep, but it'll be good for you.