I agree strongly with Hans about the security issue. What I find
discouraging is that despite all the criticism, Lindows just doesn't seem to
get the hint. Also, I did buy a copy of Lindows for testing purposes, and I
had a surprising amount of trouble on the install - though some of it was due
to the machine I was putting it on. I had gotten the (erroneous) impression
that Lindows was set up to install itself on dual-boot systems. (Side note:
if I want to get my wife using Linux I'll have to do it gradually.) But
Lindows has no facilities for resizing and creating new partitions; I had to
exit the install and repartition the drive first. Also, it hosed up my MBR;
I had to manually uninstall LILO to get it booting again. On the other hand,
I've also been playing with Knoppix a bit and I've been tremendously with
it. I suppose it could be optimized as a Debian installer (and probably has
been, by somebody.)
Anyway, I haven't given up on Lindows yet. Next week I'll try again to get
the LILO config right, and then I'll certainly create another user. (Good
grief, even NT does that!)
Vaughn Treude
Nakota Software, Inc.
On Sunday 14 September 2003 20:41, you wrote:
> Am 14. Sep, 2003 schwätzte Rob Wultsch so:
>
> I don't mind a company standing behind a distribution and making money on
> it. Heck, I'm trying to get something like that here in the Valley :).
>
> We know about Lindows due to the name and probably some business
> connections that could get them publicity. I'm sure lots of companies are
> like that.
>
> A friend ordered a wal-mart Lindows PC on my recommendation. It looked
> slick. It defaulted to logging in as root, as you note in #3 below. I
> replaced Lindows with debian.
>
> > I have been reading about lindows some and it seems to me that some of
> > the hostility directed towards it might be iladvised.
> >
> > 1. First it is debian underneath that many of use know and love.
> > 2. Every review claims that it is easly to install.
>
> Irrelevant if it's coming pre-installed :). That they're getting companies
> to pre-install it is great.
>
> > 3. Why running as root always might not be the smatest idea, it will
> > make it much easier for a windows newbie to start to undestand the
> > fundamentals.
>
> No. There needs to be a clear line between root and non-root users. That's
> like saying every passenger in the car should have access to the steering
> wheel. Heck, they should be encouraging multiple user accounts rather than
> one-size fits all.
>
> It is simple enough to have a GUI tool that invokes things via sudo. It
> would be easy enough to have menu stuff automagically use that tool. Via
> sudo they could still have passwordless entry to root ( I think that's
> still foolish, but not near as bad ).
>
> This would also make it possible to keep the kids from easily getting root.
>
> Do we really want to make it easy to move /bin to something else?
>
> > 4. It is a suscription based service as much as it is an OS. So most of
> > the programs are availible for free (as in both), but does that mean
> > that they will apt-get nicely? If Lindows can keep installation easy and
> > bug free then is that not worth paying for?
>
> As long as they make security updates no-cost and easily installable I'm
> fine with them charging for upgrade of non-security updates. Same thing
> goes for Red Hat, Mandrake, et al.
>
> > In case you were wondering I saw these recently and they sparked my
> > interest:
> > http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpN
> >o=608176 (a diskless workstation for $169 which appears to have a kde
> > desktop)
>
> POP on a diskless workstation appears to be rather foolish :).
>
> ciao,
>
> der.hans
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