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The LangaList
Standard Edition

2003-01-27

A Free Email Newsletter from Fred Langa
That Helps You Get More From Your Hardware, 
Software, and Time Online

Please visit our sponsors and help keep the LangaList S.E. free!

1) Linux Has Bugs: Get Over It

I made a private bet with myself when I ran an item called "Linux Hacks On The Rise" http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2003/2003-01-13.htm#4 . That item cited a study of software problems reported by CERT--- the "Computer Emergency Response Team" that impartially tracks computing security threats. (CERT is part of a federally funded research and development center at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)

Among other things, the article said: "...more than 50 percent of all [CERT] security advisories... in the first 10 months of 2002 were for Linux and other open-source software solutions."

My only point in bringing up this issue was to show that no OS is immune to bugs and security issues: As Linux grows in popularity, it will have its own full share of problems.

It's hard to imagine a less inflammatory or more obvious assertion--- that all operating systems have bugs and security issues--- but I won my internal bet: Linux and Open Source fans thought I was unfairly maligning their preferred OS. They deluged me with emails--- many irate--- claiming that CERT (and I) were dead wrong.

The two most-common arguments against the report were:

1) There really aren't that many Linux/Open Source bugs, especially compared to, say, Microsoft Windows. Plus, many readers argued further that CERT erred by counting the same bugs multiple times in different distributions and versions or Linux or other Open Source software; these repeated bugs should have been counted as one meta-bug.

2) Open Source bugs, when they do occur, aren't that big a deal anyway because they can be fixed far faster than Windows bugs.

Trouble is, these arguments are based on old information: Yes, there once was a time when both of the above statements were true, but I can show you some very current, non-CERT stats and info that illustrate why both statements are now emphatically false.

And that's not necessarily a bad thing at all. Rather, I take it as a very positive sign of the growing maturity and mainstream appeal of Linux and Open Source software.

I explain it all--- and show you the stats--- in a feature-length article that's currently posted over on InformationWeek.Com: http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20030124S0013

In it, I'll cover the historic reasons why Linux and Open Source software gained a well-deserved reputation for unusually high software quality and fast fixes, but I'll also detail why that's no longer the case. I won't ask you to take my word on this: I'll show you direct, patch-for-patch comparisons between Windows XP and Linux, so you can draw your own conclusions.

Don't get me wrong: I think the Open Source movement is a good thing, and I like Linux--- it's running right now on two of my office PCs. I am *not* trying to slam Linux or the Open Source movement. And I'm not trying to claim that Windows is superior.

All I'm trying to do present facts. Arm-waving and unsupported claims are pointless: Let the facts speak for themselves.

See you at http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20030124S0013 !

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2) Windows XP "Additional License" Pricing

Bill Wheeler writes:

Dear Fred,  I can finally offer something that may save a few folks a little money that would otherwise go to the big "M" in Redmond. I finally decided to take the plunge and upgrade to Windows XP from Windows 98. Cost from local retailer $199.99 plus tax. I was skeptical at first, but I've been extremely pleased with both the performance and stability of the new OS. Of course, I now want to upgrade the rest of the systems on my home network, but at $200 a machine x 3 machines; yikes! I went poking around the Microsoft Windows XP site and found an FAQ that included licensing information. If you already own Windows XP (non-OEM), you can purchase additional licenses at a 15% discount. Apparently that works out to "only" $179.99 a license at most of the online retailers I checked. You get an additional activation code, but no actual CD. Saving $20 bucks doesn't seem isn't a whole lot, but if you have more than one machine to upgrade, it starts to add up. It would be nice if Microsoft followed Apple's lead--- 5 licenses with the upgrade to Apple OS X. But if you believe that's ever going to happen I've got some shares of Enron I'll sell you at a really good price. Thanks, Bill (Loyal Plus Subscriber)

Thanks Bill. The full info is at http://shop.microsoft.com/special/wal/walinfo.asp . The modest discount is better than nothing, but not exactly generous.

IMO, Microsoft missed a lick here, in that they could gave presented themselves as Good Guys by allowing either free or very low-cost additional licenses for noncommercial users. Instead, they're seen--- and in this case, I believe rightly so--- as greedy skinflints.

Instead of increasing revenue for Microsoft in the long term, I think this strategy will ultimately drive people to less expensive alternatives. You mention one (although Apple hardware costs eat up any software savings); and Lindows also got it right by allowing no-quibble extra installs for home use. For that matter, many standard versions of Linux are totally free for the download. Why pay $180 for a second copy of Windows when you can install Linux for free?

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3) Free Send-To Tool

The answer (below) applies to all Windows versions, even though the original question was about XP:

Fred: First I want to let you know I enjoy reading the news letter. My question is I'm using winxp pro and I want to use the right click sendto option. I went to the sendto folder and created a shortcuts to the folders I want to use sendto. Problem is that it doesn't sendto but copies-to leaving the original where it was and putting a copy without the words copy of where I sent them to. How do I change the sendto from copy to a real sendto. I want to *move* the files not copy them. I know about the links on the left of the window but I'd rather use the right click sendto option.---Thanks, Joel

I use a free tool called--- appropriately enough--- "SendTo."

SendTo allows you to copy and move files on your hard disk with just a few mouse clicks. SendTo also allows you to send files to applications and to remote FTP servers on the internet.

SendTo integrates into the Windows shell. To get started with SendTo, all you have to do is select some files or folders in Windows explorer, right click on any one of them, choose "Send To," and "Any Folder," and SendTo will appear to give you the option to do any of the following:

Copy the files/folders to another location. 
Move the files/folders to another location. 
Create shortcuts to the files/folders in a location you specify. 
Create a zip file containing the files/folders. 
Upload the files/folders to an FTP server on the internet. 
Send the files (but not folders) to an application on your computer. 

SendTo works on Windows 95, 98, ME, NT4, 2000 or XP, and can be downloaded from http://www.trogsoft.com/products/sendto/

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4) Using NetBEUI, Part One

Reader Doug Stiebler wrote to me as he was working out a networking issue:

In a previous Langalist Plus article, you mentioned that it is more secure to use NETBEUI between computers on the local network rather than TCP/IP. Could explain how to do this? I think I know what needs to be done, but it would be helpful to have some guidelines. Also, is this needed/recommended if using Zone Alarm Pro? ---Doug

The idea here is that you can use NetBEUI or another "non-routing" protocol--- one that can't go out over the Internet--- for print and file sharing on your LAN. You use TCP/IP only for accessing external web sites. Thus your local traffic stays local, invisible to all web-based software (including Zone Alarm). So, I initially pointed Doug to our previous coverage of this topic: http://search.atomz.com/search/?sp-q=netbeui&sp-a=0008002a-sp00000000

He dug through the links, found what he needed, and wrote back:

Thanks Fred, http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/netbeui.htm had just the information I wanted.

It *is* a good site. <g>

Note that use of NetBEUI is optional--- you can achieve a reasonably high level of security just with TCP/IP ( and the info at http://www.practicallynetworked.com or J. Helmig's http://www.wown.com/ site can help with that). But if you want maximum safety, splitting your LAN traffic so that internal and external communications use different and incompatible protocols can help.

The downside is that NetBEUI is an old and virtually unsupported protocol; using it adds extra complexity to your network, and may lead to some "gotchas," like the one in the next item.

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5) Using NetBEUI, Part Two

At almost the same time Doug was digging into a NetBEUI solution, reader Mark Worden was running into a NetBEUI problem:

Fred: Your discussion of LM Announce problems http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2003/2003-01-16.htm#4 led me to ask MS why my network connections disappear -- esp when my notebook hibernates, using Win98 ME.

MS has the answer here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;267643

"This problem can occur if Microsoft NetBEUI is the only network transport protocol that is installed on your computer. The NetBEUI network transport protocol is not power-management compliant. When the computer returns from Hibernation mode or Standby mode, the NetBEUI protocol is unable to restore your network connections."

The solution is to use TCP/IP addresses on all computers...  ---Mark Worden

Thanks, Mark! Indeed, NetBEUI by itself is problematic--- it's an ancient protocol. It's better to use either TCP/IP for everything (with appropriate safeguards), or NetBEUI and TCP/IP together (for internal and external traffic, respectively; and still using appropriate safeguards on the TCP side). The LangaList archives and the PracticallyNetworked or Helmig site (mentioned in the previous item) can get you all the info you need.

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6) Last Week To Enter January's FREE Drawing

On January 31, I'll choose another monthly winner of a no-strings $30 Gift Certificate for any item at Amazon.Com--- books, software, hardware, kitchenware, toys... To have a shot at winning, just use the following link to recommend the LangaList to a friend. Your friend just may find a new source of useful information; I just may gain a new subscriber; and you just may win a $30 shopping spree! (Full details also available via this link): http://www.langa.com/recommend.htm

The more times you make a recommendation, the greater your chances are of winning!

Or, if you'd like to try to win $10,000(!), try this link (full details also available here):
http://www.recommend-it.com/l.z.e?s=143182

Either way, thank you, and good luck!

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7) Dial-Up Networking Monitor

Hi Fred: Regarding the article about monitoring the throughput of an internet connection in [a past] issue, I would like recommend a free monitor that I have been using for several years. It's called Dial-Up Networking Monitor and can be found at http://jongrieve.net/dunmon/default.taf?download . It displays a window graph as well as a moving icon in the system tray, and it is very configurable. It can display just the graph, or additional information such as connect speed and time on line. The graph is continuously rescalable. It rescales when you change the size of the window (which can be made very small), and it also rescales automatically according to the amount of throughput - you can see low levels of activity just as well as high levels. Looking forward to your next issue --Tom Mighill

Thanks, Tom. Note that there are two versions of this tool, a finished older version, and a newer beta version that offers wider support.

If those tools don't cut it for you, there are many others:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=throughput+monitor+dialup

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8) More Reader Sites!

Do you have a home page or website? (It doesn't matter what size.) Please click over to http://www.langa.com/code.htm , and maybe you can join the hundreds and hundreds of LangaList readers who have "Loaded the Code!" (If you've already "Loaded The Code" and are wondering if your site will appear here or on the Langa.Com web site, please see http://www.langa.com/link.txt )

Speaking of which: Here's another eclectic sample of reader sites--- some professional, some very personal:

View A Randomly-Chosen Reader Site From Among All Listed
http://www.langa.com/randomlink.htm

Manually Browse All Posted-to-Date Sites Starting At
http://www.langa.com/readersites.htm

Kent Dyer
http://kentldyer.com/index.htm

Treasured Memories
http://www.treasuredmemories.netfirms.com/

Small Office/Home Office Solutions
http://members.shaw.ca/sunstruck/index.htm

Computer consulting 101
http://www.computerconsulting101.com/

"Gosh Bless America"
http://goshbless.blogspot.com/

Bridgeclub Hekelingen
http://members.chello.nl/fbobeldijk/

WealthManagers
http://www.wealthmanagers.net/wealthmanagers.htm

TableHockeyShop
http://www.tablehockeyshop.com/

LINEAR PROGRAMMING for BEGINNERS
http://www.linear-programming.com/

ATV Riders
http://atving.us/

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9) "Terrific Anti-Trojan Software" And More

Hello Fred, This is a link to some terrific info on anti-trojan software. Perhaps you will find it interesting and would consider sharing the link with fellow Langalist subscribers. I think this whole website is first rate. http://www.techsupportalert.com/best_anti_trojans.htm Thanks Fred.--- Lee

I hadn't seen that site before, Lee, thanks!

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10) Just For Grins

Reader "Ken" found this site and write up: A guy named Jonathan Land has taken to responding to spam mails with loopy, slightly deranged--- and very funny--- reply mails:

The Spam Letters  http://www.spamletters.com/

{Sending letters to spammers} Earn your college diploma within days! Yes, this is the first line of yet another spam message. Instead of getting mad, the writer behind The Spam Letters, Jonathan Land, wrote back. In reply to the college diploma spam, he wrote, "I think you're selling yourself short here. There's a lot of money to be made in the faux education business, but I have a feeling you're too small-minded and short-sighted to full grasp the potential windfall." How many of you have received the Nigerian scam today? I received no less than four. Turn your frustration into laughter by reading Land's response to one lucky Nigerian. Scrounge the personal favorites and the top 20 letters. The time travel spam caught our attention with its opening, "If you are a time traveler or alien disguised as human and or have the technology to travel physically through time I need your help!" In responding, Land takes on the role of a doctor who has successfully negotiated the "physical form" of time travel. He certainly gets points for having a wild imagination! Sit down with the hot java and laugh at the 193 letters sent back to spammers. Using a similar format, another writer corresponded with a Nigerian who wrote back several times and published the all the rip-roaringly funny e-mails here.

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11) Plus! Edition Highlights:

• Free Firewall / Connection Sharing Tool
• Make Your Files Totally Snoop-Proof
• Huge Freeware Collection

Today's LangaList Plus! Edition contains all ten items above, plus about 30% more content including: a very powerful free tool that's a firewall, connection-sharing tool, and more; free and commercial file/folder/disk encryption tools that can offer even *military strength* security; and a site with tons of excellent, free software downloads.

It's just pennies per issue! Full Plus! Edition info: http://www.langa.com/plus.htm 

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See you next issue!

Best,

Fred
( Editor@Langa.Com )

Please recommend the LangaList to a friend! (And maybe win $10,000!I)

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