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The LangaList
Standard Edition

2003-02-03

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) Closure (Ha!) On the Linux / XP Bug Comparison

I had hoped the debate might reach closure, but instead what closed are some minds. 8-)

To be as clear as possible: My only point in comparing bug-patch activity for Linux and XP was  to show that--- despite the extravagant claims of some Linuxen--- no OS is immune to bugs and security issues: As Linux grows in popularity, it will have its own full share of problems. Indeed, it has that full share even now.

Does all this mean Linux is terrible? Not at all! Complex software will always have bugs and security problems, and I consider Linux's bugs to be in the fully normal range and not worth getting agitated over. What's more, it's great to see such active bug-fixing as the patch-counts indicate: There always will be bugs in any software, and the rational thing to do is to fix them, rather than try to convince others that the bugs aren't real or somehow don't count.

Does all this mean XP is inherently wonderful? Nope. XP's bug counts are also within the normal range, and likewise merit neither ecstasy nor apoplexy. And, as I've said before, there's other Microsoft software--- some of it bundled with XP--- that has *terrible* security performance.

So here's what it does mean: Linux is a normal OS; so is XP. Both have bugs, some major, some minor. Bugs happen, even in Linux: Get over it.

But don't take my word for it: Come check the facts for yourself. All the details in the above argument--- including the important caveats and conditions that put this raw information into context--- appear here: http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20030124S0013 . The firestorm of comment appears in the associated discussion area.

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2) "Great Web Tool"

Hi Fred, A few days ago I came across this great web tool, which visualizes networks of interrelated web sites. Simply type in a URL and it will show you graphically how you're connected. You may be surprised whom you find in the (virtual) neighborhood of your web site!

http://www.touchgraph.com/TGGoogleBrowser.html

Thanks for keeping the langalist up. Regards, Roger

Nice find, Roger. This type of graphic visualization is becoming more popular. But combining a clear visualization front end with the power of Google on the back end--- wow!

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3) "Ignore" Is Bliss

No, not "ignorance." <g> We're talking about telling your browser to ignore certain web site styles that may make sites hard to read or that can interfere with your other preferences:

Fred , I had to reformat my hard drive and when I got back up again and tried to send an e-mail using stationery, it didn't work right and I couldn't figure out why. Then to complicate matters a few days later I found that I couldn't change my font colors. It would show that it would change, but they still came out black. I also had a problem with some web pages being overwritten with text and it sure was hard to decipher what I was reading.

After about a month I was reading one of Microsoft's msn newsletters and I ran across one about the fonts and not being able to change colors. It said go to "Internet options" General tab , Accessibility/Formatting and uncheck the following 3 things:

"Ignore colors specified on web pages"
"Ignore font styles specified on web pages"
"Ignore font sizes specified on web pages"

After going there and finding all three were checked, I unchecked them and it not only fixed the fonts problem, it also fixed the stationery problem and the other problem of the web pages being overwritten. I figured this would be good information to send out. ---Neal Laur

Thanks, Neal!

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4) "Wounded Moon" Literally True

I recently mentioned the "Wounded Moon" web site in "Interesting Site For Old Programs" ( http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2003/2003-01-23.htm#5 ). Well, so many of you tried to visit the site, the "wounded" part became real, and the server died:

Hi there Fred, You mentioned my site today (woundedmoon older freeware: http://woundedmoon.com/win32_freeware.html ) and completely blew my socks off! I'm flabbergasted. I'm had over 12,000 408's (denial of page due to excessive momentary bandwidth).

I'd like to say to those who are not able to get on to be patient and it will slow down within a day or two. Maybe three...

Also, since you reach so many hardcore freeware fanatics I have two more excellent resources I'd like to share:

 This site has approximately 1650 links to freeware sites. Not *just* freeware sites, but the better of the freeware sites out there right now. The sites are scrutinized before making the list and the links are checked weekly and dead links are removed failing twice (I think), so you'll want to bookmark this site if you like freeware!

"Links to Freeware" - http://www.hmdejong.myweb.nl/

The second valuable resource is the newsgroup " alt.comp.freeware " You find valuable discussions about freeware, critiques and opinions, and links to something you might have trouble in finding. There is a great group of regulars and lurkers too. It's the only group I read! Jimmy - woundedmoon

Thanks, Jimmy.

You may already have the tools needed to access news:alt.comp.freeware (try clicking the link). Or, you can access it through Outlook or Outlook Express, or any of the myriad free newsgroup readers out there. ( http://www.google.com/search?q=free+newsgroup+reader )

The FAQ, explaining what alt-comp.freeware is all about, is at http://clients.net2000.com.au/~johnf/faq.html

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5) Defrag "Tricks"

Hi Fred, Here's a bunch of tricks I'd like to share with your readers. It's all about one thing: hard disk defragmentation.

If you ask the Win2K/XP's defragmenter run on a hard disk, it can't defrag things such as registry files in use, or the virtual memory file (pagefile.sys). So here's the first trick use Sysinternals' free PageDefrag available at http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/pagedefrag.shtml  that does the job, with one cool option it can automatically do it at every boot. I chose this, with no problem at all.

After Win2K/XP' defragmenter runs (on GUI mode), if you click on the "display report" button, many times you can see that for some reasons (mostly available space I think) some non system files stay - sometimes very - fragmented. Trick #2 here you can use Sysinternals' free Contig ( http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/contig.shtml ). It's a command-line tool that instantly defrags any file you want (except the aforementioned).

But if the fragmented files are many, the task can be daunting. That's where trick #3 comes: choose to save the report file, and use the attached file (configReport.cmd). It takes the report file as argument, parses it and does a "contig" on every file it finds referenced. Feel free to improve it as you like.

Now, for a quick, everyday way of working, here's the 4th trick: when you choose to save the report from Win2K/XP's defragmenter, choose a filename with an unused extension (for instance VolumeG.txt.dfl or VolumeG.txt.defragreportfile). Then double-click this file, choose "Select the program in a list", then "Browse...", select contigReport.cmd, click OK. From now on, whenever you double-click any file like VolumeG.txt.defragreportfile (or whatever extension you chose), an automatic defrag will be done on them. ) Enjoy, MLL

Thanks, MLL!

(By the way, the SysIntenals site has tons of info for ALL Windows versions, not just Win2K/XP. Check it out: http://www.sysinternals.com/ )

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6) New Month, New Chances!

It's a new month, and right now your chances are the best they'll ever be!

To have a shot at winning a no-strings $30 Gift Certificate for any item
at Amazon.Com--- books, software, hardware, kitchenware, toys, and
more--- 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 mini-shopping spree! (Full details also available via this link): http://www.langa.com/recommend.htm#2

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(really!), 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) Reveal Asterisk-Hidden Passwords

Hi Fred, As a support tech at a small ISP, I often help... users [who] don't need technical help, they just are having problems typing. I have searched and searched for a way to unhide the dial up and other Windows passwords but to no avail. I'm hoping you or one of the thousands of readers know how to unhide the password. As you know, in XP , not only are the passwords replaced with dots, but XP adds dots!...Thanks, Craig

Tools that turn the password-hiding asterisks into plain text are called "revealers." Once you know that, they're easy to find. For example, there's the free "123 Password Recovery" tool at http://www.webattack.com/get/123pwrecovery.shtml , or the trial/$30 to keep "iOpus Password Recovery" tool that works on  Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, or XP ( http://www.iopus.com/password_recovery.htm ). There are many other tools available, too: http://www.google.com/search?q=reveal+password

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8) They Just Keep Coming And Coming And Coming...

Over two thousand of your fellow readers have "Loaded the code." Please click over to http://www.langa.com/code.htm , and maybe you can join them! (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
http://www.langa.com/randomlink.htm

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

FireGirl (hot sauces)
http://firegirl.com/

Ceramitecture Studio
http://www.ceramitecture.com/

ENCAR'S COLLECTIBLES
http://www.encarnacionseeley.com/

JSNM Enterprises
http://www.jsnm-enterprises.com/pages/724479/index.htm

Agathopsis
http://www.agathopsis.net/

Computers for Thai Kids
http://jeep.htmlplanet.com/

Dr. Steven Schram
http://www.drstevenschram.com/

Metro Truck (MN)
http://www.metrotrucksales.com/

International Real Estate Digest
http://www.ired.com/news/

Parker's Cross-Canada Trip
http://www.geocities.com/dgp20461/index.html

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9) More On Copying CDs, DVDs...

Hello Fred, Your comments [on DVD and CD copying] in http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2003/2003-01-16.htm#3  reminded me of a column I read recently on the site of Janis Ian, that wonderful songwriter/singer who has given us so much of herself in her beautiful songs and albums.

I totally agree with you that the practice of cheating copyright owners out of sales is clearly wrong --but then, look at it from the perspective of the artist

THE INTERNET DEBACLE - AN ALTERNATIVE VIEW
http://www.janisian.com/article-internet_debacle.html

This is one angry Janis Ian!

OK, her rant is not about making pirate disks for each other, let alone for business purposes, but still ... There are more sides to the issue of copyright. Mind you, I don't even know how to play music on my computer let alone to get involved in piracy activities; but I for one don't see why producers and other businessmen should reap all the benefits and leave an artist, who creates the "product" in the first place, out in the cold. And yes, there are artists who, rightfully, know how to look after their own best interests but honestly, do artists in general have a choice?

Sincerely, Claire Moll

Thanks, Claire. I agree with you--- it's not right that the people who actually create the "heart" of a product-- the music, the content, whatever--- often get dealt a short hand.

And it's hard to feel any sympathy with the recording industry because of their extreme greed: Charging $20 for a CD that costs maybe a buck to produce is obscene. Yes, there are valid distribution costs beyond that initial $1, and there has to be some profit built in, but you *know* there are pricing games going on: That's why, say, a cassette tape (a complicated mechanical product with several moving parts, multi-step mechanical assembly, slow analog manufacturing process) costs less than a CD (a hunk of plastic and metal foil: no moving parts, no difficult assembly, extremely fast to duplicate digitally): The prices should be the other way around--- cassettes should cost more than CDs--- but the CD prices are artificially jacked up.

In fact, if pricing were rational and based on actual costs, CDs would cost a few bucks, tops. And music via the Web--- with per-unit manufacturing and distribution costs measured *at most* in pennies (and usually less)--- would cost a trifle. But the music industry wants to maintain the old, high prices because their profits grow in the gap between actual cost and retail price.

Imagine if a music CD only cost $5-7 or so, or if you could download a CD worth of songs for a buck or two. There's still room for profit in there, and I bet piracy would almost stop. But for that to happen, the recording industry would have to grow up and enter the information age--- which they are resisting because they can reap much fatter profits by gouging us for $20 for stuff that costs them only a fraction of that.

That said, it's also wrong to steal--- wrong to pirate CDs and songs. Just because the person you're stealing from is a scumbag, doesn't make the theft OK. <g>

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10) Just For Grins

Reader Brett Sinclair offers this item:

If Microsoft had been the first to invent books:

1. Before you can open the cover of your new book, you must obtain a book activation code by phoning Microsoft.

2. Sorry, only one person may ever read your book.

3. It's full of spelling mistakes and typos.

4. When you're reading your book, the type can mysteriously disappear.

5. Libraries, which are for sharing books, are illegal.

6. You must acknowledge you have read and understood the Book License Agreement Hype (BLAH) before you can read your book.

7. Microsoft has the right to enter your premises to conduct book inspections to make sure your book is being read in accordance with the BLAH.

8. The Book Users' Group General Alliance (BUGGA) calculates that the annual loss of revenues to Microsoft arising from BLAH violations in 2001 was $10.97 billion.

9. There are two versions of your book - the "Standard" and the "Pro" versions. In the standard version, those pages containing the most useful information have been stuck together.

10. Confidential information is inexplicably in bigger type that can be easily read by anyone glancing over your shoulder.

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11) Plus! Edition Highlights:

• Deadlink Software Reborn

• "Trusted" Net Dangers

• Long Filenames On CDRs

Today's LangaList Plus! Edition contains all ten items above, plus about 30% more content including: a new version of software that automatically removes dead and duplicated items in your Favorites folder; a discussion on the relative dangers of "trusted" versus "internet" PC addresses; and how you can get long filenames to work even on CD formats that don't normally allow them.

Hey, it's only a few cents per issue--- check out the 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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This newsletter is a service of Langa Consulting LLC and is Copyright © 2003 Fred Langa / Langa Consulting LLC. All worldwide rights reserved. LangaList: ISSN 1533-1156

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