[Lilux-help] Inventory

[Patrick Kaell]

Patrick Kaell wrote:

> Don't think so. Windows is much easier. Under Windows users usually have 
> full administrator rights. Additionally they just have to follow the 
> camera's manual and insert the driver CD. That's all. Here is another 
> anectotical story: Before going to Englang for studying my sister needed 
> a laptop. I recommended an iBook. Very easy to use. Several month later 
> she wanted to connect a the neighbor's USB printer to her laptop. 
> Basically, it was very easy. MacOSX recognizes everything automatically, 
> the driver CD wasn't even needed. For security reasons (MacOS X is Unix 
> based!), there was a popup window asking the administrator's password, 
> before installing the printer automatically. Guess what: They waited 6 
> hours before deciding to call me to ask the password! They thought it 
> would be an error, because on the neighbors Windows machine something 
> like this was not needed. It wasn't even mentioned in the printers 
> operating manual!

What I want to add:

It is easy to explain to a user why one needs to enter a password to 
login or to access protected data. But try to explain why there appears 
a popup window asking a password by connecting a hotpuggable device. You 
would immediately get the counterquestion: But if I connect my monitor I 
do not need a password. We all know why: To install a new driver you 
need administrator rights. For monitors you do not need a new driver. I 
even told that Apple would do this to protect the OS against worms. In 
such a situation you easily get the answer: But to protect against worms 
you need a antivirus software, not a password for a printer!!!! 
Remember: We are not simple users, we don't know how a user thinks!

Having priviledge separation means more security. But it may touble users.

Should we now really bash Lindows/Linspire because everythings runs 
under 'root'????

Unix was designed as a multiuser OS, where you had a clued admin which 
did the administration. Windows is a PC OS! This is a basic fact. I 
could now continue with drive letters and so on....

I remember reading an article in 1994 about Linux. It said: You can't 
expect to install and master Linux in a day like DOS, Windows and OS/2. 
Would it happen, than it would mean that you mananged to become a Unix 
administrator overnight. This is not possible for most people!

Greetings, Patrick Kaell