Microsoft warns of a score of security holes

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number of patches is a metric for SW maintanence comparisons: How is this ANY different then linux?

Linux works as advertised! Windows advertises that it works.

Just to experiment I setup a red hat and mandrake box. After installing both OS's, i had to download over 100 patches!!

Is that good or bad? Would 50 patchs be better or worse? Would a different color box or a new GUI make them a better value?

I left my mandrake box alone for a month, and then bam, more patches. I don't see how this is any different the windows xp.

Did any of those patches fix problems? That would be different! Did any of the patches install new programs under the guise of being a "critical" install? Don't ya just love it when MS pushes a "critical patch" which is actually a new untested program which opens up a whole new set of holes? And if ya want, they will automate it so you don't even have to know when they do it!

Also there isnt a built in automatic patch download system for mandrake or red hat (which sucks).

What pray tell is an "automatic patch"? How does a vendor know which combination of features are in use on your machine? Did you know vendors don't test patches against on another? That's why MS always has to appologize when a patch creates a new problem. The onlytime patches are extensively cross tested is as part of the regression testing cycle on an OS release - that's one (but not the only) reason to strip down a machine to the smallest set of functionality required to do the job. Oh yeah, MS doesn't provide that feature!

The only good thing about the red hat and mandrake patches is that you don't have to download.

Wow - sounds like you like Windows - myself, I like my OS vendor to release patches on a timely basis and make it as easy as possible to decide which ones to apply. Its just plain bad to delegate that decision to the OS vendor, but you'll eventually learn that lesson.; Posted by: oldskool Posted on: 04/13/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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Rep has been engaged, patches are in transmission... Mike Cox | 04/13/04

Do you really... Christopher McLendon | 04/13/04

If you must know... Mike Cox | 04/13/04

re: If you must know... cbradshaw@... | 04/14/04

Leave him alone. Mikey's fun... BitTwiddler | 04/13/04

Project Status Report hparks | 04/13/04

Great entertainment as always Mike. TWRX | 04/13/04

Further research for you. Cardinal_Bill | 04/13/04

I read this when it was first published mds_z | 04/14/04

Guess I'd better go patch...oh, wait Chad_z | 04/13/04

Linux has tons of patches also cancelled@... | 04/13/04

But the difference between Windows and OpenSource is... Zogg | 04/13/04

Is that Windows works and users like it. No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/13/04

Exactly... Raichu | 04/13/04

Ha! tslocum7 | 04/14/04

You did *read* the article, right? Zogg | 04/14/04

yeah right meetoo | 04/14/04

The real differnce is the servers voska | 04/14/04

Got An Answer For Ya nikoli | 04/14/04

Linux is free, Windows is not dlu | 04/13/04

No such thing as a free lunch TheTruthGiver | 04/14/04

Hmm.. FreeBSD | 04/13/04

Brilliant Solution! d_jedi | 04/13/04

Have you looked MkIIISupra | 04/13/04

But... rpmyers1 | 04/13/04

Well you know.. FreeBSD | 04/13/04

Exactly, autoupdate is VERY misleading. doe_z | 04/13/04

rpmyers1 think about it Monkey_MCSE | 04/14/04

True enough cbradshaw@... | 04/14/04

Uninformed and overexcited michael-t | 04/13/04

number of patches is a metric for SW maintanence comparisons oldskool | 04/13/04

other differences you missed... ryusen | 04/13/04

To automate in *nix simply take the command-line tool and use with cron Richard Flude | 04/13/04

Linux is close to Perfect but patches are important cancelled@... | 04/13/04

re: Solaris cbradshaw@... | 04/14/04

hmmm... PA-ITGuy | 04/14/04

So far, all 4 identified Critical Updates have... BitTwiddler | 04/13/04

Press is Press Thimmeschba | 04/13/04

And car mfg's will have to ship cars with working brakes too! oldskool | 04/13/04

Where is OJ when we need him most? jrbeaman | 04/15/04

(NT) Gee, Mr. Eschelbeck, I thought every day was MS patch day ??? Plain Logic | 04/13/04

People use Windows outside of games? Xunil_Sierutuf | 04/13/04

MSBlast has infected more than 8 million computers? B.O.F.H. | 04/13/04

* million? Hmm, that's more machines than run Linux. No_Ax_to_Grind | 04/13/04

And your proud MkIIISupra | 04/13/04

There is a cost for infected Windows machines! B.O.F.H. | 04/13/04

How much would it have cost.... ShadeTree | 04/14/04

Problems with latest Windows upgrade NHNH | 04/14/04

You Should Know Better Letophoro | 04/14/04

Surprised? tslocum7 | 04/14/04

SAME PROBLEMS HERE! srw1@... | 04/14/04

Suggested Fix for future patch problems Schweizer | 04/15/04

MS willing to leave customers vulnerable (GASP !!! say it ain't so) Squawkbox | 04/14/04

Much To Do About NOTHING nikoli | 04/14/04

unfortunately nikoli Monkey_MCSE | 04/14/04

Oh Please Monkey nikoli | 04/14/04

pach... ya sure meetoo | 04/14/04

What An Idiot nikoli | 04/14/04

RE: Much To Do About NOTHING cammobus@... | 04/15/04

Were these on my security update CD Hanover Phist | 04/14/04

re: security update CD cbradshaw@... | 04/14/04

re: security update CD crm_z | 04/15/04

Typical tslocum7 | 04/14/04

M$ Patch May WhiteSand | 04/14/04

No problems here itanalyst | 04/14/04

No problems here either! bunnyman | 04/14/04

Thanks for the VIRUS in the PATCH! larryrice | 04/14/04

SHop 'em abcdefghijklmnopq | 04/15/04

Gee. This is such a surprise....HA! jrbeaman | 04/15/04

writing patches before virus? hardnoks | 04/15/04

No credibility and no scruples amanishakhete@... | 04/15/04

Everything's Ok Krom597 | 04/17/04

The 4 MS "critical patches" are difficult to install. bphsi | 04/17/04

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Microsoft warns of a score of security holes

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