[Hidden-tech] State mandates on Windows XP?

Robert Heller heller at deepsoft.com
Thu Apr 3 11:47:41 EDT 2014


At Thu, 3 Apr 2014 09:15:58 -0400 Naaz Hosseini <naaz at NaazHosseini.com> wrote:

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> 
> 
> 
> ---Executing: recode
> Bram,
> 
> You have me considering switching my old XP machine over to Linux. I only do
> my books on that machine and never connect it to the internet. But, it
> probably lacks the needed capacity for the switch.

I use GnuCash to do my bookkeeping.  GnuCash runs on Linux, MS-Windows, and 
MacOSX.  It is a *free* download from www.gnucash.org.  Very active and 
helpful support group on the gnucash user's mailing list.

> 
> I took a look at your websites. Kudos on the work you're doing w (and for) up and coming tech-ers, education and the community. 
> Thanks for your contributions to the possible new world!
> 
> Naaz
> 
> Naaz Hosseini
> Owner, Powerful PresenceTM
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> Private Practice
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> On Apr 2, 2014, at 6:01 PM, Bram Moreinis wrote:
> 
> >   ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
> >   ** If you did, we all thank you.
> > 
> > 
> > I don't think "vulnerability" needs to be in quotation marks....anybody who is paid to be responsible for machine security will want to get away from legacy system support. 
> > 
> > On the other hand, some public-funded places are pretty resource-poor right now and can't afford to update all their systems to support fresh Windows...and these same folks don't pay fancypants tech support to keep their machines secure and running and CERTAINLY can't pay people to master open source. 
> > 
> > I think there are many opportunities out there for Linux-lovers to volunteer to take on IT infrastructures in public-funded or nonprofit shops in return for their pledge to abandon Windows XP - are there folks on this list willing to sign up for that good Samaritanship?  That would be a great project for students in community colleges.... I won't hold my breath waiting though. 
> > 
> > In Vermont, where I lived the last two years, there was an expression common to all hardscrabble farmer communities: "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without."  Those folks will NOT be trashing their Microsoft XP machines, unless they have enough Linux supporters, until that security flaw exposes itself big time and forces their hand, I reckon. 
> > 
> > If you can switch out of XP, you will, and if you can't, you won't ... until you experience why you have to. So no doubt there are some MS people working on some highly contagious XP exploits for those who would rather fight than switch.  
> > 
> > I don't think I buried a recommendation anywhere in there, aside from organizing young people to support Linux in schools (I've done that, http://hvscouts.com, and would volunteer to help if someone asked and had the kids).
> > 
> > -Bram
> > I work for a non profit that takes state money.  Has anyone heard if the 
> > state is going to mandate that anyone with a state contract will be 
> > required to get rid of their XP computers?    Or anything else in the 
> > pipeline for the state requiring people to move away from XP? Here at 
> > umass we have a policy that any XP system after April 8th will become a 
> > "vulnerability" and will be banned from being on the network.
> >> Even if the state "does nothing", it would be prudent to 'voluntarily' get rid
> >> of the Windows XP machines. If the *cost* of a replacement MS-Windows machine
> >> is too much, Ubuntu (cost = $0.00) can be installed on the older Windows XP
> >> machines, since it is likely that MS-Windows 7 or 8 won't run on something
> >> that originally shipped with Windows XP -- eg 32-bit processor, short on RAM
> >> and/or hard drive space, etc. Ubuntu (or really any Linux distro) will run
> >> quite happily on older, 32-bit hardware (and a 'bleeding edge' distro like
> >> Ubuntu will have up-to-date versions of LibreOffice, which can deal with
> >> recent vintage mess-word docx files). If there are mess-windows only apps, a
> >> Windows XP system running in a sandboxed VM (eg without Internet access) can
> >> be set up with VirtualBox. Ubuntu 12.04 LTS only needs about 10Gig of disk
> >> space for the O/S files and is happy with run with only 512Meg of RAM
> >> (although at least 1Gig is prefered). CentOS 5 is happy to run on diskless P4
> >> workstations with only 1.25G (1G + 256Meg) of RAM -- we have a pile of P4
> >> Small Form Factor ("Samba") boxes at the Wendell Free Library running network
> >> booted CentOS 5 with their file system NFS mounted.
> >> 
> >>> Thoughts?
> >>> Thanks
> >>> David
> >>> 
> >>> 
> >>> 
> > 
> > 
> > -- 
> > <BigG_70X108.gif>	
> > Game Face Web Design
> > 
> > Bram Moreinis, Principal
> > http://www.gamefacewebdesign.com
> > 845-750-6204
> > 
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>                                                     

-- 
Robert Heller             -- 978-544-6933 / heller at deepsoft.com
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