Certain Windows 10 drivers may soon stop working

[Terry N4TLF]

More anti-Microsoft scare tactics, as far as I'm concerned...  let's get 
real.

If you read the article, it limits the amount of damage done to only new 
installations - NOT the upgrades or pre-existing installations:
"OS signing enforcement is only for new OS installations; systems upgraded 
from an earlier OS to Windows 10, version 1607 will not be affected by this 
change"

I would prefer to have drivers that have some proof of validity in my 
installations, which is the point of this.  I want to know what is NOT a 
valid driver, and make up my own mind whether to use it or not.

Mel has been trying to run a Linux-only ham computer for a while now, and 
contesting software is the main problem.  There aren't any good ones that 
match the Windows ones.  Virtually all ham contest programs are written for 
Windows, as that is STILL where the market is.  The vast majority of hams 
run Windows.  Period.  N1MM, N3FJP, and other contest program authors have 
already indicated that they have NO INTEREST in supporting Linux, or 
anything other than Windows.

Mel and I worked on someone's contest program written for Windows in Java to 
get it running better on Linux, but the original author had no interest in 
our work.  Other contest program authors have also expressed a total lack of 
interest in supporting Linux.  Some ham programs DO support Linux, or can be 
run using WINE or other tricks (virtual boxes, etc), but as soon as you try 
to interface to a rig or other device, all bets are off.

I have a love/hate relationships with both Windows and Linux, and I bet that 
doesn't change anytime soon.  Yes, Microsoft can be overbearing and targets 
the vast majority of email/browsing users only, but the design tools are 
really great, they don't go bad, and it IS the predominant OS in the world. 
Yes, Linux is "free", is "safer", and works really nice for some stuff.  But 
try to get that software running that you wrote a year, two, or more back. 
You quickly find that the latest distro has changed where at least some 
dependencies are, and you will enjoy days of searching for those moved 
libraries, which makes Windows DLL-HELL look like a stroll in the park.  Not 
good for any commercial product.

Have you tried to run a five-year-old version of GNU-Radio lately?  I have 
tried and can't.  How about an older version of Eclipse and GCC?  My Visual 
C 2005 Express still works, as do the programs written in it.  Linux is a 
constantly moving target whose destination is at the whim of people that 
LOVE to change their minds.

Don't get me wrong, I've used Linux since it first came out, and have gone 
through more distros than I can name.  It's interesting and cool.  Many of 
my computers dual-boot Windows and Linux.  But the FREE OS more than makes 
up for the cost with the amount of time learnin' the latest incantations to 
make something that's not purely off-the-shelf work.  If you don't want to 
spend all your time relearning what you thought you already knew, Linux can 
be a major pain in the butt.  Plus the lack of support is a big deal.

There are many Linux people that say you can get support from "the cloud" of 
users out there.  I don't consider support being responses like "RTFM" from 
some wizard that thinks he/she is way cooler than you.  Sing along: "I know 
more than you doooooo".

I've got 15 active computers, many running Windows XP, Vista, 7, and 
(mostly) 10.  Most stuff still runs on all of them.  I think that I've also 
currently got Ubuntu 8.04, 12.04, 14?, Mint Cinnamon 16, and now Cinnamon 
18.  The older Ubuntu installations are almost worthless, as too many 
dependencies have now changed.

I am getting a t-shirt made that says: "Life is too short for Linux"  But, I 
still bang my head against that wall....

BTW, I STILL have a hate/hate relationship with my Macbook Pro.  Apple is 
evil, pure and simple.  They make Microsoft look like angels, even with the 
new Swift.  Forcing you to pay $99 a year just to keep your app alive in the 
store... even if the app is free.  More like a swift kick in the...  You can 
now share an app outside the store, but only if your "friends" can also 
build it from source.  I'm so grateful.

If you ask nicely, I will tell you what I REALLY think!
73, Terry, N4TLF


-----Original Message----- 
From: kf4hcw
Sent: Monday, August 01, 2016 12:27 PM
To: tacos at amrad.org
Subject: Re: Certain Windows 10 drivers may soon stop working

On 08/01/2016 11:52 AM, lstoskopf at cox.net wrote:
> Linux!  Maybe time for all Ham designers to switch OS?

Definitely.

_M

-- 
kf4hcw
Pete McNeil
lifeatwarp9.com/kf4hcw

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