On Sat, Dec 09, 2000 at 05:05:21AM -0500, rpjday wrote:
> ... subtitled: a man really should know his limitations.
>
> a recent security column in the nov 27 issue of computerworld is the
> perfect example of why people who don't understand linux shouldn't be bad
> mouthing it.
>
> <<Details elided>>
You've just encountered the very reason I read *each* trade rag article with
a block of salt.
Whenever they review or natter about something with which you have
personal experience, you'll find there are glaring oversights and
out-and-out falsehoods. I've noticed this for over 20 years--comparisons
of development environments, systems, or packages, it doesn't matter.
I've come to the conclusion that this is caused by three problems:
1. Regular reviewers are often asked to provide detailed technical and
subjective analysis of so many different--and I mean different
as in apples and oranges, not just different flavors--TYPES of
"things" that they can't possibly be or become deeply knowledgable
about all of them.
2. There is ALWAYS a deadline.
3. If writing a column, you're supposed to be an expert. You can't
admit, "I never saw this system before in my life, and didn't have
the time to read the documentation, search the web or ask experts
for help." You present your conclusions--hasty and ill-researched
as they may be-- as scientific analysis and the last word on
the topic.
Note also that we'll neither hear from the author of that article here, nor
in the trade rag. This is history--he has to produce the next column.
To be fair, it's a hard cycle to break--you DON'T have time to research
carefully, and everyone else is doing it. Your editor won't understand
why you want to hire three expensive Linux gurus and three expensive
Windows 200 experts, interview them for their opinions and insights,
and have them design and execute the installation process while you
observe and take notes. This is YOUR column, fer Cripes' sakes--just
write it!
--
Dave Ihnat
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