Computers Chromebook

beancounter said:
I want to be able to control/fix things, not just take whatever I'm given.
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But not everyone has that capability or interest. They just want to email and check their bank account and look up the NYT bestseller list...

Google already dumbs down it's search results. It "learn"s what you search for, and them filters search results based on your past clicks.
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I know they do that, and I think it's extremely problematic. But that's a separate issue.

As far as viruses, I've been using the Internet since the early 90's, and I've only gotten 4 viruses. I don't do anything special. I just avoid opening unknown emails, visiting questionable sites, and use an anti virus program to avoid the rest. Smart web surfing isn't hard.
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You saw I posted that the NBC site was compromised (which you would think would be a safe site to visit), and vulnerabilities in Java made it so that people were vulnerable who weren't doing anything dangerous... I think there's a "blame the victim" mentality when it comes to getting malware or getting hacked, and I think that's often unfair. But you're lucky that none of your viruses involved your bank or other accounts, which could have had serious consequences.
 
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(Karl - I don't know if you were an admin at VB about 4 years ago - do you remember if the VB site was compromised?]
 
Envy said:
Hmm, Java was disabled on my browser the entire time without me knowing it.

And that may not be a good thing.
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I'm not sure why tablets and chromebooks are a bad thing, for people who don't need to do much with their computers, and don't have the inclination or time to learn a lot about computers.

But just the fact that you didn't know what was going on with Java on your computer shows that you haven't been current on computer security, perhaps? How can someone expect the average person who might spend even less time on their computer and have even less inclination for computers (like my father), to keep current?
 
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beancounter said:
Well we could argue the chicken or the egg, but either way, IMO, the dumbing down of the public's computer knowledge is not a good thing.
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Ok.


But you still didn't tell me why it's "sad" if people don't need a computer with massive power, and instead a light-power laptop or tablet suits their needs just fine.
 
Ansciess said:
(Karl - I don't know if you were an admin at VB about 4 years ago - do you remember if the VB site was compromised?]
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I think I had just been appointed admin in 2009, but can't remember exactly. As far as I know it was never infected, although I think there was a link to a site that Google had marked as suspicious at one point. Also, in the months before the switch-over to Huddler, the vBulletin software wasn't being updated and there was a known exploit of that version, so it could well have been infected then for all I know.
 
Ansciess said:
I'm not sure why tablets and such are a bad thing, for people who don't need to do a lot with their computers.
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No, I'd more argue against the concept of the user having less and less control over her/his computer.

Ansciess said:
But just the fact that you didn't know what was going on with Java on your computer shows that you haven't been current on computer security, perhaps? How can someone expect the average person who might spend even less time on their computer and have even less inclination for computers (like my father), to keep current?
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Hmm, I suppose I've let down my guard a bit during the past years...
 
RabbitLuvr said:
Ok.


But you still didn't tell me why it's "sad" if people don't need a computer with massive power, and instead a light-power laptop or tablet suits their needs just fine.
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Because it promotes the dumping down of computer skills, and IMO, will ultimately tie people to one operating system/one content provider , where companies like Google can feed you the information/web sites/content that they want you to see/sell to you. Kind of the like the modern version of (the original) AOL, where you never stepped outside of their little universe.

Such a trend limits choice and breadth of knowledge, in exchange for ease of use and convenience.
 
Envy said:
No, I'd more argue against the concept of the user having less and less control over her/his computer.
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But the people who are likely to purchase a tablet are doing so because they don't want or need more control.
My desktop computer can do much more than my tablet, but I don't use it much because my tablet does pretty much everything I need to do frequently.

There are still plenty of resources available for people who have the need/want to do more.
 
beancounter said:
Because it promotes the dumping down of computer skills, and IMO, will ultimately tie people to one operating system/one content provider , where companies like Google can feed you the information/web sites/content that they want you to see/sell to you. Kind of the like the modern version of (the original) AOL, where you never stepped outside of their little universe.

Such a trend limits choice and breadth of knowledge, in exchange for ease of use and convenience.
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But your comment wasn't about computer skills, it was about what people use their devices to accomplish. But they're using them for exactly for what they want/need to do. So what is sad about that? If what I need/want a device for is checking my email and watching Netflix, is it sad that I purchase a device that allows me to check my email and watch Netflix? Is it sad that I want a device on which I can read books and magazines in bed, and use my iPad to... read books and magazines in bed? Would it be less sad if I unplugged my desktop PC and moved into the bedroom every day, and set it up there to read books and magazines?

I can go to Microcenter or Newegg.com and buy some pretty powerful components to build a hefty computer system, but that's not what I need/want.
My husband builds all his own systems, and usually upgrades mine with his "out-dated" parts. As a result, my desktop system is seriously overpowered for what I need it to do... Which is run iTunes, Facebook Messenger, and Tumblr at the same time, and on occasion rip dvd's and convert them so I can watch them on my iPad.
 
beancounter said:
Google already dumbs down it's search results. It "learns" what you search for, and them filters search results based on your past clicks. That sort of thing limits the information, and dumbs it down in the sense that your only seeing one side of a story. It's kind of like searching for a news story, and only getting search results from Fox news because you clicked on the RNC website once before.
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If you're using google.com (as opposed to google.co.uk and so on) and you're logged in to a google account, then you can see the "real" search results by clicking a little "planet earth" icon above the search results. (Whereas the "person" icon gives you the search results google thinks you want to see.)
 
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Envy said:
Hmm, I suppose I've let down my guard a bit during the past years...
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It's understandable. I think to be very safe on the standard computer people have to be really up to date on what's out there. But that's exactly my point - not everyone can do that, and it's easy to let one's guard down. Probably most people here didn't know about Java, even though it became a really big computing issue in January. I think most people just want to use their computer as a tool, but not necessarily have to spend time dealing with the actual tool (and they don't, and they get compromised).

beancounter - most people moved on from AOL, so they didn't get stuck in that world as the technology and options changed. There will always be people who want to work with their computers, and they'll have options like Linux. But Apple makes a pretty protected world too, do you have a problem with that?
 
Indian Summer said:
Java has had a lot of serious security issues lately, and some people have recommended simply un-installing it unless you know you definitely need it for something. If you definitely need it, then make sure it's kept up-to-date, consider disabling it in the browser you use most regularly, and only use it in a different browser for that specific task.

Java is installed often on MS Windows, Mac and Linux computers. I don't think can pose a threat as long as the browser plugin for it is disabled though.
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Thank you. My linux laptop doesn't have java, according to my son. I'm sure the stupid Windows 8 machine does, and he isn't touching that (he hates windows...) I will have to get the daughter on this. :)
 
RabbitLuvr said:
But your comment wasn't about computer skills, it was about what people use their devices to accomplish. But they're using them for exactly for what they want/need to do. So what is sad about that? If what I need/want a device for is checking my email and watching Netflix, is it sad that I purchase a device that allows me to check my email and watch Netflix? Is it sad that I want a device on which I can read books and magazines in bed, and use my iPad to... read books and magazines in bed? Would it be less sad if I unplugged my desktop PC and moved into the bedroom every day, and set it up there to read books and magazines?

I can go to Microcenter or Newegg.com and buy some pretty powerful components to build a hefty computer system, but that's not what I need/want.
My husband builds all his own systems, and usually upgrades mine with his "out-dated" parts. As a result, my desktop system is seriously overpowered for what I need it to do... Which is run iTunes, Facebook Messenger, and Tumblr at the same time, and on occasion rip dvd's and convert them so I can watch them on my iPad.
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Any time you relinquish control of something and become dependent on others for [insert subject here], IMO, that's not a good thing
 
So it's "sad" that I'm using my device to watch a movie someone else made, rather than making my own movies?

I don't want to spend my free time creating content. I want to watch/use content someone else created, and then spend my time doing other things.

I guess I'm a pretty sad person.
 
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RabbitLuvr said:
So it's "sad" that I'm using my device to watch a movie someone else made, rather than making my own movies?

I don't want to spend my free time creating content. I want to watch/use content someone else created, and then spend my time doing other things.

I guess I'm a pretty sad person.
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I'm sorry I used the word "sad". I didn't realize it would bother you so much.
 
beancounter - I understand what you're saying here in regards to people having control over their computing experience. And you are concerned that as the technology is made easier and safer for average person to be on-line without having to think a lot about their computers, that they will have even less inclination to have control over their computers (and by extension, the things that computers do). But I think that a lot of people don't use or want that control, so they're not using the potential anyway, and in fact it's making them less secure, and their computing experience isn't any better for it. There is the choice for people who want it.

I think you might be confusing the stuff with the Google search engine and other ways that people might become non-conscious consumers (which is a problem) with the issue that some people aren't inclined to be tech savvy and more user-friendly technology might be preferable for them.

I keep on top of cyber security, and I think people have to be vigilant to stay ahead of the "bad guys" (I think people who think it's no big deal are not aware of the risks), so if something comes along to make the world a little safer for people who aren't able to keep up and just want to use their computer for simple things, I don't think that's a bad thing.
 
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