MS?

["Paul Tiger" <tigerp@xxxxxxxxx>]

Thread name change ---
Lou - you've mentioned MS software a number of times. While there are
systems using MS as an OS there isn't anyone here that I know of that is
pushing MS. We've all be pushing Linux or something open. I like BSD.
You've made such a big deal out of your issue with MS (and I don't disagree
with the premise) that I am guessing that you are addressing some specific
system by some certain maker. Who & What are you directing these comments
toward and in relation to?

One thing that I would like to address about MS boxes is that if you don't
connect them to the internet it's going to be pretty difficult to have any
of the exploits that we know about damage those systems. As it stands
currently, no one is connecting balloting machines to the internet. There is
no reason to do this, and the way in which things are set up at our clerk's
office it would be an physical and logical impossibility.

Win 2K Pro is pretty stable. You sound to me like someone who has had
difficulty applying patches for MS and your response is that it shouldn't be
used at all. Am I even close?
MS doesn't make it easy for end users, because they want you to pay geeks
like me that they trained for a few grand to do their dirty work.
MS isn't the only thing that has exploits and has been hacked. Pick any one
of your favorite open source OSs and we can find a laundry list of exploits
that have been created and implemented. If UNIX and Linux were so rock
solid, then why would CU have a specific group of people who spend their
waking hours finding a defeating hackers on such systems?

paul

-----Original Message-----
From: Lou Puls [mailto:lpuls@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Friday, April 09, 2004 11:57 AM
To: cvv-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: "Luddite" hand counting

[|>] snip

Let's discuss the merits of such issues and not fritter away energy on
minor detail.  How about some balanced, constructive views on why this
highly vulnerable, defective (MS-Windows) software should be acceptable
for such an important civic function?  With the digital talent
represented in this group, credible legal action could still be mounted
to stop it down and allow recountable paper ballots of record - but only
if this group takes a firm stand on the obvious.
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