Significant flaw found in Intel 64 bit CPUs, fix will reduce performance significantly

Tags

bugs, Computers, Intel 64 bit CPU defect

link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/01/02/intel_cpu_design_flaw/

more info here: https://meltdownattack.com

It seems there is a deep flaw in Intel 64 bit CPUs that may let malware access kernel memory – a bad thing. The OS work arounds for this will cut performance significantly. Technical details are in the linked article.

Windows and Linux are to issue update shortly. Apple’s macOS (nee OS X) has been patched since version 10.3.2

So, if you are contemplating a computer purchase I think you should delay buying until Intel fixes the CPU defect and announces which CPU lines are fixed. Then make sure a fixed chip is in the computer you want.

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Steve Jobs RIP

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Computers, life, society

As you have read all over the web, Steve Jobs of Apple Computer has passed away. A creative genus has left us, and he has left us better off. Goodbye Steve.

6 Computer Labs That Got Us to Today

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Computers, technology

I came across an interesting article on the 6 computer labs that developed key pieces of what we have today. Worth looking at.

Today, you can get the latest and greatest computer at an affordable price.

Microsoft, T-Mobile Cell Phones Loose All Data

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cell phones, Computers, microsoft, t-mobile

I had trouble catching my breath – swine flu? asthma? NO, uncontrollable laughter! It seems that Microsoft’s data center that was storing the data for T-Mobile Sidekick phones lost all the data folks entrusted them with. Why do I find this funny? Because it’s Microsoft, a company I have come to detest and despise. At my job I have to deal with their crappy products. The Microsoft subsidiary at fault is named “Danger”. I’m not making this up. Sort of like depositing your money at a bank called “First National Defunct”.

This did not happen to the Apple iPhone, it did not happen to Verizon cell phones. Nor to Google’s gmail, calendar, or online documents. It was Microsoft that failed.

To those users who suffered the data loss, I’m not laughing at you. It surely sucks. Choose a reliable vendor next time you store your data in the cloud.

Unix Turns 40. Happy Birthday!

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Computers, unix

ComputerWorld reports that Unix turns 40.  Why would anyone but the geeks care about this birthday? Because just about everything that works well on your personal computer has Unix roots – except for the graphical interface which came from Xerox PARC.

• The hierarchical file system in which a directory contains files and other directories which in turn contain files and directories, etc, etc.
• Linux, an open source Unix, runs most of the web servers of the world.
• Sockets, a programming layer on top of  the TCP communications protocol, first appeared on BSD Unix. All of the web and email services we rely on is built with sockets.
• Open source started at UC Berkley with BSD.
• Tim Berners Lee invented the world wide web on a Unix based NeXT system using BSD Unix and  sockets.

Happy 40th Unix!