1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

News Linux blamed for Samsung laptop deaths

Discussion in 'Article Discussion' started by Gareth Halfacree, 31 Jan 2013.

  1. Gareth Halfacree

    Gareth Halfacree WIIGII! Lover of bit-tech Administrator Super Moderator Moderator

    Joined:
    4 Dec 2007
    Posts:
    17,084
    Likes Received:
    6,635
  2. derviansoul

    derviansoul What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    23 Dec 2011
    Posts:
    24
    Likes Received:
    0
    I think samsung should just have tested the laptops appropriately to ensure that this won't happen, since there is a big minority of users that like linux in their laptops.
    Doesn't matter how bigger are the profits for some of these companies, they are always cutting corners...
     
  3. docodine

    docodine killed a guy once

    Joined:
    10 Feb 2007
    Posts:
    5,084
    Likes Received:
    160
    at first i thought that people were killed by samsung laptops and it was linux's fault
     
    lp rob1 likes this.
  4. Cthippo

    Cthippo Can't mod my way out of a paper bag

    Joined:
    7 Aug 2005
    Posts:
    6,785
    Likes Received:
    103
    Kudos to Samsung for not saying "Meh, it's your fault for trying to use it differently than we intended", but rather supporting the product with a different OS. If only the other tech manufacturers were this responsive to the needs of the community.
     
  5. PingCrosby

    PingCrosby What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    16 Jan 2010
    Posts:
    392
    Likes Received:
    7
    Bring back the death penalty
     
  6. bowman

    bowman Minimodder

    Joined:
    7 Apr 2008
    Posts:
    363
    Likes Received:
    10
    It's not really Samsung's fault, it's UEFI. It was supposed to be a step forward in technology and security. Instead, they've abused and twisted it for 'trusted computing'.

    It's basically Anakin Skywalker that's become Darth Vader.
     
    azrael- likes this.
  7. Icy EyeG

    Icy EyeG Controlled by Eyebrow Powers™

    Joined:
    23 Jul 2007
    Posts:
    517
    Likes Received:
    3
    Isn't the title a bit contradictory when compared to the rest of the article? I mean:
    It's clearly on Linux fault and it only happens with a handful of Samsung laptops. It's not that all Samsung laptops were affected.
     
  8. Guinevere

    Guinevere Mega Mom

    Joined:
    8 May 2010
    Posts:
    2,484
    Likes Received:
    176
    Clearly Samsungs fault for shipping hardware that could so easily be bricked through software.
     
  9. yuusou

    yuusou Multimodder

    Joined:
    5 Nov 2006
    Posts:
    2,852
    Likes Received:
    916
    "Samsung Laptops with faulty UEFI killed by Linux"

    Seems a more appropriate title.
     
  10. Corky42

    Corky42 Where's walle?

    Joined:
    30 Oct 2012
    Posts:
    9,648
    Likes Received:
    388
    Does Samsung even bother to test there own laptops, it not like Linux is a unknown OS
     
  11. liratheal

    liratheal Sharing is Caring

    Joined:
    20 Nov 2005
    Posts:
    12,844
    Likes Received:
    1,939
    If it's sold as a windows machine, while it's the end users choice to install penguin of any flavour, it's not possible for them to test every permutation. It's not like they sold it as supporting Linux when it didn't - They sold the machines as windows machines, the user wanted something Samsung haven't (reasonably) tested, and it broke.

    I think the take away from this is, sure it didn't work, but Samsung didn't fob the user off, and are instead working on a fix.
     
  12. Tangster

    Tangster Butt-kicking for goodness!

    Joined:
    23 May 2009
    Posts:
    3,085
    Likes Received:
    151
    I don't see why people think samsung is to blame here. The laptops aren't advertised as supporting linux. If anything samsung should be praised for acknowledging and working to fix the problem. It's just like people don't expect a mac to support every os under the sun.
     
  13. faugusztin

    faugusztin I *am* the guy with two left hands

    Joined:
    11 Aug 2008
    Posts:
    6,953
    Likes Received:
    270
    Actually, the original code was provided by ... Samsung. And if you can fatally damage a board just by executing a code it didn't expect, then it is the failure on the side of the manufacturer. Just imagine a virus doing the same thing as this module does. Mass Samsung laptop suicide.

    https://plus.google.com/111049168280159033135/posts/h7FjkQKZHKT
     
  14. Phil Rhodes

    Phil Rhodes Hypernobber

    Joined:
    27 Jul 2006
    Posts:
    1,415
    Likes Received:
    10
    I thought it would come down to this.

    You can kill all kinds of modern electronics by running bad code on them. It's certainly possible to brick most hard disks by sending them the right commands. Anything with firmware - which is effectively everything - can be destroyed in this way.

    Much as the bug appears to be Samsung's, I just love the way the Linux people argue about how much they can be bothered to care. At some point in the Launchpad thread for this, someone called Kate Stewart apparently decides that it's "invalid" and of "undecided" importance.

    Welcome to Linux! We will destroy your laptop, and then we'll claim it isn't really a problem after all, and we can't even work out whether we care or not.
     
  15. faugusztin

    faugusztin I *am* the guy with two left hands

    Joined:
    11 Aug 2008
    Posts:
    6,953
    Likes Received:
    270
    So you say it's fine Samsung laptops have a bug which can easily kill your laptop with any OS ? Just because it is Linux where it has been found doesn't mean you won't have a virus later which will try to do exactly this thing.
     
  16. Tangster

    Tangster Butt-kicking for goodness!

    Joined:
    23 May 2009
    Posts:
    3,085
    Likes Received:
    151
    There's a difference between a technically unsupported OS and malicious code.
     
  17. Corky42

    Corky42 Where's walle?

    Joined:
    30 Oct 2012
    Posts:
    9,648
    Likes Received:
    388
    But i cant find anything on the Samsung web site saying there laptops are only suitable for Windows.
     
  18. The Bodger

    The Bodger What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    26 Dec 2003
    Posts:
    421
    Likes Received:
    4
    Personally, I've never understood why computers can't all have a small mechanical switch on them which, if not depressed prevents fundamental BIOS firmware from being altered. This could possibly, for example, act directly on the 'read only' pin of the BIOS memory. It would guarantee that changes which could terminally brick a system were a conscious decision by the user, rather than either a mistake by bad software / drivers or malicious in nature.

    As others on the forum have said, bad coding should not be allowed to kill the hardware upon which the OS is running; regardless of whether the OS is supported by the supplier of the computer or not.
     
  19. fdbh96

    fdbh96 What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    29 May 2011
    Posts:
    1,894
    Likes Received:
    33
    A big minority? I don't think Samsung is to blame, as with most laptop manufacturers it recommends Windows. If loading Win8 bricked it then fair enough, but part of the risk with Linux is that you are relying on an open source community which doesn't provide the same support/warranty as Windows for example.
     
  20. aramil

    aramil One does not simply upgrade Forums

    Joined:
    10 Jul 2012
    Posts:
    961
    Likes Received:
    58
    I really don't see to much of a difference between this and me running a custom linux os on my andriod tablet and phone.

    If it was to brick them (ie kill the hardware) I would not be able to get samsung or any other manufacturer to fix it. They would tell me I loaded a custom OS they did not.

    Well done for samsung at least looking to address the issue.

    Sent on my CM10 JB powered i9100 by TapaTalk 2
     

Share This Page