349: Success - Revision history

81.179.199.253: /* Explanation */ A little bit of tweaking.

2026-02-22T21:01:59Z

‎Explanation: A little bit of tweaking.

Sophira: Adding a more complete explanation.

2026-02-22T17:57:12Z

Adding a more complete explanation.

Lettherebedarklight: /* Transcript */ add Category:Comics with a Spanish translation

2025-12-15T08:59:58Z

‎Transcript: add Category:Comics with a Spanish translation

FaviFake at 13:16, 29 July 2025

2025-07-29T13:16:48Z

172.71.26.46: Undo revision 352030 by 172.71.223.24 (talk) While I'm not sure 'popular' is the right term, and 'common' is already used, if a serious edit then against the sense as intended.

2024-10-03T20:11:09Z

Undo revision 352030 by 172.71.223.24 (talk) While I'm not sure 'popular' is the right term, and 'common' is already used, if a serious edit then against the sense as intended.

172.71.223.24 at 18:40, 3 October 2024

2024-10-03T18:40:26Z

Natg19: Undo revision 290071 by 172.70.82.139 (talk)

2022-07-22T22:48:51Z

Undo revision 290071 by 172.70.82.139 (talk)

172.70.82.139 at 21:44, 22 July 2022

2022-07-22T21:44:12Z

172.70.131.48: Undo revision 278654 by Donald Trump (talk)

2022-05-26T17:46:49Z

Undo revision 278654 by Donald Trump (talk)

Show changes

Donald Trump: Crapped page

2022-05-26T17:23:19Z

Crapped page

Show changes

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 This comic refers to a common experience in which attempts to improve or change something can get you into even worse trouble, and where just getting back to the state at which you started becomes an arduous or even impossible task. Here, this idea is taken to a ridiculously (and amusingly) extreme level, where the attempt to install an operating system snowballs into ever more complicated problems, resulting in Cueball and Megan somehow literally getting themselves in deep water.
-The OS they are trying to install is {{w|OpenBSD}}, an {{w|open source}} {{w|Unix}} {{w|operating system}} that, like some other Unix variants, is notoriously difficult to install and configure correctly, especially on home desktops with less common hardware profiles, and especially compared with the more popular Windows operating system.
+The OS they are trying to install is {{w|OpenBSD}}, an {{w|open source}} {{w|Unix}} {{w|operating system}} that, like some other Unix variants, is notoriously difficult to install and configure correctly, especially on home desktops with less common hardware profiles. And especially compared with the more common operating systems, such as Windows, where OS-specific driver support (or hardware-specific OS support) and working default configurations is more of a built in expectation.
-[[Cueball]] starts out by attempting to upgrade the computer to allow {{w|Multi-booting|dual booting}} of BSD - in other words, setting it up such that the computer has both BSD and another operating system (typically Windows) installed at the same time, allowing Cueball and Megan to choose to start up in either one. This process is not as simple as it should be, and even less so in 2007 when this comic was published.
+[[Cueball]] starts out by attempting to upgrade the computer to allow {{w|Multi-booting|dual booting}} of BSD &mdash; in other words, setting it up such that the computer has both BSD and another operating system (typically the originally loaded Windows installation) installed at the same time, allowing Cueball and Megan to choose to start up in either one. This process is not always as simple as it could be, and even less so in 2007 when this comic was published.
-hours later, it seems that Cueball has failed in this process, and is attempting to revert the computer back to its original state. This should involve restoring the original bootloader and deleting the partition that houses BSD, in that order - by itself a fraught procedure. Instead, it appears that Cueball has taken the computer's case off and is working with the hardware. Cueball is not hopeful that he will be able to fix the issue - it appears he may have taken on too large a task.
+Six hours later, it seems that Cueball has failed in this process, and is attempting to revert the computer back to its original state. This should involve restoring the original bootloader and deleting the partition that houses BSD, in that order &mdash; by itself a fraught procedure. Instead, it appears that Cueball has taken the computer's case off and is working with the hardware. Cueball is not hopeful that he will be able to fix the issue &mdash; it appears he may have taken on too large a task or created additional problems along the way.
-Indeed, by the third panel it seems that the computer is a write-off - either the computer has been damaged by his attempts, or Cueball doesn't have enough experience to fix the issue. More worryingly, however, his laptop is now experiencing its own problems, seemingly caused by his efforts on the PC. No matter how difficult the problems are on one computer, they should not be affecting a completely different one.
+Indeed, by the third panel it seems that the computer is a write-off &mdash; either the computer hardware has somehow been damaged by whatever he has done, or Cueball doesn't have enough experience to revert various changes. More worryingly, however, his laptop is now experiencing its own problems, seemingly caused by using its (originally working) capabilities in support of his efforts to fix the PC. No matter how difficult the problems are on one computer, they should not normally be affecting a completely different one.
-By the end, 24 hours after starting work on the computer, Cueball has managed to get both him and Megan in trouble - adrift in deep, shark-infested waters. Generally, attempting to fix computer problems should not lead to potential shark attacks{{Citation needed}}, but somehow Cueball has managed exactly that. Understandably, Megan resolves never to let Cueball upgrade anything again if they survive.
+By the end, 24 hours after starting work on the computer, Cueball has managed to get both him and Megan in trouble &mdash; adrift in deep, shark-infested waters. Generally, attempting to fix computer problems should not lead to potential shark attacks,{{Citation needed}} but somehow Cueball has managed exactly that. Understandably, Megan resolves never to let Cueball upgrade anything again if they survive.
 The title text is a reference to OpenBSD's premium on security. For a time, their slogan was "Five years without a remote [security] hole in the default install!" This was eventually changed to "Only two remote holes in the default install, in a heck of a long time!" That their only standing security issue would be shark attacks is effectively an acknowledgement that any attempts to install the OS will only lead to getting stranded in the middle of the ocean.

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:57, 22 February 2026
Line 11:		Line 11:

	The OS they are trying to install is {{w\|OpenBSD}}, an {{w\|open source}} {{w\|Unix}} {{w\|operating system}} that, like some other Unix variants, is notoriously difficult to install and configure correctly, especially on home desktops with less common hardware profiles, and especially compared with the more popular Windows operating system.		The OS they are trying to install is {{w\|OpenBSD}}, an {{w\|open source}} {{w\|Unix}} {{w\|operating system}} that, like some other Unix variants, is notoriously difficult to install and configure correctly, especially on home desktops with less common hardware profiles, and especially compared with the more popular Windows operating system.
		+
		+	[[Cueball]] starts out by attempting to upgrade the computer to allow {{w\|Multi-booting\|dual booting}} of BSD - in other words, setting it up such that the computer has both BSD and another operating system (typically Windows) installed at the same time, allowing Cueball and Megan to choose to start up in either one. This process is not as simple as it should be, and even less so in 2007 when this comic was published.
		+
		+	6 hours later, it seems that Cueball has failed in this process, and is attempting to revert the computer back to its original state. This should involve restoring the original bootloader and deleting the partition that houses BSD, in that order - by itself a fraught procedure. Instead, it appears that Cueball has taken the computer's case off and is working with the hardware. Cueball is not hopeful that he will be able to fix the issue - it appears he may have taken on too large a task.
		+
		+	Indeed, by the third panel it seems that the computer is a write-off - either the computer has been damaged by his attempts, or Cueball doesn't have enough experience to fix the issue. More worryingly, however, his laptop is now experiencing its own problems, seemingly caused by his efforts on the PC. No matter how difficult the problems are on one computer, they should not be affecting a completely different one.
		+
		+	By the end, 24 hours after starting work on the computer, Cueball has managed to get both him and Megan in trouble - adrift in deep, shark-infested waters. Generally, attempting to fix computer problems should not lead to potential shark attacks{{Citation needed}}, but somehow Cueball has managed exactly that. Understandably, Megan resolves never to let Cueball upgrade anything again if they survive.

	The title text is a reference to OpenBSD's premium on security. For a time, their slogan was "Five years without a remote [security] hole in the default install!" This was eventually changed to "Only two remote holes in the default install, in a heck of a long time!" That their only standing security issue would be shark attacks is effectively an acknowledgement that any attempts to install the OS will only lead to getting stranded in the middle of the ocean.		The title text is a reference to OpenBSD's premium on security. For a time, their slogan was "Five years without a remote [security] hole in the default install!" This was eventually changed to "Only two remote holes in the default install, in a heck of a long time!" That their only standing security issue would be shark attacks is effectively an acknowledgement that any attempts to install the OS will only lead to getting stranded in the middle of the ocean.

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:59, 15 December 2025
Line 48:		Line 48:
	[[Category:BSD]]		[[Category:BSD]]
	[[Category:Cueball's computer problems]]		[[Category:Cueball's computer problems]]
		+	[[Category:Comics with a Spanish translation]]

@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 [[Category:Sharks]]
 [[Category:BSD]]
-[[Category:Cueball Computer Problems]]
+[[Category:Cueball's computer problems]]

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 This comic refers to a common experience in which attempts to improve or change something can get you into even worse trouble, and where just getting back to the state at which you started becomes an arduous or even impossible task. Here, this idea is taken to a ridiculously (and amusingly) extreme level, where the attempt to install an operating system snowballs into ever more complicated problems, resulting in Cueball and Megan somehow literally getting themselves in deep water.
-The OS they are trying to install is {{w|OpenBSD}}, an {{w|open source}} {{w|Unix}} {{w|operating system}} that, like some other Unix variants, is notoriously difficult to install and configure correctly, especially on home desktops with less common hardware profiles, and especially compared with the more popular Linux operating system.
+The OS they are trying to install is {{w|OpenBSD}}, an {{w|open source}} {{w|Unix}} {{w|operating system}} that, like some other Unix variants, is notoriously difficult to install and configure correctly, especially on home desktops with less common hardware profiles, and especially compared with the more popular Windows operating system.
 The title text is a reference to OpenBSD's premium on security. For a time, their slogan was "Five years without a remote [security] hole in the default install!" This was eventually changed to "Only two remote holes in the default install, in a heck of a long time!" That their only standing security issue would be shark attacks is effectively an acknowledgement that any attempts to install the OS will only lead to getting stranded in the middle of the ocean.

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 | number    = 349
 | date      = November 26, 2007
-| title     = Nigger!
+| title     = Success
 | image     = success.png
 | titletext = 40% of OpenBSD installs lead to shark attacks. It's their only standing security issue.