We can at least try to ask Windows Security Centre whether or not they have anti-virus, updates, etc.  Even if it doesn't provide the correct answer (i.e. it lies because they already have a virus) wouldn't that be better than nothing?

I think we can query Windows Security Centre for Updates, Firewall, and Anti-virus, although I could be wrong as I know very little on the subject.


Would make a good fork though.  Alt-client: "Secure bitcoin"

I like the idea of including the protocol version.

I'm not quite sure how we managed to get onto the topic of different clients implementing the protocol differently, but I personally can't see how adding an extra field (particularly while most people use the most recent version of the original bitcoin client) could cause any harm.  Assuming the protocol remains backwards compatible and miners accept blocks with the new field.

If I am missing something though, feel free to try to explain it in somewhat different words.

I wonder whether or not it might be better to try to build a portable Bitcoin using the Portable Apps Platform instead of just batch files.

Also, if you are going to use batch files, it might be worth the effort to add a few fallback nodes to the command as well.  A lot of public computers have the ports for IRC blocked.

This question has been answered here: http://forum.bitcoin.org/index.php?topic=21549.0

This topic can now be locked.

I think the vast majority of the people don't have a clue how anything works and therefore don't really have much of an opinion on the Federal Reserve.

How many people off the street realize how the monetary system in the U.S. works really?

I like this idea and the balance sheets idea.  I think that people are over complicating them both a bit though.

If the balance block contained the following information, I think it would work fine (once we got past the problems with needing the majority of the network to accept the block).

-------------------------
Version
Previous hash
Previous balance block hash
Balances of all addresses with BTC in them.
Timestamp
"Bits"
Nonce
--------------------------


This way it isn't a huge change from the current method of creating blocks. It can still be easily verified by clients that are downloading the entire block chain, as it has the hash of the previous block it can be treated just like a normal block for verification purposes (I think, correct me if I am wrong);  New clients that are just connecting to the network can download and verify each of the balance blocks using the hash of the balance blocks that is stored in them.

As an extra measure of security a paranoid client could even verify the block chain from the second to most recent balance block to the current block.  If all of those blocks (1000-1999 blocks assuming one of these balance blocks is created every 1k blocks) it would be safe to assume that you are caught up to the network properly.

I wonder if Sirius and Gavin would be willing to make Bitcoin.org a small wiki with just a page or two.  If they use single-signon for the forums and for the mainsite then they could restrict editing of Bitcoin.org's mainsite to trusted forum members.

It would get rid of the problem of Bitcoin.org's mainsite being centrally controlled by only a few people without risking the site getting completely vandalized by spammers and trolls.

That is a much nicer looking client than the current one.

I think perhaps if we used an interface like that of AllBitcoin, in that it support descriptions and has two panes, and then we included the additional information from the original bitcoin client and Spesmilo (transaction status, etc.), we could be on the right track.

Ideally though, I think the client should look something like online banking sites do (except somewhat more Web 2.0ish).

I know this is a bit off topic, but shouldn't this thread be stickied?  This thread and Newbie Restrictions.

I can help here.

I used to sell Win XP keys.  I still have plenty of them.  You will have to supply your own WinXP disc though.

I'm willing to sell them very cheap (no one ever wants them anymore).

I am willing to trade BTC for Amazon gift cards.

I'm no longer interested in buying it for 6 BTC.  I wish there was a bit more stability in Bitcoin right now. xD

6 BTC.

I think the idea of using cURL instead of fopen() is a good idea if it means anything.

Couldn't we purchase the .com domain and just forward it to the .org domain.  That is what Slashdot and sf.net both do.  Hell even EFF has done it (eff.net forwards to eff.org).

It wouldn't affect our rankings in the search engines at all.  Particularly if we set the .com to redirect to the .org using 301 redirect.

(Note: I started writing this post a few hours before it was actually posted. I may have missed a few posts in the conversation.)

I personally would root for stability.  As Littleshop said, somewhere in the 6-8 USD range would be ideal.

Stable currencies induce people to spend more because they don't feel like their money is going to be changed in value between today and tomorrow.  It decreases hording in the case of deflation, and increases spending on ordinary goods in the case of inflation.

I also think that people enjoy the idea of spending currencies worth more than their native currency, and 6-8 USD plays into that well.  6-8 USD is also not so high as to discourage people from purchasing bitcoin.

Of course, I am not a economist by any means, and this is all just speculation.

If I were to move the files:

• blkxxxx.dat
• blkindex.dat

That would move the block database I believe.  Is this true?  Could I further use this ability to give new bitcoin users a copy of the block database so that they don't have to wait so long to download it from the other peers?

I haven't delved into the source code of bitcoin yet, and honestly, as I do not know C++ I'm not sure how much of it would make sense to me, but from the documentation I have read on the Wiki I think that this could work.

Sorry about he poor wording, I am tired today.

You're right.  I forget that I start with no reputation when I join a new forum.  Forgive me.


I keep my portable copy of bitcoin on a flash drive with hardware based encryption.  At some point I'll add TrueCrypt to the mix as well, but I haven't had the time yet.

I have one that is very similar.  It though also adds some nodes.   I use it for when I have to run bitcoin through tor.


The warning at the beginning of the batch file is so that you are reminded to close bitcoin before removing your flash drive.

Also, I can vouch for bbulker's batch file.  There is nothing malicious in his program.