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As if my eyes popped outta my face when I read such thing!!

Don’t get me wrong, I love Linux as much as I love windows (if not more)…

Anyways, according to a post in ZDNET’s blog by “Joe Brockmeier” (Who’s btw the community manager of openSUSE), Linux is not %100 free…

He referred to Tom Callaway “Who’s the Fedora’s Engineering Manager” mentioned that you can’t call a “%100 Free GNU\Linux Distribution” totally free since it has some propriotary and closed packages and files thats added as if they’re free and open-source…

It’s not that they’re not working on managing things, but as Tom (Nicknamed as “Spot”) says that to be %100 free, every file in the whole system must be open-source and free… Or atleast supported but listen as propriotary… Or something like this…

I might lack methods an skills to deliver what they’re trying to say (Or what I’m trying to say), so I’ll just leave SPOT’s link to understand more…

So if I understood things the right way, this question goes to Linux users:
You still count the “Screw the propriotary!! VIVA LA SOURCE” as a reason to prefer Linux on Windows\MAC? (I’m sure SIGTERMer will go crazy since he’s paranoid when it gets to licenses)

Click here to read the “Spot”s post
Click here to read the ZDNET’s post

Jack Wallen wrote 10 questions asking people who would like to migrate to Linux… I agree with most of the 10 questions… Even though most of’em are corporate not a personal concern…

I’ll rephrase the questions my way:

1-   Do you really need the propriotary softwares?

Well, There’s an equivalent OpenSource software to almost every propriotary software… GIMP can take Photoshop’s place, OpenOffice can fill in Microsoft Office’s place, InkScape can replace CorelDraw and the list goes on.

But we shouldn’t forget that (for example) those who work in Photoshop developments are getting paid to develop a specialized software for photo publishing under a specific operating system… They wouldn’t develop on that operating system unless they know how to make the best out of it for the software’s needs letting aside the fact that they wouldn’t be hired if they weren’t so skilled in image processing and stuff… Ofcourse there’s emulations but I doubt it would give exactly the perfectly same results as using the operating system they’ve developed on (as in Photoshop under Wine or mono considering my example).

2-   GNOME or KDE?

SIGTERMer would jump in this convo telling me it shouldn’t be asked since you can use both… But here’s the thing; Not every Linux migrator is a programmer or an IT person.

Ofcourse you can run both on the same Linux system without stability issues (I personally doubt… But it’s just me). But there’s people who migrate from different operating systems and want to use Linux with a close feeling and interface of their previous operating system.

So as Jack Wallen suggests; KDE goes for Windows people and GNOME goes for OSX guys.

I would disagree with the man since to me, I think it’s nothing but a personal feeling toward the thing… I, personally, prefer GNOME over KDE… It’s just me.

3-   You think your IT people could handle Linux?

Lets think of Windows, Linux and OSX as different majors… Let’s say Physics, Chemistry and Electronics… Every major got its own science and world that got some common similarities between them but got ALOT of specialized differences.

So don’t expect a Windows IT person to migrate to Linux without proper training… I like Jack Wallen said:

Sure, they may know more about Windows than you know about your own family. But that doesn’t mean they know their way around Linux well enough to administer a system or network of Linux boxes.

4-   Does your corporate gets special offers and discounts from Microsoft\Mac?

I faced a scenario that I think others did.

My friend made a Microsoft PowerPoint project and wanted my opinion. Luckily I have OpenOffice (I still do… Less space on my laptop since I don’t use it much anyway… I’m broke anyway ) so I opened the file with OpenOffice and everything was FUGLY!! Why? Because for some reason OpenOffice didn’t handle Microsoft PowerPoint’s files properly that they go REAL slow when motions are involved… I don’t know if they fixed this issue (since it’s been a long time since I thought of upgrading my OpenOffice) which assumingly they did or it’s just what happens on OpenOffice under Winows, but it REALLY caused me some panic.

Keep that scenario in mind… And think of things this way:

If my crappy college would offer cheap student version of Microsoft Office (or maybe Visual Studio as well… Oh yea, Express Edition is free… Yet it’s just express) by some special offers they receive from Microsoft (Usually they DO give offers to institutes and schools… But I think my college is too lazy to do so), I would’ve spared some cash to buy that so I wouldn’t have to be in such scenario.

As a personal preferance; I prefer paying some money on some propriotary software with features that I need that runs on an operating system that I’m really familiar with than get a free software that causes such issues or migrate to another operating system that I’m not totally used to (or will have hard time getting used to) just to have a free software that runs what I neede perfectly.

5-   Do you use alot of removable media?

I know alot would disagree on this point (I kinda disagree on this point as well), but removable media in Linux isn’t as perfect as Windows (Or maybe the other way around).

So if you have a corporate and you have alot of removable media, it’ll be annoying since some of the removable media wouldn’t mount properly under Linux.

I don’t know if what Jack Wallen suggested is the right choice, but he suggest Mandriva for removable media issues.

Personally, I faced little issues with removable media… Let’s say 1:100 ratio… I know it’s really little, but there was some issues…

6-   Is your hardware supported?

Well, it’s not a big concern in Linux anymore since new hardwares usually provide drivers for Windows, Linux and maybe OSX (Really… Not ALL of manufacturers provide a driver for OSX).

But when you want to cut price and use old hardwares, you might have drivers issues… Ofcourse you would be able to write a driver or two to work on this\these hardwares or maybe hire or ask those who made’em to write on, but that would cost money and\or time.

Though most of old hardwares are supported by Linux so I kinda disagree with Jack here.

7-   Are you using Active Directory?

There’s an alternative Linux solution for Active Directory; OpenLDAP… But ofcourse there’s some features in Active Directory aren’t supported by OpenLDAP (And maybe vise-versa)… Ofcourse that doesn’t mean OpenLDAP is superiored by Active Directory (Actually, OpenLDAP might be better)… But it’s just a compatibility issues and what your corporate needs.

8-   Would someone support your Linux?

To me, thats the only thing I consider a weak point in Linux; No one will really support you… I’m sure alot of people would read this the wrong way, so let me clarify my point.

Jack Wallen mentioned that if your company would install Ubuntu, Red Hat or Suse, they’ll be supported by those who made them. And if they would install Debian or whatever your only support is the mailing list or forums…

I agree on this point… When something goes wrong in your company and you purchased a supporting package or whatever from some company, you can force then to work things up and they’ll HAVE to do so.

9-   Are you paying for services?

Linux will help you cut your costs you’re paying for security service… You might not need Symantic or Norton services to secure your network… In fact, you could kick ClamAV or whatever free security suit that OpenSource Community provides you.

I’m sure alot will go “We don’t need security softwares… We use Linux\OSX”.

In Linux case: Yes you do… Linux might not have malwares, but don’t forget that alot hackers-attracting servers are Linux an they’ve been an still being compromised every now’n'then… I’m not saying Windows Serves are secured, it’s just that Linux is not totally secured as well.

In OSX Case: You probably won’t need any security suit right now since OSX is not a profitable target for hackers yet. And since OSX is gaining more users, hackers would be more attracted than before and actually start developing malwares and methods to attack OSX… Let’s not forget the PWN2OWN, Apple’s security suggestion that they removed, recent OSX malwares in the wild and other stuff.

In a personal opinion; It only depends on the user’s behavior… You could be totally paranoid about what goes on in your computer whether it’s Linux, Windows or OSX and STILL get security issues… While you can go as easy as “What does this button do!?” and you wouldn’t get any security issue… If you know what you’re doing then you’ll be safe (mostly), if you don’t then you don’t.

10-   Can your co-workers handle Linux?

This is an important point as well… You could deploy Linux in a good environment but the people who’d use it aren’t capable of using it or not mentally\physically ready to migrate from Windows\OSX to Linux.

I rephrased things in a shorter way in my own sense giving examples and explainations my way (Though most of’em are related to the Jack’s article)…

(more…)

For those who knows Linux pretty well, would go insane about this…

We’re not talking about Redhat, Fedora, Ubuntu (As my Operating System Doctor calls it “Kids play”) or Debian… We’re talking about Slackware…

To most of Linux users; Slackware is God-Mode (Reminds me of Unreal Tournament GOTY )

I remember reading somewhere off the internet that Slackware is THE MOST STABLE LINUX OPERATING SYSTEM (if not the most stable operating system ever)… I could be wrong… But it’s a known fact that Slackware IS a real stable OS…

I’m considering downloading it, trying it in a virtual machine then actually use it if I could actually operate it properly…

Click here to visit Slackware’s website

As the topic says…

So it won’t be for normal users (I won’t be able to handle it myself)… It’ll be for those bug hunters and freeks!!!

Click here to read the Hackaday post.

i was browsing Ubuntu forums when this discussion that caught my attention…

soon we might have to use M$ again ;_;

basicly, sun’s chief executive wrote this in his blog:

“auction’s afoot…to see who we’ll be partnering with us to integrate their business and brands into our binary product distribution” of OpenOffice … I know this annoys my friends in the free software community, ” /*NO SHIT!*/ “but branding allows us to invest more in OpenOffice.org community and features, from which everyone benefits.”

little to say, i wasn’t the only one outraged, some talked about starting there own branch, while others threatened to remove the adds (sense it is opensource) and re-release it as soon as it is released.

i hope they don’t go through with there plans, or i, and thulsnds of other openoffice users, have to search and migrate to other office suites.

here is the link to the site, and this is the link to the discussion on Ubuntu forums

I never thought they’ll actually consider taking such action…

Microsoft will provide Linux runtime library to support Silverlight.

I’m not going to write much about it… It’ll be enough for me to say that Microsoft will provide OSX a runtime library as well so they won’t be left in the dark (Just kidding :P)…

If this means something, the proprietary web standars is dieing… YaaaaaY

Read about it more at the BetaNews Link.

hasn’t anyone noticed how difficult it is to get conky running right?
anyway, i just wanted to spare everybody - who wants to install it - the inconvenient experience of having to wast 3 hours to get it running correctly. non of the forums got it right (including both ubuntu forum threads).

conky running in front of a brown colored desktop (GNOME/COMPIZ)

Installing:

type the following at the terminal:
sudo apt-get install conky

then type: (or switch to your scripts dir)
mkdir ~/myConfigs; cd ~/myConfigs

when your done copy what i hope to be the final version of my personal copy of conkyrc into a file and name it .conkyrc:

# UBUNTU-CONKY
# A comprehensive conky script, configured for use on
# Ubuntu / Debian Gnome, without the need for any external scripts.
# Based on conky-jc and the default .conkyrc.
# INCLUDES:
# - tail of /var/log/messages
# - netstat connections to your computer
# — Pengo (conky@pengo.us)
# modded by sigtermer at gmail
# changes are:
# - removed hda entries
# - fixed use_spacer error
# - made it more muslim friendly
# - removed fortune thing
# - fixed always on top/behind-BGI bug

own_window yes
on_bottom yes
own_window_type normal
own_window_transparent yes
own_window_hints below,undecorated,sticky,skip_taskbar,skip_pager
double_buffer yes
use_spacer right
use_xft no
update_interval 3.0
draw_shades no
draw_outline no # amplifies text if yes
draw_borders no
font arial
uppercase no
stippled_borders 3
border_margin 9
border_width 10
default_color grey
own_window_colour brown
own_window_transparent yes
alignment top_right
gap_x 25
gap_y 25

# stuff after ‘TEXT’ will be formatted on screen

TEXT
$color
${color orange}IN THE NAME OF ALLAH ${hr 4}$color

${color orange}SYSTEM ${hr 2}$color
$nodename $sysname $kernel on $machine

${color orange}CPU ${hr 2}$color
${freq}MHz Load: ${loadavg} Temp: ${acpitemp}
$cpubar
${cpugraph 000000 ffffff}
NAME PID CPU% MEM%
${top name 1} ${top pid 1} ${top cpu 1} ${top mem 1}
${top name 2} ${top pid 2} ${top cpu 2} ${top mem 2}
${top name 3} ${top pid 3} ${top cpu 3} ${top mem 3}
${top name 4} ${top pid 4} ${top cpu 4} ${top mem 4}

${color orange}MEMORY / DISK ${hr 2}$color
MEMORY
RAM: $memperc% ${membar 6}$color
Swap: $swapperc% ${swapbar 6}$color
DISK
Root: ${fs_free_perc /}% ${fs_bar 6 /}$color

${color orange}NETWORK (${addr eth0}) ${hr 2}$color
Down: $color${downspeed eth0} k/s ${alignr}Up: ${upspeed eth0} k/s
${downspeedgraph eth0 25,140 000000 ff0000} ${alignr}${upspeedgraph eth0
25,140 000000 00ff00}$color
Total: ${totaldown eth0} ${alignr}Total: ${totalup eth0}
Inbound: ${tcp_portmon 1 32767 count} Outbound: ${tcp_portmon 32768
61000 count}${alignr}Total: ${tcp_portmon 1 65535 count}

${color orange}LOGGING ${hr 2}$color
${execi 30 tail -n3 /var/log/messages | fold -w50}

Now it’s time for the GUI:
start session thing: System > Preferences > Sessions
now add a new entry to the startup list. fill in the fields, when you come to the command field, type the following:
/usr/bin/conky -c /home/[your home dir]/myConfigs/.conkyrc

replace “[your home dir]” with the name of your home dir.

all done! the next time you start a session, you should find the cool info thing on your desktop.

note that x is using the gnome desktop and the compiz dm (defualt on ubuntu, i think), this script might and probably will not work with other “mixtures”

if you want to mod it alittle ferther, go to conky’s site and view it’s docs.

Troubleshooting:

- conky starts in a window with a black background: the config file was not loaded. check the config file path (the one after -c in the startup entry), make sure it is exactly the same as the actual file path.

- conky is always over the windows or is underneath: mess around with conkyrc. in particular change the value of  own_window_type

i hope my little guide helps

SIGTERMer

This actually shows what I mean by “Windows controls you and you control Linux”…

[Jon Hohle] made a filesystem test to check whether the filesystem is safe or not… So he tried “rm -Rf” under Linux, “format c:” and “del /f /s /d” under Windows…

The result was that “rm -Rf” completely deleted everything and as the Hackaday article wrote “Broken” while Windows wasn’t completely wiped due to file locking thingies…

OSes like Solaris prevents such commands to be ran to prevent accidents…

If this means something (AND ONLY IF), Windows filesystem MIGHT be abit more secured and safe than Linux filesystem considering this apporach only… I’m sure there are other things to consider…

Read more at Hackaday Article…

hat really freeked me out… I mean U just upgraded my Ubuntu to 8.10 (Which I, for some reasons, prefer 8.04… Maybe because I got used to its interface)…

Anyways, Ubuntu 9.04 (AKA Jaunty Jackalope)’s main goal is lightening boot, restore and shutdown speed… Then comes the web services and desktop applications…

I’m not good at explaining things so I’ll just quote what Mark Shuttleworth wrote in Ubuntu’s devel mailing list:

As we approach the launch of Ubuntu 8.10, it’s time to create space for
future plans, and so I’m writing to introduce you to The Jaunty Jackalope.

Jaunty, the code name for what will most likely become Ubuntu 9.04, will
be the focus of our efforts from November through to April next year. We
will be gathering forces in Mountain View on 8th - 12th December to
survey the upstream landscape and finalize Jaunty plans, enjoying the
excellent hospitality of Google and Silicon Valley’s abundance of talent
and innovation. The Ubuntu Developer Summit is the social and strategic
highlight of each release cycle and it would be a great pleasure to
welcome you there. Jono Bacon has written up a
http://www.jonobacon.org/?p=1278 guide to sponsorship for those who
would have a substantial amount to offer at the Summit.

The Warrior Rabbit is our talisman as we move into a year where we can
reasonably expect Ubuntu to ship on several million devices, to
consumers who can reasonably expect the software experience to be
comparable to those of the traditional big OSV’s - Microsoft and Apple.
The bar is set very high, and we have been given the opportunity to leap
over it. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to shine, and we want to make
sure that the very best thinking across the whole open source ecosystem
is reflected in Ubuntu, because many people will judge free software as
a whole by what we do.

There are some specific goals that we need to meet in Jaunty. One of
them is boot time. We want Ubuntu to boot as fast as possible - both in
the standard case, and especially when it is being tailored to a
specific device. The Jackalope is known for being so fast that it’s
extremely hard to catch, and breeds only when lightning flashes. Let’s
see if we can make booting or resuming Ubuntu blindingly quick.

Another goal is the the blurring of web services and desktop
applications. “Is it a deer? Is it a bunny? Or is it a weblication - a
desktop application that seamlessly integrates the web!” This hare has
legs - and horns - and we’ll be exploring it in much more detail for
Jaunty. We have already laid some foundations for weblications in the
online services discussions that took place in Prague, but since we
fully expect those services to ship in 9.04 the discussion will be that
much more intense in Mountain View.

Those bizarre-but-fearsome antlers might well remind one of the
intricate pattern of collaboration between developers in a distributed
version control system. So it’s fitting that Jaunty will see us move all
of Ubuntu into Bazaar. For the first time, any developer will be able to
branch any Ubuntu package with a single bzr command, publish their
changes, and perhaps even publish builds of that package in their own
Package Archive. We will also make the developer community structure of
Ubuntu much richer - in addition to MOTU and core-dev, we are
introducing ways for developers to participate in specific applications,
either at the package-upload level or at the version-control level.
Whatever your level and specialisation of interest, we’ll make sure that
you can participate accordingly.

December’s UDS is likely to be packed full of interesting people and
ideas. I very much look forward to seeing everyone there. “There he
goes! That way!”

Mark

Here’s the link if you’re more curious.

I’ve been dreaming of getting something similar since I’ve seen it in Ghost In The Shell and other movies\TV series…

Even though its use were meant for medical purposes, you could also use it to reach tight spots, spy on enemies or stuff or just for the fun of it (Don’t use it to peak on ladies dressing room people… It could lead to serious eye-related injuries :P)

This thing costs around $139.99. And ONLY compatible with Windows and Linux (Mac fanboys stay away :P)…

Click here to read more about it in Engadget.