Linux

I am not going to comment too much on Linus Torvald’s comments in this Linux Magazine article, because I feel they are very transparent and they mirror my own. I’m a big believer in “technology over politics”. I don’t care who it comes from, as long as there are solid reasons for the code, and as long as we don’t have to worry about licensing etc issues. I may make jokes about Microsoft at times, but at the same time, I think the Microsoft hatred is a disease. I believe in open development, and that very much involves not just making the source open, but also not shutting other people and companies out. There are ’extremists’ in the free software world, but that’s one major reason why I don’t call what I do ‘free software’ any more. I don’t want to be associated with the people for whom it’s about exclusion and hatred." ...

I have to preface this with I did not write the following it is just a mirror of http://fp.ath.cx/nc8430-linux-howto.html, but I found it so useful that I needed to post running the hp nc8430 under linux using ubuntu 7.04 (feisty fawn) hp nc8430 The hp nc8430 is a powerful notebook for the business user with a lot of hardware and gadgets. This guide aims to help users who want to run Linux on this hardware while achieving feature-parity with a comparable setup of competing operating systems. The guide does not only cover the several hardware-components, but also tackels the typical software-functionality an average business-user might need. Additional input welcome at [airflow.2007@gmail.com](mailto:airflow.2007@gmail.com). contents initial install enabling 3d-desktop functionality (with xgl and compiz) wireless lan (802.11b/g) supporting wpa2 enterprise security using 802.1x (peap using ms-chapv2) cisco (compatible) client vpn umts/gprs pcmcia datacard enable laptop mode (for power saving) replacement for microsoft outlook migrating mails from microsoft outlook to evolution signing and encrypting mails using evolution terminal server sessions (rdp, citrix, vnc) creating custom keyboard shortcuts in gnome alternative method of accessing network-shares: fusesmb cosmetic stuff hardware caveats initial install The installation of Linux on this laptop was my first experience with Ubuntu. I used the newest version available, which is 7.04. Just go to http://www.ubuntu.net/, download the ISO and burn it. Important: After choosing the “Desktop Edition”, be sure to checkbox to indicate you want the alternate desktop CD. The reason for that is a bug which exists in the installer, which prevents the right drivers for the ATI-graphics-adapter from being loaded. With the alternate image you’ll install using a text-mode installer, and afterwards you’ll have to install the necessary drivers by using the instructions below. ...

As I alluded in a post a couple of weeks ago, I have been a bad blogger. And I have neglected my community of readers. However I would like to tell you what I have been doing in the last couple of months while I have been neglecting my blog. I recently got involved in creating a startup as the lead developer for an online classifieds site called Anything For Sale By Owner. From the ground up this was conceived as a middle-ground between craigslist and ebay where every listing would be charged at a static rate of $1.00/month. The $1.00 is a way to week out the crap from craigslist and the death-by-fees from ebay. ...

I found this great article about Con Kolivas on Slashdot today: Linux is burdened with ’enterprise crap’ that makes it run poorly on desktop PCs, says kernel developer Con Kolivas. Kolivas recently walked away from years of work on the kernel in despair. APCmag.com has a lengthy interview with Kolivas, who explains what he sees is wrong with Linux from a performance perspective and how Microsoft has succeeded in crushing innovation in personal computers. ...

I don’t usually like to post about when one of my predictions come true, butt… Many people told me I was flat out wrong about the support differences between Ubuntu and Vista and there is really a “Microsoft Tax”. However just as I told everybody the Dell/Ubuntu joint venture all seems to be a PR stunt backed up by this Digg Link.

You’ll see many posts out on the web talking about what a great thing it is that Dell is offering a Free OS on their hardware. And many stories talking about the Windows Tax. I was very disappointed to see the superficial overview that Jeff Atwood on his website, he has always done very in depth reviews in the past, however he slipped this time: Whether you’re a fan of the latest open source operating systems, or just a fan of plain old-fashioned consumer choice, the end of the Microsoft tax is a win for customers. I was a little worried that Dell would charge extra for the privilege, but it looks like they played fair and square: ...

In a follow up to a post last week about the Novell Mac Ad Spoofs. I found a 3rd spoof ad on YouTube: Apple Ad Spoof #3 from Novell

Since today was pretty busy for me, and I haven’t had time to post, I just wanted to share these two videos that gave me a good laugh. They came from Miguel de Icaza blog. You have to suspend reality for a second, while watching these videos, and forget that they are referring to PC as a operating system instead of a hardware platform and that Linux also runs on the PC platform and arguably so does Mac. Happy watching… ...

One of features in Windows that I could not live with out is the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). It is one of the best tools out there for remote viewing of your desktop. I use it at work to keep track of my Windows servers as well as log in to my desktop at home to do programming or check personal e-mail. Remote Desktop is fast, flexible, and doesn’t have the problem of having to do a full screen refresh to see what has changed on your desktop. So in a sense it is smart because it only updates the part of the screen that have refreshed. You don’t even loose screen refresh performance when you login to a machine through RDP and then launch another instance of RDP to remote in to another machine from your already remote machine, I find that very impressive. ...