Slashdot Mirror

I've been using this for several days under slackware, and I must say I'm impressed. It loads quickly enough (though not as fast as xpdf), but it fits right into my desktop as far as widgets go, and the rendering looks great! The printing support also work fine with the KDE system (you just tell it to print to "kprinter"), and so far I haven't experienced the weird orientation issues I sometimes get with landscape-oriented documents printing improperly.

As far as installation goes, I just used rpm2tgz to convert the downloaded rpm into a slackpack then used installpkg. I had to create a symlink to the executable, which was /usr/local/Adobe/Acrobat7.0/bin/acroread.

My biggest gripe so far is the annoying, but thankfully small, banner add in the top right corner advertising random Adobe services, but it's not *too* intrusive. Here is a screenshot.

If you're curious as to the output of this, it is a raytracer, where you have to catch the output into a ppm file. Here is a jpg of the results, if you don't want to compile and run it yourself.

Even if this Ford car was named "Kontour" (it's named "Contour"), Ford would have absolutely no legal grounds to sue the KDE team. Killustrator and Adobe Illustrator are two different products in the same market, which is where trademark law is applied. Cars and software should be able to have the same or similar names without threat of legal action. Of course, this is all in theory, and IANAL.
-mdek.net

Oh well... anyone up for some non-copyrighted Mozart?

One problem... although the music itself is not copyrighted anymore, the same copyright laws apply to classical music as other types of music. The recording itself is still copyrighted, and I'm sure that any of the music labels would get just as pissed off if your traded classical albums. The only freedom that you have by listening to classical is that you can make your own recordings and not have to pay any licensing fees to the author.

Remember, you can't trade the store bought albums.


-mdek.net

Just so you know, the karma kap of 50 isn't "built in" to the code. If you take a look through the code, you will see that there is an option to set the cap, or remove it completely. So Taco isn't leaving the cap in because he's too lazy to take it out, but he must have some good reason to leave it in. Who knows what it is :)
-mdek.net

The foreign DNA encodes a fluorescent protein from a jellyfish.

Now, which patient gets the first neon green heart transplant?!

-mdek.net

The only reason MC is so big is because they set up about 30 servers. Almost all inexperienced users would instinctively connect to something like that, without looking at the other options. If they get shut down, probably DJNap or Opennap would become just as popular. It doesn't take too much to attract a bunch of users onto a server. I used to run one, and after just an hour, I would have a few hundred users, and that would sometimes grow, until someone would pull out my ethernet cable or something like that :)

Unfortunately, I no longer run it because the RIAA sent my ISP that infamous letter. 4 days without my 1.5 mbps DSL was more than I could stand. I just can't get over the fact that they had convinced my ISP that I was actually running an mp3 server, providing my own mp3 files to download!
-mdek.net

I heard that Xfree86 doesn't have support for more than 4 (or 5) buttons. The scroll wheel counts as three buttons (up and down and click), plus the right and left button, reaching the limit. However, if there is a way to overcome this, I'd like to hear of it, as being able to use those extra thumb buttons would be great!

-mdek.net

Yes, under: Section "InputDevice"
put this:

Option "Protocol" "imps/2"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"

For some reason, I've also only had success with the mouse in general by also putting this in the secion:

Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"

instead of "/dev/mouse". Probably just a missing symlink, but I'm too lazy to make one.

-mdek.net

My comment was moderated as "+1 Funny", but it's actually the truth. My DSL was cut when I came from school on Wednesday, and I've called and emailed my ISP several times, and haven't got anything more than "I don't know" or "I'm not allowed to tell you". It's really beginning to piss me off, cause I want to download the new linux kernel, and this 33.6 connection won't work to well for downloading it!
-mdek.net

Dammit! My ISP gladly cut my DSL line because of my Alternap server, but they didn't notify me. After 3 days, they still won't tell me why they cut my account! I guess I need to find out from slashdot. Time to switch ISPs!


-mdek.net

I've been curious about these Apple LCDs. Are they usable with regular PC's? I remember several years ago, you could use PC monitors with Macs via a special connector, but not the opposite (Mac monitor on a PC). Has this changed at all, cause I really like those apple flatscreens!

-mdek.net

Here is something that is very evil, but should work well. Get some older hardware (just to make sure it's actually supported), and have them install an old version of slackware (i.e. ~3.4) on it. Then have them configure X-windows to a working configuration. Although this could be considered cruel and unusual, it will make sure that they understand some of the basic concepts that one needs to know to get around the command line. Then start actually teaching them how to use it, as some stuff is difficult to figure out. Then move to newer distro's once their knowledge advances.

This way, the students will gain enough knowledge to, for example, remotely fix a server through telnet/ssh without using a GUI. I know that I would not know nearly as much as I know about linux (and I still don't know very much although I use it almost exclusively) without having gone through this process of installing a configuring a system without a shiny GUI configuration manager.

Near the end, you should definately try some of the commanly suggested stuff like creating a LFS system.

I'd think this to be an ideal course (but with a lot of tweaking first). Anyone care to give any thoughts?

-mdek.net

Until last year, Motif was closed software. This is just a guess, but I think the most likely possibility is that people were trying to develop these alternative toolkits, then when motif was open-sourced, they were so far along, that they just continued developing them.

Of course, this is just a guess, and if anyone can correct me, please go ahead.

-mdek.net

Sourceforge seems to have a nice bug tracking feature, where the severity of each bug is described, who it is assigned to to be fixed, and other info about it. It could probably do something like you want pretty easily, but I haven't really messed around with it. If it's really important, I think the sourceforge code is open source, so you could build on to the existing bug tracking features.

Anyways, good luck!

-mdek.net

There are many programs that do this. "Midisoft Studio" is a common example. You just connect a keyboard through the midi port, press the record button, then play, while it records the notes.

I'm sure there are many much more "professional" programs than midisoft, but I haven't really looked into any, as I don't actually have a midi keyboard to use it with.
-mdek.net

why not just use the 120v outlet on most planes?

Well, most - actually all - planes I've been on have not had 120 VAC outlets available for me to use. It could be that I always fly economy...

First class seats probably do have outlets almost all of the time, but people who can afford to fly first class can probably afford an extra battery or two for their laptop.

-mdek.net

here is a patent I found a while ago on "Method of exercising a cat" with a handheld laser. It is patent number US05443036, and info on it can be found at http://www.delphion.com/details?pn=US05443036__

Besides, I'm sure there are *many* sites that can claim prior art for thumbnailed images...

-mdek.net

This summer, while in Austria, I saw a Victorinox (that's the "swiss army knife" company) Cybertool pocket knife. I instantly insisted that my parents get it for me (it was about $60). It has pretty much all the screwsdriver attachments you'd need to disassemble computer related stuff. It also has pliers, scissors, knife, and the other standardparts. The screwdriver attachments fit most screws. Sometimes I am not able to exert enough power to actually unscrew them. However, I have the same problem with regular screwdrivers (note: this is only on "new" items, where the screws have been tightened to hell and back).

I am pretty much satisfied with mine, but I always keep my $10 cheap-ass radioshack screwdriver set nearby. Having both is very helpful.

Also, here is a link to buy the Cybertool from thinkgeek.com:

http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/things/3653.html

It's a little expensive, but if you have some cash to spare, it's a good way to impress your friends

-mdek.net

There was a "cool case" contest a while ago. Here is a link to the /. article:

http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=00/08/09/1239 21 7&mode=nested

There were some pretty cool results. My favorite is the one built out of PVC pipe with a HUGE fan attached to the side. Imagine the overclocking possibilities...

-mdek.net

I asked a similar question in the previous article. I got some interesting responses. You see it all at
http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=00/12/22/195 62 01&threshold=-1&commentsort=3&mode=nested&cid=19ca n
-mdek.net

All of the other comments seem to say that this is a service to aid domain name squatters. After a quick look through their site, however, it appears that their main emphasis is on protecting your own domain or getting a domain from a squatter. I strongly doubt that any decent business would let their domain expire (except for hotmail). So, the only thing that this could be intended for is someone wanting a domain, and some domain squatter wants 10 grand for it. Instead of paying the cash, he nabs it when it expires, because chances are he wants it more than a domain squatter.

I don't really think this is a bad service. Anyways, if someone does steal a business domain name, it could always be taken to the courts...

-mdek.net

In the latest issue of linux journal, there is a vey good article on how to set up your own mp3 streaming server using all open source tools. It's a very good read.


-mdek.net

Your concerned about radiation doing harm to your eyes? Personally, I think that the whole low-radiation scene is a gimmick. Assuming you don't stick your face 2 inches from the screen, you should be fine.

Eye strain is a completely different issue. Set your refresh rate as high as possible. Adjust the brightness and contrast settings on you monitor until you find something you like. These adjustments will make more of a difference than most people think. Also, make sure that your lighting around the computer is sufficient.

-mdek.net

A question: what incentive do the hard drive makers have to support the "secure" hard drive format? If anything, it will hurt them because people will be worried about not being able to store "media" on them. Possibly, they may be worried, that "everyone else" will follow the new scheme, and their drives will be incompatible.

Whatever happens, it sucks for us, the consumers. And I won't even go into my complaints about possible licensing for the proprietory technology for the "branding" of the drives.
-mdek.net

If this theory were true, wouldn't that mean that many other organisms other than the dinosaurs were killed? I mean, the article talks about highly toxis "globs" of sulfuric acid throughout the atmosphere. I strongly doubt anything more complicated that certain prokaryotes could survive that!

-mdek.net

I should really start using the preview button more often...


-mdek.net

sorry, it's www.gphoto.org
-mdek.net

BTW, the correct URL is not "www.gphoto.com", but

-mdek.net

There are certain devices called "Passport" made by intologis that will allow you to network your computers by plugging this device into the Parallel port and an electrical outlet. It actually works pretty well, and I assume it would be possible to adapt the technology to work beyond a single home, to over an entire city (or larger).

Anyways, now back to studying for those exams!

-mdek.net

I would just like to say how much I like using the GIMP. I'm able to do stuff that most people would think is impossible without paying for (or pirating!) photoshop. And it's easy to use, too!
-mdek.net

I wouldn't quite agree with your statement that linux isn't ready for the desktop. It seems that each new version of any distribution gets even easier to install, and much more functional than windows. For example, the newest release of mandrake (7.2) is extremely easy to install. My friend, with absolutely no linux experience whatsoever was able to install it without reading ANY docs, and didn't run into any problems. I use mandrake on one of my main computers, and now I can't stand using windows, because *I can't do as much with it, as easily*. This doesn't apply only to mandrake. I also use slackware a lot (more than mandrake, actually). I find it a cinch to install, and using it is just fun!

There are many programs that now can be used on the "desktop", such as the new KDE office suite, the GIMP, and many other really powerful programs. Overall, I'd say that linux is MORE ready for the desktop than windows.

Of course, that's all my own personal opinion, feel free to debate :)


-mdek.net

This is a good thing to hear. One of my sites that I used to spread information about DeCSS was in effect shut down. Even though I hosted off my own server at home, over my own internet connection, they went to the people who provided me with my dynamic DNS network services: dyndns.org. The guy in charge of the service just suspended my account when HE was contacted by the MPAA. This pretty much shut down the only way most people could access my site, which really pissed me off, because I didn't even provide DeCSS anymore on it, but rather instructions on how to install the Linux DVD player once you got the source, and reasons why I thought DeCSS should be allowed.

Anyway, anything that weakens the power that the MPAA has in the courtroom is fine by me

BTW, I still think dyndns is a cool service, even though they blocked my account. I recommend it to anyone who wants a server, but has a dynamic IP address.
-mdek.net

Even though this is meant as a joke, it's still not very true. Personally, I eat about 600-800 calories per day at the most. I am also on my high school swim team, and was also on the cross country team, and probably get more exercise in one or two days than many "healthy" people get in a week. Yet this is just barely enough to *maintain* my weight. It would be hard to put "less food into my mouth", and to do any more exercise would reduce my schedule to having NO time to even get my homework done. In other words, keeping weight down for some people is not easy at all.
-mdek.net