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Teaching Linux is like teaching Esperanto: not practical in the real world. Students should be taught skills they can readily use in the real world, and with computers that means Windows. Too bad, its true.

Wow.I can see why you posted that as an AC.

What exactly are these windows specific "real world" skills that we should teach a k-12 student?

Intenet usage?... check
Word processing? Spreadsheets? Presentations?... check check check
Programming?... check
Photo Editing?... check


Is it that Linux looks so different that kids wouldn't be able to find their way around in windows?

I've got a "real world" story for you.
Two years ago I put together one of these k12ltsp labs for a small school of about 300 students ages 5-13. I doubt very many of them had ever heard the word Linux before.
Guess what? They took to it instantly. Even the older kids that were using windows for several years.

The fact is Linux (LTSP especially) is a much more economically viable option for schools.

One more thing. You have the right to your own opinion, but your analogy was weak.
Esperanto provides no immediate benefit. Using Linux saved the school enough budget that they were able to purchase flat panel monitors for the entire lab this year.

I've gone back to 1.0 and there are no problems. here's a link to the windows 1.0 versions in case anyone else similarly needs to revert back.

Be friendly to the Mozilla.org mirrors, they
have set up an official Bittorent seeder.

-Jed

( http://bittorrent.mozilla.org/ )

Be friendly to the Mozilla.org mirrors, they
have set up an official Bittorent seeder.

-Jed

( http://bittorrent.mozilla.org/ )

I think you are looking for Mozilla Lightning (yeah, I know it's only a code name). As am I, and anyone else who knows Outlook users.

So we were a bit faster, sorry about that :-) I can only speak for OGo by saying that the Sunbird GroupDAV efforts wouldn't have been started if Sunbird CalDAV support would have already been available.

But maybe I'm missing something here. It's happened before.

Mike

Why would he file a bug report when it's already listed as a requirement? It's not as if grokking Outlook invites is some crazy newfangled idea. The Moz Calendar folks know it needs to be done before Sunbird could be construed to be even remotely useful.

I don't think it's intentional not to integrate. If it were, then why is it listed in the Sunbird requirements?

Yes, this code is not real in the OpenSource community. Where can we download the Sunbird CalDAV support you mention, we dare to get access to this! Where can I buy the Outlook CalDAV connector by Oracle?

From Mozilla CVS, as with all things Sunbird. If you'd like to, you can browse the source for the CalDAV provider on LXR. Sunbird 0.3 will be the first released version with native CalDAV support, but you're welcome to build your own in the interim.

This is the sort of thing that can be trivially discovered by asking in the Sunbird newsgroup or IRC channel, in case you are ever confused in the future about where to find Sunbird source.

You'd have to ask an Oracle representative about their connector; I think some are listed on the CalConnect site.

Yet please: do not turn this into a CalDAV vs GroupDAV flame war.

PS: unlike CalDAV GroupDAV tries to restrict ICS requirements to deal with limitations. Pragmatic approach to deal with the real world. A CalDAV server currently requires a full ICS implementation in both the client and the server.

Mike

Yes, this code is not real in the OpenSource community. Where can we download the Sunbird CalDAV support you mention, we dare to get access to this! Where can I buy the Outlook CalDAV connector by Oracle?

From Mozilla CVS, as with all things Sunbird. If you'd like to, you can browse the source for the CalDAV provider on LXR. Sunbird 0.3 will be the first released version with native CalDAV support, but you're welcome to build your own in the interim.

This is the sort of thing that can be trivially discovered by asking in the Sunbird newsgroup or IRC channel, in case you are ever confused in the future about where to find Sunbird source.

You'd have to ask an Oracle representative about their connector; I think some are listed on the CalConnect site.

Yet please: do not turn this into a CalDAV vs GroupDAV flame war.

PS: unlike CalDAV GroupDAV tries to restrict ICS requirements to deal with limitations. Pragmatic approach to deal with the real world. A CalDAV server currently requires a full ICS implementation in both the client and the server.

Mike

You have the classic battle between OpenOffice and Microsoft Office.
After just Linux and OpenOffice installed, it will be evident the advantages are much greater than using Microsoft products, namely because of the price. If these guys are donating thousands of computers to schools, reducing software price from $200-300 per unit to $0 is going to enable them to construct out quite a bit more labs.

There are quite a few Gnome applications which would help in everyday usability. Of course, Gnome or KDE would probably be your desktop of choice, especially if the organization is coming off of Microsoft Explorer; keep it familiar to effectively show advantages.

You didn't specify what type of educational environment the labs target, but for programming Anjuta is a great alternative to Microsoft Visual C++.

A few other mentionable applications would include Mozilla Firefox (over Microsoft Internet Explorer), and The Gimp (over Photoshop).

For networking with existing Windows labs, Samba is an effective alternative.

i just copy the userContent.css file in my profile directory. no need to install adblock nor flash click to play.

no need to install some of these extensions when those features are already in the default browser...

• General Javascript documentation: http://www.devguru.com/Technologies/ecmascript/qui ckref/javascript_intro.html
  
• Writing to <div> tags from Javascript: http://www.howtocreate.co.uk/tutorials/index.php?t ut=0&part=14#dhtmlCONT
  
• Accessing XML Nodes from Javascript: http://www.mozilla.org/xmlextras/xmldataislands/
  Every other tutorial I found says to use something like node.firstChild.text for getting the value of an element, but I couldn't get that working on Firefox or Safari. This just mentions to use node.firstChild.nodeValue which did the trick for me.
  

In a perfect world, we'd run perfect software. We're not in a perfect world, and most of it uses MS software, so lets patch the holes with the tools we're given. If everyone on the road drives a ford, and fords have X mechanical problem, do you tell people how to fix the problem, or do you tell them to buy a toyota? I mean, be reasonable. maybe NEXT time they'll buy a toyota, but for now, they've GOT a ford.

Options like Mozilla, Firefox, Opera, Thunderbird, Eudora, and OpenOffice.org, to name a few for starters, should at least get a mention. They work here and now, even on MS-Windows. Aren't we talking about technology where we can choose the best tool for the job or is it a religion where we all face Redmond and bleat "yaaaay Bill!" ?

By neglecting to mention better options, even those options usable by MS systems, the site does two disservices. First, it turns an otherwise good idea into a state sponsored marketing campaign for a single vendor. Second, it keeps people in the dark, preventing them from improving their existing systems or to making more informed choices in the future.

Along the same lines, further proactive effort is needed to prevent defective systems from becoming a problem in your cars, television sets, taxes, public records or health care. All ofthis makes a good illustration of why commodity services and protocols are good for the market by preventing lock in.

In a perfect world, we'd run perfect software. We're not in a perfect world, and most of it uses MS software, so lets patch the holes with the tools we're given. If everyone on the road drives a ford, and fords have X mechanical problem, do you tell people how to fix the problem, or do you tell them to buy a toyota? I mean, be reasonable. maybe NEXT time they'll buy a toyota, but for now, they've GOT a ford.

Options like Mozilla, Firefox, Opera, Thunderbird, Eudora, and OpenOffice.org, to name a few for starters, should at least get a mention. They work here and now, even on MS-Windows. Aren't we talking about technology where we can choose the best tool for the job or is it a religion where we all face Redmond and bleat "yaaaay Bill!" ?

By neglecting to mention better options, even those options usable by MS systems, the site does two disservices. First, it turns an otherwise good idea into a state sponsored marketing campaign for a single vendor. Second, it keeps people in the dark, preventing them from improving their existing systems or to making more informed choices in the future.

Along the same lines, further proactive effort is needed to prevent defective systems from becoming a problem in your cars, television sets, taxes, public records or health care. All ofthis makes a good illustration of why commodity services and protocols are good for the market by preventing lock in.

In a perfect world, we'd run perfect software. We're not in a perfect world, and most of it uses MS software, so lets patch the holes with the tools we're given. If everyone on the road drives a ford, and fords have X mechanical problem, do you tell people how to fix the problem, or do you tell them to buy a toyota? I mean, be reasonable. maybe NEXT time they'll buy a toyota, but for now, they've GOT a ford.

Options like Mozilla, Firefox, Opera, Thunderbird, Eudora, and OpenOffice.org, to name a few for starters, should at least get a mention. They work here and now, even on MS-Windows. Aren't we talking about technology where we can choose the best tool for the job or is it a religion where we all face Redmond and bleat "yaaaay Bill!" ?

By neglecting to mention better options, even those options usable by MS systems, the site does two disservices. First, it turns an otherwise good idea into a state sponsored marketing campaign for a single vendor. Second, it keeps people in the dark, preventing them from improving their existing systems or to making more informed choices in the future.

Along the same lines, further proactive effort is needed to prevent defective systems from becoming a problem in your cars, television sets, taxes, public records or health care. All ofthis makes a good illustration of why commodity services and protocols are good for the market by preventing lock in.

if the Abe vigoda extension is bloat.. wait.. what ?

Mitch Kapor is Mozilla foundation chairman (scroll down).

Mitchell Baker is Chief Lizard Wrangler (also Foundation president).

Mitch Kapor is Mozilla foundation chairman (scroll down).

Mitchell Baker is Chief Lizard Wrangler (also Foundation president).

No, Mitchell is the president, Mitch is the Chair: http://www.mozilla.org/foundation/

Plus the advice summary is bullshit:

Install anti-virus software
That's corrective action. How about prevenaitive action like pointing out secure products and warning the public to avoid defective ones? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Keep your anti-virus software up to date
You can't patch fast enough. That includes so called anti-virus software. Someone has to get hit first. AV companies have to then react and update the AV software profile. Then users have to add the updated profile, over a modem that can take time. MS-Slammer reached saturation in 8.5 minutes.

Install a personal firewall
Web pages and e-mail go right through that fire wall, they're supposed to, so do outgoing connections usually. Unfortunately most MS malware comes in via MSIE (the web) or MS-Outlook (mail), so how exactly is a firewall going to help? How about swapping out vulnerable applications and services instead?

Use Windows updates to patch security holes
There are other systems besides MS-Windows. Currently these do not even get viruses or worms. Some of these (e.g. Ubuntu) are easy to install and work on existing x86 hardware. Macintoshes are low maintenance and work out of the box. Unless you're a heavy gamer, you don't need MS-Windows.

Do not open e-mail messages that look suspicious
A virus is only harmless data, unless your system is designed to run it on sight. How about choosing an e-mail client that's not designed to spread viruses. Thunderbird, Mozilla, and Eudora are excellent choices.

Do not click on e-mail attachments you were not expecting
Use one of the above mail clients and/or switch to an operating system not designed to spread viruses.

Plus the advice summary is bullshit:

Install anti-virus software
That's corrective action. How about prevenaitive action like pointing out secure products and warning the public to avoid defective ones? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Keep your anti-virus software up to date
You can't patch fast enough. That includes so called anti-virus software. Someone has to get hit first. AV companies have to then react and update the AV software profile. Then users have to add the updated profile, over a modem that can take time. MS-Slammer reached saturation in 8.5 minutes.

Install a personal firewall
Web pages and e-mail go right through that fire wall, they're supposed to, so do outgoing connections usually. Unfortunately most MS malware comes in via MSIE (the web) or MS-Outlook (mail), so how exactly is a firewall going to help? How about swapping out vulnerable applications and services instead?

Use Windows updates to patch security holes
There are other systems besides MS-Windows. Currently these do not even get viruses or worms. Some of these (e.g. Ubuntu) are easy to install and work on existing x86 hardware. Macintoshes are low maintenance and work out of the box. Unless you're a heavy gamer, you don't need MS-Windows.

Do not open e-mail messages that look suspicious
A virus is only harmless data, unless your system is designed to run it on sight. How about choosing an e-mail client that's not designed to spread viruses. Thunderbird, Mozilla, and Eudora are excellent choices.

Do not click on e-mail attachments you were not expecting
Use one of the above mail clients and/or switch to an operating system not designed to spread viruses.

Who is the third?! Deaths always come in threes.

Well, we have a few candidates: Hunter S. Thompson?(Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas).

Or Sandra Dee(also known as Gidget)

Or Arthur Miller (Death of a Salesman, The Crucible)

FORTRAN?

SCO?

Delicious Delicacies?

Spreadfirefox.com?

The company project manager?

Then how about the Mozilla XForms initiative?

Also, when examining Chiba closer, it seems JavaScript is only relied on for slider and calender controls.

Install the Firefox adblocker plugin if you don't already have it, and then add *advertising.com* to the block list. Include the stars.

While you're at it also add:
*doubleclick.net*
*adserver.com*
*fastclic k.net*
*casalemedia.com*

Those five entries will cover a substantial fraction of the crap out there.

-

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=17607 9

- go to about:config
- right-click and select New/Integer preference
- make a pref called "privacy.popups.disable_from_plugins"
- set the value 2

Now plugins are treated just like javascripts trying to open popups--they get blocked by the popup blocker. You have the option then to show the popup or to allow them for that site if you want.

Mozilla has support for xforms: http://www.mozilla.org/projects/xforms/

Though you have to download a nightly build of either firefox or mozilla suite which has support for XTF then you can try xforms with an extension.
A bit of a hassel, but after seeing the xforms examples I have to say it looks pretty neat ;)

I'm surprised that no-one seems to have mentioned that Mozilla has an Beta Xforms extension already available, which adds native (i.e. it becomes a core part of the browser) support for Xforms.

Ah, that will be why I don't get them then, as I'm using Flashblock. Another reason to block flash, as if I needed one.

That would be Bug 176079

Right, and Mozilla already has XForms support in testing.

So what we need is a way to transform XForms into crap that IE can use, so that those of us who build web sites for a living can use XForms and have a link saying "Hey, IE users, the site will still work but you'll miss some cool features, upgrade to Mozilla".

Or you could install this excellent little extension.

I hate new windows too. I could never get any extension to eliminate new windows working, but I just tried this tip today and it seems to work, no extension needed. I'm not sure why, but I haven't seen any of the popups on sites people are mentioning here.

AdBlock FireFox Extension

If you happen to be using Firefox, I recommend the Flashblock extension. It forces every flash file on a page to show up as an icon, then if you want to load it, you can click on it. If not, just leave it be.

I happen to have recently surveyed XForms engines, and at least two of them under development run entirely within the client, in the style of gmail, Google Maps, Flickr, etc.

Modern browsers are up to this, it just takes a (one-time) engineering effort, treating JavaScript as a full programming language.

Of course, if browsers like Mozilla natively support XForms, all the better. -m

What "active web site" other than the Firefox extension site has seen IE visitors drop to below 20%?!

Well, Mozilla sure has some weird links regarding XUL.
http://www.mozilla.org/keymaster/gatekeeper/there. is.only.xul

Both The Bat and PocoMail (the email component of Barca) have buggy and incomplete IMAP support, and the IMAP implementation in MS Outlook is prone to some really weird quirks that can render it unusable with certain IMAP servers. I haven't personally used Eudora or Pegasus, so I can't vouch for either of them, but Thunderbird and Pine both have excellent IMAP support.

However, despite being an excellent IMAP client, Thunderbird still lacks support for mail redirect, a basic feature of most mail clients and one that is frequently used in corporate environments.

this very page (Slashdot) appears totally corrupted

get a recent nightly build--I find them just as stable

get the new minor stable version (1.0.1) which is coming out this month

just install the Slashfix extension.

BTW the bug only occured sometimes if your machine was fast and it was rendering /. too quickly--you could try reloading--it was a genuine bug as it occured intermittently, but the awful slashcode HTML doesn't help (esp. their use of evil many-nested tables for layout--see the funny and informative Why tables for layout is stupid).

Sage cannot reload my RSS feeds

I guess I'd somehow like Firefox to "emulate" MSIE when it comes to viewing some "incompatible" sites

There's always tech evangelism (or filing a tech-evang Bugzilla bug)

Konqueror could pretend to be another browser

this very page (Slashdot) appears totally corrupted

get a recent nightly build--I find them just as stable

get the new minor stable version (1.0.1) which is coming out this month

just install the Slashfix extension.

BTW the bug only occured sometimes if your machine was fast and it was rendering /. too quickly--you could try reloading--it was a genuine bug as it occured intermittently, but the awful slashcode HTML doesn't help (esp. their use of evil many-nested tables for layout--see the funny and informative Why tables for layout is stupid).

Sage cannot reload my RSS feeds

I guess I'd somehow like Firefox to "emulate" MSIE when it comes to viewing some "incompatible" sites

There's always tech evangelism (or filing a tech-evang Bugzilla bug)

Konqueror could pretend to be another browser

this very page (Slashdot) appears totally corrupted

get a recent nightly build--I find them just as stable

get the new minor stable version (1.0.1) which is coming out this month

just install the Slashfix extension.

BTW the bug only occured sometimes if your machine was fast and it was rendering /. too quickly--you could try reloading--it was a genuine bug as it occured intermittently, but the awful slashcode HTML doesn't help (esp. their use of evil many-nested tables for layout--see the funny and informative Why tables for layout is stupid).

Sage cannot reload my RSS feeds

I guess I'd somehow like Firefox to "emulate" MSIE when it comes to viewing some "incompatible" sites

There's always tech evangelism (or filing a tech-evang Bugzilla bug)

Konqueror could pretend to be another browser

Doug Turner is the lead developer for the Minimo project at Mozilla. This project has a focus on small consumer devices and so this news of a WindowsCE port is very exciting.

--Asa

Think of what they can do with (Dr. Evil pinky laugh) $25 MILLION DOLLARS.

They got the bug fixed in the upcoming 1.1(planned for june) so no need for extentions after that. You could also try one of the nightlies (latest ) The bug is also fixed on those. Beware though the nightlies will most likely break your extentions and other profile related things.

It doesn't make 30 concurrent connections to the server, so it DOESN'T put any strain on the server.

(It can even reduce the load on the server, on some browsers, not sure how firefox handles this when pipelining is off.)

http://www.mozilla.org/projects/netlib/http/pipeli ning-faq.html

What about the Abe Vigoda extention?

Check This Out

I truely do love Firefox but it's not perfect... Popups for Firefox

Truthfully I've downloaded Firefox several times but at separate workstations (where it is still being used).

The thing we have to think about is that we are counting version 1.0 only. It isn't like they are counting milestone (nightly) releases either, so we are pretty much counting people who entered the Mozilla.org homepage (or www.getfirefox.com) and downloaded Firefox. It may be pretty close.

Think about it though. Software companies who want to charge for software, charge "per seat" (at minimum). I mean, if I dual-boot and run Firefox in both operating systems I think it should count twice. No matter we all know that Gecko is the future.