Slashdot Mirror
TheOpenCD 1.4 Released
Lykos writes "From OpenCD's website: 'TheOpenCD is a collection of high quality Free and Open Source Software. The programs run in Windows and cover the most common tasks such as word processing, presentations, e-mail, web browsing, web design, and image manipulation.' This is a great little package to leave lying around your friends' workplace to convince them to go opensource. =) Lots of quality programs in one convenient package."
Is that when I leave the CD open, it won't boot it. I have to close the CD to get the Open CD to work.
but just in case...
torrent
Karma: Can there be a void?
.. -. - . .-. .-. --- -...
Richard Stallman -- Lead Flute
Miguel De Icaza -- Banjo
Alan Cox -- Washboard
Heh, reminds me of the old Fred Fish disks for the Amiga, crammed with free/shareware stuff. They were great days. :)
biopowered.co.uk - catalytically cracking triglycerides for home automotive use since 2008. Just say no to big oil!
already slow... here's the cd list...
Office & Design
OpenOffice.org, AbiWord, PDFCreator, GIMP
Internet & Communication
Mozilla, Miranda IM, FileZilla, TightVNC, WinHTTrack, PuTTY
Multimedia & Games
Audacity, CDex, Tux Paint, Crack Attack!, Sokoban YASC,
Neverball, Celestia, Really Slick Screensavers
Utilities & Other
7-Zip, SciTE, WinPT, NetTime
previous coverage here and here
..at GNUWin II, a similar project.
format their drive and install a cd of opensource programs that run on windows onto their newly blank drive? Great way to get converts.
slashdot, news for crazed liberal socialist zealots
Like this?
Karma: Can there be a void?
.. -. - . .-. .-. --- -...
This seems like a pretty cool idea. I thought about something like this a while back. I'm not to familiar with windows any more. Would it be possible to have these programs execute straight from the cd instead of installing? That would defninitely come in handy at say, the school labs where you can't install programs and they don't have your favorite OS program installed.
Seems like a good list of programs, firefox may be a nice addition, though.
Ansi's and stupid tricks!
I'm thinking that an easy to use Web portal to this kind of software would be a better idea. That way the user can get the most up-to-date version of the software and any new software deemed "worthy" of the list could be distributed to everyone by updating a Web page.
This is one of those deals that is outdated before download completes.
Poor webserver is already bending over backwards. Find your mirror here.
...how much my software has changed. It used to be that I'd use MS Office, Internet Explorer, Paintshop Pro, WinZIP, and other for-pay applications to get my work done. These days I find myself using FireFox, OpenOffice, JEdit, NetBeans, Cygwin, EnZIP, GIMP, and other Open Source tools. And nearly every one of them is superior to the application I replaced. Fascinating world we live in.
Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
There's a surprising amount of people selling Free software to uninformed people.
And this is bad why? It spreads the free software to people who wouldn't have otherwise gotten it.
"I believe in parting a fool and his money as soon as possible" -- someone
Don't waste your vote! Vote for whoever you want, unless you live in a swing state it won't matter anyways
I sell OSS on ebay, and we are not taking advantage of the uninformed. I like to think we are providing a service to all the poor modem users out there who cannot download a multi-cd set of software. Besides I only charge a small "media fee" and shipping.
The days of the digital watch are numbered.
People like SuSE and RedHat, for instance?
Check www.gnu.org if you're still unclear on whether you can sell free software.
Hint: you can.
The Ultimate Boot CD
This CD and the Open CD are about all you need to get your friends computer working in tip top shape.
http://ubcd.sf.net/
Saskboy's blog is good. 9 out of 10 dentists agree.
Leaving that CD around won't convince anybody to go to OpenSource software. I don't have the time to look at some CD that was left around by someone attempting to tempt me to 'go over' to their side.
As the Purchasing Agent and the entire IT Staff I get all sorts of DemoCD Crap sent to me all the time. All sorts of "Look at how awesome our crap is!", "Try it once and wonder how you ever did without it!"
Most of it is all the same, they come from silly 'Microsoft Partners' all selling the same thing... Some kind of 'Revolutionary Business Management Software' that we would have to build our business around to get anything out of it. The rest of it is a mess of various CAD/CAM systems, most of which are the worst crap you ever did see...
Do you know what I do with it all? I dump it into the trash first thing. I don't read the marketing hype, I don't waste a moment attempting to load something that then demands I 'Register' the Demo to get a Demo unlock code that does nothing but mark me as a 'target' to their sales drones...
If we need software, my job is to head out and find it. I look at OSS first, because most of the little side software packages we need won't require massive retraining, like zip software or other utilities like that...
So, would a CD Found laying around our office end up in any PC? Heck no, especially if it is unmarked... There could be all sorts of nasties on it we don't want/need on our network...
Keep your CD to yourself unless someone mentions looking for a mess of free software, then give them the CD.
If you ignore the other uses of a tool, does that make the tool less useful, or you less useful?
If you take a look at the screenshots of all the included apps you'll notice the many different sets of widgets. One uses native W32 widgets, the other one GNOME-style, the third one has own.. - this will only confuse the user and in my opinion shows a large problem free GUI software is facing today.
What's the fun in that? The only reason I read slashdot is to watch poor sites get DDoS'd by a very large group of unconnected web browsers!
I can count to 1023 on my hands. Ask me about #132.
I dont want to run anything that isnt approved safe by my government..
Have they approved its use on windows longhorn?
sheep go baaaaah.
---- Booth was a patriot ----
No, I'm talking about people who sell programs like OpenOffice under some other name, and do not mention at all that it is free. I'm talking about sellers like this.
...
I think it is interesting how important security is on slashdot to people, but there is no mention about any anti-(spam | virus | worm).
There is also no firewall? Come on...
I can't recommend it, anyway, because it doesn't have Nethack.
Keep in mind that these aren't the latest ISO files. If you look at the dates, you can see that they're from 2003.
It's probably going to take a little while for all the mirrors to catch up with the latest release (especially with this slashdotting...)
--
http://nemilar.net - Not your grandmother's soup kitchen
I have a general security question about open source software. I am not a programmer so bear with me if this is redundant. The idea I have is that open source would by nature be more vulnerable to viri, spywarez, etc because anyone can see the source code. wouldnt this be much easier for "evildoers" to take advantage of? obviously the argument that keeping source code secret makes it safer is a shaky one, kinda like to one about outlawing guns (then only outlaws will have em...) people are already finding tons of flaws in windsows, and M$ writing quality on the box doesnt seem to do much about this. and this is with little or no info on sourrce code. wouldnt this type of activity be much higher (if it is easier to do, more people will do it) with open source software? I think there are 2 reasons why linux virii are not a factor. 1 there are too few computers out there for anything to replicate itself. 2 more importantly, the linux crowd is a tech savvy one, keeping a regular eye on their machines, and if a problem is found they deal with it themselves. I see a big problem here with open source goin mainstream. even if open source became simple to install. ie fool proof gui, that said install, yes, no, back and next. sure more people would have it, but there will always be people that are not tech savvy. some of them may be very intelligent etc, but just do not have the time to worry about it. I know this is kinda off topic, but would be really interested to read what the /. crowd thinks about open source being more secure, and why.
Seriosuly, isn't this the first item on *everyone's* install list?
When I install Windows XP, it goes something like this:
The only thing Microsoft has on any Windows system I install is Windows itself. The rest of their junk is just that: junk. The OS is decent if you put it behind a firewall, even better if you never plug the computer in.
24 beers in a case, 24 hours in a day. Coincidence? I think not!
Introduction
The Open CD project aims to introduce users of MS-Windows to the benefits of Open Source Software. We include only the highest quality programs, which have been carefully tested for stability and which we consider appropriate for a broad audience. We provide a description and screen-shots of each program, so you can get an idea of what it does before installing. All these applications install and un-install cleanly, so you can be comfortable testing them with the knowledge that they will not adversely affect your system. The programs on this disk are all distributed under an Open Source License (OSI approved), which allows you to freely use and distribute them.
Open Source Software
Open Source Software (OSS) is provided with a license that gives the end user the right to use it freely for private or commercial use. You also have the right to inspect and even modify the underlying source code. You can give away or sell the original version you received or one with your modifications, provided that you then in turn pass on the modified source code so that others can benefit from the changes you have made. This last clause protects the developer's work from unfair exploitation by others, while allowing the source code to be released to the community. You are not required to pay royalties to previous developers, but you are still permitted to charge money for the sale of OSS. This disk may have been given to you by a friend; or sold to you for a small fee, and both are permitted.
If you have no interest in source code, you may ask why the availability of this matters. One answer is that the release of source allows external observers to inspect the true functioning of the program, which means that you can be confident that the program treats your private data with respect. A real problem with proprietary software can be that your data is locked in to a software's proprietary file format, which means that you may eventually be forced to upgrade to newer versions of that software to retain access to your data. This does not happen with OSS, because when the source code for opening and saving files is available, a third party can easily write an import filter for the next generation of software, ensuring that your data will always be available. Finally, the release of source code has in some cases spawned large communities of volunteer developers who have in turn provided the world with highly useful, and entirely free software such as Linux, OpenOffice, and Mozilla. These are then available free of charge to schools or anyone else who may not have a large budget available for software. So, you can see that the freedom of software is important for everyone, not just software developers.
The Open CD project
There is a staggering number of OSS projects out there. A typical source (Freshmeat) lists over 30 000 projects. There are also numerous of Shareware and Freeware programs available that you can freely download from the net. However these do not qualify as OSS, because you do not have the right to modify the underlying source code. Usually you are not even able to inspect the source code, and often restrictions are placed your use of the program, such as non-commercial use only.
Enter TheOpenCD project. We have made a small collection of only the highest quality OSS for Windows, easily available on a CD. When you insert the disk into your computer it automatically launches a browser which will guide you through the contents of the disk, presenting the various programs, and allow you to easily install them. The programs are carefully selected to ensure stability, ease of use and a clean install and un-install from your computer. This CD is intended as a first introduction to the world of OSS, but it is our hope that you will later go on to explore other projects, and at some stage you may even want to try a whole new operating system such as Linux. In the Further Resource section of this disk we provide a list of other major OSS projects with links to their web pages. There is also a selection of essays about Open Source which should give you some more insight into the history and philosophy of OSS.
Why don't you provide a link to some of your auctions? Do you talk and hawk OpenOffice and GIMP but fail to mention that they are free programs that could be downloaded if the poor modem user wanted to spend the time?
I've seen some really bad examples on eBay. One guy was rebranding everything, QCad was LuxuriosityCAD, and then there was Luxuriosity Office. Basically, trying to profit from the work of others, or trick people into buying something they could have gotten for free.
If your eBay blurbs do state that you are distributing open-source software for free, and only charging for media and shipping costs, then I'd consider you to be an exception to the rule.
...
Are most of you really going to burn copies like crazy for the next few days and flood your friends with them?
Maybe I'm blinded by my exposure to all different types of software, but does it matter if the widgets are different? For example, Mac users complain about the widgets on the Mac OpenOffice port. To me this makes absolutely no difference! It's mostly aesthetic. I've heard complaints that this makes the software 'unusable.' I don't even notice! In my experience you have to learn how each piece of software works. Whether they all look/behave the same is less important than how well each of them are designed. No, I'm not saying that widgets are totally irrelevant. But I'd rather use a CD full of good, free software using many widget sets than use Internet Explorer, Office, etc.
The problem is that most people don't know about open-source alternatives. Outlook, IE, etc come with their computer, most people (well, not as many anymore) don't know about Mozilla, haven't even heard of it. In several cases, open-source IS superior to payware. You just have to let them know that it exists.
eD2K Link: TheOpenCD-1stEdition.iso
Not knowing how to use the program properly is not the programs fault. The problem is between the keyboard and the chair.
This P.I.G. will walk on the water, This P.I.G. will walk on the sea, This P.I.G. will walk whereever he wants.
The ClosedCD... Includes: Microsoft Windows XP Professional Adobe Photoshop CS Microsoft Office 2003 and a host more goodies, all packed into one tiny DVD - Available at any good Chinese Market Stall near you!
Honestly, the guy is selling you a CD with OpenOffice burned on it for about $10. What's the big deal about that? Maybe I am familiar with it, but don't have the bandwidth, and I think it's worth the $10. Maybe I don't know I can download it for free, but dropping the $10 introduces me to something new that I had no idea existed. If you think the $10 is too much, lowball him on your bid and see if you get lucky. The guy appears to be getting a lot of positive feedback, so maybe a lot of people who would otherwise be locked into the Microsoft rut have found a viable alternative, and have decided that $10 was a fair price for enlightenment. Now, if he doesn't include the proper license, or in any other way breaks the law, then he has a problem. Otherwise, he's probably just an evangelist making a few bucks off of his preaching.
Today's Sesame Street was brought to you by the number e.
According to Apple's site, you can download X11 and then you're able to run X apps like OpenOffice. Is this not the case? Or are you specifically demanding a *real* native app? In which case--I dunno.
When installing OpenOffice, it's hard not to notice that it's open source. ("Did you know that you can get help from the community?"...) So even people who would buy such an nondescript product would be pleasantly surprised.
"That's like somebody advocating the use of torx screws as opposed to phillips head."
As I see it, it's more like advocating buying from local coffeshops and video stores rather than giving your money to Starbucks and Blockbuster. The programs themselves are tools, but who gets your money does make a difference. Also, those producing the tools benefit from having more users.
The sad fact is, there's a company out there producing software with monopoly power. At times it has even been known to abuse that power. Some even suspect that this company is actively seeking more power and that it might begin being abusive to its customers if it feels that it has no competition to worry about. Open Source/Free Software is seen by many as a (perhaps the only) hope of competition in the software world. Personally, I find this to be reason to consider Open Source first when looking for software tools.
Information doesn't want to be anthropomorphized anymore.
With 3200+ comments under your belt, you should be able to write your own rebuttal with half your brain tied behind your back, even if you don't believe it.
Nevertheless, because I'm avoiding studying for finals, I'll dish out the standard reply:
There are two reasons to choose a piece of open source software. The first is the pragmatic, is-this-the-best-fit reason. You choose an OSS app because it does what you want better than any of the alternatives.
The often low-to-zero price is sometimes a big advantage from this perspective, but it is just one part of the overall fit. The availability of source code is another. Availability from multiple vendors and adherence to standards can also be attractive from this viewpoint.
The second reason, of course, is all about freedom. This is the one that causes many people to embrace open source applications even when the proprietary world is kicking its butt as far as features and ease of use go. The freedom to explore, to experiment, to use in virtually any way you see fit. The freedom to modify and redistribute. Also, because anyone can take the product and fork it if they're unhappy, OSS packages generally have to avoid doing nasty things to annoy the user base. Spyware, malware, ad-ware, all becomes virtually impossible. Why? Because people don't want it, and because it's *free* nobody can force it on them.
Look at the web browser situation. When IE doesn't have stiff competition, everyone writes HTML with an eye towards IE, not towards accepted standards. This gives Microsoft a great deal of control over how most of us experience the Internet.
This is just one of many examples of how ordinary software users are affected by their choice of tools, and why software can be considered a worthwhile cause for non-developers.
You want the truthiness? You can't handle the truthiness!
If you would have read the whole advertisement on Ebay you would have seen that he clearly states that all the software on the CD is may be freely downloaded off the internet and that this CD is being provided simply as a convenience to those who don't have the time or bandwidth to download them all. And at $6.98 delivered to your door I don't think he's exactly ripping people off.
"She's a West Texas girl, just like me" - G.W Bush Iraqis
If she only does email and web browsing then Linux is exactly what she needs. Might suggest installing Fedora and all of the Livna.org goodies. Make her a user account, only you have root and all the problems will magically go away.
Got Code?
i don't like windows unless it's in "classic" mode either, but surely you can come up with a better word than gay. how about, hetero. how hetero is it to have your windows in that mode.
That's like somebody advocating the use of torx screws as opposed to phillips head.
Oh yeah, TOTALLY the same thing as Free software versus proprietary software.
Because, you know, phillips head screws come with 8-page LICENSES that tell you what brand of screw you can use, and how many toolboxes you can move it between, and, oh yeah, here's a 16-digit SCREWDRIVER ACTIVATION CODE! If you need to move to another room in your house, you have to re-enter to code. It only takes 30 minutes, tops!
For me the best tool is the one that doesn't have strings attached. If I can't find one, I'll take the strings-attached version, but it better be *GOOD* (Photoshop, Mac OS X, VMWare .. that's about it).
If you're setting up a web computer for a computer illiterate, consider a cheap machine with a decent modem that supports Linux. Install NOTHING on the hard drive. They use it on the off chance they want to save notes etc.
Then boot from a Knoppix CD. Each time they boot, every thing's new. If you really like your configuration, you can make a permanent configuration file. Just leave a 3x5 card next to the computer of what to type at boot time.
The minimal typing is a PITA but ask them which they hate more: 1) 10-20 seconds of typing each and every time they boot to a bug-free environment, or 2) day/weeks of groveling and asking some computer literate for help.
In a word, no.
Sick to death of "it's free, the UI was designed by a guy with autism, and the help system and documentation are non-existant but it's still the bestest software EVAR!" brand of advocacy.
And remember, if you don't just 'know' how the software works, it's your fault. Documentation is for idiots. Clear examples are unnecessary. Everything must be driven from the command line with 50 case sensitive switches with no relationship to the options they represent.
90% of people care about the way it looks/feels, not the fact that it's 'better'.
Why don't you just try telling Granny to lay off the porn sites?
Shame on Google.
Windows XP hides details of file permissions, opting for a basic "share" or "don't share," with an option to allow write access, and only at the directory level. Disabling simple file sharing and permissions allows full group-based permissions for specific files in directories just like Windows 2000 (and Unix).
The Windows Classic settings are very dull and grey in comparison to the flashy colours of the default XP, so I don't see it as a big leap, or being negative, to call it "gayified". I would think it would be a bigger negative to suggest that "dull and grey" is better (although I prefer the Classic as well).
Just a thought. Not every gay reference is automatically negative.
Better than revert to the classic theme: Disable the "Themes" service. In addition to de-uglifying your desktop you'll get back some memory and cpu cycles. Even if you have plenty of both, it is one less process that can potentially crash/be hacked.