For the past 5 years or so Ubuntu has been the only distribution I have no problem recommending and installing for friends. This dude can piss off. Debian for servers, Ubuntu or OS X for desktops.
I was too, and I was using Apple IIs, my c64, PCs, and VMS simultaneously while still in grade school. When I sat in front of say -- an 8-bit Atari or a Mac it wasn't a foreign experience because certain fundamental things always remained true.
I remember moms and dads calling my BBS on probably what was their first computer. Every BBS system had its own idiosyncrasies but people figured it out. Even things like IRC in the early 90s had tons of non-geeks on it. When the only way became the MS way though? That's when individuals became dumbfounded at even a minor environmental change.
I wrote an article about this in 2005. Basically, the MS hegemony meant people learned where to click things, rather than what they do and the concepts behind them.
In the 80s you didn't need to be a geek to use a computer, but at the same time you learned basic ideas that would let you feel at home on any system or OS. Now people just think, "Go to the start menu. No start menu? What the fuck what do I do???"
I quit checking my Facebook E-Mail for months. When I finally looked at it people were getting mad at me and defriending me because I never replied to them. If they sent me an ordinary E-Mail that wouldn't have happened . . .
Was hoping it was a link to someone who E-Mailed their friend admitting that they're actually of the opposite sex, and accidentally BCCed it to their unknowing significant other at the same time. The post not only reveals how incompetent Microsoft is internally, but how oblivious they were to registering such a horrible domain name. Both represent the company's tendency to hire people in bulk who have no real purpose, and the idea that throwing money at any problem will solve it.
I do this same thing less clumsily with sftp. Make a public_html directory, tell Apache to enable directory lists, and then drop whatever you need there. You could go the WebDAV route too. Though I do not like it personally,Windows, OS X, and most Linux dists can deal with WebDAV out of the box.
The real benefit of that is not having to deal with file sharing services to get files to your friends. Want something to be publicly accessible? Just drop it into the public_html on a local Samba/NFS/AFP share with virtually no wait time (assuming the server is in the same building).
When they shut the Internet off here in Egypt it only made people more pissed. Nothing to do inside then you go outside and join everyone else. If you work from home then you're even more pissed off.
The only reason I bought a Dell netbook a few months ago was because I knew it had fairly guaranteed Linux support. I even requested an Ubuntu install, despite the fact that I figured I would end up doing a clean install. Effectively, I was turning down a Windows license even though it had no effect on the total price.
I've been using it for years now on an old G3 iMac that's a file server, web server, VNC accessible, runs my BBS (yes, still do that), along with SETI@home and Transmission. I have no problems with OS X and it's my favorite desktop OS, but when it comes to server tasks I prefer Linux -- preferably Debian.
It's a shame that the G5s lacked any true upgrade paths like the G3s and G4s did. The computer I'm writing this on right now came with 1 800mhz G4 CPU; now it has a dual G4 1.8ghz CPU. Still my day to day workhorse. Still getting great life out of a computer from 2002.
So on that note -- I would obviously take it off your hands and put it on my desk:)
Made an order for 6 computers and received 11 in January. Returned the extra 5 and they refunded me for all 11, then took 6 months to realize their mistake.
All this after I called them trying to tell them about their error, and getting some script/screen-reading Indian who didn't understand me.
Imagine what it would have been like if the situation was reversed . . . yikes.
Fuck Dell. This is the kind of dumb thinking that will lead to their inevitable downfall. Welcome to Gateway Country Part Deux.
Interestingly, I could be placing my own copyrighted works on-line for download -- even while selling it, but get prosecuted for distributing my own content. One could say -- no big deal, just appeal the decision. That's another issue though: a few hours or days of my time should not be wasted over someone else's mistake. At that point they should be reimbursing me for damages.
A 10+ year fight against something most people use and have no moral objection to -- except a pushy minority with special interests.
History repeats itself. Ban P2P and 'elite' FTPs will reemerge with private memberships. High quality private torrent trackers already exist. Instead of joining a free P2P network you'll pay a guy in China a nominal fee for access to his file distribution network. Remember how much money pirates made in places like Thailand in the 90s just by selling things for a few dollars? All of the shady rackets will return, along with even more viruses since individual files will not be checked by large groups of people, or distributed via reliable release groups.
Ban P2P and watch real crime and extortion take place. Eventually it will be a burden on authorities to chase after 15 year olds who want the new 50 Cent CD; the RIAA won't have money to toss to lawyers either, because their income will remain just as shitty as money goes to shad(ier) sources instead.
For a decade now the biggest sites were targeted and shutdown, yet for some reason it gets easier each year to find what I need on-line. Hmm.
Slashdot Mirror
For the past 5 years or so Ubuntu has been the only distribution I have no problem recommending and installing for friends. This dude can piss off. Debian for servers, Ubuntu or OS X for desktops.
He didn't name her Porsche or Houston.
I was too, and I was using Apple IIs, my c64, PCs, and VMS simultaneously while still in grade school. When I sat in front of say -- an 8-bit Atari or a Mac it wasn't a foreign experience because certain fundamental things always remained true.
I remember moms and dads calling my BBS on probably what was their first computer. Every BBS system had its own idiosyncrasies but people figured it out. Even things like IRC in the early 90s had tons of non-geeks on it. When the only way became the MS way though? That's when individuals became dumbfounded at even a minor environmental change.
I wrote an article about this in 2005. Basically, the MS hegemony meant people learned where to click things, rather than what they do and the concepts behind them.
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=47652
In the 80s you didn't need to be a geek to use a computer, but at the same time you learned basic ideas that would let you feel at home on any system or OS. Now people just think, "Go to the start menu. No start menu? What the fuck what do I do???"
I quit checking my Facebook E-Mail for months. When I finally looked at it people were getting mad at me and defriending me because I never replied to them. If they sent me an ordinary E-Mail that wouldn't have happened . . .
Was hoping it was a link to someone who E-Mailed their friend admitting that they're actually of the opposite sex, and accidentally BCCed it to their unknowing significant other at the same time. The post not only reveals how incompetent Microsoft is internally, but how oblivious they were to registering such a horrible domain name. Both represent the company's tendency to hire people in bulk who have no real purpose, and the idea that throwing money at any problem will solve it.
Still not nearly as bad as no subject at all, or more strangely -- someone writing the entire E-Mail in the subject line.
I do this same thing less clumsily with sftp. Make a public_html directory, tell Apache to enable directory lists, and then drop whatever you need there. You could go the WebDAV route too. Though I do not like it personally,Windows, OS X, and most Linux dists can deal with WebDAV out of the box.
The real benefit of that is not having to deal with file sharing services to get files to your friends. Want something to be publicly accessible? Just drop it into the public_html on a local Samba/NFS/AFP share with virtually no wait time (assuming the server is in the same building).
Public FTPs are still common. It makes no sense to grab a Linux distro over sftp, not when the encryption layer wastes bandwidth and CPU power.
When they shut the Internet off here in Egypt it only made people more pissed. Nothing to do inside then you go outside and join everyone else. If you work from home then you're even more pissed off.
I personally hate website updates just for the sake of updating. The old one worked fine.
Since there's only like 3 ISPs here, generally ran by incompetents. TEData I'm looking at you -- specifically.
Asians really are smarter.
They need to maintain a facade of incompetence so their opponents will continue to underestimate them.
I overclocked mine to 350 using an extra heatsink.
Frivolously suing all the people internationally who will be /.'ing your servers now. 4chan will have a ball with this.
The only reason I bought a Dell netbook a few months ago was because I knew it had fairly guaranteed Linux support. I even requested an Ubuntu install, despite the fact that I figured I would end up doing a clean install. Effectively, I was turning down a Windows license even though it had no effect on the total price.
I've been using it for years now on an old G3 iMac that's a file server, web server, VNC accessible, runs my BBS (yes, still do that), along with SETI@home and Transmission. I have no problems with OS X and it's my favorite desktop OS, but when it comes to server tasks I prefer Linux -- preferably Debian.
It's a shame that the G5s lacked any true upgrade paths like the G3s and G4s did. The computer I'm writing this on right now came with 1 800mhz G4 CPU; now it has a dual G4 1.8ghz CPU. Still my day to day workhorse. Still getting great life out of a computer from 2002.
So on that note -- I would obviously take it off your hands and put it on my desk :)
Made an order for 6 computers and received 11 in January. Returned the extra 5 and they refunded me for all 11, then took 6 months to realize their mistake.
All this after I called them trying to tell them about their error, and getting some script/screen-reading Indian who didn't understand me.
Imagine what it would have been like if the situation was reversed . . . yikes.
Fuck Dell. This is the kind of dumb thinking that will lead to their inevitable downfall. Welcome to Gateway Country Part Deux.
Listens to (and often records) these stations non stop to know the 3 or 4 times in 20 years that something actually happened.
Yeah, but it never actually ran on any Macs.
Can I sync it with my Dell DJ?
There was a anti-Israeli / Jewish group on Facebook that was deleted. No one said anything. It was applauded for the most part.
Double standards suck I guess. Jews = justified complainants; Muslims = whining fundamentalists. Gotcha.
Interestingly, I could be placing my own copyrighted works on-line for download -- even while selling it, but get prosecuted for distributing my own content. One could say -- no big deal, just appeal the decision. That's another issue though: a few hours or days of my time should not be wasted over someone else's mistake. At that point they should be reimbursing me for damages.
A 10+ year fight against something most people use and have no moral objection to -- except a pushy minority with special interests.
History repeats itself. Ban P2P and 'elite' FTPs will reemerge with private memberships. High quality private torrent trackers already exist. Instead of joining a free P2P network you'll pay a guy in China a nominal fee for access to his file distribution network. Remember how much money pirates made in places like Thailand in the 90s just by selling things for a few dollars? All of the shady rackets will return, along with even more viruses since individual files will not be checked by large groups of people, or distributed via reliable release groups.
Ban P2P and watch real crime and extortion take place. Eventually it will be a burden on authorities to chase after 15 year olds who want the new 50 Cent CD; the RIAA won't have money to toss to lawyers either, because their income will remain just as shitty as money goes to shad(ier) sources instead.
For a decade now the biggest sites were targeted and shutdown, yet for some reason it gets easier each year to find what I need on-line. Hmm.