That is codswallop, and shows a lack of understanding of open source, and that you fail to realise the following.
1) AbiWord is opensource, by definition that means you are able to use and part of its code through any applications you write. Id go so far as to say that its Open Source nature makes it more functional and flexible in this area than M$ Office which is closed source.
2) AbiWord is just as interoperable between other Linux apps and distributions as M$ office is to Windows, in addition AbiWord is also way way more cross-platform than M$ Word increasing its interoperability and flexibility.
Now, I can think of plenty more valid reasons why AbiWord may not dominate the market as M$ Word but the reasons you are suggesting IMHO are more like examples of what makes AbiWord better than Word, rather than the other way around as you have put it.
Technically Speaking GMail is still in Beta anyone who uses GMail is therefore a Beta tester. Whether or not Google decide to allow or reject this as abuse remains to be seen. Whatever the case this guy is providing google with valuable beta-test feedback. Something they may have overlooked that needs to be fixed, or something they overlooked that needs to be improved.
Either way it just depends which way you look at it...
Is a a good DVD-Authoring system. Its easy enough to burn DVD's on linux and has been for some time K3b uses the command line tools to do its work seamlessly.
But i'd like it to be easier to dump footage via my DV Camcorder over firewire and dump it on a DVD with a nice little menu. Just by clicking a couple of buttons. Alas I havent come across anything like this yet. Which is why im still hankering after a powerbook.
That most of the common desktop applications are written for gnome or kde. Thus ruining the look and feel. I tried "e" a few of years ago and it looked good by current standards, but by todays standard I'm afraid the promise it holds has become dated. Maybe if the toolset were more integrated and it didnt have such a "grainy" look "e" might be a contender. IMHO its looking old fashioned.
One of the nice things "back in the day" were the animations and the window transparency implemented in "e" now these features are in KDE (and presumably Gnome) enlightenment doesnt really have much to offer. Its not as lightweight as some of the more popular lightweight WM's and performance hungry for the more integrated heavyweights (Gnome / KDE )
I like the fact that Enlightenment is there , but I think its moment has passed now, something more drastic needs to happen because it seems to me that is is stuck halfway between the need for a lightweight WM and a heavyweight one.
Of hearing the arguments on slashdot, regarding how ready or not linux is for the desktop. While there are a few rough edges here and there. My experience has told me that my retired parents can use Linux (MDK10) (after a successful trial with knoppix) and they rarely need my help. My dad is 70 and my mum in her mid 60's. They use it through choice , its a dual boot system and 99% of the time they choose linux of their own accord. On the rare occaisions my mother boots into windows I often hear her cussing about how she hates windows (this brings a smile to my face!)
There is more to that story but its proof enough to me that non-technical people can happily use it. And although I am around the house to help if things go awry. My assistance is rarely needed to fix things. When they used windows I would often get frustrated with the constant problems I had to fix for them.
My point is if you are non-technical windows can be just as annoying. if not worse than a properly set-up linux box. If you are an experienced linux user and are fed up of fixing friends or families windows boxes belonging to non-techies. In my experience once they are up and running those problems seem to dissappear, your life and theirs just got better.
The only confusing thing for new linux users is breaking the habit of buying off the shelf software. In addition their is the issue of Windows games not running. If they are a hardcore gamer chances are they are fairly technical anyway. My PS2 does just fine for me.
Anyway the point of this post was not really to post "yet another example of how linux can work well for non-techies" but actually to ask this question...
Does anyone know of a website containing l success stories and examples of non-techies who have found the joy linux has brought into their computing lives? Because if one does not exist, I'd like to consider setting one up. Anyone interested or with similar stories please post here.
Re:Concise guide to Linux on the deskop for non-te
on
Linux Desktop Guide
·
· Score: 1
How many Windows users do you know that hand edit ini files or the registry?
How many.ini or registry files do you know of on linux? and how self explanatory, convenient or efficient is the windows system registry. That is not a horror I hope ever gets into linux.
"Businessweek, the leading authority on linux and open source recommends a licensce switch to BSD." (Speak in the voice of James Earl Jones form maximim effect)
Take heed developers... Businessweek know their shit when it comes to Linux and FOSS...
I thought the idea of "take existing technology" and "put it online" had been fully exploited. This sounds like a recipe for failure before its even started... What next ? an internet connected toaster ?
I really dont get wtf an "online" version of Office could possibly offer that people actually want, and i doubt many people will have faith in its security given microsofts track record.Is there a real need for people to simultaneously be editing a document at the same time ? No! at they very least people might want to simultaneously view a document or image and discuss it using an instant messenger service. Most use the draft -> approval -> changes -signoff process for anything that needs this kind of attention. The internet caters perfectly for the needs of sharing documents and discussing them at the moment. This silly idea is just another attempt by microsoft to "Own" the internet and in turn own you, and your documents. Add more features that nobody uses and change fileformats again to reduce legacy compatibility with own product line and those of others in order to force an upgrade.
I think people are going to see through this one Bill, and you know what those who dont, wont make the same mistakes again next time.
On the face of it this is the almost the same thing. Try running blender under just the raw X, blender handles its own environment as is suggested in the article. (im sure there are other examples too). If you think about it you will realise that your favorite window manager is just an application that handles its own environment.
Actually whats really left at the end of it all is that his Windowing system, isnt a windowing system at all, rather an ultra basic framework that handles only the minimal requirements, that provides a basis to build windowed applications atop. Rather like the philosophy behind the X server really.
Correct me if i'm wrong, but things like sudo, the xserver and the numerous other situations where prior art exist. Are these things not implemented at a higher level ? in the kernel? and sudo , xserver and whatever else are just making use of the existing multiuser framework?
If the linux kernel does this, could it be in violation? This is sure to cause some major outrage. I think if companies continue to make a mockery of the patents system so flagrantly, it wont be long before people begin to disregard it as being genuinely useful.
I'm a big Apple fan, so I don't want Real to succeed in hurting the iTMS and in their anti-Apple campaign,
So let me get this straight, you would rather one company had a monopoly on music downloads, than several companies competing fairly and squarely in the same marketplace?
Dont get me wrong I like Apple, over the recent years I have warmed to them greatly. However I think that the attitude you are flagrantly displaying. I like Apple so I dont want company X to succeed or to hurt iTunes or Apple. That is such a bullshit thing to say quite frankly. Competition is good, DRM and proprietary fileformats are not good. Desiring the failure of one company just because you are over zealous about another is just plain immature, and thoughtless.
While the legalities of Reals actions maybe in a bit of a grey area, Someone has to fight against these things, particularly when they are abusing customers rights. The main right in question here is who owns the iPod you just forked out for with your hard earned cash? You or Apple ? Imagine the uproar if sony devised a CD player only capable of playing sony formatted CD's. Nobody would buy it. The iPod sells because it is the epitome of cool design and consumer electronics, it is a highly desirable item. iTMS sells tunes because of its ease of use and its integration with iTunes. Apple dont technically own the music that gets played on its iPod or iTunes, and what right have they to dictate that music purchased fairly and squarely not be played on a device that you bought fairly and squarely..
What would happen say, if Real were to release an alternative firmware for the iPod? Apple dont seem to have a problem with the Linux on iPod project, so whats to stop Real from doing that ?
Real seems to have a 50/50 love-hate relationship with people (particularly here on slashdot) so I'd expect quite a difference in opinions. But lets face it if it was another company or some homebrew Open Source programmer that released something similar would you have the same hateful attitude, Most likely no! in fact you would be greatful that some hacker just increased the flexibility and functionality of your iPod/ iTunes program.
IMHO iTunes is all very well at the moment and is probably doing quite well in the market. As soon as the evil beast from redmond gets it equivalent software on all those windows machines, Apple are going to have to rethink the iTMS only strategy, because as much as i hate to admit it M$ will probably be a lot less restrictive on who can sell their DRM'd format, which, naturally will be incompatible with the iPod.
There is a real problem with these companies... The whole pack of em... They are more interested in money than actually giving customers choice and value.
So... Think about the broader implications not just you but for everyone before you make such over zealous comments.
While this is a fair point; The issue of course remains that there is no reason to use a warez version of cedega/winex when there is a free cvs version available from the transgaming website. The money you pay is mainly for the subscription, support and privilege of voting for your favorite windows game to be supported.
I see no need to use a warez version unless you have difficulties in building the CVS version (which I beleive has an easy installation script). Im not sure how using a warez version harms Transgaming. The copy protect support in the binary and the point2play system are about all. Well, its easy enough to find a.exe nocd patch for your legitimate game copy, and lack of point2play is not a problem if you are confident typing cedega./mygame.exe in bash.
What difference would it make if all those people who used a warez version used the CVS free version instead? I doubt it would be a lot. It isnt possible to have the Subscription benefits by using a warez version, If you want the benefits then you've got to pay.
However, if you want to support a Linux company ~$4.00 dollars a month is hardly going to break the bank, and lets face it we all want more quality games on Linux, time to put money where mouth is ?
Urm yes, basically it blue screened after installation then reboot (I tried several times). Having seen that, was enough do strengthen my lack of faith in the operating system. MDK 10, however , just worked.
Well , there is of course one obvioius solution to that isn't there? Its so blindingly obvious that Open Source is one solution to Microsoft extortion.
Can I run my Windows version of The Sims in WineX?
No. Unfortunately to make The Sims run under Linux Transgaming Technologies had to make some substantial changes to the original source code. This change makes it impossible to run The Sims for Windows under WineX
They must think Linux users are stupid or something , just how does making substantial changes to the source code (to make a linux version) affect the retail windows version of The Sims? If they have a beleivable reason for this , eg, IP issues or something similar that meant they had to remove stuff from the distribution, or whatever. But as it stands that seems like a completely fabricated reason for lack of support (particularly if what you say is true and it worked with an earlier version) Does it work with the GPL Wine from sourceforge ?
couldn't someone who legally purchased a license just repack it and then redistribute it without the watermark?
The odd thing is that Warez people will probably do that anyway as a matter of course. Adding their ".nfo" files and putting their l337 stamp all over the copy and zipping it up. And now its all over slashdot, any casual copiers will almost certainly be doing that.
So this trivial little measure now will probably be replaced by something more inconvenient in future.
What is the purpose of MD5 ? I thought that its main purpose was to verify the file as being genuine. If vendors start employing this technique then wont we have to find another way of validating genuine files? This seems like bad practice to me, purely from a technical standpoint anyway.
Slashdot Mirror
That is codswallop, and shows a lack of understanding of open source, and that you fail to realise the following.
1) AbiWord is opensource, by definition that means you are able to use and part of its code through any applications you write. Id go so far as to say that its Open Source nature makes it more functional and flexible in this area than M$ Office which is closed source.
2) AbiWord is just as interoperable between other Linux apps and distributions as M$ office is to Windows, in addition AbiWord is also way way more cross-platform than M$ Word increasing its interoperability and flexibility.
Now, I can think of plenty more valid reasons why AbiWord may not dominate the market as M$ Word but the reasons you are suggesting IMHO are more like examples of what makes AbiWord better than Word, rather than the other way around as you have put it.
Nick
I have recently found google to be great for finding .torrents
.mp3, .pdf --- just about anything you can think of in fact..
eg
red-hat torrents
or
fonts
other filetype's that work
70 megabit = 8.75 megabyte (google)
does this neccessarily mean we are going to get larger capacities of chips ? or does it mean we can run our memory busses faster?
Nick...
Urm... why have they got a picture of Bono on the website?
Nick...
Technically Speaking GMail is still in Beta anyone who uses GMail is therefore a Beta tester. Whether or not Google decide to allow or reject this as abuse remains to be seen. Whatever the case this guy is providing google with valuable beta-test feedback. Something they may have overlooked that needs to be fixed, or something they overlooked that needs to be improved.
Either way it just depends which way you look at it...
Is a a good DVD-Authoring system. Its easy enough to burn DVD's on linux and has been for some time K3b uses the command line tools to do its work seamlessly.
...
But i'd like it to be easier to dump footage via my DV Camcorder over firewire and dump it on a DVD with a nice little menu. Just by clicking a couple of buttons. Alas I havent come across anything like this yet. Which is why im still hankering after a powerbook.
Nick
The problem with enlightenment is...
...
That most of the common desktop applications are written for gnome or kde. Thus ruining the look and feel. I tried "e" a few of years ago and it looked good by current standards, but by todays standard I'm afraid the promise it holds has become dated. Maybe if the toolset were more integrated and it didnt have such a "grainy" look "e" might be a contender. IMHO its looking old fashioned.
One of the nice things "back in the day" were the animations and the window transparency implemented in "e" now these features are in KDE (and presumably Gnome) enlightenment doesnt really have much to offer. Its not as lightweight as some of the more popular lightweight WM's and performance hungry for the more integrated heavyweights (Gnome / KDE )
I like the fact that Enlightenment is there , but I think its moment has passed now, something more drastic needs to happen because it seems to me that is is stuck halfway between the need for a lightweight WM and a heavyweight one.
Nick
Anyone got any decent screenshots of this release?
The ones on the website look ugly.
Nick (wanting to see something special!)
Of hearing the arguments on slashdot, regarding how ready or not linux is for the desktop. While there are a few rough edges here and there. My experience has told me that my retired parents can use Linux (MDK10) (after a successful trial with knoppix) and they rarely need my help. My dad is 70 and my mum in her mid 60's. They use it through choice , its a dual boot system and 99% of the time they choose linux of their own accord. On the rare occaisions my mother boots into windows I often hear her cussing about how she hates windows (this brings a smile to my face!)
There is more to that story but its proof enough to me that non-technical people can happily use it. And although I am around the house to help if things go awry. My assistance is rarely needed to fix things. When they used windows I would often get frustrated with the constant problems I had to fix for them.
My point is if you are non-technical windows can be just as annoying. if not worse than a properly set-up linux box. If you are an experienced linux user and are fed up of fixing friends or families windows boxes belonging to non-techies. In my experience once they are up and running those problems seem to dissappear, your life and theirs just got better.
The only confusing thing for new linux users is breaking the habit of buying off the shelf software. In addition their is the issue of Windows games not running. If they are a hardcore gamer chances are they are fairly technical anyway. My PS2 does just fine for me.
Anyway the point of this post was not really to post "yet another example of how linux can work well for non-techies" but actually to ask this question...
Does anyone know of a website containing l success stories and examples of non-techies who have found the joy linux has brought into their computing lives? Because if one does not exist, I'd like to consider setting one up. Anyone interested or with similar stories please post here.
How many Windows users do you know that hand edit ini files or the registry?
.ini or registry files do you know of on linux? and how self explanatory, convenient or efficient is the windows system registry. That is not a horror I hope ever gets into linux.
How many
"Businessweek, the leading authority on linux and open source recommends a licensce switch to BSD."
..
(Speak in the voice of James Earl Jones form maximim effect)
Take heed developers... Businessweek know their shit when it comes to Linux and FOSS...
Nick
I thought the idea of "take existing technology" and "put it online" had been fully exploited. This sounds like a recipe for failure before its even started... What next ? an internet connected toaster ?
:P
...
I really dont get wtf an "online" version of Office could possibly offer that people actually want, and i doubt many people will have faith in its security given microsofts track record.Is there a real need for people to simultaneously be editing a document at the same time ? No! at they very least people might want to simultaneously view a document or image and discuss it using an instant messenger service. Most use the draft -> approval -> changes -signoff process for anything that needs this kind of attention. The internet caters perfectly for the needs of sharing documents and discussing them at the moment. This silly idea is just another attempt by microsoft to "Own" the internet and in turn own you, and your documents. Add more features that nobody uses and change fileformats again to reduce legacy compatibility with own product line and those of others in order to force an upgrade.
I think people are going to see through this one Bill, and you know what those who dont, wont make the same mistakes again next time.
What goes up must come down
Nick
On the face of it this is the almost the same thing.
Try running blender under just the raw X, blender handles its own environment as is suggested in the article. (im sure there are other examples too).
If you think about it you will realise that your favorite window manager is just an application that handles its own environment.
Actually whats really left at the end of it all is that his Windowing system, isnt a windowing system at all, rather an ultra basic framework that handles only the minimal requirements, that provides a basis to build windowed applications atop. Rather like the philosophy behind the X server really.
Correct me if i'm wrong, but things like sudo, the xserver and the numerous other situations where prior art exist. Are these things not implemented at a higher level ? in the kernel? and sudo , xserver and whatever else are just making use of the existing multiuser framework?
If the linux kernel does this, could it be in violation? This is sure to cause some major outrage. I think if companies continue to make a mockery of the patents system so flagrantly, it wont be long before people begin to disregard it as being genuinely useful.
Nick...
The problem is if someone patents the software that drives they eyes. It might make it difficult to run linux on your eyeballs for example.
Nick
My eyes are playing up ... I think i've been staring as slashdot for too long!
I'm a big Apple fan, so I don't want Real to succeed in hurting the iTMS and in their anti-Apple campaign,
... The whole pack of em... They are more interested in money than actually giving customers choice and value.
... Think about the broader implications not just you but for everyone before you make such over zealous comments.
...
So let me get this straight, you would rather one company had a monopoly on music downloads, than several companies competing fairly and squarely in the same marketplace?
Dont get me wrong I like Apple, over the recent years I have warmed to them greatly. However I think that the attitude you are flagrantly displaying. I like Apple so I dont want company X to succeed or to hurt iTunes or Apple. That is such a bullshit thing to say quite frankly. Competition is good, DRM and proprietary fileformats are not good. Desiring the failure of one company just because you are over zealous about another is just plain immature, and thoughtless.
While the legalities of Reals actions maybe in a bit of a grey area, Someone has to fight against these things, particularly when they are abusing customers rights. The main right in question here is who owns the iPod you just forked out for with your hard earned cash? You or Apple ? Imagine the uproar if sony devised a CD player only capable of playing sony formatted CD's. Nobody would buy it. The iPod sells because it is the epitome of cool design and consumer electronics, it is a highly desirable item. iTMS sells tunes because of its ease of use and its integration with iTunes. Apple dont technically own the music that gets played on its iPod or iTunes, and what right have they to dictate that music purchased fairly and squarely not be played on a device that you bought fairly and squarely..
What would happen say, if Real were to release an alternative firmware for the iPod? Apple dont seem to have a problem with the Linux on iPod project, so whats to stop Real from doing that ?
Real seems to have a 50/50 love-hate relationship with people (particularly here on slashdot) so I'd expect quite a difference in opinions. But lets face it if it was another company or some homebrew Open Source programmer that released something similar would you have the same hateful attitude, Most likely no! in fact you would be greatful that some hacker just increased the flexibility and functionality of your iPod/ iTunes program.
IMHO iTunes is all very well at the moment and is probably doing quite well in the market. As soon as the evil beast from redmond gets it equivalent software on all those windows machines, Apple are going to have to rethink the iTMS only strategy, because as much as i hate to admit it M$ will probably be a lot less restrictive on who can sell their DRM'd format, which, naturally will be incompatible with the iPod.
There is a real problem with these companies
So
Nick
How much of that can be attributed to faster technologies ? Greater CPU speed, Connection Speed etc?
Nick...
While this is a fair point; The issue of course remains that there is no reason to use a warez version of cedega/winex when there is a free cvs version available from the transgaming website. The money you pay is mainly for the subscription, support and privilege of voting for your favorite windows game to be supported.
.exe nocd patch for your legitimate game copy, and lack of point2play is not a problem if you are confident typing cedega ./mygame.exe in bash.
...
I see no need to use a warez version unless you have difficulties in building the CVS version (which I beleive has an easy installation script). Im not sure how using a warez version harms Transgaming. The copy protect support in the binary and the point2play system are about all. Well, its easy enough to find a
What difference would it make if all those people who used a warez version used the CVS free version instead? I doubt it would be a lot. It isnt possible to have the Subscription benefits by using a warez version, If you want the benefits then you've got to pay.
However, if you want to support a Linux company
~$4.00 dollars a month is hardly going to break the bank, and lets face it we all want more quality games on Linux, time to put money where mouth is ?
Nick
Urm yes, basically it blue screened after installation then reboot (I tried several times). Having seen that, was enough do strengthen my lack of faith in the operating system.
MDK 10, however , just worked.
Well , there is of course one obvioius solution to that isn't there? Its so blindingly obvious that Open Source is one solution to Microsoft extortion.
...
Nick
This test just shows remaining Windows 98 users they should keep up to date or upgrade to XP.
I tried to upgrade my mothers PC to XP, its a 400mhz AMD K6. It didnt work. So I installed Mandrake 10. No problems whatsoever.
From the Transgaming Website...
...
Can I run my Windows version of The Sims in WineX?
No. Unfortunately to make The Sims run under Linux Transgaming Technologies had to make some substantial changes to the original source code. This change makes it impossible to run The Sims for Windows under WineX
They must think Linux users are stupid or something , just how does making substantial changes to the source code (to make a linux version) affect the retail windows version of The Sims? If they have a beleivable reason for this , eg, IP issues or something similar that meant they had to remove stuff from the distribution, or whatever. But as it stands that seems like a completely fabricated reason for lack of support (particularly if what you say is true and it worked with an earlier version) Does it work with the GPL Wine from sourceforge ?
Nick
couldn't someone who legally purchased a license just repack it and then redistribute it without the watermark?
The odd thing is that Warez people will probably do that anyway as a matter of course. Adding their ".nfo" files and putting their l337 stamp all over the copy and zipping it up. And now its all over slashdot, any casual copiers will almost certainly be doing that.
So this trivial little measure now will probably be replaced by something more inconvenient in future.
What is the purpose of MD5 ? I thought that its main purpose was to verify the file as being genuine. If vendors start employing this technique then wont we have to find another way of validating genuine files? This seems like bad practice to me, purely from a technical standpoint anyway.