Conexant are helping
the development of
linux drivers for winmodems
based in both the conexant HCF and HSF chipsets. The current beta version for the HCF is running happily in my desktop at home:-)
Governments in developing regions worldwide have eagerly embraced the open-source movement as a way to trim fat from their budgets. But free software initiatives fail when officials believe they will no longer have to invest in their IT systems. Take the case of Mexico's Red Escolar, launched in 1998 to install Linux in the country's 126,000 public schools. The government simply shipped CDs to schools without training teachers how to use the operating system or contracting programmers to administer it.
It is trivial, and it has been said a thousand times, but it seems to be necessary (in view of what happened in Mexico) to emphasize it: you HAVE TO INVEST MONEY if you are going to use free (as in beer) software. Extremadura is going to invest money, it just turns out that it will be much less than what they would need to invest with proprietary software. This is good news both for the Free Software movement and for Extremadura. Best luck folks / buena suerte amigos !!!
I am just coming from a coffee break. Called my office buddy, we went to grab a nice cup of coffee and came back to work. We only spent 15 minutes, but on the way to the coffee place we saw cute ladies, a sunny afternoon and what else. I wonder what kind of a pill will ever be able to replace this... hey folks, there is a world out there, enjoy it ! :-)
If the idea is to do an initial test with a fraction of the AOL users, why didn't they wait
until Mozilla reaches 1.0 and Netscape releases a version based on this codebase ?. What if the test fails simply because Netscape is still not stable/polished enough ?. Mozilla 1.0 is supposed to be close at this point in time... what am I missing ?
It seems that the review focuses more than anything on a side issue: if you are a newbie, or if you want an easy upgrade, stick to your distro . This is the best approach in general, and I wish geeks would give this advice to people who need help and are not willing to spend time tweaking. It is funny to see people trying to upgrade everything by themselves and then complain it is not easy. HELLO: this is exactly what a distro is supposed to be intended for.
By the way, the review itself seems to me rather weak. It is mostly a "hey folks, don't do this at home" warning for newbies. And no, this does not fit my definition of a good review;-)
I almost posted about this (Re: How Incredibly...)
on
KDE 3.0 is Out
·
· Score: 4, Insightful
This is the most incredibly discourteous and unprofessional behavior I've seen on a web site. Show some freaking respect towards the open source developers who create code (and give you something to write about on this site) and DO NOT ANNOUNCE A RELEASE BEFORE THE RELEASE.
I totally agree. Even LinuxToday, beaten up to death some time ago by/. , was respectfull of the schedule and at least up to now did not announce
anything (which by the way is natural since there was no announcement yet).
Yesterday night I saw 3.0 in ftp.kde.org, and I almost posted a story (not supposed to be published) asking the/. editors to please NOT announce anything until the release was official .
Then I thought, no, they will not do that again. Oh well...
In related news, a new sociological study reveals a mutation in teenagers and taxi drivers, whereas the middle finger appears bigger than usual due to overuse...
I love KDE. I just love it. There are always
things to improve though. The one that strikes me most
is ease of use of removable devices. I personally
never cared about it because I just mount/umount whatever
I need. But when someone who DOESN'T care about
computers just wants to copy a file to a floppy and
you have to explain what mounting/unmounting is, and
how to look into/dev/floppy... it is too much.
AFAIK in
KDE 2.2 you cannot simply drag and drop to the "floppy device"
icon in the desktop. Also, a little icon on the side-bar in Konqueror
for each removable device would help. A non-geek user
should see this little floppy in conqueror and drag a file
from the fs to the little floppy and get the job done.
This is one of the little things where M$ is still easier to use.
You want to copy a file to a floppy, you insert the stupid
floppy and drag and drop. I know you can set up autofs and all,
but this would be one of the basic things a desktop should handle
seamlessly.
Does anyone know if these things are improved in KDE 3 ?
Thanks so much to the KDE team for all their work. Cheers !
-- Don Inodoro
Re:User input could solve problems
on
Google Juice
·
· Score: 1
I always thought they should add some kind of a measure of user's input,
but automatically. Say that 99% of the users click on
the second result on the list, you may think that this result is
more relevant than the one listed first. So you could dynamically do slight corrections
to the ranking. The main problem is how to avoid cheating, but if you count
cliks by client-IP, only one click per IP per day (or so), how much
can you be cheated ?. Is it easy to forge the client IP ?.
Many may disagree, but there are a lot of people out there that prefer the BSD licence to the GNU/GPL license scheme.
Granted
Despite the great beauty of FreeBSD, and the vastly developed environment (countless ports that work flawlessly, providing users with easy to install and run applications), FreeBSD is not doing as well as Linux.
May be the reason is that most developers coding free software DO prefer GPL. I have written public domain code, under the GPL. I would NEVER donate my free
time to build, test or document software that is legally ready to be used by a dirty beast as M$ in a closed product.
IMHO, the two big Linux browsers are Mozilla and Konqueror. The former is a stand-alone, pretty much desktop independent browser, and the latter is extremely well integrated with a particular desktop (KDE).
It looks to me that the article is biased towards the stand-alone approach. I use KDE and prefer Konqueror. It does all I need (web browsing, some file management, man page browsing, embeds ps, embeds pdfs, etc.), and it does it fast and well. It's intuitive if you use KDE. My wife, on the other hand, uses GNOME, and Mozilla is a better bet for her. She can manage chat, email, web browsing, etc. from the same app. And she doesn't care if it the fastest browser in the Universe.
The bottom line to me is: Mozilla will be the biggest shot because it fits pretty much any possible user. And Konqueror will be the choice for mant KDE users.
There is an interesting side to the story. RedHat has largely focused on the server/embeded market. If bought by AOL, I assume they will now seriously target desktop users as well. I do think this is a necessary step for Linux. And I think Linux is technically ready for the desktop. It looks to me that this could be good news.
My guess is that the most creative software opportunities will remain in the US for some time, and the more routine development efforts will continue to be transfered overseas.
Oh yes, routine development such as most of KDE, the invention of the Linux kernel and so on was done outside the US. Just routine stuff, not really creative, right ?
I agree with your post, and I was actually about to write the same thing. You saved me time:-). But I think that the requirement for open formats and protocols should not only affect M$. Otherwise we'll have another monopoly in a few years, and endless compatibility issues.
The point is: computer formats should be always open. File formats, low-level communication with hardware, communication formats (including streaming media), they should all be required to be open.
Then it should be up to the software publisher to use either open source or proprietary licenses. I don't care if Word is closed source, I don't wanna read this source anyway. But I want to be able to read their documents if I have to.
The tabbed browsing is almost up to galeon-level, though the speed is still slow, and its missing an (X) to close individual tabs. Use ctrl-w to close tabs in the meantime. This feature is quickly becoming my favorite.
I am running the RedHat 7.* RPMS. There actually IS an (X) to close tabs. It is at the right end of the TAB bar. It closes the active tab.
The Justice Department also set up an e-mail address where consumers and companies may send their comments about the antitrust settlement. The address is microsoft.atr@usdoj.gov, and will operate for 60 days.
But you are saying here:
the DoJ has set up an email address where citizens can send comments about the case
I wonder exactly who is entitled to write an email to the US-DoJ. A lot of non-US citizen slashdoters would be willing to write I guess...
Yes, but sou see, the problem with PNG is that still is
not widely supported by browsers. Latest browsers do,
but there is a lot of people using browsers (such as netscape 4.*) which don't.
Nonetheless, PNG is the future, no doubt. In any case, I think they should have put PNG, as well as JPEG screenshots.
Yes, it may be that it will look a bit prettier. But the major change in KDE 3.0 will be the port of all the apps to Qt 3
That seems to be the last major change in the libs for a long time. I think they will try to keep a consistent API for a couple years (after 3.0 is released) to let programmers write apps for KDE. I undertand (from previous discussions in the dot ) that they decided to jump to (the apparently much improved) Qt 3 now, spend a few months in the ports and then provide a mature, solid API. I guess they made the right decision.
I understand you need a desktop, not a server.
Servers with Linux preinstalled are sold both by IBM and Dell.
If you need to buy a desktop, get a workstation
from Dell.
If you go for instance to
www.dell.com/linux you get redirected to their
Linux web page. They usually offer Linux workstations there. They are doing it righ now.
And I am sure you are aware that there are plenty of small companies selling pretty much anything with Linux preinstalled, but this is not what you are asking for here.
You see, we all get pissed off ALL THE TIME by the arrogant attitude of MS. But people still support them using theirs OS, buying licenses, etc.
It's easy guys, don't buy/use anymore MS products/services. This is the only solution. Fooling their webserver by faking the identity of our browser will only increase the apparent use of IE in web statistics studies, as it was already pointed out. ONLY visit OPEN STANDARDS' friendly pages, this is a way to support the people doing the right thing.
Re:Not bad, but not as big as one might think.
on
NYSE Goes To Linux
·
· Score: 1
You are right. They are switching from (Sun's) UNIX, not from windoze. From the article:
SIAC's Artmail applications previously ran on Sun Microsystems Inc. (SUNW) servers that used Unix. But they will now run on IBM Linux servers linked to an IBM mainframe system.
I really think that Linux could conquer the desktop, in the sense of having, what, more than 25% of the share. That's good enough to be a serious alternative.And I think Linux IS ready NOW for that. But, of course, windows comes preinstalled by default in any PC, and they have all the marketing they need.
But, what if people start becoming familiar with Linux at their workplaces ?. The goverments (in any serious country) should use Linux for Office purposes, there is no reason why not. It's good enough for that. And it is FREE.
The way I see it there are 4 milestones:
Server
Workstation/scientific computing
Office
Home
Linux is already heavily used as a Server, and as a Workstation. If corporate and governmental environments adopt it for Office purposes, then we are almost there. Home use should be much closer from there.
Slashdot Mirror
Conexant are helping the development of linux drivers for winmodems based in both the conexant HCF and HSF chipsets. The current beta version for the HCF is running happily in my desktop at home :-)
I am just coming from a coffee break. Called my office buddy, we went to grab a nice cup of coffee and came back to work. We only spent 15 minutes, but on the way to the coffee place we saw cute ladies, a sunny afternoon and what else. I wonder what kind of a pill will ever be able to replace this ... hey folks, there is a world out there, enjoy it !
:-)
If the idea is to do an initial test with a fraction of the AOL users, why didn't they wait until Mozilla reaches 1.0 and Netscape releases a version based on this codebase ?. What if the test fails simply because Netscape is still not stable/polished enough ?. Mozilla 1.0 is supposed to be close at this point in time ... what am I missing ?
By the way, the review itself seems to me rather weak. It is mostly a "hey folks, don't do this at home" warning for newbies. And no, this does not fit my definition of a good review ;-)
I totally agree. Even LinuxToday, beaten up to death some time ago by /. , was respectfull of the schedule and at least up to now did not announce
anything (which by the way is natural since there was no announcement yet).
Yesterday night I saw 3.0 in ftp.kde.org, and I almost posted a story (not supposed to be published) asking the /. editors to please NOT announce anything until the release was official .
Then I thought, no, they will not do that again. Oh well ...
Cheers,
-- Don Inodoro
AFAIK in KDE 2.2 you cannot simply drag and drop to the "floppy device" icon in the desktop. Also, a little icon on the side-bar in Konqueror for each removable device would help. A non-geek user should see this little floppy in conqueror and drag a file from the fs to the little floppy and get the job done.
This is one of the little things where M$ is still easier to use. You want to copy a file to a floppy, you insert the stupid floppy and drag and drop. I know you can set up autofs and all, but this would be one of the basic things a desktop should handle seamlessly.
Does anyone know if these things are improved in KDE 3 ?
Thanks so much to the KDE team for all their work. Cheers !
-- Don Inodoro
-- Don Inodoro
I don't see the GPL as a problem for the HURD.
-- Don Inodoro
IMHO, the two big Linux browsers are Mozilla and Konqueror. The former is a stand-alone, pretty much desktop independent browser, and the latter is extremely well integrated with a particular desktop (KDE).
It looks to me that the article is biased towards the stand-alone approach. I use KDE and prefer Konqueror. It does all I need (web browsing, some file management, man page browsing, embeds ps, embeds pdfs, etc.), and it does it fast and well. It's intuitive if you use KDE. My wife, on the other hand, uses GNOME, and Mozilla is a better bet for her. She can manage chat, email, web browsing, etc. from the same app. And she doesn't care if it the fastest browser in the Universe.
The bottom line to me is: Mozilla will be the biggest shot because it fits pretty much any possible user. And Konqueror will be the choice for mant KDE users.
My 2 cts.
-- Don Inodoro
I really wonder what happened after that, did they find a way around the license?. Anyway, long life to the great wine community
Cheers,
Don Inodoro
-- Don Inodoro
There is an interesting side to the story. RedHat has largely focused on the server/embeded market. If bought by AOL, I assume they will now seriously target desktop users as well. I do think this is a necessary step for Linux. And I think Linux is technically ready for the desktop. It looks to me that this could be good news.
-- Don Inodoro
Oh yes, routine development such as most of KDE, the invention of the Linux kernel and so on was done outside the US. Just routine stuff, not really creative, right ?
-- Don Inodoro
The point is: computer formats should be always open. File formats, low-level communication with hardware, communication formats (including streaming media), they should all be required to be open.
Then it should be up to the software publisher to use either open source or proprietary licenses. I don't care if Word is closed source, I don't wanna read this source anyway. But I want to be able to read their documents if I have to.
Cheers,
-- Don Inodoro
I am running the RedHat 7.* RPMS. There actually IS an (X) to close tabs. It is at the right end of the TAB bar. It closes the active tab.
To configure tab browsing:
Edit -> Preferences -> Navigator -> Tabbed browsing
It is a nice feature. It is much faster to open a new tab rather than a new window.
-- Don Inodoro
But you are saying here:
I wonder exactly who is entitled to write an email to the US-DoJ. A lot of non-US citizen slashdoters would be willing to write I guess ...
-- Don Inodoro
Nonetheless, PNG is the future, no doubt. In any case, I think they should have put PNG, as well as JPEG screenshots.
-- Don Inodoro
Yes, it may be that it will look a bit prettier. But the major change in KDE 3.0 will be the port of all the apps to Qt 3
That seems to be the last major change in the libs for a long time. I think they will try to keep a consistent API for a couple years (after 3.0 is released) to let programmers write apps for KDE. I undertand (from previous discussions in the dot ) that they decided to jump to (the apparently much improved) Qt 3 now, spend a few months in the ports and then provide a mature, solid API. I guess they made the right decision.
Many thanks to the KDE folks,
-- Don Inodoro
If you need to buy a desktop, get a workstation from Dell. If you go for instance to www.dell.com/linux you get redirected to their Linux web page. They usually offer Linux workstations there. They are doing it righ now.
And I am sure you are aware that there are plenty of small companies selling pretty much anything with Linux preinstalled, but this is not what you are asking for here.
-- Don Inodoro
It's easy guys, don't buy/use anymore MS products/services. This is the only solution. Fooling their webserver by faking the identity of our browser will only increase the apparent use of IE in web statistics studies, as it was already pointed out. ONLY visit OPEN STANDARDS' friendly pages, this is a way to support the people doing the right thing.
-- Don Inodoro
There is this example of City of Largo .
I would also look for "Succes stories" in enterprise Linux-Desktop related sites, such as http://enterprise.kde.org/
Cheers
-- Don Inodoro
I think it's still good news.
-- Don Inodoro
But, what if people start becoming familiar with Linux at their workplaces ?. The goverments (in any serious country) should use Linux for Office purposes, there is no reason why not. It's good enough for that. And it is FREE.
The way I see it there are 4 milestones:
- Server
- Workstation/scientific computing
- Office
- Home
Linux is already heavily used as a Server, and as a Workstation. If corporate and governmental environments adopt it for Office purposes, then we are almost there. Home use should be much closer from there.Cheers,
Don Inodoro