Most of these small PCs I've looked at have been >$300 (the one linked in the story doesn't list a price), and haven't been fast enough for my needs, so I looked and found a better solution: Mini-ITX.
These motherboards are only 100 dollars and a little more than 6 inches square. They have integrated video, 800MHz VIA C3 processors, ethernet, TV out, sound, and 2 IDE busses. And the fact that they use C3 processors, they only consume 10 watts, for the whole motherboard! You can get more info here:
I think the author of this article was making fun of the state of Linux more than the state of Windows. Considering that people are always talking about "When's Linux going to be on the desktop?" this seems like a satire of whats being said today.
The author even says it's a satire. So chill.:)
Orange
I'd guess that 80% (a figure I pulled entirely from thin air, so don't ask for a source, I'm just guessing) of the market will be convinced and swayed by fun bells and whistles and not usuability or performance.
Exactly. Look at the iMac. Except for the inclusion of USB and the lack of legacy ports and a disk drive, it was a normal Mac in a blue-green case. So was it that different? On the outside, yes, and that's what matters to consumers. Not that I'm saying that it didn't have usability or performance.
I was one of those kids who went to a computer camp, got interested in Linux, and started to read Slashdot. Here are the tips I can provide about my experience:
1. Personally, I already had a great interest in computers. Granted, if the kids are going to a computer camp, they already will, but I was *really* interested. I skipped BASIC and went to C++. (Mind you, this was when I was 10.) See topic 4.
2. The teachers love what they are teaching. If you tell a Microsoft cert to teach about Linux, nothing will happen. Get some hardcore Linux gurus who love kids (hah), and stuff will truly happen.
3. Give them as much as they want, and what they want.:) If they want to learn about KDE or the command line, teach them that. They will learn much quicker, and be much happier (angry kids are not fun)
4. This kinda coinsides with 3, but... If they want to go ahead and be very advanced, let them. If you are covering ``ls'' and they want to learn sed/awk, teach them that and let them learn. Again, they'll learn much quicker.
Well, a lot of what I said has to do with teaching in general. But still, being a good teacher is key.
To answer some of your questions, hand out CDs to the parents, so they know what will go on. Bootable CDs (like DemoLinux) preferibly. Don't teach them how to install until they love the OS. And teach them the command line or Gnome, which ever one they want. Teach them an easy Linux, like Mandrake or Redhat (not Debian, even though it's my distro of choice), although mention *BSD and pros and cons.
Yeah, the GUI sure does seem slow on my Blue and White G3 350MHz 512MB RAM Radeon 7000, but that is not the point. Put Mac OS 7 on a Mac from 1997 and it will seem really fast. It's just that this G3 from 1998 (no matter how tricked out it is) won't run an OS from 2002 as fast as a computer from 2002 will. Although it does run an OS from 1998, even 1999 (Mac OS 9) really well.
Bottom line: Run the OS that the hardware was designed for. Or maybe one a year or two newer. But anything after that will run "slowly."
As raw tasks go, it's as fast as Mac OS 9. Encoding MP3's, playing games, etc.
There's a similar project, called RECCD toolkit, but it places the hard drive image onto a CD, rather than over a network. It's great for backup and use in computer labs.
There's another Debian-based bootable distro, called LNX-BBC. It is only 50 megs, but you can still install Debian from it and apt-get all the packages you want.
OnGuard, a program by the guys at PowerOn Software, has many security holes in it, so I can't reccomend it. It is easy to get by (like accessing someones files on a server is just as easy as going into Netscape and going file:///Server/), and only protects from normal file and OS stuff, like launching, deleting, moving, etc. Anything that bypasses the OS, like Internet Explorer, AppleWorks 6, and others can get by easily. (Ex: AppleWorks 6's normal open dialog shows everybody's folders (While ClarisWorks 5 does not), and Internet Explorer allows anybody to launch any apps that are on any of the hds.)
You can try it, download the demo, but try and get past it and you you'll see how easy it is. Or not. At my school, the security is a joke. So test it, if you like it, use it, but I reccomend against it.
Me too. 6.2(1?) actually, which gave me a text-based installer like Debian.
Who would have know that my Linksys Ethernet adapter module would be called ne2k?
Not I, although my ethernet PCMCIA card was loaded automaticly on startup. I didn't have to fuss around with any drivers.
the install manual doesn't help that much (especially when you don't have a connection to the net as was my case) for most new users (this is the case with most Linux documentation IMO)
If you don't have a connection to the internet, sure, it's not going to help. And many people might find that the manual doesn't help them. But it told me how to install it, and I think it helps out others too.
And if you don't like the installer, just install Libranet, or boot DemoLinux 2.0, a bootable CD that with a few clicks can install a complete, working, KDE/Gnome environment.:)
the usual Debian installation (harder than necessary)
I hate how everybody always hates on the Debian installer. Seriously, when I first installed Debian (second distro, I was a newbie), I had no problem giving it the six disks, then having it download the packages I wanted, and configuring windowmaker. If people actually bothered to read the installation manual, they'll figure out that the step-by-step installation isn't hard. And if you have to maintain the same distribution for many different platforms and kernels, you can't use a pretty X11 installer, and you have to have the installer be modular.
This is not intended to be a flame at all, and I appricate everybody's feedback.:)
I have Verizon DSL and I'm happy that this announce is being made...but still...look at the acceptable use policy:
Infringement of Copyright, Patent, Trademark, Trade Secret, or Intellectual Property Right: Distribution and/or posting of copyrighted or the aforementioned infringements will not be tolerated. Verizon Online respects the intellectual property rights of third parties, including those granted under the US copyright laws, and the interests of its subscribers and content providers on the Internet.
You may not store material on, or disseminate material over, Verizon Online's systems or servers in any manner that constitutes an infringement of third party intellectual property rights, including rights granted under the US copyright laws. In accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act ("DMCA") and other applicable law, it is the policy of Verizon Online to terminate, in appropriate circumstances, the Service provided to any subscriber or account holder who is deemed to infringe third party intellectual property rights, including repeat infringers....*
Imagine the possibilites. For a couple of 10 dollar bills, you can get anonymous calling (although they might listen in...). And imagine the taking-apart possibilities. One could take the transmitters, screw with them a bit, connect them to their computers, or get two and change them to different frequencies for two-way radios...the posibilities are endless. And I've always loved taking stuff apart...and now I can add a cell phone to my list... I'll buy a few....If they ever come out.;)
I was originally a Mac only guy...a serious one. 7 Macs in my house. And I was content with it too, until I got older. Wanting to learn more and use a more powerful operating system, I installed OSX. I mean, you look at the GUI...then you open the Terminal and play around in bash. It was amazing. Now all my Macs are dual booting Debian and OSX (or OS9/8/7, whichever works best), and I have a few x86en running Debian too.
Slashdot Mirror
Most of these small PCs I've looked at have been >$300 (the one linked in the story doesn't list a price), and haven't been fast enough for my needs, so I looked and found a better solution: Mini-ITX.
These motherboards are only 100 dollars and a little more than 6 inches square. They have integrated video, 800MHz VIA C3 processors, ethernet, TV out, sound, and 2 IDE busses. And the fact that they use C3 processors, they only consume 10 watts, for the whole motherboard! You can get more info here:
http://mini-itx.com/
http://shop2.outpost.com/product/3349552
http://www.via.com.tw/en/VInternet/mini_itx.jsp
Orange
The Irony of it all: http://www.homestarrunner.net/systemisdown.html
I think the author of this article was making fun of the state of Linux more than the state of Windows. Considering that people are always talking about "When's Linux going to be on the desktop?" this seems like a satire of whats being said today. The author even says it's a satire. So chill. :)
Orange
I'd guess that 80% (a figure I pulled entirely from thin air, so don't ask for a source, I'm just guessing) of the market will be convinced and swayed by fun bells and whistles and not usuability or performance.
Exactly. Look at the iMac. Except for the inclusion of USB and the lack of legacy ports and a disk drive, it was a normal Mac in a blue-green case. So was it that different? On the outside, yes, and that's what matters to consumers. Not that I'm saying that it didn't have usability or performance.
Orange
I was browsing at +3 and didn't grep this...so...here goes:
arch/sparc64/kernel/ptrace.c:/* Fuck me gently with a chainsaw... */
Orange
I was one of those kids who went to a computer camp, got interested in Linux, and started to read Slashdot. Here are the tips I can provide about my experience:
:) If they want to learn about KDE or the command line, teach them that. They will learn much quicker, and be much happier (angry kids are not fun)
1. Personally, I already had a great interest in computers. Granted, if the kids are going to a computer camp, they already will, but I was *really* interested. I skipped BASIC and went to C++. (Mind you, this was when I was 10.) See topic 4.
2. The teachers love what they are teaching. If you tell a Microsoft cert to teach about Linux, nothing will happen. Get some hardcore Linux gurus who love kids (hah), and stuff will truly happen.
3. Give them as much as they want, and what they want.
4. This kinda coinsides with 3, but... If they want to go ahead and be very advanced, let them. If you are covering ``ls'' and they want to learn sed/awk, teach them that and let them learn. Again, they'll learn much quicker.
Well, a lot of what I said has to do with teaching in general. But still, being a good teacher is key.
To answer some of your questions, hand out CDs to the parents, so they know what will go on. Bootable CDs (like DemoLinux) preferibly. Don't teach them how to install until they love the OS. And teach them the command line or Gnome, which ever one they want. Teach them an easy Linux, like Mandrake or Redhat (not Debian, even though it's my distro of choice), although mention *BSD and pros and cons.
Hope this helps!
Orange
bugme.osdl.org
:D
Yeah, and slashdot me also.
Laugh, it's funny.
Orange
Imagine being able to put a full-featured Debian package on a business-card-sized mini-CD's that you can always keep in your wallet!
It's called LNX-BBC. Debian-based bootable CD in less than 50 mb, perfect for putting on a business card CD. I carry it everywhere I go.
And get the nightly builds, their last stable release is a year old.
Orange
Yeah, the GUI sure does seem slow on my Blue and White G3 350MHz 512MB RAM Radeon 7000, but that is not the point. Put Mac OS 7 on a Mac from 1997 and it will seem really fast. It's just that this G3 from 1998 (no matter how tricked out it is) won't run an OS from 2002 as fast as a computer from 2002 will. Although it does run an OS from 1998, even 1999 (Mac OS 9) really well.
Bottom line: Run the OS that the hardware was designed for. Or maybe one a year or two newer. But anything after that will run "slowly."
As raw tasks go, it's as fast as Mac OS 9. Encoding MP3's, playing games, etc.
Orange
There's a similar project, called RECCD toolkit, but it places the hard drive image onto a CD, rather than over a network. It's great for backup and use in computer labs.
http://www.bablokb.de/reccd/index.html
There's another Debian-based bootable distro, called LNX-BBC. It is only 50 megs, but you can still install Debian from it and apt-get all the packages you want.
http://www.lnx-bbc.org/
There's yet another article at News.com.com.com: http://news.com.com/2100-1001-962661.html
There's another article at eWeek.com: http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,3959,642716,00.asp
OnGuard, a program by the guys at PowerOn Software, has many security holes in it, so I can't reccomend it. It is easy to get by (like accessing someones files on a server is just as easy as going into Netscape and going file:///Server/), and only protects from normal file and OS stuff, like launching, deleting, moving, etc. Anything that bypasses the OS, like Internet Explorer, AppleWorks 6, and others can get by easily. (Ex: AppleWorks 6's normal open dialog shows everybody's folders (While ClarisWorks 5 does not), and Internet Explorer allows anybody to launch any apps that are on any of the hds.)
You can try it, download the demo, but try and get past it and you you'll see how easy it is. Or not. At my school, the security is a joke. So test it, if you like it, use it, but I reccomend against it.
More info here: http://poweronsoftware.com/products/onGuard/.
Orange
Get the Google cache here: http://216.239.39.100/search?q=cache:fi5nQ4GvkE0C: openbrick.org/+&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
Orange
There's a hell of a lot of text files from the old BBS days at http://www.textfiles.com
Cheers, Orange
(comming from Redhat)
:)
Me too. 6.2(1?) actually, which gave me a text-based installer like Debian.
Who would have know that my Linksys Ethernet adapter module would be called ne2k?
Not I, although my ethernet PCMCIA card was loaded automaticly on startup. I didn't have to fuss around with any drivers.
the install manual doesn't help that much (especially when you don't have a connection to the net as was my case) for most new users (this is the case with most Linux documentation IMO)
If you don't have a connection to the internet, sure, it's not going to help. And many people might find that the manual doesn't help them. But it told me how to install it, and I think it helps out others too.
And if you don't like the installer, just install Libranet, or boot DemoLinux 2.0, a bootable CD that with a few clicks can install a complete, working, KDE/Gnome environment.
Orange
the usual Debian installation (harder than necessary)
:)
I hate how everybody always hates on the Debian installer. Seriously, when I first installed Debian (second distro, I was a newbie), I had no problem giving it the six disks, then having it download the packages I wanted, and configuring windowmaker. If people actually bothered to read the installation manual, they'll figure out that the step-by-step installation isn't hard. And if you have to maintain the same distribution for many different platforms and kernels, you can't use a pretty X11 installer, and you have to have the installer be modular.
This is not intended to be a flame at all, and I appricate everybody's feedback.
Cheers, Orange
It's 50 terabits, not terabytes. So it would be 6.25 terabytes. Don't get too excited yet. :)
I think this would be more fitting under the "Laugh, it's funny" category. ;)
Emphasis mine. So...I have mixed feelings.
*Found at http://www2.verizon.net/hotlinks/policies/accepta
There are a lot (300+) user comments/reviews on MacSlash: http://www.macslash.org/articles/02/08/24/0410244. shtml
Orange
You can get more information here: http://www.extrememhz.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=12 .
Orange
Imagine the possibilites. For a couple of 10 dollar bills, you can get anonymous calling (although they might listen in...). And imagine the taking-apart possibilities. One could take the transmitters, screw with them a bit, connect them to their computers, or get two and change them to different frequencies for two-way radios...the posibilities are endless. And I've always loved taking stuff apart...and now I can add a cell phone to my list... I'll buy a few....If they ever come out. ;)
Orange
I was originally a Mac only guy...a serious one. 7 Macs in my house. And I was content with it too, until I got older. Wanting to learn more and use a more powerful operating system, I installed OSX. I mean, you look at the GUI...then you open the Terminal and play around in bash. It was amazing. Now all my Macs are dual booting Debian and OSX (or OS9/8/7, whichever works best), and I have a few x86en running Debian too.
Just give me apt-get for OSX apps...yum.
Orange