Funny... when I type sysedit in Windows XP, it shows me a system.ini, win.ini, config.sys, and autoexec.bat. All of these have commands in them and when I read tips to optimize windows, it advises me to edit things here.
However, editing the registry is still the best way to brick you Windows system that I know about.
But let's be fair: Linux has, as yet, no answer to MS Office at work
I'm really glad that you're being so "fair" in spreading FUD about nothing comparable to MSOffice. The fact is that OO.org is very comparable and compatible with MS Office. I have been using it regularly in highly collaborative environments where people have many different MS Office versions. The writer, calc, and presentation modules all work very well (in many cases, they work better that MS Office apps of different versions... I've been able to straighten out MS Office incompatibilities with OO.org).
I'm sure you can find some "power user" with an Excel spreadsheet that won't run in Calc but these guys have usually created un-auditable monsters that are full of errors that any responsible organization would have converted to a proper db and procedural language.
Then why do so many Windows problems have a solution where you edit the registry or fiddle with msconfig or run sysedit to edit config.sys, system,ini, win.ini and the good old autoexec.bat?
The original PalmOS was very "close to the hardware" but was very stable and predictable as well as useful. It was a very elegant design. Later versions of PalmOS have improved in features and abstraction so now it runs on ARMs, MIPS, etc. processors. There is even a Linux based version.
In the early years, the PalmOS was a joy to work with compared to MS WinCE which was bloated, unstable and seemed to change every 6 months.
In order to deal this both PalmOS and WinCE (and it's newer versions), I've been using CASL (caslsoft.com) which is a VB type language that compiles on both PalmOS and Windows handhelds. The nice thing is that I can develop one application for both platforms (and all of their variations)... plus it runs on a Windows desktop. CASL uses a high level editor which makes it easy to program plus it has the ability to incorporate C code if you need to do something that is not part of the standard feature set or get close to the hardware. The language has a built-in database as well and communications functions (serial, bluetooth, TCP/IP, HTTP, etc.).
Where I WOULD have a problem is if Autodesk were to use this signature to prevent interoperability, which would in my mind constitute abuse of a monopoly position. If...at any point and in any way...the absence of a "generated by genuine AutoCAD" signature prevented the file from being FULLY usable in AutoCAD or prevented "genuine autocad" files from being fully used by 3rd party software...then it ceases to be a trademark and becomes an access control mechanism that limits interoperability. Though I imagine then they'd LOVE to pull a DMCA trick....oh well...THAT is the point where Autodesk will have truly moved into the dark side.
Don't you think that this is the whole point of this legal exercise? The only use of the signature is to control access to Autodesk files. They want to control your access to your information so you have to buy their software.
Until you have a political system so corrupt that businesses do get a vote like citizens
In the USA, business don't literally vote but they do control the politicians through a corrupt political process. Politicians need money to get elected and businesses are happy to provide lots of money. In return, the politicians give the businesses whatever laws they want. Voters have only a small role. They respond to the TV ads which appeal to base instincts (fear, greed) and then are ignored until the next election.
News item yesterday estimated that the total value of the marijuana crop in the USA was more than corn and wheat combined... about $30 billion. It's a major industry. California's share (having a good climate for agriculture) is $13 billion.
This is more remarkable when you consider that a standard Linux install includes the application software (office suite, browser, email, graphics, programming, etc.) that most people will need whereas the Vista install is missing some important bits such as office suite, graphics, programming, etc.).
Hello? OO keeps getting bashed for being bloated but I did some tests a few days ago (when the same trolls were out in another thread) and both OO and MS Office each use about the same amount of memory and this is a very reasonable size on any machine that is less than 5 years old.
In short, the office suite (wp, spreadsheet, presentation) takes about 60 meg for OO.org and 65 meg for MS Office (v10) with no documents open. This is a very reasonable amount of memory on any computer that isn't ready for the junk pile.
But I don't see OO as being "memory hungry". The numbers I found on my Windows PC (60 Meg for the entire suite) seem to be very reasonable. I don't think this is a problem. Since memory is cheap and computers for the past few years have had a minimum of 256 Meg memory, I just can't get worried about an app that uses 60 Meg (or just 30 Meg for the word processor alone).
I'm sure that you can write a native app that is tightly integrated with the libraries of a particular OS and have it use less memory... but why bother? You'll lose portability and gain a few Megs of memory.
BTW, when I open the full OO suite on Ubuntu, it only takes up 80 Meg (55 Meg for Writer only). This is just not an issue. I'd spend time on something more important.
I don't know what the problem is with size. If you open one application such as Writer, it takes about 43Meg. When you open a second application such as Calc, it moves up a few megs. If you open everything (Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw), it uses a whopping 59 Megs! This doesn't seem excessive to me.
I just did a comparison with MS Office XP and it takes about 30 Meg each for Word and Excel, Powerpoint only adds another 8 Meg. Total for the three of about 65 Meg.
BTW, the startup time seems longer for the MS Office apps (I don't have either suite "pre-loaded" for fast startup).
You seem to fear that social justice will take away your stuff (wealth). It would be nice if you would act in the spirit of the enlightenment and willingly promote social justice to help your fellow man even when it might cost you something but most people do not do that. However, Moglen offers a "painless" path to social justice through FOSS.
In fact, one of Moglen's main points (I listened to TFA) makes the point that FOSS can bring about social justice without having to resort to the conflict that inevitably arises when trying to achieve social justice with the redistribution of scarce goods and power.
FOSS works with well with capitalism to provide information and communities at very low marginal cost. This improves social justice without having a government redistribute wealth and the destructive resulting conflicts. The only conflict is with monopolies and unless you make your living from some monopoly rent (i.e. RIAA, Microsoft, etc.), you have nothing to fear.
Arron, It does appear that you have thought carefully about your project and as a Peace Corps volunteer, you have made a longer term commitment to the community than is usual for the usual "parachute" aid.
It appears that your project will focus on basic computer literacy skills and this will be a good thing for the community. It appears that you have also made a good effort to make the project sustaining with a combination of donations for startup and private/public sector funding.
Best wishes to you and for success with your project.
You just state that you want to do "an IT project". Not to discourage you but there are many eager techy people who want to parachute in and drop "an IT project" on a developing country without much thought to what they are trying to do and how it will be sustained after they leave.
You do seem to have a start in that you want to use local people and hopefully these people will be trained well enough to continue the project after you leave.
If you put together a thorough project proposal that includes all of the messy details of WHAT the project will do, HOW the information will be used to improve something, HOW it will do it, HOW it will be implemented, HOW it will be sustained, etc. they you may be able to apply for funding from the many NGOs and bilateral aid agencies that do have money and an interest in ----- (insert your project here).
If Google spends "internal budget" money on adwords, it's the same as if they spent money on external advertising (i.e. buy advertising on Yahoo). They either have lower income (less tax) or greater advertising expenses (less tax). It's a wash.
It should also be noted that this payment for the civil case does not make the criminal charges against the HP board members go away. They are still facing criminal charges.
Basic economics... consider the term "opportunity cost".
This does cost Google money. If they sell the words to themselves, then they are not receiving money from someone else for the words. Hence, it costs them money and they do not have an unlimited budget.
The Tracfone Nokias are a poor quality. First one failed after a few months and it took them 3 more months to replace it with the same model which also failed after a few months. I lost a bunch of minutes in the switchover. Customer service is clueless. Phones are terrible. Other than that, they're just fine.
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However, editing the registry is still the best way to brick you Windows system that I know about.
I'm sure you can find some "power user" with an Excel spreadsheet that won't run in Calc but these guys have usually created un-auditable monsters that are full of errors that any responsible organization would have converted to a proper db and procedural language.
In the early years, the PalmOS was a joy to work with compared to MS WinCE which was bloated, unstable and seemed to change every 6 months.
In order to deal this both PalmOS and WinCE (and it's newer versions), I've been using CASL (caslsoft.com) which is a VB type language that compiles on both PalmOS and Windows handhelds. The nice thing is that I can develop one application for both platforms (and all of their variations)... plus it runs on a Windows desktop. CASL uses a high level editor which makes it easy to program plus it has the ability to incorporate C code if you need to do something that is not part of the standard feature set or get close to the hardware. The language has a built-in database as well and communications functions (serial, bluetooth, TCP/IP, HTTP, etc.).
News item yesterday estimated that the total value of the marijuana crop in the USA was more than corn and wheat combined... about $30 billion. It's a major industry. California's share (having a good climate for agriculture) is $13 billion.
Try this for a different take on the bible: http://www.slate.com/id/2141050/
This is more remarkable when you consider that a standard Linux install includes the application software (office suite, browser, email, graphics, programming, etc.) that most people will need whereas the Vista install is missing some important bits such as office suite, graphics, programming, etc.).
In short, the office suite (wp, spreadsheet, presentation) takes about 60 meg for OO.org and 65 meg for MS Office (v10) with no documents open. This is a very reasonable amount of memory on any computer that isn't ready for the junk pile.
How about... eliminate the penny and put the new dollar coins in the (now empty) penny cash drawer slot?
I'm sure that you can write a native app that is tightly integrated with the libraries of a particular OS and have it use less memory... but why bother? You'll lose portability and gain a few Megs of memory.
BTW, when I open the full OO suite on Ubuntu, it only takes up 80 Meg (55 Meg for Writer only). This is just not an issue. I'd spend time on something more important.
I just did a comparison with MS Office XP and it takes about 30 Meg each for Word and Excel, Powerpoint only adds another 8 Meg. Total for the three of about 65 Meg.
BTW, the startup time seems longer for the MS Office apps (I don't have either suite "pre-loaded" for fast startup).
... or my first hard drive... a 5 Meg full height IBM drive for the IBM PC for about $1000.00
We didn't really need this as part of the discussion.
In fact, one of Moglen's main points (I listened to TFA) makes the point that FOSS can bring about social justice without having to resort to the conflict that inevitably arises when trying to achieve social justice with the redistribution of scarce goods and power.
FOSS works with well with capitalism to provide information and communities at very low marginal cost. This improves social justice without having a government redistribute wealth and the destructive resulting conflicts. The only conflict is with monopolies and unless you make your living from some monopoly rent (i.e. RIAA, Microsoft, etc.), you have nothing to fear.
It appears that your project will focus on basic computer literacy skills and this will be a good thing for the community. It appears that you have also made a good effort to make the project sustaining with a combination of donations for startup and private/public sector funding.
Best wishes to you and for success with your project.
You do seem to have a start in that you want to use local people and hopefully these people will be trained well enough to continue the project after you leave.
If you put together a thorough project proposal that includes all of the messy details of WHAT the project will do, HOW the information will be used to improve something, HOW it will do it, HOW it will be implemented, HOW it will be sustained, etc. they you may be able to apply for funding from the many NGOs and bilateral aid agencies that do have money and an interest in ----- (insert your project here).
I'll sell it to you for $100.00.
I'll also sell you a OLPC for $970.00
If Google spends "internal budget" money on adwords, it's the same as if they spent money on external advertising (i.e. buy advertising on Yahoo). They either have lower income (less tax) or greater advertising expenses (less tax). It's a wash.
It should also be noted that this payment for the civil case does not make the criminal charges against the HP board members go away. They are still facing criminal charges.
This does cost Google money. If they sell the words to themselves, then they are not receiving money from someone else for the words. Hence, it costs them money and they do not have an unlimited budget.
"Only wimps use backup: _real_ men just upload their important stuff on FTP, and let the rest of the world mirror it ;)"
That's true innovation...
The Tracfone Nokias are a poor quality. First one failed after a few months and it took them 3 more months to replace it with the same model which also failed after a few months. I lost a bunch of minutes in the switchover. Customer service is clueless. Phones are terrible. Other than that, they're just fine.