distros aren't based on a de. as far as i've seen, the things that define a distro are:
1. what it chooses to put in its base system
2. it's package management tools (or lack thereof)
3. the extent to which it autoconfigures software and devices for you
no matter what, you should be able to install any program you want that's made for linux. the distributions are all the same at heart, they're all gnu programs + linux and whatever you want to put on top...you may never communicate with that core directly but they're all that if they can still claim to be a "linux distribution."
this whole thread seems to be evidence of the recent insurgence of new linux users who know nothing of linux. but hey, we're beating microsoft!
for expose stuff, check out http://thegraveyard.org/skippy.php
it's really easy to use from what i can tell. expose is just another program (like skippy) it just happens to install by default in os x. check out skippy xd, it's just as good.
1. The site is a linuxdevices.com..somehow i think this "grapple" will be biased. 2. that said, the truth in my experience is that linux supports damn near anything and if it doesn't, you can almost always find a third-party driver because drivers are easier to write when the kernel is open source. 3. that said, windows is the dominant OS and *a lot* of the mainstream hardware is designed specifically for it. it might be easier to use a device you buy under windows because most "pc hardware" is made to work with windows. it might take time to find the linux driver you need, but eventually you will have it. 4. continuing on what i said above, if windows hasn't written a driver for your device, you may never see a driver for that device. windows will never have drivers for apple mice/keyboards...they will continue to make their os support only what it needs to to stay on top. this is the difference between corporate and volunteer approaches.
i'm sure i've only scratched the surface of things that have been said 10000000000000000 times on/. before, but i'd better shut up.
The International Math Olympiad is a math competition. Check it out. The link's in the article.
I agree however that math is obviously not a sport in the common perception of the word.
1 a : a source of diversion : RECREATION b : sexual play c (1) : physical activity engaged in for pleasure (2) : a particular activity (as an athletic game) so engaged in
I guess math could be considered a source of diversion, but it's not sexual nor does it involve physical activity. I think if we start calling math a sport, the word will lose its meaning.
We have academic decathlons, science bowls, quiz bowls, and math olympiads, but I think they should be seperate from symposiums of physical prowess (the super bowl, the olympics, etc.)
This seems like a silly story.
I agree with you in principle, but I am also concerned about why IE is so terrible. M$ is trying to fix things. I think the main reason there are so many security problems for IE is because it is the dominant browser so crackers write their code for it.
So my concern with installing it for the newbs is that it could lead to the day when firefox will be the source of cracker attacks. That would sincerely suck. Then only konqueror would be safe...and only temporarily.
I'd like to see Windows XP for Sparc. I have a hunch, however, that it won't be happening any time soon.
-----begin section of ranting on what has already been said-----
True enough that KDE/Gnome aren't part of the GNU/Linux OS. But too many distros are making the move to install them (and other unnecessary crud) by default. Perhaps the gap between kernels is still drastic, but there can be no doubt that many of the big distros are becoming more windowsy in their installer interface, default software, etc.
Example: What's up with pre-compiled kernels? I thought one of the major attractions of Linux was the ability to configure a custom, hi-performance kernel with only the drivers you need. Recompiling the kernel was one of the things that turned me on to linux, and it's starting to give way to pre-compiled kernels with what "developers" think you oughtta have support for. Does that sound like it's in the spirit of free software for you? It's never been about being easy, until about the time we started competing/posing a threat to windows. using linux is not easy. choice is a burden, if you want to bear it, join the community. IF NOT, STAY OUT.
We stand at a big fork in the road. On one end lies quality/performance and on the other lies popularity/usability. I hope GNU guys stay true to your original intent.
As far as I know, nothing like that is going on in the dorms here. Then again, most kids don't live in dorms 'round here (unless they're freshman). In any event, I'm pretty sure you're worries are unfounded...unless the software goes through a central machine on your network, everything should be safe. Automating Windows update and (insert anti-virus software here)-update shouldn't do any harm to anybody...unless microsoft/norton/mcaffe/whoever starts releasing malicious patches...but i don't think that would do much for their business and therefore i don't think they would do it.
As has been said, open source software is original work, and it is not fair to compare copies, even translations with an original creation. That said, the fact that we create clones of proprietary software (OpenOffice and Evolution and the GIMP and...) leads people to draw these comparisons. Of course, people didn't make these products to be clones, they made them because users asked for features that they were used to from using the proprietary products...So now we have a lot of software that looks and feels like their proprietary counterparts...this may seem like a "translation" of the proprietary products to the open source "language"...but the closed-source proprietary products never told us anything in any language! So, though tempting, your comparison is not apt! apt-get install another!
Let's take a smaller scale example: in Unixy atmospheres everything is modular and develops independently. With Windows, it seems to me at least, that there is a much bigger emphasis on having all the componenets of the OS work together. You tell me which one is better...
I guess it would be nice to have this "convergance," but, I think that there are risks and also there is plenty of work to be done on the individual parts we are "converging" before we start trying to mesh them together.
The RIAA is now seeking to eliminate ALL music in an attempt to make sure people don't steal it. Buy CDs while you can, they'll soon be outlawed! LPs and audio cassetes will also soon be collected and destroyed. The RIAA will begin raiding people's homes and taking away all audio equipment to be incinerated in giant ovens, never to be heard of again. During the burn-fest, Metallica will be paying a huge concert at $500 a head...
blah blah blah, maybe I dragged this joke out for too long, but you'll have to excuse me...I just work up and this isn't the way I wanted to start my day.
Well,/. is news for nerds and, like it or not, Linus is a celebrity in the nerd community. Sure this kind of news is really not very important, but a great many slashdot readers idolize Linus and, especially given the location he's moving to, that makes this information signifigant enough to be posted. If you don't like the stories on/. STOP READING THEM! Nobody likes people who bitch about every story. Another option is to set an example by submitting things you think are newsworthy.
Re:Is that the standard being applied now?
on
Is VOIP Over WLAN DOA?
·
· Score: 0, Insightful
I know I'll probably get flamed for this, but whatever:
If a company is MARKETING something it had better WORK with some ease. Regardless of how stupid this guy may be, something can't expected to be popular if the average Joe (not a/. reader) can't get it to work (and Joe doesn't want to invest any effort in VOIP or getting KDE to work). That's why Windows sells, it's been dumbed down so that anyone can use it without any investment other than a computer and the software. Obviously, it's not fair because the hardware and software markets cater so obviously to M$, but still, this is why superior products remain in the background while people go out and buy a crappier one.
I don't know what the solution is, but I hope it comes soon so people stop coming to me bitching about Windows bugs.
What do you expect them to do? Companies seek out the maximum profit. Microsoft's only competition is Linux. Are they expected to idly sit by and watch as Linux overtakes it? No, of course they're going to use all their resources (and this includes tons of advertising money) into defeating their foe.
You can blaspheme and lie all you want. And advertising doesn't reflect the venue of said ad. Not all billboards want you to visit that 21+ gentleman's club (in fact billboards probably don't have any wants). Similarly, OSDN doesn't support windows just 'cause some ads showed up on/. Maybe they really couldn't find anyone else to support them. If you want more control over what ads go where, maybe you should cough up some change for your cause.
That's capitalism.
Re:Joe Desktopuser will use what he's given!
on
The GNOME Roadmap
·
· Score: -1
Buuuut! Joe Desktopuser won't know what to do when he can't run M$ office or photoshop or....warcaft 3 and all that nonesense! Joe Desktopuser knows that his favorite apps run on windows and he doesn't want to bother trying to learn new ones (this is his experience in switching OSs: "oh no, a bunch of new apps i don't know...can't i just use windows?" ---> complaints/drop in sales to dell/hp/etc. ---> windows still wins.
it's a matter of comfort for Joe. He'll be pissed when he can't use his new digicam outta the box or his new scanner. It's more than just the manufacturers preinstalling windows. Most everything...software and hardware is *designed* for windows. My point is to sell to the desktop user we have to transform a lot of markets.
It has not yet been the year of the GNU/Linux desktop, and it probably won't be for a while. Here's why:
If something works for Joe Desktopuser, he doesn't want to change it (and, though crappilly, Windows works for him).
Joe Desktopuser doesn't want to bother becoming familiar with a whole new set of programs (and really, asking him to switch OSs is asking him to do exactly that...unless we make all GNU/Linux software clones of Win software...but that's no fun).
Sure GNU/Linux can provide a substitute for the programs Joe Desktopuser needs, but, right now, it's too much trouble for him.
I hate to say it, but I really think that right now M$ is unbeatable on the desktop market (at least for i386...lotsa people are switching to OSX). If we can beat M$ at running M$ apps. and providing an even simpler interface, then I'm sure the market will swing. I think that GNU/Linux developers don't want to do that though, since the goal was to write GOOD software, and just because we win over windows users doesn't mean we're writing good software.
Finally (I guess I'm blabbering): Why Do We Care So Much!? If people want to use windows, what's it to us? That's one less person in #debian complaining about X telling them there's no screens found.
I use linux because I like having control over my system. I like that I get to control everything. But if you're using windows, you want dumbed-down software (in most cases).
Why don't they spend that money on more effecient cars!!!?? Automakers should be spending their money on two things:
-staying alive
-not ruining the earth (tied to the first thing, but oh well)
i'm in earnest here, please let this be a much-needed boost for my karma!
Slashdot Mirror
Probably. iPods do. I think it's just a matter of finding hackers that are crazy (or bored) enough to set it up.
hey, this doesn't even include users from distros like debian who don't download their firefox direct from the site! way to go!
distros aren't based on a de. as far as i've seen, the things that define a distro are: 1. what it chooses to put in its base system 2. it's package management tools (or lack thereof) 3. the extent to which it autoconfigures software and devices for you no matter what, you should be able to install any program you want that's made for linux. the distributions are all the same at heart, they're all gnu programs + linux and whatever you want to put on top...you may never communicate with that core directly but they're all that if they can still claim to be a "linux distribution." this whole thread seems to be evidence of the recent insurgence of new linux users who know nothing of linux. but hey, we're beating microsoft!
for expose stuff, check out http://thegraveyard.org/skippy.php
it's really easy to use from what i can tell. expose is just another program (like skippy) it just happens to install by default in os x. check out skippy xd, it's just as good.
1. The site is a linuxdevices.com..somehow i think this "grapple" will be biased.
/. before, but i'd better shut up.
2. that said, the truth in my experience is that linux supports damn near anything and if it doesn't, you can almost always find a third-party driver because drivers are easier to write when the kernel is open source.
3. that said, windows is the dominant OS and *a lot* of the mainstream hardware is designed specifically for it. it might be easier to use a device you buy under windows because most "pc hardware" is made to work with windows. it might take time to find the linux driver you need, but eventually you will have it.
4. continuing on what i said above, if windows hasn't written a driver for your device, you may never see a driver for that device. windows will never have drivers for apple mice/keyboards...they will continue to make their os support only what it needs to to stay on top. this is the difference between corporate and volunteer approaches.
i'm sure i've only scratched the surface of things that have been said 10000000000000000 times on
The International Math Olympiad is a math competition. Check it out. The link's in the article. I agree however that math is obviously not a sport in the common perception of the word.
1 a : a source of diversion : RECREATION b : sexual play c (1) : physical activity engaged in for pleasure (2) : a particular activity (as an athletic game) so engaged in I guess math could be considered a source of diversion, but it's not sexual nor does it involve physical activity. I think if we start calling math a sport, the word will lose its meaning. We have academic decathlons, science bowls, quiz bowls, and math olympiads, but I think they should be seperate from symposiums of physical prowess (the super bowl, the olympics, etc.) This seems like a silly story.
I agree with you in principle, but I am also concerned about why IE is so terrible. M$ is trying to fix things. I think the main reason there are so many security problems for IE is because it is the dominant browser so crackers write their code for it.
So my concern with installing it for the newbs is that it could lead to the day when firefox will be the source of cracker attacks. That would sincerely suck. Then only konqueror would be safe...and only temporarily.
I'd like to see Windows XP for Sparc. I have a hunch, however, that it won't be happening any time soon.
-----begin section of ranting on what has already been said-----
True enough that KDE/Gnome aren't part of the GNU/Linux OS. But too many distros are making the move to install them (and other unnecessary crud) by default. Perhaps the gap between kernels is still drastic, but there can be no doubt that many of the big distros are becoming more windowsy in their installer interface, default software, etc.
Example: What's up with pre-compiled kernels? I thought one of the major attractions of Linux was the ability to configure a custom, hi-performance kernel with only the drivers you need. Recompiling the kernel was one of the things that turned me on to linux, and it's starting to give way to pre-compiled kernels with what "developers" think you oughtta have support for. Does that sound like it's in the spirit of free software for you? It's never been about being easy, until about the time we started competing/posing a threat to windows. using linux is not easy. choice is a burden, if you want to bear it, join the community. IF NOT, STAY OUT.
We stand at a big fork in the road. On one end lies quality/performance and on the other lies popularity/usability. I hope GNU guys stay true to your original intent.
As far as I know, nothing like that is going on in the dorms here. Then again, most kids don't live in dorms 'round here (unless they're freshman). In any event, I'm pretty sure you're worries are unfounded...unless the software goes through a central machine on your network, everything should be safe. Automating Windows update and (insert anti-virus software here)-update shouldn't do any harm to anybody...unless microsoft/norton/mcaffe/whoever starts releasing malicious patches...but i don't think that would do much for their business and therefore i don't think they would do it.
and not near my house?
As has been said, open source software is original work, and it is not fair to compare copies, even translations with an original creation. That said, the fact that we create clones of proprietary software (OpenOffice and Evolution and the GIMP and...) leads people to draw these comparisons. Of course, people didn't make these products to be clones, they made them because users asked for features that they were used to from using the proprietary products...So now we have a lot of software that looks and feels like their proprietary counterparts...this may seem like a "translation" of the proprietary products to the open source "language"...but the closed-source proprietary products never told us anything in any language! So, though tempting, your comparison is not apt! apt-get install another!
Let's take a smaller scale example: in Unixy atmospheres everything is modular and develops independently. With Windows, it seems to me at least, that there is a much bigger emphasis on having all the componenets of the OS work together. You tell me which one is better... I guess it would be nice to have this "convergance," but, I think that there are risks and also there is plenty of work to be done on the individual parts we are "converging" before we start trying to mesh them together.
The RIAA is now seeking to eliminate ALL music in an attempt to make sure people don't steal it. Buy CDs while you can, they'll soon be outlawed! LPs and audio cassetes will also soon be collected and destroyed. The RIAA will begin raiding people's homes and taking away all audio equipment to be incinerated in giant ovens, never to be heard of again. During the burn-fest, Metallica will be paying a huge concert at $500 a head... blah blah blah, maybe I dragged this joke out for too long, but you'll have to excuse me...I just work up and this isn't the way I wanted to start my day.
Well, /. is news for nerds and, like it or not, Linus is a celebrity in the nerd community. Sure this kind of news is really not very important, but a great many slashdot readers idolize Linus and, especially given the location he's moving to, that makes this information signifigant enough to be posted. If you don't like the stories on /. STOP READING THEM! Nobody likes people who bitch about every story. Another option is to set an example by submitting things you think are newsworthy.
I know I'll probably get flamed for this, but whatever: If a company is MARKETING something it had better WORK with some ease. Regardless of how stupid this guy may be, something can't expected to be popular if the average Joe (not a /. reader) can't get it to work (and Joe doesn't want to invest any effort in VOIP or getting KDE to work). That's why Windows sells, it's been dumbed down so that anyone can use it without any investment other than a computer and the software. Obviously, it's not fair because the hardware and software markets cater so obviously to M$, but still, this is why superior products remain in the background while people go out and buy a crappier one.
I don't know what the solution is, but I hope it comes soon so people stop coming to me bitching about Windows bugs.
what's SP2 and XP? I did apt-cache search and they didn't show up...
What do you expect them to do? Companies seek out the maximum profit. Microsoft's only competition is Linux. Are they expected to idly sit by and watch as Linux overtakes it? No, of course they're going to use all their resources (and this includes tons of advertising money) into defeating their foe. You can blaspheme and lie all you want. And advertising doesn't reflect the venue of said ad. Not all billboards want you to visit that 21+ gentleman's club (in fact billboards probably don't have any wants). Similarly, OSDN doesn't support windows just 'cause some ads showed up on /. Maybe they really couldn't find anyone else to support them. If you want more control over what ads go where, maybe you should cough up some change for your cause.
That's capitalism.
Buuuut! Joe Desktopuser won't know what to do when he can't run M$ office or photoshop or....warcaft 3 and all that nonesense! Joe Desktopuser knows that his favorite apps run on windows and he doesn't want to bother trying to learn new ones (this is his experience in switching OSs: "oh no, a bunch of new apps i don't know...can't i just use windows?" ---> complaints/drop in sales to dell/hp/etc. ---> windows still wins. it's a matter of comfort for Joe. He'll be pissed when he can't use his new digicam outta the box or his new scanner. It's more than just the manufacturers preinstalling windows. Most everything...software and hardware is *designed* for windows. My point is to sell to the desktop user we have to transform a lot of markets.
I hate to say it, but I really think that right now M$ is unbeatable on the desktop market (at least for i386...lotsa people are switching to OSX). If we can beat M$ at running M$ apps. and providing an even simpler interface, then I'm sure the market will swing. I think that GNU/Linux developers don't want to do that though, since the goal was to write GOOD software, and just because we win over windows users doesn't mean we're writing good software.
Finally (I guess I'm blabbering): Why Do We Care So Much!? If people want to use windows, what's it to us? That's one less person in #debian complaining about X telling them there's no screens found.
I use linux because I like having control over my system. I like that I get to control everything. But if you're using windows, you want dumbed-down software (in most cases).
-Garrett (the carrett)
just a little? let's get back to the real world and deliver some fresh pizzas!
Why don't they spend that money on more effecient cars!!!?? Automakers should be spending their money on two things: -staying alive -not ruining the earth (tied to the first thing, but oh well) i'm in earnest here, please let this be a much-needed boost for my karma!
I read it without that and without logging in (just followed the link and the full article was shown). Weird...
fp
again, not trying...