I currently use both Debian and Libranet on my home systems. While I personally find Debian easy to install and configure, I think that Libranet has done an exemplarly job in making their install very easy. It has hardware autodetection, can set up a burner and zip drive and allows you to easily configure a network or dial up connection in a way that a novice will understand.
There are other benefits as well. They have a package called XAdminmenu that logically groups many administration tools together, a control panel of sort, that is easy to use and properly annotated so that a new user can configure their system. There is also an active user community that is very newbie-friendly. Plus the support provided by their staff is exceptional and often goes beyond the offerings of other software firms.
Naturally there are also the benefits of being a Debian-based distribution. While they base their current release on Woody, you can easily bump it up to Sid if you wish too. And for new users, once they master APT (or Synaptic or GNOME-APT) they will be introduced to Linux with out the hassle of dependency hell. That is worth something right there.
In short, you get a slightly more polished version of Woody, with current software, support, and a pleasent Linux experience for very little dollars. That in itself is a bonus to our community.
For those that bitched: download the 2.0 iso from their site and give it a whirl, then give me your opinion. Otherwise be happy and stick to your distro of choice.
Why are we surprised? Microsoft has always entered the field late (ala Internet) but always with aggression. They figured out that greasing the wheel in a political system geared towards soft money can make a difference between being a player in industry or being just another company listed on the stock market.
They will always employ hard tactics if there is any gain to be made. It's not right, it's not fair, but that's how the game is played.
You are really taking about two areas of law here. In criminal matters you are innocent until proven guilty. Under civil law it is your responsibility to prove your innocence. Civil law is really a I said/they said type of argument.
I actually never assert anywhere that you can download any RPM. I do, however, point out the traditional limitations of RPM and how the use of APT solves them.
The fact that I live here gives me much information on what they do, at least as reported by the major news networks. If only they would stop losing briefcases full of top secret documents .
I would certainly agree that overstepping their mandate is a serious offense to the people. I know that when the RCMP have done so, that the people of Canada become very concerned. I think that technology allows most enforcement agencies a way to overstep their bounds, if only because the elected powers that be do not understand the implications involved, and thus make uninformed decisions regarding the use of technology. When they do understand it, I think they hope, and are correct in assuming so, that the majority of the public understand it less than they do.
I guess it depends on whether the rednecks south of 49 are smart enough to use it.:-) Actually anytime a transmission is intercepted outside of the country it is considered to be espionage, if only because you are looking for a transmission of some type in the first place. However, I can't see that necessarily being the case when email is somewhat international in nature. Much of the world's email traverses borders when being sent from one place to another. There are ISP's in Canada who relay their mail through the US backbone, depending on from who and where they get their bandwidth. I think that the best you could hope for is that they can't act overtly on your email unless it violates international laws.
Most likely they could in the case of Canada, inform the RCMP they are viewing you with interest - that is if it were in thier interests to do so.
In any case, I think you would have to naive to believe that it is only US nationals that are being spied on. It would also be naive to think that is the case in my country or any other technology-enabled country. Many governments watch their citizens whether they admit to it or not.
I agree, but what I am hearing more and more is that people are trusting less in these sources. They want information that is more/less the truth, or at least as close to the truth as possible. The amatuer sites provide this by a "man-in-the-street" perspective. We already make fun of CNN and similar source because their agendas are so transparent. The new model will develop agenda's over time, if they already haven't done so, however it tends to be more in line with the common man.
Isn't part of the problem with the old/closed media is that it is often controlled by corporate interest? That alone is reason enough to fear the new model. It is hard for corporate America to control open media and is perhaps a reason why many of the amatuer media sites are prospering. People want the fresh perspective, not pandering.
Why don't you start with something that has some instant visual appeal and gratification. Young children like immediate results, when they get that they become motivated to learn. If they are using Windows 98, you could get them started with Visual Basic, it has both visual and code elements and is fairly easy to understand. You can always move them over to Unix and other languages when they become more sophisticated in their use of computers. HTML, although not a programming language, would also be an option for challenging them in a way that provides instant feedback. It could excite them to learn even more.
I recommend anything by Greg Bear, he is a very exceptional writer who handles science and people equally well. Clarke's 2001 Space Odessey series and his Rama series would also be strong recommendations. Many have mentioned Dune, but Herbert's other works, like The Jesus Incident, are excellent reads as well. You might want to go to some of the used bookstores and pick up a variety pack for you and your niece, there is just so much excellent Sci-Fi out there it would take several lifetimes to read it.
Perhaps, but the planet still needs more trees than currently exist. They also help to clean the air. Your point is probably very accurate though, afterall they are mowing down the Amazon Rain Forest (one of earth's more important forests) for land development. Now if I could just understand why an old boss I had printed out each and every web page he visited. That is a classic example of waste that is an order of magnitude beyond stupidity!
Even if they don't allow Bill to have investment in the "baby bills" (I hate that name), he will still be the world's richest man. It won't hurt him and the government can't take that away from him. My feeling is that Bill will throw himself in with the OS division if it does happen. That is where all the research happens - at least for all the gee-whiz stuff they like to talk about. My $0.02 worth.
Slashdot Mirror
I currently use both Debian and Libranet on my home systems. While I personally find Debian easy to install and configure, I think that Libranet has done an exemplarly job in making their install very easy. It has hardware autodetection, can set up a burner and zip drive and allows you to easily configure a network or dial up connection in a way that a novice will understand.
There are other benefits as well. They have a package called XAdminmenu that logically groups many administration tools together, a control panel of sort, that is easy to use and properly annotated so that a new user can configure their system. There is also an active user community that is very newbie-friendly. Plus the support provided by their staff is exceptional and often goes beyond the offerings of other software firms.
Naturally there are also the benefits of being a Debian-based distribution. While they base their current release on Woody, you can easily bump it up to Sid if you wish too. And for new users, once they master APT (or Synaptic or GNOME-APT) they will be introduced to Linux with out the hassle of dependency hell. That is worth something right there.
In short, you get a slightly more polished version of Woody, with current software, support, and a pleasent Linux experience for very little dollars. That in itself is a bonus to our community.
For those that bitched: download the 2.0 iso from their site and give it a whirl, then give me your opinion. Otherwise be happy and stick to your distro of choice.
Why are we surprised? Microsoft has always entered the field late (ala Internet) but always with aggression. They figured out that greasing the wheel in a political system geared towards soft money can make a difference between being a player in industry or being just another company listed on the stock market.
They will always employ hard tactics if there is any gain to be made. It's not right, it's not fair, but that's how the game is played.
"When did I stop living in America?"
You are really taking about two areas of law here. In criminal matters you are innocent until proven guilty. Under civil law it is your responsibility to prove your innocence. Civil law is really a I said/they said type of argument.
I should have added that your first point was valid - and I should know better. I use Libranet as my workstation and it is based on Debian.
Thanks,
Daniel Christle
I actually never assert anywhere that you can download any RPM. I do, however, point out the traditional limitations of RPM and how the use of APT solves them.
Daniel Christle
Alas poor DOS we gnu ye well...
The fact that I live here gives me much information on what they do, at least as reported by the major news networks. If only they would stop losing briefcases full of top secret documents .
I would certainly agree that overstepping their mandate is a serious offense to the people. I know that when the RCMP have done so, that the people of Canada become very concerned. I think that technology allows most enforcement agencies a way to overstep their bounds, if only because the elected powers that be do not understand the implications involved, and thus make uninformed decisions regarding the use of technology. When they do understand it, I think they hope, and are correct in assuming so, that the majority of the public understand it less than they do.
Most likely they could in the case of Canada, inform the RCMP they are viewing you with interest - that is if it were in thier interests to do so.
In any case, I think you would have to naive to believe that it is only US nationals that are being spied on. It would also be naive to think that is the case in my country or any other technology-enabled country. Many governments watch their citizens whether they admit to it or not.
I agree, but what I am hearing more and more is that people are trusting less in these sources. They want information that is more/less the truth, or at least as close to the truth as possible. The amatuer sites provide this by a "man-in-the-street" perspective. We already make fun of CNN and similar source because their agendas are so transparent. The new model will develop agenda's over time, if they already haven't done so, however it tends to be more in line with the common man.
Isn't part of the problem with the old/closed media is that it is often controlled by corporate interest? That alone is reason enough to fear the new model. It is hard for corporate America to control open media and is perhaps a reason why many of the amatuer media sites are prospering. People want the fresh perspective, not pandering.
Why don't you start with something that has some instant visual appeal and gratification. Young children like immediate results, when they get that they become motivated to learn. If they are using Windows 98, you could get them started with Visual Basic, it has both visual and code elements and is fairly easy to understand. You can always move them over to Unix and other languages when they become more sophisticated in their use of computers. HTML, although not a programming language, would also be an option for challenging them in a way that provides instant feedback. It could excite them to learn even more.
I recommend anything by Greg Bear, he is a very exceptional writer who handles science and people equally well. Clarke's 2001 Space Odessey series and his Rama series would also be strong recommendations. Many have mentioned Dune, but Herbert's other works, like The Jesus Incident, are excellent reads as well. You might want to go to some of the used bookstores and pick up a variety pack for you and your niece, there is just so much excellent Sci-Fi out there it would take several lifetimes to read it.
You're a hoopy frood!
Perhaps, but the planet still needs more trees than currently exist. They also help to clean the air. Your point is probably very accurate though, afterall they are mowing down the Amazon Rain Forest (one of earth's more important forests) for land development. Now if I could just understand why an old boss I had printed out each and every web page he visited. That is a classic example of waste that is an order of magnitude beyond stupidity!
Even if they don't allow Bill to have investment in the "baby bills" (I hate that name), he will still be the world's richest man. It won't hurt him and the government can't take that away from him. My feeling is that Bill will throw himself in with the OS division if it does happen. That is where all the research happens - at least for all the gee-whiz stuff they like to talk about. My $0.02 worth.