Based on the number of users and support systems Ubuntu is my choice for new users. Some existing users haven't taken to the default windowing interface Unity that Ubuntu has created. I believe a big part of that is simply a reluctance to change. For many long term Linux users their choice of distribution has become very personal. Early adopters tended to be very technical and technical people have a passion for their technical choices. New Linux users don't have those barriers to change because they haven't as established personal ties. For them it's a combination of easy to get started and a ready sources of help. Ubuntu shines on both of those. I've been a software engineer since 1964 and a Linux user for over 10 years. I've been on Ubuntu since 6.04. Changing from the Gnome used by Ubuntu to the Unity desktop has had some bumps because it was new and I'd grown accustomed to something else. Any technology has a learning curve. I'm sold on Unity and readily recommend Ubuntu to new users knowing full well that with that recommendation comes an implied commitment to tech support.
IMHO in the US, Consumer Cellular is the best choice. Post paid without a contract and very inexpensive, half what I paid Verizon for a basic family plan with a $2.50/mo low use data plan. You can even get an Android phone on that low use data plan. You get emails telling you your usage and you can opt for a different plan before the bill comes and change back the next month. Nationwide plan with no gimmicks that uses the AT&T network. No one is more customer oriented.
Some medical equipment used for home telemedicine require landlines. One such piece of equipment is used to monitor my pacemaker which has an acoustic coupler -- shades of 300 baud dial up. These devices use analog modems which don't work on VOIP or cellular connections.
In 1964 when I started programming there were no Computer Science degrees and programmers of the day were split evenly between math and music majors. The ability for abstract thought was the basic requirement then. It was a different world. There were no "industry standards" like "C" or "*nix", everything was unique.
The author complained about Ubuntu 9.10 having faults. 9.10 is at Alpa one level and not intended for production use. The test should have been with the latest release 9.04.
With Ubuntu you can easily do this by installing a single package that provides Apache, MySQL and PHP otherwise known as LAMP. Run the Synaptic package manager. Select the "Edit" menu and select "Mark packages by task". Select "LAMP server" and click Apply.
Create/etc/apache2/httpd.conf with the following two line to enable PHP.
AddType application/x-httpd-php.php.phtml
AddType application/x-httpd-php-source.phps
Run "sudo/etc/init.d/apache2 restart" and the configuration will be made.
It's unfortunate that right of free speech isn't balanced by responsibility for the impact on others. Many individual freedoms are at someone else's expense. I'm conflicted about the law but the moral responsibility is obvious.
Metered charging is a step backward. The rest of telecom has gone to flat pricing -- even cell phones. I don't trust Comcast to change their pricing for any reason than to make more money. They've continued to raise prices and cut back on services. Bandwidth on cable has increased but so has the number of users. Performance got so bad in my area they had no choice but to increase the bandwidth or loose customers to DSL. On their TV service they continue to cut back on the channels on the basic service to push users to more expensive services. Telecom continues to close the capabilities of devices so that users must pay more. Think ring tones on cell phones on Verizon phones.
There is one hybrid DSLR with a retractable lens that easily fits in even a thin brief case -- Canon Powershot S5 IS. It also uses AA batteries. Make sure when you travel that your devices run on standard batteries like the AA. For computers, lighter is better but watch the battery life. Small computers have small batteries. A good compromise is a Dell Inspiron 1420 / 1420n which can be had with a 9 cell battery. Mine runs over 5 hours. Depending on the applications you need I'd consider replacing the laptop with a Nokia N810. For a phone you'll need multiband GSM. GSM in the US and overseas is on different frequencies. CDMA in the phone would be a plus. Depending where you travel, AMPS analog may also be an asset.
Telephone marketers should have to register their call numbers on a country wide web data base so called parties can identify who called without having to answer the phone. This would also be a good place to record complaints against these people so they can be investigated by the authorities. Even though on the don't call list I get constant calls from the same 800 numbers. I for one would like to be able to identify them so I can take action against their harassment. One number I've recorded has called dozens of times.
I may be old fashioned but I question the professionalism of anyone that avoids efficiency from technology because they are concerned more productivity might be expected.
Almost any problem can be defined in a way that makes it unsolvable. There is no need to support all Linux distros. All that is required is to work with any distribution company, say Ubuntu. Work with them to insure open source drivers are available for the hardware components in a subset of offered systems. Ubuntu could provide purchasable support and the Ubuntu community would provide primary support as they do today. Establish this as a certification program for distros. Once open source drivers exist it will be a simple problem for users to install the distro of their choice. Open source applications would be supported as they are today by the developers, community and professional support companies. What's needed is cooperation with the open source community and not forcing users to Microsoft software. The problem is solvable without dupplicating harware venders existing support structure.
Knowing that carriers like AT&T want to charge Google a surcharge and have basically threatened to give bandwidth preference to others what else can they do. Poor carrier broadband coverage in rural areas my lower their costs but it also cuts into Google's revenue stream. Also consider that high bandwidth is a requirement for web based office applications. Google can't depend on the carriers to supply it.
As a engineering hiring manager I'd prefer a tradesman apprenticeship approach. Communications skills like writing need to be part of the program. The same goes math through at least one semester of Calculus. As a parent the cost of education is out of control and a more affordable alternative plan to a career would encourage more people to get an education.
A number of years ago I was sent an unsolicited Discover card. I never used it and every time they send me a new one instead of validating the card for use I call to cancel. I've almost given up bothering to try and cancel since they ignore my requests. The cards they send go strait to my shredder. I would say that years of trying to close a Discover account I never wanted in the first place aught to qualify for the Guinness World Book records. I won't give in on this and use it.
A separate tough pad worked vry well for me. It can easily be moved around and used both with the left and right hands. The trick is to turn off all the special feature for drag & drop and taps. You can still drag by using a button with the pad. Being able to move with multiple finger strokes takes all the stress out of use.
Having been a Director of Product Management I will agree that many specs are poor because they talk about how and not what is required. A good marketing spec however is a big help because it documents required features and defines the target user community. It also establishes limits and assumptions. In the case of an embedded product hardware cost goals are also set. Engineering specs will get into how to implement but also help soldify the marketing specification that will be used as the basis of launching the product. In a well run project, engineering will be given an opportunity to influence the final feature set. For my products, engineering also had input into the original product management specification. This has always worked well for me and produced successful products that came out on schedule and met cost goals.
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Based on the number of users and support systems Ubuntu is my choice for new users. Some existing users haven't taken to the default windowing interface Unity that Ubuntu has created. I believe a big part of that is simply a reluctance to change. For many long term Linux users their choice of distribution has become very personal. Early adopters tended to be very technical and technical people have a passion for their technical choices. New Linux users don't have those barriers to change because they haven't as established personal ties. For them it's a combination of easy to get started and a ready sources of help. Ubuntu shines on both of those. I've been a software engineer since 1964 and a Linux user for over 10 years. I've been on Ubuntu since 6.04. Changing from the Gnome used by Ubuntu to the Unity desktop has had some bumps because it was new and I'd grown accustomed to something else. Any technology has a learning curve. I'm sold on Unity and readily recommend Ubuntu to new users knowing full well that with that recommendation comes an implied commitment to tech support.
IMHO in the US, Consumer Cellular is the best choice. Post paid without a contract and very inexpensive, half what I paid Verizon for a basic family plan with a $2.50/mo low use data plan. You can even get an Android phone on that low use data plan. You get emails telling you your usage and you can opt for a different plan before the bill comes and change back the next month. Nationwide plan with no gimmicks that uses the AT&T network. No one is more customer oriented.
Some medical equipment used for home telemedicine require landlines. One such piece of equipment is used to monitor my pacemaker which has an acoustic coupler -- shades of 300 baud dial up. These devices use analog modems which don't work on VOIP or cellular connections.
In 1964 when I started programming there were no Computer Science degrees and programmers of the day were split evenly between math and music majors. The ability for abstract thought was the basic requirement then. It was a different world. There were no "industry standards" like "C" or "*nix", everything was unique.
The title implies no GIMP in Ubuntu when it is only being removed from the install CD
I've a Dell 1420 running Ubuntu 9.04 and I still get 4.5 hours. It's an Intel duo with the optional 9 cell battery - 6 cell was standard.
The author complained about Ubuntu 9.10 having faults. 9.10 is at Alpa one level and not intended for production use. The test should have been with the latest release 9.04.
With Ubuntu you can easily do this by installing a single package that provides Apache, MySQL and PHP otherwise known as LAMP. Run the Synaptic package manager. Select the "Edit" menu and select "Mark packages by task". Select "LAMP server" and click Apply. Create /etc/apache2/httpd.conf with the following two line to enable PHP.
AddType application/x-httpd-php .php .phtml
AddType application/x-httpd-php-source .phps
Run "sudo /etc/init.d/apache2 restart" and the configuration will be made.
It's unfortunate that right of free speech isn't balanced by responsibility for the impact on others. Many individual freedoms are at someone else's expense. I'm conflicted about the law but the moral responsibility is obvious.
Metered charging is a step backward. The rest of telecom has gone to flat pricing -- even cell phones. I don't trust Comcast to change their pricing for any reason than to make more money. They've continued to raise prices and cut back on services. Bandwidth on cable has increased but so has the number of users. Performance got so bad in my area they had no choice but to increase the bandwidth or loose customers to DSL. On their TV service they continue to cut back on the channels on the basic service to push users to more expensive services. Telecom continues to close the capabilities of devices so that users must pay more. Think ring tones on cell phones on Verizon phones.
There is one hybrid DSLR with a retractable lens that easily fits in even a thin brief case -- Canon Powershot S5 IS. It also uses AA batteries. Make sure when you travel that your devices run on standard batteries like the AA. For computers, lighter is better but watch the battery life. Small computers have small batteries. A good compromise is a Dell Inspiron 1420 / 1420n which can be had with a 9 cell battery. Mine runs over 5 hours. Depending on the applications you need I'd consider replacing the laptop with a Nokia N810. For a phone you'll need multiband GSM. GSM in the US and overseas is on different frequencies. CDMA in the phone would be a plus. Depending where you travel, AMPS analog may also be an asset.
Telephone marketers should have to register their call numbers on a country wide web data base so called parties can identify who called without having to answer the phone. This would also be a good place to record complaints against these people so they can be investigated by the authorities. Even though on the don't call list I get constant calls from the same 800 numbers. I for one would like to be able to identify them so I can take action against their harassment. One number I've recorded has called dozens of times.
I may be old fashioned but I question the professionalism of anyone that avoids efficiency from technology because they are concerned more productivity might be expected.
Almost any problem can be defined in a way that makes it unsolvable. There is no need to support all Linux distros. All that is required is to work with any distribution company, say Ubuntu. Work with them to insure open source drivers are available for the hardware components in a subset of offered systems. Ubuntu could provide purchasable support and the Ubuntu community would provide primary support as they do today. Establish this as a certification program for distros. Once open source drivers exist it will be a simple problem for users to install the distro of their choice. Open source applications would be supported as they are today by the developers, community and professional support companies. What's needed is cooperation with the open source community and not forcing users to Microsoft software. The problem is solvable without dupplicating harware venders existing support structure.
This is your reward for using product from the Evil Empire. Linux is always free and easier than fighting Microsoft.
Knowing that carriers like AT&T want to charge Google a surcharge and have basically threatened to give bandwidth preference to others what else can they do. Poor carrier broadband coverage in rural areas my lower their costs but it also cuts into Google's revenue stream. Also consider that high bandwidth is a requirement for web based office applications. Google can't depend on the carriers to supply it.
As a engineering hiring manager I'd prefer a tradesman apprenticeship approach. Communications skills like writing need to be part of the program. The same goes math through at least one semester of Calculus. As a parent the cost of education is out of control and a more affordable alternative plan to a career would encourage more people to get an education.
A number of years ago I was sent an unsolicited Discover card. I never used it and every time they send me a new one instead of validating the card for use I call to cancel. I've almost given up bothering to try and cancel since they ignore my requests. The cards they send go strait to my shredder. I would say that years of trying to close a Discover account I never wanted in the first place aught to qualify for the Guinness World Book records. I won't give in on this and use it.
In the 60's we called them communes. The free love was great but the rest is rather foggy.
A separate tough pad worked vry well for me. It can easily be moved around and used both with the left and right hands. The trick is to turn off all the special feature for drag & drop and taps. You can still drag by using a button with the pad. Being able to move with multiple finger strokes takes all the stress out of use.
The only people that have benefited from this report is the hacker spys who will now know not to use their back doors and get caught.
Having been a Director of Product Management I will agree that many specs are poor because they talk about how and not what is required. A good marketing spec however is a big help because it documents required features and defines the target user community. It also establishes limits and assumptions. In the case of an embedded product hardware cost goals are also set. Engineering specs will get into how to implement but also help soldify the marketing specification that will be used as the basis of launching the product. In a well run project, engineering will be given an opportunity to influence the final feature set. For my products, engineering also had input into the original product management specification. This has always worked well for me and produced successful products that came out on schedule and met cost goals.