Ubuntu is the best Linux distro I've used in terms of out-of-the-box simplicity to install and for daily use. I got a new computer a few months back and decided to give Linux another shot, after all the talk-up I'd read about Ubuntu. When I ordered my 'puter, I told the local distributor, a 100% Windows shop, not to put any OS on it. I installed Dapper 6.06. It took 15 minutes to get my new computer up and running, without any issues whatsoever in terms of hardware recognition or network configuration. I added a couple other software packages later, through the software repositories. Damn, that was so very much nicer than having to use the command line to install everything, like I used to.
I kept my older computer for anything I might have to do with Windows, yet I haven't turned that computer on in over 3 months... there's nothing I can't do using Ubuntu that I could in Windows (I don't play computer games tho', so I can't speak on that subject) but pretty much everything I needed was already on the 6.06 CD.
Linux isn't everyone's choice for a desktop, but I sure didn't have trouble switching over, and I'm no Linux expert by any stretch of the imagination.
Hmm, interesting experience. I am running Linux 100% at home (Ubuntu) but my employer is a 100% Windows shop. I use the word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation versions of OpenOffice and MS Office. I constantly draft stuff at work using MS Office and send those items home for completion. I also draft stuff at home using OpenOffice and send those items to work for completion. I have never had any issues with compatibility between OO and MS Office either way.
I also use Word Perfect at my workplace, and those documents translate just fine to OpenOffice's word processor. The main problem I run into is when I have to work on Word Perfect documents in MS Word, or vice-versa. They don't play nice with each other.
You have a good point; Linux may *look* like Windows in many respects (esp. the KDE interface) but when it comes to "under the hood," Linux is NOT Windows, and that becomes quite obvious once you start to dig into even the cursory workings of the OS. There may be a number of Windows users out there who would like to try Linux, but they also know they will not be able to run their games under it, so they don't try Linux.
For those who don't want to dual-boot their machine, there are the Wine/Cedega options available. I know lots of Linux users run their Windows games under these programs, but if I played lots of Windows games, I'd probably go for a dual-boot scenario, where both operating systems are represented on a single computer. That is easy to do these days, fortunately.
Cool. I've never gotten into the ATM thing; guess I don't have the patience for mirror-grinding, and my woodworking skills are non-existent. Geocaching is extremely popular where I am-- there are over 600 caches hidden within a 100-mile radius of me. It's a fun way of combining technology with enjoying the great outdoors.
You know, there is a new comet that is visible in the skies now. It's Comet Machholz and it's visible near the Pleiades star cluster (just below and to the right of it tonight) with binoculars.
LOL!! Damn, I wish I could've been a fly on the wall there!
You gotta love String Theory. It's so bizarre that the only people who can truly explain its implications are Brian Greene and certain individuals who are stoned out of their minds. I just have a real hard time wrapping my imagination around 11 theoretical dimensions.
Actually, I *am* pretty geeky for a girl. I know this because my 16 year old son tells me so. He bases his assessment on a few facts: I use Linux (alongside my Win XP box) and I am also into another geeky, but really addictive and fun sport called "geocaching". It uses GPS receivers to find stuff hidden all over the world. I'll have to search some threads to see if this has been discussed here yet.
I'm also an amateur astronomer. I have two telescopes and I know how to use 'em.:-) I'm a volunteer for a local astronomical society and am working to get a new planetarium built in my state.
I just joined slashdot tonight, and I'm loving the company so far. I feel like I'm amongst kindred types here.
That is true, but the Technician license doesn't allow one to use the HF bands unless you have also passed the 5 words-per-minute code examination.
The General license, which requires passing another written exam beyond the Technician level and the 5 WPM code test, allows for far greater privileges on all the amateur bands.
I studied code and took the exam just so I could get HF privileges. I have not used it a whole lot since then. I only had to use it a few times to realize that I really dislike code. Not because it's obsolete (which it is beyond amateur radio) but because it's a slow way of holding a conversation, and I just don't have the patience for it.
On the up side, I was able to nab a couple of countries using CW (Morse Code) that I didn't yet have in my log book-- Australia and Poland.
I would love to obtain an Elecraft K2. The only thing keeping me from doing so is the price... over $500 for the kit... *ouch*
But you're right, anyone with a minimum of basic building equipment and a maximum of patience can build one of these. Half the fun of QRP is making the gear yourself and seeing how far you can get out on it.
In my case, just getting the gear to *work* was a big deal for awhile, until my soldering skills improved...:)
I'm a female ham... and a rare breed, we are.
Hams are often stereotyped as old, fat, geeky, hygenically-challenged white guys (actually, my one and only visit to a local hamfest somewhat confirmed this) but none of those traits describes me.
Radio is old technology, but I have always found it fascinating, ever since my dad introduced me to the shortwave bands when I was a little kid. There was always something a bit magical about a signal traveling halfway around the world to be picked up on an old tube radio.
I've talked to people in many countries, but I'm not actually active on the air anymore. Other hobbies (some geeky, some not) have taken its place. I mostly listen to shortwave broadcasts now, but I still like building QRP stuff now and then. It is way more fun than shopping.
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Another Ubuntu fan here (Dapper 6.06 LTS).
Ubuntu is the best Linux distro I've used in terms of out-of-the-box simplicity to install and for daily use. I got a new computer a few months back and decided to give Linux another shot, after all the talk-up I'd read about Ubuntu. When I ordered my 'puter, I told the local distributor, a 100% Windows shop, not to put any OS on it. I installed Dapper 6.06. It took 15 minutes to get my new computer up and running, without any issues whatsoever in terms of hardware recognition or network configuration. I added a couple other software packages later, through the software repositories. Damn, that was so very much nicer than having to use the command line to install everything, like I used to.
I kept my older computer for anything I might have to do with Windows, yet I haven't turned that computer on in over 3 months... there's nothing I can't do using Ubuntu that I could in Windows (I don't play computer games tho', so I can't speak on that subject) but pretty much everything I needed was already on the 6.06 CD.
Linux isn't everyone's choice for a desktop, but I sure didn't have trouble switching over, and I'm no Linux expert by any stretch of the imagination.
Hmm, interesting experience. I am running Linux 100% at home (Ubuntu) but my employer is a 100% Windows shop. I use the word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation versions of OpenOffice and MS Office. I constantly draft stuff at work using MS Office and send those items home for completion. I also draft stuff at home using OpenOffice and send those items to work for completion. I have never had any issues with compatibility between OO and MS Office either way.
I also use Word Perfect at my workplace, and those documents translate just fine to OpenOffice's word processor. The main problem I run into is when I have to work on Word Perfect documents in MS Word, or vice-versa. They don't play nice with each other.
You have a good point; Linux may *look* like Windows in many respects (esp. the KDE interface) but when it comes to "under the hood," Linux is NOT Windows, and that becomes quite obvious once you start to dig into even the cursory workings of the OS. There may be a number of Windows users out there who would like to try Linux, but they also know they will not be able to run their games under it, so they don't try Linux.
For those who don't want to dual-boot their machine, there are the Wine/Cedega options available. I know lots of Linux users run their Windows games under these programs, but if I played lots of Windows games, I'd probably go for a dual-boot scenario, where both operating systems are represented on a single computer. That is easy to do these days, fortunately.
Cool. I've never gotten into the ATM thing; guess I don't have the patience for mirror-grinding, and my woodworking skills are non-existent. Geocaching is extremely popular where I am-- there are over 600 caches hidden within a 100-mile radius of me. It's a fun way of combining technology with enjoying the great outdoors.
You know, there is a new comet that is visible in the skies now. It's Comet Machholz and it's visible near the Pleiades star cluster (just below and to the right of it tonight) with binoculars.
Oh YEAH! I remember that now... my one and ONLY time on PSK31! I've been off the air since I moved to a no-antennas place.
LOL!! Damn, I wish I could've been a fly on the wall there!
You gotta love String Theory. It's so bizarre that the only people who can truly explain its implications are Brian Greene and certain individuals who are stoned out of their minds. I just have a real hard time wrapping my imagination around 11 theoretical dimensions.
Chuckling!
:-) I'm a volunteer for a local astronomical society and am working to get a new planetarium built in my state.
Actually, I *am* pretty geeky for a girl. I know this because my 16 year old son tells me so. He bases his assessment on a few facts: I use Linux (alongside my Win XP box) and I am also into another geeky, but really addictive and fun sport called "geocaching". It uses GPS receivers to find stuff hidden all over the world. I'll have to search some threads to see if this has been discussed here yet.
I'm also an amateur astronomer. I have two telescopes and I know how to use 'em.
I just joined slashdot tonight, and I'm loving the company so far. I feel like I'm amongst kindred types here.
That is true, but the Technician license doesn't allow one to use the HF bands unless you have also passed the 5 words-per-minute code examination.
The General license, which requires passing another written exam beyond the Technician level and the 5 WPM code test, allows for far greater privileges on all the amateur bands.
I studied code and took the exam just so I could get HF privileges. I have not used it a whole lot since then. I only had to use it a few times to realize that I really dislike code. Not because it's obsolete (which it is beyond amateur radio) but because it's a slow way of holding a conversation, and I just don't have the patience for it.
On the up side, I was able to nab a couple of countries using CW (Morse Code) that I didn't yet have in my log book-- Australia and Poland.
I would love to obtain an Elecraft K2. The only thing keeping me from doing so is the price... over $500 for the kit... *ouch* But you're right, anyone with a minimum of basic building equipment and a maximum of patience can build one of these. Half the fun of QRP is making the gear yourself and seeing how far you can get out on it. In my case, just getting the gear to *work* was a big deal for awhile, until my soldering skills improved... :)
I'm a female ham... and a rare breed, we are. Hams are often stereotyped as old, fat, geeky, hygenically-challenged white guys (actually, my one and only visit to a local hamfest somewhat confirmed this) but none of those traits describes me. Radio is old technology, but I have always found it fascinating, ever since my dad introduced me to the shortwave bands when I was a little kid. There was always something a bit magical about a signal traveling halfway around the world to be picked up on an old tube radio. I've talked to people in many countries, but I'm not actually active on the air anymore. Other hobbies (some geeky, some not) have taken its place. I mostly listen to shortwave broadcasts now, but I still like building QRP stuff now and then. It is way more fun than shopping.