Tuesday, October 9, 2007
All i can say is WOW!
ok, first off i was expecting maybe a few under the hood changes and not much more, but was i ever wrong.
upon booting to desktop for first time, my native resolution was being used. (1440 x 900, which never happened before without tweaking) next, i was told there was a video driver available. click, done. it also gave the option to install video drivers for the new nvidia cards. sweet. i went to places>computer and lo and behold, all my drives (4) were mounted and had read/write capability out of the box. very nice.(no more ntfs-config BS) next, i went to software sources. all repos were checked off. went to add/remove apps chose all available apps from the pull down menu, and searched ubuntu restricted extras. 1 click and had all codecs, flash, and java. (stands up and applauds again) add/remove apps seemed to have alot more packages available too.
the screen and graphics preferences was a nice touch. after video driver install, the default desktop effects are nice without being overkill. you also have the choice of no effects or enhanced.
the windows have a more 3D look to them with the shadowing effect. (a kind of aero-ish look) the shuffle effect when switching windows was kind of cool also.
i am sure that there are other goodies i havnt discovered , or havnt been implimented yet. and can't wait to see.
i have a 100% running ubuntu install without having to go to the command line once. this should make newbs even happier and draw greater interest from non-linux/ubuntu users. highly recommended.
great job development team! keep up the good work.
please note that this a developmental release. there may be bugs/issues that still need to be fixed. release date is set for october 18th.
Dell Preps for Next Linux Desktop Release
A major desktop Linux upgrade is set to be released on October 18. Michael Dell is expected to personally use it. And the PC giant will pre-load it on selected desktops and notebooks. Buzz about this next Linux release — dubbed Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon — is growing across the web. But what exactly does Gutsy Gibbon (aka Ubuntu 7.10) offer to desktop customers and solutions providers? Here’s a look.
Canonical (the company that develops Ubuntu) has outlined a long-term road map for the operating system. During the UbuntuLive conference back in July, Canonical CTO Matt Zimmerman said Ubuntu 7.10 would feature several core enhancements for desktop and server users.
On the desktop, 7.10 will support:
- a 3D interface out of the box
- multi-monitor configuration
- laptop power profiling
- more details still to come
On the server, 7.10 will offer:
- Turn-key web administration
- One-step server recipes
- Proactive security with AppArmor, an increasingly popular open source security option
- “desktop” type simplicity
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Why Public Schools Should Adopt Linux
1. Its free (schools could save thousands)
2. It runs on an 8 year old PC (which most schools still use!)
3. Openoffice can open all type of documents
4. Easy, customizable interface
5. Security features that make you wonder why you even used windows
6. It can run windows applications too, and not many games (a big plus for some schools)
7. Small learning curve for students
8. Firefox
9. Supporting the Open-Source Community
I seriously don’t understand why schools don’t do this. If your school needs a PC lab, buy a whole bunch of Pentium 3 computers (or even Pentium 2) and run Ubuntu. It comes with almost everything a school computer needs. Kids in public school won’t know how to modify the system in any way and its completely safe to use.
Five ways Linux is better than Vista
Enthusiasts have always touted Linux as the best operating system, and they've become more strident and shrill since Vista's launch. Despite Microsoft's optimistic predictions and fervent proselytising, Vista has received a chilly reception in the marketplace.
The reasons are legion: its price tag, the lack of driver support, legacy applications not working on Vista, and the list goes on.
Is Linux really better than Vista? Sure. Linux is free, while a flavour of Vista can be as low as US$99.95 and as high as US$399.95.
1. Hardware requirements: Linux doesn't require a lot of memory or the beefiest graphics card on the market just to get up and running.
Vista's system requirements are high, requiring a "modern" processor (at least a Pentium 4) and 512 Mbytes of RAM, although 1 Gbyte is recommended. The operating system takes up at least 60 GBytes of disk space, and needs at least 64 Mbytes video RAM.
In contrast, some flavors of Linux can run on a box with as little as 64 Mbytes of RAM and a 486 processor. That's Linux with a graphical user interface, too. The common Linux distributions take up only 1.5 Gbytes of disk space.
Vista's Aero and the overall user interface look pretty, but it doesn't make work easier. It doesn't make finding a file on the system easier or make an application run faster, does it?
Ironically, all it does is slow down the user because it uses up the system resources. Instead of using the CPU to display graphics, Vista uses the GPU, which puts a strain on memory. Vista uses 256 Mbytes just for screen rendering alone, and that's not even at optimum levels. That's a lot of memory just for graphics.
Security is less of a worry to Linux users
2. Security: Antivirus and anti-spyware applications are not necessary on Linux boxes, but are essentially required on Vista machines.
Granted, one of the reasons Linux is so secure is because malware developers are specifically targeting Windows operating systems and Windows applications. That still doesn't change the fact that Linux users do not have to worry about inadvertently downloading spyware, and sysadmins don't log hours cleaning the latest worm off Linux machines.
3. No limitations: Linux doesn't restrict how content is used on the system.
Vista comes with built-in digital rights management features that are not present on Linux boxes. These DRM features can slow down the computer, cause technical support problems, and conflict with peripheral hardware and existing software.
The fix may be as simple as an upgrade or as complex as replacing the hardware. For example, Vista has copy protection technology for HD-DVD and Blu-ray disks.
High-quality output paths like audio and video are reserved for protected peripheral devices. This means output quality can be artificially degraded.
On Linux, regardless of the distribution, music will play, movies will run, and software will load. Linux doesn't interfere with legitimate fair-use rights for the content owned by users, majority of whom are honest users. Vista's DRM can interfere with all kinds of computer use, including the ones that have nothing to do with digital rights.
Related to the first point about system resources, Vista is continually monitoring itself to ensure compliance. That costs the CPU.
Is Windows Genuine Advantage a help or a hindrance?
4. It's all Genuine: There's no such thing as Linux Genuine Advantage.
Regardless of what version is installed, or where it came from, a Linux machines will work. There is no risk of losing functionality. Vista, on the other hand, relies on Windows Genuine Advantage servers to verify its serial number. And when the servers go down, as it did recently, Vista users worldwide are locked out of their computers running legitimate copies of Windows Vista. Never would have happened with Linux.
5. Get the apps, already: Increasing number of available applications for Linux have made it easier to get away from bloated Windows applications.
Dislike the ribbon? Abandon Microsoft Office and come over to Open Office. It has no ribbon and it offers standards-compliant document formats.
Vista still ships with the cruddy picture editor, Paint. Most Linux distributions come with GIMP 2.2, a powerful application similar to Adobe's Photoshop in terms of it features.
Considering all the trouble Internet Explorer has with security and rendering pages correctly, Linux users don't miss it. Mozilla meets their needs.
So there you have it. Linux is better than Vista. Doesn't seem to be getting anywhere with that world domination plan, though.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Microsoft ordered to hand over Windows secrets after losing appeal over record 'monopoly' fine
Computer users were promised better and cheaper products yesterday after Microsoft lost a three-year European legal battle.
In a ruling described as a major victory by consumer groups, a Brussels court confirmed that the software giant must make it easier for rival systems to work with its Windows operating system.
It means that Microsoft must disclose its secret computer codes to enable rival companies' gadgets such as media players to work seamlessly with Windows personal computers when downloading songs and videos.
The European Court of First Instance, the EU's second-highest court, also ruled that the world's biggest software company must pay a £343 million fine imposed in 2004 by the watchdog European Commission when it ruled that Microsoft abused its near-monopoly position to freeze out competitors.
Jim Murray of BEUC, a consumer organisation, said:
"The decision should bring more competition in the market and more incentive for other companies - and for Microsoft - to offer improved products and services at a competitive price."
Three cheers for the E.U.! Microsoft repeatedly and deliberately abused their monopoly position. Hurting untold smaller companies who deserved the right to compete on a level playing field. I hope this teaches them a lesson and they think twice before they try to "cut off the oxygen" from honest businesses.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
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HP launches RedHat Linux desktop PC
Hewlett-Packard, the world’s largest PC manufacturer, has announced it will start selling Linux-based PCs from $AU600 in Australia.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Desktop will come pre-loaded on the HP dx2250 desktop computer -- an AMD-based model. The PC itself comes with a range of AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core, Athlon 64 and Sempron processors. “With the cost of proprietary systems continuing to rise, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Desktop minimises acquisition and ongoing deployment costs, leaving more money and resources for other high-value projects and tasks,” said Max McLaren, General Manager at Red Hat in Australia and New Zealand, taking a clear dig at Vista.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Desktop also comes with OpenOffice preinstalled, Firefox for web browsing and Evolution for email . Red Hat will also offer Level One, Level Two and Level Three technical support for the solution.
The WOW "Stops" Now
So, while WGA is intended to police piracy, it’s really just highlighting the true failure of Vista for the willing few who paid extra specifically to upgrade for the WOW experience. Microsoft posted a message asking users to try again in four days, hoping that by Tuesday, the company will have the server back up:
“I'm sorry to inform you that the Windows Genuine server might be down for few days. I have escalate [sic] the issue to our Genuine team, kindly try to validate again on Tuesday 28 Aug 2007.”
Microsoft's Windows Genuine Advantage the DOG !
One disadvantage to Microsoft's Windows Genuine Advantage program which forces Windows users to verify their software as "not-stolen" in order to receive certain patches and updates including Internet Explorer 7 is that Microsoft's WGA server is not as highly reliable as Microsoft likes to advertise.
When Microsoft's Windows Genuine Advantage server--presumably also running Windows--goes down, as it did this weekend, users attempting to verify their copy of Windows are automatically treated as counterfeiters and their Windows software goes into a “reduced functionality mode.”
For Windows Vista users, that means the new Aero window appearance--Microsoft’s copy of Mac OS X’s Quartz--is turned off, reverting Vista Ultimate into plain old Windows XP.
Even XP users are affected by the WGA failure, so the problem affects more than just the few who shelled out hundreds of dollars for the Vista upgrade. But most embarrassingly, Vista users are experiencing significant performance gains from the crisis, as disabling Aero graphics--the most obvious new feature in Vista--has resulted in users reporting a huge boost in performance.
The Google Phone becomes official...sort of
According to a recent report on Engadget, Google's mobile device platform is well on its way, and will be announced in the very near future. Google writes the software, hardware partners build the devices. Wired also think the GPhone myth is alive. They speculate that the GPhone is a device that 'runs a modified version of the Linux kernel and has GPS built in', and will have tight integration with existing Google apps like Maps, Calendar and Docs and Spreadsheets.
It remains to be seen whether Google can truly add value in this space, or whether they should continue partnering with OS manufacturers to better integrate their services into existing platforms. What do you think? Would you buy a GPhone?
Vista SP1's delay is Desktop Linux's good news
On Aug. 29 Microsoft finally admitted that they have been working on Vista SP1 over the summer. For some reason--perhaps they hoped people would buy an unfixed Vista?--Microsoft wouldn't fess up to getting SP1 ready even though secret beta copies of it had been floating around the Internet for several weeks.
Before Microsoft lovers start singing the praises of their corporate overlords, though they should know that they aren't going to be seeing fixes for Vista's multiple problems anytime soon.
Microsoft told Microsoft Watch top watcher Joe Wilcox that a limited release of the Vista beta will go out in a few weeks to Microsoft's friends and family. Then, maybe in 2007, it will go out to MSDN and TechNet members. After that it might be RTM (released to manufacturing) in the first quarter of 2008. Finally, sometime in 2008, you'll get a chance to upgrade to Vista SP1.
That, of course, presumes that Microsoft can hit a deadline. Let me put it this way. By the time Vista sp1 is out, Linux will have made its way.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Next Major PC Company to Go Linux Will Be HP
First, Dell successfully broke the Windows-only wall when it added Ubuntu Linux 7.04 to three systems in its consumer line in May. You don't start offering Ubuntu on another brand-new laptop line and announce that you'll soon be selling Ubuntu to SMBs (small to midsize businesses) and internationally unless you're making money from it. Expanding the Linux offering means Dell must actually be selling units.
The other PC companies aren't idiots. Many of them, like Lenovo, have been toying with desktop Linux for years.
10 reasons to get open source software
Acer says Ubuntu loaded notebooks are Singapore-only for now
While we didn't really expect to hear that Acer would offer its Aspire 5710Z notebook running Ubuntu Linux outside of Singapore anytime soon, we can't say that it didn't sting a bit when we discovered that our pessimism was well-placed.
According to ZDNet, an Acer spokesperson says the company has no plans to sell PCs pre-loaded with Linux in the UK anytime soon. And DailyTech confirms that the same goes for the US.
The surprising thing is that Acer seems to be basing this decision on lack of demand for consumer PCs running Linux. But Dell reports that it's received quite a positive response to its PCs running Ubuntu. In fact, there's a rumor going around that Dell plans to offer several more computer models with Linux in the future.
We guess Acer's decision (and the decision by pretty much every other major computer maker) to stick with Windows is their loss and Dell's gain. You know, when it comes to selling computers to a select group of enthusiasts or bargain hunters.
Dell to expand Linux PC offerings, partner says
Dell Inc will soon offer more personal computers that use the Linux operating system instead of Microsoft Corp's Windows, said the founder of a company that offers Linux support services.
Mark Shuttleworth, who created a version of Linux software named Ubuntu, said Dell is happy with the demand it has seen for Linux PCs that were introduced in May.
Dell, the world's second-largest PC maker after Hewlett-Packard Co, now offers three consumer PCs that run Ubuntu Linux.
"What's been announced to date is not the full extent of what we will see over the next couple of weeks and months," Shuttleworth said an interview late on Wednesday.
She added that Dell was pleased with customer response to its Linux PCs. She said Dell believed the bulk of the machines were sold to open-source software enthusiasts, while some first-time Linux users have purchased them as well.
Open-source software refers to computer programs, generally available over the Internet at no cost, that users can download, modify and redistribute.
The Linux operating system is seen as the biggest threat to Microsoft's Windows operating system.
Shuttleworth said sales of the three Dell Ubuntu PC models were on track to meet the sales projections of Dell and Canonical.
There are dozens of versions of Linux, available for all sorts of computers from PCs to mainframes and tiny mobile devices.
The other three top PC makers are Lenovo Group Ltd, Acer Inc and Toshiba Corp.
(Reporting by Jim Finkle)
BOSTON (Reuters)
When I first saw the list for the eWEEK slide show, Ten Reasons Not to Buy Open Source, I couldn't believe what I was reading.
| | |
So here are my answers to the "reasons" not to buy open-source software. Microsoft is the safe choice Safe? Safe!? Come on. Microsoft's products are infamous for not being safe. Vista was supposed to be soooo much more secure than earlier versions of Windows. I said that was nonsense when Vista was first coming out. And what do we now see? Why, this month alone, we see that there are critical flaws. Three of the flaws could let information slip out if users visit malicious pages using IE, and with the fourth vulnerability, all you have to do is view a malicious e-mail with Windows Mail, and ta-da, you've just been hijacked. I hope you enjoy your PC being part of a botnet. Richer set of application development tools Really? The last I knew your choices were Visual Studio and ... ah ... Visual Studio. That said, Visual Studio is a heck of a development environment, but you are locked in to one vendor for all your development needs. If you want to pick and choose your development tools there's Eclipse, IBM Rational's Jazz.net, Red Hat's JBoss, or, heck, if you insist on Microsoft .NET compatibility, give Mono a try. Larger number of packaged applications available You can have any application you want so long as it's from Microsoft. There are a few exceptions: Intuit's Quicken, Adobe's imaging and pre-press software and 20 different freeware programs to compress and decompress files. But Windows stopped being about software choice a long, long time ago. If anything, the Linux and the open-source world has an embarrassment of software riches. You name the functionality, there's probably half-a-dozen different programs that can deliver it. Desktop Linux Is Immature and Perhaps Unnecessary Excuse me? Then why did Dell just start offering Ubuntu on three of its consumer systems? Have you looked at Novell's SLED (SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop) 10? What about MEPIS 6.5? If you're serious about your desktop, then you need to take a long, serious look at today's Linux desktops. Technical Support Costs Are Actually Higher than Microsoft.Net I call FUD. I've yet to see a serious study that has proven this contention. I'll simply note however that Windows desktop must be patched every month and have its anti-virus software updated essentially daily for it to be safe. I can leave a Linux desktop alone for months and it will be as safe as houses. You tell me which costs more to maintain. Richer Layer for Application and Business Process Integration Middleware Could have fooled me. Why then is it that the last I checked, JEE (Java Enterprise Edition), in both its official Sun version and the open-source versions like JBoss, is still owning the application server space? And, funny isn't it, how all the talk about Web 2.0 development seems to focus on AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) and not on anything out of Microsoft? More Focused Commercial Technical Support from Microsoft I don't see how. Yes, if you pick a hodgepodge of open-source development tools—one from column A, two from column B—you'll have more trouble getting support. If you stick with say, Interface21's Spring Framework, Sun's Java family of tools, or Red Hat's JBoss, what makes you think they're not going to support you? Microsoft.Net Creates End-to-End Framework That Offers Lower TCO Again with this? What's Java and JEE? Chopped liver? If you want an end-to-end framework for lower TCO, lots of companies will give it to you while trying their darnest to beat Microsoft's prices. Microsoft Will Try to Convince Your CEO that You're an Idiot If You Do Of course they will. It's what Microsoft does. But this is 2007, not 2001. Your CEO—really much more likely your chief financial officer or CIO these days—may not be able to tell Apache from Zimbra, but he probably already knows that open source is a viable contender for almost any IT job. In fact, chances are your company is already using Linux, at the very least, in your servers. Marshall your argument for the software you think is best for your company and make your best pitch. If you do, you've got a decent shot of winning no matter what Microsoft tries to pull. |
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Bill Gates Likes To Lie About Vista
Earlier today, Bill Gates went on the Vista offensive saying that the new OS has been “well received.” That’s funny, I could have sworn earlier in the week, CEO Steve Ballmer was flipping out over piracy and slow Vista sales. Gates says PC manufacturers have embraced Vista and it’s currently helping boost sales for companies. True, but what about regular, off-the-shelf sales? Is Gates nervous about the future of Windows? Here’s what he said to Reuters:
"Asked by Reuters if there was anything that would make Microsoft cautious about the outlook for Vista, Gates replied: “I don’t know what you mean. Vista’s had an incredible reception.”
Denial! C’mon Billy Boy, you know things suck in the land of Vista. Just admit it and we’ll be on our way.
Friday, August 24, 2007
Dell Inc will soon offer more personal computers that use the Linux operating system instead of Microsoft Corp's Windows
Dell Inc will soon offer more personal computers that use the Linux operating system instead of Microsoft Corp's Windows, said the founder of a company that offers Linux support services.
Mark Shuttleworth, who created a version of Linux software named Ubuntu, said Dell is happy with the demand it has seen for Linux PCs that were introduced in May.
Dell, the world's second-largest PC maker after Hewlett-Packard Co, now offers three consumer PCs that run Ubuntu Linux.
She added that Dell was pleased with customer response to its Linux PCs. She said Dell believed the bulk of the machines were sold to open-source software enthusiasts, while some first-time Linux users have purchased them as well.
Open-source software refers to computer programs, generally available over the Internet at no cost, that users can download, modify and redistribute.
The Linux operating system is seen as the biggest threat to Microsoft's Windows operating system.
There are dozens of versions of Linux, available for all sorts of computers from PCs to mainframes and tiny mobile devices.
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