MrsDoF away, busy weekend
Trying to get my car ready for vacation, I repaired the part of the floorpan (under the battery, which always rusts out) this weekend. 
The new metal is held in with rivets and industrial epoxy, and a layer of epoxy-saturated fiberglass which will be invulnerable to battery acid. And…
My ‘new’ Thinkpad X23 arrived. While 4 years old (it was $250), it shows no signs of prior use. This is the platform I am using to learn Linux. Within a month I hope to leave my Windows laptop at home for two or three months and use Ubuntu exclusively, thus emerging with a new skillset. And…
My copy of the 9/11 Report graphic novel (created by comic book artists following the official report) arrived, and I am now reading it. So far I am very impressed with it. The creators pretty much set out to reproduce the tone and content of the original in as straight a fashion as possible, only in their chosen medium. I would love to see other historical events given this treatment, like Katrina, Chernobyl, the 1917 flu epidemic, etc. And…
Also did a bit of redneck body work on my son’s Toyota, so I have black marks on my arm from epoxy primer. Those marks will just have to wear off gradually as anything that will remove epoxy primer will also remove skin. And…
Watched a couple episodes of Penn & Teller’s Bullsh*t!, and an episode of classic Star Trek Nice to know slide rules will still be around in the 23’d century.
I think it’s awesome that you are learning Linux. Maybe you can be the one to push the campus into implementing it. Don’t worry about things moving to fast, I don’t know of any university that moves faster then the Ents from Lord of the Rings! Anyways, if you need help with Ubuntu, let me know. I also have a pretty good link for a Linux article website on my links from my website. Here it is
So which episodes of Bullsh*t have you seen so far. I think one of my favorites is the one on food. Certainly a must see!
Thanks for the offer of help – you may regret it.
I’m pretty sure I’ve seen all the Bullsh*t episodes. Must say the quality of Penn’s research is quite variable.
“LINUX”,, ROFLMAO
I see we have two extremes represented. Webs wants to have the whole campus switch to Linux, and at the other end of the curve JOG is highly amused.
That’s what I’m here for; to spread happiness
Why not Kubuntu? Where did you get the $250 laptop? And, keep us posted on the Ubuntu adventure.
So exactly what’s your beef with Linux James? I am glad to dispel any of the myths that surround Linux. I am not necessarily saying the whole campus needs to switch over. With that I have to say it jokingly, but would it really be that difficult to migrate some labs over to Linux? Or to give students the opportunity to work with Linux on a couple systems?
As far as Ubuntu goes, it is by far the easiest distribution (or distro) to work with, install, and become equated with. I have worked on many different versions, and so far Ubuntu is my favorite.
And for those of you that are afraid of working with Linux for the first time try our one of the links below. The first is Knoppix, one of my favs. It is a live CD, everything loads up off the CD, no installation is necessary and it comes with everything you need. The next link is for the Live CD version of Ubuntu. Ubuntu doesn’t come with much, and is more stripped down then Knoppix, but it still gives you the opportunity to use without any install.
Knoppix, Ohh Boy!
Ubuntu Desktop Version or Live CD!
For both downloads, you will get an ISO file which you then need to burn to CD.
I love my OM-1, my 35-SPs, all of which require no battery and with a blank slate (film), allow for creativity. And DON’T connect me to the internet and reading damned blogs.
Seriously, I’m excited by the Bug nearing vacation-capable status, thus freeing you from the ISP tether.
I must have missed that one!
That looks suspiciously like the ol’ E6B, a circular slide rule/plotter which was the THING back when I was learning to fly.
It was used for time-speed-distance calculations, altimetry vs. airspeed conversions, and the slide and the translucent scale on the back made short work of determining course offset for winds.
I had one up until my house fire. It was magic to the uninitiated…
MC
Nothing is wrong with Linux if you just want to play with your computer. I realize that most Lenux users are deep down Microsoft haters but the reality of the situation is 90% of the world uses Microsoft products and even with all the bs that is thrown around, Microsoft stuff works. I can see the old Microsoft evil empire, secutity risk, hackers paradise coming but no one wants to attack a system that only 1 % of the world uses. Have fun with Linux its a geeks toy.
Trailrider – I got the laptop from eBay. I’ve bought several laptops that way, and the condition ranged from inoperable (sent back) to the x23 in perfect condition. I’ll keep you posted on my Linux progress, but would advise against holding your breath. I’m not a fast learner.
WeeDram, sorry to disappoint you, but the X23 is definitely going on vacation with me. If only because my computer is also my portable photo lab (I can hear you cringing from here!)
MC – who knew the E6B would even work in space
Apparently the Enterprise has crosswinds to contend with…
James – we’re using Suse Linux Enterprise Server on our three web servers at the college of business, because it handles model delivery and failovers more robustly than Windows Server 2003. But if our network guy should get a tummyache it would be darned handy if someone else there had a passing familiarity with Linux, hence this project. I can think of a few other niche applications where it might be preferable to windows. Also Apple servers, running on a *nix core, are proliferating because we found they far outperform the Dell servers in extremely file-intensive multiuser applications. Of course the university has thousands of computers running Windows, many with specialized applications and that isn’t going to change anytime soon.
Hence why I’m more favorable to a slow introduction to Linux. I think once people use it the stigma it carries will go away.
Another stigma wrongly attached to Linux. More and more companies are starting to use it for their servers because Linux is more secure and more flexible than Windows. I will agree with you James but only to the point that Linux USED TO BE A GEEKS TOY. But this just isn’t true. Which is why Linux has interested me.
Linux really has grown to be a multi-functional platform for just about anything you want a computer to do. Do you want your own PVR box that allows you to record shows at your own will? Linux can do it, its called KnoppMyth. Do you want an Internet portal, also known as a Kiosk? Well Linux can do that, there are about 5 different versions of web Kiosks, probably more that I haven’t came across. Do you want a production server environment safe from security risks, and giving you the ability to only use what you need, anything else you can strip out at your own will? Just about any version of Linux can be a server, without specialized software that needs to be purchased.
I have tried four or five distributions since 1999. Debian stable has been my primary desktop for since about 2003. Ubuntu is very usable, and I would install that if I were getting any new hardware. Linux on a laptop can be a bit harder to install. Enjoy.
Full disclosure (I’m an MCSE):
I think james is right most people that use linux are MS haters. On the other hand, most people that bag linux are either 1) to afraid to go to try it or 2) unwilling to try anything their corporate masters feed them.
Sometimes you can’t choose an alternative OS, but personal experience has lead me to say that there are a number of excellent, stable, free (or cheap), robust solutions outside the city limits of Redmond.
Use what works has always been my model. I want to seek the better solution (sometimes it’s MS, sometimes it’s not).
Personally, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10.1 has been my OS of choice lately. It interfaces with everything (LDAP, AD, etc.) and ‘It just works’.
(samuel l jackson voice) It’s just that good!
—pete