August 2007 - WLUG - wlug.mailman3.com

Re: [Wlug] Awesome article about Windows v. Linux in the marketplace

by Stephen Daukas

Good article, but it misses the one issue that keeps me with a windows machine, as well as my wife... Productivity Software - as in Outlook, Excel, Access, and to a lesser extent, PowerPoint and Word. Sure, I have heard of OpenOffice, I even use it from time to time, but guess what - it isn't 100% in all cases. For example, certain PowerPoint features like custom animation effects, embedded MS objects, etc, don't always work, or don't always work as expected. And, if you need to work with some Excel-based app that has screwy macros and such, well, it may or may not work. By the way, this holds true for MS apps on Macintosh as well. But before you offer the typical advice of: "you can get the same result if you do it this way", try explaining that to someone who already knows how to use what is already on the PC and who only cares about having a successful presentation at a public hearing where the audience is already unhappy to be in attendance in the first place. One misstep and you are screwed! Yes, you guessed it - the FUD factor. Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt. And yes, if you already have M$, and you already know how to use the bundled tools that often come with it (because M$ is bundled with the hardware), then why would you go looking for something that takes effort to do what you already know how to do? Oh and yes, I think having to decide "what Linux" is just frosting on the Linux cake! I know lots 'o folks who have heard about Linux and are interested in it, and that it is free. As soon as the begin to realize that they may have to understand what video card they have, or that they may have to tweak their favorite MS Access application to get it t work with XXX, well, they have already made the decision to not change. Most people think of a PC as a tool only. Sigh. Steve On 8/16/07, Eric Martin <freak4uxxx(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > I found this on either digg or slashdot. It's a really good article and I > agree with most of it. People won't even consider GNU/Linux while they can > still get a copy of XP for free from a buddy. That's why I tell people that > I won't support their pirating of software; and pitch FOSS at every turn to > them. http://tlug.jp/articles/Windows_Is_Free Give it a read, it might > spur some good conversations tonight. > > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > -- Stephen C. Daukas Engineer, Geoscientist, Environmental Analyst ________________________________________________ - Please, before printing, think about the environment -

Aug. 16, 2007

Awesome article about Windows v. Linux in the marketplace

by Eric Martin

I found this on either digg or slashdot. It's a really good article and I agree with most of it. People won't even consider GNU/Linux while they can still get a copy of XP for free from a buddy. That's why I tell people that I won't support their pirating of software; and pitch FOSS at every turn to them. http://tlug.jp/articles/Windows_Is_Free Give it a read, it might spur some good conversations tonight.

Aug. 16, 2007

Re: [Wlug] REMINDER: WLUG meeting coming up

by Andy Stewart

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Eric Martin wrote: > Do we have a topic or is this a round table? Roundtable unless something changes between now and then. Later, Andy - -- Andy Stewart, Founder Worcester Linux Users' Group (http://www.wlug.org) Chelmsford Linux Meetup Group (http://linux.meetup.com/393) Amateur Radio: KB1OIQ -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iD8DBQFGw8/3Hl0iXDssISsRAsCyAJ4rKuNscfaSporgNe5MrCdCpKatmgCeIslM 3L351W8QJZmU3f4+F11Z4cg= =a8PG -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

Aug. 16, 2007

Re: [Wlug] REMINDER: WLUG meeting coming up

by Eric Martin

Do we have a topic or is this a round table? On 8/15/07, Andy Stewart <andystewart(a)comcast.net> wrote: > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 > > kstratton(a)fastmail.us wrote: > > Some 1st timers questions: > > > > 1) How do I get there? I have never been to the WPI campus and a street > > address would be helpful. > > Hi "1st timer", > > There are directions posted here for your convenience: > http://www.wlug.org/directions.html > > The address is: > 100 Institute Road > Worcester, MA 01609 > > One can find those directions from the WLUG home page, click "WLUG > Meetings" (the yellow box near the top of the screen), and from there > scroll to the bottom of the page to find the "directions" link. > > > 2) Where do I park? (part of question 1) > > Anyplace you can find an available spot - there is no cost for parking. > Sometimes there are places on campus, and other times one needs to park > on an adjacent street. It varies from meeting to meeting depending upon > campus activities. The directions link is more specific about places to > park on campus to minimize walking. > > Here is a link to a WPI campus map: > http://www.wlug.org/files/wpi_campus_map.pdf > > > 3) Is it OK to be a lillte late and how late does the meeting go? > We try to start right around 7:00 PM and the meeting generally runs to > about 8:30 PM (occasionally later, but never past 9:00 PM that I can > recall). If you're a few minutes late, we won't force you to install > Windows or anything like that. We promise not to bolt down the doors at > 7:00:01 PM. :-) > > Thanks for your interest in WLUG! Hopefully, you'll be able to make it > on Thursday. > > See ya later, > > Andy > > - -- > Andy Stewart, Founder > Worcester Linux Users' Group (http://www.wlug.org) > Chelmsford Linux Meetup Group (http://linux.meetup.com/393) > Amateur Radio: KB1OIQ > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (GNU/Linux) > Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org > > iD8DBQFGw4/FHl0iXDssISsRAgIfAKCHnlNvgfYOvZkSUmVX/Gv9VFAkWwCcDXNl > RH1wAYOniDcA2AXVCoIpIh0= > =sbGC > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug >

Aug. 16, 2007

Re: [Wlug] REMINDER: WLUG meeting coming up

by Andy Stewart

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 kstratton(a)fastmail.us wrote: > Some 1st timers questions: > > 1) How do I get there? I have never been to the WPI campus and a street > address would be helpful. Hi "1st timer", There are directions posted here for your convenience: http://www.wlug.org/directions.html The address is: 100 Institute Road Worcester, MA 01609 One can find those directions from the WLUG home page, click "WLUG Meetings" (the yellow box near the top of the screen), and from there scroll to the bottom of the page to find the "directions" link. > 2) Where do I park? (part of question 1) Anyplace you can find an available spot - there is no cost for parking. Sometimes there are places on campus, and other times one needs to park on an adjacent street. It varies from meeting to meeting depending upon campus activities. The directions link is more specific about places to park on campus to minimize walking. Here is a link to a WPI campus map: http://www.wlug.org/files/wpi_campus_map.pdf > 3) Is it OK to be a lillte late and how late does the meeting go? We try to start right around 7:00 PM and the meeting generally runs to about 8:30 PM (occasionally later, but never past 9:00 PM that I can recall). If you're a few minutes late, we won't force you to install Windows or anything like that. We promise not to bolt down the doors at 7:00:01 PM. :-) Thanks for your interest in WLUG! Hopefully, you'll be able to make it on Thursday. See ya later, Andy - -- Andy Stewart, Founder Worcester Linux Users' Group (http://www.wlug.org) Chelmsford Linux Meetup Group (http://linux.meetup.com/393) Amateur Radio: KB1OIQ -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iD8DBQFGw4/FHl0iXDssISsRAgIfAKCHnlNvgfYOvZkSUmVX/Gv9VFAkWwCcDXNl RH1wAYOniDcA2AXVCoIpIh0= =sbGC -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

Aug. 15, 2007

Re: [Wlug] REMINDER: WLUG meeting coming up

by kstratton＠fastmail.us

Some 1st timers questions: 1) How do I get there? I have never been to the WPI campus and a street address would be helpful. 2) Where do I park? (part of question 1) 3) Is it OK to be a lillte late and how late does the meeting go? On Wed, 15 Aug 2007 00:20:52 -0400, "Andy Stewart" <andystewart(a)comcast.net> said: > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 > > > HI Everybody, > > Its that time again for a WLUG meeting: > > Thursday, August 16th > 7:00 PM > Access Grid Room > WPI Campus > Worcester, MA USA > > See ya there! > > Andy > - -- > Andy Stewart, Founder > Worcester Linux Users' Group (http://www.wlug.org) > Chelmsford Linux Meetup Group (http://linux.meetup.com/393) > Amateur Radio: KB1OIQ > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (GNU/Linux) > Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org > > iD8DBQFGwn8kHl0iXDssISsRAikMAJ9zfo16xjYwhPIRJFOIr2D0raS23ACcDEmA > D3w9ynOUYfEUFrgymuELv90= > =Jnxo > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug -- kstratton(a)fastmail.us

Aug. 15, 2007

REMINDER: WLUG meeting coming up

by Andy Stewart

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 HI Everybody, Its that time again for a WLUG meeting: Thursday, August 16th 7:00 PM Access Grid Room WPI Campus Worcester, MA USA See ya there! Andy - -- Andy Stewart, Founder Worcester Linux Users' Group (http://www.wlug.org) Chelmsford Linux Meetup Group (http://linux.meetup.com/393) Amateur Radio: KB1OIQ -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iD8DBQFGwn8kHl0iXDssISsRAikMAJ9zfo16xjYwhPIRJFOIr2D0raS23ACcDEmA D3w9ynOUYfEUFrgymuELv90= =Jnxo -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

Aug. 15, 2007

Linux meta-questions - platform choice

by Adam Keck

Hello All, I have some "meta-Linux" questions regarding platform choice. I am wondering if anyone knows of any research, papers, or other work that has been done on the topic. Given two major types of IT infrastructure: - Heterogeneous, where each application/service uses the platform to which it is best suited. - Homogeneous, where one bends a particular platform to fit every edge case. where the platform can be anything from and OS to a language to an application stack. o Under what general conditions is one infrastructure type more efficient than the other? o What other types of infrastructure are there? o More generally, how does one compare infrastructures in a rigorous manner? - How does one rigorously define "efficient" when comparing concepts like infrastructures? - What other metrics, besides "efficiency" (however defined) may be useful in comparing infrastructures? Does anyone know of any work where this topic has been abstracted and analyzed mathematically? Or of any trade papers where this question has been looked at in practice? So far, I found the following paper via Google: http://uic.edu/cba/cba-depts/ids/IDSNewsFiles/JGITM_Evaristopaper.pdf that seems to be on the topic and some hits on arxiv that appear related but not specifically on the topic. This relates to Linux in that convincing an organization to switch entirely over to Linux seems to be prohibitively hard in practice, but if one can show that the heterogeneous case above can be more efficient, then one can make the case for using Linux where it fits best. Thanks for any info/opinions/personal experiences! -Adam

Aug. 10, 2007

[Fwd: looking for someone to do system administration]

by Andy Stewart

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 HI gang, Can anybody help out Anita? If so, please contact her directly. THanks! Andy - -------- Original Message -------- Subject: looking for someone to do system administration Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2007 17:43:45 -0400 From: Anita Wos <anita(a)artofrowing.com> To: andystewart(a)comcast.net Andy- I came across your name on the WLUG web site. Perhaps you can head me in the right direction. I am looking for someone to do System Administration on my Cobalt web server. It runs Apache, mySQL and pHp. It runs a couple of web sites. If you have any ideas, please let me know. - - Anita - -- The Art of Rowing 279 Plantation Street, 1st floor Worcester, MA 01604 tel: 978-342-8333 http://www.ArtofRowing.com Anita Wos anita(a)artofrowing.com <mailto:anita@artofrowing.com> mobile phone: 978-808-1102 - -- Andy Stewart, Founder Worcester Linux Users' Group (http://www.wlug.org) Chelmsford Linux Meetup Group (http://linux.meetup.com/393) Amateur Radio: KB1OIQ -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iD8DBQFGt6/3Hl0iXDssISsRAvR4AJ96n9QU6ubmvNa0bJN3VAV0XPX86wCfc2Rq 57Ba3eYAzgBsjiZPJxiQlQU= =EFYE -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

Aug. 6, 2007

Re: [Wlug] Anybody want a really cheap computer?

by Andy Stewart

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 kstratton(a)fastmail.us wrote: > Even though nobody said to do this, I personally would be careful using > the decTOP directly wired to the car battery. I have seen car batteries > under charge with 15 volts or more at the terminals. This is outside > the range of the ATX power suply standard for the 12V output (+-5%) > acording to: http://www.formfactors.org/developer\specs\ATX12V > PSDG2.01.pdf. My greatest concern is for the 3.5" hard drive and > possibly the DC to DC converter that converts the 12V to a logic level > voltages. Point well taken - thanks! There is the theoretical possibility of slightly modifying the box to use something like this: http://www.mini-box.com/picoPSU-60-WI?sc=8&category=13 Granted, I haven't checked the specs in sufficient detail, but there is hope. :-) Also, I've sent email to the decTOP folks asking them for the spec and tolerances for the 12Vdc input. Once I get this info, I'll pass it along. Later, Andy - -- Andy Stewart, Founder Worcester Linux Users' Group (http://www.wlug.org) Chelmsford Linux Meetup Group (http://linux.meetup.com/393) Amateur Radio: KB1OIQ -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iD8DBQFGtonUHl0iXDssISsRAqRiAJ42at0gvTzEghAhnIck0Kr/i8ph3wCdF8ZV s2bUk14IPE+cN4F0+Zs4iEg= =Zdyj -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

Aug. 6, 2007