January 2009 - WLUG - wlug.mailman3.com

problem upgrading openoffice.org to version 3.0

by Andrew Perry

Hi Everyone, [GREETINGS:] I have a Dell Inspiron 1420 running Ubuntu 8.04, Hardy Heron. I bought it from Dell, preloaded with Ubuntu, at about the time Dell started selling linux preloaded. I'm knowledgable about computers relative to the general public but probably will be a perpetual "newbie" to this crowd since, for example, I have never learned how to use the comamnd line well. I started using linux seriously when distros like Ubuntu came out that, supposedly, took care of most of the technical details so that a "normal user" could use linux without spending all his free time troubleshooting and reading manuals. Part of what made me "convert" was fantastic folks like LUG members; I love the linux community and am grateful for the help WLUG members have offered at times. [THE PROBLEM:] Unfortunately, I am at my wit's end to upgrade OpenOffice from 2.4.1 to version 3 - which I need to open .docx and .xlsx files that my students at Springfield College constantly send me. I've been wanting to do this for months and haven't had any luck looking in online help files. The openoffice.org help files direct me to options that simply aren't there. For example: "Choose Help- Check For Updates to check manually" - but there is no such option in my help menu ! "To check for updates automatically, Choose Tools- Options - OpenOffice.Org- Online Update" - again, the promised option, "Online Update" , simply isn't there. I tried to uninstall and reinstall OpenOffice.org in "add/remove programs" , but the default package manager (adept?synaptic? it doesn't say which it is, but I think it is synaptic) won't let me uninstall the "base package" as other packages require it. I could try to upgrade the whole distro to Ubuntu 8.10, but am reluctant totake the risk of crashing the computer and feel it shouldn't really be necessary. [HELP?] Can anyone help ? Solutions comprehensible to a "perpetual" newbie will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Andrew Perry

Jan. 28, 2009

HP T5720 info...

by Tim Keller

Hey Gang, So last night I'd mentioned as an alternative to a NSLU2 was one of these HP T571X machines that can be found on eBay for around $100. Currently the HP has a very stripped down Debian install on a 32GB SSD. Last night the box was stressed all night and didn't crash (this was after tuning down the DMA) Also I've put up pictures of a "fitPC" that my other coworker is playing with. Both of these machines are going to be used for home automation stuff. In fact the guy who bought the HP is using an Adrino with a home built circuit to read the information off of his pool chemistry controller. I've posted some pictures on my picasa site so people can see how it's all setup, with a standard hard drive for comparison. Here's a link to the pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/turbofx/Micro_pcs# Later, Tim. -- I am weary of the allegiances of any politician who refers to their constituents as "consumers".

Jan. 23, 2009

Re: [Wlug] Early reminder: upcoming WLUG meeting

by Andy Stewart

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Richard Klein wrote: > I jotted down a couple very quick notes at the end of the meeting, so > I thought I'd share them with everyone else. Hi Rich et al, Thanks for the summary! That'll help everybody, whether or not they attended the meeting. On a related note, I'd like to mention that we had 28 people at this evening's meeting, which is a GREAT turnout. We had standing room only in the Access Grid room. We also had a relatively large crowd go out for pizza afterwards, and it seemed to me like everybody had a good time. The last of us broke off our discussions around 11:30 PM, and I just got home a few minutes ago (yeah, I have a long drive). On behalf of WLUG, I'd like to say thanks once again to Nick who gave a great talk this evening. 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 iD8DBQFJeVjQHl0iXDssISsRAvYmAJ9+LcotKZQr8a0IccWVwDUT1x/j8wCdGf+s kDf1vgbyhT6Cntc4HUWeM1s= =mQYW -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

Jan. 23, 2009

Re: [Wlug] Early reminder: upcoming WLUG meeting

by Richard Klein

I jotted down a couple very quick notes at the end of the meeting, so I thought I'd share them with everyone else. Of course, the meeting started with Nick giving a presentation of Miro, a media player with online guide, search tools, rating system, etc, built on gtk, python, libtorrent, and mozilla, that takes advantage of RSS and bit torrent: http://www.getmiro.com/ Miro began in Worcester! One of the many guys whose names I can't remember reminded us of the ACM@WPI swap meet this Saturday. This is the official page: http://www.acm.wpi.edu/swapmeet/ but I like the presentation of the data better here: http://www.socialweb.net/Events/87360.lasso Someone else recommended MonoPrice for cheap DVI/HDMI cables: http://www.monoprice.com/home/index.asp Alex, I think, recommended the Linux Mint distro, but I don't remember what the question was: http://www.linuxmint.com/about.php Finally, someone recommended the HP T57xx line of thin clients as a surprisingly capable platform with no moving parts that can be had for cheap on the used and/or gray market: http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF06a/12454-12454-321959-338927-893… -- Rich

Jan. 23, 2009

WPI ACM Swapmeet this Saturday! 10am-4pm

by Billy Hnath

Hey everyone, This Saturday(Jan 24), The WPI ACM is hosting a Swapmeet in the Campus Center Odeum. The event is free of charge and we open at 9am for sellers and 10am for buyers and we will close around 4pm. You can find more information at http://acm.wpi.edu/swapmeet Thanks and hope to see you there! --Billy -- William R. Hnath, Jr Worcester Polytechnic Institute Class of 2010 Alpha Chi Rho- Delta Sigma Phi 851

Jan. 23, 2009

Re: [Wlug] WLUG demos...

by Andy Stewart

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 John Stoffel wrote: > I know I haven't been ot a meeting in a *long* time, but I do hope to > make one this spring if I can. Right now I'm playing with Arduino > controller boards on my Ubuntu desktop. Fun blinky LEDs, etc. > > http://arduino.cc > http://www.ladyada.com (where I got my parts) > http://www.sparkfun.com > http://www.evilmadscientist.com (lots of neat stuff) > > And loads of others in google. It's pretty neat to play with, and > it's interesting moving from the IDE (which has a sucky editor) to a > more pure Emacs/Makefile driven setup. > > I figure maybe I could come and demo this at some point. Any > interest? Loosely Linux related, since I'll be using an Ubuntu LiveCD > and thumb drive to setup and demo the environment. > > John Hi John, I've recently become very interested in this myself, and I plan to purchase an Arduino in a day or two and start playing around, since I have time these days (between jobs). If you'd like to come to WLUG in February to demo your Arduino, I think that would be great. Feel free to contact me off-list with the particulars if you care to proceed. Thanks! 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 iD8DBQFJePZ6Hl0iXDssISsRAvSHAJ9CGisf7hiaOMD3vnwbqF9VfzJ87wCfcAkX axZ7ktWR6sXLMqyHd1Y2NTc= =HADa -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

Jan. 22, 2009

Re: [Wlug] Early reminder: upcoming WLUG meeting

by Andy Stewart

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Hi all, I'll bring my laptop, and I'm sure a few other folks will bring their laptops also. We are fortunate that at least one, and often two, WPI network engineers attend the meeting, so I don't think getting on the internet will be a real problem as long as at least one of them is in attendance. Trouble making question: why would someone assume the presence of Windows at a *Linux* meeting?! Clearly, you're new here. We use TSA style security to insure that nobody brings Windows into the meeting area. ;-) See ya later this evening, 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 iD8DBQFJePCVHl0iXDssISsRAvy9AJ9V27y+L2Omb0eKgvllsqmzcjls8ACfa9RC 4i62+H+cC6CAdbMb353GLIQ= =bHK5 -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

Jan. 22, 2009

WLUG demos...

by John Stoffel

I know I haven't been ot a meeting in a *long* time, but I do hope to make one this spring if I can. Right now I'm playing with Arduino controller boards on my Ubuntu desktop. Fun blinky LEDs, etc. http://arduino.cc http://www.ladyada.com (where I got my parts) http://www.sparkfun.com http://www.evilmadscientist.com (lots of neat stuff) And loads of others in google. It's pretty neat to play with, and it's interesting moving from the IDE (which has a sucky editor) to a more pure Emacs/Makefile driven setup. I figure maybe I could come and demo this at some point. Any interest? Loosely Linux related, since I'll be using an Ubuntu LiveCD and thumb drive to setup and demo the environment. John

Jan. 22, 2009

Re: [Wlug] Early reminder: upcoming WLUG meeting

by nassar＠alum.wpi.edu

Nope, but it seems like about once a month, someone tries to integrate them. :) If you use MythTV, it's pretty trivial to get those videos into Miro and vice-versa. They just can't share metadata. >>>>> "kstratton" == kstratton <kstratton(a)fastmail.us> writes: kstratton> Looks interesting. I have never made ot to a meeting, kstratton> but I still want to ask this question. kstratton> How is Miro related to Myth TV? kstratton> On Wed, 21 Jan 2009 09:38:58 -0500, nassar(a)alum.wpi.edu kstratton> said: >> Let's call the presentation "Miro: the state of Linux video and >> cross platform free software desktop development" >> >> >>>>> "Andy" == Andy Stewart <andystewart(a)comcast.net> writes: >> Andy> nassar(a)alum.wpi.edu wrote: >> >> If no one else is doing anything, I could do an informal >> >> presentation on Miro. http://www.getmiro.com/ >> >> >> Andy> Hi Nick, >> Andy> Go for it! One request: please send me a couple of sentences Andy> for the website to advertise the topic. >> Andy> Thanks, >> Andy> Andy >> Andy> -- Andy Stewart, Founder Worcester Linux Users' Group Andy> (http://www.wlug.org) Chelmsford Linux Meetup Group Andy> (http://linux.meetup.com/393) Amateur Radio: KB1OIQ Andy> _______________________________________________ Wlug mailing Andy> list Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org Andy> http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug >> _______________________________________________ Wlug mailing list >> Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug kstratton> -- kstratton> kstratton(a)fastmail.us kstratton> _______________________________________________ Wlug kstratton> mailing list Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org kstratton> http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug

Jan. 22, 2009

Re: [Wlug] Early reminder: upcoming WLUG meeting

by kstratton＠fastmail.us

Looks interesting. I have never made ot to a meeting, but I still want to ask this question. How is Miro related to Myth TV? On Wed, 21 Jan 2009 09:38:58 -0500, nassar(a)alum.wpi.edu said: > Let's call the presentation "Miro: the state of Linux video and > cross platform free software desktop development" > > >>>>> "Andy" == Andy Stewart <andystewart(a)comcast.net> writes: > > Andy> nassar(a)alum.wpi.edu wrote: > >> If no one else is doing anything, I could do an informal > >> presentation on Miro. http://www.getmiro.com/ > >> > > Andy> Hi Nick, > > Andy> Go for it! One request: please send me a couple of sentences > Andy> for the website to advertise the topic. > > Andy> Thanks, > > Andy> Andy > > Andy> -- Andy Stewart, Founder Worcester Linux Users' Group > Andy> (http://www.wlug.org) Chelmsford Linux Meetup Group > Andy> (http://linux.meetup.com/393) Amateur Radio: KB1OIQ > Andy> _______________________________________________ Wlug mailing > Andy> list Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > Andy> http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > _______________________________________________ > Wlug mailing list > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug -- kstratton(a)fastmail.us

Jan. 22, 2009