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Linux Choix?
by Greater Worcester Land Trust Nov. 20, 2007

Nov. 20, 2007

It has been a while. I tried getting our nonprofit (Worcester land conservation) to adopt Linux some years back. Problem I had back then was weak graphic options, publisher options, Quicken options, and a lack of a good answer to running ArcGIS. I was beaten back into M$. I want another crack at this. I am looking to take a spare laptop and install a Linux OS and OS apps. Previously, some years back, I used to use what are now Mandriva Linux installs. Coming back to this I see that there are dozens and dozens of options these days. What, if any, of the options do the WLUG folk prefer/recommend. Thanks so much, Colin

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Re: [Wlug] Xinerama issues with Fedora Core 8...
by Jamie Guinan Nov. 19, 2007

Nov. 19, 2007

Can you downgrade the individual driver(s)? See this thread from this morning, http://lists.freedesktop.org/archives/xorg/2007-November/030311.html -Jamie On Mon, 19 Nov 2007, Tim Keller wrote: > So... if I'm reading this right... I'm stuck then... since I have monitors > on separate video cards. > > I know it's cool that xrandr can do all this funky stuff, but I'd just be > happy to keep existing functionality. > > What are my options now... downgrade my X server? > > On Nov 19, 2007 1:34 PM, Chuck Anderson <cra(a)wpi.edu> wrote: > > > On Mon, Nov 19, 2007 at 01:07:54PM -0500, Tim Keller wrote: > > > As far as I can tell... Xinerama support is totally borked in Fedora > > Core > > > 8. Has anybody come across any solutions? > > > > Xinerama is no longer supported in Xorg. But not to fear! It has > > been replaced by a new, dynamic method of doing dual-head with the > > XRandR extension. Unfortunately, neither the Release Notes nor the > > system-config-display tool have taken these changes into account. > > Also, this won't work with multiple separate video cards, only single > > video cards with multiple output on them. The fact that the X server > > segfaults when configured with Xinerama is a bug. > > > > You can turn on/off and configure multiple displays all dynamically > > using the xrandr command. Try this to display the available outputs > > while the X server is running: > > > > xrandr > > > > To configure a specific output, try these commands: > > > > xrandr --output DVI-1 --auto > > > > Or: > > > > xrandr --output DVI-1 --mode 1024x768 > > > > To configure dual-head (NOTE: You have to pre-configure the maximum > > combined virtual resolution you want to use in xorg.conf first, as > > specified below): > > > > xrandr --output DVI-1 --right-of DVI-0 > > > > This is nice because it means you can dynamically set up dual-head for > > an external VGA port on a laptop going to an LCD projector, for > > example. The internal LCD and external VGA could run at different > > resolutions too. > > > > For more fun, you can play with rotating screen images. > > > > You can also configure this in xorg.conf. The key differences from > > traditional multi-head and Xinerama are that you only use a single > > Screen in your ServerLayout section: > > > > Section "ServerLayout" > > Identifier "new dual-head configuration" > > Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0 > > InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard" > > EndSection > > > > Then refer to multiple monitors in the Device section. Here the > > format is Option "Monitor-<actual-monitor-id-from-xrandr>" > > "<monitor-identifier>" > > > > Section "Device" > > Identifier "Videocard0" > > Driver "radeon" > > Option "Monitor-DVI-0" "first" > > Option "Monitor-DVI-1" "second" > > EndSection > > > > Then specify the multiple Monitor sections themselves, using the > > monitor-identifiers specified above, with the placement options > > RightOf or LeftOf: > > > > Section "Monitor" > > Identifier "first" > > EndSection > > > > Section "Monitor" > > Identifier "second" > > Option "RightOf" "first" > > EndSection > > > > And then of course the single screen section. Note that you MUST > > specify the Virtual resolution as the sum of the resolutions of the > > multiple monitors you want to use (either horizontally or vertically, > > depending on your preferred monitor orientation). So below I have > > specified Virtual 3200 1200 so that I can place two 1600x1200 monitors > > side-by-side. The Monitor "first" is there just to satisfy the > > requirement for a Monitor to be specified--you don't put both monitors > > here. > > > > Section "Screen" > > Identifier "Screen0" > > Device "Videocard0" > > Monitor "first" > > DefaultDepth 24 > > SubSection "Display" > > Viewport 0 0 > > Virtual 3200 1200 > > Depth 24 > > Modes "1600x1200" "1600x1024" "1440x900" "1400x1050" > > "1360x768" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1280x800" "1280x720" "1152x864" > > "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480" > > EndSubSection > > EndSection > > _______________________________________________ > > Wlug mailing list > > Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org > > http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug > > > > > > -- > I am leary of the allegiances of any politician who refers to their > constituents as "consumers". >

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Linux Choix?
by Colin Novick Nov. 19, 2007

Nov. 19, 2007

Apologies. Deepest even. Before anyone needs to chastise me I looked it up and OS X is more Next and other sources than Linux per se. Apparently Parallels on OS X will run Win and Lin, but the underlying OS is OS X and does not imply that ArcGIS would be stably emulated by a Linux machine emulating Win. Sorry. Hope not to have too terribly offended in my ignorance. Colin

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Re: [Wlug] Information for Linux newbies?
by Mike Leo Nov. 18, 2007

Nov. 18, 2007

Where the heck is everything? http://tldp.org/LDP/intro-linux/html/sect_03_01.html has a nice chart I think one thing that frustrates people is their relative path to everything...you can't cd /mike unless you're already in /home for instance. Even from the GUI's, Windows people will start at C:\ and move around from there. ----- Original Message ---- From: Kevin Harrington <mad.hephaestus(a)gmail.com> To: wlug(a)mail.wlug.org Sent: Sunday, November 18, 2007 12:01:05 AM Subject: [Wlug] Information for Linux newbies? As i mentioned at the meeting this past week I am going to be giving a seminar for linux newbies and would like to pull from people that know better then i do on what i should teach people. What i would like to know is: What are some things that you wish you had known as a newbie? Think back to your very first linux install and any short-cuts, tips, tricks, and gatcha's that would make peoples first experience easier. There is a lot of windows resentment after the slow trainwreck that is vista, so lets see if we can get a few new converts! P.S. one of the big concerns for a few people that i have talked to has been games, if anyone has a list of new-ish games that work or any tips specific to making the most recent generation work under linux, that would make things much easier ;) _______________________________________________ Wlug mailing list Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug

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Re: [Wlug] Linux Choix?
by Mike Leo Nov. 18, 2007

Nov. 18, 2007

Ubuntu is the current poster child for Linux. You can buy Dell desktops, laptops and servers with Ubuntu pre-installed, and I think even HP offers the same. I use it as my primary work desktop, and dual boot it on my work laptop. It just works. Though I prefer Debian because I like to tinker, the latest version of Ubuntu does everything it needs to with little help. If you are trying to sell Linux to someone, I think its the way to go. ~mike ----- Original Message ---- From: Greater Worcester Land Trust <gwlt(a)gwlt.org> To: wlug(a)mail.wlug.org Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 9:37:02 PM Subject: [Wlug] Linux Choix? It has been a while. I tried getting our nonprofit (Worcester land conservation) to adopt Linux some years back. Problem I had back then was weak graphic options, publisher options, Quicken options, and a lack of a good answer to running ArcGIS. I was beaten back into M$. I want another crack at this. I am looking to take a spare laptop and install a Linux OS and OS apps. Previously, some years back, I used to use what are now Mandriva Linux installs. Coming back to this I see that there are dozens and dozens of options these days. What, if any, of the options do the WLUG folk prefer/recommend. Thanks so much, Colin

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Re: [Wlug] Linux Choix?
by Mike Leo Nov. 18, 2007

Nov. 18, 2007

A pleasant correction... Mac OSX is a BSD derivative, not Linux, though they are similar. ----- Original Message ---- From: Colin Novick <c-novick-1(a)alumni.uchicago.edu> To: wlug(a)mail.wlug.org Sent: Saturday, November 17, 2007 9:23:49 PM Subject: [Wlug] Linux Choix? Steve, Thanks for the ArcGIS thoughts! I did some digging and came across this: http://spanring.eu/blog/2006/07/02/arcgis-on-mac-os-x-2/ They were getting ArcGIS 9.X to run (well even) on MacOS X with Parallels; Now I am a born-again newbie but as I understand it OS X is a Linux derivative, and Parallels is a means of faking a Windows OS (XP etc.) on the Mac. Do folks know if this might mean there is some hope for a Linux install that can be rigged to run Arc? Thanks so much, PS ESRI's (producer of Arc) site is supremely unhelpful as they aren't interested in much other than server support for Linux and a basic reader function. PPS Red Hat's site didn't give me much to go on.

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Linux Choix?
by Colin Novick Nov. 18, 2007

Nov. 18, 2007

Steve, Thanks for the ArcGIS thoughts! I did some digging and came across this: http://spanring.eu/blog/2006/07/02/arcgis-on-mac-os-x-2/ They were getting ArcGIS 9.X to run (well even) on MacOS X with Parallels; Now I am a born-again newbie but as I understand it OS X is a Linux derivative, and Parallels is a means of faking a Windows OS (XP etc.) on the Mac. Do folks know if this might mean there is some hope for a Linux install that can be rigged to run Arc? Thanks so much, PS ESRI's (producer of Arc) site is supremely unhelpful as they aren't interested in much other than server support for Linux and a basic reader function. PPS Red Hat's site didn't give me much to go on.

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Re: [Wlug] REMINDER: Upcoming WLUG meeting
by jbaillie＠netzero.com Nov. 16, 2007

Nov. 16, 2007

Hi Andy, I was thinking of attending the meeting tomorrow nite. I am a first-timer and was wondering whether I need id to get into the building, where to enter Morgan Hall for the best chance of finding the grid room, and where to park? thanks, Hope you all don't mind a newbie. jb -- Andy Stewart <andystewart(a)comcast.net> wrote: -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 HI gang, Wednesday, November 14th, 2007 7:00 PM Access Grid Room WPI Campus Worcester, MA USA That's where our next meeting will be held. I hope to see you there! 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 iD8DBQFHOSH0Hl0iXDssISsRAng6AJ4uMs7iHZCs7bjbBFympwo9SWO7igCdGueh Hb/BR6ewY+oA10xn60O/YiE= =TQo4 -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- _______________________________________________ Wlug mailing list Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug _____________________________________________________________ 0% Intro APR. 5% Cashback bonus and fraud protection. Apply now! http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2211/fc/JKFkuJO6YWjYNl1gIhH49ynpErqi…

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Motherboard search tool?
by John Stoffel Nov. 15, 2007

Nov. 15, 2007

Hi guys, I'm looking for a new system/motherboard for my home computer. But trying to dig through the steaming piles of crap out there to find the right board is painful. And I don't want to have to go and look at every single damn vendors site just to figure out what's available. Sigh... So does anyone know of a useful resource which compares motherboards and allows you to filter down the selection quickly and easily? Esp by features? So say I want: AM2 socket FireWire onboard 4gb > RAM potential Gigabit Ethernet >= 3 PCI slots 1 PCIe x16 >= 1 PCIe x1 or x4 How would I go about finding this easily? You'd think it would be simple, but no... it's a total pain. And of course I'm not totally sold on AMD, but I would like to support them since I like 64bit CPUs and the lack of hassle going over 4Gb of RAM, since I suspect that will be how I upgrade this system in the future, instead of getting more CPUs, etc. I've looked at ArsTechinca, Phoronix, LinuxBios (since I'd *love* to have a Linux BIOS for quicker boot times...), etc. But they're not that easy to figure out without spending way more time than I want. I'm starting to think I should just start coding up a Rails app to hold all this data and provide easy searches. Then I'd need to *find* all the data as well... whee! Yet another time sink. :] Thanks, John

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Re: [Wlug] Motherboard search tool?
by Mike Leo Nov. 15, 2007

Nov. 15, 2007

newegg.com does a good job of that, if you know what you want... go to the mother board section, then on the left, continually add features till you get down to a selection. http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=22&name=AMD-Mother… or http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=280&name=Intel-Mot… ----- Original Message ---- From: John Stoffel <john(a)stoffel.org> To: wlug(a)wlug.org Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2007 11:39:07 AM Subject: [Wlug] Motherboard search tool? Hi guys, I'm looking for a new system/motherboard for my home computer. But trying to dig through the steaming piles of crap out there to find the right board is painful. And I don't want to have to go and look at every single damn vendors site just to figure out what's available. Sigh... So does anyone know of a useful resource which compares motherboards and allows you to filter down the selection quickly and easily? Esp by features? So say I want: AM2 socket FireWire onboard 4gb > RAM potential Gigabit Ethernet >= 3 PCI slots 1 PCIe x16 >= 1 PCIe x1 or x4 How would I go about finding this easily? You'd think it would be simple, but no... it's a total pain. And of course I'm not totally sold on AMD, but I would like to support them since I like 64bit CPUs and the lack of hassle going over 4Gb of RAM, since I suspect that will be how I upgrade this system in the future, instead of getting more CPUs, etc. I've looked at ArsTechinca, Phoronix, LinuxBios (since I'd *love* to have a Linux BIOS for quicker boot times...), etc. But they're not that easy to figure out without spending way more time than I want. I'm starting to think I should just start coding up a Rails app to hold all this data and provide easy searches. Then I'd need to *find* all the data as well... whee! Yet another time sink. :] Thanks, John _______________________________________________ Wlug mailing list Wlug(a)mail.wlug.org http://mail.wlug.org/mailman/listinfo/wlug

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