South Bruce Peninsular - 9000 PC's in Switzerland switch to Linux - Comments

blue screen on the beach

bub — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 03:03:22 -0400

you have got to read this:
http://diveintomark.org/archives/2003/08/04/xp

lol

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"How does one "Seem to think"? Either you did or you didn't! "
-ZenGary

Penguins on the beach

garym — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:53:00 -0400

Well ... as the guy with the "Linux" license plates and having literally (co)wrote the book(s), I guess it behooves me to answer your Linux questions, VG, but first, here's a true story that happened just the other day:

Facebook message from a 'local artist': I just bought this cool EEE-PC and I need to install this program for work and, well, it's linux ... so I'm all confused. Can I SKYPE you?

Not a problem I say. The call comes, called right from the little Asus micro-laptop I might add, and we go through the process, and I go through the same steps here on my Ubuntu machine because, well, there's not a whole lot of difference between Linux breeds. I find it works for me once I just follow the manufacturer's instructions but ...

"Oh, wait," they say, "I didn't accept the license agreement! I just noticed the checkbox, checked it, and it's working now."

The salient detail being, of course, that they were able to facebook me, skype me, AND install their work software themselves despite the 'different' operating system, and that the 'trouble' was simply an OS-neutral case of not paying attention to what was actually there on the screen :)

But what I find fun and amusing was their immediate and tacit assumption that Linux had to be the source of the difficulty, because it was different, because (likely) of the heaps of anti-linux full-page all-media propaganda spread (to the tune of ONE BILLION DOLLARS) by its primary and proprietary competitor, and fun too that all that massive disinformation had here been completely dispelled in one simple software install exercise.

So, how do you like your Eee-PC?

"I love it!"

QED. If you're interested, Bruce has one tethered to the front counter down at Renewed Computers, tho its the littler and cheaper edition.

btw, I've never had a virus or a spyware or a trojan-horse or a script-kiddie intruder or even a BSoD. Not even once. Ever. What's it like?

garym: ict evangelist - musician - whatever

as an aside

bub — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:54:49 -0400

dont pull my bikini off on facebook...
:D

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"How does one "Seem to think"? Either you did or you didn't! "
-ZenGary

no probs

bub — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:33:45 -0400

I will supply you with a hard drive, give you a disc with ubuntu or red hat on it..follow the directions I give you and (or gary) you will be able to dual boot.Or if youd prefer to just get a taste of it, ..there is so many mandrake move was the first..but it just boots on the cd and doesnt affect your o/s at all, just to give you a looksee.I started under Unix at the loonyversity years ago ..so..I enjoy it, but yes I agree I mentioned the fact to gary a few months back when I got my new laptop..was if i uninstalled the preinstalled OS it would void the warranty...what does software have to do with hardware...Gary has a great link about that when he phoned about a new router..(gary help me out with this link..it was hilarious)
btw Lisa..I have 200 records for you..including dino desi and billy...hehehe

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"How does one "Seem to think"? Either you did or you didn't! "
-ZenGary

Hey Bub, I facebooked you,

vinylgirl — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 08:54:57 -0400

Hey Bub,

I facebooked you, added you to the minions. I still don't know if I could do Linux. I wonder if I dumped all my Vista crap, if it would void my warranty. I would probably be bugging you with every question known to man. Then again, it's probably best to let sleeping dogs lie. I don't do technology well. Just ask Dodge. . .

haha

bub — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:01:49 -0400

I *could* say something about that..lol....Lisa..as always you make me laugh :)
oooo and since this started as a linux thingie ..laughing is allowed and free in open source..no licenses required :) (there back on topic )
oh and gives me an idea for a new .sig :)

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"How does one "throw a camel toe? Either you did or you didn't! "
-ZenLisa

I do occasionally like to

vinylgirl — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:29:00 -0400

I do occasionally like to throw the odd camel toe. It's a bad vice.

Don't even get me started

vinylgirl — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:27:02 -0400

Don't even get me started with my somewhat manic addiction to Facecrack. I just removed as many apps as possible. I hate how you have to invite 20 peeps just to see what Pin Up Girl I really am, or what kind of dog I am. I like to spy on my daughter though, and leave notes like "remember to eat your lunch honey bunch", or "I found a sandwich hidden in your drawer again". Or leave mocking remarks to my dear husband.

Oh, and BTW Gary, belated happy birthday on your wonderful website.

~Lisa

Vinylgirl

bub — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 21:07:48 -0400

...and thats why VG called it facecrack....funniest line Ive ever read lol

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"How does one "Seem to think"? Either you did or you didn't! "
-ZenGary

FB ... for the children

garym — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 20:58:00 -0400

Aye, yes, that's how it always begins, "The kids are on it," they begin (mine were, had to to get the summer photos) next thing you know ... and they're adding apps, they are joining groups, not to discuss some issue, but simply to make a statement from having the name of that group posted out in their profile! (true story, my mom, joined 'Stop forcing me to "Invite 20 Friends"!!') and from there it is a slippery slope down to Fun-walls, to mixing cocktails, to adult-message chocolates, to only God knows what is next.

Facebook. it is e-vil ... and starting tomorrow I am going to only visit the damn thing once a day.

Sec. I'm going to put that in my status.

garym: ict evangelist - musician - whatever

btw

bub — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 20:40:00 -0400

when do you start working for the horn meister( ask him Im the one who told him how to fix his ravioli maker :) )

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"How does one "Seem to think"? Either you did or you didn't! "
-ZenGary

hmmm

bub — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 20:36:16 -0400

I know I replied to this but alas its in cyberspace I guess.I said I know what marathons are I did the around the bay road race..kinda in dif words:)

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"How does one "Seem to think"? Either you did or you didn't! "
-ZenGary

Laps around the table?! That

mmockler — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 20:01:07 -0400

Laps around the table?! That would be like 500 to equal one mile! lol Do you know how long a marathon is????
Mark WILL be buying the first round - guaranteed.
And as for the Red Bull - no just give me a Diet Coke - then I'm good! (and the Steeltown air I think is out of my lungs!)

the tribe

bub — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 19:55:54 -0400

Ok Melissa we'll make mark buy the first round..you can do laps around the table ..have to get that old steel town air out of those lungs!(if thats even possible..steetown air is there forever) ok ok..maybe we should do it and Ill buy the first round....on Garys account... heh
what about red bull?
:)

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"How does one "Seem to think"? Either you did or you didn't! "
-ZenGary

Hmmmmm ... A member of the

mmockler — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 19:40:40 -0400

Hmmmmm ...
A member of the Green Horns tribe . . . well I quit drinking six months ago to train for my marathon. But ah yes, my marathon successfully completed in NYC two weeks ago (and with the medal to prove it), I have allowed myself a beverage from time to time. But that alas must soon end too since I am signed up for two more marathons - the training must continue!
But I am curious . . . I didn't sign up for the Facebook thing - I just use Facebook to keep track of our two daughters in the big TO - Mark signed up.
So I do believe that MARK must buy the first round (I'll be the one drinking Diet Coke! Training is relentless!)
But should the crew of the Green Horns tribe be interested - I am working there this summer.
Cheers!

9000 PC's in Switzerland switch to Linux

bub — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 12:23:12 -0400

Interesting to say the least, but not unexepected, is the news on the wire that Switzerland has followed France, Russia, and quite a few like minded countries in switching to open source O/S's, and not only saving money in ridiculous licence fees, but allowing the savings to be put directly back into the school system.Do you think someone somewhere here will at least LOOK at the idea?? I wonder....
From the Geneva Tribune:
"Beginning from next term, all computers at schools in the Swiss canton of Geneva will be switched to Ubuntu Linux only.

Geneva newspaper Tribune de Geneve reports today that from September 2008 all computers at schools that currently are dual-boot MS Windows and Linux will have MS Windows removed and become FOSS (Free Open Source Software) only.

Besides lower costs for the administration, students will also profit from the use of Ubuntu, as they then will be able to use the same applications at home without additional cost.