Spice up Windows – replace it! [with Linux]; part 5

In my few previous posts I’ve stated that I’d like to help people to spice their system and move from Windows to Linux. But we all know that it cannot be done in an instant. I started to explain the process in last posts. I hope that to this point you got used to those applications I’ve suggested before. If not, just have another week or two using them, until you’re comfortable enough with them.

This time I will explain the 5th step: Playing around

Note: suggestions in this post should be taken with care as I assume that you’ve read all previous parts and have a little experience with your new shiny system.

This step will include checking different environments, customizations and applications.

So, after you installed Linux, and your applications are working fine, what’s in it for you? What could you gain by all the effort of moving? Well, at least you’ve gained the following:

• Moving to Linux made your system more stable. While Windows was probably stable enough for you, statistically there’s less loss of information on Linux systems I’ve worked with compared to Windows ones.
• Your system is much more customizable now. Not that you should run and change anything, but you could’ve if you wanted to.
• You didn’t have to pay a dime to Microsoft for a new version of Windows, to hardware store for a new hardware and yet still you have much better performing system. And the main catch? Its totally legal and free.

So, here are those things which can spice up your system even more:

1. Graphical environment – there’s a plenty of environments for Linux, which contrary to Windows, provide all sorts of features. All the odds are that if you went with my suggestions in previous posts, you’re using either KDE or Gnome. Head over to their sites and read about them! You can customize a look and functionality of those 2 in many unimaginable for Windows XP user ways.

2. Multimedia Library applications – I’ve suggested to use VLC, but that was just for convenience. There are so many multimedia applications for Linux, take a look:

• Totem
• Mplayer
• Xine
• Banshee
• Amarok
• Rythmbox

And there are plenty more! I suggest you to look at them, play and choose what works best for you.

3. Photo Management application – I strongly suggest trying out F-Spot. It is great application for managing your photos!

And most important part is, of course – play around and have fun!

Feedback is greatly appreciated.

Technorati : Gentoo, Linux, Ubuntu, gentoo, technology, windows

Spice up Windows – replace it! [with Linux]; part 4

In my few previous posts I’ve stated that I’d like to help people to spice their system and move from Windows to Linux. But we all know that it cannot be done in an instant. I started to explain the process in last posts. I hope that to this point you got used to those applications I’ve suggested before. If not, just have another week or two using them, until you’re comfortable enough with them.

This time I will explain the 4th step: Spicing up Windows!

This would include the following:

• Backing up all you useful data (such as movies, music, family photos and those other photos).
• Choosing Linux distribution.
• Installing Linux distribution.
• Back to work.

NOTE: this step will be much easier if some member of your family (or a friend) who actually familiar with computers will be around helping. He or she can save a great deal of time, effort and negative emotions by helping to do all this.

Here we go:

1. In first step, you should definitely back up your stuff. Stuff includes documents, music, video, photos and all sorts of other things we always forget about (such as contacts, bookmarks and other settings which just the way we work – not the real information). I can’t say where is this stuff of yours on your computer (except maybe Firefox bookmarks), but computer-literate people can always locate it pretty fast for ya. That’s where that nephew of yours becomes handy and should repay for all those candy you’ve invested in him. You do get candies, toy cars and soldiers for him, right?

2. Choosing the distribution. Oh boy, this is so interesting step. By browsing multitudes of sites, you can find that there are several hundreds(!) distributions in the existence, while one or two more are created each day. So how should you choose? Well, the fact is (and I’m sure many disagree), it doesn’t matter! There are only 2 major differences between them all:

• They use different package manager (package is like installation file for a program)
• They have different set of chosen defaults for applications, settings and environments.

So, anyway, how should you choose? I suggest the following:

1. Choose the one that can easily be installed.
2. Use it for a while
3. Either stay with it if it fulfills your need, or try another.

I’m going to recommend using one of the following for beginners:

• Ubuntu Linux (of course)
• Fedora (yes, another ‘of course’)

As I’ve never used anything remotely as much as I have used Gentoo Linux (not recommended for beginners, but it is the one I use on my systems), I won’t suggest anything else. I hope that commenters will suggest other distributions and I will update the post 🙂

Another suggestion, is to use Wubi project, which intends to make the installation of Ubuntu Linux much easier for Windows users. (this one thanks to an anonymous commenter on my blog).

3. After (or during) installing Linux, make sure that all the applications I suggested before are installed. Just to make it quick reminder, here’s the list:

• Firefox
• Thunderbird
• Pidgin
• Xchat
• eMule
• Azureus
• Skype
• Gizmo Project
• VLC Player
• Picasa
• Jajuk
• Songbird
• Open Office
• AbiWord
• GnuCash
• Grisibi

So now, what you’re left to do is transfer you stuff to a new shiny Linux computer and get back to work. Using the same application will (supposedly) have no effect whatsoever on your productivity or entertainment.

I hope that these instructions cover the basics. If it doesn’t, let me know and I will help you find information you need.

Next time I will explain when will you feel the change and what can be done with it.

Have fun!

Feedback is greatly appreciated.

-A.

Technorati : Gentoo, Linux, Ubuntu, gentoo, technology, windows

Spice up Windows – replace it with Linux; part 3

In my previous posts I stated that I’d like to help people to spice their system and move from Windows to Linux. But we all know that it cannot be done in an instant. I started to explain the process in last posts. This time I will explain the 3rd step: Spicing up Office/Production applications.

For many, such applications include:

• Word Processor application (for writing documents)
• Spreadsheet (for simple calculations such as IRS reports)
• Presentation application (for business people among us – for creating presentations for their bosses or customers, for the rest of the crowd – for watching those nice nude vacation photo stripes with great music.
• Some graphical tools, for building flow charts, graphs and similar things.
• Reading PDF files (and even creating them)
• Money/account management utilities.

I’m sure there are many others. If you know them, please send feedback to me and I will update this list. We will do our best to cover what we have at the moment.

Here we go:

1. OOO Writer – a very good Word Processor. It is a part of an open source project OOo (openoffice.org), and for many many many people it covers all their needs for an application for creating documents. Whats good, as a bonus, it supports Word’s document format (almost perfect), so you could use it for exchanging document with you friends who still not decided to move to better platform.

2. OOO Calc – a very good spreadsheet program. It is also a part of an open source project OOo, and it definitely covers much of the needed features in spreadsheet application. It also supports Excel file format which allows you to work with such files if one of your friends haven’t moved to other software yet.

3. OOO Impress – a very good presentation program. It is also a part of an open source project OOo, and it definitely covers much of the needed features in presentation application. It also supports PowerPoint file format which allows you to work with such files if one of your friends haven’t moved to other software yet.

4. OOO Draw – is a program for creating sketches, diagrams, and simple graphs. Its a part of an open source project OOo, and it also covers many of the features requires for simple diagrams creating and flow charting. While not much used by home users, it can drive great value to an office user.

5. PDF Reader/Creator – this is one great thing in all systems. Don’t mind about reading PDF files too much – they are readable in every system. It doesn’t even matter that much, which application you would use, because for general purpose PDF reading is application independent, and can be done in all applications – and it will look the same.

For creating you can use OOO Writer – it can import (save) your document as PDF file.

6. Accounting – I’ve inserted this here, because it has to do with productivity applications. I personally found that for me actually using a spreadsheet for all accounting is much easier and faster (So you can use OOO Calc). But for many who want to try specific application, I’d suggest checking one of the following:

• Grisbi ( my favorite)
• GPF
• GnuCash (Windows port completed few days ago)

As you can see, I strongly recommend to install OpenOffice suite of office applications. It will give you the benefit of integrated applications, the joy of using open source (and free) software and easy transition from that other application because of similar interface.

In addition, I will just mention that for the word processor functionality, there’s another option:
Abiword – it is an open source word processing application. It is also works with Word format files, and it is lite and sufficient for many tasks. I would choose Abiword over OpenOffice if it was the only type of productivity program I needed. It is much smaller and subjectively faster.

I hope that list I gave will cover you basic needs. If it doesn’t, let me know and I will help you find the applications that fill the need you seek to fill.

After you install aforementioned applications, use them. It is important to leave older application aside, just in case. But use these new ones to get used to them. I hope you will find those application easy to use and transfer your data to new applications.

Next time I will explain how do we remove Windows with fun.

Feedback is greatly appreciated.

-A.

Technorati : Gentoo, Linux, Ubuntu, gentoo, technology, windows

Spice up Windows: replace it with Linux; part 2

In my previous post I started to explain the process of “spicing up” the Windows installation by moving to Linux. This time I will explain the 2nd step: Spicing up Multimedia applications.

I define multimedia applications as applications used for the following tasks:

• Listening to music
• Listening to internet radio
• Watching movies

So, without further due, lets dive in:

1. VLC – is one of the best multimedia applications ever. I use it extensively for music playing/listening, watching movies, and listening to some very cool internet radio stations. It is an open source project, supports replaying virtually all formats and containers in existence (except some exotic ones), supports subtitles, playlists and many more.

In an ideal world, I think I’d just suggest VLC and that would be it. But we don’t live in such world, and I will provide couple more applications:

2. Last.FM – this service allows creating “custom” radio stations based on personal choice and preference. It is very similar in functionality to Pandora, but Pandora has recently shut their service outside the United States, so as I live outside the US, I had to find something else. In fact I already have used last.fm more that Pandora, so the “switch” came to me with no big problem.

3. Jajuk and Songbird – these two are media management utilities, quite recent but fairly usable. I suggest them in case you have tones of multimedia and you’re tired managing it manually. If manual management doesn’t bother you (and you’re fine doing it), then there’s no real need to install multimedia packages. Jajuk is a Java application and Songbird is more of a web browser with vast multimedia features, that allow it to be digital media manager. You all should know though, that I don’t use media management applications, so my knowledge in this area is limited, so any feedback on this would be greatly appreciated.

Now, I have to mention couple more things:

1. iTunes – while the best in its field for managing multimedia content, I don’t suggest using it. Using iTunes would be justified if I were trying to explain the move from Windows to Mac OS, but since I’m trying to encourage people to “stay” with their hardware and just to move to better operating environment, move to Mac OS is beyond the scope of this subject.

2. Photo management – I wasn’t sure whether to suggest it or not, and if so, then in which category? I’ve decided to explain it here, in “Multimedia” context but still apart. For photo management I am suggesting to install Picasa – it is one of the Google’s acquired assets. It is in an essence a photo management application, which does a really great job managing photos, but no so great job for adjusting them and making small changes/fixes. So, this one is great for management, and if someone knows great application for “simple”/”minimal” photo manipulations, please let me know and I will add it to this list with links to people who suggested it.

After you install aforementioned applications, start using them. It is important to leave older application aside, just in case. But use these new ones to get used to them. I hope you will find those application easy to use and transfer your data to new applications. Take some time with these applications, say couple of weeks to see how it feels. If it feels good, move to next step, if not – use it for little more. These are all great applications and they all are very usable and there’s no reason one should have problem to get along with them.

Next time I will explain how do we install Office/Production applications (and which ones) to make life in Windows more productive (and in some cases – cheaper).

Feedback for everything is greatly appreciated.

-A.

Technorati : Gentoo, Linux, Ubuntu, gentoo, technology, windows

Spice up Windows: replace it with Linux; part 1

In my previous post I’ve stated that I’d like to help people to spice up their system by moving from Windows to Linux. But we all know that it cannot be done in an instant. I will explain step by step how are we going to do this so it will be easy for anyone to follow.

We will do it in 5 following steps:

1. Spicing up:Internet applications
2. Spicing up: Multimedia applications
3. Spicing up: Office/Production applications
4. Spicing up: Windows (by replacing with Linux)
5. Play!

So, let’s get started!

This time I’m going to explain how to perform step 1 – Spicing up: Internet applications

As I’ve explained in previous post, Internet applications are used for the following (mainly, of course, and highly subjective):

• Browsing the web
• Reading/Writing email
• Chatting/IM’ing (using instant messengers)
• P2P applications (bittorrent/eMule are the most popular ones).
• Internet Telephony

In order to spice up Internet applications, we’re going to install the following set of applications to answer our needs (which inherently makes our life better!):

1. Firefox – is known as one of the best browsers in the world. It is open source project, and while maybe not perfect on some (in my opinion – poorly written) sites, it is very customizable and expandable through gazillions of extensions. If you’re still using Internet Explorer 6 on your Windows XP box, do it urgently. Firefox is much better and secure browser than IE6, and provides much more functionality using fewer computer resources. Your browsing will never be the same!

2. Thunderbird – is known as one of the best email clients in the world. Just as Firefox (and made by the same team), it is an open source project. It handles email delivery in most known protocols (being POP3 and IMAP) perfectly and without any major problems. It has very good junk control (read spam filter) engine and very good rules engine. The new version (which is 2.0.0.0 at the moment of this writing) has new “tagging” feature which allows you to “tag” (categorize) message with any number of tags and then easily find it by tag without searching. This feature makes Thunderbird to be like Google – allowing to find messages by labels. Great stuff! If you’re still using Outlook Express, move to Thunderbird now – it is faster, more stable and more secure.

3. Pidgin – is one of the best IM clients around. It is an open source project, and the best thing that I like about it – it supports 3 major IM networks I use, namely ICQ, Jabber (Google Talk), and MSN. It means that I only use one client to be connected to all networks at once, at I’m able to talk to all my friends! Isn’t it cool or what?

4. Xchat2 – an IRC client. If you’re on IRC, stop using MIRC and move to Xchat! It is an open source project, has lots of customization options and very nice graphical user interface.

5. Azureus – very good, open source Bittorrent client. Written in Java, has a very good interface, stable and fast. Has many features that other clients don’t have, which makes it faster when downloading your favorite Linux distribution.

6. eMule – also very good client, but for ED2K network. It is different protocol of downloading (different from bittorrent that is), but also very popular and fast. Many prefer eMule to Bittorrent, so make up your mind and choose an application!

7. Skype – the most know application in the world for free internet conversations. It is free, beautiful an allow free pc-to-pc communication.

8. Gizmo Project – very similar to Skype, but uses different protocol. It is also free and allows free pc-to-pc conversations.

Both Skype and GizmoProject also allow calling to regular landline and cell phones around the world for considerably low price.

After you install aforementioned applications, use them. It is important to leave older (read your previous) application aside, just in case. But use these new ones all the time. I hope you will find those application easy to use and transfer your data to new applications.

Next time I will explain how do we install Multimedia applications (and which ones) to make Windows more fun.

Feedback is greatly appreciated.

-A.

Technorati : Gentoo, Linux, Ubuntu, gentoo, technology, windows

Spice up Windows – replace it with Linux – Introduction

I decided to write a series of essays about moving from Windows system to a Linux one. There are plenty resources online that can help with this transition. I just thought to make an easy one and with explaining each step of doing so.

First of all, the main issue with the series: it is not intended for the following audience:

• Gamers
• Video/Audio professionals using specialized tools
• Photo professionals using Photoshop
• Professional artists using specialized tools for their work.

I believe that these posts will be helpful to the following minorities of users:

• Internet users (mainly browsers users, IM/Chat users, email users, internet video/internet radio users, p2p users)
• Writers (including bloggers)
• Office/Production workers without specially customized Microsoft Office applications.
• Music, video and movies consumers

I will explain each step in the process and provide information about it.

Good luck you all!

-A.

Update: here are these articles:

1. Part 1
2. Part 2
3. Part 3
4. Part 4
5. Part 5

Technorati : Gentoo, Linux, Ubuntu, gentoo, technology, windows

Killing open source

Did you know that Open Source (yes, I chose to write it with capitals) can be killed? Yes, that is at least what Dana Blankenhorn from zdNet thinks.

I’ve written last week about my opinion on what Dana thinks. I really like to read his articles, because they get me pissed every time. But that is a good thing. It makes me think about an issue on hand, and sometimes I change my mind about them. Sometimes I don’t, because I make my opinion even stronger.

So, this time Dana talks about two possible ways to “kill” open source (just like that – no mentioning whether is he talking about specific software, generally open source software or the concept):

1. Spam it to death. (He mentions that this is what killed newsgroups).
2. Keep it from getting raw material.

I personally think that both reasons are dumb. I’m not sure about the possibility of “killing” open source as whole, but this sound like a very cool journalistic trick to draw attention.

So, regarding the first his suggestion – spamming the open source to death…laughable, isn’t it? I just can’t understand how “open source” can be spammed to an unimaginable death.
If it is software – a specific one at that – then such vendors as IBM, Red Hat, Google, Novell, Sun – might have to say something about it. If it is a community – then spammers will shoot each other’s way of life, because many of them use and are actual member of open source communities. And if it is a concept – how can one “spam” a concept with a useless info? I have no idea.

The second suggestion – keep open source from getting raw material, is somehow a good point. If content providers would not allow me to consume their content with my open source tools, that would be a problem. But then, wouldn’t that make me to search for another content provider? Such as one that allows me to use the content, especially if I’m ready to pay for it? This would benefit me and that provider, and the former one that never agreed to me using his content with my choice of software/hardware, will loose.

While loosing me is not such a big deal, I believe that loosing such big communities as Ubuntu/Debian users, Fedora/Red Hat users, Solaris users and SuSe users would be a major loss, because these are potential millions of customers who’s money will go to other vendors.

And finally, it open source [community/concept] can be killed, then, please, let me know how do you do it with Creative Commons song, book or beer.

Just my 5 cents.

-A.

Technorati : [ Gentoo, Linux, Ubuntu, technology ]

Standard Linux – is it possible?

I’ve read a post by Dana Blankenhorn, who “has been a business journalist for nearly 25 years and has covered the online world professionally since 1985”.

Here’s a trackback to a story.

He’s talking about running a “standard” Linux distribution. Not choosing one, but rather, using one.

I like his way of thinking actually. If mostly used distribution is Ubuntu, doesn’t that makes it “standard”? Wouldn’t it be easier for all to create and distribute products that would work with this vendor? Wouldn’t it be great to optimize ourselves to work with/on it the best way possible?

Well, yes and no.

Yes because all Linux distributions (and Ubuntu in particular) are built alike. All of them include the kernel (it is a kernel what makes Linux after all), basic software, X server system (with great graphics support), management tools and software, which is generally the same on all of them. So, when an application or product is “ready” for Ubuntu, is will not be daunting or hard task to make it work with almost any other Linux distribution.

And no because it seems to me we already been in this scenario. Just imagine: a real alternative to Microsoft’s and Apple’s OSes, and a good one. It is so good, that many vendors start creating a products for it and based on it. Hardware vendors provide drivers and optimize their hardware. Accessories are made. Software is getting better. Ain’t it great? The world, where at least one distribution becomes as good as commercial operating systems?

But that is exactly the world we’re trying to change. We don’t want the “lock-in” on a single vendor. I don’t want to be forced to use something I don’t choose by myself. We already have such vendor in our midst. Wanna guess who that is?

Isn’t that the reason we do what we do with free software in the first place?

I’m all for innovation. I’m in favor of competition. I am in favor of trying to achieve high goals.

But I can’t stand a choice forced on me. Even with best intentions in mind.

Technorati : Linux, Ubuntu, technology

QA in Gentoo, and Microsoft vs. Linux

Diego,

I’m totally agree with you on the matter. I was actually talking with Patrick about QA awhile ago, and if you hold the same stance as he does on the matter – that is great. I think one should take apart the 2 definitions about application quality: the one is being made with high quality, and the second is being working stable as specified.

The first one is regarded in software as “code style policies” and such, which means the rules and choices made when creating products (such as variables/function names, code styles, etc). It is sometimes even implemented by using automated tools for creating skeletons in code, and running automatic parsers to check the usage.

On the other hand, Quality Assurance means testing created products for bugs, features and stability, and generally speaking has nothing to do with coding policies – as long as product is stable and performs as expected.

So for Gentoo, I would believe that the main things that QA team should always check, are the following:

1. Package can be built.
2. The result can be ran/executed/used.

If 1. doesn’t pass in at least some 50%, package cannot be unmasked or even added to the tree.

When 1. is OK, and 2. is almost OK (say, it runs but some problems exist), package can be marked ~.

I only believe there are 2 cases when package can be marked stable:
1. The 1. above has near 100% positive result for all the deps.
2. The 2. from the above is considered positive, when tested by multiple users for given period of time (say at least a week) and no problems are being reported.

Thats the way I think QA issues should be handled in Gentoo.

Regarding your resignation – although I’m sure it is a lost for the official Gentoo, I hope you still stick around and help to people in need. I also believe that everyone is free community is entitled to personal wishes, and if you want to resign – its your right to do so, I don’t understand why people bother you to explain yourself (like you own them or something.)

Now, to the Microsoft vs. Linux issue.

As Daniel de Oliveira already mentioned, Microsoft has created a new site, (currently down by the way), where they explain their potential partners and salesforce, how to win the sales case against Linux offerings.

I personally think it is important, because it is not blatant “Get The Facts” campain. It is a very business-case oriented, detailed and organized guide to winning businesses.

You do such guides only when you consider your opponent very serious contender, and that requires you to concentrate on important stuff. It also means, that Linux (I mean OS here, not just kernel), is considered by Microsoft very serious, and its not “only for ….. people anymore” (fill the blanks on your own; may I suggest “supergeeks”?).

So, I’d say that Ubuntu bug #1 set by Mark Shuttleworth, is being slowly but surely resolved.

Wouldn’t you ?!

Policy update suggestion

OK, after writing an apparently controversial essay yesterday, I got some responses. For some unknown reason, most of them were regarding Patrick‘s retirement.

Although he was given as example, for some reasons this draws too much attention. I don’t think it should.

So I had some thinking, and decided that much of the discussion is about performing as developer. Being “inactive” is some kind of definition, which is set in peoples’ minds, and which is hard to argue with.

As I’m trying to be helpful (I hope), I would suggest a policy update, so future cases would be much easier for developers and Dev Rel project to deal with.

An existing policy for the matter is here:

1. Developers Handbook, Part I, Ch. 3: What you get
2. Developers Handbook, Part III : Policies
3. Developer Relations Policy guide

All these are nice and good, but I can’t find anywhere anything regarding developers tasks. What a developer should do?

So I’d propose the following policy update:

Issue a “Being a Gentoo developer” statement/policy/contract/document, you name it.

Have it structured for example, in following form:

Part I.
As a developer, you are expected to :

1. Make ebuilds and commit them to a tree….
2. Fix bugs…
3. Be a part of one of the following projects and act according their policy:……..
4. ……..

Part II.
In order to perform tasks defined by part I, you will be granted:

1. With Gentoo email account
2. With IRC cloak as a developer and some admin (op) privileges
3. With Forums cloak as a developer
4. Bugzilla high-level access
5. CVS commit privileges
6. Maillists
7. Shell access
8. …….

Part III
Being a developer means representing Gentoo. As such, you’re expected to behave according to the following rules:

{ This is greatly explained in etiquette policy }

Part IV
We support developers having a life besides Gentoo. So, in cases when life becomes more important, and you cannot fulfill your tasks as a developer, following actions should be taken:

{ this is greatly described in “leaves of absense” policy }

Part V
If you do not perform you tasks, abuse resources given to you or not behave as described in etiquette policy, this contract will be considered “breached”, and the following procedure will follow:

1. You will be notified about you suspected being in a “breach” of this contract, and asked either to sease incorrect behavior or perform your tasks as required.
2. You will be provided with “probation” time to see whether a change happens after notification.
3. If after this period a situation is still the same, a board of chosen developers will vote for you retirement as developer.
4. Some or all granted resources will be taken from you as a result of retirement.
5. You will not represent Gentoo officially from that point on.
6. Your return to Gentoo in any way will be a subject to a decision by a board of chosen developers.

I think that such a policy statement will define much better what being developer for Gentoo actually means and will make it easier to solve possible conflicts when something is not going right (purely subjective of course).

I don’t want to say that this will solve all problems, but I hope it can help to resolve some and prevent others in the furture.

I would be glad for a feedback on this.