What is a web application? A web application, also known as the ‘webapp’, is an application that can be easily accessible through a web browser over the internet. It is coded in languages such as PHP, ColdFusion, and Asp.net combined with in a markup language like HTML. What are the many benefits of a webapp? For one thing, web applications are cross platform compatible. Unlike certain software, which may only work on a Windows machine of a Mac machine, web applications have the ability to work across many different kinds of software such as internet explorer, Firefox, Safari as well as many different kinds of operating systems such as Windows, Linux, or Mac OS. Web applications are also extremely cost efficient. They have much lower maintenance and support costs than software as well.

Another benefit of the webapp is that you will never have to install an application on your computer to take up hard drive space. A webapp will always occupy a virtual cloud of space on the internet. Web Apps also allow you to constantly have the most up-to-date software. No more upgrade fees!

They are also available anywhere and anytime! This is huge – similar to the way you can access your email from any browser, any computer, etc., you can also access any web applications from anywhere.

With webapps you can also stress less about viruses. Webapps require no installation, which means no viruses (unless you were to just get a Mac then you would never have that problem). The biggest benefit of all (in my opinion) is that mobile has arrived- allowing us to take our web apps anywhere our cell phones go.

Some Applications:
1. Facebook (social networking site)
2. Google Wave (an email and collaboration tool)
3. Mint (a site to keep track of all your finances)
4. Kuler (a color application to find colors that match and work good together)
5. Google Maps (a map application)
6. YouTube (Video application)
7. Go To meeting (a virtual meeting application)
8. WordPress (blogging application)

Author: Alexa Dagostino
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Pressure cooker

If you are using Ubuntu, you can actually sync you data between multiple installations of the operating system. This is nice because you have the freedom to use this data and settings on as many machines as you like.

Generally speaking, to get everything to work this way, you need to buy multiple copies of an operating system. With Ubuntu since it’s free, the installation becomes a bit more flexible since you can do whatever you want with it.

The first way to sync are to use free programs like Ubuntu One or DropBox. Both of these have a free version that allow you to use about 2 gigabytes of data. This data can be changed on one computer and will upload itself to the server when the changes are made. When you boot up on the other computer, the changed data will be downloaded. This will make it seem that you are working on the same machine even if it’s multiple stations.

Another way of doing this is to backup your home folder. If you view hidden folders in your install, you will see that there are many folders that start with a period. What’s useful about these is that your user settings are there. You can sync these between computers if you want your Firefox settings to be the same on all of them for example.

Another way of doing this is using Ubuntu’s default USB disk creator tool. This will let you take your install and put it onto a USB device. You can boot from this USB on any computer and use your data that way. You can even install from this USB and your settings will come over with it.

Author: Lance Esondi
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Duty on LCD/Plasma TV

Ubuntu has established a tradition of releasing a newer version of their software within every six months, which is usually during April and October. This brings about a pertinent question that you should ask yourself. Is it really necessary to upgrade your pieces of hardware every six months in order to receive more features? In order to take advantage of the upgrades without unnecessarily spending your hard-earned cash every now and then, you should be aware of the needed system requirements.

There are basically three versions of Ubuntu, namely, server edition, desktop edition, and netbook remix. As the name of this newest edition indicates, it is primarily intended for netbook users.

Although it is actually possible to install Ubuntu on an Intel 486 processor, there is hardly any use in doing this. This is because all you will get is a white blinking cursor without any graphical desktop. Even though you may be interested in using it as a local print server, I advice you against this, since it won’t be easy to get necessary components in case of a breakdown.

In such a case, it is better to use the server edition instead. You will require fairly low system requirements, with no graphical environment. My recommendation is a minimum of Pentium 3, with 256 MB RAM for optimum performance.

However, in order to make the most of Ubuntu, you will need more than your old PC. For instance, if you want such special effects as 3D cube that rotates across the screen, or wobbly windows among others, you need to have a 3D accelerator card. This calls for newer PCs and laptops.

Another thing to take into consideration apart from the graphics card is the RAM. In order to have an appealing desktop, you will require at least 1 GB RAM.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t much option for netbook users. In spite of upgrading hard drive and RAM, it is still not possible to have all the features of the desktop edition. This is where the netbook remix comes in handy.

Although I’m pretty sure that there are still other Ubuntu upgrades in the pipeline, the minimum system requirements will remain the same. This knowledge will save you from unnecessary upgrades.

Author: John William Hanson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty rate

The wonders of the modern world

There are many commendable aspects of the modern commercial world.We have amazing technologies and advancements in modern science enable us to perform acts that would have been held as miracles just a few years ago.

and the down side

However, along with all the positives, there is also the down side.We are caught in a world where commercial marketing seduces us into wanting to possess more and more at considerable personal and global expense.

complexity

As a result, many of us lead complex lives, managing more possessions than we really have time to appreciate.We have to work hard and long to afford this material wealth and often there is someone at the bottom of the consumer chain working equally hard for next to nothing so we can have our branded goods, our tea and coffee and our latest gadgets.

Ubuntu

What has all this got to do with a small African word, Ubuntu.The truth is it has everything to do with it.Ubuntu means quite simply “I am because we are”.In other words, my whole experience of self only makes sense because we are all joined up.

joined up, physically, socially, spiritually

Clearly this makes sense at the physical level.We could not enjoy a cup of tea if someone didn’t grow it for us.Also at a social level, we are dependent on others for friendship and our sense of self worth.And at a spiritual level, our consciousness is actually at one with that of other beings.

we share and we grow

The more we contemplate our one-ness the more profound it becomes.Every dialogue we enter into affects us in an irreversible way.We learn from each other.When someone expresses a valid concern to us, their concern might easily become our concern.Similarly we share joy and sorrow and so on.

silence speaks

Mystics throughout the ages seem to agree that the most profound spiritual wisdom comes through silence.This has been true of every spiritual teacher the world has ever known.Jesus took time out to “be with his father”.Buddha Shakyamuni sat under the Bodhi tree and found enlightenment.

true connection

It is in the silence and stillness that we can truly find connection or, as some would put it, find God.We don’t need to be enlightened to know this.There is such an overwhelming body of evidence that suggests stillness brings wisdom and connection with our deepest self.

The power of nature We can also experience our connectedness when we spend quiet time in nature.The more we allow ourselves to truly experience nature, the more we feel at one with it.Our connection becomes obvious.

the danger of disconnection

The opposite is also true.If we do not take quiet time alone and if we do not connect with the world around us we begin to feel disconnected, out of kilter.We start to make poor decisions; we become reactive on a purely material level.If someone shouts at us we shout back.We behave like selfish individuals rather than part of a whole.What’s more is that we also become dissatisfied in the process.We become unhappy.

a happy and productive life

If we truly take Ubuntu to heart, we can take time to know our connectedness in the stillness and bring the resulting sense of presence into our relationships with others and with the world around us.We will become happier and more productive people in the long run.

Author: Clive A Wilson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty tariff

Love XBMC? Need it and want it in Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic? But can’t get it installed because of a missing package that won’t install? Search no further, I have your solution here. Even though XBMC 9.11 Camelot has solved many user issues, fixed bugs, revamped it’s style and created whole new feature sets… it simply cannot function if your system does not support it.

The problem with Ubuntu might be that it does not have all the required libraries in place. This is easy to test. All you have to do is try to install “liblzo1″. If you are using a Debian based system, like Ubuntu/Kubuntu, then you can install it through the command like with the following command:

sudo apt-get install liblzo1

If you do not want to use the command line, you can install the library through your favorite GUI application such as KpackageIt (in Kubuntu) or Synaptic.

If you have not tried installing XBMC before or have an old version, simply run this command (via the command line) to add the XBMC officially unofficial PPA’s:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:team-xbmc/ppa sudo apt-get install xbmc-standalone xbmc liblzo1

If you have a problem install XBMC because of the missing “liblzo1″ package, you can download it from the following places. For x64 bit computers use the first link, the a regular 32 bit system use the second:

http://packages.ubuntu.com/jaunty/amd64/liblzo1/download

http://packages.ubuntu.com/jaunty/i386/liblzo1/download

Install that package first:

sudo dpkg -i liblzo1_1.08-3_amd64.deb or sudo dpkg -i liblzo1_1.08-3_i386.deb

If you are not comfortable with the command line, you can simply click on the file to install it through the built in GUI package installers (these usually come standard with most current Linux distributions).

then do:

sudo apt-get install xbmc xbmc-standalone

This will now finally install XBMC in Kubuntu Karmic 9.10 without issue at all. Enjoy XBMC goodness!

Author: Piotr Krzyzek
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Cellphone news

In our country, we have become so addicted to Microsoft that we cannot seem to do without it. It has become like morphine: we get off it, we feel pain so great, we writhe in sheer agony.

Don’t get me wrong. I am a BIG fan of Microsoft Word and Microsoft Encarta. But the OS’s? Oh, don’t ever get me started!

From the moment I saw Ubuntu Linux, I was… Stunned to say the least. I always thought that Linux OS’s were… Primitive. Turns out, it just got bad press.

Though I thoroughly enjoyed Ubuntu, I had to delete my Ubuntu drive after about a month or two of using it when I needed the space for my other files. And the parting wasn’t easy. Though I loved Ubuntu Edgy Eft like crazy, I wasn’t ready to be weaned off Windows yet. I thought I needed Windows. Yeah right. Like a hole in the head.

The decision to fully migrate my desktop to Ubuntu or any other reliable Linux distro came when my Windows XP melted down. I decided I was finally ready to move permanently… When I discovered Wine. But more on that later. This is an article on how to choose a different OS. :p

The mainstream Operating Systems for desktops for the everyday user come in two major branches. I know, I know, there are other OS’s out there, but for the moment, I’ll just talk about the most well-known, most user-friendly Windows alternatives.

How to choose the OS for you

Choosing is a universal function of needs, desires, and availability, among other factors. There is no one way to go about it, and sadly, it is not a science. but I have made a system for myself on how I can go about my own choices. I hope my system would help you. Below are the steps on how I go about making Operating System choices.

Know what you need.

Knowing what you need need not be a precursor to lobotomy. Just grab a notepad and the guidelines and questions below may help you:

What is it that you do?

Are you a graphic artist? A web designer? A writer? A student? A casual user?

Base your choices on what you do, because your needs will depend on this.

What software needs to be on your computer?

If you are a graphic artist or a web designer, you would definitely need tools like Adobe Photoshop. If you cannot afford the price, there are alternatives like the Gimp on Linux. However, I have a friend who says that he can never work on Linux, though he’s not a Microsoft loyalist. According to him, Adobe Photoshop doesn’t look as good on Linux as it does on Microsoft Windows. BUT, there is Adobe Photoshop for Mac, and it actually looks light years better than on Windows. Why? Mac screens are just rich, with the million-color support. If you have the money to burn, and you need apps like Adobe Photoshop and even Dreamweaver, then you better get OS X. Or else, get yourself a Macbook/Macbook Pro/iMac. Now. :p

As for the writer, since word processing is light, and doesn’t really require as much RAM as applications like Adobe Photoshop or Dreamweaver, which, in turn, require support for high resolution, I guess it would be safe for me to recommend that you use Linux. There are excellent applications to replace MS Office, like Open Office, Star Office, etc. AbiWord is an excellent MS Word replacement. It’s light, fast, and simple. And you can write in pure white space, if you’re allergic to distractions. These applications can save in the MS Word .doc format. But if you just have to have the MS Word formatting for your work, then by all means, go for Ubuntu Linux’s Feisty Fawn! It has Wine built into the system. Wine is the application that can run your MS programs, and it’s really an excellent tool to wean you off the Microsoft addiction. Though I have yet to try out Wine on Linux, as I am waiting for the official release of Feisty Fawn on April 19, I have tried Crossover, a non-free distro of Wine, on my OS X. It was able to run MS Office seamlessly so far. It’s not slow when it’s up and running, and though the fonts are just smaller, the main point is, it’s running the Microsoft program. Enough said. I’m planning to pay for my copy when the trial expires.

Students, on the other hand, have varied needs. I recommend Linux if you’re not into heavy photo editing anyway, as:

• It’s free.
• If you want games, Wine can run World of Warcraft for you. Yes it does. Games are the priority of the Wine community!
• Linux helps sharpen your skills, if you’re a Computer Science or Information Technology student.
• It’s free.

If you are a casual user with money to burn, then you could definitely work well with OS X! OS X, according to my friend, is better for the dummy user than Windows! Why, I am a very destructive dummy user. I actually install anything I fancy. I have installed some pretty serious stuff here in my Macbook, decided I didn’t want them anymore, couldn’t find the documentation for how to uninstall the stuff I did, and decided, What the hell, I’ll just toss all the programs in the trash. The only thing I noticed that was different right after was that the fonts in iTunes got messed up a little. But after installing an update on everything including the system, that problem was fixed. Oopsie.

But if you’re like me, a total cheapskate, I believe that you would do well on Ubuntu or PCLinuxOS. Both are very user friendly, and I was blown away by the two Operating Systems. As soon as I get a stack of CD’s, I’m trying out the other user-friendly Linux OS’s, and I’m going to feature them here. Meanwhile, why don’t you check out these OS’s themselves, and see for yourself that they really are nice. Go to http://www.distrowatch.org or http://www.ubuntuforums.org to see what people think about the different OS’s, and which are the popular favorites.

What are the primary features that you would want on your operating system?

You would do well to make a list of what you want as features on your OS. Below is my own list:

–User-friendliness

–Easy to install built-in applications

–Package manager/handler for easy installation

–Applications that are good equivalents for Windows applications

–Easy networking setup

–Compatibility with Wine or any other Windows emulator

–Can read Fat32 (hard drive format) for easy Windows sharing

–Customizable User Interface

–Installable Windows/Apple media codecs

–Easy install of Java and other media support

–Fast loading/non RAM hog

–The OS does not hang, restart randomly, or crashes. If it does, it should be rare, or like in Ubuntu, will only prompt that it has crashed, but will not affect the operation of the system or its applications.

–The OS should have a very helpful support community.

So far, Ubuntu Linux is my best choice. It is the best in application installation, has a really wide range of built-in apps, and with each release in its 6-month cycle, it gets increasingly user-friendly, and is getting more packed in features as the days go by. Ubuntu Feisty Fawn comes with a Windows networking setup manager, so it will be easier to manage your local network/s. It also comes with Wine, so you don’t need to really rack your brain with how to install this (non) emulator. The only thing that’s annoying with Ubuntu is that it takes long in starting up.

If you want a faster OS, you can try PCLinuxOS. I have yet to install it, so I don’t know about its application manager: if it’s easy to deal with or not. But it’s highly user-friendly according to forums, and as I’ve used it through its live CD. And it’s eye candy, too.

Ubuntu can also become eye candy if you install themes and change the desktop background. If you find the pre-installed brown theme yucky, change it! The options are shown when you right click on the desktop, the panels, and if you go to system>themes. Mine is delicious pink. Heehee.

Another thing that is great in Ubuntu is the kick-ass community. According to some people I read there, PCLinuxOS has a great community, too, as according to people I’ve read on Ubuntu’s forums. It’s actually better, according to them, as the programmers/developers themselves entertain questions on PCLinuxOS.

If your hardware cannot support heavy programs, there are thin clients out there, which can be run even on a decade-old machine. If your machine used to support Windows 95 and is still wired for 95, you can go for OS’s like Xubuntu or Puppy.

Research on your options.

If only I didn’t need to work, I would rather be on the forums all day and clicking away at Linux sites. So far, the best Linux distros as far as I’ve learned are Ubuntu, PCLinuxOS, Sabayon, Arch, Mint (Ubuntu based), Puppy Linux, Mepis, Xandro’s and Knoppix, to name a few. Knoppix and Puppy can be installed on removable media, and you can save your files there, especially if it’s a multisession/rewritable disk or flash drive.

Again, do try to frequent the forums, you will sure learn a lot there.

Test the top three to five on your option list.

I do not like to wade through the hundreds of Linux distros, only to find them to be lousy. I would rather know about the best few then test them. It’s a good thing that most Linux OS’s come in Live CD’s, so you can run them without having to install them. I suggest you try Ubuntu, PCLinuxOS, Xandro’s and Puppy. They are the most user-friendly around, according to most people. PCLinuxOS and Puppy are very fast. If you really like Ubuntu and just want it to run faster, as I’ve said, you can go for Xubuntu. Take heart, there is an OS out there for you. Or else, you can compile one from Linux’s source code. Hrhr. :p

As for OS X, I cannot say more. It is really an excellent Operating System. It has the stability of Linux, being also a Unix-based OS, and it is far more user-friendly than Windows. No, you do not need to have an Apple machine to run it. People have been able to run it on X86 machines successfully. Just read the how-to’s on the Internet.

OS X is really eye candy, and they have dumbed down the controls on a lot of the programs, to increase user-friendliness. Yes, there are moments when I feel that some Mac programs (especially the iLife programs) are too simple for my taste, but I really don’t want to complain, as they do the job, and they do it excellently. Where else can you install programs by just dragging the icon to the Applications folder? If that isn’t idiot-friendly, what is?!

As I said, choosing an OS need not be brain lobotomy. Just explore, research, and have a system in making choices. You need not suffer on a system that melts down with every trojan and spyware outbreak. You can be free. You can migrate. Screw Microsoft. Screw Vista. Go for Open Source (or Apple :p).

Author: Lorie Therese Locara
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Mobile device news

Computers started making their way into homes, en masse, 15 years ago. After 15 years, computer users should not be afraid of using their computer.

This case study tells the story about a customer of mine, Wanda, who happens to be in her 70s. Like most computer users she used a Windows based computer. In her case, it was a system put together by her grandson in 2002 or 2003 and has a 1.8ghz processor, 256mb of RAM and the XP Home version of Windows.

When I first met Wanda a few years ago, she had typical Windows user problems; slow computer, slow Internet, couldn’t open some attachments, virus and spyware problems. She used dialup Juno for Internet and Norton Antivirus on her system. I couldn’t talk her into getting a DSL or cable connection, but I did change her security from Norton to AVG and optimized the startup and running of the system. However, with dialup and Juno, she continued to have problems that cropped up every 3-4 months.

In April of 2008, I talked with her in detail about computer usage. She stated that she really only needed to do three or four things with her computer:

1. Email
2. Word Processing
3. Solitaire
4. Very light Internet browsing

We talked about the cost of a new computer and a high speed connection. And then we talked about taking Windows off her system, installing a different system (Ubuntu and Linux didn’t mean anything to her) that would be virtually trouble free and no cost to acquire besides my install and configuration time. She liked the sound of that, but I informed her that I could not install Ubuntu unless she was agreeable to getting a DSL connection for the Internet. She agreed.

I installed Ubuntu for her and configured her desktop with shortcuts to her email, the web, solitaire, and her word processor. Again, that was April of 2008. Prior to that I received at least one call from her every month, and visited her for cleanup and troubleshooting appointments at least 3-5 times per year.

Today, Wanda called me for the first time since I installed Ubuntu on her system 14 months ago. She asked two questions:

1. Why can’t I get email from my daughter?
2. My printer stopped printing, do I need a new one?

Knowing that it would be a quick visit, I stopped by her house in between two other appointments. To my delight, the computer desktop looked exactly the same as I left it the prior year except for a few saved PowerPoint slideshows she saved from email to it.

Since she was using Hotmail, I could almost guarantee that she had blocked her daughter’s email address (Microsoft places the spam / junk mail button dangerously close to the delete button). Sure enough, a trip to the blocked senders settings revealed what I suspected. Her daughter’s email address and a dear friend were blocked. I rectified that in a few clicks.

Next, her printer problem turned out to be a paper jam. After clearing it, the computer was happily printing again. I left her home in under 15 minutes after correcting the problems that had nothing to do with Ubuntu, and she was beaming like a kid in a candy shop.

MORAL OF THE STORY
Properly setup and customized for an individual’s computing needs, Ubuntu Linux can be used successfully and easily by anyone of any age and computing ability. AND, the problems associated with computing under the Windows environment disappear.

My only regret is that I did not start looking into and learning about Linux prior to 2006.

Author: Rick Castellini
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Latest trends in mobile phone

Given that I’ve been yapping about Windows and Apple for a few weeks now, I think that this should be the best time to do a few conversions. No, I don’t mean to convert anyone from PC to Mac or vise versa. I’m talking about taking the free route. Yes ladies and gentlemen, it’s time that you all know what Linux is all about. Some of you might have already heard about the Linux operating system but then again this might be your first time, so I’ll just lay it straight and simple. Linux is an operating system, much like Windows or Mac, but it is entirely free.

The most appropriate phrase to define this “free” state is open source. What this means is that the code that makes up the operating system is free to be copied and reconfigured to suit the programmers wishes. You don’t need to be a programmer to run the OS, but other people have the liberty to change it and make it their own. Now, that’s cleared up, let’s not get into it further. Now some of you who know the difference between windows and Mac probably know that there are features that feel the same and some that are completely different.

You will get the same feel from any Linux OS. The games that you run on Windows may almost certainly never run on any OS that it’s not supposed to, so don’t expect it to run. This goes for any other application that’s exclusive to a single operating system. Hardware that you buy can pretty much run on any OS, but there are other pieces that work with specific software. What’s the upside to all this? Other than using something that’s free, which is probably the best thing the about the OS, you also get to use free software. Linux has a community for it’s users where they can share their software and it’s all free.

You can do whatever you want with it, provided that you know what you’re doing, but then that’s another thing that’s great about it. You’re not stuck with something that other people built for you, you can rebuild your system the way you want it to feel like, and there are great learning opportunities ahead of you. There’s also Linux for beginners that targets people who want to get in to the community. There are distributions that cater to different kinds of users that range from beginners to moderately techie to the extremely techie user. Distributions are the different variations that were built by different people in the community to suit to their own needs and they share it with everyone so that they can improve upon the design, show it off or just to allow people to experience the same thing they’re experiencing.

So yeah, Linux might not be for everyone, but if you want to learn how to use it, it’s basically available on their main site. If you want to start, you can search for the Mint distribution. It’s one of the easier variations to get into and it primarily focuses on making your desktop look amazing.

Author: Jego Goldstein
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Digital Camera Information

Choosing the appropriate operating system is based on the server`s function. Linux is powerful and has a versatile operating system while Windows is well-known for its easy to use operating system and versatility. Deciding the right server was certainly a trial as a decade ago, Microsoft`s Windows NT and Novell`s NetWare4 were prominently in use, but today NetWare has totally disappeared and the Linux version is found to be a good choice. Both Windows and Linux come in server and desktop editions.

Maintenance and security are one of the significant areas to comprehend the actual differences between the operating systems. Linux are commonly referred to as distributions, also known as `distros`, and are released around the same time frame using the same kernel version (operating system). Linux needs careful consideration of hardware drivers as the hardware newly released should be appropriate and this includes the motherboard as well. Linux installation should be done by people who have proper knowledge to run the operating system and its applications. Linux is stable and more secure than Windows.

On the other hand, Windows offers easy installation and runs even in default modes, besides it includes a series of drivers regardless of the hardware type and has the extensive variety of software. However it suffers with frequent security problems demanding critical patches involving rebooting. Moreover it is expensive right from the purchase price to the applications, besides ongoing maintenance is a must to keep it updated and stable.

The comparison of Linux vs. Window includes other considerations such as the price, specialized options and support. Linux has server oriented versions available with vendors and some are offered with 24/7 paid support. There are less expensive distribution versions obtainable at Mepis, Centos and Xandros and others, which are offered at a very low cost to get started, while Debian, Slackware, Mint, Mandriva, Fedora of Red Hat and Ubuntu are all free versions.

On the other side Microsoft Windows server is regular with 32 and 64 bit versions with specialized options such that it is ideal for small as well as medium sized businesses. However, the biggest hit is that Windows is buoyed up by a multi billion dollar company and is compatible with the majority of software, besides it is very easy in using and understanding that even an average user can make the best of it. Windows pricing varies dramatically based on the numbers purchased and on the yearly maintenance agreement or the licensing plan.

The significant difference in Linux version does not speak about the software quality or the drivers` availability, but the support offered. Depending upon the Linux distribution package, the user may get a quick and 24/7 paid support, and this should well suit any corporate environment. Purchasing the operating system and hardware together ensures the support for installed hardware, else it may be required researching to ensure the motherboard, network adapter, chipset and others are supported by the Linux version. The other non-Linux options include OpenSolaris and many variants of Berkley Software Distribution.

Author: Roberto Sedycias
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: US Dollar credit card

It is interesting now. If you do a search for Linux and “not ready for prime time” you get a few people (presumably Linux fans) who will even question the term “prime time.” Rather than address valid concerns in the Linux community (by non-Linux users), they question what does “ready for prime time actually mean?” So, if you read no further, my answer is “No, it is not ready for prime time.” Following are two reasons why I think Linux is not ready yet.

Recently I bought an HP laptop with 3GB of RAM and 250GB harddrive. I was vacillating between whether or not to install Linux as the main operating system on it. I was practicing on my seven-year-old personal computer (Dell) that was currently on my desk but wasn’t really successful in installing it. I had looked at Linux Mint and Ubuntu 9.04 Linux distributions.

Here are a few observations I found when trying to install it on my desktop PC (the old one, 1GB RAM, 30GB hard drive). All of the directions I viewed said that it was easy to install. Perhaps it was me and my ignorance of the word “easy,” but I didn’t find that to be true. First, the file that you download is an “.iso” file. Windows-world users get .exe files and maybe zipped files. Downloading another program to package with the .iso file so that the file can be read is not intuitive. Again, I understand .exe files. My grandmother can understand a “click on this .exe file.” command. “Package it together with an ISO reader and then your PC should pick it up” is not easy; it’s convoluted.

Secondly, can’t we all just get along? Take a look at distrowatch and you’ll find the number of Linux distributions already on the open source market. When you think of Microsoft you think of Windows (7, Vista, XP, ME, 98SE, and 95 – all Windows and emphasized one at a time). When you think of Apple, you think of Macintosh or OSX.

Now, what do you think of when you think of Linux? Let’s see there’s Linux Mint, Ubuntu (and all its varieties), SuSe, Fedora, Debian, Mandriva, Puppy, Arch, BSD, Red Hat, etc. Need I continue? But you say, “that’s the beauty of it.” How many operating systems is Microsoft featuring at any one time, or perhaps a better way to look at it is, which OS is being packaged with hardware products at any given time? Currently, everything is all transitioning to Windows 7. Most recently it was Vista, and for a long time it was XP. Microsoft, for all its faults, knows how to focus on marketing one operating system at a time. Do the other OS have a share currently? Absolutely. But only one Microsoft product is featured. The Linux open source community would do well to focus on one or two distributions by pooling all of its intellectual resources together to come up with a fantastic product. I think it has a good product (possibly even great) now but they need to make it easy enough for grandmothers to install. Make it even easier than Windows! Like it or not, that’s the standard.

Fixing these two problems alone would make installing Linux a treat.

Author: Mort Greenwood
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Creditcard Currency Conversion Fee

What You Will Need To Get Started:
*A copy of iATKOS, iPC, Kalyway DVD (Snow Leopard not supported yet)
*Windows 7 RTM DVD
*Ubuntu 9.10 (latest) DVD
*A decent working computer/laptop
*A second internet source (incase anything goes wrong)
*Printed version of this guide (unless viewing off another machine)
*Suggested Laptops are Dell Inspirons, Acer and HP.

Disclaimer: I do not take any responsibility for any problems you recieve from following this tutorial. By following the tutorial you are agreeing to enhance your laptop/computer machine under your own responsibility and desire.

Lets Begin

Step1: Install Windows 7
Installing Windows 7 is easy and should take between 15mins – 40mins (machine dependent). First you’ll need to boot up with a Windows 7 DVD you presumably have burned already. I Prefer erasing a hard drive and “clean installing” Windows on there. Upgrade if you want doesn’t matter. Once installation is complete, reboot and your machine should go straight into Windows. Set up Windows to your likings and install drivers if needed. If you want Windows 7, Ubuntu and Mac OSX (Triple Boot) go to step 2. If you want Windows 7 and Mac OSX (Dual Boot) go to step 3.

Step 2: Install Ubuntu (not necessary)
There are 2 main ways to install Ubuntu. I’ll be doing the way I find easiest and user friendly. Log into your Windows and insert the Ubuntu Disk. If the installer opens automatically great. If not browse the disk and look for Wubi. Run Wubi and the installer should appear. As a installation option select “Install inside of Windows”. This is the easiest way to install Ubuntu for even the most novice of computer user. Select a drive (Use the same as Windows), select a minimum of 7 gigs of space for Ubuntu. Enter your username and password for your new account. Installation should take around 30 minutes or less. Reboot your machine and Ubuntu should appear under Windows 7 highlight it with the arrow keys and press Enter button. Ubuntu will start up now. Install any nessesary programs, drivers and explore your new Ubuntu :^). Shutdown you machine.

Congratulations thus far you should have Windows 7 and Ubuntu Successfully installed and working. Grad a drink and food now. Proceed to step 3 to install Mac OSX

Step 3: Install Mac OSX
Boot up into Windows 7. In the start menu search “computer management” (Here is were we partition a drive for Mac). In the left panel select Disk Management and partition 15GB or more for Mac OSX. The Partition should be formated as Fat32. Insert the Mac OSX disk and reboot. Boot into the Mac OSX disk. When prompted to install in ‘x’ seconds type “-v” without quotation marks. A bunch of writing should appear and stay on the screen for a about 5 mins or less. When prompted go to Disk Utility at the top panel and select to erase the partition you plan on installing Mac OSX on. Format the partition as Mac OS Journal. Close the window and select install. Let it install, this should take around 20 minutes. Afterwards Mac OSX with boot up, you may notice you don’t have sound yet and your resolution is the greatest.

Now its up to you to install the drivers your new Hackintosh machine will require. For Dell Inspiron Users I’ll be putting together a package for you to download to get the drivers. But till then do a little googling.

Almost done, we’re heading to the final steps. When you reboot and select Windows you’ll notice that your unable to. Reboot your computer but insert the Windows 7 (or even Vista) and select “repair” when its done loading. Select “Startup repair”, this should take about a minute or so. Reboot and you’ll notice Mac OSX is missing. Boot into Windows 7 and download a program called “EasyBCD”. Open the program and select to add entry (We’re going to add the Mac OSX entry. From the drop down box select Mac. Under Drive select “boot”. Now reboot and there you go.

FINISH
Last thing you need to do is update your programs and software on your OS’s. You’ve officially completed the Tutorial. Give yourself a pat on the back and comment.

Author: Lebo Morojele
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Programmable pressure cooker

The tech world is no more driven by the proprietary software. The world has changed and even the way we use to access the software. For almost each paid software, the users are provided with zero cost counterpart of it. The tools with no licensing fees, no expiration dates and no problems are available for free downloads. The feature will list the best products or softwares that are available for free.

Mozilla Firefox: The browser is jumping up since its inception in 2004. The major took off was after the version 1.5 was made public. It changed the consumer’s perception for internet navigation. It offered tabbing experience and enhanced security. The browser is gradually moving up on popularity charts and with Mozilla Firefox 3 available for download since June 17, the hopes are higher. Skype: The software that allows one to make calls over Internet. It is available for free downloads and is best to make calls to users worldwide. People using the same Skype service can be called for free but calls to landlines or cellphones are charged. Users on Skype can go for video conferencing for free on the same. The service is also available on mobile devices. Google Docs: Launched as an option to proprietary software products, the product is a huge success. The product is like a spice adder to ongoing rivalry of Google and Microsoft. Microsoft has flagged a huge success with patent of Microsoft Office Suite but with the launch of free Google Docs and that too online, the company has faced a setback. At the hour, when flexibility is key driver, Google Docs seemingly takes away the pie away from MS Office Suite. No doubt MS Office Live Workspace is giving tougher competition online but still Google Docs has taken the appreciation by mass users on certain features and services. Google Docs has eliminated the need of keeping important docs handy in CDs or flash drives as they are now available online. Ubuntu: The most widely appreciated Linux distribution can not be left alone if list of best freebies are discussed. It is the only operating system from Linux distribution that has made entry to best products list. Its ease of installation and excellent performance with older drivers makes it the best reputed distributions since far for Linux users. Above all the operating system comes loaded with Firefox, Openoffice.org, and Evolution mail.

Comodo Firewall Pro: The security threats are surging high, taking away calms from the users. At current stage, missing firewall means taking your data in lighter means. If cost is the limiting factor, try hands on with Comodo Firewall Pro. This is the best available and above all free firewall for XP and Vista that secure your network from lot of viruses. The list maintained in its database, reduces the number of pop ups on your PC and controls the programs having access to Net. YouTube Uploader: YouTube is scaling high on popularity charts with people getting crazy to upload videos and photos. The free availability of videos is also adding to its rising popularity. But loading video is a cumbersome job. The YouTube Uploader is a nice tool to upload lot of videos on sites at once. To pick products from a vast library that are making their presence felt and are topping the charts is not an easy job, but hoping that the feature will offer you a comprehensive list for some very well appreciated free products that can be categorized for Hall of Fame.

Let’s be honest: managing multiple instant messaging accounts on different services can be a pain in the neck, especially when you need a different program for each account. That’s not fun, even if your dream is to have your system tray touch your Start menu (or your System menu, GNOME folks!). Ignoring that fact, IM programs tend to be buggy, slow, and bogged down with advertising. Plus, most multi-protocol clients tend to cost money. I don’t have money. But I do have a solution. Read on, kind person who reads thy articles.

Everyone, meet Pidgin. Pidgin is an open-source instant messaging client that allows users to connect to a wide variety of Instant Messaging clients. Don’t believe me? I don’t blame you, so here’s the supported list:

A year ago, I made the best and worst mistake of my life: I messed up my GRUB boot list, and didn’t have the wherewithal to fix it. I was so frustrated, that I chose to abandon the Microsoft axis altogether. What would I do without the tools I used in Windows? I found myself relying on some very helpful roundups online. You know “The 5 best apps for this or that”, and the like.
It turns out, after you read 50 or so Linux roundups that don’t help you at all, you find one shining program( or solution )in the rough that takes care of your issues. Sometimes, you end up using a combination of programs together, with varying degrees of success. Then, you have the “kludge”. This is a programming term that basically means ” an inefficient, clumsy way to get the result you want”. I have plenty of those, and have detailed a few of my favorites below.
I’m not saying that you will see much of a difference in the programs I suggest in this roundup. Depending on how new you are to the Linux scene, you might stumble onto something you aren’t currently using. What I will offer are unique and occasionally “kludgey” solutions to get the job done.
PDF’s: These gave me a real problem when I started using Linux full-time. Don’t get me wrong, Linux has plenty of PDF readers/writers. When it came to editing them all, I hit a bit of a roadblock. I have to amend PDF’s(photo and text-based) on a regular basis. So what are the solutions I found?
- PDFedit: This is okay, provided you are satisfied with having a one-shot edit. By that, I mean that you can access the document and change it, but it does not have an “undo” function. Hopefully, they will add this feature in future. You have to close the document in order to “undo” any changes. I only use this for highlighting text based PDF’s. For image based PDF’s I choose…
- GIMP(a kludgin’ we will go): Yes, that’s right. The venerated Photoshop replacement can edit text and image-based PDF’s. There are several issues with this method, but I’ll explain how to use it, should you be so inclined. The downfall of this method is that GIMP imports the PDF, whether Image or Text based as an Image. When it exports, it exports the file independently of the original as a PDF. That being said, it is a good solution for 1-3 page docs. All you have to do is create a new layer in Gimp, cover up the old information with a color( I use white, generally) and create a new text layer to replace the old data. Then export as a .jpg or .png (I generally use .jpg, but .gif works pretty well, should you need a smaller file size.)
Here comes the fun part: Now, you have to open up the other PDF pages in GIMP, and export them as a .jpg or whatever. Then, open up OpenOffice Draw. Insert the picture into the first slide. Insert another slide, insert pic. Repeat until done. Click “Export as PDF” button. Tada. Not fun. Or you can just write a PHP script to run on your Apache server, and use the PHP/PDF library to export your files as a single PDF(if you feel froggy, jump.) I hired someone to write a short script for me, and they were among the best dollars I have ever spent.
- Scribus: This is the most mature of the editing/publishing platforms out there. I have heard great things about its ability to edit PDF’s. The only problem is, I cannot get it edit a single PDF. It tells me that my PDF’s are not in an acceptable format. Should they fix this in a later release, this would be your best shot at a editing on a great platform. It just does not work with PDF’s generated in OpenOffice, or anywhere else for that matter.
- Xournal or Gournal: Xournal is the better of the two. They are both lightweight PDF annotators/editors. They do not work well with Image based PDF’s. They do an admirable job when dealing with text based PDF’s.
Let’s move on to picture formats, and photo management systems. Man, have I ever had a problem with these. This mostly has to do with the frequent inability of Linux programs to understand layers, as they relate to Adobe based products.
The following programs allow you to view, and even batch process photos. These are the ones that will save you more time than any other.
- Phatch: The single greatest contribution to Open Source photo editing since GIMP. Phatch allows you to quickly and easily batch edit thousands of files at the time. A simple GUI makes this a snap. Resize, change file quality parameters,rename, rotate, drop shadow, etc., without ever seeing the command line.
- Inkscape: A vector editor that comes close to accurately opening .ai and layered .eps files. I say, comes close, because it picks and chooses which of these files it interprets. It’s Russian Roulette. I wouldn’t pay for a vector graphics package based on its performance, unless it gives you the file in .svg, which it interprets without a problem.
- GIMP: Okay, if you don’t know already, GIMP is the app that started it all. You can open up pretty much anything in GIMP. It just works. There are enough scripts and tutorials out there that enable you to do anything you want with an image. Its batch processing abilities are not nearly as good as Phatch, but you can add “Dave’s Batch Processor” should you feel the urge.
(For all of you who say “Well, you can use Adobe products with WINE.”, let me remind you that I am not dual-booting MS and Linux. To speak of a solution using WINE would nullify the point of this article.)
Ok, now that I am done with programs, I’d like to share with you some websites that help you convert files into usable formats. You know the ones, the primarily brilliant spawn of Microsoft that are a pain to open: .docx, .xlsx, .pub, and anything else you need decoded on the fly.
(It should be noted that current Linux versions of OpenOffice will open .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx locally. Windows versions of the program do not support these files as of yet.) These are for when you are on the go, or using a machine that isn’t owned by you. You could always carry a custom distro on your keychain, but my guess is you are not that hardcore yet. If you are, you have probably discovered or coded far better solutions than I am offering.
- k2pdf.com : This will take .rtf, .txt, .doc, .eps, .docx, .mdi, .tif, and a few other formats, and convert them into a usable, viewable PDF for you.
- pdfonline.com- Should you need the document editable in word, head over here to convert your PDF to a standard MS Word file. The only reason that you would possibly need this, is to edit tables from an .xlsx to PDF conversion. Still, a reasonably decent kludge.
Yup. Adobe offers to convert your PDF to HTML for you here. You take the help where you can get it. Then you can paste the HTML into OpenOffice and save as .doc (or preferably, an .odt.) Again, not the greatest solution, but one that works.
The Linux community is doing an admirable job of making file formats accessible. Hopefully, in the near future, an open standard will overtake these proprietary formats. In the meantime, I hope some of these patched together solutions will help you get the job.
I have paperwork to do, so I’ve gotta run. The penguin shall prevail…

Linux