[SLUG] Re: Scarborough Digest, Vol 191, Issue 5
woz
the_cheeky_monkey at btinternet.com
Sun Sep 9 20:26:33 BST 2007
Hello Everyone,
I am a new subscriber to SLUG. I've been trying to get into Linux for
about 4 years or so but I felt completed locked out of getting anywhere!
I tried VISTA out of curiosity and although it worked fine and was
impressive, none of my usual programs would work under it. I think now
is a 'tempting time' for people who want a change - or perhaps dont want
to face the prospect living under Vista forever...
With this is mind, it seems to me that a lot of friendlier information
is now about to help get into Linux as a real everyday alternative. I
use Fedora 7 on an AMD XP2000 chip (runs at 1.6hz); 1 gig of ram and a
Nvidia FX2000 GPU. My system seems to fly (you will all be pleased to
know I used the Livna driver aswell, instead of the official Nvidia driver!)
I prefer my KDE (3.5.7-21) environment (everthing seems to work better
than the default Gnome - E.g K3Bjust works out of the box. I use Firefox
2 with java and flash serve as my browser, I keep in contact with my
buddies using the aSM chat program. I try to put all my music in to OGG
format instead of mp3. I can also play any media format I encounter. I
use Thunderbird for all my emails - and Linux life is just dandy - I
even starting to play with GnuPG !
All this would have been impossible for me 4 years ago - with the lack
of Linux support that seems to be now available. Im not sure if its just
things that are happening in my life at the moment, but its not just a
case of 'Swapping Linux for Windows'. Its more of the ethic and
philosophy behind Linux - choice and freedom.
Out of interest I was chatting to my partner who works at a school in
Scarborough. I mentioned the Schools with Linux ideas put forward, and
although she see why it would be useful, especially of cost and support,
her criticism was 'Why teach all the kids Linux, if they are going home
to put into practice everything on Windows' machines..... mmmmmmm'
Im still very new to Linux, but each day my knowledge is growing and
growing, and I find I want to know more and more.
Warren
scarborough-request at mailman.lug.org.uk wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Re: Meetings (Richard Lung)
> 2. Re: Meetings (John Allsopp)
> 3. Re: Meetings (Neil Davies)
> 4. Re: Meetings (Stephen O'Neill)
> 5. Re: Meetings (John Allsopp)
> 6. Re: Meetings (John Allsopp)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2007 21:36:11 +0100
> From: Richard Lung <voting at ukscientists.com>
> Subject: Re: [SLUG] Meetings
> To: Scarborough Linux User Group <scarborough at mailman.lug.org.uk>
> Message-ID: <200709072136.12049.voting at ukscientists.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
>
> As a Linux user, who knows nothing about Linux, and is an old fogey, Ive found
> that expecting voluntary help when things go wrong or when you cannot do
> extra things you want to, doesnt really work (and is unfair on Linux experts
> anyway).
> Expecting a mass switch to Linux on this voluntary support basis seems to me
> totally impractical. Linux specialists wouldnt have lives of their own, let
> alone be able to get on with their own professional work.
> Recruiting young people to become future experts and carriers of the open
> source ethic is another matter. I think you are still really in that stage.
>
> As yet M/S still seems to have an effective monopoly on some things you might
> want to do.
> With no disrespect to the Linux community, its still restricted use seems to
> reflect real restrictions on lay people who would use it.
>
> More basicly, there is a problem with monitors that has been grossly
> neglected and that is the stare-into-direct-light eye-strain they all cause.
> (I know one SLG member is concerned with partially sighted users.)
> Considering that Panasonic e-books use reflective screen technology from a
> Cambridge Mass. US firm, it seems a pity that the industry is so slow on the
> uptake for computer monitors to use this eye-friendly technology.
>
> from
> Richard Lung.
>
>
> On Friday 07 Sep 2007 17:19, DAVID KNIGHT wrote:
>
>> A prime area for broadening the group would be schools, IT dept and
>> students if only to raise awareness that there is another choice. Several
>> IT students I've spoken to don't even know what Linux is, many haven't
>> tried it. It seems all most are familiar with is Microsoft, Microsoft,
>> Microsoft...
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Sat, 08 Sep 2007 21:10:38 +0100
> From: John Allsopp <john at johnallsopp.co.uk>
> Subject: Re: [SLUG] Meetings
> To: Scarborough Linux User Group <scarborough at mailman.lug.org.uk>
> Message-ID: <46E301BE.8010309 at johnallsopp.co.uk>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Nope, I don't understand.
>
> I must admit I haven't come across reflective screen technology, and I
> know that CRT screens caused a few problems, but I'm not seeing a
> people's revolution against flat screens. Is there really a huge problem
> with them?
>
> And I think you started out right .. you said you know nothing about
> Linux. You really, really can't say that voluntary help doesn't work.
> The whole thing's build on voluntary help for gawd's sake. Linux,
> Firefox, all of it. Have a read of the Cathedral and the Bazaar, it
> really helped me understand a little more about open source culture.
>
> I agree with you though. Using Linux is very, very frustrating and when
> you need help, you do have to help yourself a lot too which is a culture
> change when normally you'd just take something that doesn't work back to
> the shop. But here, you didn't pay for it, and there's no shop. I have a
> degree in this stuff and find Linux impossible sometimes. But most of
> the time it's pure delight.
>
> The answer to getting Linux to use the technology you want is to
> volunteer to help people who want to make it happen.
>
> J
>
>
>
>
> Richard Lung wrote:
>
>> As a Linux user, who knows nothing about Linux, and is an old fogey, Ive found
>> that expecting voluntary help when things go wrong or when you cannot do
>> extra things you want to, doesnt really work (and is unfair on Linux experts
>> anyway).
>> Expecting a mass switch to Linux on this voluntary support basis seems to me
>> totally impractical. Linux specialists wouldnt have lives of their own, let
>> alone be able to get on with their own professional work.
>> Recruiting young people to become future experts and carriers of the open
>> source ethic is another matter. I think you are still really in that stage.
>>
>> As yet M/S still seems to have an effective monopoly on some things you might
>> want to do.
>> With no disrespect to the Linux community, its still restricted use seems to
>> reflect real restrictions on lay people who would use it.
>>
>> More basicly, there is a problem with monitors that has been grossly
>> neglected and that is the stare-into-direct-light eye-strain they all cause.
>> (I know one SLG member is concerned with partially sighted users.)
>> Considering that Panasonic e-books use reflective screen technology from a
>> Cambridge Mass. US firm, it seems a pity that the industry is so slow on the
>> uptake for computer monitors to use this eye-friendly technology.
>>
>> from
>> Richard Lung.
>>
>>
>> On Friday 07 Sep 2007 17:19, DAVID KNIGHT wrote:
>>
>>> A prime area for broadening the group would be schools, IT dept and
>>> students if only to raise awareness that there is another choice. Several
>>> IT students I've spoken to don't even know what Linux is, many haven't
>>> tried it. It seems all most are familiar with is Microsoft, Microsoft,
>>> Microsoft...
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2007 00:15:08 +0100
> From: Neil Davies <ndavies at ntlworld.com>
> Subject: Re: [SLUG] Meetings
> To: Scarborough Linux User Group <scarborough at mailman.lug.org.uk>
> Message-ID: <847434D9-2CB6-4A5E-A9B2-46E4DEF3E414 at ntlworld.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
>
> Get a mac problems solved
> On 8 Sep 2007, at 21:10, John Allsopp wrote:
>
>
>> Nope, I don't understand.
>>
>> I must admit I haven't come across reflective screen technology,
>> and I know that CRT screens caused a few problems, but I'm not
>> seeing a people's revolution against flat screens. Is there really
>> a huge problem with them?
>>
>> And I think you started out right .. you said you know nothing
>> about Linux. You really, really can't say that voluntary help
>> doesn't work. The whole thing's build on voluntary help for gawd's
>> sake. Linux, Firefox, all of it. Have a read of the Cathedral and
>> the Bazaar, it really helped me understand a little more about open
>> source culture.
>>
>> I agree with you though. Using Linux is very, very frustrating and
>> when you need help, you do have to help yourself a lot too which is
>> a culture change when normally you'd just take something that
>> doesn't work back to the shop. But here, you didn't pay for it, and
>> there's no shop. I have a degree in this stuff and find Linux
>> impossible sometimes. But most of the time it's pure delight.
>>
>> The answer to getting Linux to use the technology you want is to
>> volunteer to help people who want to make it happen.
>>
>> J
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Richard Lung wrote:
>>
>>> As a Linux user, who knows nothing about Linux, and is an old
>>> fogey, Ive found that expecting voluntary help when things go
>>> wrong or when you cannot do extra things you want to, doesnt
>>> really work (and is unfair on Linux experts anyway). Expecting a
>>> mass switch to Linux on this voluntary support basis seems to me
>>> totally impractical. Linux specialists wouldnt have lives of their
>>> own, let alone be able to get on with their own professional work.
>>> Recruiting young people to become future experts and carriers of
>>> the open source ethic is another matter. I think you are still
>>> really in that stage.
>>> As yet M/S still seems to have an effective monopoly on some
>>> things you might want to do.
>>> With no disrespect to the Linux community, its still restricted
>>> use seems to reflect real restrictions on lay people who would use
>>> it.
>>> More basicly, there is a problem with monitors that has been
>>> grossly neglected and that is the stare-into-direct-light eye-
>>> strain they all cause. (I know one SLG member is concerned with
>>> partially sighted users.) Considering that Panasonic e-books use
>>> reflective screen technology from a Cambridge Mass. US firm, it
>>> seems a pity that the industry is so slow on the uptake for
>>> computer monitors to use this eye-friendly technology.
>>> from
>>> Richard Lung.
>>> On Friday 07 Sep 2007 17:19, DAVID KNIGHT wrote:
>>>
>>>> A prime area for broadening the group would be schools, IT dept and
>>>> students if only to raise awareness that there is another choice.
>>>> Several
>>>> IT students I've spoken to don't even know what Linux is, many
>>>> haven't
>>>> tried it. It seems all most are familiar with is Microsoft,
>>>> Microsoft,
>>>> Microsoft...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Sun, 09 Sep 2007 10:13:32 +0100
> From: Stephen O'Neill <soneill84 at yahoo.co.uk>
> Subject: Re: [SLUG] Meetings
> To: Scarborough Linux User Group <scarborough at mailman.lug.org.uk>
> Message-ID: <46E3B93C.4050306 at yahoo.co.uk>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Neil Davies wrote:
>
>> Get a mac problems solved
>>
>
> And a whole host of new problems created, naturally.
>
> Steve O
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Sun, 09 Sep 2007 11:12:18 +0100
> From: John Allsopp <john at johnallsopp.co.uk>
> Subject: Re: [SLUG] Meetings
> To: Scarborough Linux User Group <scarborough at mailman.lug.org.uk>
> Message-ID: <46E3C702.6010808 at johnallsopp.co.uk>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
>
> Not true, I have a Mac and have had big, time wasting usability with
> that too.
>
> J
>
> Neil Davies wrote:
>
>> Get a mac problems solved
>> On 8 Sep 2007, at 21:10, John Allsopp wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Nope, I don't understand.
>>>
>>> I must admit I haven't come across reflective screen technology, and I
>>> know that CRT screens caused a few problems, but I'm not seeing a
>>> people's revolution against flat screens. Is there really a huge
>>> problem with them?
>>>
>>> And I think you started out right .. you said you know nothing about
>>> Linux. You really, really can't say that voluntary help doesn't work.
>>> The whole thing's build on voluntary help for gawd's sake. Linux,
>>> Firefox, all of it. Have a read of the Cathedral and the Bazaar, it
>>> really helped me understand a little more about open source culture.
>>>
>>> I agree with you though. Using Linux is very, very frustrating and
>>> when you need help, you do have to help yourself a lot too which is a
>>> culture change when normally you'd just take something that doesn't
>>> work back to the shop. But here, you didn't pay for it, and there's no
>>> shop. I have a degree in this stuff and find Linux impossible
>>> sometimes. But most of the time it's pure delight.
>>>
>>> The answer to getting Linux to use the technology you want is to
>>> volunteer to help people who want to make it happen.
>>>
>>> J
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Richard Lung wrote:
>>>
>>>> As a Linux user, who knows nothing about Linux, and is an old fogey,
>>>> Ive found that expecting voluntary help when things go wrong or when
>>>> you cannot do extra things you want to, doesnt really work (and is
>>>> unfair on Linux experts anyway). Expecting a mass switch to Linux on
>>>> this voluntary support basis seems to me totally impractical. Linux
>>>> specialists wouldnt have lives of their own, let alone be able to get
>>>> on with their own professional work.
>>>> Recruiting young people to become future experts and carriers of the
>>>> open source ethic is another matter. I think you are still really in
>>>> that stage.
>>>> As yet M/S still seems to have an effective monopoly on some things
>>>> you might want to do.
>>>> With no disrespect to the Linux community, its still restricted use
>>>> seems to reflect real restrictions on lay people who would use it.
>>>> More basicly, there is a problem with monitors that has been grossly
>>>> neglected and that is the stare-into-direct-light eye-strain they all
>>>> cause. (I know one SLG member is concerned with partially sighted
>>>> users.) Considering that Panasonic e-books use reflective screen
>>>> technology from a Cambridge Mass. US firm, it seems a pity that the
>>>> industry is so slow on the uptake for computer monitors to use this
>>>> eye-friendly technology.
>>>> from
>>>> Richard Lung.
>>>> On Friday 07 Sep 2007 17:19, DAVID KNIGHT wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> A prime area for broadening the group would be schools, IT dept and
>>>>> students if only to raise awareness that there is another choice.
>>>>> Several
>>>>> IT students I've spoken to don't even know what Linux is, many haven't
>>>>> tried it. It seems all most are familiar with is Microsoft, Microsoft,
>>>>> Microsoft...
>>>>>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Sun, 09 Sep 2007 11:56:17 +0100
> From: John Allsopp <john at johnallsopp.co.uk>
> Subject: Re: [SLUG] Meetings
> To: Scarborough Linux User Group <scarborough at mailman.lug.org.uk>
> Message-ID: <46E3D151.3010208 at johnallsopp.co.uk>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
>
> 'Usability problems', I mean.
>
> (If I can't write properly, no wonder I have problems using a computer)
>
>
> John Allsopp wrote:
>
>> Not true, I have a Mac and have had big, time wasting usability with
>> that too.
>>
>> J
>>
>> Neil Davies wrote:
>>
>>> Get a mac problems solved
>>> On 8 Sep 2007, at 21:10, John Allsopp wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> Nope, I don't understand.
>>>>
>>>> I must admit I haven't come across reflective screen technology, and
>>>> I know that CRT screens caused a few problems, but I'm not seeing a
>>>> people's revolution against flat screens. Is there really a huge
>>>> problem with them?
>>>>
>>>> And I think you started out right .. you said you know nothing about
>>>> Linux. You really, really can't say that voluntary help doesn't work.
>>>> The whole thing's build on voluntary help for gawd's sake. Linux,
>>>> Firefox, all of it. Have a read of the Cathedral and the Bazaar, it
>>>> really helped me understand a little more about open source culture.
>>>>
>>>> I agree with you though. Using Linux is very, very frustrating and
>>>> when you need help, you do have to help yourself a lot too which is a
>>>> culture change when normally you'd just take something that doesn't
>>>> work back to the shop. But here, you didn't pay for it, and there's
>>>> no shop. I have a degree in this stuff and find Linux impossible
>>>> sometimes. But most of the time it's pure delight.
>>>>
>>>> The answer to getting Linux to use the technology you want is to
>>>> volunteer to help people who want to make it happen.
>>>>
>>>> J
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Richard Lung wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> As a Linux user, who knows nothing about Linux, and is an old fogey,
>>>>> Ive found that expecting voluntary help when things go wrong or when
>>>>> you cannot do extra things you want to, doesnt really work (and is
>>>>> unfair on Linux experts anyway). Expecting a mass switch to Linux on
>>>>> this voluntary support basis seems to me totally impractical. Linux
>>>>> specialists wouldnt have lives of their own, let alone be able to
>>>>> get on with their own professional work.
>>>>> Recruiting young people to become future experts and carriers of the
>>>>> open source ethic is another matter. I think you are still really in
>>>>> that stage.
>>>>> As yet M/S still seems to have an effective monopoly on some things
>>>>> you might want to do.
>>>>> With no disrespect to the Linux community, its still restricted use
>>>>> seems to reflect real restrictions on lay people who would use it.
>>>>> More basicly, there is a problem with monitors that has been
>>>>> grossly neglected and that is the stare-into-direct-light eye-strain
>>>>> they all cause. (I know one SLG member is concerned with partially
>>>>> sighted users.) Considering that Panasonic e-books use reflective
>>>>> screen technology from a Cambridge Mass. US firm, it seems a pity
>>>>> that the industry is so slow on the uptake for computer monitors to
>>>>> use this eye-friendly technology.
>>>>> from
>>>>> Richard Lung.
>>>>> On Friday 07 Sep 2007 17:19, DAVID KNIGHT wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> A prime area for broadening the group would be schools, IT dept and
>>>>>> students if only to raise awareness that there is another choice.
>>>>>> Several
>>>>>> IT students I've spoken to don't even know what Linux is, many haven't
>>>>>> tried it. It seems all most are familiar with is Microsoft, Microsoft,
>>>>>> Microsoft...
>>>>>>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> Scarborough mailing list
> Scarborough at mailman.lug.org.uk
> https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/scarborough
>
> End of Scarborough Digest, Vol 191, Issue 5
> *******************************************
>
>
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