Linux fans can get a little defensive

January 19th, 2009 kylepotts

 

 

I choose my words carefully with this post, but I think it must be said. I think Linux fans can be a little defensive. To many times do I see people go on forums and ask questions about Linux  (the most common being my Internet isn’t working) and are laughed and and called stupid and clueless.

 

Even my own video, found here(where I rant about Linux not working with wireless) got a lot more response than I ever expected. Some of the comments I got were totally inappropriate that I had to delete them. One really upset me, which it didn’t even have to do with the video. The comment said “less time ranting about Linux not working with wireless more time at the gym”  Honestly if you have to make that type comment you need to get off Youtube. Other comments told me that there was a way to get it working, but they did not tell me. That really confuses me.

 

Another story caught my attention that I felt I could relate to found here. A Women bought a laptop from Dell with the intention to go to online school with it, but soon found out she couldn’t because she had a OS called Ubuntu(it came bundled with her laptop instead of Windows). Her Internet didn’t work(common complaint) and she found out that she couldn’t type her documents because she didn’t have Microsoft Word.

 

The response to the story was amazing. The story appeared on the front page of Digg. Even more amazing were the comments the people gave. People called her ignorant, stupid, and clueless. You know I am going to say for a group that is so defensive about it’s OS, and want people to learn and use it. You sure are rude to the people who want to learn, but can’t.

 

I understand that Ubuntu is a well developed OS and works well with everything, but most people who use Linux are technical. So when the Non-technical get their hands on the OS I think instead of laughing at them, we should try to help them out. Is that really hard to do?

That’s all I felt like I needed to rant.

Windows 7 Overview

January 11th, 2009 kylepotts

Yes, I got it. Slowly, but I got it. Windows 7 Beta build 7000

greenshot_2009-01-10_20-41-34 

Is it what I said, will it save Microsoft? Oh, Yes

From what I can see the beta is sweet. I know that this is somewhat geek love for technology so my opinions may be a bit biased.

I installed this in a virtual machine, so your results may very if you actually install on a partitioned drive.

The Install

The install could have not been easier, even being used to installing Windows many times before, even a normal consumer should be able to install it with little difficulty.

The total install process took around 45 minutes with no hiccups at all. The install also helps you set up the Home Group which is windows new networking and sharing files.

greenshot_2009-01-11_21-01-06The

The Look

You know I can’t say I particularly like the new taskbar for Windows 7, but I cant say I hate it either. The look is new and fresh even if it is Vista. The colors look new and are a definite an upgrade from XP. You know if your still using XP your living under a rock(unless your office or school is making you use it) The taskbar is easy to use and you can pin things to it quite easily.

greenshot_2009-01-10_20-43-10

That’s about it for now, but there will be more. I just got windows 7 so there is bound to be something to complain about(no I won’t say anything on how it was released). It is Microsoft right?

Here are some other screen shots

greenshot_2009-01-10_20-55-13

 

greenshot_2009-01-10_20-44-34

Is Blogging worth the effort

December 24th, 2008 kylepotts

I am a blogger. I spend my time blogging obvious right?I sit down at my desk and write articles. Sometimes the idea comes down upon me, why am I writing this?

Blogging is totally worth the effort, even if you don’t get paid. Money shouldn’t be your main idea for your blog. Your blog should be a way to communicate your ideas,opinions, and thoughts. It should not stress you out to write an article. You should be excited to write an article.

I look at it this way, even if one person reads my blog I can make a difference or get my ideas out there. If I made a difference and they read my idea, then they might tell one of their friends or they may tweet about it. Then their friends may check out my sight. So the cycle continues.

Of course though you do need to write good articles keyword being good. Even if the article is two paragraphs long I bet you someone will read it. Even if just one person reads it you should be happy.  It is a satisfaction that I can not explain.

So blogging is it worth the effort? Totally, as long as you write good articles and spend time writing for your blog you will have some audience. The better your articles, and the more frequently you write them. The better your blog will be.

iWoz

December 24th, 2008 kylepotts

I normally don’t talk about books I read, but I picked a book up yesterday called iWoz. You might guess from the title that that it is about Steve Wozniak. It tells how he worked at HP and Apple and how he quit the job. It really gives detail behind what happend at that time. I am abosolutley loving this book.

You can buy it from amazon here

iWoz: Computer Geek to Cult Icon: How I Invented the Personal Computer, Co-Founded Apple, and Had Fun Doing It

You can tell by the reviews that it is an amazing book.

Playing with Virtual Machines

December 24th, 2008 kylepotts

For those wanting to try Linux, but not wanting to touch their systems. Something to look into might be virtual machines. There are plenty are Virtual Machine softwares, Microsoft has one Virtual PC 2006, but the one I prefer is one by sun called Virtual Box.Virtual Box

I like virtual machines just because you can install plenty of Linux distributions, or even an XP or Vista installation. I have begun using them to test them around. I have Mandriva and Ubuntu both on virtual machines. Just to play around with them.

ubuntu-fullscreen-VM

I recommend using virtual machines to test out an unknown OS’s, or those who want to fun seamlessly another OS inside their own OS. Virtual Machines are great things to have to play around with.

ubuntu in vista

So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and download it, won’t hurt will it?

Software that runs my life: Windows Live Writer

December 21st, 2008 kylepotts
WIndows Live Writer

You can download Windows Live Writer here

Piracy, Guys we need to chill

December 21st, 2008 kylepotts

Today Myspace has announced that it is going to block Project Playlist. A competitor music program that lets users put on their profile their favorite music.

Myspace is already a great place to find and discover music, but I think that the blocking of Project Playlist wasn’t needed. Actually Myspace blocked it because the labels were suing Project Playlist and they didn’t want legal headaches.

I see why Myspace would do this(for legal reasons), but why the labels? The music Industry needs to chill itself out. They are trying to do everything possible under the sun to block people from getting music without paying for it. That just isn’t going to happen.

The Music Industry just like the Movie Industry wants all piracy gone. They constantly try to remove any illegal or close to site for piracy. Piracy needs to be thought about in a different light. Piracy needs to be understood and studied. The Music Industry has the mind set that pirates are downright evil people who are quite literally Pirates! If you catch my drift. 

If we can find a better means to stop piracy, I think it will decrease. The harder you make it to get something, the more you want it right? Same thing with piracy the harder you make it to steal something the more people are going to want to steal it. For example look at the game spore. EA made the copyright protection on the game horrendous, which gave it bad reviews on amazon(See here). Now it is the most pirated game ever. See how copyright protection can go wrong?

Can we wipe out piracy all together? No, piracy will always be there. Someone will always crack,hack, or otherwise steal the software,music, etc. There is no way around it. So how do we get around most of it? Like I said, we should just relax let go of copyright protection and see how it goes. Then maybe we can see piracy rates decrease.

 

Here are some articles to read about:

1.Myspace puts the Hammer Down on Project Playlist

2.Facebook Stares Down Labels Over Project Playlist Takedown Demand

How to not use Twitter to your advantage

December 21st, 2008 kylepotts

If you don’t know what twitter is, then you have most been living under a rock. Twitter is a great way to communicate with your audience and friends, but their are some ways not to use twitter.

1.Just use Twitter to talk about your site

Yes, you should use Twitter to your advantage to advertise your site, but only when you write a new post. Don’t post every five minutes saying "Come Check out my site [Insert URL here]. You should set up an automatic system to send out a tweet when you make a new post.  Twitterfeed is a nice site, all you need is a working rss/atom feed and your set. Just set it up and when you make a new post it will tweet it for you.

2. Do not put content on Twitter

This somewhat  goes along with #1. You need to actually talk to people on twitter(you’ll find sometimes you might get into heated debates with people if you do). Just drop by and say "Hey heading over to Borders on main St" that’s all. You don’t need to go into great detail, just post some content.

3. Don’t follow people.

If you are wanting people to listen to what your saying, then you need to follow people.  It should be easy enough to find people. If not I can be your first one. (Follow me on twitter). You might also find that once you create a account that people start following you even if you hadn’t followed them first.

4. Don’t follow people back

This is sort of like #3, but it is just like zen. If someone follows you follow them back simple enough right?

5. Don’t talk to the people you follow

If you are following someone and they update saying something that interests you or if you want to say something about it to them. Go ahead! They would be extremely happy to hear from you. If they see you have a good point, they may even pay more attention to your tweets.

 

There you go. 5 ways to not use twitter. You’d better not do these, or the twitter gods will get you. If, you haven’t signed up for twitter yet. Go ahead and sign up! I promise you you won’t regret it.

Windows 7 will save Microsoft

December 18th, 2008 kylepotts

A while back I wrote a post. You can find it here (Will windows save save Microsoft) I feel I need to take back what I said. I said in the post with the mistakes of Vista Microsoft will never recover, even with a wonderful new operating system.

This is not so, if what I have seen on some sites is true. Windows 7 will save Microsoft. The improvements that Microsoft has put in place are going to affect the way Windows is going to be shipped and packaged. Mostly I am talking about the applications it comes with.

No longer will Microsoft keep you down with extra stuff like Windows Movie Maker, or Windows Live Messenger. Those can all be downloaded from the Microsoft web site.

Also the way they put applications into the OS is new too. Instead of software which stability is questionable in  the OS, they only put in applications that are 100% finished and done. No questions asked. The project isn’t done? Oh well, it doesn’t make it into the product. They can download it if they want to.(I like this mentality)

With these additions I am glad to take back my previous statement. Windows 7 will save Microsoft. There is no doubt in my mind about it.

I leave you with something to ponder about. Even if Windows 7 is a complete success, will it still make up for Vista’s mistakes?

Software that runs my life: Audacity

December 16th, 2008 kylepotts

You can learn how to clean up spoken word(which I use audacity for) here

You can download Audacity here

« Older Entries
Newer Entries »
Twitter Delicious Facebook Digg Stumbleupon Favorites More