Archive for March 2008
Microsoft Softens Stance: ‘We won’t sue OOXML Coders!’
In an attempt to garner more support for their OOXML document format, Micro$oft Corporation gave in to one of the biggest challenges presented by the open source community. This is good news, but there are many more issues to overcome before they can qualify as being truly “open”. The following article is an announcement by MS that it will not pursue litigation against coders as long as their work is attempting to improve open document formats.
Microsoft’s “Open Specification Promise” (OSP) Further Defined
from ZDnet.com
FLOSS Manuals: Linux Command Line
It’s as easy as Applications –> Accessories –> Terminal and type in a command (option) or filename. You can access folders and servers throughout the world, move files, open, close, and force quit applications, create files and folders, and everything else you might want to do on your computer. You can do more in the command line than you can in the GUI (the graphical user interface–Windows/Vista, OS X for Mac, and Fedora/Gnome).
FLOSS Manual–Linux Command Line
The GUI is simply a pretty and user friendly way of doing what is done in the command line behind the scenes. When you click on an application or folder, the computer runs that command through a click instead of using a typed command line. The GUI prevents you from seeing files that you don’t need to use the computer. If you can do simple “command line” stuff, you have truly graduated to being a “geek”, one step away from becoming a “hacker”. Remember a “hacker” is a geek using command line to solve programming problems. A “cracker” is a person with hacker skills using her/his talents to do bad things.
While in the FLOSS Manuals, check out all the other great open source user information.
The Orientation: Linux
Check out this additional Linux resource that I found at Crunchgear written by Peter Ha. It’s another good blog post helping us all better understand Linux.
Print Resource: “Linux Thin Client Networks Design and Deployment”
In case you want something to hold on to and refer to as you consider or even attempt to set up your own school thin-client system, here is a book for you.
You can buy Linux Thin Client Networks Design and Deployment from the Packt Publishing websitehttp://www.packtpub.com/linux-thin-client- networks-open-source/book.
Free shipping to the US, UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and India. Alternatively, you can buy the book from Amazon, BN.com, Computer Manuals and
most internet book retailers.
What’s This “Linux” Thing and Why Should I Try It?
Thanks to so much good stuff about Linux lurking around in CyberSpace, it’s not necessary for me to personally write very much at this time. This is a nice article that answers the questions in its title.
Tired of Reading about Linux? Listen and Learn via Linux Link!
Subscribe to one or more of a long list of podcasts designed to help Linux users. There are way too many choices for me to even begin to recommend individual podcasts. From Linux Distro information to Ubuntu to Open Source, the decision is yours. Freedom isn’t always easy! Many of these podcasts are intended for new Linux users. Listening and learning about Linux and open source might be a good change from listening to depressing talk radio.
Three Cool Videos: PC, Mac, or Linux?
OpenSource is all about freedom. So listen and make your choice. Is there a “free” option available to you that will serve your needs? I think so, but go ahead and buy stuff. Getting in your car, driving to Best Buy or Staples, listening to someone who wants to sell you something, and forking out big bucks for software strangely seems easier than clicking and downloading. Very interesting! Anyway, check out these videos.
Freedom to make your own choice!
New Linux and Ubuntu Videos
Check out these cool new videos. These are two great tools to introduce Linux and particularly the Ubuntu operating system. What a great way to start getting more attention for Linux distros and free/libre open source software (FOSS).
Questions & Answers
This category of the blog will serve as a forum where people can ask and answer questions. Please feel free to click on “Comment(s)” below and leave a question or respond to a question left by a colleague. Just click on the “Q & A Forum” in the category list at the right and scroll down the page to peruse all the questions/answers.
Free and Open Source Software (FOSS): Where can I find open source software?
There are thousands of freely available software programs waiting for you to download and try out. Here are two links where you can learn about and download software that interests you. There is no cost to you and you can share with anyone you wish.
Open Source Living: Archive of Open Source Sofware
Open Source Victoria Catalog of Free & Open Sofware for Education
If you want to learn more about thin-client solutions (creating a network of workstations running of one server), you need to check out the open source server software distributions K12LTSP and Edubuntu. Using older computers and free operating software for your school thin-client environment can save your school thousands of dollars.
We know that you will be satisfied with the quality and service which usually are provided without cost. Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) is licensed under the GNU GPL license.
