factorQ has Officially moved! (...again)

We have officially moved to factorq.wordpress.com (and/or factorq.net)

Forums have moved to fqnet.proboards.com

This site blog will no longer be updated or maintained.





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Blogger/wordpress update -- article:Linux does not need to be housetrained

Apparently Wordpress has some issue with some of my content that I imported from here. bah.
anyway, the address is factorq.wordpress.com, if anyone wants to know. As of right now, though, it is not being used--since I can't post/edit anything there.

I guess I'm stuck with the ol' closed source blogger, for now.

In other news, this is pretty funny:
http://www.daniweb.com/blogs/entry4605.html#

Linux converts feel that they must proselytize everyone they know and have them experience the awesomeness of Linux. Well, stop it--it just isn't going to work. Spend your time doing something more constructive and less frustrating. You'll be happier. They'll be happier. Apple and Microsoft will make more money, which will make them happier.

There's no need to convert the masses to Linux. Let them flounder and complain and pay you to fix their systems.

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Well...crap. My Open Source Quandry

I thought I was all good...until I was reading this (Adventures in Open Source):

It occurred to me that as 2009 rolled around I shouldn’t be blogging about open source on a closed platform like Blogger any more, it was a bit of a contradiction. So I upped sticks and moved to Wordpress on my own server.

Now I am in the same situation (here on Blogger), and have to decide if I care enough about not being on an open source blogging platform (ie WordPress).

It is indeed a bit hypocritical to be an open source enthusiast on a closed source platform. 
On the otherhand, my webserver host SUCKS (rather, it is decent, but does go down pretty frequently - x10hosting.com).
hm...
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New cool list of linux programs

New cool list of linux programs

Table of Contents:

1. Backup software
2. 1. File backup software
   2. Imaging software
3. Browsers
4. Console (Terminal) utilities
5. Emulators
6. Encryption
7. Forensic tools
8. FTP clients
9. HTML editing
10. Image manipulation
    1. Digital cameras
    2. Image suite
    3. Viewers
    4. Web cameras
    5. Instant Messaging & Video conferencing
11. Live CDs (best choices)
    1. Other useful distributions
12. Mail clients
13. Multimedia
    1. CD/DVD burning
    2. Conversion tools - Audio
    3. Conversion tools - DVD & Video
    4. Conversion tools - all categories
    5. Desktop recording & presentation software
    6. Players - Audio
    7. Players - Video
    8. Players - all categories
    9. Subtitles
14. Office applications
    1. LaTeX-based text processors
    2. Office programs & suites
15. Partitioning software
16. Peer-to-Peer sharing
17. Rescue & Recovery
18. Security
    1. Firewalls
    2. Network scanners
    3. Rootkit tools
    4. Traffic sniffers
19. Virtualization
20. Users' recommendation
21. Conclusion

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Ballmer: We're cheaper than Apple! (but not Linux)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13505_3-10301028-16.html

Ballmer talking about MS/Apple/Linux: (emphasis added)

Linux. It's all about Linux. We've been competing with Linux for a number of years. I want to describe our value proposition. We are a high-volume player. We do not, like Apple, believe in low volume, very high prices. Apple's a great company, does a fine job, but their model says high margin, high quality, high price, that's kinda how they come to market.

We say we want big market share, but with big market share you take the lower price.

Well, along comes Linux, and they say, "we have no price," which of course, we know for IP and other reasons, of course they have a price. But they say "we have no price." The problem you have with these so-called free alternatives is there's also not the incentive to a lot of the hard work to build out the ecosystem to support the hardware vendors that is required.

So a model like ours, which is high volume and high value but low priced but not free. You could say are you guys in the middle ground or are you where you want to be? And I say we're exactly where we want to be.

ERRONEOUS! if anything, the Open Source philosophy creates harder working developers, and Linux is not far behind supporting the hardware vendors.

Matt Asay:

Incidentally, these same vendors make up a significant ecosystem around Linux, the very same ecosystem that Ballmer suggests won't form due to a lack of incentives. Apparently he didn't talk to his closest partner, Intel, which is now the No. 2 contributor to the Linux kernel. I guess he didn't realize that there's a lot of money to be made around Linux, and it's money that doesn't have to be shared with Microsoft.

Here is the whole article.




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Ubuntu's parent company Canonical is launching "switch to Ubuntu" migration services

Including varying levels of desktop support.

First, a little praise for Canonical: Now is exactly the right time to promote Ubuntu to individuals and small business owners. The reason: We’re nearing another PC market inflection point, where millions of uses will be forced to decide whether to hold tight to Windows XP or leap to Windows 7. Converting some of those users from Windows to Ubuntu sounds like a logical, timely strategy.

http://www.workswithu.com/2009/07/30/canonical-launching-switch-to-ubuntu-migration-services/
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Drama in the Linux world Linus vs Cox; trouble at CentOS

After a dispute with Linus Torvalds, the long time developer and Linux kernel maintainer Alan Cox has stopped development of the Linux TTY subsystem. A debate took place on the Linux kernel mailing list over the question of whether changes in the TTY code should, or could, affect the operation of existing programs

Dispute between Linux gurus Alan Cox and Linus Torvalds



Open Letter to Lance Davis

July 30, 2009 04:39 UTC

This is an Open Letter to Lance Davis from fellow CentOS Developers

It is regrettable that we are forced to send this letter but we are left with no other options. For some time now we have been attempting to resolve these problems:

You seem to have crawled into a hole ... and this is not acceptable.

You have long promised a statement of CentOS project funds; to this date this has not appeared.

You hold sole control of the centos.org domain with no deputy; this is not proper.

You have, it seems, sole 'Founders' rights in the IRC channels with no deputy ; this is not proper.

When I (Russ) try to call the phone numbers for UK Linux, and for you individually, I get a telco intercept 'Lines are temporarily busy' for the last two weeks. Finally yesterday, a voicemail in your voice picked up, and I left a message urgently requesting a reply. Karanbir also reports calling and leaving messages without your reply.

Please do not kill CentOS through your fear of shared management of the project.

Clearly the project dies if all the developers walk away.

Please contact me, or any other signer of this letter at once, to arrange for the required information to keep the project alive at the 'centos.org' domain.

Sincerely,

Russ Herrold
Ralph Angenendt
Karanbir Singh
Jim Perrin
Donavan Nelson
Tim Verhoeven
Tru Huynh
Johnny Hughes

http://www.centos.org/
Also on the website, it states:

Facts Regarding CentOS and the Open Letter to Lance Davis
- CentOS is not Dead or going away.

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Easy Netbook Linux

http://mybroadband.co.za/news/Software/8949.html

But Linux's declining popularity on netbooks also had something to do with the choice of Linux versions that PC makers chose to run on their hardware. Acer's awfully-named Linpus Linux was adequate but had none of the coolness of something like Fedora or Ubuntu Linux. And Asus' EEE Linux also failed to sparkle.

Easy Peasy

Now there is a version of Linux that runs exceptionally well on the likes of the Asus EEE, even on the smallest 4G version with its slimmed down solid state drive. Easy Peasy Linux (http://www.geteasypeasy.com/) was previously called Ubuntu EEE and, as its former name suggests, is based on the popular Ubuntu Linux distribution.

I installed Eeebuntu (NBR) on my wife's eeePC. Like it a lot, but this looks really similar.




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Debian to adopt time-based releases ... well maybe not.

http://www.itwire.com/content/view/26567/1090/

The Debian GNU/Linux Project has decided to adopt time-based development freezes from now on, on a two-year cycle.

The policy was proposed and adopted at the project's yearly conference which is taking place in Caceres, Spain.

According to the scheme, details of which have been released by project spokesperson, Meike Reichle, from now on freezes will take place in the December of every odd year - 2009, 2011 and so on.

edit!

http://mdzlog.alcor.net/2009/07/29/debian-is-not-switching-to-time-based-releases/

they will use the same approach as in previous releases, where they set criteria for release-critical bugs, and release when all release-critical bugs are closed.

The difference is that they will schedule the freeze date in advance. This means that there is a bounded time period available for new development, where things sometimes need to be broken in order to make progress. Once the freeze point is reached, Debian developers will minimize breakage and focus on stabilization. Once the RC bug count drops to zero, they’ll release as usual. That could happen soon after the freeze, or it could take a long time, depending on how many bugs are introduced during development.

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"Which linux desktop for you?" and "an open source answer to Google Apps"

GNOME, KDE, and Xfce: Which Desktop is Right for You?

OpenGoo: An Open Source Answer To Google Apps




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We live on the east coast, where we happen to have slaves. ... and happen to believe in slavery. and made in china.

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Why aren't schools adopting open source?

I've often wondered this same thing, myself.

http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/opensource/?p=811

Adoption = savings, freedom, updates
Here in Kentucky the public schools are seriously strapped for cash - to the point that arts, humanities, and teachers (a precious commodity) are being dropped to save money. I have a suggestion for the public school systems around the country - adopt open source software and you will save a lot of money. Not only will you save a lot of money, you will also be able to keep all of your software up to date.

This would not be the case if the schools adopted open source software. No longer would schools be using out of date and unsupported operating systems (I know schools and institutions still using Window 98 because they can’t afford to upgrade). Every school would have the latest-greatest software and the students would be somewhat closer to the cutting edge.

If adopting open source software would allow schools to save thousands upon thousands of dollars per year (per school) I have to ask, again:
Why are schools across the country not migrating to open source software so they can focus the dollars spent on software in such a way to further the education of our children?

Educational institutions are supposed to be a pillar of learning and intellegent decisions. But it seems, as far as software is concerned, our educational system is consistently making some farily unintelligent choices.

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Distro-hopping update (Part 2)

Of everything I have tried so far, my top 3 favorites at this point in time are:

1. Ubuntu
2. Sabayon
3. sidux
4. Linux Mint
   

1. I like Ubuntu a lot, and I have been using it for quite a while. The LTS is stable, and does not give me any problems--or they are few and far enough between that I can't really remember the last issue I had. I use this on my desktop. Pros: stable. just works. Cons: can be a pain to configure with codecs/dvd burn type stuff. Also not always with the latest software.

2. Sabayon is pretty awesome. based on Gentoo, it is definitely powerful, and runs well even on this junky-ish laptop. Entropy is well laid out and handles updates and package dependencies. Also, emerge/portage is available for packages not contained in the Sabayon repositories. Pros: fast. flexible. stable, for the most part. everything works as it should. Cons: have had a couple of bugs, but definitely nothing major.

3. sidux. another one that is very cool. sidux is based on Debian, so it can use Synaptic GUI with the very powerful apt-get command. the debian repositories are filled with tons of stuff, and .deb packages are very common. this is a rolling release distro, so there are no real upgrades in the normal sense. just run a command and everything is updated to the latest version. neat. Pros: bleeding edge software (and lots of it!). rolling release model means no big upgrades. fast. Cons: things can break when running the latest--the downside of being based off of unstable branch/sid.

4. Linux Mint. This is like a better version of Ubuntu. comes with codecs, video drivers and things preconfigured. all of the Ubuntu repositories are available. Pros: stable, lots of software available. Cons: can't really think of any, unless the style just doesn't suit you.
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My Distro-hopping journey (part 1)

A while back I mentioned that I wanted to start testing out/reviewing several GNU/Linux and BSD operating systems. I've been doing this, however I have found that it is awfully imprudent (or maybe just overambitious) for me to do a full in-depth review of each one.

That really isn't much my style, anyhow. I don't really observe all the specifics about much of anything. I'm more of a "generalizer."

So, instead of having the goal of writing a full review of each one, what I am going to do is have a personal synopsis of each one, and how well it meets my criterion for being an OS that I like, or could even come to love.

Mainly, the things I would like to see:

• a decent-sized software repository
• a way to get updates (both for newer software, and security) that is not too complicated
• a few desktop environments to choose from
• stability
• support of newer hardware
• speed
• ease of use (this does not necessarily mean "no command line" or "no config files")
  

Obviously, can't really have everything--but that's why I would like to see them, instead of them being "must-haves."

So far I have used:

1. CentOS
2. CrunchBang
   
3. Linux Mint
4. Mandriva
5. openSuse (although I wouldn't say I actually got to USE it)
6. Pardus (2008.2 and 2009)
7. PCBSD
   
8. Puppy
9. Sabayon
10. sidux
11. Slackware
12. Ultimate Edition
13. VecorLinux

Some of these I haven't used very extensively--Puppy and sidux, for example.


My day-to-day distros:

• Desktop: Ubuntu 8.04 LTS "Hardy" (been using this since it came out)
  
• Laptop: Sabayon 4.2 Gnome
  

Of those my top 3 favorites so far are:

1. Linux Mint
2. Sabayon
3. Pardus

My least favorite 3 (1 being the worst for me):

1. openSuse
2. CentOS
3. Slackware

I don't want to get flamed for these. I do not mean that they are bad, or even that I disliked them-- I just would not choose them for my daily use, for various reasons.

I'll write a little more in-depth overview of each as I get the chance.
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GI Joe PSA redub parodies!

Part 1




Click read more for Part 2




And Part 2:




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C4L: Don't Tread on Me (newsletter)

Some of this is cheesy (like asking for money), but some of it is good.

Click to visit Campaign for Liberty

July 13, 2009

Dear Friend of Liberty:

When you’re backed into a corner, all you can do is FIGHT your way out.

Today, that’s exactly where Patriots like you and me find ourselves.

It doesn’t matter that the big government politicians from BOTH parties have nearly wrecked and bankrupted our country.

The out of control Fed...Trillion dollar stimulus bills...Record deficits under both Presidents Bush and Obama...

Bailouts...Government takeover of the Auto industry...Taxpayer-funded handouts for bankers and Wall Street...

I’m sick and tired of it. And I’m sure you are too.

...and there's more.

You and I can’t count on politicians in either party to do the right thing, not without being pushed.

The good news is Ron Paul and Campaign for Liberty are fighting back. And you and I are starting to see results.

Not only that, but there’s a groundswell of folks all over the country who are also FED UP and are supporting our cause of Liberty.

With our battles heating up, I’m asking you to dig deep today to support Ron Paul’s Campaign for Liberty.

These battles simply can’t be won without your help.

Your support for ALL of Campaign for Liberty’s critical efforts is absolutely vital, including:
*** AUDIT THE FED, so the American people can finally see the corruption and economic devastation caused by the central planning of a handful of bankster bureaucrats;

*** STOPPING the radical environmentalists’ Cap-and-Tax scheme that would drive already sky-high energy costs through the roof, massively hike taxes on hardworking Americans and grind our economy to an immediate halt;

*** DEFEATING Big Government Medicine that would not only lead to astronomical tax hikes, but would give big government bureaucrats decision-making power over our healthcare system and virtually EVERY medical decision.
That’s why Campaign for Liberty is fighting – and why I’m asking you to act TODAY to push our battles forward!

You see, Campaign for Liberty supporters are making a REAL impact in Washington.

So many patriotic Americans are FED UP, and it’s thanks to your efforts on H.R. 1207, AUDIT THE FED.

Already, Dr. Paul’s bill has gained the support of over half of the House of Representatives! That would have been unthinkable just a year ago.

But today is a new day for our movement.

You know, it’s funny. If you read a newspaper, you won’t see a call for a full-fledged audit of the Federal Reserve.

Turn on the television and you won’t hear the talking heads calling for AUDIT THE FED.

So what’s happening? Where is the pressure coming from?

It’s simple. It’s YOU!

It’s called a grassroots R3VOLUTION.

And if you and I can succeed, Washington DC and your state government will never be the same.

But the truth of the matter is there’s still much, MUCH work to be done if we’re going to hold on to the precious freedoms we still enjoy and restore the freedoms that have been whittled away.

This is not a battle that will be won in weeks, or even months. You and I must prepare for long-term revolution to take back our country and our liberty.

In the past, the Socialists and Statists have used crises like our current economic disaster to grab more and more power.

They’re trotting out the same tired playbook now, trying to take more of our money and liberty each passing day.

The only difference is that -- in the past -- there’s been no cohesive, organized opposition ready and able to fight back.

But today, we have Ron Paul.

Today, there is Campaign for Liberty.

And you.

There are literally hundreds of thousands of folks all over the country just like YOU.

And together, we must fight back, and not back down from this challenge.

Of course, just knowing how the regime works and what it’s up to isn’t going to be enough.

As I said before, we have to start “throwing punches.”

It’s sad but true -- too many politicians don’t care about right or wrong or what’s good or bad for America.

If they did, they wouldn’t be so intent on stripping us of our God-given rights, plunging us into unconstitutional, undeclared wars and spending us to the verge of bankruptcy!

At the end of the day, too many politicians care ONLY about getting and keeping POWER.

That’s why if our movement is to succeed, you and I must FIGHT back and DEFEAT the big government politicians’ pet legislation.

And then hold the politicians accountable as well.

But to do this, the R3VOLUTION must continue to grow.

Already, we’ve recruited over 180,000 supporters for Campaign for Liberty. But that’s nowhere near the number we’ll need to really bring pressure to our elected officials. And my research indicates there may be as many as 700,000 more ready to join us – if we can reach them.

As I’m sure you know, reaching like-minded Americans through direct mail, phone banking and the internet to recruit them to our cause all takes a good deal of money.

Media campaigns like the one we’re about to embark on to help push Audit the Fed are even more expensive.

And unlike the government, we can’t just print money to cover our operations.

That’s why I’m counting on you.

I’m counting on you to make a generous contribution TODAY to help Campaign for Liberty fight back against the politicians’ big government schemes and recruit hundreds of thousands of new supporters.

When Dr. Paul announced he was running for President in 2007, few people could have imagined the movement he -- and you -- would create.

You see, you are an important part of this movement.

And today, despite all the naysayers, YOU have a very real opportunity to help turn our movement into a major political force in Washington through Campaign for Liberty.

And what you and I are able to accomplish over the next several months will help determine whether Dr. Paul’s Presidential run was truly the “start of something” or just “a flash in the pan.”

I think I know the answer. But I’m counting on every single one of Dr. Paul’s supporters to heed his call to arms today.

So please make a generous contribution of $250, $100, or $50 TODAY.

Nothing worth achieving is ever easy. Nor is it free. And I’m sure you agree, restoring real liberty in our time is truly a goal worth achieving.

Sincerely,

John F. Tate
President

P.S. Campaign for Liberty supporters are making a real impact. But the truth is, you and I have to prove we’re here for the long haul.

That’s why what Campaign for Liberty can accomplish over these next several months will help determine whether Ron Paul’s Presidential candidacy was the “start of something” or just “a flash in the pan.”

So I urge you to help Campaign for Liberty fight to reclaim our freedoms, to stop more Big Government schemes and to grow our movement by making a generous contribution of $250, $100 or $50 TODAY.

Don’t let this opportunity go to waste!

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VirtualBox.... is amazing.

I know I'd heard of it before, but i don't know why it has never crossed my mind before to use it! VirtualBox is so cool in that it lets you install any operating system WITHIN your existing operating system through the "virtual box" which is basically like it's own virtual computer. This is SO much easier than doing an actual install everytime I want to test out a new OS.

sweet.





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5 reasons Microsoft is afraid of Linux

5 reasons Microsoft is afraid of Linux.

Maybe "WILL be" is a better choice of words. Right now the market share isn't too concerning for them, I'm sure. But I bet they are looking forward.







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