Danny's Space

    Google Chrome OS is a unique operating system.  Hardware wise it compels us to use solid state drives SSD's to catch up with the fast boot up and application speed required by the software.  It doesn't have applications stored locally, instead all applications are going to come from the web.  Hence, cloud computing.     Google Chrome OS assumes resilient connection to the web.  It assumes always on, always connected machines to the web.  The bandwidth speed of internet connections are going to be a factor in the success of this proposition.  May I say that there's a lot of assumptions there.     Google Chrome OS is doing the right thing but will it succeed.  When I say the "right thing" I mean this is what the future of computing "should" be.  Services are stored and maintained in dedicated servers for all who want to use them.  All that a user has to have is a device th...

    It is bewildering for linux newcomers.  The number of linux distributions or distros will make the head of ordinary mortals spin.  People in various linux fora ask which distro they should try first.  The answer will depend on who you're asking.  Linux users have their own pet distros, their own personal experience with a particular flavor of linux.  If you are starting your journey in the land of Linux and open source operating systems, I would advice that you consider the big three in the world of linux namely:  Ubuntu, Fedora and OpenSuse.     Ubuntu is based on Debian.  It is currently the most popular linux distro out there resulting in a big community of users and developers.  Although Ubuntu is a community distro it is backed by a private company, Canonical.  It comes out with a brand new release every 6 months.      Fedora is a community distribution backed by Red Hat, a Fortun...

    Security experts are warning computer users about the rise in the number of compromised sites redirecting to a scareware website.  When I was using Internet Explorer back in my Windows XP days, my encounter with websites warning me that my computer is compromised occurs almost daily.  These websites offer anti-virus solutions if you click a link.  Once you do that, the least of your worry would be a virus laden pc.     It's not just this category of security problems that harass Windows users in a daily basis.  To think that 90% of computers in the world use a Microsoft operating system, makes you wonder how much would end users tolerate until their patience break.  Is Windows and its siblings so great an operating system that people are willing to put up with their pc problems?     What about the high ratio of maintenance time?  Instead of doing my work and accomplishing what computers are suppose to ...

    I upgraded to Grub 2.  This is the new version of the Grand Unified Bootloader used by Linux to load the kernel.  Many users especially the newcomers, don't know that after you turn your pc power on a series of events happens before you see your desktop.  First your bios starts, then the bootloader, the bootloader executes the kernel, the kernel loads the init scripts, runs daemons and finally starts X windows.      The main difference between a Windows boot and a Linux boot is Grub.  Grub makes it possible to multi-boot.  I believe that next to the os, the bootloader is the next most important software.      I opened the gnome-terminal and typed:  sudo apt-get install grub2.  I gave my sudo password and the package manager took care of everything.  During configuration, it warned me that installing grub2 elsewhere but in the MBR is a bad idea.  I know but I'm just too lazy. ...

    Netbooks are not a craze.  In 2008, pc sales is boosted by sales of netbooks.  Netbooks are small sized laptops, with less computing power and therefore are limited to email and browsing.  But remember the adage:  Make a machine that does one thing well.     Microsoft has a problem with Windows 7.  They can only install a crippled version of Windows 7 on these underpowered laptops.  Once consumers learn that the netbook version of Windows 7 is not like the full version of Windows 7 for desktops, they'll raise hell.      Microsoft will do the one thing it does well-marketing.  Sell you the deal.  Perhaps give you discounts.  It will have no choice but to lower prices for Windows 7.      Linux, on the other hand, is perfect for old computers and limited capacity machines.  Linux runs on thin client machines.  All supercomputers in the world are run by Linu...

        Free software is code that is not encumbered by copyright or intellectual property rights.  From the point of view of its creator, it is something he offers to the community without guarantee, for the community to use and to improve on.  From the point of view of the community, it is free for use and for modification.          It is indeed arguable that free software is superior to proprietary software.  However the model being used by proprietary software leads to impractical situations.  If I have a copy machine using a non-free code,  I won't be able to modify the code to better suit my particular need.  I would have to buy another one for this one utility and use the former for the rest, increasing my cost.  If I happen to be a programmer I still can't modify the code because somebody else owns the copyright.  If the non-free code is failing/showing a bug and ...

      This link is an open thread in Facebook @ Ubuntu.           My personal impression after reading the multi page thread is that most people who posted their reason for not using Windows is Microsoft.  They do not want to spend so much money for a product that does not satisfy their needs anymore.  They don't want to be in a situation where they are restricted to use their computers.          In this tough times, people are searching for ways to cut costs and still be able to connect to their loved ones, do their jobs at home and do stuff online.          Ubuntu and Linux developers have worked hard to improve several distributions of linux to the level that they can offer them as alternatives to Microsoft's wares.

      The coming of Ubuntu is certainly a no-brainer. Easy to install. Easy to upgrade. Upgrades every 6 months like clockwork. Basic version of the operating system includes photo viewer, office suite, email client, calendar and organizer, image editor, firefox browser and an instant messaging client.       It comes free. We shall see if this is positive or a negative aspect of selling a fine product to the world. So far most users have it installed in a dual boot configuration or in a virtual box environment. So easy to discard if it doesn't meet user expectations. Users just go back to Windows or OS X. Nothing lost except time.       What Ubuntu really wants is to prove to business users that open source works. Of course Mozilla has proven that already. It's market share is increasing in the browser category. Ubuntu wants to sell the product to business users. Business users are the slowest to adopt a new ...

      After installing the basic OS on a new partition, I started Synaptic to read the file listing the programs to be downloaded additionally.  I found a nice wallpaper coming from the Karmic graphics folders.        I was watching 'Bourne Ultimatum' when I snapped this desktop image.  My leap just landed me on an upgraded OS in one piece.