Open Source vs Proprietary

I had the thought today after playing with digiKam. What was I playing with? I was using the fuzzy finder function. It allows you to draw a little sketch and it will find photos in your collection that somewhat resemble that sketch. A simple circle will bring up pictures of faces and other photos with similar colors. Change the color and it will bring up different photos. I tried to sketch a racecar and the first photo to come up was Denny Hamlin's 11 car at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Sweet.

What does that have to do with open source vs proprietary software? I remember several years back a friend of mine was playing with a similar function on linux. It was early in the development phase, so it wasn't ready for everyday use. It had a certain cool factor to it though. Now this function is available in digiKam.

With open source software when someone stops working on a program others can pick it up and continue on. With proprietary software it would have to be taken on by someone within the organization that owned the source code. It would not be freely available for anyone to continue with development.

Some of these cool factors are not economically beneficial to the organization. However, when passion is the main source of fuel, the sky and the developer's imagination are the only limits. The baton can also be passed or picked up as necessary.

Mike

Kubuntu Karmic Fun

In just a few days the next version of Kubuntu will be released. This last weekend I decided to install the release candidate. I planned a fresh install to take advantage of both ext4 and grub2. So, before starting the install I backed up my /home to an external hard drive. I then started the install.

At first I tried installing without booting into a live session. I liked the installer screen. It's the same whether installing from a live session or installing directly from boot. Everything was good, until my laptop shutdown. I was not carefully watching it, so I figured there was an error and attempted to install a second time. This time I was watching it when it shutdown. It was then I realized the problem. My laptop was really warm and shut itself down.

I decided to try a live session to see if the fan was working. It started running when I powered on the laptop, but stopped running as soon the splash screen came up. I managed to complete the install, using a battery powered fan to keep everything cool.

I then began searching for similar issues and found many with Acer laptops having CPU fan issues. There were a few scripts to run that would jump start the fan, those did not work for me. The one fix I did find was updating the BIOS.

I don't want go into any methods of creating a bootable cd/usb to update the BIOS since I wasn't able to get any of them to work. I did however have a beta version of windows (shhhh... don't tell). I was then able to update the BIOS.

Finally I installed kubuntu karmic and the fan issue is fixed. Now to restore the important files from my external hard drive.

Mike

References:

http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/index.php?topic=3107212.0

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1295391

Why do they call it a desktop?

I just recently tested the ablility of KDE 4 to have different settings for each virtual desktop when it occured to me. I can use of my desktops as a simulated desktop, file cabinet and all. Open the file cabinet and drop a working folder onto the desktop, just like a real desktop, to work with the files. When the work is done it gets replaced. The advantage of KDE 4's 'Folder View' is that folders do not have to be opened to view or open contents within.

Mike

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A New Start?

Well, here we go again. I am testing out kblogger for KDE4. I haven't posted here in a long time. Being gone for most of last year and being busy working has minimized the free time I could expend to add stuff here.

Additionally, I have discovered that I can sync my iPhone calendar with my google account. This is a very wonderful tool, since I don't use windows and can't afford a mac. I even have to use my wife's laptop to update my phone.

Hopefully kblogger will allow me to keep this blog updated.

test

testing kblogger in KDE 4

Budweiser Shootout

Wow. That was an exciting race. I am happy for Dale Jr and Hendrick Motorsports. I can't belive it. 

Mike

Tech Support

One of the issues that most new comers to linux have to deal with is RTFM. In other words Read the Friendly Manual. This has the effect of turning new comers away, with the thoughts that linux users are jerks and an elite class of people who don't care to help the new comer. Is that really true?



I recently thought about the times I have called tech support for some program or computer problem. I end up talking to someone, who if they speak english, don't speak it very well. It is frustrating listening to them read off of a card, step by step instructions for checking something. I think it would be easier for them to mail the card to me so I could fix it myself.



Then it dawned on me. Two things really.



First, the tech support is only having to deal with one or two operating systems. There are some differences with the versions of windows, but for the most part they work the same. This is not true of linux where there are several different desktop environments, different hardware, different drivers. All of these differences can span several years of computing. A much wider array of software/hardware to work with.



Second, they are being paid to resolve the customers problem. Most times they are being paid to take the brunt of the customers angst towards the product. In linux few of the 'helpers' get a paycheck. Most work as volunteers because they like the product and are willing to put themselves into the mix to help out.



It would be nice if those seeking assistance in linux forums or IRC keep in mind that hardware, drivers and such vary from system to system. The more specifics attached to the problem, the quicker a solution can be found. Additionally, those who help are doing so for free. Be courteous and we will be too.

Mike