David Wright's Blog - Linux

Linux Holding Kids Back

nospam@example.com (Dave) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:00:00 +0000

This has to be the funniest thing I have read in relation to Linux, a teacher claims Linux is not free and possibly illegal. The teacher discovered a student showing off a laptop with Linux installed and giving away free copies and then made her ignorant claims about Linux.

My two kids aged 7-10 years old don't use Windows at home. They know more about computers now than anyone of their ages who use Windows. Just as I did when I was a kid and had an 8bit computer which helped and encouraged my understanding of computers. Then Windows came along and destroyed this by hiding the computer away from the user and not supplying tools to do anything with the computer. For example if you wanted to become a programmer on my Amstrad CPC it came with Locomotive Basic and the ability to write machine code and it also had CPM operating system. With Windows you get nothing, unless you fork out for it, although to be fair you can now get Visual Basic and C# now. But with Linux I can load up my software management software, select a category, for example Development and then choose a language of choice. This could be PHP (my career option), C, C++, Mono (for .net and c# development on other systems than Windows), Ruby, Java and any relevant IDE to help develop with.

My kids are also experimenting with graphics software and doing really well with the likes of Blender 3D and Inkscape. My son has been creating his own comics and has been showing so much imagination.

So this is holding them back apparantly........

Is Windows ready for the desktop?

nospam@example.com (Dave) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:05:00 +0000

Sorry I just had to ask this question. I think I have seen a similar titled article in the past but this is mine and is my opinion so argue the toss but you won't change me.

It's no secret I am a Linux user. I have been aware of the name Linux since windows 3.1. I read a little column in .EXE Magazine in 1994 and it always intrigued me. But back then internet access was pretty much non existent in the UK save for BBS systems so getting hold of it would have been no go. Apart from which it was pretty much useless for the average person, although I was a good programmer back then.

After writing my last entry with eye candy in 3D desktops it made me think more. This article is best treated as the opposite view of a regular Windows user using Linux. Also before I get harrassed Linux is actually called GNU/Linux but I am not going to repeat that everytime so from here on Linux actually means a distribution based on the GNU/Linux kernel. Linux is actually a GNU project. GNU/Linux really means the Linux kernel, the actual operating system. But most people, incorrect or not, refer to Linux as the complete package of the operating system, the window manager, desktop environment and applications that run on top of it. This is also how I will also incorrectly refer to it. For more information see GNU.org website.

Continue reading "Is Windows ready for the desktop?"

Another reason why I prefer Linux

nospam@example.com (Dave) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 21:31:28 +0100

All right I admit this is pure eye candy but it looks so cool. I have been using Linux in one form or another since 1996 and started using it exclusively as my desktop since September 2nd 2002. Yes I can pin point the date as that was my ill fated decision to become self employed, At the time I needed to use legal software and Linux had everything I needed. A free office suite in the form of OpenOffice, an accounts package and a PHP/HTML/CSS development environment.

However since then, what is known as Linux has come a long way. I am currently using Fedora 9. It suits my needs perfectly. But just recently I have been playing around with 3D desktop settings provided by Compiz, 3D compositing window manager. I thought I would share a couple of screenshots I took. Both are from using a plugin called Expo. It takes the virtual windows on the desktop, zooms out and puts each desktop next to each other. Complete with reflections and a slight curve.

Two movies simultaneously in a 3d space.

This first one I was just testing the limits. Here two movies are playing full screen, one in each virtual desktop. Yes I know it's completely pointless but then again so is Windows Vista yet people actually 'BUY' that. What's cool about this is whilst the movies are playing the reflections are also kept updated too,

World of Goo running via WINE and placed on a virtual desktop.

This next screen shot is showing a really cool game I have been waiting anxiously for called World Of Goo. It's a brilliant game and has been given awards. Please buy this game to support indie game development. It's only £12. It will be available on Nintendo's Wii as well.

Anyway, this again is showing the game playing in real time with reflections. I suppose again it's not practical but it could be useful if you have multiple applications running and you want to switch to the one you want. This works by moving the mouse to the top left and the screen zooms out to show all desktops. All you have to do is double click the window you want.

So there you go. People are quite shallow and eye candy is what marketing is all about.