Commenting Is Open to Anyone!

I did not realize this, but there was a setting which allowed restrictions on who can post a comment. It was set so only Google Account users could comment. I found that unfair. So now, I allow anyone with or without a Google Account to post a comment!

Isn't that awesome? ;-)

The Top 5 Open Source Apps of 2007

Since 2007 is almost over, I would like to share with everyone the top 5 open source applications of 2007. For people who don't know, open source software is software that has the source code, the code that will become a program, freely available for anyone to look at, modify it, and pass it along. Generally, open source software is also free.

So here is the top 5 open source applications of 2007.

Number 5 - The GIMP (http://www.gimp.org/)

The GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a wonderful piece of open source software that allows you to manipulate images just like in Photoshop, so you don't have to be a Photoshop pirate.

Number 4 - InfraRecorder (http://infrarecorder.sourceforge.net/)

InfraRecorder is a program that allows you to burn and even create ISO images from CDs as well as supporting projects and it also has an express feature that gives you a list of choices and does the task without fiddling through all sorts of menus.

Number 3 - Pidgin (http://www.pidgin.im/)

Pidgin is a instant messaging client that supports chatting with many protocols for IM, including AIM, MSN, Google Talk, IRC, MySpaceIM, Yahoo, Gadu-Gadu, and the list goes on and on!

Number 2 - OpenOffice.org (http://www.openoffice.org/)

OpenOffice.org is an office suite that includes Writer (word processor), Calc (spreadsheet), Base (databases), Draw (Drawing), Impress (Presentation), and Math (Equation Editor). It is one of the best office suites I've seen, and is a great alternative to Microsoft Office, especially if you can't afford it. And best of all, it reads and writes to Office formats.

Number 1 - Firefox (http://www.firefox.com/)

Did you know that one of the most popular browsers on the Internet is open source? Well, you do now! Firefox is the best way to surf the web and is loads better than Internet Explorer. Some of the features include Tabbed Browsing, Extensions, Themes, Phishing protection, and so much more!

Well, I hope that you find these open source applications to be fine for your everyday use. The reason I chose these applications to be the best open source applications of 2007 is because I find that they come a long way and are also popular from what I have seen.

See you in 2008!

Maybe going all penguin wasn't the best idea...

I tried using Linux for a little while exclusively for a couple of weeks and I have to go back to Windows XP. The reason is simply because of the hardware compatiblity and the many applications that I use that require Windows. But I enjoyed Linux for some time, however I doubt I can use Linux exclusivly anytime soon...

Linux has come a long way from even two to three years ago when I was first introduced to it. While it may not have been the right OS for me, it helped me to appreciate alternatives to Windows. It also introduced me to a load of applications that I now use on Windows and Linux, like OpenOffice.org, the GIMP, and Firefox. I hope that some people find Linux as interesting as much as I did.

Linux passing as Genuine Microsoft Software!

I couldn't believe this... But using IE 6 with Wine under Linux actually passed the Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Test... That is unreal...

Here is the proof!



UPDATE: It turns out that ies4linux, a program that configures Wine to run Internet Explorer, makes it so that Wine says it is Windows 98. Windows 98 doesn't require validation. Oh well! :-)

Windows Live Onecare - The Conspiracy

You know about Windows Live Onecare, right? It's Microsoft's antivirus product that does some other things and it is a pretty polished suite. But, a thought struck me a little while ago. Why is Microsoft selling an antivirus suite for their own operating system? They must be making vulnerabilities in their OS just to sell another product. You see? It's a conspiracy! Ok, not really... But you can't help but wonder...

Some Great News!

I have great news for everybody! I had just purchased a domain name for this blog! I'm pretty excited, I only just started just a couple months ago, but I feel that I can continue this blog, and to show my determination, I purchased a domain name. So if you can't access the blog for a couple of days, that is because of the change to the domain name. See you soon!

Dell Offering Systems with Ubuntu 7.10 and DVD Playback

There is a news article at DesktopLinux.com (not getting paid by them) that talks about Dell offering Ubuntu systems with 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon, as well as DVD playback support out of the box. Now I like that idea about the DVD support. DVD support was always available for Linux, but you had to go through hoops just to install it. There is an open source library to play DVDs called libdvdcss2. Now, I don't understand a whole lot about why it is controversial, but it is. So Dell offering means that there is an easy way to get DVD support without going into a gray area with laws (at least in the US, and some other countries). So, yet another reason to get one of these Dell systems!

Here is the link: http://desktoplinux.com/news/NS7924076658.html

Hulu Beta Testing

I got to be invited for the Hulu private beta today. For people who don't know what Hulu is, Hulu is a video streaming site developed by NBC and some other media companies for people to watch legally all of the shows you would probably see on TV. It works on Linux just fine, and I think is a flash player. Anyway, one of the cool things they provide you with is the embedding of videos or short clips of videos into your website, blog, etc. So, I decided to try that feature out, which is the reason I made this post. Here is a video clip of the Simpsons. And I provide you with this legally.

Going All Penguin

I've decided to remove Windows Vista and have only Linux on my Laptop. Linux is well known to be very hard on laptops because of its difficulty of getting support for exotic hardware, which is what laptops usually have. Now I have a Compaq Pesario v3020us and it seems to run just fine. Even the wireless card, which usually you would expect to have trouble with Linux actually worked right out of the box. I am currently using the Ubuntu 6.06 Long Term Support (LTS). It will continue to have updates for 3 years on the desktop and 5 years on the server. For some strange reason, the latest versions of Ubuntu, Fiesty Fawn (7.04), and Gutsy Gibbon (7.10) have a serious problem with my sound card. And, because I have a laptop, I can't just change the sound card out, which on a deskop, I would certainly do that. I probably would get better sound anyway out of it. So, I'm pretty stuck. All I can hope for is that Hardy Heron (8.04) which is the next Long Term Support release, will have that sound problem taken care of.

Anyway, I plan to watch the next release of Ubuntu, Hardy Heron, as the months pass by. If things don't go right for me in that release, I may just keep using 6.06 until the support ends, which I think is in June 2009. I really want one of those Ubuntu Dell laptops. So that's my goal in the future. But for now, I'm having fun with my Ubuntu!

I'll try to post more, I have been very busy lately but I will try to post more often.