| Future
Meetings
Below is a list of dates the for 2007, these dates have been confirmed.
March 21st
April 18th
May 16th
June 13th
August 8th
September 5th
October 3rd
October 31st
November 28th
December 19th
Last
Month….
Alan Danbury introduced us to the mysteries of Linux. The questions
put to us by Alan were “Why Linux” and more importantly
“What is Linux”. With the aid of a PowerPoint presentation
he set out to convert us. Alan explained that he had got into
Linux a while ago and has been dabbling with it for a number of
years now.
So
to answer the question “What is Linux”, Alan explained
that Linux is a free replacement operating system for Windows.
It is not Windows, although at its front end, it could well be
mistaken for one of Microsoft’s famous operating systems.
Linux has been developed by a large number of people around the
world who have given their code for free in the advancement of
a truly alternative operating system to Windows. Support is available
within numerous web based user groups and forums that aim to make
Linux a genuine competitor to Windows.
But
“Why”? You may ask. Well its first obvious advantage
is that it is entirely free to the end user. When you consider
the cost of a Windows package running in the order of £100
plus depending on the flavour, this can be an extremely viable
proposition for a small business operation. Linux is becoming
very popular especially in the University environment and with
enthusiasts who are tired of the restrictions and limitations
of the Windows operating system.
There
are many versions of Linux available. These are generally known
as Distros. These free packages allow for the download of new
and upgraded programmes.
The
source code is also readily available for enthusiasts to use and
develop further. So where can you obtain Linux for yourselves.
All of the free packages are easily downloaded from the Internet.
A word of advice, the packages are large, so a good speed broadband
connection is imperative. Do not even consider it if you are still
on a dial-up connection. There are commercial Linux packages available
but the user is really paying for the support that comes with
the package. SUSIE and RED HAT are two such packages on the market.
With
so many Distros (Linux packages) available, which is the one for
you? Alan explained that there is a website that offers advice
with regards to your current Linux knowledge and the type of machine
needed to run a specific package. http://www.zegeniestudios.net/ldc/
The
programme will ask a number of questions and make recommendations
on the answers. Alan suggested downloading some to try. One of
the nice options is to download a Live CD that is a bootable version
of the Distro. This can be run on a PC without affecting Windows.
The package is completely removed from the machine on reboot.
An excellent way to introduce yourself to Linux and all it has
to offer.
One
disadvantage is that it will generally not run Windows based packages.
So do not expect to load the latest version of Microsoft Office
or Adobe Photoshop and expect them to run. However, the clever
people who have developed the Linux operating system have also
developed many applications to run within that environment including
Open Office which will import Microsoft Office data files, Mozilla
internet browser, Utilities by the bucket load and games. If you
have a specific Windows package, there is almost certainly a Linux
equivalent.
How
compatible is it then? Linux will read/write files on hard drives
set up to both FAT16 and FAT32 volumes. It will read files on
NFTS volumes but cannot reliably write to NFTS files. Printers
can be shared using the SAMBA server. Its support for wireless
connections is weak and will not speak to some Windows specific
printers.
Often
a package will come with WINE, a windows emulating programme.
Some internal modems are Windows only as well.
Advantages
It
is free
It is open source – code is freely available for development.
Antivirus software is available but tends not to be needed.
Runs with fewer privileges by default.
Many packages look and feel like Windows.
Disadvantages
It
is not Windows.
Updates occur regularly and new versions come out once/twice a
year.
To
finish off the session and further wet our appetite for Linux,
Alan put one of his Live CDs to the test. In this case he was
using the very impressive Knoppix version 5.0. On boot up we were
presented with a screen very reminiscent of Windows 2000. There
were a huge amount of applications available to the end user and
all fully functional. To name some, there was the very popular
Open Office suite. Graphics packages, CD/DVD writers, editors,
emulators, utilities and games …… the list was almost
endless and all free. We quickly looked at some of the applications
on offer and were suitably impressed with the professional standard
of it all. Alan pointed out that the only downside to a Live CD
was that it was not upgradeable until fully installed on a machine.
It seems to run fairly successfully on any reasonably modern machine
– certainly a machine with a P3 processor should be adequate.
Older machines could have problems with operational speeds. Our
thanks to Alan for introducing us to a new and very interesting
operating system.
So
armed with all this new knowledge, I went away to get hold of
a copy for myself. Knoppix was easily located on a Google search
and I was offered the opportunity to download the CD version of
around 730M/Byte or a daunting DVD version of over 4 G/Byte. I
have a 2Meg download speed so opted for the CD version. I was
then confronted with a whole host of mirror points from which
to obtain my copy, interestingly enough most were university sites
from around the world. I found that download speeds differed significantly
but managed to find a reasonably fast one and had my copy in the
form of an ISO file in about 40 minutes. I then plugged this file
into a CD writing package, in my case Nero and produced a stand
alone Live CD of Knoppix 5.1 (updated in Jan 2007).
Loading
it onto my ancient P3 900Mhz machine was simple and a very nice
lady kept me informed of the loading progress. I soon had a front
end looking very similar to the one that Alan had demonstrated.
I could only see 2 hard drive partitions, which on mounting were
found to be my C drive partition from one hard disc and my H drive
partition from my second hard disc. I am sure I can mount the
rest but at the moment they do not appear on the main screen (further
investigation required). My next stumbling block was that I was
unable to run AOL – one of those Windows only applications.
My link to the Internet was blocked. I later found that to run
AOL, I would need an ADSL router. Never mind, I was still able
to have a look at Open Office and the many other applications
available – many of which were all Greek to me. This has
been my first foray into the world of Linux and it has been interesting.
I do not think I am a convert yet but will definitely be exploring
its attributes a little further.
Dave
Robb
This Month ….
You
do not have to pay very much and sometimes nothing at all for
a piece of software that is very useful and makes computing so
much easier. This month we want to look at some of these little
gems of programmes that you have found useful. These programmes
maybe something you have downloaded from the Internet, found on
the cover disk of a computing magazine or even written for yourself.
So
come and tell us about it, if downloaded from the Internet let
us have the website address so that we can compile a list for
all the members to enjoy. If at all possible bring a copy down
so that we may even be able to run it.
This
month is a group session, so please enter into the spirit of things
and dig out your gems. You may remember an article I produced
two or three years ago about shareware and freeware software packages.
The article is on the club website complete with web addresses
to obtain these programmes. Have a look through them and see if
any are at all useful.
Dave
Robb
Microsoft
is not planning to release any security updates this month, one
of only a handful of times the company won't have security patches
available since its monthly security updates began in 2003, Microsoft
said Thursday.
Microsoft is currently working on patches for known vulnerabilities
in Internet Explorer 7, Office 2007's Publisher 2007 and Windows
Vista OS, but they are not ready for release at the moment, said
a spokesman from Microsoft.
The last time Microsoft had no security updates on "Patch
Tuesday" was September 2005, he said. Patch Tuesday is the
name researchers use for Microsoft's monthly updates, which come
on the second Tuesday of the month.
Though there will be no security updates, Microsoft will release
two nonsecurity high-priority updates for Windows Update and Software
Update Services, and four nonsecurity, high-priority updates on
Microsoft Update and Windows Server Update Services.
Microsoft also will release an updated version of the Microsoft
Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool on Windows Update, Microsoft
Update, Windows Server Update Services and the Download Center.
The tool will not be distributed using Software Update Services.
More information can be found on the Web site for Microsoft security
updates. Because there are no security updates for March, the
company will not hold its usual news conference next Wednesday.
|
