Anticipated Android Apps

2011 has almost come to an end, and we’ve already seen some great Android apps come out this year. But 2012, which is just around the corner and it looks like it will be another eventful year for Android. Now that the latest OS version, Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS), has hit the market, several device makers are expected to release ICS handsets for a ready consumer market. LG is the latest to reveal its plans around ICS, kicking into high hear during the second quarter of next year. Among the first phones to get the upgrade are the Optimus 2X, which made waves as the world’s first dual-core smartphone earlier this year, and the Optimus LTE. Others in the Optimus lineup, including the 3D, Black and Big, will also receive the ICS update by Q3 of next year.

Android’s competition in the mobile and tablet market, Apple has had a long head start in mobile apps over it’s new archival Google. However, new data shows that the number of Android apps has grown 127 percent since August and offerings in Google’s Android Market should outnumber the total for iPhone apps by mid-2012.

2012 has some great apps in store for the open-source mobile platform. (more…)

MS Office 2007 SP3

For those of you that have Office 2007, Microsoft will be releasing Service Pack (SP) 3 for it soon. Here’s a Microsoft blog post with the download links. SP3 is available via the Download Center as of this week, and will be pushed out as an Automatic Update in 90 days Microsoft execs said.

The last cumulative update for Office 2003, Service Pack 3 resolves several compatibility and stability issues with Windows Vista and later operating systems. Mainstream support for Office 2003 application ended in April 2009 and extended support ends in April 2014.

I have written about Office XP here: http://jet-computing.com/microsoft-office-xp-support-retired/ It’s highly doubtful you use Office XP at home, but there may be some poor souls at there still using that decade-old version of Office.

If your in the market for new document software give LibreOffice a try, it is what I use here in the office.  On a side note and with great news, The Document Foundation creators of the LibreOffice office suite of applications, have announced that they are currently working on projects to bring LibreOffice to Android and iOS devices, together with accessibility through web browsers.

The Libreoffice port project is based on the work of Tor Lillqvist and will now be focusing on bringing its suite of applications to mobile devices in the near future. LibreOffice currently competes and offers a great free alternative to Microsoft Offices suite of applications. LibreOffice was created by former OpenOffice.org developers after concerns about Oracle’s community-hostile stewardship of OpenOffice.org and a number of long-standing procedural and governance issues that existed long before Oracle’s acquisition of Sun.

LibreOffice has been developed by The Document Foundation as a fork of OpenOffice.org, and is compatible with other major office suites, including Microsoft Office making it easy to swap too. When created it developers goal with LibreOffice was to create a vendor-independent office suite with ODF support but without any copyright assignment requirements. Since its launch the LibreOffice software has been downloaded over 7.5 million times since its launch back in January 2011.

Computers for School

Students! Don’t get scammed for back to school computer shopping. There is only a few days left before returning to school and technology companies are gearing up for one of the most busiest seasons of the year.

Having a laptop is not mandatory for college studies, students often justify the purchase by saying that they need it desperately for school. Several large computer stores that have ‘Back to School’ specials for students, are just in it for the revenue and scamming the customers. These large computer stores want to extract as much money as possible from customers and are willing to go the distance in confusing students and their parents in order to make that extra profit. For example, I was told shamelessly straight to my face when buying a netbook that the company does not make a lot of money from the sale of a laptop and that I should purchase something else.

This is why all associates are forced to upsell and skew the truth. These people tell you that you need a CD created in order for your computer to have a backup. This extra service is only $60. For extra $100 they will setup your computer to be “ready to use”. This is a major scam because anyone can do this setup by themselves with only a few clicks of the mouse when they boot up their system for the first time. I was once told that I can get a recovery disc created by them for only $100, as the laptop I was purchasing did not come with one. When I asked if I could do it, I was told that it wasn’t possible, however I could bring the laptop back later on to do so. When I got home and booted the computer for the first time, it gave me an option to burn a recovery CD which was a breeze to make.

However, even if you do not buy into the “setup your computer” argument the associate will tell you that there are tons of viruses out there that will destroy your precious data and you will have to buy antivirus. Another reason to try Linux Mint.

But don’t worry because its on special for just $80. Another tactic they like to use is to sell you extended warranty that is about $120 to $250. This enables you to bring the computer back to the place you bought it instead of shipping it to the manufacturer. Just a side note: Manufacturers have a great service and will replace your computer for free if its still in warranty and shipping is paid by them. I shipped several laptops back to various manufacturers and the service is very fast, professional and efficient. However, be careful with your data as you could lose everything!

After pressuring you to hand over hundreds of dollars for a laptop or a netbook, they try to sell you optical drives, mice, cases and many other peripherals. Many times I have overheard associates lying to customers about what they need just to sell the extra package so that they can get a bonus/commission or just to get their manager off their backs. Even though associates in these large stores try to be polite and smile to your face, they are scamming you for hundreds of dollars out of your hard earned money just because you are unaware about what you really need. And if that fails, many stores increase the price of the product and try to sell you the whole “better value” package, without having the option to buy the computer without those unnecessary “upgrades”.

Another money waster is when students drag their parents to an Apple store and demand the latest computer hardware for their University studies. Apple computers are very expensive but all that students see is the nice shiny box and the cool factor. Being like everyone else is not cool and PCs are hundreds of dollars cheaper and do the same thing that most Apple laptops do. Save yourself or your parents some cash and get a PC laptop instead. Apple products will not increase your grades and will not make you any cooler either. Better yet, get a decent used laptop and run Linux Mint.

Therefore, this back to school season do some serious research about what you need and don’t need and do not be pressured into buying additional things that you might regret later or realize that it was a waste of your money. Majority of these businesses are making huge profits on the ignorance of many individuals about technology and computers.

A few good examples that you should think about might include:

Do students really need the latest MacBook Pro for $2000 to type essays that can be done on a Netbook or a regular laptop?

Do you need to pay additional $130 for Microsoft Office if LibreOffice is free to download and use?

Do you need a firewall and Antivirus if you are smart about what files to open and follow some simple security rules? Or you can download AVG Free Anti-virus or Avast and many universities provide you with anti-virus for free while you are their student.

Do you need additional warranty for $200 if shipping to a manufacturer is free and can be easily set up online? How long do you expect your laptop to last you?

Do you really need to pay hundreds of dollars for an extended warranty if your netbook costs $350 and it is cheaper to buy a new one than keep fixing an old one in 3 years?

Campuses typically have computer halls brimming with computers for students to use. These typically go unused and are only full during mid-terms and finals. Part of your college tuition grants you access to some of the most cutting-edge technology and research in the world. From journal subscriptions to reference e-books to high-tech computers, you have all kinds of resources to help you with your school work, and won’t have to pay extra for any of it. So utilize it.

Try to see through manipulative associates in big computer stores that try to scam you for hundreds of dollars and make you think that you need every one of the things they offer or your computer will blow up. Play it smart and use the money you save for your books or tuition instead because those things are not getting any cheaper….

Microsoft Office XP support retired

Just in case you misread the title, I’m talking about Office XP here and not Windows XP; this specifically pertains to the Microsoft Office suite of software. Are you a Microsoft Office XP user? If you are, you should be concerned because Microsoft has announced that they will not update or support Office XP anymore starting this week. Office XP has been published since 10 years ago and it will be blocked by its support starting on July 12 2011.

When something goes from “mainstream support” to “extended support” at Microsoft, that essentially means Microsoft will continue to support enterprise that uses the product, or in other words biz-only support and not consumer. For each Microsoft product, most of them are supported for only 10 years since the product was released. The first five years called mainstream support, the other five years called Extended Support. Microsoft has a strong excuse to stop support and update to the previous product, it is because the users of Microsoft product decrease because some new products of Microsoft are released and has a lot of users. Microsoft has given support update security and patches for 10 years. The last update was in December 2010.

Office XP, which is the version before Office 2003, has been in extended support for the last 5 years, but as of next week will not be. That means no more support from Microsoft on that particular product even for enterprise.

It’s highly doubtful you use Office XP at home, but there may be some poor souls at there still using that decade-old version of Office at work. Sure, it gets the job done, but don’t expect any support from Microsoft on it after this week. Microsoft Office 2003 will end up on April 8, 2014, Microsoft Office 2007 on April 11, 2017 and Microsoft Office 2010 on October 13, 2020.

So if you do in fact use Office XP at home, then perhaps you should thinking about switching, by purchasing a new copy of Office 2010, or trying LibreOffice or OpenOffice for free. I posted a MS Office 2010 features and pricing matrix for your review along with some screen-shots of both LibreOffice and OpenOffice.

Here at the office, I do not use MS Office anymore. I use a combination of Google Calendar and Gmail and LibreOffice for my work.

Migration from Windows and six ways to ensure it sticks

Summary: Moving a business from Windows to desktop Linux can be scary for some users. Here are some tricks for smoothing the transition.

With all the many compelling reasons for a company to switch to Linux on the desktop, it’s no wonder that businesses large and small are increasingly relying on the free and open source operating system. After all, it’s free, flexible, reliable, and highly secure–to name just a few of the most attractive features.

No matter how good your reasons for switching from Windows to Linux, however, the fact remains that most of us don’t like change. That–more than anything else–is why migrations of any kind can be painful.

One of the most common mistakes new desktop Linux users make is to give up too easily, often citing the frequently heard myth that “It’s too hard.” The truth, however, is that it’s just different. It may be difficult to remember at this point, but Windows took some getting used to, too.

How can you make the desktop Linux migration process as easy as possible in your business? Here are a few suggestions.

1. Get Buy-In at the Top

This probably goes without saying, but executive buy-in is essential to business migrations of just about any kind. Users need to know that the change has been mandated from the top or they won’t feel motivated to go along with it

2. Choose the Right Distribution

Before the migration even begins, it’s critical that you choose the right Linux distribution from among the many hundreds that are out there. As I’ve outlined before, this is primarily a question of the skills of your users, the focus of your business, your hardware and software needs, and the kind of support you hope to get.

Assuming your users haven’t been on desktop Linux before, I’d be inclined to steer you toward either Ubuntu or Linux Mint, unless you have compelling reasons to do otherwise. To help convert real Windows aficionados, there’s also Zorin OS, which is designed to mimic Microsoft’s graphical user interface. You should definitely avoid some of the more expert-oriented distros such as Arch Linux or Slackware.

If you want a little extra online help in making your decision, check out the zegenie Studios Linux Distribution Chooser or polishlinux.org’s distro chooser, both of which can be useful.

3. Choose a Familiar Desktop

One of the nicest things about Linux is that it’s so flexible and customizable, and that’s particularly useful when it comes to introducing new users to the operating system. In addition to choosing your distribution carefully, I’d also encourage you at least to check out a few different desktop environments.

I outlined a few of these not long ago within the context of Ubuntu–which has traditionally come with GNOME by default–and there are many more. Pick one that seems relatively similar to what your users are familiar with.

4. Begin with Key Apps

Because so many of the apps your employees will likely need are cross-platform, one good hurdle to jump ahead of time is getting them used to any new key applications. If they’re used to Internet Explorer, for example, you can start them on Firefox or Chrome while they’re still on Windows.

If they’ve been using Microsoft Office, you can get them used to OpenOffice.org or LibreOffice ahead of time, too. That way, when it comes time to make the switch in operating systems, they’ll have some familiar territory–it won’t all be new.

5. Remove the Pressure

Before you’re aiming to make the switch, set up a Linux box in your office using the distribution, desktop and apps you’ve chosen. Make sure there are some games on there too, and offer it as an option for break time. There’s nothing like no-pressure time with a new technology to make people open-minded and quick to learn.

6. Make a Cheat Sheet

Because the lion’s share of any difficulty in switching to Linux is simply getting used to something different, it can be a real help for users if you give them a quick, post-training “cheat sheet” to remind them how to get at the tools they need once the switch is made.

It could be worded like, “Instead of… (Internet Explorer, for example) Use… (Firefox, say).” It could also outline the first few clicks to get users where they need to go. They’ll probably be fine once they’re in the applications they need–more often than not, it will simply be the process of getting there that they need help remembering.

Here is an up to date wiki with information: http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/Linux_software_equivalent_to_Windows_software

Windows or OSX does not excite me like Ubuntu Linux does

You know that thing that happens on your computer, when you are using Windows? When you ask it to do something, and it thinks about it, and then it keeps thinking, and then you go off and make a cup of tea, and it’s still thinking, and you want to headbutt the wall, again and again, until gets all smeared and red and bloody and bits of your brain are raining down on to your shoes? Yes? Well, there’s a way to stop that happening. Stop using Windows. Use Ubuntu instead.

Ubuntu is an operating system. If you don’t know what one of those is, Google it, and then come back. The latest version comes out in April 2011. If you work on a desk, these are the environs are our worlds. Mine used to be Windows, and now it isn’t. And, as a result my life is better.

Ubuntu is a Debian-based distribution of Linux. If you are feeling a powerful urge, already, to recommend a different version of Linux, then let me stop you right there. Is it easier to use? Is it prettier? No? Well, not interested. Move along. Actually, I recommend Ubuntu on the corporate level and Linux Mint for the home users.

But then came Windows Vista, the OS world’s answer to the Austin Allegro. All across the world, sleek expensive machines were sitting on desks, blinking little green lights and doing little else, for hours. Netbooks and smartphones came along at around the same time, helping people to realise that it didn’t really matter what language your computer spoke, as long as you could use Google and Hotmail. And into the void swooped Ubuntu. Finally, there was a version of Linux that was actually pleasant to use. “Linux for human beings,” they called it. See? Some IT jokes are actually quite funny.

My Ubuntu setup is faster than a PC and prettier than a Mac. But best of all, when you ask it to do something, it does it. Or, at worst, it doesn’t do it. It doesn’t think about it, for hours, and then mysteriously go off the idea. It doesn’t crash. It doesn’t break. I don’t know why everybody doesn’t use it.

“But will I still be able to use Word?” you cry. Well, no. But you will be able to use something almost indistinguishable (OpenOffice), or Google Docs, which is far more useable anyway. You can mess around with it in all sorts of ways, and make it look however you want. I gather that Windows 7 is perfectly serviceable, but I wouldn’t go back. I wouldn’t see the point. It would be like moving into a generic hotel room, when you’re used to having your own house.

On the big Dell tank that sets under my desk, it’s Ubuntu all the way. Now the next newest version is coming out, you should try it, too. Download it, put it on a disk, stick it in the drive and see what happens. You can run it from there, if you want, or you can tell it to install alongside whichever OS you’ve got on there already.

Mainstream media is adopting Linux now and is becoming more prevalent these days in corporate and home use.

• http://jet-computing.com/linux/examples/
• http://jet-computing.com/broadcom-joins-the-linux-foundation/
• http://jet-computing.com/prediction-google-chrome-os-notebooks-will-be-introduced-at-under-100-in-mid-2011/
• http://jet-computing.com/will-microsoft-repair-its-image-as-russia-moves-to-linux/
• http://jet-computing.com/london-stock-exchange-smashes-world-record-trade-speed-with-linux/
• http://jet-computing.com/good-bye-windows-enterprise-linux-is-taking-off/

Often times, when a debate ensues regarding Linux and Windows, people start complaining how not-user-friendly Linux really is. Before saying such far fetched statements, one thing they all need to consider is that Linux is NOT Windows and thank GOD for that.

It is not the friendliness factor, it is the user familiarity factor that is giving a lot of bad name for Linux. Most of the Linux users are those migrating from Microsoft Windows and it requires a certain amount of time to get familiar with the new OS.

I have my own experience to substantiate this statement. I was not much of a computer user at all till I bought my laptop 4 years ago. I installed Ubuntu as dual boot with Windows XP. I instantly started liking Ubuntu, it was fun to use and all the compiz eyecandy was just overwhelming. To that day, I considered linux as an outcast or never really though about it at all.

But even a guy like me with minimal Windows experience took 2-3 months to get fully familiar with Ubuntu. But once I got familiar, their was no looking back. To this day, there was not even a single instance where I had to go back to the Windows era.

That is probably the issue. Most of them are so too familiar with Windows and so are they, in a way, expecting everything in Linux to be just as like in Windows. That has to change.

Another good example of this ‘familiarity factor’ is the IT@School project introduced in Kerala, India in 2002. Kerala government completely shut down windows, and made schools to use only Linux. Students or parents didn’t protest, they just went on with it. And now Kerala is among the states having the highest e-literacy rate.

Here is another guy proudly proclaiming Ubuntu is NOT user friendly and that he is going ‘back’ to Windows. He never ‘came’ to Ubuntu to go ‘back’ to Windows.

All I have to say to those who say Ubuntu is tough to use is, spend some more time on it before quitting. It is worth it. I can’t even think about using Windows now, partially because I am all too familiar with Ubuntu and Linux. So please do bear that in mind always.

“I get paid to support Windows, I use Linux to get work done.”

Removing Windows From Computer is Illegal

I hear this statement from time to time from people that are generally misguided and from those that want to perpetuate the lie due their status as a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer.

People are ignorant of things they do not understand, and should be wholly cognizant of alternate solutions, but sadly this is not the case. A good analogy would be saying, “It is illegal to change out the motor in your vehicle and replace it with a more fuel efficient engine, one that is more robust and longer lasting” See how stupid that sounds? Computers are no different.

People do not like change, they get comfortable with something and then become lazy and lethargic. Change should be welcomed with open arms!

• Change Happens (Eg. Software dies)
• Anticipate Change (Eg. New software is created)
• Monitor Change (Eg. Linux gains traction over both Apple and Windows)
• Adapt To Change Quickly (Eg. Jump in and learn Linux)
• Change (Eg. Migrate from Apple and Windows)
• Enjoy Change! (Eg. Relish that you migrated to Linux, before the masses)
• Be Ready To Change Quickly And Enjoy It Again (Eg. Lookout for the next big thing)

If you ever hear this argument then you need to say just two simple words, “Prove it.” The reality is they can’t. I was going to do a bit of research on this but there is nothing to research. Matter of fact when I did a web search at Google all I found was piracy hacks and methods to remove illegal copies of MS software.

Short run, no where in the Microsoft (MS) End User License Agreement (EULA) is there such a statement. Simply because said statement itself would be illegal under Federal Law. Do an internet search using a law search engine, nope not there.

This myth is not perpetuated by MS but they don’t discourage it either. Truth is the myth is usually spewed out as a defense by MSCE types and other MS advocates to keep the status quo going. They fear change, and any inclusion of Linux, replacement of Windows by Linux etcetera is a definite change. They don’t know Linux, don’t use Linux and feel that Linux can never be a better alternative to the current MS offering.

Here are some examples of this idiotic notion:

“Now that’s bad enough, but I gotta share this with you. I was presenting Linux to a vice-principal of a high school last month. He was all about saving money and using Open Office, but then he told me that he couldn’t because Microsoft would sue him for taking Windows off the computer. Yeah, he actually believes that it is illegal to remove Windows XP because it came with the computer. …Makes my ass hurt. It’s that kind of ignorance and laziness we are dealing with. I don’t believe Linux should be dumbed down…I believe the computer user should take some responsibility for knowing something about their computers.”

“…observed one of my students with a group of other children gathered around his laptop. Upon looking at his computer, I saw he was giving a demonstration of some sort. The student was showing the ability of the laptop and handing out Linux disks. After confiscating the disks I called a confrence with the student and that is how I came to discover you and your organization. Mr. Starks, I am sure you strongly believe in what you are doing but I cannot either support your efforts or allow them to happen in my classroom. At this point, I am not sure what you are doing is legal. No software is free and spreading that misconception is harmful. These children look up to adults for guidance and discipline. I will research this as time allows and I want to assure you, if you are doing anything illegal, I will pursue charges as the law allows. Mr. Starks, I along with many others tried Linux during college and I assure you, the claims you make are grossly over-stated and hinge on falsehoods. I admire your attempts in getting computers in the hands of disadvantaged people but putting linux on these machines is holding our kids back.

This is a world where Windows runs on virtually every computer and putting on a carnival show for an operating system is not helping these children at all. I am sure if you contacted Microsoft, they would be more than happy to supply you with copies of an older verison of Windows and that way, your computers would actually be of service to those receiving them…”

I have sat in a PhD’s office…a PhD that happened to be a principal of a school. She told me that according to her “tech staff”, it was illegal to remove Microsoft Windows from their school computers. So who is ignorant here? The “tech staffer” afraid of losing his MCSE position or the Dr. of Education that didn’t bother to check into such a statement. Ignorance isn’t the sole possession of this particular school teacher.

One thing that I can say with some certainty, is that most of the IT professionals are completely out of touch with the IT world. MOST of them could care less about the modern computing world. Heck, half of them hate computers in general! I cannot tell you how many folks are just here for the paycheck, and don’t care one little bit about what is really going on in technology.

Perfect examples of  simple-brained organisms with a closed source mind.

Microsoft Death Watch

Wayne Borean has just published a couple of blog posts which he titled/preceded with “Microsoft Death Watch”. For quite some time he has been talking about the possibility that Microsoft won’t survive for a long time to come and we are now seeing such claims (or at least similar ones) qualifying to enter the mainstream/corporate press (shortly after Microsoft’s latest results which obfuscate issues). Borean’s first post claims that “The Mainstream Media Notices the Problem”

Last year when I predicted that Microsoft had five years until they’d have to apply for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection, there was a lot of laughter. I was told that I was crazy – a point that I won’t argue. Being crazy means that you see things in a different light.

And then we have Information Week running an article titled Microsoft Looking Like An End-Stage Company. In it Information Week calls out many of the same points I’ve been making. They also suggest that Steve Ballmer, the President and CEO needs to go. Soon.

Then we have CNN with an article titled Microsoft is a dying consumer brand. One of the people they quote is Ray Ozzie, who has just left Microsoft, and posted a comment in his blog.

Microsoft looks like a classic case of The Innovator’s Dilemma. When was the last time that Microsoft introduced a successful new project? I can tell you exactly. It was August 24th, 2001. The launch of Windows XP, which merged the 9x and NT versions of Windows, is the last successful new product, and it wasn’t even new. It was a merger of two pre-existing products.

[...]

My original prediction was based on Microsoft taking no action to avoid bankruptcy. Obviously Microsoft would take action, but I didn’t have any idea as to what sort of action they would attempt to take. Oh, we know that Microsoft has been selling off and closing divisions, my thanks to Dr. Roy for hosting a listing.

The problem is that selling and closing divisions doesn’t address the main problem, a lack of productive innovation. If you can’t or won’t bring new products to market, you might as well just close the company.

The follow-up titled “Microsoft Death Watch – Libre Office Drives Another Nail Into The Coffin” speaks about the main cash cow and the threat posed from an increasing number of directions (not just Free software):

Any change in sales of Microsoft Office will have a huge effect on Microsoft’s profitability, and the corporation’s ability to develop new products. Remember my prediction that Microsoft would be in Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection within five years? A large part of that prediction was based on the growth in market share of iWork, OpenOfficeOrg, and Google Docs, and the economic pressures on end users of the recession.

What does a company with a thousand seats (installations) of Microsoft Office do when money runs low, and it’s not possible to renew the licenses? At this point OpenOfficeOrg looks like a great deal. Sure, it’s not completely compatible with Microsoft Office, but the cost factor can’t be ignored.

Alastair Otter asks similar question with his headline, “Beginning of the end for Microsoft?”

There are a couple of moments in Microsoft’s long history that will be remembered as when the company changed forever. One of those is, naturally, when Bill Gates handed over the reins. The other will be the day that Ray Ozzie, Microsoft’s chief software architect, leaves the building.

Ozzie’s departure was very major news. Well, even a Microsoft booster who has been loyal to the company for a long time is willing to acknowledge this:

It’s easy to lampoon Ray Ozzie’s farewell memo to Microsoft – Dan Lyons summarized it as

“We suck. I quit. Goodbye.”

Expect Ray Ozzie’s function to be replaced by the likes of Horacio Gutierrez, who is intimidating, extorting and sometimes suing companies that ‘dare’ not to use/distribute Windows and Office. Gutierrez was recently promoted, which ought to give a clue. It is no secret anymore that Microsoft is using patents as a “Plan B”, so to speak. Groklaw responds to Ray Ozzie’s unfounded claim that Microsoft “continued to grow and mature in the area of responsible competition, and the breadth and depth of our cultural shift toward genuine openness, interoperability and privacy which are now such key cornerstones of everything we do.”

“Run that by me one more time,” wrote Pamela Jones in response to this. “Genuine openness, you say? Interoperability? Is ODF allowed to be fully inter-operable now? No? How can that be, if Microsoft if now genuinely open and inter-operable? Yes. I jest. And with Ozzie ejecting, I’d say the future of any genuine openness is not something to expect any time soon from a company that didn’t even know how to respect a man like Ozzie.”

“…Microsoft is reportedly now using patents to block Taiwanese manufacturers from using Android in netbooks unless they pay Microsoft, which raises the price of using Android.”

Jones also referred to Microsoft’s patent extortion of companies that may sell Android or ChromeOS in/from Asia. “If I might point it out,” wrote Jones in response to a post from Dana Blankenhorn, “what bundling did for Microsoft was get it into antitrust lawsuits, which I expect will happen again with its anticompetitive patent strategy, which is how this article describes its purpose, without apparently realizing that it’s digging a hole for Microsoft while meaning to halfway admire the strategy. I’ll bet we’ll see this article in a lawsuit someday, actually. There is a point where patent law and antitrust law meet in a High-Noon kind of way.”

She wrote separately: ” Some of us don’t admire Microsoft’s business practices. For just one recent example, Microsoft is reportedly now using patents to block Taiwanese manufacturers from using Android in netbooks unless they pay Microsoft, which raises the price of using Android. I read that and it makes me want to avoid anything Microsoft offers ever. And it makes me want to try Android on a netbook, because in my logical mind, if this is all Microsoft can do to compete, it must be offering second-rate goods, I conclude. That’s how I react, and I doubt I am alone.”

“The resonable man adapts himself to the world; the unresonable on persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” –George Bernard Shaw

The secrets to success with Ubuntu OS

Ubuntu is an impressive operating system and can be incredibly rewarding once you’re comfortable using it. People keep asking me for suggestions on how to get started with this OS so I’ve decided to write up my suggestions, which will hopefully ease a few more people towards adoption.

The points below assume that the reader has at least an intermediate level of computing skill. If you’re not quite at that point yet, then it might not be worth the effort.

Install the 64 bit version
Unless you are installing Ubuntu Netbook Edition or your computer is more than five years old you have no excuse to use the 32bit version.

Download and burn the 64bit Ubuntu desktop iso to disc and boot it. It will take a while for everything to load to memory but eventually the installation screen will show up and give you two options “Try Ubuntu” and “Install Ubuntu”. I definitely recommend trying Ubuntu before installing it, however there is one thing that you should keep in mind when using this option — at this point, the whole OS is running off the CD and that means things are going to be noticeably slow. Once Ubuntu is installed it’s very fast on most PC’s.

I’m not going to go through the installation process, Marius Nestor wrote a fantastic tutorial for that here.

But there is one thing I want to mention about the installation; don’t select the “Log in automatically” option when asked. Firstly it is counter-intuitive to Linux security and secondly it will cause issues with the Gnome keyring later on.

Suggested apps/drivers to install

• Proprietary graphics drivers

The proprietary graphics drivers still out-perform the open source alternatives in most cases so this is highly recommended. Ubuntu should suggest installing them in the notification area otherwise you can get to them via: [System > Administration > Additional Drivers] Allow it to search for available drivers. If the list is empty then Ubuntu is already using default drivers and there is nothing more you need to do. Otherwise select the one that is marked as “Recommended” and click “Activate”.

• Ubuntu Restricted Extras

You may have noticed that Ubuntu now offers the proprietary MP3 codec during installation, Ubuntu Restricted Extras includes a whole lot of other audio and video codecs, as well as other proprietary “nice-to-haves” like Microsoft fonts and Adobe Flash.

To get this package, open the Ubuntu Software Center (under “Application”), search for “extras” and install “Ubuntu Restricted Extras”

• Google Chrome

This is obviously preferential. Chrome is still faster than Firefox and it’s nice to know that there is a competitive alternative for web browsing in Ubuntu. Go here to download the 64bit .deb file. Once downloaded double click the file, it should open the Ubuntu Software Center and give you the option to “Install”. Once installed, you will find it here: [Applications > Internet > Google Chrome] while you’re here right-click on it and click “Add this launcher to panel”. You might also want to pick up the Ambiance Chrome theme so that it fits seamlessly into Ubuntu.

• Gimp

Gimp is a professional image manipulation package similar to Adobe Photoshop. It has recently been removed from the list of default apps in Ubuntu because it is targeted towards industry professionals rather than casual computer users. Nevertheless, I am completely dependent on Gimp as I was on Photoshop before it, so it’s one of the first apps I install. As usual you can find it in the Software Center.

• Games

You can find numerous free games in the Software Center but if you’re like me and want to play something that’s more than a “free alternative”, then here are two good options:

Heroes of Newerth – An excellent tactical, multiplayer game based on the popular Warcraft 3 custom map; DotA. An account will cost you US$30 once-off and is well worth it in my opinion.

Amnesia: The Dark Descent –A single player survival horror with amazing graphics and interactive physics, it’s one of the most terrifying games I’ve ever played. This title goes for a modest US$20.

A few additional suggestions

• Use the Ubuntu Software Center or .deb files only

Explore the Software Center as much as possible and if you resort to downloading software off the web, then always get the 64bit .deb package file.

Stay away from .sh files, .run files and “sudo make install” unless there is a good tutorial or step-by-step wizard that accompanies it. Once you’re comfortable with Ubuntu specific packages then you can move onto applications made for any Linux distro.

• Don’t try install Windows apps with Wine

When I first installed Ubuntu, I made the mistake of thinking that I couldn’t do much on it and that resulted in me experimenting with Wine. Wine is an open source replacement of the Windows core libraries. It is an important project and should definitely be experimented with… but not when you are new to Ubuntu and Linux. As I mentioned above; get comfortable with using Ubuntu specific applications before moving to broader options.

• Install VirtualBox

Virtual Machines are the simplest and most effective way of running have-to-have Windows apps like Adobe Photoshop or Microsoft Office. However, you will still need a full Windows license to install it on a virtual machine as you would if you were installing it on a physical machine. You can get VirtualBox from the Ubuntu Software Center.

• Insist on using the GUI

Linux guru’s on various forums like to give advice in terminal speak but 90% of that advice can be done far easier using the graphical user interface. The reason you are encouraged to use the terminal for basic tasks is so that you can perform the same task in any Linux distribution. I’ll repeat the same advice again; once you are comfortable using Ubuntu then you can play around in the terminal, in fact I encourage it. Before then, insist on the Gnome GUI-based solution to your queries.

• Office Applications

If you just can’t bring yourself to use LibreOffice/OpenOffice.org or even Google Docs, there are ways to use Microsoft Office. As I mentioned above, VirtualBox is a good way of using MS Office in Ubuntu but the high price of a Windows license makes this option difficult to digest. A cheaper option would be Crossover Linux which uses Wine at its core, but simplifies the process of installing and running Windows applications and is relatively user-friendly.

This is certainly not a definitive guide for new Ubuntu users but hopefully it’ll get you closer to that point where you can feel comfortable using it.

Don’t Waste Money on a New Computer for College

Heading off to college? Here’s my suggestion: buy a used laptop from Craigslist and install Ubuntu onto it. Seriously. You don’t need a new computer for college. If you’re pursuing a liberal arts degree, you really don’t need a brand new computer just to write all the papers you’ll write. If you’re pursuing an engineering degree, the chances are high that your department’s computer labs are better than anything you can buy for yourself.

The value of computer labs should not be underestimated, even for liberal arts students. In addition to hopefully beefy hardware with properly installed and maintained software, there’s a very important social component to using computer labs. This is not to say that’s just an opportunity to watch lulz videos on YouTube with your pals, of course. The people you meet in your classes and your degree program are kindred souls, and you should get to know some of them. Whether it’s a team project, or help with a tough assignment, or simply making smalltalk, the interactions you can have in the computer lab are an important component of the social college experience, and you should not avoid them by locking yourself in your dorm room to plug away on your fancy new workstation.

That janky old laptop you buy from Craigslist will not be as attractive a target for theft as a brand new computer. If it does get stolen, you won’t be out as much cash. No, it won’t be a speed demon, but what do you seriously plan to do with it? Type some papers, read some emails, Facebook, maybe watch some Internet pornography? It’ll sit unobtrusively on your desk, under a pile of papers, until you need it. Even if the battery doesn’t work, you can still lug it with you to plug in at the library or the coffee shop when you need a change of scenery.

You’re not going to play games on your college laptop. Your roommate, or someone in your hall, will have an Xbox 360. Someone else will have a PS3, and there’s a strong chance that there’ll be a Wii somewhere, too. Make friends with these people and play their games. Save yourself the grief of soda spilled into your own precious gaming console. Save yourself the trouble of kicking people out of your room when they want to play RockBand every night during Finals Week. Take the time to learn a couple new card games, too: Euchre, Golf, whatever. Going old school — you know, without electricity — can be a fun and super portable way to enjoy games and meet new people, too.

You’re also not going to use your used laptop as a media PC to stream movies in your room. Oh sure, you can, but you’ll be watching those things alone: none of your friends are going to want to crowd around your 14″ laptop screen to watch anything. For more social viewing opportunities, rely on those friends with XBox 360s and PS3s and big TVs. You can, however, load up your laptop with MP3s so that you can rock out (with headphones on if you have a roommate) while cranking out that paper on Plato’s Republic.

The used laptop you buy from Craigslist should be used to help you get some schoolwork done, and little else. Ubuntu provides everything you need. OpenOffice can open and save files in Microsoft Word format, so you’ll have no real trouble integrating with most of the campus systems. In the event that your school uses a classroom management system like Blackboard or Desire2Learn, you may have the occasional situation that requires some goofy ActiveX control, or proprietary shim component. See the paragraph above about the computer lab.

Ubuntu will keep you safe from the Wild West that is a dorm network. You can be absolutely sure that a good many of the computers on the dorm network are compromised by malware. There’s also a slim chance that some miscreant in your building fancies himself a hax0r, and will probe and poke at every device he or she can find. Your Ubuntu laptop will not easily become a victim, and it might even become a conversation starter.

1. Download the latest version of Ubuntu and burn it to a CD.
2. Search Craigslist for a decent, moderately priced used laptop.
3. Buy that laptop.
4. Boot that laptop from your Ubuntu CD and follow the instructions.
5. Enjoy your college experience.