My Linux Christmas Lists!

This is my second Christmas as a full GNU/Linux user! My computer hasn't exploded, I was able to get all my work done (and even more!), learned a lot about computers, didn't get malware problems, have the fastest and most stable system ever...and even got quite lazy with the back-up ritual that I used to perform every 2 months during my Windows days.

Anyway, distro and OSs wars aside, I wish all my readers the best for this season!

And now...what is on my Linux Christmas list? Let's see:

1. MEPIS 11.5 released! :)
2. A Free 3-D Mind Mapping tool.
3. A Linux Christmas demonstration.
4. A Linux computer vendor in my country.
5. A Kaquarium on KDE 4 like the one KDE 3.5 has.

But in a more humorous note, what what would my list include? Something like this:

1. A USB thumb drive that can be plugged in regardless of how you try to insert it.
2. A Toshiba netbook with Linux preinstalled.
3. A Canon printer with full Linux support.
4. A Tech-support line whose personnel does not tell you "go to the button 'start'."
5. A university application whose installation manual does not include "drive C:"
6. A Microsoft EULA that actually cares for user rights.
7. The terrible, epic, all-platform virus equally affecting Windows, MacOS, and all Linux distros that a Windows fanboy once said it was easy to design.

What about your lists? What would they include? :P

A New Trick: Immutable Files!

Today, I learned from Joany, a fellow Mepis user at the Mepis Community Forums, this nice trick to make files immutable. She says:

"Occasionally, changes to a configuration file that are done manually won't "stick" because a process resets those changes back to default values. Changing file permissions to "read only" does not work when root owns the file and the process making the change."

If you make the file immutable, then nothing or no one will change it, not even root.

So, how does it work? You just have to enter as root this command:

chattr +i filename

If you need to alter the file in the future, the code below will return your file to its normal properties:

chattr -i filename

Hehe! I'm eager to try this trick with the next immutable malware file that gets into my USB pendrive! Thank you, Joany!

My Old Computer...First Round

As the end of this semester is almost here, I don't have much free time in my hands. Still, I was able to work for a bit on my old computer yesterday! I tried SliTaz on it and loved it! The friendly spider-penguin not only recognized my wired connection, but also let me install Firefox without a glitch.

Unfortunately, my knowledge was not enough to carry out the installation of this distro successfully. During the installation process, I got a message that a file was missing. I'm not reporting this as a complaint but rather as a VERY INFORMAL blog entry, just to remind myself to try installing SliTaz again when I have more time. Boy, I liked it!!

I also have CD Linux and Vector Linux in line for testing! Can't wait to try them! ^___^

Meanwhile, my old computer is running happily fueled by SimplyMepis 8.0. It used to dual boot Windows XP back in the old times, but now it is a full Linux install.

An Old Computer: What Distro Should I Choose?

I have a computer that has seen better days. I used it with Mepis 8.0 and it worked without a glitch, but since I use now another computer (also with Mepis 8.0 as its main OS, although I also use on it Pardus 2011, Mandriva 2010, Mepis 11, antiX M-11, MiniNO, and Kongoni), I'd like to try a totally different distro as the main OS for my old computer this time.

It has to be a lightweight distro...my old computer is not able to run beautiful effects. Neither KDE 4 nor Compiz worked well on this old timer. I am thinking of Enlightenment or XFCe...but I'm open to any other lightweight distro. I know that antiX and MiniNo work like a breeze, but I'd like to try something new, for the sake of learning and experimenting...

Well...let's see what I can find. Any suggestions?

A Word on Productivity and Linux...

As the end of this semester comes close, I've found myself progressively busier. I've even neglected my blog about the experiences I have with Linux...

Then, I noticed something: Why is it that I'm so busy and why I haven't written anything here?


To put it simply, long gone are the days in which my OS slowed down or needed occasional/frequent reboots. Now, I can work while I update my system, don't have to worry about directing resources at updating or running A/V software every single day and the only problem I get is that I feel ostracized when I hear my colleagues talking about how viruses infected their systems!

I even forgot what minimizing windows felt like!

It's great when one's OS doesn't get in the way...especially when one needs to maximize productivity! Thanks, Linux, for showing me that another way of using the computer is possible!

A Case to Make Linux Big on the Desktop

Nobody can deny it: many articles have been written about why GNU/Linux didn't make it, hasn't made it, and will never make it on the desktop. If there were another time dimension besides past, present, and future, we would probably see articles explaining why Tux does not work in there, either.

Many reasons have been given: Linux is too stiff/ too flexible; Linux is too ugly/too beautiful; Linux is too weak/too powerful; Linux is too outdated/too ahead of our times; Linux is too cheap/ too expensive (yes! some people even have the guts to say this!); Linux is too fragmented (fragmentation: the quality of dazzling users with choices), too exotic, too dangerous (kids! don't try Linux at home!), too difficult to learn, has weird application names; is linked to communism, anarchy and to the devil. Does Satan use Satanic Linux?

Also, many strategies have been offered to make Tux popular. Among them, we can list reducing the list of options and choices, dumbing interfaces down, making aggressive campaigns, boycotting OEMs, killing Richard Stallman, making lots of viruses for Linux so that potential migrants may feel at home, and many many more.

However, these strategies, although useful, never reach the essence of the problem.

And what is the core of the problem anyway?

Is it the ugly GNU/Linux name? Should we get rid of the GNU? That would be a terrible idea: exotic animals are fashionable. Besides, it makes Linux look greener...more in touch with nature.

So, what is it?

It's so simple and evident that all eyes miss it. The core of the problem is that Linux is Free Software (free as in freedom and free as in free cookies). Businesses do not want to do business with Tux (true, Red Hat is one of the crazy ones who dared) because Tux is a free penguin. Nobody wants a free penguin in the office!

Thus, to make Linux popular, Linux should be totally restrained, locked up, forbidden, wiped out of the map. If people realize that the penguin that was beside them all this time suddenly disappears, they will feel curious about it even though they were never interested when it was with them. Those who never cared, instead of smiling happily, would be the first ones to run everywhere looking for the penguin, now gone with the wind.

The disappearance of Linux would cause a terrible envy frenzy, too. Whoever had Linux available would be bombarded with requests for copies and installations just because this person possesses something that the others never grabbed when they had the chance! That's human nature at its best!

It's very sad, though, that nobody will have the wits, guts, and economic power to recognize the genius of this simple idea and try it...thus, no individual will ever try to ban Linux...

Wait! There is still hope! Did anybody say "Unified Extensively Firmware Interface", and "secure boot enabled by default"?

Yeah! Tux will be popular after all!

RIP Steve Jobs

I did not believe it when I read in the news that Steve Jobs had passed away.

True, I'm a Linux fan and I have never had an Apple computer (and probably never will), but denying the contribution of this man to the world of computers and to the corporate world would be too much.

The world has lost a true visionary. May he rest in peace.