Shuttleworth Talks Tough: Does anyone care? June 18, 2007
Posted by rjdohnert in Uncategorized.3 comments
Mark Shuttleworth leader of the Ubuntu project and a respected figure in the Linux community (Im going to leave out First South African in Space because everyone says it so much) has stated on his blog that Canonical is not in talks with Microsoft similar to the Novell, Xandros, Linspire and LG deal. He cites “rumors on the internet”
First, I personally havent heard such rumors. Secondly, does anyone care. Thirdly, its Steven J Vaughn Nichols. Does anyone still take that zealot seriously anymore. Well, Mark Shuttleworth obviously does. The Linux community has pretty much shunned the rumors of patent infringement. While I believe ignoring the problem is the same as getting shot and ignoring the fact you have a piece of lead in your body and moving on with your life that doesnt mean its an option. The Linux community has taken that route and I hope it works out for them.
While I admire Shuttleworth for clearly stating where his allegiances lay and his position on Microsoft. Did he have to do it so dramatically and address it like its some major announcement? No, and I dont think it is a major deal. The Linux community wants to hide behind the GPLv3 shield and thats pretty clear. When the issue goes to court and it will, we will see if its a wise choice.
Obviously many people are fooled June 17, 2007
Posted by rjdohnert in Opinions.add a comment
My last article ‘Not everyones so easily fooled’ ticked off a bunch of people. Well some people agree, some people disagree.
First to answer most of the accusations that Im a “Windows only guy” is extremely false. I happen to use Linux, BSD, and have a couple of Macs. One of them runs Yellowdog Linux by the way, which let me give a quick plug is one of the most feature comparable Linux distributions for the PowerPC family.
Now. No, Im not jealous of Apples interface, and no I am not saying Apples not creative. Apple just stole ideas from Vista and Project Looking Glass. Spotlight gets the ability to search files across the network and on servers. Sound familiar? It should, Microsoft has been touting these features for years. Windows Volume Shadow Copy has been around since Windows Server 2003, Time Machine may be visually nicer but Windows Vista had the feature first. Who made the taskbar/dock transparent first? Despite some third party hacks Microsoft did it first and foremost. Does Quicklook look familiar? Why yes, its called Flip3D on Windows Vista and whats even more amazing is that Project Looking glass had that transition effect long before either one had. Does the new Dock look familiar? Take a look and see for yourself.
What disappointing for me is that Apple could not show it was at least copying with a little bit of tact. Everything I have seen from the menubar, all the way to the desktop wallpaper screams inspiration from something else and in my opinion does not showcase the creativity of the Mac team. Leopard feels more like playing catch up than anything else. Who knows maybe Apple will “WOW” me by the time Leopard is released. I have a bunch of comments, e-mails and whatever telling me I didnt do my research, that Im an idiot and one that even told me my mother is ugly (nope, not kidding) But maybe these people need to get their heads out of their asses, watch the PDC videos and even the WinHEC keynotes from years past. Before you tell someone to do their research, how about you do yours.
Not everyones so easily fooled June 13, 2007
Posted by rjdohnert in Uncategorized.9 comments
Mary Jo foley pretty much sums it up in her blog post. Mac OS X leopard looks almost identical to Windows Vista and Cybermagellan over at Channel 9 is also correct in ways, The Project Looking glass association****.
I watched Steves keynote and the first thought that came to mind is “Thiefs”. Its not just a clever nod, its a blatant ripoff. Even down to the wallpaper. Remember the glass blades in Windows Vista betas and RC’s. As Mary Jo points out, Leopard is 64 bit, no more 32 bit while this may appear to put Apple ahead it doesnt. Apple will have the same hardware drivers issues and mass adoption I think will be slower because of the lack of 32 bit. Not everyone will rush off to sell their current machine on eBay in order to get a 64 bit machine.
Apple has some nerve calling Microsoft thieves when its clear where the inspiration for Leopard came from. Apple should call this release Mac Vista. Not the first time Apple ripped off someone elses idea. Do you guys remember Konfabulator?
***** I thought the Project Looking Glass similarities in the Dock were a nod to Sun because it was rumored Apple would be using ZFS, which has been shot down.
Schwartz needs to be more careful what he wishes to announce. It could, as in this case, backfire and make him look like an idiot.
Recovering from a catostrophic computer crash June 2, 2007
Posted by rjdohnert in Uncategorized.1 comment so far
I unfortunately this week, Monday, suffered from a serious hard drive crash. I finally got the works up last night at 3 am. Here was the adventure to getting the hard drive issue fixed.
Monday: 7:30 am – Checking e-mail when I noticed this strange noise coming from the main system.
9:30 am – Noticed the noise has gotten a lot worse and now the volume of the noise keeps raising then lowering, raising then lowering.
9:35 am – Sounds like a chainsaw now, Im finishing up on my KDE 4 review when I hear a snap and a pop. Linux kernel panics.
9:36 am – I try to reboot it and when hard drive is found I cry
9:40 am – I kick the computer and curse at it
10:00 am – I apologize and set computer upright.
3:00 pm I stop by Tiger direct to purchase new Hard Drive
7:00 pm – I put in the hard drive and turn on the system
7:05 pm – I put in the OpenSolaris disk and install OpenSolaris, I set up partitions to install Linux
9:00 pm – I put in PCLinuxOS disk and install PCLinuxOS
4:00 am – I go to bed
Tuesday:
8:00 am – I wake up
8:45 am – After a 5 shot Americano I boot the PC.
8:45:50 am – No Hard Drive found
9:00 am – Open case
9:01 am – Check jumpers and power supply, everything AOK
9:30 am – Drive to Tiger Direct outlet store
9:36 am – Wait to be helped
9:45 am – Still waiting
10:02 am – Am finally helped.
10:15 am – Get a new HD
1:00 pm – Go over to see my brother and stay with him for a few days to help him with some manual labor tasks
Friday:
4:00pm – Install new HD
5:00 pm – Put in PCLinuxOS disk and install
Saturday:
12:00 am – Run backups on data. everything but what I had done in recent days was on backup
1:00 am – Realizing all my website information and my KDE 4 review is gone .. I cry
4:00 am – Go to bed
10:00am – Wake up
10:02 am – Turn on PC .. IT STILL WORKS!!!
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