While it's true that there are a large number Linux distros, it's also true that a great many of them are based on Debian. So why don't you install Debian? Well, to be honest, it can be a bit tricky. However, the folks at project EasyDeb have done their best to simplify things for you. Here's what you do:

1) Download the net install cd that you need - you can get at debian.org or get the daily build that we have tested here at the downloads. {right now we only support x86 and x86_64 (intel/amd 32/64bit) systems}

2) Do a "STANDARD" install. - this means that the only thing that's need or needs to be checked ist the box that reads:STANDARD.

3) When the install is finished & you have been rebooted, login as ROOT

4) type => init 3

5) type => cd /usr/local/src

6) type => wget http://www.easydeb.org/SKRIPZ/install-easydeb.sh

7) type => sh install-easydeb.sh

ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTION AND/OR ANSWER THE QUESTIONS ON THE SCREEN. - most of which can be answered with the default answer (hit the enter key)

That's about all...

Looks pretty easy, doesn't it? I've got an older laptop gathering dust in the corner that I'd like to try this method out on. With two small children around, what I don't have is lots of time. However, the process looks fairly straightforward. I'll probably download the net install CD image and burn a disc tonight, just so that I'm ready when I find the time. At some point, I'll report on what happened.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 04:07 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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I added this blog to my blogroll a couple of months ago because, hey, learning how to use OO properly is good info. What I didn't know is that Solveig also teaches Firefox tricks. Excerpt:

And here's an additional tip I just picked up. If you close a tab that you didn't mean to close, type Ctrl Shift T to get it back.

Also:

F6 (or Alt-D or Alt-L) = switch focus to the address bar and highlight address. So you can hit F6 and then start typing the address immediately

Ctrl-PageUp and Ctrl-PageDown = move to next or previous tab. You might find it easier than Ctrl-Tab and Ctrl-Shift-Tab

Hold Alt while scrolling a page to scroll one line at a time instead of three.

Cool stuff. And if you're interested in something other than a pricey upgrade to Vista and Office 2007, you really need to check out this blog. However, if you're related to Bill Gates, I understand your dilemna.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 05:30 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Tired of paying for each call to information? Try this on for size:

Tired of paying $1.50 or $2 for every directory assistance phone call? Then don't. There truly is such a thing as free directory assistance, though it may cost you a little in time and patience. Jot this down:

1-800-FREE411.

A Boston-based company called Jingle Networks offers this free alternative to expensive 411 calls via your cell phone or land line. How and why do they do what they do for free? Just as radio and TV shows are supported by advertising, the directory assistance service is sponsored by companies advertising with the service. So, yes, that means you may hear a short, audio ad when requesting a phone number, but not every time.

When I tried it out, the automated system got the name I was requesting wrong, but a live operator quickly came on the line and found the phone number. I heard (and ignored) an ad for a credit card before I got my number, but it didn't drone on too long. Generally, you'll hear ads related to businesses you're requesting to contact and will be given the opportunity to connect to the advertised business. But an ad here and there seems worth saving $1.50 a pop.

Cool. May the Verizon and Sprint 411 operators rot in hell.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 07:44 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Peter Coffee has compiled a list what he considers the top 25 Killer App's of All Time. Wanna know something scary? I was familiar with all of them- except Electric Pencil- and used all of them when they came out. Truly, I am a geek god.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 10:34 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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A one terabyte hard drive for $399.

Full disclosure: my first computer didn't even had a hard drive, as I couldn't afford one. I had two floppy drives and used one for my OS. I then stripped a lot of application software to their barest minimums to run on a 1.44Mb floppy. Wordperfect 5.1 for DOS worked great without a lot of the frills installed. Anyway, I might be looking at a new drive soon.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 11:32 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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One of the flaws of the Linux Live CDs to date is the lack of ability to write to NTFS partitions. For those of you not living in your parents' basement, that's the file system used by Windows XP. Most Live CDs have had read capability, but not write capability, which limited your ability to handshake Linux files with Windows files. However, ntfs-3g solves this problem and works with one of the more popular Linux distros, Ubuntu's Edgy Eft. Excerpt:

Normally Linux systems can only read from Windows NTFS partitions, but not write to them which can be very annoying if you have to work with Linux and Windows systems. This is where ntfs-3g comes into play. ntfs-3g is an open source, freely available NTFS driver for Linux with read and write support. This tutorial shows how to install and use ntfs-3g on a Ubuntu Edgy Eft desktop to read from and write to Windows NTFS drives and partitions. It covers the usage of internal NTFS partitions (e.g. in a dual-boot environment) and of external USB NTFS drives.

Some of the info is excessively geeky. However, you don't need to understand it much to be able to implement. Just read and follow the directions; you should be alright.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 11:30 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Wanna see something really geekycool? How about a little tutorial so that you can build the Linux distro you the way you think it should be. Learn "how to" here. Excerpt:

The Dreamlinux Project addresses, as one of its main goals, the development of specific tools to allow anyone, despite his level of technical knowledge, being able to design and produce a Linux Distro that meets all his/her requirements . The Project also aims to research, learn and share all the knowledge produced during the Dreamlinux development process.
...
In order to turn the dream into reality, the MkDistro Tool was born. MkDistro has evolved to an excellent tool for building and remastering modules and whole Distros . It is developed by one of our co-founders, nelsongs (Nelson Gomes da Silveira), leveraging the Morphix approach of modules and his previous works on developing the HD remastering scripts for the Kurumin, Knoppix, Kanotix and Beatrix Live CD Distros .
...
MKDistro basic components

a) Mkdistro: it' s the basic tool responsible for launching, through its auto explained menus and dialog boxes, all the processes regarding the build of Distros. It's easy and intuitive to manage. Actually MkDistro so far comprises a set of 04 ( four ) scripts, mkdistro.sh, mkdistro_main.sh, mkdistro_clean.sh and mkcd.sh, with the main one (mkdistro.sh) using the others in some specific phase of the work.

b) Base-Module (BM): it's a slimmed down knoppix-like image comprising a Morphix patched Linux kernel, kernel modules and the whole set of applications and scripts needed to detect, configure and initialize the system hardware found in the computer.

c) Base Main Module (BMM or Working Module): it's a complete debian file system made up via a debootstrap procedure and the addition of very basic and essential applications designed to serve as a baseline for the full development of the Distro's Main Module.

d) Distro Main Module (DMM): it's the final module of the Distro you developed. In other words, it's practically the whole Distro, made up on top of the Basic Main Module chosen . This module will be later combined with the Basic Module in order to become the final iso image of your Distro.

e) Iso Image: it's the resulting image from the union between the Basic Module and the Distro's Main Module . So, this image is your final operating system which, after burned onto a CD, will become your new Live CD Linux Distro, capable of not only be run directly from the CD (provided you have set up your Computer's bios) as well as be installed onto your computer's HD.

There's a lot more there. Suffice it to say that you can do your own thing. I might start working on PhysicsGeeknix.

One caveat: the process needs to be performed on a Linux system. I haven't tried it while running a Live CD, but I bet that an external hard drive and a second CD burner are all that's required. I'll provide an update when my children are out of college which, by my reckoning, will be in about 20 years.

Ehh, I'll find the time soon enough.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 02:24 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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All you have to do is accept a bribe from Microsoft.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 03:14 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Excellent blog for your viewing pleasure as you make the transition away from Microsoft Office: Open Office Training, Tips and Ideas. And here's a terrific post on how to create multiple pages of mailing labels without using a mail merge, which is information that I could have used about 24 hours ago. Sigh. In any event, I'll keep checking her blog for more useful information. I suggest that you do the same.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 11:31 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Been looking for some good software, but didn't want to spend a bundle on it? Have I got an article for you:

A computer with no software is like a garden with no tools, not much is going to happen without a rake, trowel or spade. But donÂ’t worry because help is at hand. We have collected 20 programs that will quickly become indispensable; some are replacements for the offerings supplied with Windows and others are worthy alternatives to expensive software.

Wherever possible we have found software that costs nothing beyond the internet connection and will do everything that the software you buy in the shops does. To make sure you have the best possible chance of getting the software, we have put aside a dedicated part of our website for this purpose.

The article goes on to list Open Office, Firefox, the GIMP, Thunderbird, Skype and others. Their list of other free software is pretty good, too.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 04:03 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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I've been using Open Office at home for a while now. The last version of Microsoft Office that I paid for was Office97. I simply haven't seen enough improvement to warrant spending hundreds of dollars on the latest version. Anyway, I've been irritated at not having OO with me whenever I'm traveling without my laptop. It's no longer a problem, though, as Open Office has been converted into an Open App. Details:

OpenOffice.org Portable (formerly Portable OpenOffice.org) is the complete OpenOffice.org office suite -- including a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation tool, drawing package and database -- packaged as a portable app, so you can take all your documents and everything you need to work with them wherever you go.
...
Installing OpenOffice.org Portable

To install OpenOffice.org Portable, just download the portable package at the top of the OpenOffice.org Portable page and then double-click it. Select the location you wish to install to and click OK. An OpenOfficePortable directory will be created there and all the necessary files installed. That's all there is to it..

The entire package of software, including Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw and Base are your's for the downloading.

Update: Well, lookee here. Apparently you can take the entire suite of open apps in one fell swoop. Excerpt:

PortableApps Suite™ is a collection of portable apps including a web browser, email client, office suite, calendar/scheduler, instant messaging client, antivirus, sudoku game, backup utility and integrated menu, all preconfigured to work portably. Just drop it on your portable device and you're ready to go.
...
Two Bugs: The PortableApps Menu bundled has a bug that prevents it from running on pre-Windows XP systems. The 1.0 to 1.0.1 Patch fixes this. Just install it to the same directory you installed the Suite to (usually the root of your portable drive). There is also an issue with high-resolution (120dpi) displays. A fix is being tested.

Let me get this straight: a browser, office software, anti-virus software, instant messaging software, calendar/task manager, email client and Sudoku puzzle game all come bundled together and fit nicely on a 512M thumb drive(there's a slightly stripped version that works on a 256M drive). And it's all free? I believe that that sound you're hearing is the puckering of Bill Gates' sphincter.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 03:35 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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One complaint that I've long had about Firefox, and it's a small one, is that darned Download window that pops up whenever I, um, download something. Looks like someone created a minor tweak to make the window more unobtrusive. It's called the Download Statusbar.

You can find more info at the development homepage, including these cool features:

Features:

• Auto-hides when not in use
  
• Single-click pause and resume
  
• Pause all, Resume all, Cancel all, and Remove all finished - available from the context menu of the bar itself
  
• Run a completed file with a double click on its finished box. Open containing folder, remove, and rename from the context menu
  
• In-line view of percent done, speed in KB/sec, KB downloaded so far, and remaining time, can be customized in the options.
  
• Updating tooltip provides a more detailed view of the current download, including source, destination, size of the download and the remaining time
  
• Option to automatically clear files after a specified number of seconds
  
• Copy source URL from the context menu
  
• Stop downloads and save them for the next browser session.
  
• Delete a file from your system from the context menu
  
• Localized strings for translation
  
• Download history can be viewed and configured to only keep the last # download items
  
• Option to start virus scanner when a download completes
  
• On browser close, option to continue downloads in download manager
  

Looks good to me. Then again, I AM a geek.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 12:24 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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I mentioned Video Ook! in a previous post. What I neglected to mention is that might need an additional player for the preponderance of FLV(flash video) movies out there. Here's a small standalone FLV player. There are others, of course, but I chose this one because it works on pre-2000 versions of Windows.

If you're interested in something far more robust, I'd like to suggest MPUI/Mplayer. Mplayer is the GNU media players, while MPUI adds a GUI frontend, with a number of usable skins.

MPlayer is arguably the best media player application of the world. Is is almost strictly monolithic, which means that it mainly consists of a single 7 MB executable that already contains all necessary codecs – for most files, it does not need any external codecs to be installed. If you want to know more about this wonderful program, please visit the MPlayer homepage.

The roots of MPlayer are in the Unix environment, and it shows in the way MPlayer is used: There is no graphical user interface, or at least none worth mentioning. Instead, MPlayer completely relies on a well-crafted command line interface and powerful keyboard shortcuts. While this is perfectly OK for Unix enthusiasts, Mac and Windows users prefer nice and more or less colorful graphical interfaces. There is already a »semi-official« OS X port, but up to now, no such project exists for the Windows platform.

This is where MPUI comes into play. It is a small program for Windows that takes the command-line hassle off you. Instead, you will get a no-frills, straight-to-the-point GUI that resembles the venerable Windows Media Player 6. It does not support every feature of MPlayer – there are just too many of them – but it is a solid »workhorse« media player tool suitable for most, if not all, everyday needs.

Note: "No installation is required to use MPUI/MPlayer. Simply copy the two .exe files into a directory of your choice an run MPUI. "

Posted by: Physics Geek at 08:39 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Everyone seems to have fallen in love with Performancing, which is a pretty good tool. However, here's one that I like better. Ever watch a Google or YouTube video that you knew would get pulled because it, umm, didn't exactly follow copyright laws and you wanted to save it permanently? Well now you can. I give you Ook?Video Ook! for your reading pleasure. Excerpt:

Ook? Video Ook! enables you to download embedded videos from several systems (such as YouTube, Google Video, Pornotube, Metacafe and many more).

Apparently, Ook? finds the appropriate URL for embedded videos and allows you to bring them on down to your PC. Pretty darned cool.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 11:17 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Maybe you decided to test drive Linux by downloading and burning one of the Live CD distros, but were unable to get the CD to boot properly. There are several possibilities:

1) In your computer's BIOS, the ACPI could be on. Unless you're using multiple processors, it's probably a good idea to disable this feature. Unless, like me, your computer has this feature tied to another that I cannot do without

2) You burned the ISO image at too high a rate. I know that everyone loves to burn CDs at 48x or greater. Unfortunately, bootable OSs are a bit more sensitive to this. When I burned my first Knoppix distro, I threw away my first two burned discs because I had created them at too high of a speed. I tried it at 2x and the Live CD worked perfectly. Now when I burn an ISO, I typically choose the slowest speed possible.

3) The file integrity of the ISO is corrupt. Many of the Live CD distros are greater than 600 Mb. Larger files are more susceptible to getting disrupted while downloading. What you need to do is to verify the integrity of your ISO. Here's how:

The best way to check the integrity of your downloaded ISO file is with the md5sum checksum. The Linux distro download site should offer either a Web page display or a separately downloadable text file containing a string of checksum characters. This string has to exactly match the string you get when you run md5sum against your downloaded ISO file.

For Linux Users

The md5sum checksum functionality is built into Linux. To begin the process under Linux, change directories to the wherever you downloaded your .ISO file. Once there, open a "console" or "terminal" and type this command after the prompt and press Enter:

md5sum {DOWNLOADEDFILENAME}.iso

(Note: Replace the {} and what's inside them with the actual name of your downloaded .ISO file.)

Next, skip down to the "Analyze the Results" subhead and pick up the steps there

For Windows Users

To begin the process under Windows, download the Etre.org the md5sum.exe command-line utility or Luke Pascoe's md5summer Windows utility.

To use the DOS/Windows command-line utility, copy the md5sum.exe file to the proper directory:

For NT/2K/XP: Put md5sum.exe in {Your Windows Folder}\system32 folder

Then open a command prompt:

Windows 95/98/Me: Start > Run > command
Windows NT/2K/XP: Start > Run > cmd

Use the CD command to change directories to the wherever you downloaded your .ISO file. Once there, type this command and press Enter:

md5sum {DOWNLOADEDFILENAME}.iso

(Note: Replace the {} and what's inside them with the actual name of your downloaded .ISO file.)

The utility will create a checksum you can compare to the string offered by the Linux .ISO download site.

Analyzing the Results
Creating the checksum will take a few minutes. Once it's done, you can visually compare at least the first six characters and the last six characters of the two checksum strings. If they match, you're all set. It's time to burn your CD -- and that's the subject of our next tip.

There you have it. Now go have some fun.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 11:33 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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And no, it doesn't have anything to do with Pulp Fiction. Anyway, "bring out the GIMP." Learn to grok the GIMP. It's a powerful photo editing tool that is completely free, albeit not entirely intuitive in its use, which makes this site quite useful.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 04:46 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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A Dell customer bought a new laptop. In of itself, that particular fact is completely not noteworthy. What is interesting is that the customer planned on using Linux on the laptop and received a refund from Dell for his unused Windows XP totaling $105. Excerpt:

Dell today gave freelance programmer and sysadmin Dave Mitchell, of Sheffield, UK, a refund of 47 pounds ($89) for the unused copy of Microsoft Windows XP Home SP2 bundled with his new Dell Inspiron 640m laptop, Mitchell says. Dell also refunded the tax, for a total of £55.23 ($105).

With few laptops available without the so-called "Microsoft tax", Windows refund requests have long been a slow movement among Linux community organizers. A few Linux users have reported success, but most laptop vendors have refused to honor the refund clause in Microsoft's End User License Agreement (EULA) unless the user returns the entire laptop. A Dell spokesperson was not aware of any policy change.
...
Dell has not yet requested that Mitchell return his Microsoft hologram sticker or any other materials bundled with the system. The laptop did not come with a Windows CD.

Mitchell was careful to document that he did not run the Microsoft product or accept the EULA. "I booted the laptop, then photographed every step of the boot process up to and including clicking on the XP 'no I don't accept' button. I also scrolled through each page of the EULA, taking a photo of each page," he wrote in an e-mail interview.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 04:27 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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So you've just seen another blue screen of death. Or you've run into one of the many bugsfeatures in Windows that you just don't care for. Finally, you're thinking about making the switch to another OS, but you don't know which one to choose.

How about a Mac? People seem to love those. Well, not ALL people.

Okay, how about Linux? You've heard some good things about it: it's stable, has lots of software and has the ability to work with lots of Microsoft products, including Office. But you're feeling a little nervous because you don't know much, if anything, about Linux. What do you do to become more comfortable? Take some free online training courses which will walk you through lessons that will move you along the path from a rank novice to a seasoned pro. Here are the courses:

• Getting Started with Linux - Beginner's Course
  
• Intermediate Level Linux Course
  
• Advanced Linux Course
  

And here are some of what's taught in those classes:

Lesson One

• Objectives
  
• What is Linux?
  
• Installing Linux
  
• An actual install
  
• About Debian GNU/Linux
  

Lesson Two

• Installing Debian GNU/Linux
  
• Partitioning
  
• Plunk that CD in the drive
  
• Sundry installation tasks
  
• Reboot and basic configuration
  
• Completing the install process
  

Lesson Three

• Working with Linux - First Things First
  
• Working as another user
  

System Administration - An Overview
Installation Tasks
Backing up systems
...
System Services
...
The Apache Web server
Keeping Your Linux System Secure
Setting Up A Virtual Mail System
...
Programming under Linux

And there's a lot more there. In fact, more than you probably want to know. However, you should feel fairly comfortable using Linux after walking your way through the coursework.

Have fun, and give Linux a try. Try some of the Live CD distros so that you can test drive some different flavors to find one that's right for you.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 01:21 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Some of you out there might want to give Linux a try. Others might want to extend the life/usefulness of an aging laptop or desktop. Still others might be a mixture of the previous two categories. In any event, unless you're an experienced Linux user, you're probably a bit overwhelmed at the enormous number of available Linux distros available. In fact, I'll bet that that leads to confusion among the PC using public, which in turn prevents them from giving Linux a try. But fear not! A little test exists which can help you choose a distribution that'll work for you.

Editor's note: I've tried the test several times and it appears that it could be weighted towards the more popular distros out there. Being a bit of a gearhead, I lean towards the Slackware distributions in real life. However, that particular OS did not appear in my results, which included Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Mandriva and Fedora.

Update: I tried once more and selected "Expert" under Linux knowledge. Lo and behold, Slackware appeared. I'll be truthful and state that I do not consider myself and expert. In fact, I'll wager that no actual expert would consider me one. But I do like Slackware. A lot. Anyway, consider the quiz to be a useful tool, not the Oracle of Delphi.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 02:05 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Let me flog the horse a little bit longer, in the hopes that its corpse will magically reanimate: start the transition from Windows to Linux. Soon. Claus Futtrup has a pretty good article detailing why the move shouldn't be painful. Excerpt:

There are many reasons for converting from another operating system to Linux. Each person has an individual relation to this, but typical reasons are:

1) I have old hardware and I want new software than runs well on my machine. Maybe Microsoft has quit their support of the OS installed on the computer from the beginning. Linux reduces the need to upgrade or replace hardware when upgrading to newer versions because it is very efficient and designed to be scalable.

2) I want to spend my money wisely, not on updating software (and my morals are too high to use piracy). Linux and much of the related software is available at no cost.

3) I have a political agenda when choosing free OpenSource software. You may not be willing to accept the constraints of commercial software (financially, regarding file formats, bug fix support is in the hands of some developers and it can be difficult to get their attention, etc). The most advanced form is GNU Copyrighted software (socalled GPL), as defined by the Free Software Foundation, but other standard copyrights exist as well.
...
Ready to move ahead? I have a big recommendation. You can jump directly from a commercial MS-Windows world with Microsoft Office and other commercial applications at your disposal into a free OpenSource Linux world. Chances are that this will be a very hard battle - maybe also unnecessarily hard. Since OpenSource software for Linux is usually also available for Windows you can make a smooth start by first familiarizing yourself with the software under MS-Windows, then later make the jump to Linux and be pleased that you know the applications already - being productive from the get-go and therefore have a more relaxed approach to understanding the underlying Linux system (if you like to). Software to consider for your MS-Windows computer is:

* Web browsing : Firefox
Make sure you can use your internet banking and check that other important sites works for you.

* Email : Thunderbird
Try to convert your emails in eg. Outlook Express into Thunderbird and work with Thunderbird. Later you can move your Thunderbird emails from MS-Windows to your Thunderbird in Linux (because the mailbox file structure is unchanged and can be copied directly between the two operating systems).

* Graphics : GIMP
If you like to work with Photoshop or other graphics (or image processing) software, try to familiarize yourself with GIMP instead. There are other options, but GIMP is a good choice.

* Office : OpenOffice
This office package is not as rich on features as Microsoft Office, but try to use it under MS-Windows. If you don't like it you can save your documents in eg. MS-Word file format and forget about it. If OpenOffice works for you, keep the files in the OpenDocument Format (and maybe also convert other documents to this format) before moving the files to Linux.

Ehh, you know what to do. If you're not certain which distro to pick, go here and see what's available.

Posted by: Physics Geek at 08:57 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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