Switch from Linux to Mac

Not at all! I've now been on Ubuntu since 2005.

I love linux as I am able to interface with practically every other OS sans problems.

10 days ago a tech turned up at a client's office to deliver a top of the range HP colour laser wifi scanner printer which required installation of over 250MB of drivers and software on Windows 7 or MAC before it would work.

"Give me 20 minutes" says he!

Me say - "No, me no have 20 minutes!"

Fired up my trusty 3 year-old acer laptop with ubuntu 10.10 aboard.

Went system >> printing

Find network printer

Selected Generic-PostScript-Printer

and the I.T. guy was just standing there with his mouth open and aghast as in 30 seconds a page comes flying out the new unit!!

Much as I appreciate apples as Audis of the desktop world, give me open source and linux any day.

As for looks, who cares. If the OS works, I can live without the flash of Apple and proprietary systems.

Alternative software to read MS Publisher files

1. The lack of exportability and readable access of MS Publisher files has long been a source of irritation for sole proprietor/micro and small business owners who used it in the late '90's and early 2000's to produced newsletters, brochures, etc. With each new incarnation of MSOffice, they have found themselves tied more and more to purchasing a later version of Publisher and ever increasing cost. In short, there is no other program that can open .pub files.

2. In the linux world there is an open source DTP program called Scribus.
See: http://wiki.scribus.net/canvas/Scribus

3. However, even this has its own type of file system that can only be read by the program. To publish a finished article one must export to .ps, .svg or .pdf.

4. I understand that there is now an installer for Scribus on Windows systems.

5. Also see: http://goo.gl/gYMT9

Is there any better editor, like VIM in ubuntu that can be used instead of Terminal (one that come with ubuntu by default)?

If one is using Gnome desktop, one can log into Terminal as root and launch gedit.

Go

> Menu > Accessories > Terminal

Terminal will open up the console

> type sudo -s

- enter your password (as long as you have administrator rights)

> type gedit and use gedit's open file function to navigate to file or gedit (path to file and file name )

I use this all the time for script editing in the gubbins of Ubuntu.

Boot from a USB stick if BIOS doesn't support USB boot!

Not normally possible!

However, this question intrigued me and I've done a bit of research as I have not looked at the subject in a while.

Turns out there appears to be a German programmer who has built a piece of software that boots from a floppy or cd and allows one then to boot from a usb stick.

There is an excellent walk through published on howtogeek.com here.

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/16822/boot-from-a-usb-drive-even-if-your-bios-wont-let-you/

The article has links to the necessary page for downloads.

Not tried it myself but hope it it is appropriate for your needs.

Powerline Adapters

I had this situation exactly with a client in November who has three phase power and an old Stone/Brick traditional farm house that has grown into a 6 apartment complex.

Powerline adapters would just not work! The three phase system and old wiring/switchboards just would not let the units talk to one another.

Power surges can also be a problem and I have heard of cases where signal quality decreases if the powerline units overheat.

I thought they were a good solution for this type of problem.

As regards using UK ones, they should work with a three pin to two ping adapter.

Lidertronica in Lisbon have a wide range of network and other hear. They deliver COD by cobrança.

The relevant page on their website with links to powerline adapters is here:

http://goo.gl/Xkq9F

I have just bought an external 10dbi omni-directional wifi antenna from them to mount on the roof of the above-mentioned client's house.

I plan to bathe the complex with wifi radiation and as well as ensuring good coverage, add to the tans of the punters regularly staying there!

If it is in stock they deliver the next day.

Re: Free webdesign lessons

My reply to an article posted on a forum entitled: "Free webdesign lessons"

" I am very disappointed with webdesigners who charge so much for "maintenance costs" of the webpages they do...."

Sorry, Web designers need to live too!!!!

Specialist coding skills and graphical package training, cost of internet access, good domain and hosting skills do not come cheap!!!

I personally am tired of people and businesses who do not want to pay a reasonable rate for web design, web site maintenance, web site translation, copy writing and web marketing services!!!!!!

A website is not a game!!!! I am tired of half built websites that do not work.

If you want one built to bring good commercial results, one will need to pay a good specialist to manage and market it correctly!

If you want to do it yourself properly be prepared for months of slog!

When will it be the "year of Linux" on the desktop?

I do agree that the issue of perceived desktop and support software familiarity is a major obstacle to Linux making headway against Windows and MacOS. However, I believe that increased deployment of Linux/Gnome in public access systems and mobile systems could do a lot to change attitudes and familiarize the general public with Linux. In the small town where I live, I have deployed 6 PC's equipped with Ubuntu/Gnome in bars and hostels for the use of clients. They are customized for web access using Chrome & Firefox. The owners of each establishment are happy as they have been able to substantially reduce the amount, they have had to spend on virus and abuse removal from the previously equipped Window OS machines. There have been no user complaints at all.

I also believe that, for most micro and small businesses world-wide, the deployment of linux desktop systems equipped with software such as "libreoffice" would sharply reduce operating costs and give greater flexibility in upgrading as the business in question grows..