Ray!

http://www.news.com.au/money/cost-of-living/bills-skyrocket-with-gst-on-top-of-carbon-tax/story-fnagkbpv-1226424870255 Cheers Ray

I bought a bunch of those Cree mini LED torches (200 or 300 lumen) for about $4 each delivered and a mate bought some also, for even less, to use in his electrical job. They are bloody great and only one has failed so far. These are the ones that use 3 x AAA batteries. We use them all the time. I wouldn't hesitate to buy them again. Cheers Ray

I guess no one quite noticed the 'trend' that I was referring to, where the government is progressively putting in laws that will effectively control or have the ability to control people. What you can't read about about, you can't question; what you can't speak about, you can't debate; and what you don't know about, you create uncertainty. This is quite fortuitous; have a look at episode one and then the prelude to episodes 2 and 3: http://theforbiddenhistory.com/ This guy has done some pretty interesting videos in the past and he presents some very good arguments. Cheers Ray

No, the TC doesn't improve or add to engine braking whasoever off-road. It's purely of value when on the road, especially hills or overtaking. Cheers Ray

I truly believe that Linux has a valuable place in computing, but it's best place is in enterprise situations, especially the server and web services environment. My point with this thread was to provide a reasonably unbiased view of what it means for anyone contemplating going to Linux as their sole operating system, if they just rely on oft made comments about how great and easy Linux is to use. The thread has drawn some of the same old debate, but then that's partly to be expected; however, it's not become a rabid free for all. Yes, America also flies the flag for freedom and look where that's got them. Cheers Ray

There's nothing new in that link. But yes, downloading UNetbootin and then setting things up did take some time, though it gave me the opportunity to go shopping, cut some wood and have a beer. Cheers Ray

Yes, major Linux distrbution vendors desperately want it to be a mainstream consumer OS, but it won't get there, as there's no compelling reason for people to change and there's no financial reason for computer retailers to provide pre-installed systems. Even corporations have tried the Linux experiment in an enterprise environment and then gone back to Microsoft because the benefits really haven't eventuated. Today a installed an Ubuntu boot loader on to a USB drive as an emergency recovery option, but that's the only function it will ever serve, should it be needed. See, I really can multitask. Cheers Ray

I do have too much time on my hands and even now cooking a meal (trying out the Aldi turbo cooker on some pork belly - needs a completely different style to the old turbo cooker) I have time on my hands. My previous work required me to do a multitude of activities at the same time and keep on top of things akin to herding cats, so with not working at the moment, I have plenty of time to do stuff as well as the urge to do so, weather permitting. That and previous jobs, also involved a lot of techniology, so I have an interest in all things technological, which I've have had for years regardless. One thing I didn't comment on in the earlier post, and the link given, was the assertion that Linux is not competing with Windows, or Apple. It is doing just that and it's been trying it's hardest to get onto the desktop space for years and is now working on tablets. The desktop space is owned by Windows and the tablet space is currently owned by Apple, with Android a close second. When people, like in that link say that Linux is not trying to compete with Windows, tell Canonical that - these guys have a slightly different view on things. Cheers Ray

Firstly the government wants to limit what you can see on the Internet. Secondly, the government wants to control news media and what is reported, including blogs etc. Now the government wants to monitor and record everything that you do on the internet, mobile phone etc: http://www.news.com.au/technology/govt-defends-need-to-keep-internet-data/story-e6frfro0-1226424390925 They say that there will be community consultation to build trust and confidence. The community rejected the Internet censorship proposals, but they are still on the agenda. The community rejects media censorship, but that is still rolling ahead. The carbon tax was rejected by the community and it's here, with repressive threats of punishment if your costs are incorrectly attributed to the tax. Despite all the rhetoric, the community seems to be ignored at every step. Now I'm not trying to be overly alarmist about all this, but there just seems to be a rolling progression of measures being implemented, planned or under review by this government, that not only appear very regressive and oppressive, but seem to be putting very important responsibilities and powers into the hands of a few chosen people. Far from being open, everything seems to be closing in. The parallels are interesting. Cheers Ray

I think all that one has to do to see what a bad idea such a super-state would be is to look at Victorian super-councils, where they merged smaller councils into large ones across the state. The level of service has dropped, rates have risen, other costs have risen and ratepayers have less voice in local government, while councils pander to pet projects. I guarantee that you'd see exactly this were the three states to merge; everyone would be worse off. And bugger merging with Tasmania, they get so many handouts because of the Greens, they'd see this as another way to bludge off states that actually produce things. No offence to Tasmanians in general, but you keep voting them in and they keep killing jobs. Cheers Ray

Some just need to verbalise their thoughts, which then allows them to better focus on what they already know. I used to do tutoring in Defence years ago and I know that even the brightest can sometimes get their thoughts tangled and it's only by asking a question that things suddenly align. But I do dislike questions asking for the best option, when the option has already been chosen. But then again, maybe it's the way some people phrase the question and what they really seek is anything that would make that option a deal breaker, rather than seeking alternative options. Cheers Ray

These quotes come from separate threads (mostly), well after I started to write this article, but how appropriate considering comments above: You may well have been the catalyst that prompted me to post this thread afterall. Cheers Ray

I like writing and when it comes to analysing and reviewing things, I try to provide a sound basis for my findings. I'm happy to be proven wrong and more than willing to correct things if I've made errors. This article has been circulating in my mind for some time, I actually started it on 25 May after perhaps my post on Windows 8, or it may have been a Windows question on another forum, I can't remember which. But that was the catalyst to review my experiences as a Linux user and try and present a reasonably factual account of the pros and cons to potential users. And if you think this is long, my off-road navigation thread (I've made a PDF copy) is now 30 pages long. Cheers Ray

I don't believe that there is such a thing as a dumb question, other than the one not asked. People's minds just work in different ways and what is bleedingly obvious to one is a complete blinder to another. A whole lot of factors come into it that makes different people see things in a different way, but at the end of the day it's usually not intentional or laziness. A lot of people are actually scared to ask questions of forums due to the fear of being ridiculed. I've had many PMs over the years from people posing a question, but prefaced with an apology for asking such a dumb question. The questions have not been dumb and if not asked, would have often left the individuals in the dark, not knowing where to turn. I can remember a maths teacher once deriding me for asking a dumb question, when I couldn't understand a thing he was trying to explain (his English was crap). I bore the brunt of his ire, but I could see that most of the others in class were just as bewildered. I never bothered to ask or really listen to anything he had to say after that and fortunately he only lasted a short while and a much better teacher took over. Cheers Ray

And Queensland wants to separate into two states. Cheers Ray

So basically what I've stated has been fully validated. While people will from time to time have issues with Windows and OSX, Linux is not the solution to those problems and may well just create a different set of problems. Thus when someone states that Linux is so much better, free etc, then this thread is probably a good place to to seek solace. Cheers Ray

The back of the Patrol looked like shit. I towelled off what I could and had the back doors open for a few hours to try and get the interior dry. Damn I wish it was summer. I'm going to have to keep an eye on everything to make sure that I don't get mould growing inside. Cheers Ray

Tell me he's not having a shit load of fun. I wish I could be half as good. Cheers Ray

I'm hoping to consolidate the lot and every time the topic arises, one can point to this thread. Cheers Ray

Today, I thought my dogs were dumb. We took them for a run at a local park and while they were running about, a chicken came out of no where and proceeded to come towards us near our car. I tried to get the fowl beast to piss off, but it seemed as dumb as anything and kept on a coming. At that point, our two hounds spotted the chickadee and the chase was on. To give it credit, the chook gave a good chase and after a few laps on the field, shot under the car and to the river nearby. Our two hounds were zeroing in and went straight into the river. The river bank was nothing but slippery mud and several metres below ground level to the river, so I had to squelch down in the mud embankment to reach the two hounds trying to scramble back on to dry land. I had to reach down and haul each one up by the collar, as there was no way they were going to make it on their own. To make matters worse, they headed straight back to the Patrol and into the back, where they were dripping wet and thought it was a good place to shake dry. Aaaargh! Had to forcibly drag them back out, as they didn't want to move, and then best efforts to dry them out with some manky towels and back home. My trousers and shoes were covered in mud, the back of the Patrol was wet and stinky and the hounds weren't much better. For the rest of the day they wondered why we were angry. I don't know what happened to the chicken, but there was a rather strangled sounding squark after it went into the river. Cheers Ray

I didn't have an opportunity to read your link until now (I've never read it before, so re-read doesn't make sense) and, yes, it is patronising and overly sarcastic, and franlky painful in the extreme to read. But the author could have saved himself a lot of effort by posting this first and then giving the reader an option of continuing: Most would have moved on from there. Cheers Ray

This issue has been raised on a number of forums and seems to be a perennial debate akin to the Windows vs Apple debate, I just felt this was a good place to make a statement based on my experiences after a number of years and many hours attempting to give Linux a fair go. But, once again the respondents are attacking the messenger, rather than the message. Talk about exaggerating what has and has not been said - 3/4s of the article is about how badly Linux runs Windows software? Out of 25 paragraphs, three paragraphs talk about the use of Wine to run Windows based applications; that's 12% of the total article, not 75%. Wine has often been touted as another reason why Linux is a substitute for Windows. But once more, you haven't refuted anything that I've said, just peeved off with the facts that I've presented. I never said that other OSs are easy to learn or use, but that is exactly what many Linux users have said on a number of ocassions in different forums, it's one thing that prompted me to write this. In many ways, Linux is much harder to master because it's not mainstream and still lags well behind Windows and OSX as a desktop environment. This is what I'm pointing out, and once more there appears agreement with what I've said. And you still seem to be thinking that I'm putting down Linux, despite the fact that I made many positive statements about it and pointed out factual issues that no one refutes. This thread was intended to provide information to interested readers; if there are fundamental errors contained within, point them out, correct them, but you haven't done that. Cheers Ray

I don't raise this topic all the time, but it is raised by many when someone asks a question about Windows, so I thought I'd post up my experiences of Linux and what others might experience should they attempt to put it to use. I'm not bagging Linux, but pointing out what one may expect, should one decide to give Linux a go. I know that Linux users don't like hearing some of these things (much like Apple users when their system is questioned) and often try to blame the user, but facts are facts. The responses don't actually point out any errors in my post. Also, it doesn't matter whether the problem lies with the OS or the user, when reasonably experienced people do have diffiiculties and can't find solutions to an issue, it says something about the OS, not the person. And still it seems that what I point out as examples are misinterpreted (or cherry picking occurs), yet at the same time confirm that things aren't as easy as often stated. The GPS issue was just one, but frustrating, example; it's isn't the be-all and end-all of issues to do with Linux. Next time someone has a vexing issue with Windows and someone suggests they should swap to Linux, I can point them to a readily available and comprehensive response. Cheers Ray

I wanted to do something like this for a while after a number of debates on a couple of forums, so thought why the hell not. I'm sure that it will rankle a few, but if you're going to debate things, then take some time to get the facts in order and make it a reasoned debate, rather than shooting from the hip in a fit of rage; afterall, it took me a bit of time to compile this in order to be as comprehensive as possible (whether I'm right or wrong). Is Linux for you? After playing with Linux (mainly Ubuntu) on and off for several years and having been a Windows user since its inception, apart from a short foray with Apple (way back), I thought I would pen my thoughts on this oft promoted alternative to Microsoft/Apple. There’s no doubt that Linux has come a long way since its early days, where so many things had to be done through the Terminal (somewhat like the Windows Command Prompt dialogue box)using direct instructions, rather than mouse clicks or keyboard selections, which has made Linux a lot easier to digest. The Terminal is still a necessary tool, especially when things go awry, but it’s not something that one needs to initiate in normal circumstances. Versions like Ubuntu now make it a lot easier, especially for the computing novice, to work their way through the installation and subsequent tools provided or available for download. There are also a vast number of free applications available for Linux, though you won’t find everything that is available for, or compatible with, Windows/OS X, but more on that later. So, why even bother with another operating system, especially one that isn’t mainstream and isn’t even available as a standard install in a new PC (it was tried, but failed to generate any significant interest). After churning through endless forums, tech sites etc, working or trying to work out solutions to issues, it’s reasonably obvious who tends to find Linux of interest or necessary. So the easiest way to describe this is by way of a list suggesting who it is for and who it is not for (some tongue in cheek here, but not all that far from the truth). If I’ve missed anyone, please forgive me. Linux is for you if: you’re an IT specialist, especially involved in enterprise computing, you’re someone who is interested in software and related technology, and wants to play around with Linux from a general interest/learning perspective, especially if it may offer something different from the run of the mill, you dislike commercial entities like Microsoft and Apple, you think free is always better than commercial, you think hordes of tireless worker bees working for love produce better products than those doing so for pay and profit, or you’re like one of these people: ‘Recently I was at my mother in laws home. They are into using only windows products. Well I was really missed my laptop at home and needed to get online. So I grabbed one of the Netbooks they had and I put on it a copy of Wubi. It took just a few minutes and it was fun to do. I know that I could have just used Windows, but when I have the option not to, why would I.’ Linux is not for you if: you have none of the above interests, ambitions or beliefs. So before you think of venturing into Linux, if your current OS works for you, consider whether you really need to look for something different? If you do, be prepared for some hard slog, bewilderment, frustration and abuse from hard core Linux users who can’t understand why you find it a hard slog, bewildering and frustrating at times. What is Linux? Simply put, Linux is just another operating system, built and modified from other code (no need to go into the details) to provide a competing product to that offered by Microsoft or Apple. Linux is not really owned by anyone and many companies contribute to the development of Linux, most of them are commercial companies and most of the developers are actually paid for their work. So while various versions of Linux are free, salaries and profit are made through other means, often support services to keep systems functioning (it would be a bit like getting a car for free, but then having to decide who was going to service and maintain it). Let me say from the outset that there’s nothing wrong or bad regarding Linux; however, it’s not for everyone and it’s simply not the equivalent of the fully mature system (and I include not just the Linux OS, but also most of the associated Linux applications) that you get with Microsoft or Apple. After around 20 years of development, it still lags the big two in many ways when it comes to usage by the general public. That’s not really a fault of Linux, as it’s more a result of its history and the way it is developed. Linux really gained a big foothold on certain enterprise (corporate) systems, notably servers, which was its mainstay for many years, and it does an admirable job in these environments. Its foray into the desktop world has been very fragmented and slow, I remember people saying in 1999 that it would be the dominant desktop OS in a matter of a few years, yet it’s still a mere fraction of Microsoft’s and Apple’s foothold. If anything, Linux has gained its biggest surge in usage, in mobile phones and tablets using Android. Another area where Linux has significant use is in embedded devices, such as modem routers, car ECUs, set top boxes etc, devices that primarily serve one purpose. The other interesting issue with Linux is that there are so many variations; and while they are all built on the same foundations, there are a huge number of variations (distributions as they are called). Supposedly up to 600 at one count. Just with Ubuntu alone, you have variations such as Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Edubuntu, Gobuntu, and then there are the other Linux versions such as Linux Mint, Debian, Fedora, Red Hat and Mandriva etc. Even Meego (now evolved to Tizen), Android and webOS are variations of Linux. Here’s a list if you’re interested: http://en.wikipedia....x_distributions. There are even web sites that list the year’s best Linux distributions based on, for example: Best Desktop Distribution Best Laptop Distribution Best Enterprise Desktop Best Enterprise Server Best LiveCD Best Security-Enhanced Distribution Best Multimedia Distribution https://www.linux.co...butions-for-you But others see it differently: http://tuxradar.com/...est-distro-2011. And you wonder why the average person is a tad confused. But it seems to all be in the name of choice and customisation, apparently. What does Linux provide? Linux is certainly able to provide just about everything that most people want out of a computer, especially internet, email and office equivalent applications; and they work fine, as well as any that are available for the other two OSs. But if you want other things, less common applications or equivalents of applications that only run on Windows or OS X, then you’re either out of luck or in for that hard slog, bewilderment and frustration. While Linux has come a long way in making it easier for a novice to install and run, there are still many pitfalls and hurdles to overcome when trying to get sometimes even the seemingly simplest things to work. Yes, Google is a great repository for information on how to do solve issues, but you can easily spend untold hours looking for a solution to some frustrating problem. Case in point, getting rid of the latest desktop environment the Unity interface (where everything is accessed via tabs on the side of the screen) and returning to a more familiar one Gnome Classic (which uses drop down menus), so that you have more visible real estate on a tablet and open applications are easy to see (in the task bar). The Unity interface is a bit like what you see in Windows 8, iPads etc; some like it, others hate it (lots and lots of Ubuntu users hate it). Before you could even begin to find a solution, you had to learn that there were such things as Unity and Gnome- it’s not immediately obvious. If you come to it fresh, then it may not matter, but if you’re familiar with Windows etc, the Unity interface can be a right pain. Installation of the OS, applications and updates is a lot easier nowadays than it was previously, with most being accessed through a GUI, rather than the Linux Terminal. An independent installation still requires you to burn an ISO disk, so it’s a two-step process before you can start installing say Ubuntu. This is quite different to installing an exe/msi file which will install directly without further intervention on your part. Fortunately, with Ubuntu, you can now install Ubuntu through an installer called WUBI, which installs Ubuntu inside your Windows application so that it can be accessed and removed almost like any other Windows program. However, you don’t access Ubuntu through Windows; you select it during the start-up process. Once installed, most common devices are recognised pretty much straight away, such as mouse, network devices etc, but others require a great deal of searching to get going and often require the use of direct commends in the Terminal screen. Even then, many devices, including video cards and the like are not always supported. That’s the problem with having an OS managed by untold numbers of programmers, devices can get missed and if the device manufacturers don’t support Linux, it becomes even more difficult to run your system. The other issue with Linux is that there are many applications that only run on Windows and there are no Linux alternatives to those applications. While some pundits say that you can easily run Windows (and Mac) only applications in Wine (not an emulator, but a way of running Windows applications inside Linux), in reality, it’s not quite so easy. This is quite ironic in a way, as with Wubi, I’m running Linux inside Windows very effectively, but Wine is often a complete slug or a bust. That also could be due to the fact that I’m trying to run a Windows application, inside a Linux application, running inside Windows. But problems do abound and so these types of wikis aren’t created just for the fun of it: http://wiki.winehq.o...750cfc82093656b. The fact that there are so many resources on the net to help you out with Wine is an indication that it’s not as easy to use as some suggest. Also, Wine doesn’t support all Windows applications, else this would not exist: http://appdb.winehq.org/. And even if an application can be opened and run using Wine, it doesn’t always perform in quite the same way as it would in Windows. As an example, I have OziExplorer running under Wine (that took a bit of searching until I found what needed to be done), it runs nowhere near as smoothly as in Windows and it simply will not recognise any attached GPS (I tried a Garmin GPS 18, a u-blox GPS/Galileo module and a generic USB GPS). While running a device check through the Terminal commands, all GPS units were recognised and registered, but OziExplorer simply could not find any NMEA output in any of the recognised COM ports. I’m missing something and it’s the hard slog, bewilderment and frustration trying to find a solution to issues that eventually gets to you. Another illustration that shows how Linux is not quite mature, or perhaps ready for the mainstream, is the fact that it’s not touch screen ready. Sure, there are some touch screen features that can be enabled, but it’s nothing compared to what has been available for years now in Windows and iOS. Even the current version of Ubuntu doesn’t work on a tablet with touch controls, but that may change with version 12.04 due out in April: http://ec2-23-21-149...th-android-ios/. ‘An Ubuntu tablet will ‘battle’ against Android and iOS Canonical’s CEO Jane Silber has said. And although Ubuntu isn’t running on tablets yet she told Techworld‘s Paul Krill that ’announcements in that area‘ are to be made later this year.’ So why use Linux? Well, it’s not all doom and gloom when it comes to Linux, as it can serve some useful functions, provided that you’re prepared to do a bit of work in some circumstances. First off, if your computer needs are fairly basic, Internet, email, some office style applications, Ubuntu (as an example) will provide you with everything that you need to do that and more, and you can do so with a fairly low specification PC to boot. If you have an older PC lying about, you can turn this into a server for media, Internet access etc, providing a sort of barrier between the nasty Internet world and your modern cave. Some feel that is a better solution than the usual firewalls and AV solutions available for Windows/Mac. One very useful function that Linux can provide is a backup OS should anything go wheels up with your existing system. If something dramatic should happen to your existing OS and the system refuses to start and everything else fails, you can usually start your Linux OS and then at least gain access to all of your stored data. I actually had to do this once when the main boot sector of one of my hard drives failed, which prevented Windows from opening. The hard drive was pretty much a loss, but I was able to recover all data that existed on that drive (I don’t usually store data on the drive that has the OS – I use multiple hard drives). I gained access to the hard drive by loading Ubuntu onto the drive, rather than invoking it from a pre-loaded state, so having a pre-burned ISO disk is handy if/when you might need it. Should you use Linux? I can’t really answer that question, but if you fall into the category of people I mentioned right at the beginning, then you’re probably already using it. If you have one of those people as a friend, family member or whatever, then they may be urging you to convert (much like Apple users do, but no Linux user would ever try to convert an Apple user); but if what you have works, I really don’t see any reason to change to something that in many ways is worlds apart from Windows, yet tries to copy it in so many ways. If you really have no interest in computers and have used nothing but Windows in the past, then I would seriously suggest that you don’t consider Linux. But if you do, make sure that friend, family member or whatever is available 24/7 to assist you through that hard slog, bewilderment and frustration that he (it’s always a male) suggested would be a doddle. Don’t give them the slightest break, and when they get frustrated and start to hint that you’re too dumb to use Linux, then the penny will drop. Update: I forgot to add that for those that may want to use Ubuntu as a potential recovery device, here's a guide to how you can go about doing just that: http://www.lifehacke...-a-thumb-drive/ Cheers Ray

For some reason, floor mops are the only type of dog ours don't like. I don't know why, but they seem to really hate them. Cheers Ray