Why Linux is Not for You: The Lengthy Rebuttal of a Linux User

Put yourself in his/her shoes. You're a budding young technical writer and the one word you hear popping up in almost every tech-related conversation is, you guessed it, Linux. Now look in the mirror and try to tell yourself you're more than a writer. After all, you write about technology because it not only interests you, but you're accurate and fair enough to tell it like it is. Maybe not.

Total Computer Newbies Meet Debian: Part 2 – First Steps

In the previous article, our computer newbie family, Mike, Diane, Mary and Carla, had decided they wanted GNU/Linux installed on the new family/business computer. Debian, via Libranet 2.0, was installed on the system, with appropriate business/office software, as well as the Gnome desktop environment. The next steps involved getting the system configured for easy use and adding various minor tweaks. Mike, Diane and the kids were not involved during the configuration phase of the system.  

Why Mandrake 9.1 Makes Me Laugh

This is an editorial by Brad Chamberlin on how he sees Mandrake Linux's 9.1 usability. Before starting bashing the author , take note that he is a Mandrake user for many years, but he is sensitive on UI and usability issues. This user likes a clean, logical and well-thoughout experience and he simply outlines the unpolishness and incosistency that a user finds on any Linux distribution today, not just on Mandrake.

Interview with Jordan Hubbard of Apple and OpenDarwin

A few days ago we featured an interview with one of Fink's project leaders regarding their package management solution which breeds more Unix software to MacOSX. Today, we host an interview with Jordan Hubbard regarding the DarwinPorts, speaking for the DarwinPorts Team which a similar effort to bring more Unix software on Mac OS X. Jordan is currently working at Apple and OpenDarwin (while many will know Jordan as the FreeBSD co-founder).

Debunking Some Myths About Graphical Installers

I can't take anymore comments like "Debian/Gentoo/OpenBSD/etc. are not good/user-friendly because they lack a graphical installer." Searching the web, I couldn't find a comprehensive site describing the good and the bad about graphical installers for various OSes throughout the years, so in this article I hope to debunk a few of the myths on the basis of my own personal and professional experience.

eCos 2.0 Breaks Out of Red Hat Red Tape

Free of the shackles imposed by Red Hat Inc., maintainers of the open-source eCos real-time operating system said in mid-March that version 2.0, now in beta, could be generally available around April 15. The new version will add an all-new bootloader with remote debugging and full POSIX compliance, giving it the ability to run many Linux and Unix applications with just a recompile.

Galaxy Dynamics Computer Simulation

The paper considers a mathematical model of the behavior of an assembly of N stars. The 'Kepler' Microsoft Windows demo application based of this model enables to perform real-time simulation of star clusters dynamics for N~=2500. Such performance rate is possible through the use of the Intel Integrated Performance Primitives (IPP) library. The paper also estimates the efficiency of the IPP application and provides an example of C-code with the IPP functions calls. Computer-simulated images of the spiral galaxy forming process, as well as the real galaxies photos, are presented.

Interview with Frans van Nispen of Xentronix and Sequel

OSNews hosts today a mini-interview with Frans van Nispen of Xentronix and the Sequel OS, a new BeOS-like OS which aims to continue where the BeOS technology left off as opposed to being a direct clone. Most people will know Frans from the AtariST demoscene and from his BeOS involvements. In this interview, we will query the status of Sequel (which btw, I am not part of anymore, so don't email me about it please :) and the status of Xentronix's Refraction and SampleStudio PRO.