OMG, Links... I read this is Linux Journal or an online article associated with the Free Software Foundation. Great... the squirrels have been scurrying over my stack of magazines. I am now on a mission to find this and will post. I will be able to use this sucker as ammo later on. Though first, I've got to fly out for my sister-in-laws wedding I use a Win XP 64-bit workstation at work, for the sole purpose of running Pro/E Wildfire 4.0 w/Structural and Thermal Simulation and FEA. However, I am talking to the Pro/E Vendors and gathering information, for I will be wiping it out and installing the software on Linux. And yes, for some reason (many little ones), I do miss Visual Studio. However, morally and ethically I am able to sleep quite well for I will not be seeking absolution for any future computing deeds. ... well, I'm off to take part in a wedding and hopefully survive the onslaught of the females and their emotional roller coasters.

Because Microsoft added some "new" technology to their networking sub-system. They want to change their networking protocols so that in the future any non-Microsoft system will not be compatible with theirs. They want to disable non-Microsoft systems from sharing info with Micirsoft systems, on a network. They are hoping to somehow solidify a future Vendor lock with this. Yeah, they think that SMB, TCP/IP, and the whole world sharing info in a standardized way is bad. These guys are not playing on a field to help mankind, they just want to milk whatever money they can from those unfortunate enough to not understand what they are doing. On a side note, If asked, I don't even mention any Microsoft Certifications anymore just CCNA and LPIC, et al. With the marketing techniques that they are trying to push I am actually ashamed that I once wrote code using VS. Hey, Did anyone know that Microsoft tried to get a patent for a new email protocol. They basically wanted IEEE to lock out anyone not using a future Microsoft product from being able to send emails. Seriously, If you are a programmer, you should learn what is going on and make a moral and ethical choice to move to FOSS software.

Ahh yes, I just typed in "apt-get update" and switched to Calc to do some work. Everything updated and no need to reboot. I started playing around with Linux ( Red Hat and Ubuntu ) this last December. I am now using Ubuntu and Ubuntu Server Exclusively. Earlier this year I bought a new Laptop with 4Gig System Ram, 512MB Video Ram 1680x1050 video resolution, dual core 2.8Ghz, and Vista Ultimate. I could not believe how much I simply could not do reasonably well even with the new system. That was the last straw, I got serious about Linux. I've been learning everything possible about Linux. It is absolutely unbelievable just how much I can do with Linux and just how much power I have over the system (as compared to Windows) I've got Compiz running and the desktop effects blow Vista right out of the water (same machine). With Vista my system barely ran. With my current setup, even with all desktop effects on full throttle and 12+ apps open, the system rarely uses 20% of the RAM and this thing freakin' smokes. Networking is beautiful. I am actually going to start in on learning what I can about programming for Linux, ( C/C++ and Assembler have always been my thing ). I'm planning on putting my skills to use for some good.

Chris Maunder wrote:

Because PCs are ugly. Because I need to start working again on a non-XP OS and Vista makes me angry and depressed. And because a Mac will allow me to dual boot or to use parallels so I can still use VS and all my comfy-but-bloated apps I've come to lean on over the years.

PCs are actually nice for us hardware geeks. Open Hardware means that I can tweak it to my desire. Did someone say open.... cough.... open-source ahhh.... open-source. Yes, because vista is ugly, I've moved all of my PCs and many many of my customers to Ubuntu or Fedora (Linux) best thing I've ever done. Who needs VS, I'm writing very productive code with open-source products using C++ and boost libraries. I've never been happier. BTW, I will pretty much assume that anyone bashing these statements simply has not taken the time to learn something. Which will be fairly accurate. Once you start using an OS that gives back power to the user it is truly a beautiful thing.

http://www.trittontechnologies.com http://www.trittontechnologies.com/products/TRIUV200.htm For some reason I can't make em' clickety. My browser seems to be broken.

I had heard about postings for someone who had taken 'Microsoft Foundation Classes' and had always thought it was a joke. However, last month I actually saw a job posting for a "Programmer who has taken Microsoft Foundation Classes"

I am ordering two of these babies. One for backup. href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/gear/a2d2/[^]

Marc Clifton wrote:

Makes me wonder though, why am I even using Office 2007?

I am still curious as to why people even use Office. I switched everything to OpenOffice.org. Yes initially it was a pain, being that I have a library of VBA for Excel documents. But I can open all of my files in Windows and Linux. And no one asks me to resend documents in a older version on Office. FYI: You could point a someone to http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=941b3470-3ae9-4aee-8f43-c6bb74cd1466&displaylang=en[^] This is a file compatibility pack provided by Microsoft so that those without the new Office software can still open the newer files.

I'm not sure about Sony, as I agree with Rob to never buy something from a company of whom fosters root-kits. More Importantly, Dell acquired Alienware some time ago. The XPS laptop motherboard is based off of Alienware technology. The board is small enough that I hope I will never have to work on it. (Though it is really cool) The XPS 1530 has a beautiful screen. However, I usually sit in a cafe on Tuesday mornings (business meeting) I had to purchase a Privacy/Anti-Glare filter. I purchased a HD screen which happens to be glossy. Dell only offers this machine with a glossy screen, and the anti-glare filter is a must. Also, the RAM is very easy to upgrade on the 1530. Just flip it upside down, and remove one panel. If you do need technical support from Dell on this machine, just make sure to ask for their XPS department when you call. Otherwise they will transfer you around until someone finally realizes that you should be speaking with the XPS department.

I've been using MightFax for years. I only costs $19.95 and upgrades have always been free for life. Make certain to check the additional files. There is a MightFax Printer Driver. You can use it print a fax from any application to MightyFax http://www.rkssoftware.com/mightyfax/overview.html[^] I have not used the new RKS Fax Software. Maybe I'll have to upgrade

For all of the Chuck fans at CP. Scroll down the page by three products, http://www.jeremyinc.com/[^]

If you need a book in order to learn a simple application, or how to "tweak it"... ... there's a really good tool that you can use for yourself, its called a shovel.

There used to be a time when programmers knew what they were doing. They had the mental capacity to figure it out without any problems. Yeah, go ahead and say that it doesn't work that way anymore. I remember why I check the lounge only once a week; people are freakin' idiots. I'm sure I won't waste my time anymore.

Why not just play with all the options by typing    about:config    in the nav bar.

Essential PIM Pro www.essentialpim.com[^] They also have a scaled down free version. This was developed to be kept on a flash drive. (Which I keep on me, always) Password Protection Rich Text Notes To Do List Schedule Attachments Contacts

This morning I got into work about 2 hours before everyone else. The company I work for designs "appliances" for the medical industry. We help to save lives, but I'd need a non-disclosure form signed from everyone here before I could say more. So I get into work and I am planning on mounting a computer power supply to a piece of nylon board along with a controller circuit and an assembled product. Someone could take this with and demo it. The assembly uses 12 VDC, so a CPU supply is perfect. I solder a large amount of wires, add fuses, switches, relays. Now in order to get the power supply to work outside of a computer, I've got to short pin 14 to ground. So I do this. Everything is ready. My left hand is lying on the supply, the cover is off, so my hand is on top of the internals. And... I insert the power supply cord to the back of the supply. The switch was in the on position. If you have never felt AC voltage flowing though your body, I DO NOT RECOMMEND IT. I jump back and I am not fried, my hair is not on fire. My heart is going about 300 mph and my left pointer finger is a little sensitive. I say to myself, "You lucky son of a ....." The secretary walks through the door, she smiles and says good morning. I reply back in same fashion as she sips her coffee and walks past.

The windows DST update for the changes as of 2007 http://support.microsoft.com/gp/cp\_dst

tried it, some features weren't available. I will check out the latest version.

Taka Muraoka wrote:

This whole Vista thing is really starting to cheese me off. There's no real reason why I need to upgrade other than to get DirectX 10 and games for that won't be coming out for a while.

I ran Vista RC1 for a while. And then... (I'm going to say it, sorry) I took it off my laptop and put XP Pro back on. Just built a new server and a new workstation for home. Both of which are running Fedora Core 6 (Linux) and I couldn't be happier. Why would I want to install an OS that is only worth getting so that I could buy that same companies security software. If they didn't do it right to start with, why would I trust them to fix it. Please don't assume that I am just trying to bash MS. So far, in my life, I've bought at least 5 copies of every Microsoft OS. (Except Win ME) I've also bought several copies of each Server OS along the way. I've dished out an extreme amount of money for virtually the same thing, just tweaked for new hardware, mostly. I can't understand doing it anymore. Especially when I need a minimum of 1 GB RAM just to run the thing, let alone do anything useful. For the first time in my life I am actually saying no to MS. As a matter of fact, I am pondering what to do with the T-shirts that we had printed up last time, for my business. I've got a nice Microsoft OEM System Builder logo on them (bigger than all of the other logos) and I would be ashamed to ever wear one again. I had to share... sorry... go ahead flame away.

Steve Echols wrote:

I remember the LapLink days

I actually have their newest version in a bag, that I carry around with me. My kit includes Laplink Gold, a serial, parallel, serial to parallel, and usb cable.

Steve Echols wrote:

You kids have it easy these days.

I can't even remember too much about the old days, I believe that starts me out at DOS 2.0, do I qualify as a kid