Archive for the ‘Linux Productivity’ Category
July 27th, 2010
I can visit just about any distro forum and find the question ” Does Linux need to have GUI/CLI to work?”
To get it out in front, we all know that Linux is the kernel of the whole OS, just as we know the GNU is the pool of software that the vast majority of support apps that ‘fill out’ the OS.
A graphical user interface in GNU/Linux is an add on. It is extra software installed onto a ‘base’ system to allow people to interact with the computer beyond the command line.
The ‘natural’ or default method of interacting with the OS is with the command line. In the absence of all else, that is what there is.
“Why is this important?” you may ask. It allows the OS to be more flexible, to be ‘lean’ and to be more secure (when proper steps are taken at installation).
The GUI is not ordinarily tethered or built in as a core part of the OS to facilitate those issues I mentioned above. To not have it tied in is to prevent another means of exploiting the system. One cannot hack a door that does not exist.
This means, GNU/Linux is a very flexible and scalable operating system where technically, other operating systems may not be so because of choices to tether or build in the GUI to the system.
The GUI has allowed ‘regular’ people to make use of computers in a number of ways that weren’t really available or easily accomplished without it. it makes the system more accessible to a larger pool of users with a greater variety in experience.
But that is essentially on the ‘client’ or user end. The GUI is not needed at all to run a server. in fact, it usually is best to not have a GUI present or installed at all on a server to maximize the capabilities and resources the server has to offer.
At BEL Project, we believe the greatest thing about Linux is in it’s potential for greater usability. All of those benefits of having the GUI not built in to the os are the primary reasons we think that.
An operating system can be solid as a steel rock in terms of security, but if it isn’t usable, what good is it?
An operating system might be attractive looking with millions of options and tricks. Again, if it isn’t really usable, what is the point?
When compared to other operating systems like BSD or Windows, one might say that in one or two areas, they do something better than Linux. This is seen by those who proclaim BSD to be more secure or those who say Windows has more features.
But just having better security ror having tons of features can’t make the whole OS.
A system that takes all of these things into consideration AND makes them all readily usable at the same time, that is an efficient, comprehensive, get the job done right, kind of operating system.
July 26th, 2010
A long time ago in a galaxy somewhere around the corner, I was starting out as a Novell Netware tech. This was back when Windows was still just coming out of DOS and was only a add on GUI.
The “big boys” were the network operating systems like Unix and Netware. Novell had something special in Netware as many applications and file storage were server centralized. Meaning to access the program or file, you ran it or got it from a server somewhere.
The possibilities were tremendous. You could have 5 people in different offices working on the same file each one modifying it and the others would be made aware of changes.
Then we arrived at this world of redundancy and fragmentation we live in now. Everyone has their own copy of a given file and perhaps in different formats and two others need that file and make changes to their copy but didn’t remember to send you an updated version and so on.
We have now come full circle and returned to centralized apps and files. Only this time, they aren’t on a program or file server in a closet down the hall, they are on the internet.
Do you want combined app and file collaboration and don’t mind possible leaks? Try Google Docs, the online suite of apps and file storage that you can share your files with others you choose to provide access to.
Don’t want to use the online apps and just want centralized files? Again, they are online so there are risks, but you could try a service like Dropbox which allows you to install a client on each users PC and given the correct name and password, veryone logged in has access to the files al lstored in one place, all updated assoon as it is saved and bet of all, it’s free. Well, up to a point, beyond 2 GB o fsapce, you have to pay for more space.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Of course there are risks associated with using online services. What if their service crashes or is unavailable for a period of time? What if your ISP blips out and you can’t get online to the service? How do we know that the data isn’t being sold or is easily accessed by snoops and hackers or even the government for that matter?
There are pro’s and cons, just like everything else in life.
One of the best parts of using most of these online services is that all you need most of the time is a web browser. AS website service develops offer these services, they are becoming more standards compliant which means the days of Internet Explorer or Microsoft OS only are going by the roadside.
A great many of the services which offer clients to be installed are offering Linux versions as well. They are waking up to realizing that there is no point in blocking potential customers just because of the OS they use.
June 27th, 2010
So many people have become caught up in the OS wars and the browser wars and the format wars that the idea of looking at the whole scenario as a big picture has been all but lost.
In the past, computers were all connected to a big centralized server. All the computers at users desks were tied in to that central server and any work done was done with that server online as the desktops were “dumb terminals” or had no independent system.
Enter the PC operating system. Believe it or not, the intent of the individual PC operating system wasn’t to necessarily cut the tether of the centralized server, it was to allow more work to be done without the central server being online. Users could still be functional, edit and create files, etc… and sync everything when the central server came back online.
Fast Forward a few years, the big, heavy centralized servers are able to be replaced by network operating systems that run on much smaller and more task specific “super PC’s” that take on the role of a server. Companies like Novell with their Netware Network Operating Systems began to take the lead in servers while the user pc’s were adopting DOS and early Windows.
Some software companies wanted more though. it wasn’t enough to share the ‘computing pie’ with other systems, they wanted everything and sold users the idea that servers weren’t necessary at all. Everything could be done on independent PC’s.
As time went on, companies saw their users files becoming more and more decentralized and were having more difficulties maintaining privacy and security with so many files existing in multiple copies and scattered among myriad and various user desktops.
The server became important again to take control of this. It allowed centralized log in security and file management/controls.
We are now at a point where the individual PC’s are partially reliant again on servers, mostly web servers now, to handle keeping data and access centralized and providing the large access to user software.
Companies are building intranets again. Whole ‘web’ environments powered by PC server farms and even the big mainframe servers are making a small comeback utilizing the newer Operating Systems like Linux.
The Internet is rife with servers providing email, online office suites, social networking apps and more.
Independent PC’s are not tethered to another server anymore in order to be functional and users are able to use software to be productive when access to the centralized software is offline and synch it all when it is online.
The problem now is who is in control of the servers and who has access to the centralized, stored data on the numerous servers.
The operating environment here is not just what software runs what computer, but how they all work together to keep work productive and, centralized and secure.
It’s the total system of technology in keeping people productive. Wireless alongside wired, server based being in synch with independent sources of data.
Next post, keeping the operating environment in mind, we will talk about how the Internet can be harnessed to make your intranet more powerful and productive.
April 30th, 2010
There is a proliferation of SaaS ( Software as a Service) online. This can range from web sites for retail store management to beekeeping tracking apps.
One of the biggest questions is “Are these apps worth using?”
They are very handy, there is no doubt about that.
PayPal offers a POS interface allowing anyone with an internet connection to have an instant cash register of any laptop or PC.
Imonggo is a retail store app that handles in store POS and inventory.
These two sites are only examples of the powerful capabilities that are being offered online for often what many consider reasonable prices.
However, what good is the killer online app if the internet connection goes down?
It’s true, most of these sites offer very good data export services and offer assurances that backups are done religiously to protect your data.
What if you can’t access the internet though?
What if the company offering the service experiences downtime?It does happen, even the mighty Google has sites go AWOL from time to time.
For that matter, what if you have a local server or computer app that you use and the power goes out? How different is that? Is it comparable?
Think of the portability. What about being able to simply take your laptop anywhere with you and get web access. You can make a sale from almost anywhere and have consistency in printing invoices, etc… no matter where you might be, or what time it is.
In the wide world of multiple available operating systems, they make consistency even better. It really doesn’t matter what OS you use, as long as you have access to a modern, supported web browser, you are in.
It seems web based apps have a lot to offer. Many more pro’s than con’s. et, the major cons is a mighty big one.
It doesn’t matter how great the app or service is, if you can’t access it, it might as well not be there at all.
All in all, if you can live with the idea that once in awhile you might not have access to your data, similar to when there is a power outage, these tools can be very nice and affordable.
They are even better when there is an open source version you can install on your own server.
February 19th, 2010
If you are like me and find it frustrating to find a simple to use graphics program to make simple business cards in Linux, there is hope.
There is an online free resource called “businesscardland” That helps you make simple and useful business cards, then allows you to print them to a pdf for your local and easy printing.
They have standardized on Avery paperstock sizes, which is good as most papers conform to those same sizes.
You have control over text color, “full bleed” 8 card printing or ‘standard’ 10 card printing and many other options.
Quite the handy little tool for getting your own local busine s cards run off on your Linux system.
February 8th, 2010
I prefer to install from the dvd’s whenever possible, regardless of distro. Livecd’s have their place, but to me , there is nothing quite like the customizability that comes from working with a full blown install dvd.
Opensuse 11.2 doesn’t disappoint either. It is hands down one of the best install experiences to date. I tested it on a variety of OEM boxes from different vendors, of different ranges from 5 year old Dell Workstations to 3 year old HP servers and some custom made boxes from online vendors between 1 to 2 years old. Every single one of them took the install without a single blip.
What impressed me the most was the old Dell workstations. These have always been my problem children. They are so picky on distros that will even boot on them, let alone install. That includes even opensuse 11.1.
Yet here comes opensuse 11.2 and not an inkling of trouble on the very same machines. It’s the sweet spot on Linux distro installs when it goes that smooth.
The partition tool allowed me to customize my partition setup after offering me what they suggested. Love it.
The summary before actual install allows me to make changes to software and other aspects before install. Love it.
The install, compared to some others, was faster by at least ten minutes.
I tell you, the only recent install dvd that was this good for me is CentOS 5.4. (5.0 was great also)
Post install. I like most everything except…
I am a bit unhappy that gksu is absent from the install and the repo. It is a terrific tool (especially if one uses Xfce) and I don’t get the thinking in not having it available.
I definitely do not like the version of GDM installed. No way to customize it at all. This is complete nonsense to me. The ability to customize and personalize the login page is a beneficial aspect for many of the small businesses and schools I install Linux for. GDM has always been very versatile in allowing people to make a good first look. Now, blah, with no way to change blah.
The default theme, at least in Gnome (I admit, I don’t even bother to install KDE ( If I wanted all that eye candy, I’d get Windows) is a bit too dark in my opinion. but, those things can be tweaked easy enough in YAST.
All in all, I give Novell Opensuse 11.2 install dvd an A-. I’d give it a higher mark, but the GDM issue bothers me that much.
If over the next few pkg updates they can address GDM and add gksu back to the mix, I would be willing to give them a solid A.
I would have given it a B to be truthful, but the performance on the Dell workstation was too brilliant to ignore.
December 27th, 2009
Oh yes. I said it.
Isn’t it odd how OpenOffice.org runs pretty smooth on Windows in comparison to OpenOffice.org on Linux?
People have commented for a long time how Mozilla products rip right on Windows but seem to suffer curious slowdowns in the Linux implementations. Even the cosmetics differences are obvious.
I won’t state this as a fact,it’s just my observation that Open Source developers have adopted the perspective that Linux is a big test bed and the ‘finished’ results are reserved for Windows deployment.
It’s the Linux adopters who go to the mat every time, hoping and wishing for some really smooth, clean product improvement to hit their Linux desktop. Oh boy doesn’t it feel like after all the testing and bug submissions that when the new update hits the street, the Linux versions get the same bass-akwards, ugly, bloated and buggy ( as though it was hastily put together) version?
It pains the most to see some windows users post a review on their blog with screenshots of something that shares the same name but sports better cosmetics and seemingly, by the reviews, better performance as well.
I am not saying all Open Source developers and projects do this. Absolutely not. But with the exception of the SAMBA team, it just feels like the “big time” Open Source projects just kind of give the Linux users the second class treatment.
I will define it even more so, if an Open Source project has both a Win version as well as a Linux version, my estimation is that 80% of those projects offer a superior end result on the Win version.
Linux on the desktop is still growing. Not very fast, but it is. Without first class performance in apps though, where is the incentive for the businesses and schools who drive large scale adoption?
Got news for you, the only reason Windows is the Juggernaut it is on the home desktop is because for the preceding 20 years, MS made contracts with computer makers/vendors that heavily favored the install of Windows on them. It is not because Windows was a superior product, just a money game.
If Windows is really not a superior product, just a prevalent one, and Linux is constantly touted as a superior product, why on earth would Open Source developers, who most likely got their start in the Linux world, cater to the windows environment?
One reason I can think of. the “Prestige” factor. Because Windows is so prevalent and “popular”, software credibility is only gotten from accolades from that world.
Until Linux versions rival or become superior to their Windows equivalents, Open Source software developers have got no room to cry about the Linux market languishing on the desktop. it’s their own fault.
October 17th, 2009
In a blog post on another site I run, I recently explored and lamented the absence of strong pdf editing and form filling tools available under Linux.
Yes, there are pdf readers like kpdf and evince. There are word processors that will create a document then export it to pdf file format. OpenOffice.org and Abiword are perfect examples there. There are even pdf editing apps like PDFedit that will edit a PDF file, with some limitedd functionality and difficult to figure out user interaction.
Where is the all in one solution? At this point, all I can recommend is an online tool called PDFescape
This is a pretty nice tool in terms of a free online tool. it also has some limitations and I presume those are rectified when you pay for the $29.00 installable version. ( Windows only, of course.). However, among the limitations of this free version is that one cannot use form protection among other things to prevent the end user from ‘messing up” a form they are only supposed to be filling out.
One nice thing is that if you use FireFox, there is an addon for this online tool available which will make editing pdf’s and filling pdf forms online much easier to do.
Until a real one app solution becomes available to address pdf editing, reading, form completion needs arrives, the next best thing will have to be PDFescape.
