A new version of Ubuntu Linux (http://www.ubuntu.com/) was just released featuring significant improvements from previous versions.
While anyone can download and install it themselves (it's easy), if you're upgrading from Windows there can be a fair amount of work to move all your settings and preferences over. To promote more porcupines embracing software freedom and get me some income until I find a full time job, from now until December 1st I'm offering Windows users upgrading to Ubuntu 7.10 just $20/hour for upgrade-related services:
- Backing up/copying files and configuration
- Installing non-default applications needed by user
- Hardware testing and upgrades (ie, new hard drive, ram)
- Encryption and privacy related setup
- Training and support as needed
My normal rate is $50/hour, which is itself quite low for Manchester. Work can be done in your home or (for hardware upgrades) dropped off and picked up here on Manchester's west side.
I have the new kubuntu downloading right now ^_^
its slow because so many people are downloading!
I am excited about KDE4 and was going to play around with the beta but dont know that much about linux so will just get the final release which is soon.
For people upgrading from Windows, I think Kubuntu will feel a lot more natural, Ubuntu feel like Mac Os X
That said: this is 100% worth it! People would be amazed by the ease of use and the wide variety of great software.
there are also a lot of great random features, such as the fact that you dont have to select a window to use the scroll bar etc on the mouse, you just put the cursor over it...using windows drives me nuts now!
for $20 an hour you windows users have an opportunity to switch to a much better operating system and support another porc. Plus, software should be free (as in free speech not as in free beer ;))
I'm not particularly interested in Linux, but are you offering general pc support for $20 an hour? My computer is running like crap, probably full of viruses. I'd like to reformat it to see if that helps but don't know where my startup disks are, so I've just been suffering with it. :-\
Quote from: Insurgent on October 18, 2007, 07:42 PM NHFT
I'm not particularly interested in Linux, but are you offering general pc support for $20 an hour? My computer is running like crap, probably full of viruses. I'd like to reformat it to see if that helps but don't know where my startup disks are, so I've just been suffering with it. :-\
For what you use your computer for, I'd say you should try it. Unless you have a particular program that is only available under Windows (and can't be run using an emulator of some sort) you should be OK. I'm assuming Arc's service would include an initial evaluation of your current setup including a list of Linux alternatives to Windows programs.
I have almost all my data online somewhere, so if I lose my computer I'm fine. I highly suggest it to everyone.
Quote from: Insurgent on October 18, 2007, 07:42 PM NHFT
I'm not particularly interested in Linux, but are you offering general pc support for $20 an hour? My computer is running like crap, probably full of viruses. I'd like to reformat it to see if that helps but don't know where my startup disks are, so I've just been suffering with it. :-\
My normal rate is $50/hour. I'm offering the discount because liberating people from proprietary systems is something we all benefit from in the long run.
Especially if you don't have your startup disks this is an ideal time to upgrade. Ubuntu is cost-free, will always be free, with a new version out every 6 months and constant updates should you choose (they're fairly quick and easy). It also doesn't have the spyware and virus issue that Windows users have to constantly deal with, whereas reinstalling Windows would end you up in the same boat a few weeks to months from now.
As Ron suggested, part of what I do is look at what you have now, backup any files you need, and get you new software to replace what Ubuntu doesn't come with by default. In some cases that involves running Windows apps under Wine (a windows emulator), which works in almost every case.
Or for $50/hour I could help you get Windows back, knowing you'll need more service within a few months. Lots of computer service guys consider the constant spyware/botnet/virus removal their bread and butter. An old friend of mine called recommending GNU/Linux to users "bad for business" since they don't make nearly as many service calls post-upgrade.
Quote from: Ron Helwig on October 19, 2007, 08:21 AM NHFT
Quote from: Insurgent on October 18, 2007, 07:42 PM NHFT
I'm not particularly interested in Linux, but are you offering general pc support for $20 an hour? My computer is running like crap, probably full of viruses. I'd like to reformat it to see if that helps but don't know where my startup disks are, so I've just been suffering with it. :-\
For what you use your computer for, I'd say you should try it. Unless you have a particular program that is only available under Windows (and can't be run using an emulator of some sort) you should be OK. I'm assuming Arc's service would include an initial evaluation of your current setup including a list of Linux alternatives to Windows programs.
I have almost all my data online somewhere, so if I lose my computer I'm fine. I highly suggest it to everyone.
Offsite backups are good—and encrypted, in case they're stolen. Trusting some online provider to keep your data secure (as in not divulging it to some government agency upon request) isn't.
Quote from: Fragilityh14 on October 18, 2007, 07:16 PM NHFT
its slow because so many people are downloading!
This is why you use bittorrent: the more people downloading, the _faster_ it gets.
Quote from: Ron Helwig on October 19, 2007, 08:21 AM NHFT
I have almost all my data online somewhere, so if I lose my computer I'm fine. I highly suggest it to everyone.
It's still a giant PITA if your computer is hosed. Reinstalling how many applications?
Plus, what if your data, like mine, includes gigabytes of MP3s and video. Or if you have sensitive data (say, spreadsheets with finances on them)
Personally, I treat my home PC like a real production system:
* RAID + 1 array of the hard drives
* 2 external firewire backup drives
The two backup drives are because I rotate them. Each Sunday night when I take a backup, I bring that drive to work in the morning and leave it in a drawer there. I then take the one that was at work to my home. So if there's a catastrophic fire at home at worst I lose the most recent 2 weeks' worth of data.
Quote from: ArcRiley on October 19, 2007, 12:33 PM NHFT
Quote from: Insurgent on October 18, 2007, 07:42 PM NHFT
I'm not particularly interested in Linux, but are you offering general pc support for $20 an hour? My computer is running like crap, probably full of viruses. I'd like to reformat it to see if that helps but don't know where my startup disks are, so I've just been suffering with it. :-\
My normal rate is $50/hour. I'm offering the discount because liberating people from proprietary systems is something we all benefit from in the long run.
Especially if you don't have your startup disks this is an ideal time to upgrade. Ubuntu is cost-free, will always be free, with a new version out every 6 months and constant updates should you choose (they're fairly quick and easy). It also doesn't have the spyware and virus issue that Windows users have to constantly deal with, whereas reinstalling Windows would end you up in the same boat a few weeks to months from now.
As Ron suggested, part of what I do is look at what you have now, backup any files you need, and get you new software to replace what Ubuntu doesn't come with by default. In some cases that involves running Windows apps under Wine (a windows emulator), which works in almost every case.
Or for $50/hour I could help you get Windows back, knowing you'll need more service within a few months. Lots of computer service guys consider the constant spyware/botnet/virus removal their bread and butter. An old friend of mine called recommending GNU/Linux to users "bad for business" since they don't make nearly as many service calls post-upgrade.
Well, my interest is piqued. I have avoided other OS simply because I am not familiar with them. I basically just use the computer for internets and listening to music, stored on an external hard drive. Would having you install this take care of my existing functionality problems, without being able to reformat?
I'd like to get Gentoo running one of my desktops. (However, all the peripherals, including monitors, are a 1000 miles away) :/
Quote from: picaro on October 19, 2007, 09:57 PM NHFT
I'd like to get Gentoo running one of my desktops. (However, all the peripherals, including monitors, are a 1000 miles away) :/
As much as I'd love to install a Gentoo box for income, I'm betting you'd rather configure your own system for the experience and customization.
Selket is setup here an we have a spare monitor. She's a Athlon XP 3200+ with a ton of ram an is already configured for distcc for super-fast installs (my other distcc systems are moving Nov 1st'ish so it'll be 2-4 times faster then).
Come over virtually anytime (until I find a full time job) I'll help you out. Just bring the desktop, keyboard, network cable, and power strip.
I just want to once again throw in a plug for Kubuntu ;)
it will feel a lot more natural
KDE>Gnome
not that I know a lot about linux, I have only been using it for 4 months and would never ever go back.
though, I think some obscure part of KDE is copyrighted by someone...but it's still "free" in most senses as far as I know?
everyone here who uses windows should take him up on this offer
Jesus would drive a linux box.
distcc? Don't forget ccache. No need to distribute anything if it doesn't need to be compiled, right?
http://gentoo-wiki.com/Ccache (http://gentoo-wiki.com/Ccache)
Quote from: Fragilityh14 on October 21, 2007, 09:44 PM NHFT
KDE>Gnome
Different folks, different strokes. Makes no matter to me, they're both free (as in cost and freedom) and take about the same time to install/setup.
Personally, a few months ago I transitioned my last KDE box to Gnome. KDE is, well, flashier. I usually say it's closer to OSX in operation and appearance. It also eats more RAM and I've found it slower. Turning off the special effects would help but then you might as well be using Gnome.
In Ithaca I had a number of "regulars" (ie, I'd work for them once a year for major updates) who preferred KDE. Many started with KDE because it was easier to transition from OSX to it, where Gnome "seems more like Windows". I think the latter is why Ubuntu chose that for the default.
For anyone who's curious there's screenshots of both Gnome and KDE on their respective websites (gnome.org and kde.org)
Quote from: Fragilityh14 on October 21, 2007, 09:44 PM NHFT
not that I know a lot about linux, I have only been using it for 4 months and would never ever go back.
though, I think some obscure part of KDE is copyrighted by someone...but it's still "free" in most senses as far as I know?
Thanks for choosing Freedom! Every person who chooses software freedom vs the Microsoft Tax strengthens us and weakens them.
Trolltech Inc does have a copyright on KDE. Copyright is the mechanism by which copyleft works; the software is copyrighted, then the GNU General Public License (GPL) offered as the means in which it may be used, modified, and redistributed. Gnome, and all virtually all of a modern GNU/Linux system is copy
lefted in a similar way.
This is why all the big software corps have started supporting software freedom; IBM, Novell, Real Networks, Sun Microsystems, Motorola, AMD, Intel, etc. Without copyleft they would have simply taken the community's good will and done their own thing with it.
As the great free market capitalists they all are, they've all come to see the advantage of cooperation. All these corporations get billions of dollars worth of royalty-free code which they can modify, rebrand, redistribute for free or for charge, and all they have to do is give credit and cooperate back (by offering their modifications under the same license). The market has transformed from paying "taxes" in the form of software royalties to paying for direct services related to the software.
Such as, well, much like the service I'm offering here ;-) This is all an excellent example of how markets, even with a great deal of government coercion to the contrary, eventually de-monopolize themselves.
Quote from: Fragilityh14 on October 21, 2007, 09:44 PM NHFT
everyone here who uses windows should take him up on this offer
Thanks for the plug ;D
Even if you don't have the cash, Ubuntu is free to download, burn, install. If you're like me, currently unemployed and low on cash, take the time to improve yourself by installing and figuring it out. There's a good deal of (gratis) support in this community for specific problems or questions.
Now, if you got more cash than time, I can save you a good deal of the latter for very little of the prior. ;)
It's really strange you would say that, because the very look at feel of normal Ubuntu reminds me very much of using OSX and I can't find what I want as well: beyond which, in my experience the software suite which is default on KDE (I realize you can get them all anyway) are far better than the programs on Gnome amongst other things. Also from my research some prominent people all the way up to Linus Torvalds have trashed Gnome :P
Quote from: d_goddard on October 19, 2007, 04:05 PM NHFT
It's still a giant PITA if your computer is hosed. Reinstalling how many applications?
Nah, that's why I like Ubuntu. I only have to install it once per laptop or hard drive. It takes care of installing the rest of the stuff as I decide I need it again.
I'm eyeing UbuntuStudio edition.
Quote from: d_goddard on October 19, 2007, 04:05 PM NHFT
It's still a giant PITA if your computer is hosed. Reinstalling how many applications?
Actually, for windows, that is why I'm now a big advocate of 'portable' apps, requiring no installation at all. Merely copy the folder (or unpack the archive, or stick in the usb stick, or plug in the ipod/portable drive, etc), and you are up and running again.
Or just boot the ubuntu cd, and stick in the usb drive for data. The CD comes with, er, 700+ "portable" applications installed. The DVD has thousands. :)
there was an ubuntustudio computer where I used to work, amazing, amazing application suite, I just dont do any of the things which it is used for.
do they have ubuntustudio 7.10 yet?
It was released today.
I put 7.10 64 bit on here the other day. It works well, but Enigmail doesn't work for 64 bit Swiftdove (cpu optimized thunderbird) and Flash doesn't work in Firefox. Any ideas for resolving these two issues, Arc?
64bit flash is a huge PITA. TRy gnash. But then, youtube and google recently broke gnash support for videos.
There is a way to run firefox in 32bit mode while on a 64bit install.
These are answered not only in the forum, but in the on-disk help documentation. Even the docs on ubuntu don't suck.
I run 32-bit Firefox on my 64-bit Fedora 7 system. :)
Enabling interview is Friday. Can't come fast enough.
BTW: mozilla-plugin-gnash on Gutsy Gibbon works with youtube again!
Just did another fresh install of gutsy.
Here is the first thing I do after saying "Yes, please just install all
the restricted binary video stuff"
sudo synaptic
Goto settings repositories, turn on universe, multiverse, main,
security. Turn off source code. Exit.
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install \
gstreamer0.10-plugins-{good,bad,ugly} \
mozilla-firefox-adblock \
flashplugin-nonfree \
msttcorefonts \
sun-java5-{plugin,fonts} \
openssh-server
( The msttforefonts needs you to hit 'enter' at some point. Shame. )
I found a how-to in ubuntuforums.org to fix flash. It didn't actually work, but I fixed the problem by deleting flashplayernonfree.so or whatever from ~/.mozilla and reinstalling the package. A couple posts to the enigmail list got the developers to put out an update that works just great. With the lightning calendar plugin for thunderbird (get it?) I'm going full throttle now!
When I upgraded to gutsy gibbon, my drawing pad stopped working. :'( It took quite a bit of work to get it working right. Is there a relatively simple way to downgrade back to feisty fawn or do I just have to do a fresh install? I don't mind it so much because I wanted to partition my drive in order to do encryption anyway, but I was putting off that task for now and I don't want to stop drawing until I can get around to doing that.
NOTE: Test your hardware with the Ubuntu LiveCD. :(
Is your drawing pad a wacom? What's the model number?
Woo! Now the JVM doesn't work in Firefox. I'll have to debug that now ;)
Quote from: Dan on October 25, 2007, 12:43 PM NHFT
Is your drawing pad a wacom? What's the model number?
No, it's a Genius. It's fine for what I'm doing but if I ever actually start making some kind of reasonable income from my cartoons, I might upgrade to a Wacom. This one was just $50 and it works fine for the most part for just doing simple cartoons. It does take a little tweaking to get it to work. I downgraded back to Feisty Fawn and it's working again. However, I just turned off pressure sensitivity in Inkscape. That just seems to create some bizarre behavior which may have to do with calibration. At some point I may tinker around with it to get it calibrated right.
The help docs on the inkscape wiki say that it is a CERTAINTY that if you turn on tilt and pressure sensitivity without calibration Inkscape will eat your lunch when you are not looking. :)
I recommend open source stuff like linux to anyone. I currently am using freespire on my older computer. I was using Ubuntu before that.
Why'd you switch to Freespire, Russ? BTW, I just got a really great book on The GIMP called Beginning GIMP: Novice to Professional. It is very straightforward, has full color photos, and teaches you how to do pretty much everything.
I liked the idea of them putting in all the commercial stuff to make things work right from the beginning.
Better than books nowadays for graphics programs are screencasts.
Go look up 'inkscape tutorial' on youtube.
Or gimp. Or photoshop.
Here is a glowing testimonial from a very satisfied customer :D
About six years ago I spent over $3,000 on a top-of-the-line Dell 8200, with all the bells and whistles. It's served me pretty well over the years but I've had to reformat the hard-drive every now and then because of all the bugs that I would catch, despite running anti-virus software.
Lately I had thought my machine to be on it's last legs; when I would power it up the hard drive would make an awful grinding sound, it would try unsuccessfully to launch in to a drive scan right away, would take four minutes to power up, would turn off on a whim and just generally ran horribly.
I'd been resistant to trying new operating systems since I am not a computer geek (I actually thought that Linux users only saw a black box!) but when I saw this offer, I thought--what the hell?
ArcRiley came over to my place today and allayed my fears of Linux. Since I had nothing to lose, I let him work his magic. Fortunately the memory hadn't been compromised and the install was pretty easy for him.
To make a long story short, my machine now boots effortlessly in less than a minute and runs cool and fast. Ubuntu is very colorful and user-friendly, possibly more so than that other OS. Nothing lost and everything gained! Thanks, ArcRiley--your knowledge and services are incredible, much-appreciated and worth every penny!
I got Ubuntu preinstalled on my laptop here and I highly recommend it.
Quote from: Insurgent on December 01, 2007, 07:06 PM NHFT
About six years ago I spent over $3,000 on a top-of-the-line Dell 8200, with all the bells and whistles. It's served me pretty well over the years but I've had to reformat the hard-drive every now and then because of all the bugs that I would catch, despite running anti-virus software.
Lately I had thought my machine to be on it's last legs; when I would power it up the hard drive would make an awful grinding sound, it would try unsuccessfully to launch in to a drive scan right away, would take four minutes to power up, would turn off on a whim and just generally ran horribly.
Same here, right down to the same model; but I need to ask, what types of sites were you surfing and what did you have stored on your HD!? >:D
I currently have 90% of my HD full (with many start-up apps) and my PC doesn't take 1/2 that long to boot, nor has it ever needed to be reformatted.
:Disclaimer: by no means is this a dismissal of Arcs skills, nor of the value of running alternate O.S.'s. ;)
Quote from: EJinNH on December 02, 2007, 04:34 PM NHFT
Quote from: Insurgent on December 01, 2007, 07:06 PM NHFT
About six years ago I spent over $3,000 on a top-of-the-line Dell 8200, with all the bells and whistles. It's served me pretty well over the years but I've had to reformat the hard-drive every now and then because of all the bugs that I would catch, despite running anti-virus software.
Lately I had thought my machine to be on it's last legs; when I would power it up the hard drive would make an awful grinding sound, it would try unsuccessfully to launch in to a drive scan right away, would take four minutes to power up, would turn off on a whim and just generally ran horribly.
Same here, right down to the same model; but I need to ask, what types of sites were you surfing and what did you have stored on your HD!? >:D
I currently have 90% of my HD full (with many start-up apps) and my PC doesn't take 1/2 that long to boot, nor has it ever needed to be reformatted.
:Disclaimer: by no means is this a dismissal of Arcs skills, nor of the value of running alternate O.S.'s. ;)
Funny, you've got the same machine and haven't had any issues? Perhaps you're better protected than I was; I just ran standard Norton anti-virus software, etc and left all else to chance.
I like to surf the usual anti-government sites, MySpace and news sites, nothing out of the ordinary. After I discovered I-Tunes, I bought an external hard-drive to hold all my music, videos and pictures so as to free up space on my hard drive, but things still went downhill.
Seems like it boils down to the fact that I was using a bad OS and didn't know how to protect myself against attacks and viruses. Now that I've paid someone who knows what they're doing to fix the machine, she's smoking! Lesson learned--when you don't know what you're doing, hire someone who does :)
Thanks for the discussion on this guys. I hadn't been able to install any Linux release I tried before this but I tried Ubuntu 7.1 and it went quite smoothly.
I've been able to "Remote Desktop" into the Windows machines I have access to and I'll be looking into all that I can do with this.
Again, thanks.
Of course, I am not able to run the VBA code in the Excel files to access the OPC Servers at the dams we operate and I haven't found any Linux OPC Clients, yet. We'll see, though.
Quote from: Pat McCotter on December 02, 2007, 07:08 PM NHFT
Of course, I am not able to run the VBA code in the Excel files to access the OPC Servers at the dams we operate and I haven't found any Linux OPC Clients, yet. We'll see, though.
That is truly frightening. There aren't any humans living beneath these dams, are there?
Quote from: error on December 02, 2007, 10:51 PM NHFT
Quote from: Pat McCotter on December 02, 2007, 07:08 PM NHFT
Of course, I am not able to run the VBA code in the Excel files to access the OPC Servers at the dams we operate and I haven't found any Linux OPC Clients, yet. We'll see, though.
That is truly frightening. There aren't any humans living beneath these dams, are there?
I would hope not! They're anchored on granite ledges! The humans would be crushed! :o ;D
Maybe I should say downriver from those dams... Not a safe place to be if a Windows box is controlling them.
Quote from: error on December 03, 2007, 04:28 AM NHFT
Maybe I should say downriver from those dams... Not a safe place to be if a Windows box is controlling them.
No, a Windows box is used to monitor them. They use Allen-Bradley and GE Fanuc PLC's for control.
Quote from: Insurgent on December 02, 2007, 06:23 PM NHFT
Funny, you've got the same machine and haven't had any issues? Perhaps you're better protected than I was; I just ran standard Norton anti-virus software, etc and left all else to chance.
Ahhh, that makes a little more sense now.
I have had no major issues running Windows XP on this box; the worst I have had to deal with is reinstalling some app.'s due to their bugged updates.
But..... I have always had multiple forms of protection running simultaneously. Pop-up blockers, Symantec Corp. Ed. AV, PC Doctor, On-line virus scanners, etc.
I did use Norton and McAfee at one point, but noticed many more compromises when I did so. No memorable issues since switching to Sym Corp. Ed.
I also regularly do maintenance ( scan-disk, defrag, registry scanning, etc; with Ashampoo Platinum Windows Optimizer, WebRoot Windows Washer, AdAware SE
I'm hoping to get a laptop sometime in the near future and will likely wait until then to use an alt. O.S.
I still need to research what alt. O.S. will be 100% compatible w/ the music prod. app's I will be running.
You don't match apps, you match functionality.
Check out http://jackaudio.org/ (http://jackaudio.org/) - specifically the applications that use it. While not exhaustive it's one of the more complete lists of professional grade free software audio toolsets.
Quote from: ArcRiley on December 03, 2007, 10:18 AM NHFT
You don't match apps, you match functionality.
Check out http://jackaudio.org/ (http://jackaudio.org/) - specifically the applications that use it. While not exhaustive it's one of the more complete lists of professional grade free software audio toolsets.
Nice, thanks. 8)
Too bad none of the apps I own/use, are supported; additionally none of the app's supported even come close to the functionality of those I do use.
I really wish I could afford a nice analog/hardware-based set-up; O.S.'s wouldn't even be an issue. ;D
How do you know if you've never used them?
Quote from: ArcRiley on December 03, 2007, 01:01 PM NHFT
How do you know if you've never used them?
Yeah, exactly. I was worried that by switching to Ubuntu that I wouldn't be able to play my music library but there's a decent ap called Exaile which seems to work just as well as Itunes. I was also worried that I wouldn't be able to watch Youtube videos, but thankfully have been proven wrong about that as well.
I'm as happy as a pig in shit right now--a machine which I thought was ready for the dumpster is now my new best friend :) Thanks, again ArcRiley!
Exaile? Hm, that's a new one. I'll have to try that out.
Re: your sig:
"Just 15 minutes could save you $15k/yr or more on taxes!"
Note that GEICO= Govt Employees Ins Co. It started in NJ(?) as a bureaucrats-only establishment.
Quote from: Insurgent on December 03, 2007, 06:49 PM NHFT
a machine which I thought was ready for the dumpster is now my new best friend :)
Yea ironically that was the paradox we found ourselves in with the recycling center.
Almost everyone who switched to GNU/Linux (mostly Ubuntu) wouldn't throw their system away, even when it was old. In fact I think we only got a handful of systems donated with Linux pre-loaded (a couple old Redhat servers), the rest were Windows. Handing Ubuntu CDs out and helping people install it turned us into our own competition.
Quote from: error on December 03, 2007, 08:37 PM NHFT
Exaile? Hm, that's a new one. I'll have to try that out.
Yep, I was using Itunes before and had all my music saved on the external drive. ArcRiley clicked a couple buttons and Exaile recognized all the files and uploaded the songs into the program. Seamless, painless and just as functional as Itunes. I don't use an Ipod, though so not sure if it's compatible with any mp3 portable devices.
Did I mention how excited I am about my computer now? :D
Quote from: ArcRiley on December 03, 2007, 01:01 PM NHFT
How do you know if you've never used them?
If you are referring to jackaudio, I read the tech. info and the formats it is compatable/easily integrated with. None of the programs/hardware/data transfer methods I run are currently compatible with it. ( w/o being a coding genius anyway.)
I currently keep up to date with music production technology and 99.9% of all digital music production takes place on Windows & Mac O.S.'s. If there were compatible alternate O.S.'s, with the same functionality as Windows/Macs running say, Pro-Tools, Cubase, Reason, or even Acid; I would have read about them, I'm sure. I have even read articles with top producers & engineers stating they wish there were alternatives, but sadly at this time there aren't.
After spending over $1,200.00 on music software for my Windows box, I am unwilling at this time to re-invest in something that will offer negligable, if any, difference in operation for me; and I have no inclination to learn coding; simply holds no interest for me ( besides, I'm practically dyslexic when it comes to numbers. :blush: )
Quote from: EJinNH on December 04, 2007, 06:11 PM NHFT
If you are referring to jackaudio, I read the tech. info and the formats it is compatable/easily integrated with. None of the programs/hardware/data transfer methods I run are currently compatible with it. ( w/o being a coding genius anyway.)
Migrating to free software doesn't mean just replacing the OS, it means replacing the proprietary apps you use with free software apps which have the same functionality. No, your existing programs are not going to run. Your fruity loops will not run on Linux, nobody running Linux would really care if it did.
That is the wrong question to ask. The question to ask is whether you'll be able to do the same stuff post-migration. There are thousands of professional recording studios, musicians, etc using GNU/Linux with Jack.
Quote from: EJinNH on December 04, 2007, 06:11 PM NHFT
I currently keep up to date with music production technology
The magazines and sources you read about that stuff from are ad supported by the "industry". Of course they're going to focus on things that make their advertisers money. Much of what you paid for your software went to pay for these advertisements. If this is where your information comes the next part makes complete sense:
Quote from: EJinNH on December 04, 2007, 06:11 PM NHFT
After spending over $1,200.00 on music software for my Windows box
Spending this much money on software creates a large cognitive dissonance loop. You must believe that this investment was worth it or have to admit to yourself that you wasted $1200. Since you don't want to admit that to yourself, having a firm belief of being a well informed consumer and the quality of the tools you've invested time into learning, you will outright reject any information or evidence to the contrary.
This is much like the issue of explaining to artists, who've spent years convincing themselves that living on shoestring budgets, working shit part time jobs, and otherwise suffering in order to focus on their art with the self-delusion that
some day their art will make them a millionaire and their suffering will be over.. that their delusion is an illusion created by the music distribution cartel (RIAA) in order to keep the indy musicians from pursuing alternative distribution methods which threat their industry.
It is not for me to change you. The question is, how can I be of service to you without (further) diminishing your degrees of freedom?Quote from: EJinNH on December 04, 2007, 06:11 PM NHFT
I have no inclination to learn coding; simply holds no interest for me
Nobody said anything about you learning to code. The Jack toolset suite has nice gui frontends. Since you have outright rejected the notion that there may be alternatives which protect your liberty, for me to argue this further is moot.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunk_cost#Loss_aversion_and_the_sunk_cost_fallacy
How about if I want to create interactive vector-based animations and develop web-based intensively visual applications typically done with Adobe flash and .swf files? Is there a linux parallel?
Inkscape is just way too fun for making non-interactive vector drawings. It's just plain fun to play with. Search youtube for tutorials, and follow along.
Lots of references to running Adobe's flash software under wine.
ktoon is a .swf platform specifically created for making animated comics and anime.
There doesn't seem to be anything out there that doesn't require programming skills. :(
SVG and likely MS's silverlight is likely the answer going forward. Both are primed to make the closed format of .swf files obsolete. But that looks at least two years down the road.
Quote from: Dan on December 09, 2007, 11:23 AM NHFT
There doesn't seem to be anything out there that doesn't require programming skills. :(
Wait, don't FSPers raise their arms in triumph when something requires programming skills?
I know I do.
Quote from: TackleTheWorld on December 08, 2007, 08:56 PM NHFT
How about if I want to create interactive vector-based animations and develop web-based intensively visual applications typically done with Adobe flash and .swf files? Is there a linux parallel?
there was one called Moho, it was changed to Anime Studio:
http://www.lostmarble.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=8551
(not free, though)
But from the same folks (and this IS free)
Lip syncing animation for Linux (and windows and Mac):
http://www.lostmarble.com/papagayo/index.shtml