Still in Fedora Core 2...

I switched to Fedora Core 2 (Linux) a while back and I'm still using it. It seems like each time I install a new system I get more and more things to work correctly and I learn how to overcome more and more obstacles. Windows hackers/techies have to perform tasks to overcome obstacles all the time, but they are usually very different obstacles than the ones you find in Linux.

I have ran into many problems so far in Linux and overcome quite a few. A few of the problems I have run into so far include:

• lack of Cannon i950 printer drivers installing a printer attached to another machine (Windows) on the network
  
• uncorrupting amule (emule for Linux)
  
• getting sound to work after breaking it, installing a new Window Manager (IceWM)
  
• finding various dependencies for various programs
  
• making my own shell scripts
  

I have overcome most of these problems. I just bought Slackware 10 (it was really free with $6 shipping) and I am hopping to switch sometime soon. I need to set some goals to accomplish before I feel that I can switch. I want to be able to compile and install a new kernel, and keep up-to-date on various other software easily.

Kevin Rose's Dark Tips

I recently noticed that since G4 and TechTV have merged many of Kevin's dark tips have been transferred but an archive for them has not been made. I started an archive of them yesterday. I used this opportunity to test out the use of very simple HTML and multiple style sheets. I used javascript to change the style sheet and save/load the user's last style sheet in their cookies. I experimented with floating DIVs, creating content before and after commands and many other cool CSS tricks. The archive is licensed under a very non-restricting Creative Commons license (as expected) and I'll change the archive if you contact me about it.

Oh.... and I also made an RSS feed for it from scratch.

Unofficial Dark Tips Archive

The big switcharoo

I finally switched to Linux. I installed Fedora Core 2 last friday night and I loaded all of my music, family photos, and other important documents onto Fedora by Sunday. I am using an 80gb hard drive which is sufficient for now even though I had almost a completely full 120gb one for Windows. The games and programs for Linux tend to take up less space and I don't need as many of them.

I have a Microsoft Wireless Natural Multimedia keyboard. It is a nice keyboard besides the fact that it has an "F Lock" key that has to be pressed "on" before the function keys (F1 - F12) can be used. I used to use a Windows regsitry hack that fixed this by changing all of the keycodes of the new and useless functions of the F keys (like print, reply, save) to act as if they were the normal F keys. Now that I am using Linux I had to get used to pressing that dumb "F Lock" key again. I got sick of it so I made a shell script that fixes the problem. The script is available and licensed under the GPL. The script is: f_lock_fix

Microsoft patents the double click

Microsoft officially patented the double-click. What has this world come to?

An "Anonymous Coward" on Slashdot claims that the double-click was first made by aliens before Microsoft. I don't know if I would go that far, but I am sure it was used before Microsoft was ever thought of.

Quoting Microsoft Receives Patent For Double-Click

Could mere humans have thought up the concept of clicking twice!

The summary of the patent in fluffed-up-fancy-shmancy-english terms is:

Quoting United States Patent: 6,727,830

A method and system are provided for extending the functionality of application buttons on a limited resource computing device. Alternative application functions are launched based on the length of time an application button is pressed. A default function for an application is launched if the button is pressed for a short, i.e., normal, period of time. An alternative function of the application is launched if the button is pressed for a long, (e.g., at least one second), period of time. Still another function can be launched if the application button is pressed multiple times within a short period of time, e.g., double click.

Ironically, the FTC is planing to examine the patent application process to avoid patent abusers and "patent trolls"