Promoting Linux

There is a site dedicated to getting 1,000,000 people to switch from Windows in all its forms (XP, Vista, whatever) and pick up GNU/Linux.  It has a nice explanation of what that actually is and how someone can give it a try.  They also have banners and logos which help promote the site.

I've converted my wife and one of our friends, so that's 2.

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Searching for results

So I've gotten used to Google's search results, and how they are pretty clear cut and satisfactory for me.  Usually what I want is one of the first results, and almost always on the first page.  Granted I'm pretty good at my searching techniques so that probably helps, at least I think so.  Recently I had been using Blingo, which was powered by Google, because there were slight odds of winning something.  In fact I had won $150 from them once, and one of my friends won an iTunes gift certificate, therefore I did too.  However, I haven't won anything for two years searching lately.  So when they switched from Google the other day, to using Yahoo, MSN, and ASK, it wasn't too hard for me to give it up.  Ask never gave me good results, I refuse to support Microsoft, and Yahoo's games don't work on Linux, and they are about to be consumed by Microsoft anyways.

Well I could just use Google (now that I've gotten through purging my Blingo connections) without using anything in between.  Though I liked the idea of possibly getting something back for searching, which I did a lot of anyways.  There is another option though, instead of me getting something back, I can give something back to someone else.  My only qualm though is that it uses Yahoo search, so to be the results seem a little cluttered and not as good, but it may just be a chance for me to get off my "high horse" and take the opportunity to lend some support.

So I will be using Goodsearch and adding a penny to Lutheran World Relief for each search I do.

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Dabbling with Python

So I bought a book on game programming in python from Amazon a while back. A few days ago I finally got through the first chapter (not that it was difficult, but that I just hadn't had time to sit down and look through it). Now I know that only one chapter into a book is really not enough to give an adequate review, but so far I have to say it is excellent. The author explains the concepts in an easy to understand manner, and the way things are setup in the book. It has me pretty excited about learning more about the Python language. The exact book is called "Game Programming: The L Line, The Express Line to Learning." the author is Andy Harris and it is published by Wiley.

Another fun discovery is Movable IDLE. IDLE stands for Integrated DeveLopment Environment. Usually that would be abbreviated as IDE, as it is for most Integradted Development Environments. IDLE is made for python and it allows one to enter a line of code and immediately execute it, it can also be used as a calculator if one is so inclined. The nice thing about Movable IDLE is that it can be put on a USB stick. It is something close to nagware or crippleware though, it doesn't come with full functionality (I don't think I'm experienced enough for that to be a problem), but it still allows the execution of code and saving of code. The nag screen pops up every time it is opened encouraging the user to try Movable Python, which is a more full implementation (more support for running in windows and importing modules), but actually costs something. Since I'm just getting into this, I don't see myself paying for the mobile version to be honest. So regardless I think it is good enough for me.
The site says:

Each distribution costs only £4.99, and you get free support, and free downloads of all updates to Movable Python for one year.

They also say that they donate have of the proceeds to OLPC and the Python Software Foundation.

(I'm less fond of the OLPC project now that Microsoft got their hands on it, since they will be putting a special version of XP (aren't they dropping support for this soon?) which would violate the 5th principal of the project.)

You can find both Movable IDLE and Movable Python HERE.

Virtualization pt.2

So I actually got a chance to tinker a bit with Virtualbox now and I have to say that I really like it. I still have OpenSuse 10.3 in a machine and now I have Ubuntu 8.04 [Hardy Heron] Alpha 6 release loaded as well. As someone who likes to tinker and see what is new and different virtualization is a wonderful discovery (to the point where it is embarrassing that I have never tinkered with it before, oh ignorance!). It is quite beneficial to be able to mess around with an O/S or distro and still maintain a stable environment without having to update and configure everything. (This makes my wife very happy, although I doubt she knows this...) Hopefully I will have my XP CD soon so I can really get to what I had planned on tinkering with.

I'll probably be looking to upgrade my RAM, as I only have 1G right now. Not having to spend over $100 for XP since I already own it, I may put that money towards more memory. I would have more to give to the guest operating system.

Virtualization

Well I wanted to try virtualization because I thought it would be a good way to get some of the features that I have to boot into Windows for.  Right now that is pretty much only to use Firefox in Windows because ABC doesn't allow their player to work for Linux.  (I gave them feedback on this but it is apparently something that doesn't even warrant a response).  Of course that wouldn't be a problem if my wife and I could just catch Grey's Anatomy when it is on.  We tend to not be around or thinking of it though on Friday nights at 7pm (central).

Besides that I would like to have a way to use Libronix in linux.  Libronix is a digital library system for a lot of theological works.  Yes, of course I've already looked for alternatives, and yes, I already have gnome-sword.  After reading a review of four virtualization options here I opted to try out VirtualBox.  I liked the fact that it had a smaller overall footprint (on hard drive and RAM) than the other options and was simple to use as well.  As I am writing this I am in the middle of installing OpenSuse 10.3 to a virtual machine.  Simply because at this point I don't have my XP installation CD handy.  Once that happens I hope to get Libronix running, and then perhaps the software for my digital voice recorder (I had used it before to record classes).  The other programs would probably just be Adobe Reader (I know I can read and even create PDF's in Linux, but there are some forms that just don't work) and Formatta Filler, which is often used to fill out special PDF's that the ELCA uses.  Since I can already run Oblivion through WINE without many issues, there really isn't much incentive for me to ever boot directly into Windows again.  I'm hoping to get it all to work and then I'll just make a partition for Ubuntu. (I may put on a different distro just for back-up lest my tinkering get me too far into trouble)

I've actually used Qemu a little bit, but really only with Damn Small Linux.  I wanted to be able to play around with Linux at work, because I've found I really dislike working in Windows now.  Other than that I haven't played with it too much, the interface seemed a bit more confusing.  VirtualBox walks you through the process step by step and even offers suggestions as to the setup.

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