My Linux PC at Home

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At home, I am using a PC with Debian Etch installed on it.

PC configuration :
Celeron 1.8 Ghz Processor
1 GB RAM
160 GB Harddisk
DVD Writer
and a 17″ TFT Monitor

While this isn’t a gamer’s PC or even a high-end one, it is enough for my (and my wife’s ) needs.

We have all our songs/photos/movie collection on this PC apart from my work related stuff.

Our usual development activities consists of HTML, PHP and Javascript. This PC runs the following services to support us.

Apache – Web Server
MySQL – DB Server
Exim – Mail Server
OpenSSH – Remote Access & File Transfer

We also use a couple of softwares regularly. Most of these softwares have Windows versions also Available. So you don’t need to be disappointed if you are using a Microsoft Windows Operating system..Go check them out !!

Geany – Editor for PHP/HTML/Javascript
RapidSVN – Subversion client.
Gimp – Photo/Image Editor.
OpenOffice – For documents/spreadsheets/presentations
GnuCash – Tracking finance.
F-Spot – Photo collection organizer
Rhythmbox – Music Player/Organizer
Mplayer – Video Player

We do play games too. Mostly board games and puzzles. I like playing “frozen bubble” and my wife is addicted to “bomberclone” ! 🙂

I do not need to worry about spending a fortune to buy all commercial software to get my things done. All these software comes absolutely FREE ! We only paid for the PC Hardware. 🙂

Hello Linux / Opensource

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I got introduced to Gnu/Linux sometime back in 1999 when I was working as a computer hardware technician. Our customers were all using Windows 95/98/NT and we were supposed to install Windows and other applications after assembling the PCs. We were also handling customer support calls. One day, I got a copy of REDHAT Linux 6 from some pile of CDs we had at our assembling desk and I thought I would give it a try.

At first, it did look a bit confusing and there was no one to guide me. So I refered some documents I got from internet and went on installing the OS with all basic options. After a few days playing around with Linux desktop, I thought “Oh this does pretty much everything same as windows”. I started to dig out more information about this new OS and I realized that it is not really the desktop that I am seeing on the top. It was a pretty good software which allows me to do many other things which Windows could not do out of the box. As I continued my learning, my collegues were asking me what the hell I am doing with that PC in my free time. They were amazed to hear that this OS could accept the change of IP address without a reboot !

Many months passed and I was already very comfortable with Linux. I tried out different distibusions, I tried following the HOW-TO documents in the internet to set up my own webserver….

…years later, now my Linux skills are earning me respect among my tech-peers and a good pay cheque. I use and advertise Linux and Open source. I always ask my friends and collegues to switch to the Open Source software. If you have an absolute necessity to use a commercial closed source software, go ahead and use it. But if you could get the job done using the open source, why not? Trust me, it is not illegal to dump windows… 🙂

How Open Source saves your money

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I was just wondering how much it would cost if someone try to run his/her business with only open source software as compared to the commercial counterparts like Windows XP/MS office etc. Let’s take a situation where you are running a small business with 20 employees and some of them using special softwares like photoshop etc.

Here is an interesting view ( prices are approximate ) :

OS                  WindowsXP=6000 INR  * 20  = 120000 INR
Office              MS Office Pro=12000 INR  * 20 = 240000 INR
Image Editing   Photoshop=30000 INR * 2 = 60000 INR
Antivirus          Symantec=1000 INR * 20 = 20000 INR
Domain            Windows 2003 Server = 32000 INR * 1 = 32000 INR

Think about having a fully Linux environment running GIMP ( for image editing ) and Open Office and so many other open source software which makes your computer work to their full potential ! No worries about Viruses or Users deleting or tampering the system files , No complaints about blue screens. Centralized management of all workstations without using any other additional software. All these available for FREE !

With a little training and transition efforts ( i.e. teaching people that there are better alternatives for all these freely available ) , you could easily save approximately upto 5 Lakhs !

Now, the most important thing you should keep in mind is that FOSS is not difficult, it is just different. You need to learn it to use it. That’s all.

Here is a good article about the differences between Linux and Windows.

Dear CNN, Call them TERRORISTS !

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As I heard about Mumbai is under attack, the only options I had was to search the internet and the live broadcast of CNN. It was the only News channel I had in my hotel room here.

I was watching them fetching news and rumors from India via their counterpart CNN-IBN channel. It was amazing how they were repeatedly asking live reporters about the “Gunmen” who carried out the attacks. Days later, I still see that CNN is using the word “Gunmen” to mark these terrorists who unleashed the worst attack on people.

I am giving just one link for reference here. In fact all of their articles use the same word.
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/11/29/mumbai.reacts/index.html

I did not see such phrasing in any of the articles related to the 9/11 attacks. Whenever they refer to 9/11 they call these people as Terrorists/Conspirators. I don’t really know why they are using the word “Gunmen” in all their articles regarding Mumbai terrorist attack.

P.S. : Then I noticed a funny thing, their website title for www.cnn.com says “CNN.com – Breaking News, U.S., World,…” So, does that mean U.S. is not a part of the world? 😉

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Mumbai under terrorist attack !

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Again.. it happened. It does not matter how they did it, but it proves our inability to protect our land and citizens. Now the politicians and media morons will celebrate this for a few weeks till the next one happens………

I called up my brother in thane to make sure that he and his family is safe.

I got one email which contained the picture of a terrorist. He looks like he is a college boy ! Who is injecting venom into the minds of young people?

Terrorist Photo Mumbai attacks

Terrorist Photo Mumbai attacks