<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><?xml-stylesheet title="XSL_formatting" type="text/xsl" href="rss_style.xsl" ?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">
<channel>
        <title>ZDNet Blogs</title>
        <link>http://blogs.zdnet.com</link>
        <description>ZDNet Blogs Focus: Windows To Linux Chronicles</description>
<item>
<title>30 things I've learned from using Linux ...</title>
<link>http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=677</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 07 Aug 2007 02:38:46 -0700</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Adrian Kingsley-Hughes</dc:creator>
<guid>http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=677</guid>
<description><![CDATA[I began My Linux Experience back at the end of February and over the past five months I've managed to spend a fair bit of time dabbling and experimenting with a variety of Linux distros.    Over these months I've learned a lot - a lot about Linux, a lot about the Linux community and a lot about myself and how I look at and interact with PCs.      The  five month mark seems like as good a time as any to put some of these thoughts, feelings and finding out into the wild for comment and discussion.    So here, in no particular order, are some of the things that I've learned from using Linux ...     That I don't have to pay money  to get my hands on ... ]]>
</description></item>
<item>
<title>Why don't Linux distros make legal codecs easier to find?</title>
<link>http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=665</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jul 2007 07:02:18 -0700</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Adrian Kingsley-Hughes</dc:creator>
<guid>http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=665</guid>
<description><![CDATA[A few weeks ago I took a look at how Ubuntu 7.04 handled proprietary file formats such as MP3, WMA and QuickTime movies.   Overall the support was good (although I couldn't get QuickTime 7 movie support working) but it seriously bothered me that I had to resort to downloading and making use of codecs which are, well, to be blunt, illegal to use.    It's pretty easy to get access to these illegal, or as Linux calls them, "restricted software," codecs.   To get MP3 support you click on any MP3 file which brings up Totem Movie Player  and tries to play the file.   When it fails to play the file the system asks for permission to go off and search for a suitable ... ]]>
</description></item>
<item>
<title>Back to the &quot;too many Linux distros&quot; debate</title>
<link>http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=615</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Jul 2007 10:40:20 -0700</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Adrian Kingsley-Hughes</dc:creator>
<guid>http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=615</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Over on Slashdot today I came across yet another "too many Linux distros" debate, this time started by Alexander Wolfe of InformationWeek.   While I think that Wolfe has a point, he also misses the real problem.    In business out of the hundreds of distros to choose from there are only two real choices - RedHat and SuSE.   In the business arena the too many distros argument is a moot point since they're pretty much invisible.   It's outside of the business arena that too much choice ultimately leads to confusion.    Now, the purpose of this post is not to start a flame war (honestly!).   It's really a follow-on to several posts that I've already made here on this topic where I've touched on ... ]]>
</description></item>
<item>
<title>Setting up a dual-boot Linux and Vista PC</title>
<link>http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=609</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jul 2007 06:39:47 -0700</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Adrian Kingsley-Hughes</dc:creator>
<guid>http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=609</guid>
<description><![CDATA[After covering setting up  dual-boot XP/Linux and Vista/Linux systems (where Windows was installed first), I decided it was time to take a look at how easy it is to install Vista onto a PC where a Linux distro was already installed.   Turns out it's not all that difficult, but it's easier if Windows is installed first.    Now, I think it's realistic to say that there's going to be more people who want to install Linux onto a Windows PC than Windows onto a Linux system, but since a number of people contacted me privately by email asking for pointers, I still think that there's an audience for this kind of information (most seem to want to set up Windows on a Linux ... ]]>
</description></item>
<item>
<title>Problem with Automatix?</title>
<link>http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=535</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 22 Jun 2007 06:59:33 -0700</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Adrian Kingsley-Hughes</dc:creator>
<guid>http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=535</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Quick question - anyone else had a problem bringing in libdvdcss2 with Automatix?    I've tried it on several systems over the past few days with the same result.   The w32codecs come in fine but not libdvdcss2.   I don't get any errors or anything.   Everything else installs just fine.    Any ideas? ]]>
</description></item>
<item>
<title>Media support in Ubuntu 7.04 Feisty Fawn</title>
<link>http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=526</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 Jun 2007 08:58:29 -0700</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Adrian Kingsley-Hughes</dc:creator>
<guid>http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=526</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Today I continue my "Windows to Linux Chronicles" by looking at what media support is like under Ubuntu 7.04.  The test is simple.  Take a few test files and see if they'll play.  For the test I chose the following files:    An MP3 test file  A WMA test file (a DRM-free file of course)  A QuickTime 7 movie    Note: Full image gallery available here.  The test is simple.  Save these files onto the Ubuntu desktop, double-click and see what Ubuntu does.  I already know that Linux will try its best to find a way to run the files so it'll be interesting to see how easy this process is and how well it works.  MP3  When I clicked on the MP3 file a program ... ]]>
</description></item>
<item>
<title>Linux/OSS developers: stop following and start leading  </title>
<link>http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=5427</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:12:55 -0700</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Marc Wagner</dc:creator>
<guid>http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=5427</guid>
<description><![CDATA[This morning, I read a piece by my Education IT colleague, Chris Dawson, entitled Making    hamburger of Microsoft   s cash cow    and I was struck by one important observation:    "Open Office needs to worry less about duplicating features of Office and more about    selling    itself as a viable piece of software in its own right. "    The thrust of the article was a discussion of a Microsoft study regarding "user satisfaction" with Microsoft Office as compared to OpenOffice in an educational setting.  We don't have to guess what Microsoft concluded.  (See Microsoft funds questionable study attacking open source in education.)  I've been around long enough to know that whether it's Microsoft or some independent  entity conducting these studies, their conclusions should ... ]]>
</description></item>
<item>
<title>The key to getting more Windows users to switch to Linux</title>
<link>http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=519</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 Jun 2007 08:52:09 -0700</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Adrian Kingsley-Hughes</dc:creator>
<guid>http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=519</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Over the weekend I came to the conclusion that the reason why more Windows users aren't switching to Linux is the shortage of good information out there on the web for Linux newbies.   If  there are sites hosting good information  out there,  they sure aren't  appearing on the first couple of Google results pages.    if Google can't find it, other people won't and the information might as well not existLast week  I got an email from someone who seemed to be interested in  taking a Linux distro for a spin.   They sounded genuinely interested in Linux but wanted some information and a chance to pick up a few core skills before playing with Live CDs.   My first thought was "Why did you go to  the bother of emailing ... ]]>
</description></item>
<item>
<title>Dell Ubuntu Linux has arrived</title>
<link>http://blogs.zdnet.com/Burnette/?p=318</link>
<pubDate>Fri, 25 May 2007 06:28:13 -0700</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Ed Burnette</dc:creator>
<guid>http://blogs.zdnet.com/Burnette/?p=318</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Late yesterday Dell opened the floodgates of its grand consumer Linux experiment by offering three systems with Ubuntu Desktop Edition version 7.04 pre-installed. They are available for purchase now:    The Dimension E520 N starts at $599 ($749 - $150 promotional discount), and includes an Intel Core 2 Duo processor (E4300), 1GB of 667MHz memory, a 17" E177FP analog flat panel, Intel integrated graphics 950, 48X CD-RW/DVD Combo drive, and a 250GB SATA drive (7200rpm).    The Inspiron E1505 N also starts at $599 ($799 - $200 promotional discount), and features an Intel Pentium dual-core processor (T2080), 512MB of 533MHz shared memory, a 15" wide screen XGA display, Intel integrated graphics 950, 24X CD Burner/DVD Combo drive, and a 80GB SATA drive (5400rpm).    Finally, the ... ]]>
</description></item>
<item>
<title>Dell launches Ubuntu consumer systems; Will sales measure up?</title>
<link>http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=5144</link>
<pubDate>Thu, 24 May 2007 04:30:16 -0700</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Larry Dignan</dc:creator>
<guid>http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=5144</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Dell officially launched three consumer systems loaded with Ubuntu 7.04 installed and sales kick off today. The big question will be whether we find out how sales go.   That latter question is a big one and I'm more interested in sales a few weeks and months from now. There's little doubt that Ubuntu fans will get these systems in the early going--interest in Dell's driver details has been strong. What remains to be seen is whether sales then drop off with a thud. Another thought: Will we ever see these systems at Best Buy?  Let's hope Dell details something about demand on its blog--it's not like these systems will be material enough to disclose on any financial results. For now, this ... ]]>
</description></item>
<item>
<title>Three more things that the Linux community doesn't get</title>
<link>http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=424</link>
<pubDate>Wed, 23 May 2007 07:12:54 -0700</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Adrian Kingsley-Hughes</dc:creator>
<guid>http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=424</guid>
<description><![CDATA[The response to the Five crucial things the Linux community doesn   t understand about the average computer user post I made the other day was, well overwhelming.  With some of you I think that the post rung a bell, while with others it must have touched a nerve.  I'm pretty sure that getting over 750 TalkBack comments in a couple of days is some kind of record here at ZDNet and just in case there's an award, I'm already writing my speech! :-)    Choosing a suitable Linux distro is a bit like the uninitiated making a trip to Starbucks and expecting to be able to order a plain simple cup of coffeeAnyway, after wading through some of the comments (I ... ]]>
</description></item>
<item>
<title>Dell, Ubuntu and the driver details</title>
<link>http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=5109</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 22 May 2007 05:20:34 -0700</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Larry Dignan</dc:creator>
<guid>http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=5109</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Dell outlined some of the technical details surrounding its use of Ubuntu 7.04 on its desktops.   Judging from Dell's post, the main takeaways appear to be:       Dell is choosing peripheral options based on what hardware has the most "mature and stable" Linux drivers.    Dell will use open source drivers where possible. If none are available it'll use closed source options.     Dell promises it will work with vendors to get better Linux drivers. "While this may not happen overnight, we do expect to have a broader range of hardware support with Linux over time," says John Hull, manager of Linux OS technologies at Dell.    Dell won't support audio and video codecs that aren't distributed with Ubuntu already. In other words, all ... ]]>
</description></item>
<item>
<title>Five crucial things the Linux community doesn't understand about the average computer user</title>
<link>http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=420</link>
<pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2007 10:31:46 -0700</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Adrian Kingsley-Hughes</dc:creator>
<guid>http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=420</guid>
<description><![CDATA[[Updated: May 23, 2007 @ 7.25 am] Part 2 of this article can be found here.      Question: Why is it that the average computer user  still chooses to spend hundreds of dollars on Windows or Mac when there are countless Linux alternatives that they could download, install and make use of completely free of charge?    The PC market is extremely cut-throat.   It has to be because consumers will go to great lengths to save a few bucks when buying their latest system.   But it seems that this thriftiness hasn't resulted in hordes of users choosing to buy PCs without Windows installed and instead  choosing to install  Linux instead.   In fact, there are plenty of users who would rather break the law and install pirated copies ... ]]>
</description></item>
<item>
<title>Dell may give Ubuntu a mainstream lift</title>
<link>http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=4958</link>
<pubDate>Tue, 01 May 2007 12:28:31 -0700</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Larry Dignan</dc:creator>
<guid>http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=4958</guid>
<description><![CDATA[Update: Dell has officially announced itS Ubuntu support on the company's blog.  Dell giving preinstalled desktop Linux another try with Ubuntu and this time may get it right.  As Stephen Shankland reports, Dell will announce on its IdeaStorm site that it will sell consumer laptops and desktops with Ubuntu's "Feisty Fawn" version of Linux (Techmeme discussion).  This is the same version of Ubuntu that has Adrian Kingsley-Hughes so excited. And if Adrian's take is on target (gallery right) others may follow suit.  Now we've been hearing about potential for desktop Linux forever and it's never panned out. The difference this time? It's becoming easier to use and there's enough software out there to replicate what you do with Windows.  What remains to be seen is ... ]]>
</description></item>
</channel>
</rss>
