A Power User's Desktop Guide

Ubuntu for everyone! This popular Linux-based operating system is perfect for people with little technical background. It's simple to install, and easy to use -- with a strong focus on security. Ubuntu: Up and Running shows you the ins and outs of this system with a complete hands-on tour. You'll learn how Ubuntu works, how to quickly configure and maintain Ubuntu 10.04, and how to use this unique operating system for networking, business, and home entertainment.

I knew in advance that venting my frustrations with Ubuntu in the form of an article yesterday would stir up a hornet's nest. [...] Having read all the comments I'd like to clarify my thoughts on the subject.

To whatever part of the general non-geek public is even aware of Linux the names "Linux" and "Ubuntu" are all but interchangeable. Over the past few years I've come to the conclusion that this state of affairs is, at best, unfortunate.

There's a Rootkit in the Closet -- lovely explanation of finding and isolating a rootkit, reconstructing how it got there and deconstructing the rootkit to figure out what it did. It's a detective story, no less exciting than when Cliff Stohl wrote The Cuckoo's Egg. This and more in today's Four Short Links.

Google Ad Preferences -- my defaults look reasonable and tailored to my interest. Creepy but kinda cool: I guess that if I have to have ads, they should be ones I'm not going to hate. This and more in today's Four Short Links. Nat Torkington 2010-02-04T11:58:50-08:10

Best screencasting softwareWhich Twitter client is best for Android phones?Should I buy an iPad?How to clean up after a tarball or zipball explodesMacros in XSLTShare knowledge, ask questions on O'Reilly Answers today. O'Reilly Media 2010-02-01T11:58:27-08:11

A recent article discusses trademark issues in open source software, published in the International Free and Open Source Software Law Review. One thing that interested me is how the fuzzy areas in current law are comparable to fuzzy areas in software distribution; that's what I'll discuss in this blog. The main issue driving the article by Harvey Anderson and Tiki Dare is that trademark law was designed for fixed products and services left under the control of the vendor. Let's turn now to free software. People modify and redistribute it all the time, but to be honest about it, they shouldn't do so under the name chosen by the original developers. Andy Oram 2010-02-01T11:58:27-08:12

The Open Laboratory -- collection of the best science writing on blogs from the last year. For more, see an interview with the author. Part of a growing trend where online comes first and feeds offline. (via sciblogs) Nat Friedman Leaving Novell -- one of the original Ximian founders, with interests in many directions and the coding chops to... Nat Torkington 2010-01-14T16:29:27-08:13

ABI Research published some new data last month and the results may surprise you. They place the 2009 market share for Linux on netbooks at 32% with 11 million units preloaded with Linux shipping this year. Caitlyn Martin 2009-12-05T15:26:28-08:14

The alpha 5 updated build of Flex Builder for Linux is now available on Adobe Labs. Andrew Trice 2009-11-25T16:27:33-08:15

While I'm very positive about the openSUSE team I must say that I am a lot less sanguine about some in their community. Some fans (or really fanatics) came out in force ready to attack the reviewer (me), to question my skills and even my sanity, to attack Ladislav Bodnar for posting the review, to blame the hardware, anything at all but the distro code which is, according to some, "the best release ever". Caitlyn Martin 2009-11-20T16:27:57-08:16

Red Laser -- "impossibly accurate barcode scanning". Uses Google Product Search to identify products that you scan using the camera on the phone. I remember Rael and I talking to Jeff Bezos about this years ago, before camphones had the resolution to decode barcodes. The future is here and it's $1.99 on the App Store ... (via Ed Corkery... Nat Torkington 2009-11-06T04:00:41-08:17

We're launching the beta of O'Reilly Answers, and I'm inviting you to be part of it. In brief, O'Reilly Answers is a community site for sharing knowledge, asking questions, and providing answers that brings together our customers, authors, editors, conference speakers, and Foo (Friends of O'Reilly). O'Reilly is at the center of an amazing exchange of knowledge sharing and idea generation, and we want you to join us in changing the world by spreading the knowledge of innovators. Allen Noren 2009-11-04T21:27:12-08:18

Anatomy of SSDs -- A teeth-rattlingly technical Linux Magazine article explaining the different types of SSDs (Solid State Disks--imagine a hard drive made of rapid-access Flash memory). Artur Bergman told me that installing an SSD drive in his MacBook Pro gave the greatest performance increase of any computer upgrade he'd performed since he went from no computer to one. This and more in today's Four Short Links. Nat Torkington 2009-10-29T20:56:14-08:19

A Real-World Guide to Effective VMware Use Matthew Helmke, Ryan Troy 2009-10-23T23:50:58-08:20 PRINT or PDF

I found a wide variety of systems with Linux available from mainstream outlets and factory direct, at least here in the United States where I live. While I don't have updated market share figures it's clear, despite claims by Microsoft and their supporters, that Linux remains entrenched in the netbook market and is spreading out from there. Caitlyn Martin 2009-10-22T23:49:12-08:21

Linux Baby Rocker -- Check out this inventive use of a CD drive and the eject command, combined to create an automatic baby rocker. (via Hacker News) This and more in today's Four Short Links. Nat Torkington 2009-10-08T12:58:56-08:22

On that Friday, with no warning, the little netbook failed to boot up. I couldn't even get to the BIOS. For the third time a Sylvania netbook I owned had suffered a premature hardware failure. Caitlyn Martin 2009-10-06T23:57:53-08:23

Everything you need to know about Linux is right in this book. The latest edition of this popular reference offers a tighter focus on Linux system essentials, as well as more coverage of new capabilities such as wireless network management, DVD recording, and revision control with git. Linux in a Nutshell, Sixth Edition thoroughly covers programming and administration tools, editors, and the shell, and highlights the most important options for using the vast number of Linux commands. Stephen Figgins, Robert Love, Arnold Robbins, Ellen Siever 2009-09-23T12:53:02-08:24 PRINT or PDF