2012 May 20 archive at Robert Pogson

Archive for May 20th, 2012

The Linux Desktop Space

Published by Robert Pogson May 20th, 2012 in technology. 30 Comments

A lot has been written lately about how GNU/Linux will/can never succeed on the desktop. It’s overblown. The lock-in is not universal. There are many uses of PCs not requiring that other OS and where GNU/Linux shines: schools and governments have no real problems using GNU/Linux. Those PCs are just computers folks and GNU/Linux controls them very well. Not everyone needs an M$-only application. I don’t. None of the schools where I have worked had a single application that could not be done with GNU/Linux. It’s all about creating, finding, storing and presenting information and GNU/Linux is as good as any for that and avoids a lot of baggage in the process: cost, malware, slowing down, etc.

Really Linux has a piece giving some reasons to take the current mood to give up on GNU/Linux with a grain of salt. GNU/Linux is too good not to use very widely.

see The Linux Desktop Space is no Place to Concede – www.reallylinux.com exclusive .

- Robert Pogson

Slings and Arrows of Outrageous Fortune…

Published by Robert Pogson May 20th, 2012 in technology. 10 Comments

Well, the new roto-tiller worked so well, I took it for a test spin, for two tanks of fuel. This is the easiest-starting small machine I have ever owned. From an empty tank to running was one pull of the cord… One drawback is that it has only one speed, maximum, so some of my tough spots are a very rough ride. I was used to running the old machine at 3/4 throttle. Another weak spot was the wheel mount. After 15 minutes, the wheels actually came off. There was a factory-defect, two of four tack-welds broke and the other two were not fused to the two pieces of the joint, giving a huge mechanical disadvantage to the other two. I ground off the paint and the tack-welds and welded with E6013 at -95 amps on a 1/8” electrode. It was not my best weld but much stronger than the unit as shipped. Think more than ten times the area of weld and several times deeper. Instead of 4 tack-welds, I have two continuous beads, going “around the corners” to give no freedom of movement whatsoever. I knew about the weak welds when I bought the thing because of a comment in the forum at Sears. Some things don’t frighten welders and the price may have been better because of the weakness.
Continue reading ‘Slings and Arrows of Outrageous Fortune…’

- Robert Pogson

My Mission

My observations and opinions about IT are based on 40 years of use in science and technology and lately, in education. I like IT that is fast, cost-effective and reliable. I do not care whether my solution is the same as yours. I like to think for myself.

My first use of GNU/Linux in 2001 was so remarkably better than what I had been using, I feel it is important work to share GNU/Linux with the world. I have been blessed by working in schools where students and school systems have benefited by good, modular software easily installed in most systems.

I have shown GNU/Linux to thousands of students and hundreds of teachers over the years and will continue in some way doing that until I die in spite of the opposition.