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8501

Living Room / Re: Are You Ready to Switch to GNU/Linux?

« Last post by 40hz on January 02, 2011, 09:38 PM »

To sound like a broken record again... To sound like a broken record again... To sound like a broken record again... To sound like a broken record again...

GO MONO~!

-Renegade (January 02, 2011, 08:46 PM)

Sorry.

Strongly disagree.

Insanely bad idea.

Spoiler

8502

Site/Forum Features / Re: For what it's worth, DC Homepage is now google PageRank 6

« Last post by 40hz on January 02, 2011, 09:03 PM »

Just checked over at checkpagerank.net. They show you as 6/10.

8503

Living Room / Re: Anyone want to write an eBook in 2011?

« Last post by 40hz on January 02, 2011, 08:16 PM »

I think the main question is; is the following:

I understand that eBooks are hugely popular these days, but if you self publish on DTP, are you tied to them?

My reason for asking, is that, if I was to publish on DTP, I would also want to self-publish a physical version of the book also (Always nice to have a copy of your own book, in hardback, on the bookshelf).

-Stephen66515 (January 02, 2011, 06:33 PM)

Amazon offers a print-on-demand service for Kindle texts through it's subsidiary company CreateSpace. If the goal is just being able to get hard copies of your ebook, CreateSpace will let you accomplish that. Their prices are competitive with the rest of the industry for on-demand printing projects.

Note: I don't know if you have to go through CreateSpace, or if you can freely pick another hard copy printer or publishing company, if you originally release your book on on Kindle. But I'd definitely double-check every detail twice (and ideally have an attorney review it) before I signed anything with Amazon.

Amazon is not a bad company to deal with. But business is business - and Amazon is ALL business.

8504

General Software Discussion / Re: Your most used SPECIAL programs

« Last post by 40hz on January 02, 2011, 07:58 PM »

Just to shift gears a moment: one new "special" app I've been getting a lot of mileage out of over the past year is something called Outline 4D published by Write Brothers Inc.

This truly is an outliner/brainstorming app "on steroids." (As their sales literature so aptly puts it. )

Ostensibly designed for writers and writing projects, but I've also used it for website information design, project planning, and general creative tasks.

Not inexpensive by any stretch. But if it's the type of app you can see a use for, it's well worth checking out. I have yet to see anything equivalent that does half as much half as easily. Publisher List: $99 (Street: $89/box-$79/download.) Occasionally goes on sale at various seller sites so be sure to shop around before purchasing.

 

(Don't let the garish colors throw you. You can change them to anything you want.)

Note: This is one of those apps that you have to experience before you can grok all it can do for you. And it's also expensive and specialized enough that you had best try it out before you key in your credit card info. There's a 5-day trial copy download available here.

-----------
Obligatory disclaimer: 40hz is not affiliated with Write Brothers, Inc. nor does he receive any consideration for saying such nice things about their product Outline 4D. He found his copy on sale for $69 and paid for it just like everyone else does.

8505

Living Room / Re: Anyone want to write an eBook in 2011?

« Last post by 40hz on January 02, 2011, 04:49 PM »

@k - I don't think it's so much a lack of interest as that your suggestion is likely a little too vague. Perhaps if there's a specific book idea(s) you want to collaborate on you could share it and see if there are any takers.

One problem is that a collaborative book effort is often more work for each writer than a solo authored one. You have issues surrounding the merging of writing styles, ego suppression; and, coordination of research, draft writing, revision schedules, and other duties that complicate the process. In a nutshell, it's a lot harder than it looks. Especially for writers that don't already have the experience of having written a book (or two) prior to collaborating.

Luck!

8506

Living Room / Re: So, when you're working, do you...

« Last post by 40hz on January 01, 2011, 02:41 PM »

@Edvard - ROFLMAO!

Thx for the Eden link!

8507

Living Room / Re: Are You Ready to Switch to GNU/Linux?

« Last post by 40hz on January 01, 2011, 01:10 PM »

@TMan & Ren - You guys are starting to generate a bit more heat than light right now. Could we maybe go back to where it was still friendly and interesting? 

8508

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: iDeparted - For when you die.

« Last post by 40hz on January 01, 2011, 10:28 AM »

With the advent of the web and sites like YouTube, it's interesting to see how the phrase "Gone, but not forgotten," attains a whole new level of bitter-sweetness.

@Ren: condolences on the loss of your friend. Always hard. Especially when there's the emotions that come with the holidays to mark it.

8509

General Software Discussion / Re: Web alternative to Scrapbook extension?

« Last post by 40hz on January 01, 2011, 10:10 AM »

Netnotes seems to do the trick too, good desktop solution. Readitlater doesn't seem to archive the pages, just the link to the page? So if the original page dissappears you won't be able to read it again? Iterasu seems to make it very hard for home users to use their products and I was unable to sign up.

-justice (January 01, 2011, 10:01 AM)

You can sync ReadItLater to your device so it works on or offline.



I don't use it on the desktop that way because for anything I want to permanently keep I'll use NetNotes. So ReadItLater is more a staging area rather than an archive the way I use it. I'll never trust anything that's really important to me to a webservice without being able to make a full local backup. That's why I don't generally like web apps. Many try to lock you in by making it difficult for you to export your data.

Note: I do use RIL's sync feature on my iPhone however. That way I always have something to read during slacktime or while commuting. (Assuming I'm not the driver.   )

8510

General Software Discussion / Re: Web alternative to Scrapbook extension?

« Last post by 40hz on January 01, 2011, 09:24 AM »

I like ReadItLater. It's a free service very similar to Instapaper. I use it in conjunction with their paid Digest option which provides some nifty additional functions. I'm very happy with both..

If you want to try a very good desktop solution (that is absolutely no hassle to use BTW) try Canaware NetNotes. I use this in conjunction with ReadItLater.

8511

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Re: iDeparted - For when you die.

« Last post by 40hz on January 01, 2011, 09:13 AM »

+1

Do it through a service like iDeparted or even just D.I.Y. It's a good idea regardless of how you implement it.

I've got something similar, except I keep my info on a regularly reviewed list which I send by e-mail to my technically savvy attorney as an encrypted enclosure whenever it changes.

Good new year's resolution: get something like this up and running for yourself before the year get's too old.
 

8512

Official Announcements / Re: HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011 FROM EVERYONE AT DONATIONCODER!

« Last post by 40hz on January 01, 2011, 08:58 AM »

One more trip around the sun in realtime!



Happy New Year DoCo!

8513

Living Room / Re: Are You Ready to Switch to GNU/Linux?

« Last post by 40hz on January 01, 2011, 08:43 AM »

I hate these lists precisely because of the controversy they engender, the snarky remarks, the outlandish claims, the smug retorts, the arguments that go on and on and on and on...

-Edvard (January 01, 2011, 07:37 AM)

+1  

For 2011, and in the spirit of Mark Twain (who's autobiography I am now reading) I've decided my sole response to lists like that will be:

I'm happy fer ya! How 'bout all y'all go use whatever you damn well please - and not tell me about it.

 

8514

Living Room / Re: Are You Ready to Switch to GNU/Linux?

« Last post by 40hz on January 01, 2011, 08:33 AM »

As Linux is GPL, how does any distribution NOT become GPL? That violates the license. And if it's GPL, then it's GNU.

-Renegade (December 31, 2010, 09:22 PM)

Unless I'm really mistaken, licensing something under the GPL does not make it GNU.

There's a lot of software in every linux distribution not written by the GNU project people.

-f0dder (January 01, 2011, 06:39 AM)

Yes.

Maybe now there is.

But back when the two projects first started to coexist, almost everything (like 90%) that makes Linux generally usable was written by the GNU people. Most of the critical subsystems, utilities, and services still are GNU code projects. So please don't confuse a Linux distro with Linux itself. That's a layman's mistake which only serves to generate an endless supply of flamebait.

And while we're at it, let's not lump all code together, nor give the size of a codebase more significance than it deserves. Far better to pay attention to the functionalities the code provides.

A kernal is tiny but absolutely essential. And in the case of Linux, it was the effort of a handful of people.

A game may have tens of millions of lines of code, require years of work, and an army of programmers.

But I don't think anybody could argue that a sprawling game is more 'important' or 'significant' than that little kernal that sits beneath it. To do so would be like comparing apples with oranges.

And there's a fair amount of opensource projects that aren't under the GPL license, and are included in most/lots of distributions.

Insisting on calling a distribution GNU/Linux imho equals downplaying the importance on non-gnu/non-gpl projects, and I find that rather distasteful and self-important of the GNU guys.

Again, now there is.

<*sigh*> You really do need to look at the history to grok what went down with the whole GNU/Linux and LiGNUx name thing. Because when taken out of its historical context, it will seem like nothing more than egotism and petty squabbling.

Both sides had 'arguments' and issues which most of the people who were involved have long gotten over.  

And both sides were equally wrong - and equally right, IMHO.  

 

8515

Living Room / Re: Are You Ready to Switch to GNU/Linux?

« Last post by 40hz on December 31, 2010, 08:21 PM »

There's a very good  and accurate discussion of the whole GNU thing as it relates to Linux in the book Rebel Code by Glyn Moody. If you want the whole story, check it out.  

8516

Living Room / Re: Are You Ready to Switch to GNU/Linux?

« Last post by 40hz on December 31, 2010, 05:23 PM »

^That's why we love you, man! Keeps us a bit more honest.  

P.S. Pretty clever wordplay too. 

8517

Living Room / Re: So, when you're working, do you...

« Last post by 40hz on December 31, 2010, 05:21 PM »

^ That's just hunky dory with me!

8518

Living Room / Re: Dealing with the people who think they might want to be your new client. Almost.

« Last post by 40hz on December 31, 2010, 04:27 PM »

I've never been involved with anything that I billed out a $100 million either!

-40hz (December 31, 2010, 01:44 PM)

Heck no! Nor have I, that was scraped up over a 40-year period. 

-cranioscopical (December 31, 2010, 02:53 PM)

Ok. In that case, allow me to revise my earlier comment:

I've never been involved in anything that billed out at $100 million over a 40-year period either!

But I'd still like to.

8519

Living Room / Re: Are You Ready to Switch to GNU/Linux?

« Last post by 40hz on December 31, 2010, 04:14 PM »

...opensores...

-f0dder (December 31, 2010, 03:16 PM)

Pejorative. Shame on you f-man!  

8520

Living Room / Re: So, when you're working, do you...

« Last post by 40hz on December 31, 2010, 04:05 PM »

One thing I have been doing lately is stepping back from technology.

For about the last year I've noticed I'm more likely to reach for a notebook and pen rather than a keyboard when I have something requiring creativity or deep thought.

This wasn't something I consciously decided to do. In fact, I realized I had been doing it for about 6 months before I actually noticed myself doing it at all. Not to say I don't use my PCs any more. I use them extensively - and I shudder to think what my life would be like without the convenience and access to resources they provide.

But lately, I just seem to be vastly more productive and creative with a blank page rather than a blank screen staring back at me.

Anybody else in the same boat?  

8521

Living Room / Re: Dealing with the people who think they might want to be your new client. Almost.

« Last post by 40hz on December 31, 2010, 01:44 PM »

I've never been stiffed on any large project. 'Big' and 'large' being relative since I've never been involved with anything that I billed out a $100 million either! (But I'd like to... ). People that commit to the $20-$30K+ projects are usually good at their word, with or without a signed contract.

It's the sub $2K projects I'm most likely to get bad debt with.

8522

Living Room / Re: Dealing with the people who think they might want to be your new client. Almost.

« Last post by 40hz on December 31, 2010, 08:31 AM »

^Oh my yes!

It took me a long time to not start consulting on a project before I was actually hired to do so.

Now, being older and wiser (and sphincter-dilated), I just sit, ask a lot of questions, and take notes. When the prospective client is finished I say:

Just so I'm sure I'm clear on what you're asking (then recap the problem as given).

When they agree I've "got it," I then say:

I can take care of that for you. My rate is $___ and it will take approximately X hours to complete. (If materials or equipment costs factor into the solution I'll also give a ballpark estimate on what they usually cost with the caveat it's subject to getting actual pricing from the suppliers.)  

Finally, I'll say: I can begin on <date>. Does all this fit within your budget and timeframe?

Within 10 seconds, one of three things will happen:

• The prospect will tell me "I'll have to get back to you." and wrap up the meeting. About 50% of the time they will call me back. Sometimes they'll also tell me they're looking at other quotes - which is something I encourage them to do whenever they bring it up. (From my experience, the people that tell me that end up calling me back about 70% of the time. Yay!)
  
• The prospect will say "It's too expensive." at which point I'll need to decide if I want to negotiate or further pursue the project. About 75% of the time I won't, in keeping with the Principle of Indifference pricing model. How to handle that remaining 25% that I do decide to further pursue is a complex topic best left for a whole separate discussion.
  
• The prospect says "That will be fine. Send us a hardcopy of what we've just discussed." At which point we shake hands and I feel fairly certain that what we talked about will actually happen. (It doesn't always.)

Note: until you have a signed purchase order or letter of intent in hand, you don't have the assignment. And until the client's final check clears, you can't really say you got the job. I could write volumes about that little detail.  )

8523

Living Room / Dealing with the people who think they might want to be your new client. Almost.

« Last post by 40hz on December 31, 2010, 07:08 AM »

There's a great little parable over at 43Folders that goes straight to heart of an issue that confronts most businesspeople at one time or another: how to deal with the dreaded Biz Flirt. Y'know, the guy that hints he'd absolutely love to do business with you? It's just "there's a few minor questions and things we'll need to get clear on first" before you do?

Anybody who ever wasted an hour on the phone or the price of lunch on one of these people - or has blown an entire evening doing up a complex technical quote for a project that somehow never quite got off the ground - will find a lot to laugh and grimace about.

Check out: A Sandwich, A Wallet, and Elizabeth Taylor's Cousin over at 43Folders.  

THE PARABLE

THE OSTENSIBLE CUSTOMER enters a deli and saunters up to the counter. The deli is tended by its rakishly handsome owner, THE SANDWICH GUY.

“Hi,” says The Sandwich Guy. “What looks good to you today?”

“Slow down,” says The Ostensible Customer, as THE LUNCH RUSH starts trickling in. “Lots of delis want my business, so, ?rst I need to really understand what you can do for me.”

8524

Living Room / Re: Not backing up will cost you!

« Last post by 40hz on December 30, 2010, 07:03 PM »

Generally, JBOD refers to combining separate HDDs into effectively one bigger HDD so that data is spanned across all of them.  So if the 3rd HDD of a 5 HDD array dies, you've generally lost all data across all HDDs.  You may be able to recover files using recovery software from the other HDDs but it'll be a long process.

By definition, JBOD is non-RAID and therefore there is no data redundancy.

-4wd (December 30, 2010, 05:33 PM)

Actually, aren't there are two definitions for JBOD? One where data is spanned across the disks as you describe; and the other where a virtual disk manager is put on top of the "bunch of drives" but where each physical disk operates independently of the others?

If I recall correctly Goolge's G. Boudreau's Greyhole Project utilizes the second approach, but goes it one better by providing for data replication in software. Doing that makes Greyhole act much like a RAID-5 combined with an extremely flexible drive concatenation capability. This is similar to the 'Drive Extender' feature Microsoft just removed from their new Home Server release.

Last I heard it was still pre-1.0 release. But it is working and some people are using it.

Might be worth a look. (Sorry, don't have the link right this moment, but it's easy to find by - surprise! surprise! - googling 'Greyhole Project.') Link here.

------------
ADDENDUM: Whoops! 4wd got in there just ahead of me!  


EDIT: I stand corrected. Greyhole isn't Google's. It's the work of Guillaume Boudreau. Project website here. Personal blog here.

 

8525

Official Announcements / Re: DonationCoder.com NEW SERVER ACTIVATED Dec 17, 2010

« Last post by 40hz on December 30, 2010, 09:28 AM »

I'm still seeing the delay on initial posting. Not as long as previously, but still noticeable  Edits continue to post noticeably quicker as was noted previously.

Note: the lag seems to come and go, which tends to point to a traffic issue somewhere.  Do you see anything odd happening on the ports or with the v-NICs? I'm not super up on virtual servers (yet) but every headache I've ever had with them always went back to an issue with the network bindings.