Basic Lesson 1: Identities and Permissions

In this first article of Ed Hurst's Clueless Computer User's Guide to Open Source, Ed explores permissions and other basics of a multiuser system. If you are unfamiliar with these concepts or do not know why even a single user system should have multi-user principles applied to it, read on to find out.

Six multifunction printers for Linux

Have you been looking for an “All-in-one” (aka known as MFP, multi-function printer) for your Linux desktop? So have we, with somewhat mixed results. We found no MFPs in our price range (under $500.00) which are shipped with drivers for Linux. But we did find a number of MFPs which are usable on Linux machines, thanks to free software drivers available either with your Linux distribution or on the Internet. Be warned, however, that not every feature or function of many of the printers we found work with the free drivers. Here's the story on what we found, along with six specific MFPs that work with free software drivers and Linux to consider during your holiday shopping.

The greening of Linux

As vice president
in charge of Hewlett-Packard's Linux strategy, Fink says HP's
decision to indemnify its customers against lawsuits the SCO Group
files has been a boon to sales. He also sees HP making inroads with
its Linux products against Sun Microsystems' Solaris operating
system.

Who will build our digital future?

As far as revolutions go, the opening salvo was muffled. But for those within earshot, the reverberations were far- reaching. Last month, China - the largest single potential market for almost anything - selected an upstart computer-operating system called Linux for installation on 1 million computers next year. Ultimately, the country plans to install similar systems on 100 million to 200 million machines.

Ximian XD2: The Way Things Ought to Be

For years, it has seemed that the GNU/Linux desktop was right on the cusp of being ready for the mainstream desktop out of the box. Recent distributions, such as Mandrake Linux 9.2, bring the desktop to the mainstream, but something is still lacking: complete unity.

Desktop FreeBSD Part 1: Installation

What follows is a tutorial aimed specifically at the ordinary desktop user interested in getting started with FreeBSD. Ed provides an easy to understand guide through FreeBSD's Sysinstall installer in part one of this series.

Coming Home

It will always be about freedom. I have long contended that the ordinary desktop user cannot afford to become a partisan for any operating system or software. I don't begrudge partisans their love; we all need a place to call home. What I can never appreciate is the degree to which a vocal minority have so identified themselves with their favorite OS/distro that anything less than worship is taken as a personal insult. My sense is that, thankfully, most Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) users are not there.

Gurus versus Newbies

There is no lack of publicity these days knocking The Redmond Giant for its inherently insecure software. There's even a recently announced lawsuit against them for just that. Those of us who have actively promoted Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) are now hoping that, finally, the balance of perception with the average computer user is in our favor.

Learning to Walk: A Linux User Migrates to FreeBSD

If you haven't read part 1 of this -- "Babe in the Woods: A Linux User Migrates to FreeBSD" -- you may be at a loss. For those who did read it, many are still at a loss. That is, they didn't grasp the subtle purpose behind the article. Of those who commented, most were hardcore geeks, the techies who are in a position to really understand computers.

FIRST LOOK: Mandrake Linux 9.2 Discovery Edition

It's official. By the time you read this, Mandrake Linux 9.2 will be available to Mandrake Club members around the world. Mandrake Linux 9.2 marks the first release from the “big 3” distributors in about six months. If you're wondering whether you should rush out and install it, read on for our first look at a distribution from the Fall 2003 distribution release cycle.