Practical Technology

for practical people.

May 23, 2013
by sjvn01
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Build your own supercomputer out of Raspberry Pi boards

When you think do-it-yourself (DIY) computing, you probably think of setting up a screaming gaming computer or putting together the best possible components for the least amount of money. You’re almost certainly not considering putting together a supercomputer. Maybe you should. Joshua Kiepert, a doctoral student at Boise State’s Electrical and Computer Engineering department, has managed to create a mini-supercomputer using Raspberry Pi (RPi) computers for less than $2,000.

Build your own supercomputer out of Raspberry Pi boards. More >

May 22, 2013
by sjvn01
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Mint 15: Today’s best Linux desktop (Review)

As the years roll-by, every new update of Linux Mint impresses me more. Other desktop operating systems, such as Microsoft’s Windows 8 may abandon the tried-and-true windows, icons, menus, and pointer (WIMP) desktop metaphor.  Others, such as Ubuntu with Unity try to keep some of the WIMP interface while expanding it for tablets and smartphones, but the Ubuntu-based Mint, with Cinnamon and MATE, has stayed true to the WIMP interface. As far as I’m concerned the latest version, Linux Mint 15, Olivia, is now not merely the best Linux desktop, it’s the best desktop operating system of all.

Mint 15: Today’s best Linux desktop (Review) More >

May 21, 2013
by sjvn01
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Google Voice integrating into Google Hangouts

For years, Google had multiple Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP), instant messaging, and video-conferencing services. Now, Google is uniting those services under Google Hangouts. It wasn’t clear though  where Google Voice, its main VoIP program that crossed the gap between landline/cellular and Internet calls, was going to fit. We now know that it too is being integrated into Google Hangouts.

Google Voice integrating into Google Hangouts. More >

May 20, 2013
by sjvn01
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Google Glass will be a big deal, so deal with it

Perhaps no group has earned a borderline obscene pejorative as quickly as the wearers of Google Glass. I mean, the product, not due for release until early next year, is seen in the wild today only on the few thousand who are its early testers. And yet we already

have the term “glasshole.” Google Glass has also been banned ahead of its release. This all seems to stem from the belief, voiced by writers such as Jason Perlow, that Google Glass is evil, since “it’s a ‘stealth’ recording device.”

My advice to anyone freaking out over Glass: Get over it.

Google Glass will be a big deal, so deal with it. More >

May 20, 2013
by sjvn01
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Cloud Classification for beginners

OK, so by now you should know what a cloud really is — and at least one example of what a cloud really isn’t but you may still be wondering what specifically are all these cloud types floating about in the Internet. Well, let’s take a look.

Let’s start with the highest level and work our way down: public vs. private cloud. First, clouds are not this fuzzy magic thing that makes IT services happen. Behind all the technobabble fog, they’re servers in server racks, rooms, and data centers providing a variety of IT services.

Cloud Classification for beginners