June 2, 2008
by sjvn01
9 Comments
A) Ubuntu, B) PCLinuxOS, C) Fedora, D) openSUSE or E) None of the above?
The answer is: E) None of the above.
At this point, most of you are saying “What!” or perhaps guessing “Debian, Mint, SLED (SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop), gOS or some Chinese Linux that we don’t hear a lot about in English speaking countries?” Sorry, you’re still wrong.
OK, so what is the most popular Linux desktop on the planet?
June 1, 2008
by sjvn01
0 comments
At BrainShare 2008 in March, Novell introduced a set of Linux certifications for administrators. Rather than being directed at higher-end Linux managers, like the Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) or Novell’s own Novell Linux Certified Engineer (NLCE), the new certifications are meant for entry-level Linux administrators, one step above the Linux Professional Institute’s entry-level LPIC-1.
The first of the SUSE Linux-based certifications is the Certified Linux Administrator (CLA). This, according to Jim Henderson, Novell’s global manager of instructor programs, in a blog posting, measures your Linux knowledge but not necessarily your skill at applying that knowledge.
Henderson says, “The CLA is a test designed to let the candidate demonstrate knowledge, not skills. The primary focus is to let people know that Linux isn’t hard — that’s a myth. It’s just different than what they may be used to (NetWare, Windows, Mac, etc.).”
he other certifications are more useful for actually getting a Linux job. The Novell Certified Linux Desktop Administrator (CLDA) also measures knowledge rather than hands-on skill, but it’s pointed straight at the growing field of Linux desktop administration.
The Novell Certified Administrator (NCA) is a high-level Linux version of the venerable Certified NetWare Administrator (CNA) certification. Like its ancestor, this certification focuses on administering network and server resources and services. In contrast to the CNA, the NCA, as Henderson says, “focuses on a wider range of products, but with fairly shallow knowledge in each (after all, it is a five-day course; how much depth can [students] get for four or five complex products in that time period?).” Like the others, this is a forms-based test rather than one that measures how well you’d do with a smoking server and 20 calls stacked up on the help desk.
The final new certification, the Novell Certified Engineer – Enterprise Services (NCE-ES — focuses on the Linux side of Novell Open Enterprise Server 2. Here, Henderson says, the focus is “on doing rather than on knowing.” As such, this certification is the one that’s most likely to prove helpful for someone looking for a high-end Linux administrator job.
May 30, 2008
by sjvn01
1 Comment
Wouldn’t it be nice if just for one day that the top brass of the technology companies would actually tell us the truth? Can you imagine what it would be like?
Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer: “Hey, I’m just a sales guy who’s in over my head. I know I deserve to be fired, but I’m a great number two. Want to buy a copy of Vista with a free upgrade coupon for Windows Seven?
May 30, 2008
by sjvn01
10 Comments
According to sources close to Dell, the Austin, Texas computer giant will be pre-installing Ubuntu 8.04 on its laptops and desktops starting in late June.
Dell, the first of the major OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) to support the consumer Linux desktop, is determined to keep its lead in full-featured PCs with pre-installed Linux. So, Dell will be releasing the Hardy Heron on all four of its current Ubuntu-powered models and quite possibly on its mysterious, un-released UMPC (Ultra-mobile PC) as well.
May 28, 2008
by sjvn01
17 Comments
Over the years, I’ve grown quite fond of KDE for my Linux desktops. To me, it offered the right combination of ease of use and access to Linux’s power-user resources. Now, though, one of the forthcoming changes in KDE 5.1 is already annoying me and it’s barely in beta.
Aaron Seigo, a major KDE developer, has decided that KDE will no longer use desktop icons.. Pardon me? One of the other things I liked about KDE, as opposed to GNOME, is that it let me have the desktop my way. GNOME has a very clear idea of what makes up the ideal desktop. It’s just not my ideal desktop. I really resent KDE ‘telling’ me what my desktop should be. If I wanted that kind of attitude, I’d be a GNOME user.
May 28, 2008
by sjvn01
2 Comments
On July 1st, Bill Gates will retire. He’ll still spend about 20% of his time on Microsoft projects. If Microsoft is to retain 20% of its economic clout in five years time, the company’s board should start working on firing CEO Steve Ballmer now.
Why? Because Ballmer has been in charge of Microsoft for the last several years and he’s been running it into the ground. Even before Gates announced that he was going to retire, Ballmer was already in charge and his record of failure speaks for itself.
1) The Vista Technology Flop. Technically, Vista was crap. You don’t have to believe people like me who think Vista, a year and a service patch since its release, is still an over-priced joke pretending to be an operating system. But, maybe you will believe Microsoft’s top-level executives when they say its trash.
Who was at the wheel of the good ship Microsoft during the tens of thousands of man-years and billions of dollars to create Vista? That would be CEO/captain Steve Ballmer.