Following The Freedom

By +Robert Pogson

One of the beauties of GNU/Linux is the freedom to change things. A couple of years ago, I converted most of the PCs in my home to GNU/Linux but another family member converted some to Ubuntu GNU/Linux while I used Debian GNU/Linux. At first there wasn't much difference in the user-interface so we got along well enough. Mostly the Ubuntu GNU/Linux systems just ran a browser or a multimedia application so users were interacting with that rather than the OS. Lately, Canonical has been "innovating" a little more than I like and recent versions are a jarring experience for the user of Debian GNU/Linux or that other OS:

• sluggish, jerky performance,
• slow updates,
• windowing widgets in top-left instead of top-right...,
• various problems with audio and video

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The Awesome Power Of GNU/Linux

By Robert Pogson

Modern computing hardware is awesome. GNU/Linux allows you to have it all. Unlike other operating systems which charge extra for the privilege of using your hardware to its fullest capability, GNU/Linux lets you do everything from Day One for $0, no extra charge, nada...

To focus your mind, consider networking your PCs. Lots of people and organizations have a bunch. They are on a network so you can use them all any way you want, right? Who owns the hardware after all? Look at M$'s EULA:

"The software is not licensed to be used as server software or for commercial hosting ­ for example, you may not make the software available for simultaneous use by multiple users over a network."

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Software To Love

By Robert Pogson

Some software you just have to love. It works well. It's easy to learn. The price is right. You can share it with others and not have to fear a knock at the door. It's Free Software. Love starts with the terms of the licence:

• OK to run the software,
• OK to examine the code,
• OK to modify the code, and
• OK to distribute the code modified or not under the same terms.

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The GNU/Linux "Desktop"

Wildebeast or Gnu (Photo credit: jomilo75)

By: Robert Pogson

Personal computers and the software that runs them has evolved greatly over the years. In the process, motherboards (the guts of the computer) have become smaller and more functional as the number of transistors in a chip has risen from thousand to hundreds of millions and clock speeds have increased thousands of times. In the process, software has changed from simple monitors controlled by serial links to complex operating systems with hundreds of processes running and GUIs (Graphical User-Interfaces). For many years the GUI has followed the "desktop" paradigm, a virtual space where "documents" and images and multi-media "files" lay about or were placed in "folders" and a user pointed and clicked to start processes, usually starting a new application or a new process (usually seen by the user in a window). There are many personal computers these days leaving the "desktop" paradigm for a new style or out of necessity, being on tiny screens like smartphones. There just isn't enough space on the tiny screen for much of anything to point and click and fingers are fumbly pointing devices anyway.

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Robert Pogson Joins Linux Advocates Contributors

Written by: Dietrich Schmitz 

Robert Pogson,
Linux Advocate Contributor

Katherine Noyes and I are very pleased to announce Robert Pogson has joined Linux Advocates and will be an ongoing 'contributor' of stories.

He will set his own pace and come and go as he pleases.

Please welcome our newest Contributor!  --Dietrich

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• Introducing Linux Advocates (linuxadvocates.com)
• The PC in a Post-PC World (linuxadvocates.com)
• Linux: What it means (linuxadvocates.com)

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Guest Writer Robert Pogson on Deck

As part of a regular weekly series, Katherine and I will be having Guest Writer appearances on Linux Advocates.

Robert Pogson, Technology Analyst

We are pleased to announce that +Robert Pogson, Technology Analyst, has kindly and graciously accepted an invitation to write and will be making a 'Guest Writer' appearance this coming week.

Robert offers up this short bio about himself:

"Robert Pogson is an old man in his sixth career, retirement. That leaves time for writing about GNU/Linux in his spare time between gardening, hunting, grandfathering, and walking around.

GNU/Linux found him in the Arctic of Canada trying to keep five PCs running for one class at a time in his classroom. That other OS did not work. GNU/Linux did. Since then he has introduced thousands of students and teachers to GNU/Linux and they have enjoyed increased reliability and performance for very little cost.

He has learned about Free Software and sharing. That's the right way to do IT and he doesn't miss an opportunity to tell everyone about it."

Robert Pogson is a regular commentator on +Katherine Noyes' LinuxInsider Linux Blog Safari column.  He also maintains his own blog website providing regular insightful stories covering all manner of  Information Technology related trending topics.

On behalf of Katherine Noyes, myself, and staff, I would like to extend a special thank you to Robert for donating his time to Linux Advocates.  --Dietrich

Related articles

• Guest Writer Matt Asay on Deck (linuxadvocates.com)
• Guest Writer Bruce Byfield on Deck (linuxadvocates.com)
• Guest Writer Aaron Seigo on Deck (linuxadvocates.com)

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