Software

Cloud · 12-16-2007, 10:51 AM

What software do you use on a regular basis? What can you claim expertise in?

I use:

Windows stuff: Windows XP, (gotta start with the foundation); Outlook, IE, Excel (I still suck at it, but am getting better); Powerpoint, Word

Also: Wordperfect, PCLAW (billing software at work); Adobe reader, (but I wish it was Adobe Acrobat,); scanning and deposition viewing software; SmartDraw which I haven't fully figured out how to use yet; Sonic for burning cds

At home I have a bunch of photo software, none of which I use well at all. I use Mcafee at home for security; iTunes (if I could get my damn sound card thingy to work again); some miscellaneous stuff like Google Earth and Freemind

What am I missing?

I only claim real expertise on the word processing programs. How 'bout you?

Undertoad · 12-16-2007, 01:11 PM

I am currently working out whether to use Amanda or Bacula for our network backups.

I have completely migrated to KDE, for both desktop and laptop. I always install the latest Fedora, but I can see how others are attracted to Ubuntu. I'm thinking that newbies should maybe start with Ubuntu, and then use Fedora if they get more seriously into it. At work, Red Hat Enterprise is the way to go. (We are putting CentOS in, in many cases, in my workplace, but I think that is an error.)

I have gone through the ins and outs of yum to install and update all my software. It's still harder than it should be -- Windows Update works better in automated mode. But the luxury of having about 50,000 entirely free packages to choose to install is priceless.

mbpark · 12-16-2007, 06:44 PM

UT,

I take it the org doesn't have a budget for BRU, CommVault, or Veritas/Symantec NetBackup? I'd mention ArcServe, but you would laugh at me, and rightfully so.

Of the two you mentioned, I hear the most about Amanda.

CentOS = good when you don't want to drop $700 per socket on Red Hat.

Of the Linux distros out there, if you have to run in a mixed environment, SuSE is the way to go (they go out of their way to make it easy to integrate with Active Directory, as opposed to the mess of HOWTOs you have to work with, not to mention the AD schema changes you need to make to get integration working correctly).

Red Hat is what everyone's building against commercially (and I mean Oracle, Symantec/Veritas, QiNetix CommVault, Kaspersky, WebLogic, VMWare, and IBM - what I've run into at work

).

CentOS is a nice free Red Hat that works nearly 100% of the time. Fedora Core is nice, but it's not anything I'd deploy a production system on.

Ubuntu is the new desktop of choice for that PC that won't be connecting to a Active Directory, Kerberos, or NIS/NIS+ network.

Debian is still good for installing/running on damn near anything (I am running Debian on my Dell Optiplex 320 - which cannot run any other flavor of Linux without major tweaking. I figured since Ubuntu is based on Debian that I'd be able to get most of what I need working anyway). I'm running e17 on that, and that's one heck of a WM.

Cloud · 12-16-2007, 08:54 PM

urk! I don't know what any of that stuff is! Perhaps, then, I don't need it.

Undertoad · 12-16-2007, 08:59 PM

In five years it'll all make sense.

Cloud · 12-16-2007, 09:36 PM

Then perhaps I DO need it. Interesting.

Undertoad · 12-17-2007, 09:51 PM

I don't mean to come off as arrogant though! It's just striking how, when you say "what's your software expertise", our lists are totally different. My prediction is that larger businesses will start switching to Linux, because of its amazing advantages there.

Cloud · 12-17-2007, 11:19 PM

it is striking, but I'm just a small time user.

(takes puff)

Undertoad · 12-17-2007, 11:53 PM

I guess one question I would throw out, to narrow the subject down, is do you consider software to be fun?

Websites are fun; the Cellar is fun; games are fun; is "software" fun? Or is it something you just look to, to create a more professional document? Something you have to fight against, to get done what you need to get done?

tw · 12-17-2007, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

My prediction is that larger businesses will start switching to Linux, because of its amazing advantages there.

My prediction is that the next wave may be tidal - upset your prediction. However, lets take this one step farther. What is the next subversive innovation - a disruptive technology - that could completely change the IT industry as both Windows and the internet have done? Linux verses Windows, I suggest, is arguing over wagon wheels and bicycle tires. So what is coming?

Cloud · 12-18-2007, 12:33 AM

Well, I would put software into the category of a tool. I suppose . . . it could be fun. Very interesting perspective.

Is software fun for you? a toy? something to play with and derive pleasure from?

Certainly I wouldn't regard MS Office or anything like that in that category.

Drax · 12-18-2007, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cloud

Well, I would put software into the category of a tool.

What about computer games?

Cloud · 12-18-2007, 08:51 AM

what about them? UT already said, "games are fun." Okay, he said the Cellar is fun, but we can disregard that.

Perhaps I should have qualified, "most" software I look on as tools. But I don't play computer games.

Undertoad · 12-18-2007, 10:15 AM

The switch from Windows is absolutely subversive and disruptive.

The disruptive part is not which pretty shell you use to load and control programs. The disruptive part is the change in licensing.

smoothmoniker · 12-18-2007, 12:54 PM

I produce a largish podcast (about 15,000 downloads per episode) that kept getting bogged down with shared hosting. So, this summer, I decided to switch to a Virtual Private Server (check out slicehost.com, by the way. nothing but good things to say) running Debian. It was my first adventure into Linux, and I'm loving it. Since then, I've gained a working knowledge of:

WordPress
Apache
MySql
dovecot
postfix
bash shell scripting (love love love!)

At home and in the studio, it's all Mac and the time. I'm on Logic 8 and Protools for several hours each day.

12-16-2007, 10:51 AM	#1
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	Software What software do you use on a regular basis? What can you claim expertise in? I use: Windows stuff: Windows XP, (gotta start with the foundation); Outlook, IE, Excel (I still suck at it, but am getting better); Powerpoint, Word Also: Wordperfect, PCLAW (billing software at work); Adobe reader, (but I wish it was Adobe Acrobat,); scanning and deposition viewing software; SmartDraw which I haven't fully figured out how to use yet; Sonic for burning cds At home I have a bunch of photo software, none of which I use well at all. I use Mcafee at home for security; iTunes (if I could get my damn sound card thingy to work again); some miscellaneous stuff like Google Earth and Freemind What am I missing? I only claim real expertise on the word processing programs. How 'bout you? __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

12-16-2007, 06:44 PM	#3
mbpark Lecturer Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Carmel, Indiana Posts: 761	Veritas, CommVault, or some other commercial app? UT, I take it the org doesn't have a budget for BRU, CommVault, or Veritas/Symantec NetBackup? I'd mention ArcServe, but you would laugh at me, and rightfully so. Of the two you mentioned, I hear the most about Amanda. CentOS = good when you don't want to drop $700 per socket on Red Hat. Of the Linux distros out there, if you have to run in a mixed environment, SuSE is the way to go (they go out of their way to make it easy to integrate with Active Directory, as opposed to the mess of HOWTOs you have to work with, not to mention the AD schema changes you need to make to get integration working correctly). Red Hat is what everyone's building against commercially (and I mean Oracle, Symantec/Veritas, QiNetix CommVault, Kaspersky, WebLogic, VMWare, and IBM - what I've run into at work ). CentOS is a nice free Red Hat that works nearly 100% of the time. Fedora Core is nice, but it's not anything I'd deploy a production system on. Ubuntu is the new desktop of choice for that PC that won't be connecting to a Active Directory, Kerberos, or NIS/NIS+ network. Debian is still good for installing/running on damn near anything (I am running Debian on my Dell Optiplex 320 - which cannot run any other flavor of Linux without major tweaking. I figured since Ubuntu is based on Debian that I'd be able to get most of what I need working anyway). I'm running e17 on that, and that's one heck of a WM.

12-16-2007, 08:54 PM	#4
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	urk! I don't know what any of that stuff is! Perhaps, then, I don't need it. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

12-16-2007, 09:36 PM	#6
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	Then perhaps I DO need it. Interesting. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

12-17-2007, 11:19 PM	#8
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	it is striking, but I'm just a small time user. (takes puff) __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

12-16-2007, 01:11 PM	#2
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	I am currently working out whether to use Amanda or Bacula for our network backups. I have completely migrated to KDE, for both desktop and laptop. I always install the latest Fedora, but I can see how others are attracted to Ubuntu. I'm thinking that newbies should maybe start with Ubuntu, and then use Fedora if they get more seriously into it. At work, Red Hat Enterprise is the way to go. (We are putting CentOS in, in many cases, in my workplace, but I think that is an error.) I have gone through the ins and outs of yum to install and update all my software. It's still harder than it should be -- Windows Update works better in automated mode. But the luxury of having about 50,000 entirely free packages to choose to install is priceless.

12-16-2007, 08:59 PM	#5
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	In five years it'll all make sense.

12-17-2007, 09:51 PM	#7
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	I don't mean to come off as arrogant though! It's just striking how, when you say "what's your software expertise", our lists are totally different. My prediction is that larger businesses will start switching to Linux, because of its amazing advantages there.

12-17-2007, 11:53 PM	#9
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	I guess one question I would throw out, to narrow the subject down, is do you consider software to be fun? Websites are fun; the Cellar is fun; games are fun; is "software" fun? Or is it something you just look to, to create a more professional document? Something you have to fight against, to get done what you need to get done?

12-18-2007, 12:33 AM	#11
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	Well, I would put software into the category of a tool. I suppose . . . it could be fun. Very interesting perspective. Is software fun for you? a toy? something to play with and derive pleasure from? Certainly I wouldn't regard MS Office or anything like that in that category. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

12-18-2007, 08:51 AM	#13
Cloud ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 8,360	what about them? UT already said, "games are fun." Okay, he said the Cellar is fun, but we can disregard that. Perhaps I should have qualified, "most" software I look on as tools. But I don't play computer games. __________________ "Guard your honor. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards!"

12-18-2007, 10:15 AM	#14
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	The switch from Windows is absolutely subversive and disruptive. The disruptive part is not which pretty shell you use to load and control programs. The disruptive part is the change in licensing.

12-18-2007, 12:54 PM	#15
smoothmoniker to live and die in LA Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,090	I produce a largish podcast (about 15,000 downloads per episode) that kept getting bogged down with shared hosting. So, this summer, I decided to switch to a Virtual Private Server (check out slicehost.com, by the way. nothing but good things to say) running Debian. It was my first adventure into Linux, and I'm loving it. Since then, I've gained a working knowledge of: WordPress Apache MySql dovecot postfix bash shell scripting (love love love!) At home and in the studio, it's all Mac and the time. I'm on Logic 8 and Protools for several hours each day. __________________ to live and die in LA

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