June 5, 2007 - Reading time: 20 minutes

The following tutorial is intended for those with some knowledge of Linux and the command line. At the least, you should be comfortable with creating and navigating directories, and should possess a fundamental knowledge of hardware device names under Linux.

Sound scary? A “point-and-click” guide to accomplishing most of the same tasks is also available.

The Problem

Like it or not, Windows needs to be reinstalled occasionally. Whether the cause is a bloated registry, a virus/spyware attack, or an idiotic user, with time Windows just seems to slow down and/or behave erratically.

Re-installing Windows from scratch is a pain. Once you get the base system installed, most people have to download millions of updates and patches, scour the web in search of the latest drivers, and reboot, reboot, reboot. Read more

May 29, 2007 - Reading time: 20 minutes

Let’s face it: Windows comes pretty barren by default. Thankfully, there is a plethora of freeware applications available to complement it. The following is a list of choice productive applications that I typically install on my own systems. This is similar to my now-obsolete list for Mac OS X.

Before I begin, allow me to say that creating any list of top freeware applications for Windows is bound to invoke the wrath of certain individuals. There are two reasons for this:

1. There are A LOT of freeware applications for Windows, of varying quality.
2. It is impossible to please everyone.

That said, it is only with trembling, fear, and trepidation that I post this list. 🙂 Read more

May 12, 2007 - Reading time: 19 minutes

BLAG: Linux Without Boundaries?

If you happen to visit the BLAG Linux homepage, one of the first words your eyes will read is “overthrow.” Specifically:

[blag] works to overthrow corporate control of information and technology through community action and spreading Free Software.

Interesting. I’ve tried a lot of Linux distros, but this is the first one whose “anarchistic” intentions are so boldly stated. Alright, perhaps referring to BLAG as “anarchistic” is excessive, so let’s focus on the facts.

What is BLAG?

Made by the Brixton Linux Action Group (hence the name), BLAG is a Linux distro, and not a very popular one at that. It is currently ranked number 79 at Distrowatch, using the “6-month” time-span. More specifically, BLAG is a one-CD distro based on Fedora. The latest version (“60001” – as of this writing) is based on Fedora Core 6. Included on its one CD are numerous applications that a desktop user would “expect” to have. Read more

May 5, 2007 - Reading time: 3 minutes

I use OpenOffice a lot (NeoOffice on Mac OS X). In fact, I write all of my graduate papers with it instead of a certain, more ubiquitous program. However, it seems that while putting the final touches on each essay, I have to re-learn how to hide the page number for the first page. So, I decided to do a quick write-up, mainly so that I can refer to it if I forget again! 🙂

The Problem

You create a “footer” and add a “page number” insert. Everything looks great, except that you see a big, fat “1” at the bottom of your first page. I prefer to leave the number off the first page and have it start with “2” on the second page.

The Solution

Fixing this problem is rather easy, but not very intuitive. To do so, first be sure that your cursor in somewhere within the first page. Next, go to the Format menu and select Styles and Formatting (F11 if you are on a PC). You should now see the “Styles and Formatting” window. Read more

March 4, 2007 - Reading time: 8 minutes

To continue my foray into the world of free on-line storage, today I will take a look at the Mozy on-line backup service.

First of all, what is Mozy and how is it different from other on-line storage services? Like its competitors, Mozy allows for the backing up of one’s data on their servers. Think of it as an external hard drive for your computer that resides off-site. I am a fan of off-site storage because I know that my data is safely stored even if a bomb falls on my house.

Mozy differentiates itself in that it is not a stand-alone service like Box.com or DropBoks. Rather, it requires that you download a small software package and install it on your Windows-based computer (update: Mac OS X is now supported as well). If you use Windows exclusively then this is a boon; if you hop around between multiple operating system then this will be a drawback. I’m still hoping for a Linux client, but I’m not holding my breath. Read more

February 25, 2007 - Reading time: 3 minutes

UPDATE: Dropboks is now dead. Kaput. Pushing up digital daisies.

One of the largest complaints I have about on-line storage services is that most of their interfaces are cluttered and confusing. Of these, XDrive is among the worst offenders, but is certainly not alone. On the other hand, one of the slickest interfaces I have seen is the service provided by Box.com. This is currently my favorite service, but while I easily understand the interface, I still had difficulty teaching one of my non-computer-savvy friends how to use it.

For sheer simplicity, the free on-line service offered by DropBoks is hard to beat. Simply create an account, and then you get one gigabyte of free storage complete with a 50 MB file size limit. This bests Box.com’s upload limitation of 10 megabytes. Read more