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Re: [Alug] The future of *nix - opinions sought
by MJ Ray 28 Oct '00

28 Oct '00

David Cartwright <dsc(a)cube8.com> writes: > Are Microsoft really catching up? Are Sun and HP losing out to > Linux? Well, Linux is catching up with MS in terms of market share, while it seems that MS is catching up in terms of stability and "gee wow" UI frippery (from what I see on my neighbour's Win2k desktop). I'm still healthily doubtful about Windows being able to work on two architectures equally well, as we all remember what a success NT on Alpha has been, right? Sun and HP probably are losing the low-end to Linux. How far that goes depends what tactics Sun and HP adopt to block it (as this nearly always results in shooting oneself in the foot) or adopt it (which sometimes helps, sometimes hinders). > Will Linux be big on the desktop? Whatever happened to SGI? Well, as you know, where I'm working already has Unix on the desktop and a growing proportion of them are Linux now, because it's cheaper to roll out than Solaris (even though the Solaris OS has no purchase cost to us either) and there's more documentation and assistance out there for it. SGI appear to be confused. > Should we all forget commercial *nixes, or do the Suns and HPs of > this world still have plenty of marketplace alongside those of us > with Linux on our laptops? Wait and see what happens on SMP, clustering, etc. Some of the pure mathematicians are already a lot happier running their software on Linux rather than the Suns, as they can add more power more cheaply(sp?) to commodity x86 hardware. > Dave Cartwright > (yes, the ex-UEA/SYS one for those who remember) Applying for any upcoming UEA vacancies? ;-) MJR (yes, the current UEA/MTH one)

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[Alasdair Kergon <agk@ukuug.org>] Vinton Cerf - London, Fri 3rd Nov, 6.30pm (UKUUG/ISOC)
by MJ Ray 27 Oct '00

27 Oct '00

Date: Thu, 26 Oct 2000 20:39:48 +0100 From: Alasdair Kergon <agk(a)ukuug.org> Subject: [lugmaster] Vinton Cerf - London, Fri 3rd Nov, 6.30pm (UKUUG/ISOC) The UKUUG is pleased to announce another free evening meeting in the very successful 1999/2000 series that has included well-known speakers such as Richard Stallman, Eric Raymond, and recently James Gosling. Date: Friday 3rd November 2000 Times: 6.30 p.m. - 8.00 p.m. Speaker: Vinton G. Cerf Sr. Vice President for Internet Architecture and Technology MCI WorldCom Widely known as a "Father of the Internet," Cerf is the co-designer of the TCP/IP protocols and the architecture of the Internet. In December 1997, President Clinton presented the U.S. National Medal of Technology to Cerf and his partner, Robert E. Kahn, for founding and developing the Internet. Title: The 21st Century Internet Tidal Wave The talk opens with a brief bit of history and philosophy related to the Internet, then discusses the current status and scale of the Internet, where its services are available, and then goes on to explore applications of the network, especially the newer ones in addition to email, world wide web, and remote interaction. The talk finishes up with a look at expansion of the Internet beyond planet Earth. The talk will be followed by a question and answer session. Vinton Cerf has been hailed as the father of the Internet. He co-created TCP/IP 24 years ago and broke down policy barriers, a feat that turned the government-based network into a revolutionary commercial medium. Throughout his entire career, the 55-year-old Cerf has taken his love of science fiction, his knowledge of computer science and his sensitivity toward humanity and melded these qualities to vastly improve the way the entire world communicates and gathers knowledge. The Internet has become the fastest-growing communications network, touched by everyone from techies at NASA to schoolchildren in rural America. Venue: Cruciform Building Lecture Theatre 1 (Red Building - opposite UCL's main gate) University College London Gower Street London WC1 This event is open to all - free of charge; advance booking is not required. For further details (Vint Cerf's full biography and related URLs) please visit the UKUUG website: http://www.ukuug.org/events/cerf -- UKUUG Administration -------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.lug.org.uk http://www.linuxportal.co.uk --------------------------------------------------------------------

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The future of *nix - opinions sought
by David Cartwright 26 Oct '00

26 Oct '00

Hi all, I'm writing about what's next for *nix for the weekly trade paper Network News. The specific brief goes like: "We would be looking at what the Unix world is doing now that Microsoft and Intel are beginning to catch up with IA64 as well as any moves in the market - ie what flavours will survive, and what won't". Are Microsoft really catching up? Are Sun and HP losing out to Linux? Will Linux be big on the desktop? Whatever happened to SGI? Should we all forget commercial *nixes, or do the Suns and HPs of this world still have plenty of marketplace alongside those of us with Linux on our laptops? I'd be very interested in the group's assorted thoughts about the general future for *nix. Cheers, Dave Cartwright (yes, the ex-UEA/SYS one for those who remember)

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Re: [Alug] Printing oddities
by MJ Ray 25 Oct '00

25 Oct '00

Raphael Mankin <raph(a)panache.demon.co.uk> writes: > Some of the time servers I use are a bit flakey. It's not easy finding a good > set :-( dir.mcc.ac.uk is the most common one used by UK University sites, I believe. There is a list of time servers online somewhere (search google for ntp primary), but the nearest official one is Norway at the moment, I believe. MJR

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Printing oddities
by MJ Ray 25 Oct '00

25 Oct '00

Hi, I'm having trouble recently with the tops being chopped off of my printouts, using a usual lpr+ghostscript setup. From talking to a few people, this isn't a rare problem, but does anyone have a solution? Thanks, MJR

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Re: [Alug] Rooms and Website // was Re: Free Hardware Foundation
by MJ Ray 24 Oct '00

24 Oct '00

Martyn Drake <martyn(a)alug.org.uk> writes: > I'm arranging for a redirect for http://www.anglian.lug.org.uk to > temporarily point to the FreeZope hosting site, and then when everything > has been uploaded to my server, I will update DNS as necessary. FYI, it already frame-bounces there. Mail me off-list to co-ordinate the transfer? MJR

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Rooms and Website // was Re: Free Hardware Foundation
by MJ Ray 24 Oct '00

24 Oct '00

"Adrian F. Clark" <alien(a)essex.ac.uk> writes: > How about a meeting here at the University of Essex? I could > undoubtedly book a room 'n' things. Pick a date, any date... it's only John that'll get obstructed, as I've done nothing on the UEA date yet. If you two can pick two of the next three months, I'll get the other at UEA (Christmas permitting). As people seem to want talks to kick meetings off, what shall we have talks on? Finally, we now have a more up-to-date website, but it's sadly missing much of what ought to be there and some design work would probably not go amiss. The initial call for editors is on the site, but I could also do with setting some topics and having little graphics for them. Hackneyed, of course, but would help to break the page up a bit. Once we're sorted out for the next few meetings, I'll post the dates (and topics) to the site and ngs. Feel free to send them on to any interested parties. MJR

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Re: [Alug] Free Hardware Foundation
by MJ Ray 24 Oct '00

24 Oct '00

Mills <planet14(a)boyznow.net> writes: > If there is another meeting in Norwich/UEA I will probably be there. I think November/December may be at UEA. Not really got that far ahead yet, but I suspect Syleham may get a bit less fun to get to in the depths of winter? I'd love to go to a Cambridgeshire or Essex venue, if anyone there can host a meeting... > If there is a Free Software Foundation (FSF) why is there no Free > Hardware Foundation (FHF). FHF could have open source chip designs, > that could be loaded on to FPGAs. Image free modem, cpus etc.. You > could get the latest bug-fix, speed improvement, feature etc. There are several related projects underway, I think. None have reached completion (and given how much has to be put in to chip design, perhaps they won't for some time yet). Try looking at http://f-cpu.tux.org/ for example. MJR

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Re: [Alug] Printing oddities
by MJ Ray 24 Oct '00

24 Oct '00

Raphael Mankin <raph(a)panache.demon.co.uk> writes: > Sounds as if you ahge the wrong paper size configured Edited /usr/share/ghostscript/5.10/gs_init.ps to use a4 which seems to have cured it. I wonder what changed that then :/ Thanks... I didn't realise US Letter showed itself by chopping the top off (I'm more used to it chopping the bottom, as someone else said). MJR

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Free Hardware Foundation
by Mills 24 Oct '00

24 Oct '00

Hello ALUG, If there is another meeting in Norwich/UEA I will probably be there. If there is a Free Software Foundation (FSF) why is there no Free Hardware Foundation (FHF). FHF could have open source chip designs, that could be loaded on to FPGAs. Image free modem, cpus etc.. You could get the latest bug-fix, speed improvement, feature etc. Yours Tarquin Mills

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