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Weekly IRC reminder
by Brett Parker 01 Aug '05

01 Aug '05

This is the automated ALUG IRC meeting reminder sent to remind you that there is an IRC meeting tonight (Monday) at 8.00pm. The meeting takes place on the irc server irc.alug.org.uk in the #alug channel. Most IRC clients should allow you to get there with the commands "/server irc.alug.org.uk" and "/join #alug". Popular IRC clients include tkirc, bitchx, xchat and EPIC on Unix, and Mirc under windows. Here are some links to help you get started with irc. Unix http://www.xchat.org/ http://freshmeat.net/ http://www.epicsol.org/ Windows http://www.mirc.com (loads of help with irc for newbies!)

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Advance needed on DVD rewriters and buying components online
by Ashley T. Howes, Ph.D. 30 Jul '05

30 Jul '05

I have questions on two areas. The first is a recommendation for a good producer of DVD Rewriters. Most seem to support all the formats including dual layer. I'm planning to use only DVD+RW really. By good, I mean regular firmware and driver updates, excellent build quality and reliability. Normal stuff really :) At present, I am looking at either Sony or Plextor. Do you agree? I had bad experiences with Philips (the unit died after 1 week) and the usual OEM unbranded poop. The second item is a recommendation for a good online source of components. You know, a company with a real returns policy and good support :) All of my local companies in Norwich, even Anglian Internet, have annoyed me to the point where I don't want to do business with them any more. AI used to be good, but my last two visits to their shop left a bad taste in my mouth after they tried repeatedly to suggest and almost force me to buy overpriced options instead of what I really wanted. -- Ashley T. Howes, Ph.D. http://www.ashleyhowes.com "May your spirit be renewed in earth's solitary places." - Native American Indian Blessing

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Live CD's
by John Seago 30 Jul '05

30 Jul '05

Someone has asked for my help in trying out Linux via Live CD's, Knoppix seems obvious, as does Ubuntu. I also thought I might include a couple of the Slackware based Live CD's, does anyone have any other suggestions? -- John Seago GNU/Linux User #219566 http://counter.li.org AFFS http://www.affs.org.uk/

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100BaseT PCMCIA cards
by Ted.Harding＠nessie.mcc.ac.uk 30 Jul '05

30 Jul '05

Another Q (on topic this time ... ) Do people have good suggestions for 100BaseT PCMCIA ethernet adapter cards (wired, not wireless) that work well on Linux (and, hopefully these days, don't cost much)? Thanks again! Ted. -------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding(a)nessie.mcc.ac.uk> Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861 Date: 29-Jul-05 Time: 15:20:43 ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------

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[OT] How does online purchase work?
by Ted.Harding＠nessie.mcc.ac.uk 30 Jul '05

30 Jul '05

Hi Folks, I'm wondering about the mechanism underlying say on-line purchase. Superficially, it seems you tell someone your card number, and they then somehow communicate with your bank and get money out of your account without further intervention by you. If that's all that's needed, then anyone who knew your card number could do the same. So does anyone know what the underlying mechanism is which authorises the bank to hand out the money when asked by someone who knows your card number? I suppose a similar question arises when someone knows your bank's sort code and your account number (as when you authorise a direct debit or standing order). Though I suppose, in that case, there's a piece of paper signed by you which ends up at your bank. But would it be possible in the absence of a signed authorisation? (I think I've actually done this when paying a bill on-line, though my memory is now not sure of the details). Somewhat curious ... Best wishes to all, Ted. -------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding(a)nessie.mcc.ac.uk> Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861 Date: 29-Jul-05 Time: 15:11:49 ------------------------------ XFMail ------------------------------

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RE:How does online purchase work?
by tom potts 30 Jul '05

30 Jul '05

For security reasons most online purchasers normally proxy through a merchant bank or similar service- ie their web site never takes the card details. The reques is handed over to the proxy site which takes the card details and amount to be deducted and does a few checks. If the sum to pay is less that a certain amount (£50 or so but depends on the card and arrangements) that the card has sort of agreement to pay out that sum. If its more that that then a credit check will be run and refused if insufficient credit on the card. Once the payment is 'agreed' normally the transaction is handed back to the vendor web site with a transaction ID. The money is not removed from the card at this point! In theory once the product is delivered the vendor company then the vendor can go to the proxy and get the money transfered using the transaction ID. Not many companies seem to wait till delivery to collect the money and of course you can rack up lots of agreed transactions before the money is removed from your account so the vendor is not guaranteed payment. Theres a lot more but I can here the delete keys going.... ___________________________________________________________ To help you stay safe and secure online, we've developed the all new Yahoo! Security Centre. http://uk.security.yahoo.com

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USB
by Bob Dove 29 Jul '05

29 Jul '05

Hi All, MMMN, with Suse 9.3 my Fuji camera does not appear with supplied USB cable (mini USB camera normal 'tother end) period! Neither does my Canon 8000f scanner. Neither Fuji nor Canon answered queries re drivers for Linux/Unix, in fact Canon has never answered any query at all ever! My Epson printer - Suse showed me a list of Epson printers - lot's except mine. However one of the (unknown to me) generic drivers seems to work OK at least for printing from Open Office. Cheers, BD.

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Fw: Press Release: OPEN SOURCE CREATIVITY IN BRISTOL
by Joe Button 28 Jul '05

28 Jul '05

Forwarding from the FAVE Mailing list: (27/7/2005, Bristol, England) FAVE is a new event for people who are interested in free and open source creative software on Linux and other computer platforms. It's taking place on Saturday August 20th 2005 at the Trinity Community & Arts Centre in Bristol, UK. Everyone is welcome, even if they have never used this kind of software before. Doors open at 10am and the event gets underway at 11am. Music will continue into the evening, and the whole event costs just £5 to get in. This is no dry, dull conference! It will be an accessible festival of fun with performances, presentations and workshops. Topics will include music production, recording and do-it-yourself film making. There will be sessions covering community media, streaming content servers, tangible interfaces, digital TV regulation and Creative Commons licensing. Networking, internet access and media streaming will be provided by Bristol Wireless. Speakers at FAVE 2005 include: James Wallbank - Art for all at Access Space Tom Chance - Remix Reading and the Creative Commons John Ffitch - An introduction to Csound Michael Sparks (BBC Research & Development) - Streaming with Kamaelia Richard Bown (Fervent Software) - The Rosegarden sequencer and Studio To Go! Chris O'Shea - Sonicforms - a tangible interfaces project Plugincinema.com - The internet, technology & Open Source film-making RachelAPP - Recording music with Ardour, Hydrogen and Jamin Cory Doctorow (Electronic Frontier Foundation) - Europe's coming Broadcast Flag Performers using Linux and other free software will include: Matt Gray Dave Griffiths (Pattern Cascade) RachelAPP Martin Howse and Jonathan Kemp (ap) Jonny Stutters (Jeremah) Andy Preston (Edge Effect) For full details of the line-up, see the FAVE website at: http://www.fave.org.uk/ HELPING OUT If you would like to take part in this event, the first of its kind in the UK, please see the website for details of the FAVE mailing list and IRC channel. This is a community event, and it relies on volunteers to make it a success. GETTING TO FAVE The Trinity Centre is in the centre of Bristol, not far from the mainline railway station at Temple Meads or Lawrence Hill station. It is a large former church near the corner of the A420 Clarence Road and Trinity Road. NOTES TO EDITORS For follow-up information, please contact Daniel James (daniel at linuxaudio.org) phone: +44 (0)1983 755976 or Tim Hall (tech at glastonburymusic.org.uk). Press interviews and images for publication are also available - just ask. **ends** _______________________________________________ 3avc mailing list 3avc(a)lists.serverone.co.uk http://lists.serverone.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/3avc

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Re: Thinkpad and Linux ?? (Rob Grant)
by Robert Grant (DEV) 27 Jul '05

27 Jul '05

Barry Samuels wrote: > I am hoping to get an IBM Thinkpad R51 from the insurance as it's > about equivalent to the Dell. I understand that Thinkpads are pretty > compatible with Linux and wondered if any of you have experience of > this particular model? Barry- if it is any encouragement to you, I've managed to get a dual-boot of Debian/XP working fairly well on my Thinkpad T22 and I represent very much the tail end of the technical distribution in this group. Two essential resources are http://www.linux-laptop.net/: they have several pages specific to the R51. This site was what helped me get my X-config files sorted out eventually. Then for your internal modem there is http://www.linmodems.org/- a very friendly place from where I found the right driver to download and get dial-up working. Good luck and enjoy! Rob Rob Grant Tutor in Economics School of Development Studies University of East Anglia NR4 7TJ +44(0)1603592324 r.grant(a)uea.ac.uk

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Cut and paste accented characters between GUI apps and text mode apps
by Chris Green 27 Jul '05

27 Jul '05

This is a very minor hassle but it annoys me every now and then. If I cut and paste text with accented characters between (for example) Firefox and a text mode application running in a terminal window the accented characters don't copy correctly. The usual effect is that something like an e with an acute accent will become an e followed by a '. I'm pretty sure I have my terminals set up right for international characters now as text mode applications and utilities seem to play happily together and usenet postings and E-Mail with accented characters get posted correctly. So what is Firefox doing different from the rest of my applications? Or is it something to do with X and its cut/paste? -- Chris Green (chris(a)areti.co.uk) "Never ascribe to malice that which can be explained by incompetence."

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