SoftwareWars: Difference between revisions

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= Overview =
= Translation =
Here is a test document to time how long it will take to translate:
[[Image:TranslationTest2.odt]]


== First Sentences ==
These are the languages that are lined up for translation right now:
Given the technology that's already available, we should have cars that drive us around, in absolute safety, while we lounge in the back and sip champagne. All we need is a video camera on the roof, plugged into a PC, right? We have all the necessary hardware, and have had it for years, but don't yet have robot-driven cars because we don't have the software. This book explains how we can build better software and all get our own high-tech chauffeur.
Chinese, Italian, French, German, & Spanish


The key to faster technological progress is the more widespread use of free software. Free versus proprietary (or non-free) software is similar to the divide between science and alchemy. Before science, there was alchemy, where people guarded their ideas because they wanted to corner the market on the means to convert lead into gold. The downside of this “strategy” is that everyone would have to learn for themselves that drinking mercury is a bad idea. The end of the Dark Ages arrived when man started to share advancements in math and science for others to use and improve upon. In fact, one way to look at history is to divide it between periods of progress and stagnation.
If you are interested in translating into another language, especially if you have contacts with a publishing house, please contact me. I would be happy to share the profits!


Computers are an advancement whose importance is comparable to the invention of the wheel or movable type. While computers and the Internet have already changed many aspects of our lives, we still live in the dark ages of computing because proprietary software is still the dominant model. One might say that the richest alchemist who ever lived is my former boss, Bill Gates. (Oracle founder Larry Ellison, and Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page are close behind.)
= Overview =


= Discussion =


= Translation =
Here is a test document to time how long it will take to translate, and give an idea of some wording: [[Image:TranslationTest2.odt]]


These are the languages that are lined up for translation right now:
French, Spanish, Mandarin, Russian
== Trying Linux ==
== Trying Linux ==
There are several ways to go about this:
There are several ways to go about this:
* Boot to a Linux "Live CD" which runs Linux off the CD-ROM. It takes a while to load code the first time, but it runs at full speed once it is in memory. However, booting to a CD-ROM is a hassle, so I don't recommend it.
=== Boot to a Linux "Live CD" which runs Linux off the CD-ROM. ===
* Inside a virtual machine
: http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download
: This downloads an ISO file. If you need an ISO burner, try this: http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm
: Burn the ISO file to a CD, and then boot your computer from your CD and see what happens!
: It will take 10-15 minutes to boot, so be patient, but you can play with it and see how it handles your hardware, etc.
: This is a great way to get your feet wet, but I recommend you setup dual boot, or just backup your data and start using Linux full-time! You won't go back!
 
=== Inside a virtual machine ===
: Install VirtualBox binaries [http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads]
: Install VirtualBox binaries [http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads]
: Download Ubuntu "Alternate" CD ISO file. (It is a text mode installer which is faster and more reliable and more powerful) I386: [http://releases.ubuntu.com/8.04.1/ubuntu-8.04.1-alternate-i386.iso], AMD64: [http://releases.ubuntu.com/8.04.1/ubuntu-8.04.1-alternate-amd64.iso]
: Download Ubuntu [http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download]
: Create a Virtual Machine inside VirtualBox (1 gig RAM, 10 Gig partition is plenty. Allocating all space up front is faster because if your virtual partition gets fragmented, it will run very slowly.)
: Create a Virtual Machine inside VirtualBox (1 gig RAM, 10 Gig partition is plenty. Allocating all space up front is faster because if your virtual partition gets fragmented, it will run slowly.)
: Mount the ISO file to the virtual machine
: Mount the ISO file to the virtual machine
: Boot Virtual machine.
: Boot Virtual machine.
: Go through setup process
: Go through setup process


* Dual boot
===  Dual boot ===
: If you have at least 10 gigs free on a hard drive, you can resize your partition, install Ubuntu, and have it setup dual boot. On startup, it will ask you if you want to run Windows or Linux.


* Wipe the disk!
=== Wipe the disk! ===
: I used to dual boot, but I never run Windows anymore because I have no need -- and Linux is already much better than when I first started using it.
 
= Discussion =
I thought about setting up some discussion mechanisms, but I don't know if there is enough interest so I didn't bother. If you have ideas on what else I should put on this page, please contact me.

Latest revision as of 19:03, 5 April 2010

Translation

Here is a test document to time how long it will take to translate: File:TranslationTest2.odt

These are the languages that are lined up for translation right now: Chinese, Italian, French, German, & Spanish

If you are interested in translating into another language, especially if you have contacts with a publishing house, please contact me. I would be happy to share the profits!

Overview

Trying Linux

There are several ways to go about this:

Boot to a Linux "Live CD" which runs Linux off the CD-ROM.

http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download
This downloads an ISO file. If you need an ISO burner, try this: http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm
Burn the ISO file to a CD, and then boot your computer from your CD and see what happens!
It will take 10-15 minutes to boot, so be patient, but you can play with it and see how it handles your hardware, etc.
This is a great way to get your feet wet, but I recommend you setup dual boot, or just backup your data and start using Linux full-time! You won't go back!

Inside a virtual machine

Install VirtualBox binaries [1]
Download Ubuntu [2]
Create a Virtual Machine inside VirtualBox (1 gig RAM, 10 Gig partition is plenty. Allocating all space up front is faster because if your virtual partition gets fragmented, it will run slowly.)
Mount the ISO file to the virtual machine
Boot Virtual machine.
Go through setup process

Dual boot

If you have at least 10 gigs free on a hard drive, you can resize your partition, install Ubuntu, and have it setup dual boot. On startup, it will ask you if you want to run Windows or Linux.

Wipe the disk!

I used to dual boot, but I never run Windows anymore because I have no need -- and Linux is already much better than when I first started using it.

Discussion

I thought about setting up some discussion mechanisms, but I don't know if there is enough interest so I didn't bother. If you have ideas on what else I should put on this page, please contact me.

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