[mdlug] Fwd: President's mail bag - Store to offer Linuxpreinstalled
Morris, Tim
tmorris at ugs.com
Mon Jun 4 09:27:12 EDT 2007
Are these computers available online? I'd like to check them out, but I
doubt I'll get out that way anytime soon. From the original post, I
don't think so :(
-- Tim Morris - UGS PLM Software
________________________________
From: mdlug-bounces at mdlug.org [mailto:mdlug-bounces at mdlug.org] On Behalf
Of God of Lemmings
Sent: Friday, June 01, 2007 2:57 PM
To: mdlug at mdlug.org
Subject: [mdlug] Fwd: President's mail bag - Store to offer
Linuxpreinstalled
Note about the current nvidia video drivers: The newer ones have a
memory leak that nvidia has been
working on for a few months already, it appears when compositing is
enabled, and such compositing
is required for Compiz and Beryl. You may wish to read about it at
nvidia:s forums.
Begin forwarded message:
From: ebradley01 at wowway.com
Date: June 1, 2007 1:10:40 PM EST
To: mdlug at mdlug.org
Subject: Re: [mdlug] President's mail bag - Store to offer Linux
preinstalled
Reply-To: "MDLUG's Main discussion list" <mdlug at mdlug.org>
<snip>
We are also considering offering preloaded laptops. Currently
I have an Ubuntu 7.04 system decked out with the full
Compiz/Beryl 3D
desktop. The reaction to it has been overwhelmingly positive. It
is
helping to show that Linux is ready for home use.
The Sytem Specs are:
AMD Athlon 64 3200+
1 GB DDR2 Memory
80 GB SATA2 Hard Drive
18X Dual Layer DVD Burner
MSI Nvidia 7300GT PCIe Card
We are selling the system for $399.
</snip>
This seems like a really good deal to me...at least, when taken
at face-value.
Anything other than the above specs that should be considered
when pricing a
laptop for general usage purposes? (Internet, email, multimedia
playback, no
games...)
Just looking to get everyone's opinion...
Evan
--
"The road of life is rocky, and you may stumble too. So while
you point your
finger; someone else is judging you." --Bob Marley
---------- Original Message -----------
From: mdlug-request at mdlug.org
To: mdlug at mdlug.org
Sent: Fri, 01 Jun 2007 12:00:01 -0400
Subject: mdlug Digest, Vol 10, Issue 1
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Today's Topics:
1. Converting DVDs to play on a Palm (Ingles, Raymond)
2. President's mail bag - Store to offer Linux
preinstalled
(Raymond McLaughlin)
3. Forget Perl, I'm switching to LOLCODE! (Wolfger)
4. Re: Forget Perl, I'm switching to LOLCODE! (Robert
Adkins)
5. Re: Forget Perl, I'm switching to LOLCODE! (Michael
Corral)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Thu, 31 May 2007 18:03:18 -0400
From: "Ingles, Raymond" <Raymond.Ingles at compuware.com>
Subject: [mdlug] Converting DVDs to play on a Palm
To: "Mdlug (E-mail)" <mdlug at mdlug.org>
Message-ID:
<41C33488FEC67C43BC564F5F086C21FF03A33DAB at nasa-dtw-ex001.nasa.cpwr.corp>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
I got a spare 512MB SD card and decided to try this out,
since I'd
heard of people doing it. So, I did some googling and
put together a
script or two to handle this.
Basically, you use "mencoder" to read the DVD and
convert it to
DIVX format, scaling the video to fit the 320x320
screen. I also
compress the audio to 128Kbit MP3 format, since I don't
need a Dolby
soundtrack. :-> I've had very good results with a
224Mbit/sec video
rate. It looks quite good on the screen, better than VHS
(certainly
richer color).
Last night I converted the movie "Aliens". It's a
154-minute movie
in 16x9 format. It converted down to a 320x180 image,
and takes up
403MB on the card. That took approximately an hour and
twenty
minutes on my dual-2GHz Athlon system. (If I used
one-pass encoding
it would have been about half that.)
I let the movie run all the way through (two hours and
34 minutes)
today as the Treo 650 sat on my desk as I worked (with
the sound
muted) and my battery went from 99% to 77%. Not bad.
It's a toy, sure, but might be fun on a long trip. I
could fit five
or six half-hour TV shows on my card easily. Anyway, if
anyone's
interested, the script I use is below.
Sincerely,
Ray Ingles (313) 227-2317
"Computers let you make more mistakes faster than any
other
invention in human history, with the possible exception
of
handguns and tequila." - Mitch Radcliffe
---begin dvd2palm.sh---
#!/bin/sh
# Converts DVDs to AVI files suitable for viewing on a
Palm w/TCPMP
# If you're skipping frames, increase FPS. If
duplicating, decrease FPS.
# Usual values are 24000/1001 (23.976), 24, 25 (PAL),
30000/1001 (29.97), 30.
FPS=24000/1001
# My Palm has a 320x320 screen. If you have a 480x320
screen, try "480" here.
SCALEW=320
# Set audio mode - these are arranged in decreasing
order of likelyhood
# to sync properly
# Full AC3 audio, takes up a fair amount of space.
#AUDIO=copy
# Constant bit rate MP3, the 'br' field sets the bit
rate
AUDIO="mp3lame -lameopts cbr:br=128"
# Average bit rate MP3, the 'br' field sets the bit rate
#AUDIO="mp3lame -lameopts abr:br=128"
# Variable bit rate MP3, sometimes has sync problems
#AUDIO="mp3lame -lameopts vbr=3"
# Set crop, if needed
# Get these numbers by running the command: mplayer -ss
60 -vf
scale=320:-2,cropdetect dvd://[track number]
#CROP=",crop=320:160:0:28"
# For mixed progressive/telecined content
#PULLUP=",pullup,softskip"
# Set video bit rate, feel free to experiment here to
see what fits
VBITRATE=224
#VBITRATE=336
#VBITRATE=448
# Use DIVX
DIVX="-ffourcc divx"
# These are the key parameters we gotta have from the
user.
# Spaces in the output file name are probably not a good
idea.
DVDTITLE=$1
NEWNAME=$2.avi
# These are optional parameters that can be tweaked but
have default values.
# You might want to change the default to match your
system.
DVDDEV=${3:-"/dev/dvd"}
# 128 is the default audio track on a DVD, usually
AUDIOTRACK=${4:-128}
# Make sure we got the minimum info needed.
if [ -z "${DVDTITLE}" -o -z "$2" ]; then
echo "Usage: " $0 " dvd-title output-name [dvd-device]
[audio-
track]" exit -1 fi
# Just in case one's left over from a previous encoding
run.
rm -rf divx2pass.log
# Two-pass encoding, takes longer but produces best
quality for a given bitrate
mencoder -dvd-device ${DVDDEV} dvd://${DVDTITLE} -aid
${AUDIOTRACK} -
ovc lavc -lavcopts vcodec=mpeg4:vpass=1:vbi
trate=${VBITRATE} -ofps
${FPS} ${DIVX} -oac ${AUDIO} -vf
scale=${SCALEW}:-2${CROP}${PULLUP} -
o /dev/null
mencoder -dvd-device ${DVDDEV} dvd://${DVDTITLE} -aid
${AUDIOTRACK} -
ovc lavc -lavcopts vcodec=mpeg4:vpass=2:vbi
trate=${VBITRATE} -ofps
${FPS} ${DIVX} -oac ${AUDIO} -vf
scale=${SCALEW}:-2${CROP}${PULLUP} -
o ${NEWNAME}
# Clean up after ourselves.
rm -rf divx2pass.log
----end dvd2palm.sh----
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------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Thu, 31 May 2007 23:45:25 -0400
From: Raymond McLaughlin <driveray at ameritech.net>
Subject: [mdlug] President's mail bag - Store to offer
Linux
preinstalled
To: "mdlug at mdlug.org" <mdlug at mdlug.org>
Message-ID: <465F9655.8010007 at ameritech.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Mr. Hughs,
Thank you for contacting me. I find your idea both
intriguing and
exciting. Right now I am swamped with other pressing
business, but I
hope to be able to provide more extensive input in the
next few weeks.
For the time being I will pass your letter on to our
membership. I must
tell you that Computer Builders Warehouse got something
of a bad
reputation in our group a couple of years ago. If I
recall they were
promoting questionable MS 'facts' of some sort. I don't
recall the
details off hand. Your project could go a long ways
toward changing this.
I hope to be able to drop by your store some time in the
next few weeks.
Is there any chance that your store could accommodate a
"mini
meeting" of about a dozen people? Just a thought. In the
mean time I
suggest that you join one or more of our mailing lists
to get an
idea of our group's inclinations. Be warned that purely
commercial
postings are considered spam, and greatly frowned upon.
I hope to see you soon
Raymond McLaughlin
President MDLUG
Rich Hughes wrote:
Hello Mr. McLaughlin,
My name is Rich Hughes, I manage the
Computer Builders Warehouse store
inside Great Lakes Crossing. I also run
www.linuxtechdaily.com
<http://www.linuxtechdaily.com> and have
written for other Linux
websites.
I'm writing to announce to you and your
group that my store in Great
Lakes Crossing has been approved for a
pilot program, offering Linux
based systems. If it is successful it
will expand to our other
locations. We are also considering
offering preloaded laptops. Currently
I have an Ubuntu 7.04 system decked out
with the full Compiz/Beryl 3D
desktop. The reaction to it has been
overwhelmingly positive. It is
helping to show that Linux is ready for
home use.
The Sytem Specs are:
AMD Athlon 64 3200+
1 GB DDR2 Memory
80 GB SATA2 Hard Drive
18X Dual Layer DVD Burner
MSI Nvidia 7300GT PCIe Card
We are selling the system for $399. We
have the ability to custom build
any system and load any version of Linux
on it, but are trying this
combo out to see how it does. I believe
our non-propriatery, open
architecture systems are a perfect match
for Free Software.
Frankly, I'm asking for MDLUG's support.
I think there is enormous
potential for success here. With the
failure of Vista, and the strides
Linux is making, I think now is the
time. I'd love to get your members
out here into the store to check out
this system.
I'm also interested in feedback in what
systems people might be
interested in. Distro, system specs,
etc...
If anyone wants to check out our website
www.cbwstores.com
<http://www.cbwstores.com> , look at our
stock and let me know what they
would be interested in, I'd be happy to
email back a coupon. My email is
rhughes at cbwstores.com
<mailto:rhughes at cbwstores.com> .
I appreciate your time, I hope your
group gets excited about this. I
think it is a great opportunity for the
community, and for our stores.
Feel free to call at any time or drop me
an email.
Thank You,
Rich Hughes
Store Manager
Computer Builders Warehouse
Great Lakes Crossing
4354 Baldwin Road - Ste. 708
Auburn Hills, MI 48326
Tel: (248) 334-3061
Fax: (248) 334-5373
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2007 07:32:17 -0400
From: Wolfger <wolfger at gmail.com>
Subject: [mdlug] Forget Perl, I'm switching to LOLCODE!
To: "MDLUG Main" <mdlug at mdlug.org>
Message-ID:
<3b00b3330706010432q6a974415r469a306223debc4c at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1;
format=flowed
http://lolcode.com/home
--
Wolfger
http://wolfger.wordpress.com/
http://1fjordaroad.wordpress.com/
AOL IM: wolf4coyot
Yahoo!Messenger: wolfgersilberbaer
Skype: wolfger88
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Fri, 01 Jun 2007 08:41:06 -0400
From: Robert Adkins <radkins at impelind.com>
Subject: Re: [mdlug] Forget Perl, I'm switching to
LOLCODE!
To: MDLUG's Main discussion list <mdlug at mdlug.org>
Message-ID: <466013E2.2000208 at impelind.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1;
format=flowed
Is it wrong that I actually understand the "code"?
Wolfger wrote:
http://lolcode.com/home
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2007 10:35:59 -0400 (Eastern Daylight
Time)
From: Michael Corral <micorral at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [mdlug] Forget Perl, I'm switching to
LOLCODE!
To: MDLUG <mdlug at mdlug.org>
Message-ID:
<Pine.WNT.4.64.0706011034140.2540 at w2zzzp0601.amer.corp.eds.com>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII;
format=flowed
Wolfger a ecrit:
http://lolcode.com/home
Well, it is more readable...
Michael
------------------------------
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