If You're Considering a New Operating System ...

You're not alone. People become frustrated with their computer and conclude that they would be better off with a different operating system. Windows users move to Macs or Linux machines. Linux users may choose a different distribution. Mac users seem to generally stay put. If you're thinking about Linux, here are some things to consider.

Your Windows Programs Won't Work Under Linux

You can install WINE if you want to and see if you can get your legacy windows applications to work but Linux doesn't run EXE file. You can't migrate existing applications. You can't download applications made for Windows. Linux is not Windows. If that bothers you, don't even think about making the switch.

Select the Right Distribution

Linux isn't one monolithic entity and you can find dozens of Linux distributions. Some are better for servers. Some are better for workstations. Some are better for geeks. Some are better for non-geeks. One of the most popular and easiest to use distributions is Ubuntu and it's the one I talk about and use. That doesn't mean it's right for you. Do your homework.

Understand the Directory Structure

Linux (and the Mac OS) don't have drive letters. They have mount points. You'll find lots of directories in your Linux file system (/bin, /usr, /sbin, /etc, /var, /tmp, /opt, /mnt, /boot, /lib, /svr) and you should keep your hands off them until you understand what they're used for. All of the files you should be working with are in the /home/{your_user_name} directory.

Don't Be Root

Most Windows users create an account that's in the Administrators' group so they think that they should log on as "root" on their new Linux machine. Don't! If you need to do something that requires root credentials, use the "sudo" command to elevate your account's privileges. Keep in mind that the root user can do anything and that includes deleting the computer's entire file structure.

Remember that Vulnerabilities Exist

Generally speaking, Linux is more secure than Windows. This is true because Linux is a smaller target than Windows, which still has 80% or more of the desktop market. But it's also true because Linux and Unix (the base on which Apple's OSX is built) both were designed with security in mind while Windows was based on an insecure file system and an insecure operating system. Over the years, Microsoft has made Windows a much more secure operating system. But still missing is the owner-group-world set of permissions that are hallmarks of the X systems.

If, as a new Linux user, you're tempted to forget about security, don't. If you listen to some Linux "experts" they'll try to convince you that antivirus applications aren't needed because of Linux's strict file permissions system. It's possible to run a text command that tells the operating system to delete all files on the system and this is probably something you would prefer to avoid. You need an antivirus application and a fire wall.

Backup is every bit as important on Linux as it is on Windows or OSX.

There's an Update? Get It!

Some Windows users won't install any new version of Windows until service pack 1 has been released. These same users won't install any service pack until it's been out for 30 days (or 60 days or 120 days or 365 days or 27 years ... whatever.) Whether this is reasonable or not with Windows, I'll leave up to you. If you're using a Linux system, you want updates as soon as they're released. Leave your old Windows prejudices at the door.

Fitting the Computer to the Task

You've decided that you need a new computer. Will it be a tablet or a netbook? A thin, lightweight notebook or a thick, heavy notebook crammed with lots of hardware? A basic desktop with a small monitor or a powerhouse desktop with a monitor the size of Rhode Island? Making the right choice isn't difficult if you think about what you want to do.

At the office, port 25 is blocked and that means I cannot send non-business e-mail from there unless I use a webmail application and I despise webmail. It's OK for us to use the company computer for "incidental" non-work tasks so usage isn't the problem; connectivity is the problem. As a workaround, we have an off-corporate-LAN Wi-Fi network that doesn't block port 25 so anyone who has a personal device that has Wi-Fi can use it.

There's not much room on my desk. There's already a computer, two large monitors, file folders, photos, and such. I needed a tiny PC that would fit in a space about the size of a sheet of paper. It needed to be able to run my e-mail program and provide adequate browser performance. I knew that I didn't want Windows 7 Starter and that Home Premium was as low on the scale as I was willing to go. And I wanted to be able to dual-boot Linux.

I picked an Asus Eee PC with a 32-bit AMD Athlon II processor (1.7GHz), 2GB of RAM (anything less would be useless), 320GB hard drive (enough for 2 operating systems and a lot of data). The 12.1" screen is big enough to see and this machine has enough power for everything I named. The full Office 2010 suite is also installed and performance is surprisingly good. It would be better with 4GB, but I didn't want to pay more than I did.

The netbook does well the tasks that it's designed for. If my desk had been larger, I would simply have used the notebook that I take with me to presentations. This is a system with a considerably larger screen, a 64-bit Intel I5 processor, 6GB of RAM, and a 500GB hard drive. The machine has enough power that it can run the Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 acceptably.

When performance is more important than portability, there's the Intel I7 (2.8GHz, 8-core) CPU in the desktop system. 8GB of RAM (I'd prefer 16) and 4TB of disk space.

In selecting hardware, it's important to figure out what you want to be able to do with the computer and then buy what you need. In that regard it's a lot like buying a car. Do you need a 2-seater, a minivan, or an SUV?

What's Up with CD101?

A Columbus radio station (CD101) has a modest following in Columbus but a much larger following on the Internet. WWCD even has an entry in Wikipedia. What's interesting about the station is that WOSU took over its frequency several months ago and WWCD moved to 102.5 on the FM dial but still calls itself "CD101". Why?

The "why" probably has something to do with the station's Internet following. On the Internet, frequency doesn't matter. "CD101" is a known quantity. If they changed the name to CD102, they'd have to build a following for a new brand.

I haven't been involved with commercial radio for several years, but I still find the industry's machinations entertaining. Did you know, for example, that WWCD is licensed to operate in Baltimore, Ohio? Its studios are in Columbus and the transmitter is in Grove City. But the frequency 102.5 was originally licensed to WHIZ in Zanesville.

Ohio State University paid $4.8 million to purchase the 101.1 MHz frequency allocation and simultaneously WWCD agreed to purchase 102.5 MHz from WHIZ. WOSU has launched a classical music service on the 101.5 MHz frequency and has converted 89.7 MHz to NPR news and talk (simulcasting WOSU-AM).

While the sale of the 101.1 MHz facility awaited approval from the FCC, WWCD broadcast over both the 101.1 and 102.5 MHz facilities. Although the station's primary brand is still "CD101", you'll sometimes hear the name "CD101 at 102.5".

The Future of Terrestrial Radio

The future looks dark for radio as we've known it since the 1920s. At home, we listen to podcasts (thank you very much!), to streaming audio from radio stations or other providers, or to audio that we've stored on the computer. Until now, the automobile has been the last bastion for commercial radio.

But that is fading away.

New cars often come with Internet connectivity. Today the process is uneven at best and limited primarily to metropolitan areas. That will change as better coverage comes to more areas. As cars become connected to the Internet, local radio stations no longer matter so much.

For many years, I wished that I could listen to the afternoon classical music program from WQXR in New York City, but Lloyd Moss retired in 2006 after more than 50 years with the station. Now, if I wanted to listen to WQXR, I could. So if your preferred radio station is in New York City or San Francisco, you can probably hear it online. If your favorite radio station is in Toronto or Chicago, you can hear it. If your favorite radio station is in Moscow or not on the air at all anywhere, you can hear it.

Here's a good source for streamed audio: TuneIn.com with more than 50,000 stations to choose from.

Short Circuits

IDM: A Company that Continues to Do the Right Thing

I've used IDM's UltraEdit since shortly after the last Ice Age–in part because of the company's extraordinarily well designed text editor and in part because of the company's enlightened approach to licensing. Essentially, IDM said that I could install UltraEdit on any number of computers that I use as long as only one instance was active at any given time. Typically that meant a desktop system at home, a desktop system at the office, and a notebook computer. You can imagine how surprised I was when version 17 arrived and, after installing on the home desktop and notebook, my attempt at the office was met with a message that told me no more activations were available.

Although I understand the challenge software vendors face, I believe that needlessly restrictive policies do little to deter thieves and a lot to inconvenience legitimate users. So I wrote to IDM to express my disappointment.

Later in the day, I checked the IDM website and found a FAQ that explained the licensing. A few minutes later, I received a message from IDM's support team explaining the situation.

In short, UltraEdit's licensing platform was more than 17 years old and didn't support real-time updates. The new license manager will detect when a new version is available, notify the user if it is a free or paid update, and ask for permission to install the update. By default, IDM's activation system works for 2 computers, which would handle a desktop and notebook—a common situation.

However, "For users like you that may need a few more activations to cover the machines you are using, we will gladly increment your number allowed from default of 2 to whatever you think you need."

I requested 5 activations (home and office desktops, netbook, and 2 notebook computers). In less than an hour, IDM had provided them. Not because I'm a journalist and IDM wants to spin its story. No, it's because I'm a customer and IDM believes in doing the right thing for its customers.

Bad!Fraud? You Decide.

ImgBurn is one of the most useful open-source disc burning applications available. This week I discovered that an update existed, so I decided to download it.

Fraud?

Where would you click to download the file? Hint: It's not anywhere on this screen!

It was a little after 6am and I didn't notice the tiny word "advertisement" above the huge arrow. What I downloaded an installed wasn't what I wanted. The advertisement was placed by Google, which I have accused previously of putting profits ahead of ethics. Somewhere Google forgot about "don't be evil" and decided that a better motto would be "let's make money".

I still recommend ImgBurn as an outstanding CD and DVD burning application, but I have to caution you to be very careful about where and what you click!

It's the End of the Line! (Literally)

Help me understand this: Operating systems need to mark the end of a line, a symbol that's added when you press Enter. On a printing terminal, two things happen independently at the end of a line and these are controlled by codes. One code is the "newline" character and the other is the "carriage return" character.

Newline moves the printing head down a line. Carriage return moves the print head back to the starting position on the left (or on the right for right-to-left languages).

DOS and Windows both use both of the codes (return, newline) but other operating systems use just one or the other.

Unix and Linux mark the end of the line with a newline character and the return is implied.

Here's the piece I don't understand: Apple uses the return alone with newline being implied. But Apple's OSX is really just BSD (Berkeley Software Distribution) Unix, a free version of Unix that Apple selected as the basis for its operating system. Why did Apple change it? Just because they "think different"?

The Approaching Pacific Century

If any question remains in your mind about the resurgence of China as a world power, consider the fact that Intel has just reassigned an executive vice president to Beijing. Sean Maloney will oversee Intel's operations in China.

Maloney's new title is Chairman of Intel China. Intel says he will serve in that position for the next 2 or 3 years. He is the highest-ranking Intel officer to be posted to China where Intel has more than 5000 employees. Previously Maloney was posted to Hong Kong before returning to Silicon Valley as the head of Intel's worldwide sales organization. Since 2009 he has been the co-general manager of the Intel Architecture Group.

The End of Apple's "Invulnerability"

Apple fanboys (yes, that's a somewhat derisive term) like to say that Apple products cannot have viruses or other malware inflicted on them. Apple has encouraged that point of view. It never made any sense because all computers are vulnerable to certain kinds of attacks. This time Apple will find it hard to deny the problem because the bad guys used social engineering to run their scam.

Advertisements for Mac Defender started showing up earlier this month. Mac Defender would defeat viruses and malware, the ads said. The catch? Mac Defender is malware.

And on the heels of Mac Defender comes Mac Guard. Mac Defender required the hapless Mac owner to make several mistakes. Mac Guard requires only one.

So now Mac users may have to become familiar with BleepingComputer.com, a site that has helped many Windows users eliminate malware from their computers. It now has instructions for those who have fallen victim to Mac Defender and Mac Guard.

Even Apple now has an anti-Mac-malware section on its support page.

Should I mention that I've been saying for years that some Mac users displayed an illogical false sense of security? Nah. That would be too much like saying "I told you so!"