GNU/Linux Related Links
Free and open, GNU/Linux Distributions are supported by an enthusiastic, some say "fanatical", community. Below are some of the more useful GNU/Linux and OSS/FS Support and information sites. To the right are links to other LUGs and important sites in New Zealand.
 UBUNTU
... the Worlds #1 GNU/Linux ditribution and the one I actually use. Therefore there are a lot of references.
 Hardware Discovery Script
... you download the deb file, and install it. Run the script and it analyses your hardware then takes you to a web page which makes suggestions. Has been known to make quite a difference. Courtesy the hardworking folk at Waikato LUG.
Ubuntu FAQ
... includes cut-and-paste style solutions using apt-get as well as tips on getting that eyecandy, compiz/beryl etc.
Ubuntu Forums
... use the search functions, any issues will have come up before
Ubuntu Site
... for the latest ubuntu news etc. Especially
this explanation
on why Ubuntu won't play mp3s etc. There are also links for different flavours of Ubuntu.
Linux/Windows Comparison
Wikipedia Article
... a thoughtful and not too FUD-encumbered discussion about the comparitive merits of the two systems.
Beryl (Linux) vs Aero (Vista)
... a LAMP Service research site - includes a YouTube video demo showing off the leading 3D desktops.
Software Equivalents
... a table of software equivalents between windows and linux
Counter Propaganda :) Considering Microsoft's Get The Facts campaign...
Linux deMythtified
... a nice site about common ideas about linux and why they ain't so. Also good for it's links.
MS Vista HDCP Cost
... the famous analysis of Vista hdcp, c'mon: you've read this right?
[pdf]XP EULA vs GNU GPL
A plain language direct comparison between the MS EULA and the GNU GPL. These are important because you agree to be bound by the EULA when you use Windows and the GPL when you distribute Linux
Linux is not Windows
... well doh!
Fun Stuff
Magnatunes Music
... cool music: these guys are not evil (check out their links).
Kia Ora
... kia ora project: free (libre) software for windows
A suggestion concerning multimedia that isn't heard so much: there is a program called ffmpeg2theora - converts proprietary multimedia formats into ogg/theora or ogg/vorbis files. Sell your iPod and get a real media player and you don't need those extra codecs. (Except for DVD playback.) The regular implimentation for ubuntu are is in the wiki - for those who simply cannot do without mp3s.
Similarly, there is gif2png which converts IP laden (though the patent has expired) gif images to the png format. It is interesting to see how far you can go removing proprietary and DRM contaminat... er... software from your computer without sacrificing too much for your comfort levels.
These pages are a work in progress. Feel free to look around.
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