Linux Community Magazine

Copyright 2005 Majella.us

The internet is full of technical articles, many of which are way too complicated for the average computer user who just wants to solve a simple problem. If you pay close attention, the internet is also a place where the "gurus" spend a lot of time yelling for help in discussion boards and forums. So don't feel bad, nobody has all the answers.

So you want to dual boot Windows and Linux on the same computer--it is really quite easy. I only have enough room here to tell you the most common way to do this on a single hard drive or using multiple hard drives. Obviously then, there are many ways to get the job done, but there are some critical things you should know. Let's start with some critical information.

Windows and Linux: Same Hard DriveThe windows operating system MUST occupy the master boot record (MBR). Linux, on the other hand does not have to. In this scenario, you must install windows first! After Windows has been successfully installed, then you can install Linux. This is critical! The Linux "boot loader" is called GRUB. When you install Linux--MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT INSTALL THE LINUX BOOT LOADER TO THE MBR.

Configure the Windows Boot Loader: A Two Step ProcessIt is also possible to use GRUB to dual boot Windows and Linux on the same drive but this is a bit more complex--the Windows boot loader will get the job done. In the following commands, you will create a copy of the Linux boot sector and then save it in a file in the top level directory under Windows (C:).

Step 1: LinuxFrom the shell in your Linux installation (boot from your installation disks):Execute the following shell command, replacing /dev/hda3 with the location of your Linux boot partition.

shell# dd if=/dev/hda3 of=/bootsect.lnx bs=512 count=1

Copy the new file--bootsect.lnx--to a floppy disk and reboot to Windows.

Step 2: WindowsCopy bootsect.lnx to C: in Windows. Then execute the following command at the DOS prompt.

C:> attrib -H -R -S boot.ini

Edit boot.ini so that the first two lines are:

[boot loader]timeout=30

After the last line, add:

c:bootsect.lnx="Start Linux"

That's it, you are done! Reboot your machine and you will see a menu allowing you to select either Windows or Linux. Congratulations.

Windows and Linux: Two Hard DrivesThis is also quite easy. In this case, you will boot to the Linux drive. We will add Windows to the Linux boot loader (i.e., GRUB). GRUB is my favorite boot loader.

Edit the /boot/grub/grub.conf file. One of the very first lines should contain:

timeout=30

After the last line add:

title Start Windowsmap (hd1) (hd0)map (hd0) (hd1)rootnoverify (hd1,0)makeactivechainloader +1

Reboot your machine to the Linux drive and you will see a menu allowing you to select between Linux or Windows. Nice work!

This article is obviously short and does not include any explanations of how these commands work. There are variations on what I have shown here depending on your hardware setup, but I believe that these are the most common and should get the job done nicely. I would be happy to direct you to additional resources if this does not work for you.

Have you chosen you wish to know how to install Linux on PS3, but you're puzzled over where to go about this? It's fine, you're not alone. Since the development of the PS3 and the capability to install Linux onto the system, tons of people are attempting to figure out the same thing. It is sometimes a headache, but it isn't as difficult as some gamers make it out to be if you have a thorough set of instructions.Before installing Linux onto your PS3, it's necessary to first choose which version of Linux you wish to use. There is Yellow Dog Linux, Ubuntu, Fedora, Xubuntu, Edubuntu, and some others. With a large variety of choices, it's plain to notice why a lot of gamers feel annoyed and lost and get mad during the process.The best version of Linux for PS3 is most likely Yellow Dog since it was especially made for use on your PS3. Yellow Dog Linux has many features and is also the most uncomplicated to install. The other version that is also rather good is Ubuntu Linux for P S3. It is an option to install the other choices that I mentioned above, however I suggest you choose Yellow Dog or Ubuntu.When you've set on the version of Linux you desire to use, you need to choose if you desire to go with a hardware modification, or a soft-mod. I personally recommend steering clear of a hard-mod since it is extremely dangerous and you might destroy your PS3 forever if you do something wrong. The mod chip will also void your warranty, and that is not good. Soft-mods are way simpler and safer to do when it comes to figuring out how to install Linux on PS3.Now that you've made the decision on which type of Linux you are going to install, and you have probably chose to go with a soft-mod, the only thing that remains for you to do before you've properly discovered how to install Linux on PS3 is download the software and files and a great instruction guide to guide you through the process.This part is extremely important since if you download incorrect files o r listen to a horrible manual, you'll be faced with way more headaches than it is worth. I realized this from experience after attempting to follow some of the terrible guides seen on many forums. There's even files out there that are corrupted and come with viruses attached to them. This is a simple method to really screw up your PC or PS3.After tons of testing and experiencing my fair share of problems trying to learn how to install Linux on PS3 personally, I fortunately fell upon an obvious solution that I am willing to share with you. It is extremely safe, fast, and simple to perform the Linux installation by using this method.

The average computer user just doesn't know enough about computers to compare operating systems to determine which will run most efficiently and provide the most security, so our only gauge for what works is simply what everyone else is using. We live in a world where Windows and Macintosh rule, therefore we don't even give Linux a second though. But we should! Linux is free, reliable and it runs extraordinarily well on old computers with little processing power. It just makes sense to use it, particularly if you work for a non-profit which relies on older, donated computers to operate.

Why You Might Want to Consider Using Linux

Linux is an operating system just like Microsoft Windows and MacOS on the Macintosh. Computer experts know it well and most of the Internet's infra-structure is managed by Linux computers. But most desktop computer users have never heard of it. There are a lot of benefits to using Linux:

* It is free. Windows costs money. So do MacOS upgrades. * It is easy to install.It is every bit as easy to install Linux as it is to install other software. Some Linux installers even allow you to run Linux off a CD, so that you can try it out on your computer without affecting anything else on the machine. * It is incredibly secure. Because Linux is open source, even if there were a widespread virus released today, there would be hundreds of patches released tomorrow, either by ordinary people that use the operating system or by the distribution maintainers. With Windows, you have to wait for a patch from a single company all while having to pay extra for virus protection software. * It is extraordinarily reliable. While Windows computers might go a day or even a week before needing to restart, people often have Linux systems running for years without fear of the system crashing. * It is very efficient. Unlike Windows and Macintosh, Linux does not require big disk drive s, huge amounts of RAM, and a super fast processor. What this means is it can run incredibly well even on old, underpowered computers. So, while you may not be able to run the latest version of Windows on those donated computers, Linux will run easily and quickly. In fact, Linux is so efficient that it can pretend to be a Windows server more efficiently than Windows can be a Windows server.

What's Stopping You?

With all of these benefits, it just makes sense to use Linux! Some national governments and lots of universities have standardized on Linux for years, but the general public is a little more hesitant. So, what's stopping people? Here are some of the most common reasons (none of which really hold up):

It is complicated and uses all sorts of weird cryptic commands -- This is true if you install it without a graphical user interface (GUI), but that's completely your choice. Most desktop users would prefer to install Linux with a GUI since it makes it more user-friendly. In fact, you can customize the GUI to look much like Windows and Macintosh computers, so five minutes of orientation is all you will need to be fully productive.

Everyone else uses Windows -- Probably the biggest concern people have is that if they use Linux, they will have trouble sending and receiving emails and files to computers that use Windows because they are different operating systems, but that's simply not the case.

Because Email protocols are standardized, email from any computer (Windows, Macintosh, or Linux) works with email on any other. Files are no problem either, since Linux supports all the standard file formats.

Also, consider the fact that Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7 are all different operating systems, all in common use, and far from compatible with each other.

There is no support -- This has never been true. The open source community supports Linux very well and if you need to talk to someone on the phone, you can buy support packages from lots of different companies. The most well-known of these is Red Hat.

Word and Excel don't run on Linux -- This is true, but OpenOffice does. OpenOffice is free and it does everything Microsoft Office does and more. At Sumac Research, although we use Windows, Macintosh, and Linux computers, we use OpenOffice on all of them. It doesn't matter which computer you use, the documents work the same on each. OpenOffice can also open, edit and save Word, PowerPoint, and Excel documents.

Installing linux on your ps3 used to be a default operation mode offered by Sony on it's playstation video game console. It was one of the very unique and defining features of the PS3 that made it very fun and interesting to work with for people savvy with technology.

Unfortunately, as of March 2010, Sony decided to end native support for allowing Linux to be installed on your ps3. Lucky for us though, they did not eliminate the capability of being able to install Linux, however it is very hard if you do not have the correct tools.Enter PS3Magic!PS3Magic is a new and revolutionary tool that takes you step by step through the installation process of putting linux on your ps3. It takes the guess work out, and shows you exactly what to do for each step! The ps3Magic software has brought back the ease of installing linux on ps3, without the hassle of trying to figure out how to do each step!Why would you want to install linux on your ps3? Well there are many benefits once you have a robust linux operating system running on your console. You can install PC games, you can access your email, you can edit word documents, all right from the comfort of your living room couch! Linux also unleashes the power of the playstation 3's "cell architectur e" and allows all of the cell CPU's to be used at the same time. This means that your linux installation will run much faster than a typical linux box!What operating systems can you install on your playstation 3? Well the ps3 came out of the box supporting most versions of the linux, unix, and freebsd operating systems. This gives you a wide array of possible operating systems to choose from. The yellow dog linux operating system is the most popular because it was built specifically for running on the playstation 3. However you can also install the Windows or Mac operating system if you would like (as long as you have a legal copy of the software to install). As you can see there are many options to to install linux on ps3. There are no technical skills required by using PS3Magic, it is all very easy to understand and built into the step by step tutorial included with the program! It could not be easier just head on over to ps3magic.org and download your copy of PS3Magic. Yo u will get up and running with linux installed on your ps3 faster then you ever thought possible!

With the development of the technology, great changes have taken place in our recreation life and the portable digital field. Though the mp4 player has only come to our life for a few years, the mp4 industry is developing in a very rapid speed. It develops from HD to full HD, from key-press to touch control, from watch mp4 player to 8 inch mp4 player and from the simple audio and video playback to the Wifi, Android system and camera. And now the MID is a new developing trend for the mp4 player.

MID continues to grow. Some people may still be strange about the MID products. MID is short for Mobile Internet Device. The MID concept is proposed by Intel on the 2008 IDF conference. Then there are increasing MID items on the market. The apple iPad, BM-999 and C901 all belong to the MID items. With the joining of the Microsoft, Samsung, LG, Sharp, NEC, Acer and Asus, there will more and more new kinds of MID products. With the various functions and applications, MID products may replace the mainstream mp4 players.

The early MID concept is prososed by Intel in 2008. The early products generally use the X86 hardware architecture and portable software system like PC platform's Windows XP or the PDA Windows CE. They are not suitable for the MID platform. Low practical use, few application software and high cost restrict the development of the MID. With the popular platforms like Android, iOS and MeeGo, the MID products are able to be with the excellent software developing platform and various software extentions.

In the early time, most of the MIDs use the Linux Kernel. But as the interface and code is not complete open, the developing of the software is not supported by large company. At present, many large companies begin the developing of the mobile platforms. Both the MeeGo and Android system use the Linux Kernel. As the system is stable, hardware is required less and the third developing system is easy to use, MID application softwares are increasing in large quatity.

Android is important for Google to enter into the smart mobile platform. It's composed of the operation system, middleware, user interface and application software. It's called the first full open and complete software for the mobile terminal. At present, the Android system is not limited to the mobile phone application, but the GPS, MP4 and E-ink.

The excellent operating experience is important to the digital products. As the MID is small in size, the touch control is mostly used. We know the touch operation brings much convenience to us. Without the keyboard, the machine comes with larger screen and smaller size. The touch control can realize the excellent UI interface which enables the users to have relaxed mobile network experience. The popular capacitive touch screen makes the users have nice experience with the MID.

The MeeGo system published by Nokia and Intel is also applicable to different devices. MeeGo makes the application program be suitable for more devices including the netbook, portable communication device and car entertainment device.