Windows XP, Windows 7 and Ubunta, a comparison.

Operating systems tested

• Windows 7 Professional
• Windows XP Professional
• Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (Long Term Service) Desktop Edition

Installation

Both Windows 7 and Ubuntu installed in about ½ an hour just asking a few easy questions (country, language, etc), while XP took all day ( I went home ). The only notable differences between Windows 7 and Ubuntu were,

Ubuntu was usable during the install. Because it comes on a live CD it is possible to test it before the install, and then use it to surf the net, of write a letter while it is installing.

Windows 7 makes you type in a long number ( the installation key ). This is a bit tricky, especially if you have Dyslexia or a disability.

Keyboard Layouts

I use a different keyboard layout than what is usually set as the system default. In Ubuntu you can set this before logging in (or after login). In Windows 7 you do it after login. This means you have to type in your password using the system default keyboard layout, this is tricky. When the screen is locked (not logged out) both systems require you to type in the password with your keyboard layout. So in windows 7 you need to know what state the computer is in.

External USB Keyboards and Mice

With Ubuntu they work flawlessly, plug in and go.

With Windows 7 you must wait for the drivers to install, then when you take the laptop home and use your own keyboard and mouse you must wait again. Well not just wait I think you have to log in as well. (Don’t know how this works on non laptops.) In addition my Mac keyboard did not work with Windows 7.

Memory

Both at first only detected and used 3GB of 4GB. But by installing a PAE (Physical Address Extension) kernel in Ubuntu (just select it in the package manager and press install), I got to see 4GB. I still don’t know how to get 4GB in windows 7.

Ubuntu uses about 0.2GB out of 4GB at idle, Windows 7 uses 2GB out of 3GB at idle.

Boot time

Win7 from shut-down: 2 minutes 1 second
Win7 from hibernation: 24 seconds
Ubuntu from shut-down: 28 seconds
Ubuntu from hibernation: 28 seconds

Session manager

Ubuntu comes with a fully configured session manager; When a user logs-out then back in again then most (around 90%) of application are restored in the same state. This is useful for multi-user systems where keeping everyone logged in and hibernating the entire machine is impractical e.g. schools, universities. It also has the advantage that the state can be taken to another machine, just login (as long as home directories are on network storage).

Software

Both come with a web browser, video and audio players, but that is it for Windows 7. Ubuntu also comes with office tools, programming tools, graphics tools and much much more. And plenty more if you are connected to the internet. If not then get the 6 DVD box set of Debian. (Debian is has slightly older software but is more stable. Compared to Ubuntu.)

Virus scanner

Ubuntu comes with a virus scanner, though you will not need it ( so don’t install it ) unless you are setting up a file server for use by windows machines. Ubuntu has a different attitude to viruses — fix the vulnerability, thus rendering viruses useless.

XP

Last year I was using XP at work (this year I am using Windows 7). The machine, a better specification machine than the one at home, seemed slower than the one at home running Ubuntu. The one where I work now a much higher specification 4 processors, compared with 2, running Windows 7. It seems slowest of them all.

Virtual Surprise

When one day my machine at work had a software crash and needed a rebuild. I decided that I would install Virtual Box (on top of XP) I put Ubuntu in the Virtual Box, and installed X11 (the windowing system used by Ubuntu) on XP, so I could view Ubuntu applications on the XP desktop. To my surprise, it worked very very well, the whole thing used less ram that Outlook (Outlook uses a lot or ram) about 0.5GB. The applications in Ubuntu on Virtual Box ran fasted that natively installed ones (on XP).

So why don’t I have Ubuntu on my work PC?

I would love to, with Windows 7 in a virtual machine, but alas no. I can not get the Dell e5420 to work properly with Ubuntu. I can not get the 3D working, I can not get the external monitors working. I can not get the wireless network to work. So for now I will be running Ubuntu in a Virtual Box in Windows 7 (on work PC). I have Ubuntu working fine on this Acer Aspire 5338. And my dad’s Foxconn. As a beginner to computing my dad could not use Windows, to many problems and inconsistencies, he would phone me several times a week until I finally gave up and installed Ubuntu. We now have to arrange to see each other, as I no longer get support calls (well not many).

Setting up sudo on Gnu/Linux

If sudo is not set up properly you will have to:

• Add line %sudo ALL=(ALL) ALL to /etc/sudoers
• Add users that can use unrestricted(but need to authenticate) sudo to group sudo
• Each Gnome user to run gksu-properties and change authentication mode to sudo, to tell gnome to use sudo instead of su

What is wrong with economic theory

This is just some thoughts from listening to so-called experts on the radio. I call them flat earth economists, as they are like the flat earth believers of old. You had to believe it or everyone would think you are an idiot.

Occasionally someone will get on who will discuss their ideas about turtles and elephants, or a giant space ship. The real economists that think for them-self and are not mad (well no more that normal) that say what they see, hardly got a look in. So here is some things that I see.

Rewards for doing wrong

Don’t reward bankers for doing wrong. Governments should not bail-out institutions, but let them go. But some times it is necessary to save customers. Therefore if a bail-out is needed then the government should take-over the institution to save the customers and take any profits.

Combining utility with speculation

This makes bail-out necessary. Bail-outs are bad. Therefore legislate that utilities (banks) do not partake (or lend to) in speculation.

High pay

It has been proved that pay above a level does not motivate. It is also evident that those getting the bonuses can not do their job. Therefore do not pay too much, consider hiring it more unusual people.

Growth

Growth can not go on forever, and history shows it does not. Therefore do not depend on it.

Confidence

You only need to rely on confidence if it is not true. Therefore if someone tells you that confidence is dropping or rising, get out quick.

Leverage through borrowing

If you borrow to invest, and the investment goes bad then you owe a lot of money that you can not repay. Therefore do not borrow or lend. However you can invest and issue equity.

Belief in self-interest

It is often said that when an individual pursues his self-interest, he indirectly promotes the good of society. Is this true. If so, then when your car is stolen then it is for the good of society, and the thief should not go to jail (or the law should be revoked, indeed all laws should be revoked). Therefore don’t believe everything you are told.

Belief in Perfect Markets

It is said that the markets are perfect, because everyone works as individual. It is not true for the simple reason that most people (without even studying economics) believe that everyone else is acting rationally and knows something they don’t (they attribute there not knowing what is going on to a personal attribute[personal attribution bias]). They then follow the crowd. The crowd follows the crowd. The blind follow the blind. Therefore don’t believe everything you are told.

Money is real

Money is not real, goods and services are real. Financial institutions do not make anything, they are not even providing a real service, it is at best a secondary service. Therefore do not call it the banking industry.

Inefficiency

If I run my house like a country (following macro economic theory) I would be in debt and have no stuff. I would smash-up everything to try to increase growth. Therefore beware macro economic theory and don’t believe everything you are told.

Efficiency

Having a small number of large companies may be efficient, but is fragile, and is inefficient for customers. Therefore have a large number of small companies.

Statistics

The use of Gaussian statistics to predict markets suggests that the event that happen every 10 to 20 years are billion year events. This is clearly not true. There is no other statistics that can predict (though some types can predict the general shape). Therefore do not try to predict, just buy when under valued, and sell when over valued.

Dyslexia Correction Diary — 20111103

Today my son did not want to do clay. So I told him that we would do his reading book or the clay. He chose to read his book.

He has improved his reading a lot recently, and did very well. I did hands on shoulders (an orientation excessive) with him, this helped him stay focused. Until about half way through the book he got stuck on a word he did not know. He tried the technique he learnt at school (sounding it out, blending etc.). I then stopped him.

I asked him some questions.

Do you know that word?, No.
Can you sound it our? (I know he could not, I know it was impossible.), cryingNo I don’t know how. (He can do phonics, I have seen him use it successfully with words that it works on. But never mastering the word and having to sound it out each time he got to it.)
I reassured him, I showed him dad having a go and completely failing. He laughed.
I explained It is impossible, phonics don’t work all of the time.
I then asked Can you read this word? pointing at a word he knew, Yes.
How do you know?, I just know it, I know that word.
I told him that he would never get really good at reading, and not at all good at writing using phonics. It will not be fun.
Would you like it if you could just read, with out difficult words?, Yes, but it wont be interesting without the interesting words.
What if you could be good at all words?, Yes, that would be good.
Then we need to do ping, hands on shoulder and clay., OK.
Tomorrow., Yes.

At some point he was trying to rush, because I said he could do something else when he had finished. Recognising this I told him I could change the success criteria, We are going to focus on this page then stop.

Dyslexia Correction Diary — problems

This entry is about some problems I had and how I solved them.

Child destroying model.

I went to do something else, and told child I would be back in 5 minuets and I expected him to make the best model he could by the time I got back.

Child messing about.

I realised that this was an avoidance strategy. The child had learnt to do other things until the session timed-out, thus avoiding the activity. I told the child that I was changing my strategy. I would no longer be doing time boxed sessions, instead I would be doing activity boxed sessions. We would do a small activity that should be over in 10-15 minuets, and we would stop when it was finished (even if it took all night).

Dyslexia Correction Diary — photos

This first entry is just a link to my photos, I am adding to them as I go.

https://picasaweb.google.com/111459845718382397754/DavidClay?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Dyslexia Correction Diary — introduction

I am Currently coaching my child to help him with his reading, writing and well you will have to read on as I will not over simplify it here.

My son is clever, very clever, yet his reading and writing skills are considerably below average for his age. Why is this?

I believe that it is not because he is stupid, he clearly is not. But because he thinks in a way that is not well suited to reading and writing and then the teachers act in a way that makes it worse. At first a child thinks differently in a way that makes them good at art/science/engineering, but then they meet a well meaning teacher and develop dyslexia.

The use of phonics does not work, as it does not address the issues. I rote foniks [not phonics] beecos I am dislexic not becos I do not under stand fonics. The child well be more frustrated as they are repeating the same boring stuff that they understand, angry as they are making no progress (it does not fix anything), and confused as these techniques get in the way.

see http://www.dyslexia.com/

I am not going to go into the theory any further. The rest will be diary style, of my personal adventure with my son. Follow it in category education/dyslexia

Everything [that is a Tag] is a Tags

For years I was frustrated by web browser book-marks and email folders. They don’t work — not when you have lots of them. I was about to write my own bookmark tool, I did a search and found Delicious that I used for a long time. Then gmail. However I have same problems with them.

• The protocols need to be open.

  See Earlier post Delicious a Prison. See the rest of this article.

• If it looks like a tag then it is a tag. Everything is a X pattern (also known as composite).

  There are so many places that use tags now: Web-marks, email, contacts, forums, blogs, etc. But they all use a separate tagging system. (we need open protocols to fix this).

  What is needed.

  • Web sites that displays my tags and bookmarks, to me and the public.
  • Browser integration
  • Ability to configure browser to store on multiple servers of my choice (work/personal/backup)
  • Ability to select server based on tags or uri
  • Ability to host my own bookmarks, at home or work
  • Email client that uses same servers/protocols (emails needs a uri)
  • Email client by default marks bookmarks as private, and email as private, but if bookmark is marked public then email is as well
  • Email client and other clients maintain contacts using same servers/protocols
  • All e-mail is tagged email
  • All contacts are tagged contact
  • All outgoing e-mail is tagged email:outgoing, and all incoming e-mail is tagged email:incomming (all email should have one of these two tags)
  • E-mail also tagged email:drafts, sys:starred, sys:bin, email.spam (we will have to think that is email and what is generic everything else is adhock
  • Bookmarks should be tagged with owning site. site:xxxx. I.e. wordpress.com, gmail.com, stackoverflow.com
  • Tags can be tagged
  • Tags can be nested, e.g. C++, Java, Python under programming-languages under programming under computers. This allows the user to just add one label e.g. Java. (note bookmarks are NOT nested.)
  • The local file system should use tagging, the ext file system on gnu/linux supports labels, so we need better client support (not just gui) and integration with this now system so that it works seamlessly. As this system that I describe must support multiple servers this will not be of grate additional complexity.

gmail — the good, the bad, the ugly.

Introduction

This entry is just about the few thinks I don’t like about gmail. But first let me tell you that I like it. It is easy to use, it has labels (but see below for where they fall short), it has conversations (but see below for where they fall short), it has undo send, etc.

What could be improved in gmail

• Conversations:

  Sometimes gmail gets it wrong, and there is nothing that can be done about this. However it would be nice to be able to override it. What is needed is a split and join feature. (I have not worked out the exact mechanics of this)

• Labels/Tags:

  Here I have a little more to say.

  • Gmail does not allow us label email as it is sent unless it is a reply/forward. We can start a new email, save, retrieve from drafts, label, send. ( this is 2 extra steps )
  • Labels are not universal. See post Everything [that is a Tag] is a Tag.

Delicious a prison.

Delicious, a social book marking site, is broken. It was sold to Yahoo, then to AVOS, then AVOS changed it so it no longer works how I and a lot of other people use it. But what do I do?

I should have known better, this is what happens when you let others look after your data without strong controls. You get locked in. Or is it, is there another way?

At work the materials purchasing people tell me that it is cheaper in the long run if we use materials that can be sourced from multiple suppliers (multi-source). If this is not possible then we should have strong relationships with the supplier (see lean manufacturing, the Toyota way. I will not talk about it here.).

So how do I multi-source software?

Most software has a single source. What properties do I need in the software to satisfy my multi-source requirement.

I think there are two paths to multi-source: free-software and free-protocols.

Free-software

free-software is defined as:

• Freedom 0: The freedom to run the program, for any purpose.
• Freedom 1: The freedom to study how the program works, and change it so it does your computing as you wish. (Access to the source code is a precondition for this.)
• Freedom 2: The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbour.
• Freedom 3: The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions to others. By doing this you can give the whole community a chance to benefit from your changes. (Access to the source code is a precondition for this.)

Because of these freedoms it is possible for you or someone else, possibly working for you, to takeover the project. It is possible to study it and design a replacement.

Free-protocols, exportability, reconfigurability

But we need another way. One that is not absolutely necessary if we always use free-software (but still preferable), but is if we choose to use proprietary software.

• The freedom to change our mind, to not be locked in. This freedom requires free-software or free-protocols, reconfigurability (at least at my end) and exportability of data.

• Protocols: network protocols, file formats, APIs, etc. need to be free.
• I need to be able to export my data in a free-protocol, and I need to do regular backups.
• I need to be able to configure client software, to point at a new server etc.

Summary

I need to be able to change my mind. To get out of unhealthy relationships when a supplier does not treat me well.

So I should use free-software, software that has the three properties listed above, or preferably both.