Latest News from Joe Barr

A first look at Ximian Desktop 2

Sun, 01 Jun 2003 00:00:00 EDT

Joe Barr is happy to have a Ximian desktop again, and hopes he doesn't have to go a long time without it in the future. Want a polished desktop? Give it a try!

Why the best news for Linux is still to come

Wed, 28 May 2003 00:00:00 EDT

While conspiracy theories are fun, Joe Barr is certain of two things. One is that Linux is going to continue its inexorable march to the desktop. The second is that the Microsoft monopoly is not going to go gentle into that good night.

Mandrake 9.1: Can installation get any easier?

Tue, 20 May 2003 00:00:00 EDT

At the risk of sounding blasé, Mandrake 9.1 is a pretty standard distribution, and consists of the latest KDE, GNOME, OpenOffice.org, Xine, Apache, MySQL, PHP, and PostgreSQL. The PowerPack version comes with 60-days of support via e-mail. The higher-priced ProSuite version of Mandrake comes with 60 days of telephone support and some additional server software. (1900 words)

SCO suspends Linux sales, Torvalds reacts

Wed, 14 May 2003 00:00:00 EDT

SCO CEO and President Darl McBride said the company is 'alerting commercial users to the fact that legal liability for the use of Linux by businesses may extend to end users.' (300 words)

Is Windows 2003 Server really faster than Linux/Samba?

Fri, 09 May 2003 00:00:00 EDT

Microsoft claims Windows 2003 Server is twice as fast as Linux, at least when it's used for file serving. I spoke to Jeremy Allison, head of the Samba team, who provided a few insights into the test configurations that don't leap out at the reader because they are hidden away in appendixes to the benchmark document. Allison feels this, in itself, is substantially responsible for the outcome.

Scratching that programming itch

Tue, 06 May 2003 00:00:00 EDT

In the late 1980s, I wrote an online bridge game for Portal. The world has changed a lot since then, but the itch remains. I decided to scratch the old itch again: I'm writing a bridge game, this time for online play over the Internet and on Linux.

Getting frugal: Red Hat Network's low-cost upgrade to Red Hat 9

Fri, 25 Apr 2003 00:00:00 EDT

I decided to put my Red Hat Network subscription to greater use. I normally use RHN to run up2date at least weekly so I can keep up with the latest security fixes and updates. This week, I decided to download the iso images of 'shrike' (Red Hat's code-word for its new release) and upgrade my desktop from Red Hat 8 to Red Hat 9. (1,560 words)

Catching up with WINE

Mon, 21 Apr 2003 00:00:00 EDT

With all the chatter accompanying two WINE-related announcements over the past week or so, Joe Barr thought it might be a good time to take a long look at the WINE project to see what all the fuss has been about. (1,400 words)

How to install another hard disk

Mon, 14 Apr 2003 00:00:00 EDT

Here are the basic steps to adding 120 gigabytes of storage to your

No complaints here: Linux gaming is gaining steam

Wed, 09 Apr 2003 00:00:00 EDT

I've been hanging around all the gaming channels I can find on irc.freenode.net over the past week or so, trying to learn more about the Linux gaming scene. There are more top-quality games available today than ever before, and the pipeline is filled with more jewels to come. (1,500 words)

How to install Neverwinter Nights on Linux

Mon, 31 Mar 2003 00:00:00 EST

Tricks, tips and techniques for installing one of the greatest timesinks ever invented on Linux. Hurry, Lady Aribeth has a secret mission, and you need to find and recover the Waterdhavian creatures! (1,400 words)

Open source making headway in Texas government

Mon, 24 Mar 2003 00:00:00 EST

Over the past two years, Texas has become ground zero in the war between proprietary and free/open-source software for use in state and local government. Our unilateral correspondent gives an update on three key battles in the Lone Star state. (1,700 words)

Linux at NASCAR.com: It's the pits

Mon, 17 Mar 2003 00:00:00 EST

In monitoring his son-in-law's performance in the Busch Series, Joe Barr discovers that NASCAR.com is packed with great information and features for racing fans. Unfortunately for Linux and Macintosh users, the site's most-exciting feature -- streaming audio and video -- is rigged to work only with RealOne and a Windows PC. Joe explores the reasons behind this incompatibility and wonders whether the problem is of the technical or marketing variety. (1,500 words)

SCO's lawsuit is funny, but not 'ha-ha' funny

Mon, 10 Mar 2003 00:00:00 EST

Showcasing a questionable understanding of the history of Unix, open-source software and computing in general, SCO's lawsuit against IBM has sent shockwaves rippling across the IT community. Parts of SCO's complaint would be laugh-out-loud funny if only the possible repercussions for Linux and open source weren't so detrimental. (1,400 words)

Two OCR packages for Linux compared

Mon, 03 Mar 2003 00:00:00 EST

Now that Linux boasts full-featured office suites, there's no reason it can't become a boon for small- and home-offices. Joe Barr compares two Optical Character Recognition packages -- Kooka & Gocr (free software) and OCR Shop (proprietary) -- that may be of special value in the legal and medical fields. While Joe finds one of the packages to be clearly superior in terms of performance, his personal pick of the two applications might surprise you. (1,500 words)

Opera shows graceful, humorous response to Microsoft blunder

Mon, 24 Feb 2003 00:00:00 EST

In the Browser Wars' latest scrap, MSN 'optimized' Opera browsers by sending instructions to shift text 30 pixels to the left. Opera responded by releasing a humorous 'Bork version' of its Windows browser, but Microsoft's track record in dealing with competitors isn't so funny -- and neither are the possible repercussions. (1,600 words)

Making MySQL, ODBC & OpenOffice 1.0 work together, Part 2

Mon, 17 Feb 2003 00:00:00 EST

OpenOffice.org is more sophisticated and powerful than I realized. It can be made to work with various database-management systems, and it can do the mailmerge functions required by many SOHO types. Ease-of-use issues need attention.

Trail of tears: MySQL, ODBC & OpenOffice 1.0

Fri, 07 Feb 2003 00:00:00 EST

Thanks in no small part to a helpful how-to piece by John McCreesh, Joe Barr shows us how to get ODBC, MySQL and OpenOffice to treat each other with respect. And don't forget to tune in next week, when Joe tells all regarding his attempts to use MySQL from within OpenOffice (1,500 words)

TightVNC: Remote X the secure, fast & easy way

Mon, 03 Feb 2003 00:00:00 EST

Looking for a software solution to help him access his home desktop remotely, Joe Barr finds even more than he'd hoped for in TightVNC. (1,470 words)

Larry McVoy on BitKeeper, kernel development, Linus Torvalds & Bruce Perens

Mon, 27 Jan 2003 00:00:00 EST

The story of how BitKeeper became Linus Torvalds's (and many other kernel hackers') tool of choice in maintaining the Linux-development tree is worthy of a book. Here's the Cliffs Notes version of McVoy's contribution to Linux kernel development, BitKeeper, and countless hours of flaming on the role of open source and proprietary software.

Meet the Perens (Part 2): Secret preloads, Bitkeeper and TCO

Fri, 17 Jan 2003 00:00:00 EST

Bruce Perens, former Linux/Open-Source strategist for HP, advises Joe Barr about hot-headed journalism tactics and sounds off on Bitkeeper, pre-loaded Linux PCs and the ever-fervent Windows vs. Linux TCO debate.

Meet the Perens

Mon, 13 Jan 2003 00:00:00 EST

Bruce Perens, the former Linux/Open-Source strategist for HP, talks to Joe Barr about his work with the Cyber Security Policy Institute at George Washington University, his new Prentice Hall book series and his life since departing HP. (1,300 words)

10 Linux predictions for 2003

Mon, 06 Jan 2003 00:00:00 EST

It's the time of year when columnists make shots in the dark about what will happen in the next 365 days, and Joe Barr is no exception. Plus, we review how well Barr did last year. Editor's advice: Don't listen to his Super Bowl predictions. (1,550 words)

Getting started with IRC

Mon, 30 Dec 2002 00:00:00 EST

IRC is that information dirt road for hackers, right? Well, yes and no. It's a whole lot more. Here are the basics to getting started with IRC. (1,550 words)

Seeing through the Linux-Windows TCO comparisons

Thu, 19 Dec 2002 00:00:00 EST

Help for managers who want to undertake their own TCO study. We look at three current real-world scenarios to learn what elements should be included in TCO calculations. (2,650 words)

'Tis the season to frag with Linux

Mon, 09 Dec 2002 00:00:00 EST

At wit's end due to crowded shopping malls, miserable weather and that FAO Schwartz song that plays over and over and over until you lose your mind? Have no fear: an open-source, first-person-shooter game called Cube can help relieve some of your stress, and Joe Barr is here to tell you how. (1,300 words)

Three reasons for newbie-centric culture shock

Tue, 03 Dec 2002 00:00:00 EST

Ever since his own jump to open source, Joe Barr has been hearing complaints from Linux newbies and never really bought into any of them. Until now. Joe points out three major obstacles for anyone making the jump to Linux and explains how the operating system's usability can improve. (1,700 words)

Mandrake 9.0 speeds into the installation lead

Mon, 25 Nov 2002 00:00:00 EST

The pluses for Mandrake installation are its speed and the absolute ease of obtaining and applying updates. It completely obliterates the Windows contenders in both the update category and the installation of attached devices. (1,900 words)

Xandros 1.0: Easy on the eyes, easy to install

Mon, 18 Nov 2002 00:00:00 EST

Joe Barr tests the installation process for the sample version of Xandros 1.0. Our hero finds that the Distribution Formerly Known As Corel Linux isn't just pretty... it's pretty darn easy to install, too. (2,200 words)

Linus Torvalds answers 10 goofy questions

Wed, 13 Nov 2002 00:00:00 EST

Here are ten questions Doc Searls, Phil Hughes and the rest of the gang really wanted answered on the Linux Lunacy Geek Cruise but were afraid to ask. (700 words)

Knoppix makes a great GUI installer for Debian

Mon, 04 Nov 2002 00:00:00 EST

The configuration process on a normal Debian installation can be daunting. Knoppix automagically identified and configured everything for me, making a normally tedious (for me) installation a 40-minute walk in the park. (1,300 words)

A mixed welcome for Unreal Tournament 2003 on Linux

Mon, 28 Oct 2002 00:00:00 EST

Didn't know about the Linux version of Unreal Tournament 2003, Epic Games' popular first-person shooter? That's because Epic Games seems to be keeping quiet about the Linux version's very existence. Joe Barr examines the mysterious shortcomings that plague what could have been very cool news for the Linux community. (1,300 words)

Linux vs. Windows installation comparo, Part 3

Mon, 21 Oct 2002 00:00:00 EDT

First, we compared the reinstallation of Windows 2000 to a fresh installation of Red Hat 7.3. Then we brought in a newbie to install Windows XP, on the theory that the latest Windows would be the state of the art in convenience and speed. In this installment, we compare all to the latest release from Red Hat. (1,600 words)

What's new with HP's open source efforts

Mon, 14 Oct 2002 00:00:00 EDT

What's up with Linux and open source at HP these days? No Linux or open source people have lost their jobs at HP. Given the current downtrend in the technology sector as a whole these days, that says a lot about HP's intentions. (1,700 words)

Linux vs. Windows installation, part 2: Shoot-out at the XP Corral

Fri, 04 Oct 2002 00:00:00 EDT

Joe Barr responds to reader feedback about his recent Red Hat vs. Win2000 install comparison and accepts the challenge to put Windows XP installation up to the test. Will Windows enthusiasts win out and force Joe to eat crow, or will Red Hat remain the quickest and easiest install tested yet? Part two in a continuing series (2,000 words)

Getting the Mandrake version of ViaVoice running on Red Hat 7.3

Wed, 02 Oct 2002 00:00:00 EDT

If you are a committed Linux user running an RPM-based distribution with a need for ViaVoice Dictation, I recommend that you beg, borrow, or steal a copy of the Mandrake PowerPack Edition 8.0 instead of trying the IBM commercial offering. Part 2 in a series. (1,200 words)

How to get IBM ViaVoice Dictation running on Red Hat 7.3

Mon, 23 Sep 2002 00:00:00 EDT

The boxed version of IBM's ViaVoice Dictation for Linux is one of the most poorly delivered commercial offerings I have seen for Linux or any other platform. If you need voice recognition software, get Mandrake or SuSE, which bundle ViaVoice Dictation.

Balancing your books? GnuCash is the answer

Mon, 16 Sep 2002 00:00:00 EDT

Joe Barr walks us through his experience with GnuCash personal-accounting software. His conclusion? GnuCash is good enough to trust with his miniature donkey farm’s bookkeeping.

Taking Kylix 3 for a test drive

Mon, 09 Sep 2002 00:00:00 EDT

The trials and tribulations of one man's attempt to code a 'cute little demo application' using using the C++ features of Kylix 3 Open Edition (K3OE). (1,400 words)

Why Kylix 3 doesn't support Red Hat 7.3 & how to fix it (maybe)

Mon, 02 Sep 2002 00:00:00 EDT

Do not try this at home. Do not run Kylix 3 on an unsupported distribution unless it makes no difference to you if the product works or not. Just want to play, learn, or experiment? Fine, but to develop code you intend to use or distribute, no. (1,600 words)

An unauthorized biography of RMS

Mon, 26 Aug 2002 00:00:00 EDT

Sam Williams filled in a few missing tiles on the mosaic of the history of Richard Stallman and the free software movement with his unauthorized biography of Richard Stallman with his book Free as in Freedom: Richard Stallman's Crusade for Free Software. (1,200 words)

A Linux you can try before you even install it

Mon, 19 Aug 2002 00:00:00 EDT

Knoppix is an 'instant demo' distribution. You make (or buy) a bootable CD, plop it in your CD drive, and reboot. Voila, THAT is your installation. (1,200 words)

Is Windows or Linux easier to install?

Mon, 12 Aug 2002 00:00:00 EDT

I expected Windows 2000's installation would be seamless, fast, and lightyears ahead of upstart Red Hat's by any measure I could concoct. It turns out the Windows 2000 Pro installation is superior to Linux, but in two dubious categories. (2,000 words)

Why Microsoft is exhibiting at LinuxWorld Expo

Mon, 29 Jul 2002 00:00:00 EDT

What would motivate Microsoft to participate in an event celebrating a cancer-causing, communist-inspired, anti-American miscreant of an operating system called Linux? (1,200 words)

A first look at StarOffice 6.0

Mon, 10 Jun 2002 00:00:00 EDT

StarOffice is a complete package. It's no longer free as in beer, but it's a good buy, especially if you get it as part of a bundle such as a Linux distribution or Ximian's Red Carpet Express. (1,000 words)

A first look at gobeProductive 3.0

Mon, 03 Jun 2002 00:00:00 EDT

When Gobe Software announced it was adding Linux to its stable of supported platforms, I immediately requested a review copy. There wasn't one at the time, but I was recently informed there was an alpha version I could look at if I wished. (1,200 words)

Mandrake 8.2 offers the easiest installation ever

Mon, 20 May 2002 00:00:00 EDT

Joe Barr installs Mandrake's new Powerpack 8.2 for workstations on a Sony Vaio laptop computer. Workstation on a laptop? You bet. It went on like warm butter on a hot biscuit. (1,200 words)

Linux.SYS-CON.com Flashback to 2002: The "Stallman Factor"

Wed, 08 May 2002 00:00:00 EDT

Mention RMS in a Linux crowd and you'll find people who love him, hate him, and those who simply roll their eyes. People call him a whacko, egotist, genius, saint, and communist. Precious few are ambivalent about Richard Stallman.

How to install PureSecure, the painless IDS

Tue, 30 Apr 2002 00:00:00 EDT

PureSecure is much more polished, more complete, and more fully featured than its free software counterpart ACID. It's not free for commercial use, however. (1,200 words)

Sun, SuSE, & the Grid Engine project

Mon, 22 Apr 2002 00:00:00 EDT

SuSE Linux Professional Linux version 8.0 will include an open source version of Sun's Grid Engine 5.3. (550 words)