Infographic: Linux Then and Now

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Linux was originally developed as a free operating system for Intel x86-based personal computers. It has since been ported to more computer hardware platforms than any other operating system. It is a leading operating system on servers and other big iron systems such as mainframe computers and supercomputers: more than 90% of today's top 500 supercomputers run some variant of Linux, including the 10 fastest. Linux also runs on embedded systems (devices where the operating system is typically built into the firmware and highly tailored to the system) such as mobile phones, tablet computers, network routers, televisions and video game consoles; the Android system in wide use on mobile devices is built on the Linux kernel.

The primary difference between Linux and many other popular contemporary operating systems is that the Linux kernel and other components are free and open source software. Linux is not the only such operating system, although it is by far the most widely used.

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How to Run a Laptop Cheaply

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Laptops often prove somewhat of a necessity in the modern world. Conventionally used as portable alternatives to desktop PCs, these days they are often purchased instead of the latter in order to provide the best of both worlds. However, as with any PC they can prove expensive to run, especially if something goes wrong. Not to worry, however, for this guide aims to offer you tips on how to look after your laptop for less (however, if you don’t have a laptop already then you may want to look at a different article in order to help you accrue the funds to get one).

Productivity software

If you’re using a Windows PC and need a word processor, spreadsheet program or similar, then your immediate response is likely to be to turn to Microsoft Office. However, do remember that there are alternatives on offer. One of the most popular of these is OpenOffice, which has programs equivalent to all of those in Microsoft Office. Additionally, OpenOffice is available for a variety of operating systems beyond Windows, including Mac OS X, Linux and UNIX. Why shell out for expensive productivity software when you can get something just as good for free?

Servicing

Laptops have a habit of going wrong, and so this is where a lot of people often lose money when maintaining one. However, if you ask around you might be surprised at who has a hidden knack with computers in your friend group; they may even be able to have a look at your laptop for free (though you might want to give them something for their trouble). If you can’t find anyone who’ll help you with your laptop problems for free then be savvy in your choice of servicing outlet; personal recommendations and knowing at least a little bit about computers can help you avoid being overcharged.

laptops (Photo credit: _escalade328s_)

Don’t let it get stolen!

This may seem an obvious one, but a lot of people neglect a variety of seemingly simple things that in turn put their laptop and other portable electrical items at serious risk of theft. Replacing a laptop is no mean financial feat, and often you also lose irreparable data in the process. As with anything that a passing person might decide they’d like to steal off you, don’t advertise the fact that you’re carrying a laptop around with you if you can help it. Carrying a purpose-made laptop bag, for example, is a dead giveaway, whereas transporting in a more standard rucksack is far more subtle.

Vincent Vance usually writes for Vanquis Ltd, but today is instead trying to stop you from making the same mistakes with your laptop as he did.

Infographics: The Android Story

Android is a Linux-based operating system for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers. It is developed by the Open Handset Alliance led by Google. Google purchased the initial developer of the software, Android Inc., in 2005. The unveiling of the Android distribution in 2007 was announced with the founding of the Open Handset Alliance, a consortium of 86 hardware, software, and telecommunication companies devoted to advancing open standards for mobile devices. Google releases the Android code as open-source, under the Apache License. The Android Open Source Project (AOSP) is tasked with the maintenance and further development of Android.

Android has a large community of developers writing applications ("apps") that extend the functionality of the devices. Developers write primarily in a customized version of Java. Apps can be downloaded from third-party sites or through online stores such as Android Market, the app store run by Google. As of October 2011 there were more than 400,000 apps available for Android, and the estimated number of applications downloaded from the Android Market as of December 2011 exceeded 10 billion.

Infographic by Android Developers at [x]cubelabs

Infographics: Programming Language Evolution

In the summer of 1988 after graduation from high school I enrolled myself in a local technology school here. This is for preparing myself for my college education at that time, because I was thinking of getting a degree called Computer Science but end up taking Computer Engineering. Since i have nothing else to do that summer. In this time i have my first encountered with a programming language called COBOL or Common Business Oriented Language.

From then on when I was in college I also learned BASIC programming, D BASE and FOX BASE programming language and the last is Assembly Language. I learned HTML at worked, we have pascal and turbo c then but i missed the teacher who taught them. Anyway that was way back then now we have a lot to learn in terms of programming languages. Below is a visual guide on the evolution of programming languages.

Cloud applications

Linux Now Has A Tablet Of Their Own Called Spark

Now that Microsoft, Apple and Google have presented their versions of what tablets should look like, Linux is chiming in. They have their first tablet called the "Spark" up for grabs. Read on to see more on this special tablet with the popular open source software inside. 

An Open Source Tablet For Programmers 

This tablet is made for the geeks in the world. Those who love tinkering with code are the ones who were in mind when this Linux tablet named Spark was created. The coding geniuses now have their own brand of tablet to play or work with. This tablet is not made to give a challenge to an iPad or Kindle Fire. It is purely for the "purist", the programmer. 

This Is Not The Sharpest Knife In The Drawer 

This is a tablet with modest, but efficient, hardware specifications. The screen size is rated for seven inches of digital real estate. The clarity of the display is a disappointing 800 by 480 pixels. Remember, this tablet is not designed to be an "iPad killer". The processor is cruising along at a barely respectable one gigahertz. It is an AMLogic ARM processor. This is accompanied by an anorexic 512 megabytes of RAM. The internal memory space is a tight four gigabytes but thankfully the tablet also has an external flash memory card slot. 

Thank A Programmer For This Tablet 

A developer by the name of Aaron Seigo is the impetus behind the Spark tablet. He is a KDE developer and wants this to be a special kind of tablet. There will be a Meego-based mobile operating system running the menus and programs. If you do not remember Meego, it is an open source platform based on Linux and started by phone maker Nokia. The Spark tablet runs "Mer", a fork of Meego. Those who want to develop touch screen friendly apps with QT and QML will now be able to. This tablet will be the perfect beta testing tablet. 

A Great Looking User Interface 

The KDE ( K Desktop Environment ) that this tablet is running under is sporting a "Plasma Active" user interface. This is a flexible cover for the Linux mobile operating system, similar to the "Sense" user interface on HTC smartphones. But the "Plasma Active" UI is designed not to use much processor memory. It can be used on smartphones, smart televisions, in-car infotainment systems, set-top boxes and home automation. It is very customizable and "learns" what the user wants over time. 

This Tablet Will Be Here Soon 

Look for the Spark tablet to come out in May or behind schedule. The price will be $260 dollars or €200 Euros if you are in Europe.

Do you want to get more information on the author? 

Kenny is a contributor to cashforusedcarssandiego.com where you can get information on cars located in San Diego that is available for sale and also information on how to sell a car in San Diego.

The Easy and Hard Way of a Computer Hardware Driver Installation.

When installing on a newly purchased computer or reinstalling driver on a old computer, driver installation can be both taxing or easy a breathing fresh air. A computer or laptop has two major components and that is the hardware and the software. Without one of these two the computer or any gadgets is useless. The hardware must work properly with the software to produce a beautiful piece of machine. Of these two the hardware require the most time in getting it to work properly. 

There is several computer hardware that requires separate driver installation for them to function properly.

1.       Network adapter components

a.       Network Interface Card

b.      Wireless Connectivity

c.       Bluetooth

2.       Display  Adapters

3.       Sound, video and Game controllers

4.       Chip components

5.       Mouse or Pointing Devices.

Image via Wikipedia

The easy of installing the driver for the specific hardware components is by using the installer that comes with the computer or laptop. This driver is usually located on a piece of CD-ROM that comes with the laptop of computer. By running that specific CD-ROM we just need to follow the instruction or commonly known as wizard Installation guide to fully install the entire required hardware driver. This method is the easiest way of installing a driver.

Image via Wikipedia

The hard way of driver installation is if the CD-ROM that contains the driver for all hardware components is gone. For this method we need an internet connection. Not just an ordinary internet connection because we need to find and download the correct version for each specific computer hardware. Yes each computer hardware has a different version. Not all computer hardware drivers will work once they were installed. So it is very important that we need to know several things about the driver that would make them the correct driver for that specific hardware.

List of things that we need to know about the driver before we install in the computer.

1.       Operating system Type

2.       Driver Version

3.       Manufacturer

For every driver that we need to install we need to know the current operating system of the computer. Especially in the Windows based computer or laptop. There are several version of the same driver for each version of windows operating system. Like the driver for the Windows 98 or ME will not work for Windows NT and the rest of its different windows version. So it is very important to know where that driver’s manufacturer and version so that driver compatibility is maintained at all times. Also the correct manufacturer driver version should be established to make the driver finder works a lot faster. Instead of going from one place to another, we can go through the manufacturer website or support page. This method can be very fast instead of searching the whole internet just looking for that specific driver.

Another very easy way of driver installation is by using software that detects the entire needed driver by your computer. Once installed these software driver detector can be used to quickly determine all the needed driver type and version, download each one of them and begin installation as soon as the possible. We only need to run it and it will find the correct driver software. This software is being to check all the driver components and once finish finding each driver. The software can be easy to use once the proper setup has been on- looker is washed properly. Once the driver have been identify, it is now the time to download and then installation could begin for each hardware component of the computer.

How about you what do you think? Feel free to share your thoughts on these.