Category: Technology
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Kaffeine: Can’t check DMA mode. Permission denied or no such device: “/dev/dvd”
I recently ran into trouble trying to play copy-protected DVDs on my new installation of Kubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron beta). Initially it seemed that there was a problem with the installation of libdvdcss2, because Kaffeine kept offering to re-install it. However, after a re-start of Kaffeine from Konsole with wizard mode (kaffeine -w), I got…
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Will The Canoniclique Finally Listen To Kubuntu?
Yesterday, Ubuntu tore a page from The Book of Dell and launched Brainstorm, an opportunity for its users to contribute their ideas for software development and marketing. To my own surprise, I signed up for an account. It’s not that I don’t enjoy giving my opinion. Tirades and diatribes are my raison d’être. If you…
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Persnickety Linux Isn’t Doing Itself Any PR Favours
I spent last Saturday fixing up an old computer. For the last 7 years or so, I’ve donated equipment to needy kids and families. This computer was a generic 1GHz Pentium-III: a local computer shop house brand. Apparently the previous owner tried to do a bit of fixing-up himself and got in over his head,…
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How do I love KDE? Let me count the ways.
No, I’m not actually going to count, but it was the first title that popped into my head and if I’ve learned anything about the creative process, it’s that your first instinct is usually the best. The GNOME vs. KDE war is not new. Since their very beginnings where one claimed to be the first…
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Linux Use As A Political Act
You may not consider yourself a political activist. Perhaps your initial interest in Linux had much to do with its zero-dollar price tag, reputation for stability, resistance to viruses, or huge software catalog. But, if you currently use it as your sole or primary operating system: why? Let’s talk about me, for lack of a…
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Power In Numbers
Recently, I read a (now much publicized) interview with Linus Torvalds about the future of Linux. None of his revelations were as revolutionary as his kernel has been, but that didn’t stop scores of “journalists” from filling Linux news with headlines to the effect that “Torvalds Confirms There Will Be No Linux Version 3!”. For…
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The Myth of Microsoft Benevolence
Microsoft’s recent announcement that they will be releasing a 3-dollar Windows software suite might sound like a charitable gesture, if it weren’t so wrapped in context: In addition to any outstanding antitrust suits, Microsoft has now embarked on new lawsuit frontiers for its marketing of Vista. The 3-dollar version of Windows in question is severely…
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Ready-To-Surf Linux
Thinking about Linux? Then you’ll probably want to try a distribution that comes complete with all the software trimmings, including the capability to play MP3s, DVD movies, plus Flash and other web video right off the bat. While Linux is not difficult to get used to, it’s nice to be able to just use it…