Many of the committee members are unavailable tonight, so we'll have
the meeting next
Tuesday instead. Sorry about the late notice,
Good luck,
Malcohol.
___________________________________________________________
To help you stay safe and secure online, we've developed the all new Yahoo! Security Centre. http://uk.security.yahoo.com
* 193.120.144.172 SoftwareFreedomDay/HelpdeskFri, 16 Sep 2005 07:00:01 -0000
=== CD Help ===
- * What do do if the computer doesn't boot the CD,
- * How to start using the CD,
- * Common Problems
- * Installation Guide
+ * "What do do if the computer doesn't boot the CD";http://www.ifso.ie/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi/SoftwareFreedomDay/Helpdesk/CantBoot
+ * "Other boot time problems";http://www.ifso.ie/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi/SoftwareFreedomDay/Helpdesk/BootTime
+ * "How to start using the CD";http://www.ifso.ie/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi/SoftwareFreedomDay/Helpdesk/StartUse
+ * "Frequently Asked Questions";http://www.ifso.ie/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi/SoftwareFreedomDay/Helpdesk/FAQ
+ * "Installation Guide";http://www.ifso.ie/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi/SoftwareFreedomDay/Helpdesk/Installation
* "Documentation";http://www.ifso.ie/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi/SoftwareFreedomDay/Documentation
This will cover Slax, Beatrix and Elive CDs. Please be patient, and allow a week for this to be completed. I'm a very very busy man! URL: http://www.ifso.ie/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi/SoftwareFreedomDay/Helpdesk?action=diff
* 193.120.144.172 SoftwareFreedomDay/Helpdesk/CantBootFri, 16 Sep 2005 07:00:01 -0000
URL: http://www.ifso.ie/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi/SoftwareFreedomDay/Helpdesk/CantBoot?ac…
* 193.120.144.172 SoftwareFreedomDay/Helpdesk/InstallationFri, 16 Sep 2005 07:00:01 -0000
URL: http://www.ifso.ie/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi/SoftwareFreedomDay/Helpdesk/Installatio…
* 193.120.144.172 SoftwareFreedomDay/Helpdesk/StartUseFri, 16 Sep 2005 07:00:01 -0000
URL: http://www.ifso.ie/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi/SoftwareFreedomDay/Helpdesk/StartUse?ac…
* 193.120.144.172 SoftwareFreedomDay/Helpdesk/FAQFri, 16 Sep 2005 07:00:01 -0000
URL: http://www.ifso.ie/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi/SoftwareFreedomDay/Helpdesk/FAQ?action=…
* 193.120.144.172 SoftwareFreedomDay/Helpdesk/BootTimeFri, 16 Sep 2005 07:00:01 -0000
URL: http://www.ifso.ie/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi/SoftwareFreedomDay/Helpdesk/BootTime?ac…
ANNOUNCEMENT: World Summit on Free Information Infrastructures (WSFII)
~ For Redistribution Far and Wide ~
On the first weekend of October (1st and 2nd) the World Summit on Free
Information Infrastructures is taking place in London. This event will
bring together individuals and groups from across the world working on
projects such as free wireless networking, free of copyright mapping
and open hardware. It is also part of a larger season of events based
around alternative approaches to knowledge production and access and
timed to coincide with the UK's hosting of a pan-European Creative
Economy conference.
A provisional programme is available here:
http://www.wsfii.org/programme.html
The event is open to all but we encourage you to register because space
is limited. A small entrance fee of £10 is planned to help pay for costs
but concessions are available. You can register via:
http://www.wsfii.org/register.php
General Info
============
What: World Summit on Free Information Infrastructures (WSFII)
Url: http://www.wsfii.org/
Programme: http://www.wsfii.org/programme.html
When: Saturday and Sunday, October 1-2 2005 (2005-10-01 -> 2005-10-02)
Where: Limehouse Town Hall, 646 Commercial Road, London, E14 7HA
Map: http://tinyurl.com/7m5qw
Registration: http://www.wsfii.org/register.php
* 193.120.144.172 SoftwareFreedomDay/HelpdeskTue, 13 Sep 2005 07:00:02 -0000
URL: http://www.ifso.ie/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi/SoftwareFreedomDay/Helpdesk?action=diff
* 193.120.144.172 SoftwareFreedomDay/DocumentationTue, 13 Sep 2005 07:00:02 -0000
URL: http://www.ifso.ie/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi/SoftwareFreedomDay/Documentation?action…
* 193.120.144.172 SoftwareFreedomDayTue, 13 Sep 2005 07:00:02 -0000
(to follow, sorry, providing help is top priority now)
+
+ ---- /!\ '''Edit conflict - other version:''' ----
+ == Welcome ==
+
+ To those who we gave IFSO 'business cards' to, you've landed at the right place. The documentation will be appearing on the "Helpdesk page";http://www.ifso.ie/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi/SoftwareFreedomDay/Helpdesk just as soon as I can get it ready. We're talking a couple of days. Be patient!! Thanks to all who came up to us and showed such a great interest in free software. I would encourage you to be clear about the '''difference''' between '''freeware''' and '''free software''', as this will make you more inclined to use it.
+
+ I've started a help page and will be populating it with links to useful documentation in the coming week(s). For help, start "Here";http://www.ifso.ie/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi/SoftwareFreedomDay/Helpdesk Feel free to email any questions to the "The Midlands Linux User Group";http://midlands.linux.ie/portal The address is '''midlands''' _at_ '''linux''' _dot_ '''ie'''
+
+ Look forward to hearing your experiences. '''''Message for Jim''''': You know who you are! Let us know how you get on with the phone software, and which one you eventually went for! Finally, for those unfamiliar with these things, on the "MiLUG";http://midlands.linux.ie/portal site, we use aliases, not because we're subversive or anything, it's just how things are done.
+
+ So, if you hear from Hashbang ( #! ) just don't run scared (-:=
+
+
+ == Event Report ==
+
+ (to follow, sorry, providing help is top priority now)
+
... URL: http://www.ifso.ie/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi/SoftwareFreedomDay?action=diff
* 193.120.144.172 SoftwareFreedomDay/EducationalSat, 10 Sep 2005 07:00:01 -0000
URL: http://www.ifso.ie/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi/SoftwareFreedomDay/Educational?action=d…
* 193.120.144.172 SoftwareFreedomDay/ProgramsSat, 10 Sep 2005 07:00:01 -0000
URL: http://www.ifso.ie/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi/SoftwareFreedomDay/Programs?action=diff
* 193.120.144.172 SoftwareFreedomDaySat, 10 Sep 2005 07:00:01 -0000
* '''Remaster OpenCD3''' only put ''Beatrix'';http://www.watsky.net/ on it instead of that shaggin non-installin Ubuntu
* '''Remaster Slax''' ''Slax'';http://slax.linux-live.org/ Version 5.0.6 (I have all the ''educational'';http://www.ifso.ie/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi/SoftwareFreedomDay/Educational modules up on it, but really want to include gcompris, may not be possible)
* '''Documentation''' Anyone who would like to expand these descriptions of "Programs";http://www.ifso.ie/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi/SoftwareFreedomDay/Programs - think along the lines of how "Open CD" quickly describes a programs function.
- * ''EduUbuntu Breezy:''' Downloaded a nightly build of Edu-Ubuntu, (28 Aug), and it installs etc. Not a live CD but would be suitable for anything 128mb up, and loads of educational stuff, USEFUL stuff. Would anyone have time to to check and see if it's ready now. Sorry, you'll need to google for the link, the link is on another laptop, and I don't have it to hand.
+ * '''EduUbuntu Breezy:''' Downloaded a nightly build of Edu-Ubuntu, (28 Aug), and it installs etc. Not a live CD but would be suitable for anything 128mb up, and loads of educational stuff, USEFUL stuff. Would anyone have time to to check and see if it's ready now. Sorry, you'll need to google for the link, the link is on another laptop, and I don't have it to hand.
== Previous call for help == URL: http://www.ifso.ie/cgi-bin/wiki.cgi/SoftwareFreedomDay?action=diff
Massachusetts proposal puts Microsoft on defensive
Financial Times
By Richard Waters in San Francisco
Published: September 1 2005 19:00 | Last updated: September 1 2005 19:00
For Microsoft
<http://mwprices.ft.com/custom/ft-com/quotechartnews.asp?FTSite=FTCOM&q=MSFT…>,
grappling with state officials in Massachusetts is nothing new. After
the federal government and a number of states settled the landmark
antitrust case against the software company, the New England state held out.
Now, Massachusetts is preparing to deliver another challenge to
Microsoft's core PC software business: a directive to force all 50,000
desktop computers used by state employees to be stripped of Microsoft's
Office, the suite of applications used on an estimated 95 per cent of
PCs the world over. Instead, they would be required to run an
open-source version, such as OpenOffice or StarOffice – software
produced by volunteer programmers and distributed free of charge.
Such public policy proposals have become a familiar challenge for
Microsoft abroad, as national and local governments in countries such as
Brazil, India and China have latched on to the promise of open-source
software.
Governments have been attracted by the prospect of using software with
code open to inspection and adaptation, while also employing the
software to stimulate the development of local software industries not
dependent on Microsoft.
At home, though, the Massachusetts recommendation represents something
new. The plan, proposed by the state's chief information officer, is
open for public comment until the end of next week.
If Microsoft cannot overturn the proposal, it could become an
influential policy that helps to shape the thinking of other local US
authorities.
For Microsoft, which earned $8.6bn from Office last year – almost as
much as the $9.4bn from the Windows PC operating system – that would be
worrying.
So far, in spite of the political posturing around open-source desktop
software, Microsoft has largely rebuffed significant inroads into its
core business, at least in the developed world.
Much of that has to do with cost: testing and installing open-source
software, then training office workers, can lead to costs that were
“simply too high” for most potential users, according to a report last
month from Gartner, a technology research firm.
The question of cost will figure prominently in Microsoft's last-minute
lobbying to try to overturn the Massachusetts proposal.
“I think it would be pretty risky for the state of Massachusetts togo
in a direction like this without a clear look at the costs first,” says
Alan Yates, general manager of the Office division at Microsoft. “It
would seem to me that before taking such a big shift, they would look
into it further.”
Microsoft has also taken steps to make its software more compatible with
open technology standards, heading off some of the resistance from
public bodies.
The European Commission, in its study on the subject two years ago,
known as the Valoris report, concluded that Microsoft's adoption of XML
technology was enough to meet the requirements of most public sector users.
Massachusetts, however, has concluded that Microsoft's shift towards
open standards has not gone far enough.
For Microsoft, the battle to keep the open source movement at bay has
just moved a little closer to home.