[sf-lug] SF-LUG meeting of Sunday 6 January 2013

[jim]

    Nice report, Bobbie. 
    Also, Eric mentioned that Canonical is releasing 
Ubuntu built on an Android kernel. This promises to 
run the same apps as those available for Ubuntu for 
"regular" computers, i.e. the same apps will run on 
an Android cellphone as run on a powerful tower or 
laptop. Assuming so, that's full integration across 
my mobile and less mobile devices, a real boon and 
an interesting countrast to the dumbing down trend 
of computing platforms in general. 




On Sun, 2013-01-06 at 14:39 -0800, Bobbie Sellers wrote:
>     Hi LUGgers,
>         Well it was an interesting meeting today.
>     John Strazzarino was there before me at the Cafe Enchante.
> He was very interested in seeing Ken Schaefer's Chumby running
> and Ken with his wife was in shortly thereafter.  Ken's
> gadget today was not only the demo of the operating Chumby
> but an Ocopoid like USB Hub.
>     Then as I was booting to Knoppix 7.04 a nice fellow named
> Nelson showed up briefly and then saying he need cash and
> the in-cafe ATM was out of order left to find $$ and food.
>     He never returned so I hope he had no other problems.  He was
> looking for help with his Lenova Linux install as all his support
> had moved East after doing a big update for him.  He is a writer
> and needs his computer to be working.  
>     Next in was Jim Stockford and he came to help and learn.
> 
>     Playing with Knoppix I had tried to log out but in doing so
> was offered the chance to use KDE in the desktop environment
> and did so.  This is KDE 4.7.4 and it was interesting as the 
> set-up from the 4.5.4 that I use daily was not terribly different
> but there was a problem with over-sized widget(s) icons on
> the vertical panel.   
> 
>     By the way the Knoppix is running on Kernel 3.4.9 I believe
> and usually boots to LXDE which can put up as many panels
> as KDE but makes it substantially harder to populate them with
> icons and widgets.
> 
>     Then Morgan cam in with a problem getting an older editor
> to run.  We were not able to help him much though I personally
> sympathise  because I used to use Textra on the Amiga and try
> to duplicated the features of that fine old tool using both
> KWrite and Kate to do the chores I used to accomplish with
> Textra.
> 
>     Finally Eric came in to show off his Nexus 7.   This inspired
> a search on the tablet and on its larger brother the Nexus 10
> both by Google but the 10 inch device is much more connectible
> and expensive.  I looked up the specs for Jim and it is a very
> good fast multi-core with a separate core for Graphics and it 
> shows about 2560 x 1600 in those 10 inches.
> 
>     Some one perhaps Ken raised the Raspberry Pi as a good
> usable computer which reminded me of the news from Team
> Amiga of "the MK802 Allwinner A10 Mini PC,the Other $35 
> Do-It-All Computer. Running Android 4.0, this about the size 
> of a flash drive and, also like your favorite USB storage device,
> enjoys being plugged into things. HDMI inputs to be precise. 
> Unlike flash drives, however, the MK802 also enjoys having 
> things plugged into it. A keyboard. A mouse. A micro SD card. 
> The little brick with the Android brain is truly a wonder 
> of versatility and skill. . . ." 
> 
> <http://www.dudeiwantthat.com/gear/computers/android-mk802-mini-pc.asp>
> 
>     We discussed the use of touch screens as well on full-sized
> desktop
> computers.  I find them pointless for general computing but for
> kiosk and similar uses it was pointed out they have their places.
> 
>     1:05 PM we adjourned.
> 
>     Thanks for the ride, Jim.
> 
>     Bobbie Sellers
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