December 2007 - wlug - list.wlug.org.nz

DVD creator software
by James Pluck 03 Jan '08

03 Jan '08

Hi all! I'm in a bit of a bind. I'm trying to create a dvd out of some home movies we've made of our foster son so we can give them to his birth parents and his grandparents as part of their Christmas gift. However, the only software I can find is commercial and I can't afford it - let alone know how to use it. I could do with some hints, please I need software that will allow me to create a DVD that is a mix of approximately 10 video clips (in MOV format as that is the only format for video that our digi-cam uses) and a slideshow of approx 50 photos - so it's definitely less than a DVD's worth of footage. FOSS software preferred but I will try shareware or commercial if I have to. Any help that can be provided would be greatly appreciated. Cheers James. -- A Mathematician named Klein Thought the mobius strip was divine Said he "If you glue The edges of two You'll get a cool bottle, like mine!"

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Explanation of Samba/Microsoft deal
by Ian McDonald 27 Dec '07

27 Dec '07

Good article here: http://www.linux.com/feature/123721 -- Web1: http://wand.net.nz/~iam4/ Web2: http://www.jandi.co.nz

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Technology in 2008 (Economist)
by Michael McDonald 23 Dec '07

23 Dec '07

Interesting forecast from the Economist. Predicts more use of Open Source. http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10410912 Michael

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Java or Python?
by Chris O'Halloran 18 Dec '07

18 Dec '07

I am looking for some thoughts/opinions on the merits of these two languages. Over the years I book a few books on Java including Java in Nutshell Java Foundation Class Java for Scientist and Engineers The latter being the most useful to me. However, I've never really got the hang of how it all works. I don't have a formal programming background In recent times, I've come across Python and lately stumbled upon SciPy,ipython, NumPy and matplotlib.sourceforge.net. I've also noticed that Python has PyQt that enables you to use the Qt and poss KDE for widgets and gui interface. KDE is the desktop of choice for me and QT Designer are all "sudo apt-get install " away. Both Python and Java are cross platform which a plus. What I would like to do is put together small applications often using complex numbers and array for the engineering work that I do. Sometimes importing csv text files containing data from measurment devices. I have always thought Java was the tool for this but lately, I've noticed how easy it is to make things work with Python. especially the interactive "try a line of code, did it do what you wanted?, no, try this, ah, that works" I'm thinking that Python might provide the fast feed back approach that gets you enthused about actually coding than the steper learning curve of a more comprehensive language and not actually knowing where to start with a gui or even just how to get the IDE to use the classpath you want. I'd be interested if people had thoughts or comments on the merits. Cheers

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Next year's presentations
by Roderick Aldridge 18 Dec '07

18 Dec '07

Wanted: presentations for the new year. The committee is trying to plan for a variety of presentations next year which will interest and benefit current members and make known the benefits of Linux and open source to others (and bring in new members). Make your suggestions please to the list or on the wiki at http://wlug.org.nz/IdeasForFutureMeetings or to any committee member. Preferably ones you can do yourself or can supply suitable presenter(s), but if the subject is intersting enough, other members may be able to suggest presenters. Roderick Aldridge WLUG Committee

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Useful ubuntu links for new software and running 32bit apps on 64bit systems.
by Chris O'Halloran 17 Dec '07

17 Dec '07

Some information that may be of interest to ubuntu users. Heaps of debian packages http://www.getdeb.net/ And for resolving depedencies for 32bit programs on 64bit systems http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=474790

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scanner2.malware-scan.com
by Michael McDonald 16 Dec '07

16 Dec '07

Has anyone else had problems with this site? It pops up a message telling you your computer is running slowly, scans your disk (I don't think it does , just makes believe it does), tells you you've got viruses, and tries to download fixes. Now, the interesting thing is that I've triggered it twice in the last few weeks, but I haven't the foggiest idea how. I've got a suspicion it may have been triggered by from my Gmail page, but when going back over my actions everything seems normal. Of course, since I'm running Ubuntu/Firefox I'm not unduly worried. I'm curious to know how I got directed there from supposedly safe sites (if it wasn't Gmail, then it must have been Computerworld NZ). I did a bit of a Google and came across this discussion on an Apple forum. Knowing the fierce loyalty of Mac owners and their claims of immunity from Internet problems, it was interesting to see that they also had the same experience as me ... but no clues as to why it was happening. http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1239037&tstart=0 Now, this makes me worried for the Windows community. It would be extremely difficult for them to avoid damage in this instance. Closing the window in the normal fashion just gets you further into the mire. I don't know just what protection the standard anti-virus / anti-spyware programs and firewalls will give a Windows user ... and I certainly don't want to experiment to find out! Have you got any information / data / comments that you can add? Michael

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KDE 4 update
by Ian McDonald 13 Dec '07

13 Dec '07

Ars has a good article here: http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071213-afirst-look-at-kde-4-0-releas… -- Web1: http://wand.net.nz/~iam4/ Web2: http://www.jandi.co.nz

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Fwd: [NZOSS-OpenChat] Ministry of Justice Open Source Discussion Paper
by Michael McDonald 12 Dec '07

12 Dec '07

The discussion paper is well worth reading. That paper would have been unthinkable a few years ago. Michael ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Don <don(a)catalyst.net.nz> Date: 12 Dec 2007 08:55 Subject: [NZOSS-OpenChat] Ministry of Justice Open Source Discussion Paper To: NZOSS OpenChat <openchat(a)nzoss.org.nz> This paper has been in draft form for a while. The MoJ has given it final release staus. http://nzoss.org.nz/news/2007/ministry-justice-open-source-discussion-paper I think it builds nicely on the Cunliffe speech I mentioned a few days ago. Cheers Don

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Arghhh - Help
by James Pluck 11 Dec '07

11 Dec '07

(I apologise for the spam if you've gotten this twice. I think the email I originally sent it from is not subscribed to this list). Hi all! I'm in a bit of a bind. We're experiencing very poor connectivity at the moment from Slingshot. We're lucky to be able to stay online for more than 3 minutes at a time. I've just called Slingshot support and a very bored woman who sounded like it was beneath her to even talk to me was very unhelpful. refused to run any checks on the line or check logs or anything at their end unless I tried an alternative router on the line. She basically wanted me off the phone as fast as possible - presumably so she could get back to her WoW game or Puzzle Pirates or something more important than actual customer support (I tell you - if we had someone who behaved like that to customers at Quicksilver they'd be on notice pretty bloody fast!) Anyway - does anyone have a spare adsl router that I could borrow for a day or so to do some troubleshooting and see if it is my problem or Slingshot's problem. I'm in the process of choosing another provider because we've not been hapy with the service from Slingshot for some time but I'd kinda like to work out if it's a hardware issue or a connection issue before we switch. If I had the knowledge and the skills I'd probably just bite the bullet and rewire the jackpoints in this house - the current phone wiring seems a little amateurish - but we've had no troubles with any telecommunications services up until a couple of weeks ago. I have a drum of cat 5 but no skills on how to use it - *sigh* anyways - if anyone has a spare serviceable adsl router they would be willing to loan me I would be most grateful! James. -- James Pluck PalmOS Ergo Sum "Dear IRS: I would like to cancel my subscription. Please remove my name from your mailing list..."

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Upcoming WLUG committee meeting (1 week today)
by Meeting Reminder bot 10 Dec '07

10 Dec '07

As per the WLUG charter, please note that there is a WLUG executive committee meeting one week from today. If you wish to get an item on the agenda for this meeting, please email it to secretary(a)wlug.org.nz. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Do we have a meeting here? # Previous Minutes # Treasurers report # Correspondence # Matters # Server status # General business CommitteeMeetingTopics

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Intel 536epmodem with Ubuntu 7.10
by Ron Dean 10 Dec '07

10 Dec '07

I am trying to set up a computer for a refugee family so they have email I downloaded a driver for 7.10 and could hear dial tone and it would dial out at my home, but when I tried it in their home I could not hear dial tone . We were trying to set it up with Kiwi on line but they don't give any linux support. Any ideas ? -- Ron Dean 2 Shannon Place Nawton Hamilton Ph 8493904

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Re: [wlug] WLUG BBQ Late January?
by jaytee＠clear.net.nz 10 Dec '07

10 Dec '07

January is good for me.. Regards John. ----- Original Message Follows ----- > WLUG committee have decided that rather than try to have > the end of year BBQ in December when everyone is leaving > for holidays, we'll hold in late in January after everyone > is back from holidays. > > So.. is everyone happy with a BBQ at Lindsay's place on > Jan 26th or would you prefer something earlier? > > > _______________________________________________ > wlug mailing list | wlug(a)list.waikato.ac.nz > Unsubscribe: > http://list.waikato.ac.nz/mailman/listinfo/wlug

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OLPC project close to home
by Michael McDonald 06 Dec '07

06 Dec '07

The article's a bit short on detail, but it's interesting to hear of this project. I'm not sure this is quite what Nicholas Negroponte envisaged, but the aim of "skilling up" under-represented groups (technology-wise) might be achieved with this project. Tindall funds OLPC scheme in Otara Ken Lewis Thursday, 29 November 2007 Stephen Tindall has called an Otara youth project that plans to link members using One Laptop Per Child computers via Wi-Fi a "silver bullet" for education and could potentially transform the country. http://m-net.net.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2085 Michael

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Bringing UK hardware to NZ
by Stuart Yeates 05 Dec '07

05 Dec '07

I'll shortly be returning to the Wellington area after 4 years in the UK. I'm looking at what hardware I should bring back and which I should sell/give away/bin before I leave. Does anyone know whether the ADSL systems in the UK and NZ are compatible? I'd like to bring back my wireless ADSL router back since it was top of the line 18 months ago. I'm planning on leaving my aged computers, but bringing back the larger disks and possibly the internal wireless card. Does anyone know of any traps there for the unwary? I'm aware that the SCART[1] plugs which all our UK TV/DVD/digital set top box systems use is almost useless in New Zealand, unless there's been a change since I left ? cheers stuart [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCART -- OSS Watch: http://www.oss-watch.ac.uk/

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WLUG BBQ Late January?
by Bruce Kingsbury 05 Dec '07

05 Dec '07

WLUG committee have decided that rather than try to have the end of year BBQ in December when everyone is leaving for holidays, we'll hold in late in January after everyone is back from holidays. So.. is everyone happy with a BBQ at Lindsay's place on Jan 26th or would you prefer something earlier?

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JOB: RimuHosting Opening For a Sysadmin (and a Java Developer)
by Peter Bryant 04 Dec '07

04 Dec '07

Hi Folks. We have a full (or possibly part time) position available for a Linux systems administrator. See http://forums.rimuhosting.com/forums/showthread.php?p=645#post645 We also happen to be looking for a Java developer. See http://forums.rimuhosting.com/forums/showthread.php?t=416 Cheers, Peter Bryant http://rimuhosting.com

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ADSL fault redux
by James Pluck 04 Dec '07

04 Dec '07

Hi all, After some testing - Telecom have determined there is no fault on the line that would be interfering with the dsl. I have noticed that after a few minutes of connectivity my network loses contact with the modem - no ping response - no traffic - and this loss off connection requires a hard reset to fix. This fault seems to occur regardless of whether the modem is hot or not (occurs even after the modem has been left switched off overnight. I strongly suspect my modem has gone past its best-before date. Kyle, Bruce, would I be able to arrange with one of you to borrow a spare adsl modem to try to confirm this fault? I don't have the cash atm to replace my modem but if I know it is definitely a modem issue then I can put one on layby to replace it. Kind regards J

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Rationale behind KDE4 changes
by Ian McDonald 01 Dec '07

01 Dec '07

Interesting article here: http://liquidat.wordpress.com/2007/11/30/kde-4-some-reasons-for-design-deci… -- Web1: http://wand.net.nz/~iam4/ Web2: http://www.jandi.co.nz Blog: http://iansblog.jandi.co.nz

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