Tsikbal: from my perspective

I like the diversity that you can find Linux, and FOSS, which let's you find the distro that adapts to your needs. And what's best, it's all build on a modern core that allows access to current standards. What allows this diversity, is the licensing that allows users to modify the program in any way that they see fit for their use and then redistribute it to others. Which is beneficial for everyone, since this means that the user doesn't have to wait for the original programmers to release the changes or is subject to have to deal with don't having the features they want the decision is made not to include the changes the users would like to see. Being capable of doing this, has the positive effect that in frees the groups that make software from having to spread their resources to thinly trying to target to many different user needs. If needed, users help can be used to contribute modifications and do some of the work to maintain some of the features. ...

So, the release date of Ubuntu 12.04 LTS is coming near. I'm really looking forward to updating my system, since most of the reviews I've read so far on the betas are quite good. It seems that, as usual with a LTS version, is going to be a pretty polished release. Mainly, the updates to Unity are the ones that I'm most interested in. Since Unity came up with Ubuntu 11.04, it has come to be my favorite desktop environment because it's looks and the way it works. I've found that Unity adjust better to what expect from a desktop environment, and how I work. And since, for my tastes, it looks really nice I enjoy using it. After I get to use Ubuntu 12.04 LTS for a while, the only doubt I have is if I'll stick to updating just when a LTS version of Ubuntu comes out or I keep updating every time. Both have frequencies have their advantages. With the LTS versions one gets the chance to have a more polished OS, and in some cases the applications are a lo...

I don't think that control should solely on the creators of the product, or on the hands of users. It should be shared, with both the creators and the users having a say on what happens on the product. One could say that the level of control on the hands of the creators and users, should be variable depending on the stage of that the product is in. At the start, it's fine that the creators to have most of the control over their products and ideas; but when it hits the hands of the users, they should have most of the product. As with many things in life, the answers are not on the extremes and we should have a certain level of flexibility when looking for answer. Yet, is really irksome that most people are really set in keeping things in a certain way. Collaboration from the users should be encouraged by the creators of any product. By letting the users to contribute to their project, the final product will be a lot better than it could be if they only comes from th...

I've trouble trusting any development that is done undercover and with no level of transparency to the public. It's a sure way to hide any troubles that may come with the new product, or hide features that are objectionable by any standard. Most often than not, doing development like this is an easy way to hide something from the users. And if someone says something, he's usually hushed or sued in order to keep the information from any interested party or getting it fixed. Mainly because they are more interested in meeting the needs, or wants, of a small circle of people rather than the needs and wants of the actual users. Or even those who would be affected in other way by the product itself. This makes it relevant to our interests to back those companies, or groups, that develop their products openly. Any interested party should be able to check any part of the development process, and ask for changes. Even better would be for ways for changes to be proposed ...

One of the things I notice when I talk to friends and family about Linux, is that most of the time they believe that it's hard to use and that what you can do in it is somewhat limited. Most of them seem intimidated by the idea of running an OS that's not Windows. Some have seen Ubuntu running on my laptop, and they seem confused that it isn't at all what they thought it would be. I mean, they see me running Firefox and Skype as it would on Windows and most often than not they seem a lot more interested in trying a Linux distro. As a matter of fact, if they would ask me to set them a Linux machine for them I would set them with one running either Ubuntu or Linux Mint. I find that these two distros are far less intimidating for new Linux users, and offer all the functionalities that most people need for their computing. Not only that, they are easy to use and the user interface is quite friendly, making them the ideal starting point for the average user coming t...

When it comes to the hardware and software I use, I like it to have good looks and functionality. If one is missing, it's a deal breaker for me. Since I'm going to be looking at it on daily basis, I don't want it to be an eye sore. And it has to be functional to be able to do some work on it, without having any component getting in the way. A good design should combine both, good looks and functionality, in one package. To be honest, I'd always would pick functionality over looks but I want both if I can have them. Functionality makes is easy to do the tasks I've to do, and good looks makes me happy to be doing what I'm doing. Yet, it seems that most of the time we have to select one over the other. Which is a shame, since both concepts can go hand in hand without diminishing the final product. Sadly on the open source software community there is a tendency to fall on the utilitarian side, giving the aesthetics side little thought at best. It ca...

I use open source software mainly because of ethical reasons reasons. There are some technical ones too, but in some aspects the ethical side came first. Collaboration is between individuals is important to bring forth innovation, and humans are by nature social. A such, we have a need come together to share and exchange ideas. Anything that artificially puts barriers to collaboration should be avoided, instead we should be motivated to work together for common goals. We also should be free to express our ideas and opinions openly, since this brings people together. By being exposed to the way other people think, we gain the knowledge and wisdom that otherwise we wouldn't have come about on our own. Also by being able to see how things work, we get a better understanding of why and how things happen. By having this knowledge, we empower people to be less dependent on others and give them the chance to bring something of value back to the table. By spreading knowled...

Smartphones, computers and tablets with Internet access are one of the most powerful tools to bring people together, and give the masses the ability to work together for common goals. These devices give the average people access to information, tools and communities that otherwise the individual wouldn't be able to have. All these things together empower people, and makes it practical to actually organize on the grassroots level in order to achieve things that otherwise would be a lot harder to do. Not only that, it humanizes people and as such helps us to empathize with them. All of the sudden, what happens in other places doesn't happen just to unknown people. Those people have faces and names, and we feel more readily compelled to give them a helping hand. We are more aware of whats going on around us, for better or for worse. Since we know, action can be taken and other people can be made aware of the facts. It truly helps to make our communities stronger, ...

I've been always curious just about everything, I like to find new things and share them. This led me to Anime/Manga, Science Fiction, Linux, books, meeting new people and finding great places. The thrill of the discovery, and the road toward it, fills me with a sense of satisfaction and wonder than few other things do. I enjoy the process of learning new things, as well I do sharing those new things with others. There have been several flops along the way, but even then the lessons learned are valuable. And many times, those flops have taken me to new places and to meet new people. My eyes are opened to new realities, view points and ways to do things. I can honestly that my curiosity has helped to become a better person all things considered. One thing that I've learned is that if you want to discover new things and meet new people, go to places that are conductive to human interaction. Those places where people feel at ease, and invite them to engage each other....

One of the things we all enjoy doing, is to share. People do that, and tend to go to places where sharing is easy. We are all social by nature. Sharing what we find, or do, with others is something we like to do. We enjoy discovering new things, and we do we want to share with other people. Not only that, many times we discover new things when other people share what they have with us. This is why we tend to gather in places where other people go. I can think of several examples of things I enjoy doing that I discovered because someone shared it with me directly, or at a forum. And also have presented others with my discoveries, and they have liked it. Yet there are groups that instead of using the need to share we have to their advantage, they try to keep people from doing so. And their efforts are mostly in vain, since people always find a way to share what they like with others. Instead of trying to stop people from sharing, a mechanism that let's people to ...

Another of the things I like about FOSS, is that there is a lot of variety to choose from. This helps to configure you computer the way you want it to work, and also the way your desktop looks. One can really customize the computer as one pleases, making using your computer a really pleasant experience. Almost every Linux distro supports several users interfaces, making it easy to choose a distro that looks and feels like you want it to. Not only that, one doesn't really have to an expert on command lines. You can find several distros where you don't actually need to go to that level, or find the distro that suits your level of expertise on the matter. At the end, it's up to each user to decide how deep into it he or she wants to go. The software installed in most distros is the bares bones, which is a good thing since they include the software most people uses on daily basis. If you need a piece of software that doesn't come installed, most modern distros ...