Tag Archives: Windows - Page 2

Open .eps files on GIMP for Windows

Posted by on September 18, 2009 No comments

As usual this post is a self help note, but as it’s public I hope it helps someone else. If you want to open .eps or .ps files with GIMP on Windows you will need to install Ghostscript (download it from http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/). After successful installation you will need to create an environment variable called GS_PROG on Windows. To do this just follow these steps:

  1. Right-click on the ‘My Computer‘ Icon and select properties
  2. Click on the advanced tab
  3. Click on Environment Variable button
  4. Under either User variables or System variables click on “New”
  5. Set Variable name : GS_PROG
  6. Set Variable path: C:\Progam Files\gs\gs864w32\bin\gswin32.exe   – this is where yous gswin32.exe resides, make sure you type the correct path.

Click “OK” for everything and then open GIMP, you should now be able to open .eps and .ps files

Extra information: .EPS/PostScript (.PS) is a  file that may contain 2D vector graphics, bitmap images, and text; includes an embedded preview image in bitmap format; often used for transferring image data between different operating systems. Adobe Illustrator, Acrobat, Photoshop or CorelDraw are the kind of programs that normally use/open these files.

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Offline Blogging Tools

Posted by on May 12, 2009 No comments

Keyboard

Offline Blogging Tools let you comfortably write and effortlessly publish new entries to your blog.  I personally like the easy to use Scribefire, a Firefox addon, but there are many others our there.  Here is a shortlist…

Scribefire

Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux

This is an addon for Firefox so you need to be using Firefox (clearly)

BlogDesk

Platform: Windows

BlogDesk is totaly free of charge and optimized for the blog systems WordPress, MovableType, Drupal, Serendipity and ExpressionEngine.

BlogGTK

Platform: Linux

BloGTK is a weblog client that allows you to post to your weblog from GNOME without the need for a separate browser window. BloGTK allows you to connect with many weblog systems such as Blogger, Movable Type, WordPress, and more.

Windows Live Writer (by Microsoft)

Platform: Windows

WLW is a desktop application for publishing to blogs and works with almost any blog provider in the world including Windows Live Spaces, Blogger, WordPress and more.

Qumana

Platform: Mac, Windows

Great for bloggers on the move. Qumana features include easy text formatting and image insertion, simple Technorati tagging, advertising insertion with Q Ads and more.

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96% of Netbooks sold last year have Windows – Why?

Posted by on April 9, 2009 1 comment

According to the Windows Team Blog the sales of netbooks with Windows has gone from under 10% of unit sales during the first half of 2008 to 96% as of February 2009.   I wonder why that is……

The Windows team Blog arrogantly says : “When they realize their Linux-based netbook PC doesn’t deliver that same quality of experience, they get frustrated and take it back.”

I would question the term “same quality of experience”, because Linux does not strive to give the user same quality of experience as Windows, a Linux user has a completely different experience, and personally it’s a better one, but it’s like switching religion, … “leave your old ways behind” which is exactly what every new Mac User does (this is the only good thing I have to say about them).

Most of the returned Netbooks in 2008 had Linux installed. I don’t think it’s a case of dissatisfaction it’s a case of  “I didn’t research before buying it and just went for the cheapest”. Switching Operating Systems is a process, is a migration. It’s naive to think that you can just jump from one to the other and that’s it, you cannot just assume that the other OS will have the “you are dumb and I will do everything for you” wizards Windows has.

Windows claims to “just work with peoples stuff”

  • Windows supports nearly 3,000 printers, more than 700 digital cameras, more than 240 webcams and more than 180 digital video cameras.
  • Windows supports the broadest array of PC applications and games.

Well this is down to the manufacturers really. Remember the issue with periferals and Vista? I remember having countless users tell me that their practically new printers would not work with Vista.

Mobile broadband on Linux

I think a big difficulty for Linux users has been with Mobile Broadband, most 3G Mobile Broadband devices will work with Linux but not “out of the box”, and that has frustrated many users. By the ammount of hits I have had on my post about the Huawei E156g I can tell this is a big issue, although the solution is very easy.

I have used Linux for the last 8 years and in my opinion Linux is as good OS as (if not better than) those of Microsoft or Apple. I know what I want a computer to do and I prefer having to go out of my way to make sure it does it the way I want it than having the computer tell me what I need and how I need to do things. My advice for anyone thinking of buying a Netbook or any computer with Linux is:

  1. Try it first. Use a live CD on your current machine or use a Virtual Machine.
  2. Try different distributions like OpenSuse, Ubuntu, Mandriva, PSLinuxOS
  3. Search for specific applications for your specific needs
  4. Test your periferals

Further reading: Ten reasons why Linux will oust Windows

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IE 8 is ready

Posted by on March 19, 2009 No comments

Microsoft plans to release today the “final” version of Internet Explorer 8. It won’t be added to Windows update yet but the curious IE user will be able to download it from the official IE website once it’s been released. Officials have said that there are only a few changes between the (RC) version and this release. 

IE 8 will be included in Windows 7 as a removable option later this year, but before then I am sure several patches will be released. 

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Is Mac Safer?

Posted by on January 31, 2009 2 comments

I was reading this article on ZDNET.com “Is Mac still the safer bet?” by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. This is a question that I have been asked many times also, “Is Mac safer than windows?” Although many times it sounded more like an affirmation than a question.

I wouldn’t say it’s safer, it’s just not as targeted. Once Mac becomes a target, the cyber criminals will have a lot of fun because of the lack of attention to security Mac users have. To switch platform with the sole reason of not having to think about security is very lame.

The Microsoft operating system is targeted  for its many vulnerabilities including the end users, who have now started to take security really seriously. Mac users have to step up on their care for security. Most problems I find with Mac users are:

  •  Very simple (Unsecure) passwords
  •  Blind trust in any program that is available for Macs (because its safe right!)
  •  Addiction to desktop gadgets (because its safe right!)
  •  Keychain unconditional love – store all and any passwords (this combined with my first point can be a disaster)
  •  Will join any wireless network availabe (I am safe it’s a Mac)
  •  Last but not least… they are  annoying. ;)

I do not intend to have a go at Apple/Mac and its users, but the lack of security awareness I have seen , specially the new ones recently switched from Windows, is scary. If a well developed targeted malware or virus were to be released now it would be a global disaster.

So my answer to the question is: “The operating system hasn’t been target untill then no one will know how much safer it is. Mac users brace yourselves!”

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