PalmyLUG

Palmerston North Linux Users Group Workshop

Computers to be won! 

• When: 7pm - 9pm Wednesday 8th October 2008 (Doors open from 6:45pm)
• Venue: PN Christian Fellowship (Front Lounge) 174 Church St, PN (opposite The Wharehouse) MAP
• Features: Inkscape & Blender
• $2 charge to cover venue costs and coffee 

Agenda:

Chairman's Welcome

Introduce guests and match people needing help with experts

7pm - 7:15pm

Beginners Workshop: Introduction to Inkscape

Speaker: John Flower

7:15pm -7:45pm

Inkscape is a graphics program for creating vector artwork. This type of artwork is commonly used by for creating shop signage, corporate logos, posters, billboards, engraving, business stationary, websites and fonts. Vector artwork is made up of curved and straight lines rather like a dot to dot picture. An advantage of this over a photo is that the artwork can be scaled from a few millimetres to metres in size and still look crisp. John will show how to use some of the basic tools in Inkscape.

http://www.inkscape.org/ 

 

General Business

7:45-8pm

• John Flower will ask you to suggest topics for upcoming meetings and arrange speakers to speak on those topics
• Brynn will get names for computer prize draw
• Open floor

 

Coffee Break & Helpdesk

8pm-8:20pm

People needing help can get together with experts to get answers. Otherwise grab a cuppa and spin yarns :).

 

Computer Prize draw

8:20pm

Advanced Workshop: Introduction to Blender

Speaker Trevor Kenyon

8:30pm-9pm

Blender is the free open source 3D content creation suite, available for all major operating systems under the GNU General Public License. 

http://www.blender.org/

Meeting ends 9pm

 

Computers to be won!

Brynn has a bunch of Compaq SFF that used to used as firewalls. If you bring a guest who has never been to a PLUG Workshop before you will go into the draw at the end of the workshop for one of the computers - two will be given away. If you want to buy one Brynn has more computers for $50 each (personal sale so no receipt).  Here are the Specs:

1. Compaq SFF - excellent firewalls or second computer for the home.  Very reliable. We have some that have been running for 24/7 for 24 months. Similar to this.
2. 6GB drive
3. 128 of RAM
4. NO CDROM
5. Onboard 2x AGP
6. Onboard sound
7. Serial, usb, ps2
8. Onboard 10/100 Intel Network Adapater 
9. 2 x PCI slots
10. Quick release components such as case lid, HD, PCI raiser.

 

Regards,

The PLUG Executive 

[ Read the rest ... ]

Welcome to the Palmerston North Users Group (PalmyLUG) website. We're a non-profit group of Linux enthuisiasts from the Manawatu in New Zealand interested in sharing knowledge and promoting open source technologies. If you're from our region and interested in joining our group feel free to create a login and you will be notified of our next meeting. Also check our Meeting Minutes to find out what we're up to. Website statistics are available.

Need a book or a distro CD? Check out the library section chances are that you'll find something in the library section and if we don't have what you want there, we can get if for you for the price of a review. Contact myself (dbenton) via PM or e-mail if you're interested.


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Linux (also known as GNU/Linux) is a computer operating system. It is one of the most prominent examples of open source development and free software; unlike proprietary operating systems such as Windows or Mac OS, all of its underlying source code is available to the public for anyone to freely use, modify, and redistribute.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux

Oh yes, Don has taken charge of the mailing list - so it works,
# Palmerston North
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list info: [link]
archive: [link]

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To: plug-request©linux.net.nz
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Only subscribers can post.


[ Read the rest ... ]

We want people to have more choice about how they use their computers. Many people don't realise they have a choice - they continue to use large and expensive software packages provided by a company owning an effective monopoly. Using Microsoft Word, Excel, etc is not a sign of technical ability / smart working or "e-knowledge". For most people, this is lack of knowledge.

Linux is based on free source. The underlying programs are freely accessible for viewing. Modifications and improvements are made in systematic ways over the internet. Many of the thousands and thousands who contribute to linux and open source packages internationally are paid to do so by corporate giants like IBM, Oracle and RedHat. These companies can charge for professional support services.

You can download the same software for free now, and get support by looking to a "support community" such as PalmyLUG, on this site.

To get started now, check out our "Get Started Now" Article ;)

Actually, you are running some open source software right now. This site, like most on the net, is built on open source tools. The internet itself is built on open technology (tcp/ip, and w3.org rfcs) and relies absolutely on open source software. Linux has become a rallying point for open source in general.


Linus Torvalds, creator of original Gnu/linux kernel,
see http://www.wlug.org.nz/LinusTorvalds

Q: What makes you believe Linux will continue to gain momentum?
A: I think, fundamentally, open source does tend to be more stable software. It's the right way to do things. I compare it to science vs. witchcraft. In science, the whole system builds on people looking at other people's results and building on top of them. In witchcraft, somebody had a small secret and guarded it -- but never allowed others to really understand it and build on it.

Traditional software is like witchcraft. In history, witchcraft just died out. The same will happen in software. When problems get serious enough, you can't have one person or one company guarding their secrets. You have to have everybody share in knowledge. (interview with Linus Torvalds)


[ Read the rest ... ]

You use it on your computer instead of Microsoft Windows

You can play all your favourite games, etc.
and work with microsoft files. There are ways to do just about anything - it just requires a little knowledge!

and it's a lot of fun...



On my trusty celeron laptop: Firefox, OpenOffice and Qemu (running xp inside linux)