Recently one of my colleagues purchased an IBM NetVista computer with 40
GB hard disk and pre-installed Windows XP. The machine came with the
hard disk in a single partition. He wanted to repartition the disk and
install Gnu/Linux also. Since the machine had just been delivered, he
told the suppliers that he wanted the disk to be partitioned. They
agreed, but the next day they called to say that partitioning the disk
will result in his losing the warranty. According to them, this
particular model was meant to be used as such and the purchaser has no
right to change the configuration. This had not been mentioned in their
quotation, and, according to them, nobody had asked for partitioning.
They also said some interesting things:
(a) that there was a hidden partition of 4 GB that contained the OS
(b) that, if the disk was partitioned and the machine was connected to
the Internet, then it would inform IBM about the change in configuration
and the purchaser would lose the warranty.
My colleague has decided to reject the machine if they insist on denying
him the right to partition the disk.
Would any of you have any information on such practices? This seems to
be a serious matter that has to be taken up.
V. Sasi Kumar
Centre for Earth Science Studies
Thiruvananthapuram
Does anyone have a copy of the resolution adopted at ER&DC / Keltron at TVM
few weeks ago in respect of Free Software ?
We seem to have a huge task ahead after going through the opinions aired by
Hon'ble Minister for Industries. By allowing a debate on the issue, there
appears to be a ray of hope.
CK Raju
Thrissur
http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20021125&fname=Bill+Gates+%28F…
This article is a big confusion, maybe a cluestick has to be applied
to this journo's head. ;-)
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.-"".__."``". ragOO, Amateur Radio VU2RGU
.-.--. _...' (/) (/) ``' Free Software for a Brave GNU World
(O/ O) \-' ` -="""=. ', Computing as a Community Resource!
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Today's New Indian Express, Kochi edn has a good write up on how the
govt is brushing asie the achievements in adding Malayalam support and
localisation of GNU/Linux.
If only more papers could see through the smoke screen.
Regards,
Mahesh T Pai.
An interview with RMS by the Mathrubhumi will be published in their
Sunday newspaper magazine tomorrow.
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---------- Forwarded message ----------
Hello Sir,
I'm Shivprasad Ajgaonkar an ex-student of Goa Engineering College (computer) and this mail is in regards to the visit of Sir Richard Stallman to our College.
Sir,
I've coded a Library Software for GNU which I'd like to put for GPL.
The Software Details and requirements are as Follows.....
SEARCH TECHNIQES
User can give a search for Books / Journals by various options viz.
1. Title
2. Author / Editor
3. Accession No / Journal No
4. I.S.B.N / I.S.S.N.
5. Classification No.
6. Topic.
User can narrow the search by selecting the Field and Class option. In which �Field� refers to Branch and �Class� refers to Year or Standard.
The search tells the Availability of the book as well. This saves time of user as well as of staff at the counter. A user can give a search by topic and he gets the book details which contains that topic. It is often found that users are never sure of their spellings especially of Indian authors like "BALGURUSWAMI" which can be spelled as "BALAGURUSWAMI" or "BALGURUSWAMI" taking this into consideration, the "SOUNDS LIKE" feature is kept so that the user doesn't face any problems while searching.
By SOUNDS LIKE feature, N. D. BHATT can be spelled as N. D BHAT or PROGRAMMING IN C can be spelled as PROGRAMING IN SEA. Principle is that it should sound like the required search, spelling doesn�t matter.
Imagine a situation where the user wants a book urgently but he finds that all the copies of that book are already issued to other members. On Clicking on the accession no of the book, the user gets the information about the person to whom the book with required Title and Author is issued, so that the user can contact and request for the book.
DEMAND FEATURE
Now, imagine a student staying far away from the college and is badly in need of a book�.. comes to college�.. the result is book not available�.. To reduce this, the feature of DEMANDS is introduced so that user can place a demand for the book sitting at home and book the copy for him and collect the same within specified date. Suppose user places a demand for a book which is not available at the counter then the user gets an AUTOMATED MAIL whenever the book is available.
ADDITIONAL VITAL FEATURES
User gets an account of books demanded by / issued to him and number of more book he can borrow / demand. Automated Mail Reminder is sent to the User 2 days before the date of Return and Every day after the date of Return. On every Member�s Birthday an Automated mail is sent to the member wishing him/her �HAPPY BIRTHDAY�
Administrator can send mail to All Members / All Student Members / All Staff Members whenever required. E.g. Sending Greetings for Diwali, Sending invitation for monthly staff meeting. Sending mail to all members to make them aware of changed fine structure, etc.
MENU AT THE COUNTER
Issuing and Returning of Books can be done by scanning the barcode on the book and the Membership Card. Counter will have a menu for Issuing a book, Returning of book and Payment of Fines. No member of a Library can escape from paying Fines. Whenever the member comes to return a book, Software will indicate that this person has to pay fine and until and unless he pays the fine, the book is not returned and if book is not returned fine will go on increasing. (Amount of fine is set by the Administrator).
ADMINISTARTOR RIGHTS
Add / Edit / Delete Books, Members & Journals' information. Similarly he has right to Add / Edit / Delete Section & Fields
Administrator has Mini Address Book wherein he can store the email Address of publisher / supplier and send him online order for books via INTERNET. The Administrator has to make an entry like Title, Author, No of Copies required, etc. and the AUTOMATED EMAIL goes to the Suppliers giving him the details of the book.
Software provides a script to Generate and Print Membership Card (with Barcode and Members photograph and Librarian�s Signature) and Barcodes for Books.
Librarian / Administrator has rights to enter/edit the college/school name, Librarian�s Name and E-MAIL ID, Set Standard Values viz. Fine Rate, Fine for Loss of Card, No. of Books issued to the members, No of days a member can keep the book etc.
And very important Feature is Administrator gets the log of Books issued, Books Returned, Fines Paid, etc. �Librarian has to Show the account of all the books bought during the Year.� Taking this into consideration the facility is kept so that librarian gets details for the books bought between 2 specified dates.
To reduce Librarian / Administrators task, two additional users viz. Member & Book are added to make entry of Members and Books respectively.
MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENT:
SERVER :
HARDWARE : Pentium II 450MHz or above
RAM 32 MB or above
SOFTWARE : Linux As Operating system
Apache Web Server
PhP (Scripting Language)
MySQL Database Server.
CLIENT :
HARDWARE : Pentium II 450MHz or above
RAM 32 MB or above
Barcode Scanner at Counter. (optional)
Scanner to Scan Photographs. (optional)
SOFTWARE : ANY O.S. WITH BROWSER
WHY PHP ?
Php is new and strong scripting language works with a web server. Strong feature of Php is, it is executed at the server and sends just the HTML output to the client thus saves the access time. Database handling thought Php is simpler.
WHY MySQL ?
MySQL is free if used with the Web-Server. And mainly because of Soundex function of MySQL. Search results are faster. Handles Large Data.
Catch all the cricket action. Download Yahoo! Score tracker
Fred,
There are a few issues here
1. We are talking about computer skills not computer aided learning. That is
a seperate topic in itself. I have looked at the syllabi for a couple of
other states, and they don't differ much..a spreadsheet is a spreadsheet is
a spreadsheet, and a desktop is a desktop and there are just so many things
to be learnt about them. How they are taught is another matter, and not part
of the syllabus IMHO.
2. It you think its possible to generisize, thats great. In looking through
the syllabus, I felt that it was necessary to replace windows specific terms
with Linux specific terms.
In short, if your fear is that your efforts will be frowned upon by the
pubdits, rest easy, the board has already accepted the de facto situation
where the syllabus is being taught with Linux. All that is needed is to
present them with a new syllabus that is either generic or LInux specific.
In the latter case schools will have the choice of following either
>From: Frederick Noronha <fred(a)bytesforall.org>
>Reply-To: gscp(a)yahoogroups.com
>To: gscp(a)yahoogroups.com, fsf-friends(a)gnu.org.in
>CC: "Nagarjuna G." <nagarjun(a)hbcse.tifr.res.in>
>Subject: Re: [gscp] Goa Syllabus for Linux
>Date: Thu, 14 Nov 2002 11:42:41 +0530 (IST)
>
>Two points:
>
>(i) The syllabus does not need to be "Linuxised", it just needs to be made
>product-neutral and OS-neutral, and task-oriented.
>
>(ii) Secondly, apart from just doing the above, it also needs to be
>reevaluated. Look at the crap they're being taught in schools in Goa!
>
>I could easily volunteer anytime. But educationists are going to turn
>around and say that the syllabi was framed by people without a background
>in pedagogy.
>
>Apparently Dr Nagarajuna of the TIFR is working on collating comparative
>syllabi of different institutions (if I recall right... my 'hard-disc'
>is too cluttered). We need to see what the others are doing, and perhaps
>go in for a best-case practise. FN
>
>On Wed, 13 Nov 2002, Daryl Martyris wrote:
>
>
> > While Kerala forges ahead on developing a Linux computer curriculum, our
>very own Goa computer syllabus needs to be Linux-ized. Linux is de-facto
>being used in all the 18 schools we have finished setting up with LTSP, but
>we need a volunteer to go through the syllabus and replace the MS terms
>with Linux ones e.g. Windows with Linux, Ms Office with abiword, Excel
>with Gnumeric, so that it can be presented to the Goa Board.
> > ..about 1 hour's worth work..any takers..?
> >
> > Syllabus attached if anyone's up for this.
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Frederick Noronha
> > To: Arun M
> > Cc: gscp(a)yahoogroups.com
> > Sent: Monday, November 11, 2002 10:53 PM
> > Subject: [gscp] LINK: Volunteers required for textbook preperation
> >
> >
> > This is for both English and Malayalam. FN
> >
> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> >
> > Section on Wordprocessing, programming, spreadsheet(partial),desktop
> > (partial) done. Materials on Freesoftware needs to be made so that it
> > can be added as boxes. Write up on tools like Dr Genius has to be made.
> >
> > More important is support service network. Arranging for training master
> > trainers. Providing distro CDs.
> >
> > > Can you put up the syllabus also, so that we know what exactly is the
> > > scope of the text book?
> >
> > Area & sub Area
> > ---------------
> >
> > * Word Processing
> >
> > + technological terms & tools
> >
> >
> > Curriculum Objectives
> > ---------------------
> >
> > + To open word processor
> > + To format typed text with an aesthetic sense and accuracy
> > + To insert clip arts and word arts appropriately
> > + To identify the situation where the templates can be used.
> > + To use template as part of the day day to activity.
> > + To edit and modify text and graphics so as to suit individual
> > situation.
> > + To insert table in a document, and format it.
> > + To select the most appropriate tool for specific task.
> > + To check spelling and grammar
> >
> >
> > * Spread sheet
> >
> > + tools and methods
> > + technological terms & tools
> > + practical issues
> >
> > Curriculum Objectives
> > ---------------------
> >
> > + To open Spread sheet
> > + To use appropriate &n various tasks.
> > + To identify most suitable method to navigate through cells
> > + To apply formula in a cell and bring its relation to other cells.
> > + To format cells and sheets.
> > + To apply logic in accomplishing a task.
> > + To aesthetically arrange a work book.
> > + To use graph and charts using wizards.
> > to enhance communication efficiency.
> > + To easily prepare summary and & statistics.
> > + To insert hyperlinks to other documents.
> >
> >
> > * Presentation software
> >
> > + tools and methods
> > + technological terms & tools
> > + practical issues
> > + As a powerful teaching and learning tool
> >
> > Curriculum Objectives
> > ---------------------
> >
> > + To open presentation software
> > + To use appropriate tool for various tasks.
> > + To identify the most suitable method to prepare
> > slides
> > + To insert and format texts in slides.
> > + To insert pictures in slides
> > + To insert word art on slides
> > + To apply colours,textures designs and pictures as background.
> > + To apply background designs.
> > + To use graphs and charts to enhance communication efficiency
> > + To use custom animation and sound
> > + To use slide transition
> > + To insert sounds videos motion clips etc. in presentation
> > + To insert hyper links to other slides, other presentation
> > and other documentation.
> >
> >
> > * Introduction to Graphical Desktop (GNOME ?)
> >
> > + tools and methods
> > + technological terms & tools
> > + practical issues
> >
> > Curriculum Objectives
> > ---------------------
> >
> > + Logging in to the graphical desktop.
> > + To navigate through the desktop
> > + To create a graphical file and save it.
> > + To delete, copy, move, rename and change attribute.
> > + To create a directory and move its location.
> > + To customize desktop.
> >
> >
> > * Learning support applications
> >
> >
> > Curriculum Objectives
> > ---------------------
> >
> > + To identify the power of the mathematical
> > drawing tools available in Dr. Genius
> > + To enable the student to use IT tools and applications
> > for effective learning and communications if various subjects
> > like physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, SS etc.
> >
> >
> > * Introduction programming.
> >
> > + Basic Elements
> > + Syntax
> > + Conditional
> > + loops, functions
> > + simple program
> >
> >
> > Curriculum Objectives
> > ---------------------
> >
> > + To understand basic elements ( variables, statements, expressions )
> > + To understand basic structure of a program (syntax)
> > + Basic functions (I/O , Maths)
> > + Control structure.
> > + To understand iteration.
> > + To understand structured programming.
> > + To use programming for solving simple problems (maths)
> > and to write, run and debug simple programs.
> >
> > * Introduction GNU/Linux
> >
> > + History of GNU
> > + Ethical issues & free software concepts.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Fsf-edu mailing list
> > Fsf-edu(a)mm.gnu.org.in
> > http://mm.gnu.org.in/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fsf-edu
> >
> >
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> >
>
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