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next generation package repo management anyone? (nix, flatpak, snap)
by Mark Galassi 02 Nov '18

02 Nov '18

Has anyone here used nix or flatpak or snap either: a) to install packages on your own system, or b) to distribute your own packages I've used nix install emacs26, since it was not yet in standard repos, and now I'm experimenting with NextCloud (topic for another post) which installed right away. I've also tried an install with snap and flatpak. I don't yet have any conclusions.

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screen brightness?
by a 12 Oct '18

12 Oct '18

Hi After inadvertently hitting some random keyboard letter key the screen went considerably dim. I then went to bios adjusted brigtness individually for both battery and non battery operation. The brightness holds up part way into computer loading at startup,then dims.Is there a non bios control of which I am unaware.I welcome an analysis. Thanks, Anthony K

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any insight/input into the city tech overhaul?
by Mark Galassi 27 Sep '18

27 Sep '18

Dear nmglugers, I came upon this article: http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/outside-party-to-review-ci… in which they discuss external review of Santa Fe's IT infrastructure. These overhauls sometimes involve picking some company, reading their brochure, and giving them a contract. I have seen a large institution where they replaced the UW IMAP server with a Microsoft exchange system, going from 50% of an employee to run the institution's email to 3 full-time people to run the Microsoft exchange system, plus untold hours of lost productivity in dealing with the morass generated by this proprietary system. In this case the executives were told by the parent company that they had to shift to MS exchange, period. The city is not beholden to a parent company, but group-think is rampant with people who are out of their depth, and the 10% rule also applies ("you only need to know 10% more than someone to snow them"), so vendors might come in and write an IT plan for the city. This is all speculation - does anyone here have any inside knowledge on how this process is going? Wounldn't it be cool if the city were to invite proposals from our city's top IT people (who are almost certainly on this list), and also include them in the review. It would also be cool if someone had the ear of the city's IT planners and could propose some free software adoption, as well as a requirement free software compatibility.

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Meeting this week,
by Ted Pomeroy 27 Sep '18

27 Sep '18

NMGLugers, I have converted a 64 bit machine to Xubuntu 18.04 LTS, so I am now able to compare the 32 bit and 64 bit instances. I don't have any comments on the 64 bit, as I have just done the first bit of updating and additions of my desired applications. [Aisleriot, sox, lame, kstars, vim-runtime, and quodlibet] By the way quodlibet is a music player with a built-in Internet radio browser. Nice way to access a variety of music and a low-demand player for music in my files, too. I will continue to use the 64 bit machine and see how it compares to 32 bit version and the Debian Stretch (64) I am using at this moment. Why do all this exploring? So I am ready to share an install and keep others up to date when they ask. I am trying to expand our numbers as there really are no technical barriers for new-comers or limits of what the serious user can do. I hope to see a few of you this Thursday at our regular meeting. Thank you, Ted P.

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recent meeting,
by Ted Pomeroy 14 Sep '18

14 Sep '18

NMGLugers, We had a decent meeting on Thurs. the 13th here in Santa Fe. Six in attendance, most were long-time users of one flavor of Linux or another. I feel I am the least well versed on the commandline, but still hold my own in listening in on current troubleshooting and past experience of the 'pros' in the field. We have one new arrival, to Santa Fe, not to Linux, Lee, formerly of Madison, WI. He talked some of work with Sparc and Solaris in the past, but now using Linux on an older laptop. We may be able to help with an upgrade. I have install media for Debian 9 and Xubuntu 18.04 for 32 bit systems as well as Debian 9 for 64 bit. While Ubuntu 18.04 does not have a 32 bit iso, there seem to be enough alternatives to keep some of the 32 bit units up to date. I'm prepping this for a few people, not at the meeting, who use Linux. I hope the folks in Albuquerque have made arrangements to meet up and form their own group - as travel to Santa Fe can be a hindrance for our casual meetings. good to keep it local and maybe draw out a few more users and potential users. Do talk up Linux to any and all potential users. It's really ready for the average user as my circle of friends confirms. Thank you, Ted P., Santa Fe

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Thank you,
by Ted Pomeroy 14 Sep '18

14 Sep '18

Alucard, Thank you. I wrote up some similar thoughts in a post on NMGLUG.org. Check out the recent posts on the 'Latest' tab. I did have some success with Pentium M machines with 2GB ram or more. Yes, older slower and un-rammed machines are not worth the trouble. I am helping a few people trying to use the $0 approach to computing. That is a limitation. But if they or I can find a decent used laptop I try to get some current OS installed and working. For some it may be time to go off the Internet. There is life without so much tech. Especially for anybody wanting to simplify or avoid a tool with 104 keys and infinite combinations. Sorry to hear about the logistical issues for you in ABQ. Thank you for staying on the mailing list for communication. Ted P., Santa Fe

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Calling all ABQ Linux Users
by Alucard 31 Aug '18

31 Aug '18

Hi Everyone, I recently moved here, and I have been in search of local LUG in Albuquerque. Basic Google searching shows a now retired Ubuntu Group, the current Santa Fe LUG, and the one in Las Cruses. But I don't see an active LUG for the Albuquerque area. Unless I am just dumb, and haven't come across it yet. Is there interest to start another one? Take the strawpoll, for easy counting. https://www.strawpoll.me/16369274 Please reply directly to me ( alucard(a)swcp.com ) if you don't want to reply to the whole mailing list. Thanks Fam -- Jared

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Meeting tonight;
by Ted Pomeroy 30 Aug '18

30 Aug '18

Hi NMGLugers, We meet tonight and Liz will bring a mis-behaving laptop. We did the updates a year or so ago. I don't think I have seen her since. Wifi connection issues and browser issues on some sites. I suggested she restart all the gear at home and see if that cleared up the issues. It may be time for upgrade, she is doing any updates herself. I will bring the Tomu, for anyone interested. I am not going to pursue it. I am working on getting completely into Debian and use of the GUI so I can convert others who have been using Xubuntu. One known issue in xfce4 is a broken panel clock, but Orage clock/calendar works well in its place. See you at the Baking Co. around 5:15 or so. Thank you, Ted P.

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Note on some hardware and OS details,
by Ted Pomeroy 31 Jul '18

31 Jul '18

NMGLugers, We are scheduled for a meeting on the 2nd of August - this Thursday. I plan to be there at 5pm for our meeting to convene at about 5.30pm. I will bring a TOMU.IM - "Tom's Open Microcomputer Usb" for anybody to examine and try out. It is a complete computer, ie, processor and memory plus I/O system for hardware programming practice. Sam was good enough to pass this along to me at our last NMGLUG meeting. I can activate it and do one trick, but there is more on GitHub. I can also bring the remains of my Peppermint 8 OS experiment. I am not using it anymore, so the disks (32 bit) and one small hdd are here for the asking. I am having good luck with Debian in either 32 or 64 bit installs. It runds well, has a familiar GUI available and all of my favorite applications and the ones I needed to investigate the TOMU.IM. I may even switch over, though below I talk about the Xubuntu upgrade. Still, I like the Ubuntu family because I can give it to others and refer them to the copious information in clear and GUI format on the Internet. Oh yes, I am still using Xubuntu 16.04 at home, but will likely upgrade to 18.04 before the end of the year. I never rush ahead to upgrade a system till I am reasonably sure the upgrade tool is working well. Since the support overlaps for a full year, I like to see what others report about the process before taking it on. This also gives me time to weed out old files and do a complete backup of my personal files. My choice is to save files and accept that system and application settings and defaults will change. I may also have a laptop in need of assistance. The machine is taking care of the digital life of a friend and though the friend reports good health personally, there are some questions about the machine. I look forward to speaking to the machine itself to get its side of the story. I hope to see some of you there, at the New Baking Co., this Thursday. Thank you, Ted P.

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Tomu im
by Ted Pomeroy 20 Jul '18

20 Jul '18

NMGLUGERS, I had some luck w/ Tomu; got the cursor trick to work. The midi loads, but no audible. Lights & terminal confirm the loading success. I'll need help compiling from source so I can add a sound. See you at next meeting. Thanks, Ted P.

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