Just incase you wanted to know .. I also upgrade IE to version 7 but I hardly use IE. Only there for the couple of sites that does not work properly with Firefox.
Category Archives: OSS
Installed Firefox 2
Just took the plunge and installed Firefox 2 (actually upgraded from 1.5.0.7) and it seemed to go well. A couple of extensions that I use do not work with version 2 like the following:
- SpellBound spellcheck — but was not an issue since Firefox 2 has spellcheck build in.
- Tab Mix Plus — not an issue either since the tabbing in version 2 is a lot better than in 1.5. All feature that I miss is the progress bar in the Tab that Tab Mix had and the different color that the text on the tab had for a page that is finished loaded but not viewed yet.
- Omea Reader — this is not an issue either since I see that Firefox 2 support external Feed Reader applications and it did list my Omea Reader. Did not try whether this work yet but will.
- Couple of my themes did not work either but this is no issue either since I actually like the new Firefox default theme.
This is my first observations and I will post more later about my experiences.
Technorati Tags: firefox 2, tab mix plus, spellbound, themes
Ubuntu 6.06 LTS is out
Congrats to Mark and the Ubuntu team on a great release. Happily running it in some of my machines but cannot wait for my CD’s so that I can share the love with my colleagues and friends
Technorati Tags: Ubuntu
Mail Redirect (Bounce) for Thunderbird 1.5.0.2
With the release of Thunderbird 1.5.0.2, Mail Redirect 0.7.3 will stop working since it has a max Thunderbird version of 1.5. I have updated the max version and repackaged the extention for those that does not want to fiddle with the package. Download here [Remember to rightclick and save somewhere]
Technorati Tags: Thunderbird, Mail Redirect
Mark Shuttleworth Is The International Open Source Personality Of The Year
Mark, congratulation on being named International Open Source Personality Of The Year. It is nice to see somebody from South Africa being recognized for the work that is being done on an International platform.
Technorati Tags: Shuttleworth, Ubuntu
Open Source and Business in South Africa
During the last week I was asked the question whether Open Source is a viable solution for Business here in South Africa. My instinctive answer was yes but after thinking about it for a while I have my doubts.
Technically the answer is a yes … Open Source solutions is technically just as good if not better than most proprietary solution out there. I then asked myself the question why does Business then not use Open Source solutions and after talking to some businesses (both small and big) I came to the solution that it is all to do with professionalism and maturity in the Open Source community.
What do I mean by this? One big business told me straight that if you look at The Shuttleworth Foundation (TSF – which is suppose to be one of the biggest evangelists of the use of Open Source) and see the way they operate then I will understand. The impression is created that TSF promotes Open Source that is usable in schools and for the geek that wants to play around with it at home. They talk about things like Freedom Toasters and all the fun that can be had with Open Source. But when you ask them about how Open Source will help a business they do not seem to have the answers. Very few if any of the people at TSF knows or have any experience of what happens in the business world and how technology influence Business.
If this is true or not does not matter, it is the impression that is created that is important. As long as Open Source gets seen as the playground of youngsters/geeks and only usable in the education fields then business will not take it serious.
It is time that a forum/organization get established that has its aim and goal to further the use of Open Source in business. Even better is to add to an existing establishment like TSF to solely concentrate on the business world. But it must make sure that the people that is put to do that knows what the priorities and problems are in the business world and then come up with Open Source solutions that addresses that.
We have very credible and professional support companies in South Africa like Obsydian and products like Ubuntu but until we have a professional spokescompany to promote Open Source in the business world, it means nothing and proprietary software will be continued to be used.