LINK: Dec 23 Linux Goa meeting....

[Frederick Noronha <fred@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Some highlights from the December 23 meeting in Panjim:
* Due to repairs at the CSI office, we had a change in
   venue. As expected, only a small crowd turned up.
* We sat down for the meeting at the Kala Academy
   canteen. Upside: good ambiance. Downside: No
   computers for hands-on session; all techie talk no demos.
* The good news is that the next meeting is at
   the Goa University. It's schedule for Jan 27 at 4 pm.
   Agenda: Mail for the Home User. Session-leader
   Prof G R Bhat. To focus on setting up efficiently
   and handling Fetchmail, Procmail, Pine. Please pass
   the word around. Venue at Computer Science Dept.
* Some feedback: Some present felt that PCQuest
   has not been offering expected-quality Linux software.
   For instance, one of the recent packages, GNUchess,
   is standard distribution with most Linux versions.
   Besides, only a limited-number of limited programs
   are available on CDs.
* Drupad Gaonkar asked about the planned Jan 9/10
   Linux programme for lecturers. Prof Bhat explained
   that the principals had said that only one teacher
   could attend at a time. So, Goa University was
   officially writing in to the institutions regarding the
   programme.
* Another planned programme is on network management
   for engineers and technical personnel. Details for
   Prof G R Bhat <grbhat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>  
* Prof GRB explained what measures were being
   undertaken to improve the Goa Telecom network.
   Await more details on this shortly, when an official
   announcement is expected to be made.
* Drupad said some engineering students at Farmaguddi
   were keen about Linux and had launched an
   informal network. Contacts:  Shivprasad 25 29 19.
   shiv_1981@xxxxxxx
* Animesh Nerulkar, who this time too faithfully came
   down all the way from Islampur (near Kolhapur) for
   the meeting, explained about the program he has
   written to give an "easier interface to HOWTOs".
   "It's called 'WoMAN'," he explained. Unlike MAN,
   this makes it far easier to access a list of what 
   help is available. You have to install a script. For
   newbies that can be a bit difficult, so perhaps we
   need to write an RPM," said Animesh, a
   student of automobile engineering. He now plans
   to work out the same for the xWindows interface.
   These programs are on the ilug-goa site at
   http://www.egroups.com Details from
   Animesh bandu@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
* Arvind Yadav explained about software programs
   available on the 'Network Computing' anniversary
   issue, recently on the stands and sold at Rs 50,
   alongwith two CDs. He said there were a number of
   Linux-based programs on these CDs, and some
   were quite useful.
* There were questions about which Linux programs
   are useful for web-designing. Some suggested
   StarOffice or screen.
* There was a debate about RedHat 7.0 and its
   shortcomings. It was felt that RedHat 6.2 (with 
   its upgrades) was still the best option in the
   RedHat stable. Another useful option is Suse 6.4.
* There was a debate on whether Linux offers
   "too much choice" that could end up 
   confusing the newbie. Prof GRB did not agree
   with this view.
* Arvind argued that Linux offered a range of
   services (file+print server, application server,
   web server, mail-server, proxy server, and
   system management) and could cope with a
   systems requirement of 32MBram. On the other
   hand, Win2000's small-business server
   needed a minimum of 256MBram, or optimally
   512MB, he said.
* Prof Bhat felt that with the growing number of
   users, Linux is coming under pressures to have
   all-in-one tools, that undertake a series of
   Tasks. "Linux works well because it focuses on
   having one tool for one job. Now there's a big
   clamour for all-in-one things," he said.
   He offered the example of Pine being used only
   to read mail, Fetchmail only to fetch mail, etc.
   Trying to have all-in-one tools could reduce the
   efficiency of programs, he pointed out. He stressed
   the need for Linux users to support the 
   development of various programs, by also
   reporting bugs and giving feedback to those
   writing the programs.
* On the question of Newsgroups, FN said this
   was something that we in India have not explored
   fully. News-readers suggested included Tn
   and krn (graphical).
* It was announced that Egroups has merged
   with Yahoo recently, and a Linux version of the
   popular Yahoo Messenger is now available.
* FN circulated a listing of educational school-based
   Linux programs available on the Net. For a copy
   of this list contact fred@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx He also
   pointed to the Linux Newbie Newsletter (LNO), and
   circulated a specimen copy of the same. This too
   is available for free from the Net, and offers
   updates on the Linux front. -END OF REPORT
-- 
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   frederick noronha, freelance journalist, fred@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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