How Internet Infrastructure Works:
-NOBODY owns the internet
-mainly connection of networks, (fun, simple, colourful image)
-beginnings=1969, "grown from four host computer systems to tens of millions"
-not owned but nonprofit group formed in 1992 defines how we use and interact with the Internet.
-Every computer connected to the internet is setup to a network; in each region, a company has a Point of Presence (POP)- place for local users to access the company's network, there is no overall controlling network but several high-level networks connecting to each other through Network Access Points (NAPs).
-Provides example of network and its connections; "The routers determine where to send information from one computer to another. Routers are specialized computers that send your messages and those of every other Internet user speeding to their destinations along thousands of pathways." (fun image of router, switches, and internet)
-Internet Backbone- first one created 1987 by National Science Foundation, basically fiber optic truck lines for transmission of information
- IP Address= unique id number, really in binary but set up decimal number for humans
-1983, the University of Wisconsin created the Domain Name System (DNS), which maps text names to IP addresses automatically
-Top-level domain names, also called first-level domain names, include .COM, .ORG, .NET, .EDU and .GOV
-Networks, routers, NAPs, ISPs, DNS and powerful servers all make the Internet possible
-simple to use, thankfully, the internet can provide information around the world in a matter of milliseconds
-contains links to related articles, naturally from howstuffworks
Dismantling Integrated Library Systems:
Article is about the transition from traditional ILS system to that of a digital form. While the internet may create a better form in time, the transition is proving to be difficult and messy, causing some to be concerned with the loss of information. There are issues of what to choose, vendors, formats, competition, costs. "Some of the best ideas in online library services have come not from vendors but from librarians themselves." This is not surprising since it is the librarian that most work with the system and the patron. Mentions the concept of chicken vs. egg in that no one knows who caused the proliferation of new library automation modules. While these advancements are beneficial to the library and patron seeking information and networked communication and the technology is of a much better quality now than when this article was written, I still have a problem with some resources, such as BlackBoard (courseweb) and their overuse.
Sergey Brin and Larry Page: Inside the Google machine:
-“ Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin offer a peek inside the Google machine”
-filmed 4/2004, twenty minutes long
-the answer is boxers, haha…- assume joke perhaps based on Clinton campaign interview on MTV where the question was boxers or briefs, haha
-revolving glowing globe display, show data connections
-Las Ketchup in 2002 popularity example
-the Google foundation
-Orkut
-Googlette
-according to comment, Google answer no longer exists
-cult picture funny, I want to work for Google for the sky trip!
-its crazy to think of all the services Google provides, including the phone product that will soon be released
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Muddies Point Week 6
Who is in charge of the registration and organization of IP addresses and domain names, once one site goes down or "disappears" can another site take that name?
Monday, September 29, 2008
Week Six Comments
This week I have made comments on the blogs of Rachel, https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4331968769876525173&postID=12663501897547687&page=1, and Lindsay, https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7943070653086840690&postID=6784704202412259513&page=1
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Week 6 Notes
Local Area Network:
-very short account
-Local Area Network (LAN)- " computer network covering a small geographic area, like a home, office, or group of buildings e.g. a school."
-began in late 60s, early 70s by Universities as need for large networks and high-speed interconnections increased
-early systems include: Cambridge University's Cambridge Rings, Ethernet developed at Xeros PARC, and ARCNET was developed by Datapoint Corporation
-transition to personal computers, LAN business
- Smaller LANs- "consist of a one or more switches linked to each other , often with one connected to a router, cable/DSL modem"
Larger LANs- "characterized by their use of redundant links with switches using the spanning tree protocol to prevent loops, their ability to manage differing traffic types via quality of service, and to segregate traffic. Larger LANS also contain a wide variety of network devices such as switches, firewalls, routers, load balancers, sensors and so on"
Computer network:
-Computer network- "group of interconnected computers. Networks may be classified according to a wide variety of characteristics. This article provides a general overview of some types and categories and presents the basic components of a network."
- classified as Local Area Network, Wide Area Network, Metropolitan Area Network based on scale
-can also be classified by connection method
-can be further classified according to the functional relationships which exist among the elements of the network, i.e Active Networking, Client-server, Peer-to-Peer
- may be classified according to the network topology upon which the network is based, such as Bus, Star, Ring, Mesh, Star-Bus, tree or Hierarchical network,
-types: Personal Network Area (PAN), Local Area Network (LAN), Campus Area Network (CAN), Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), Global Area Network (GAN), intranet, extranet, internet
-hardware components: network interface cords, repeaters, hubs, bridges Switches, routers.
Common Types of Computer Networks-Youtube
-Frank Klein, common types of networks
-most common, PAN
-next, LAN, technology advancing quickly
-then WAN, “the how of that is the design of the network”
-MANs usually very big……duh
-I do not have any questions, very general info video
-very short account
-Local Area Network (LAN)- " computer network covering a small geographic area, like a home, office, or group of buildings e.g. a school."
-began in late 60s, early 70s by Universities as need for large networks and high-speed interconnections increased
-early systems include: Cambridge University's Cambridge Rings, Ethernet developed at Xeros PARC, and ARCNET was developed by Datapoint Corporation
-transition to personal computers, LAN business
- Smaller LANs- "consist of a one or more switches linked to each other , often with one connected to a router, cable/DSL modem"
Larger LANs- "characterized by their use of redundant links with switches using the spanning tree protocol to prevent loops, their ability to manage differing traffic types via quality of service, and to segregate traffic. Larger LANS also contain a wide variety of network devices such as switches, firewalls, routers, load balancers, sensors and so on"
Computer network:
-Computer network- "group of interconnected computers. Networks may be classified according to a wide variety of characteristics. This article provides a general overview of some types and categories and presents the basic components of a network."
- classified as Local Area Network, Wide Area Network, Metropolitan Area Network based on scale
-can also be classified by connection method
-can be further classified according to the functional relationships which exist among the elements of the network, i.e Active Networking, Client-server, Peer-to-Peer
- may be classified according to the network topology upon which the network is based, such as Bus, Star, Ring, Mesh, Star-Bus, tree or Hierarchical network,
-types: Personal Network Area (PAN), Local Area Network (LAN), Campus Area Network (CAN), Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), Global Area Network (GAN), intranet, extranet, internet
-hardware components: network interface cords, repeaters, hubs, bridges Switches, routers.
Common Types of Computer Networks-Youtube
-Frank Klein, common types of networks
-most common, PAN
-next, LAN, technology advancing quickly
-then WAN, “the how of that is the design of the network”
-MANs usually very big……duh
-I do not have any questions, very general info video
Muddiest Point Week 5
With the variety of image formats, which could be seen as a reflection of the uniqueness of photographs (images), is it really desirable to have a single format (as may be possible with PNG)? Is universality worth the possible/inevitable loss of detail?
Monday, September 22, 2008
Week Five Comments
This week my comments have graced the blogs of Alberta, https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=6709282551702346326&postID=798583187426516014&page=1, andAdrien
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5116479294225641407&postID=7598417268404380876&page=1
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Week Five Notes
Data Compression:
-the process of encoding information using fewer bits than unencoded representation would use through use of specific encoding schemes, example=zip file
-only works when all parties involved understand the encoding scheme
-helps reduce the consumption of expensive resources
-Lossless Compression- usually exploit statistical redundancy in such a way as to represent the sender's data more concisely without error
-lossy data compression- guided by research on how people perceive the data in question
-used to optimize disk space on office computers, or better use the connection bandwidth in a computer network
- For visual and audio data, some loss of quality can be tolerated without losing the essential nature of the data
-Many lossless data compression systems can be viewed in terms of a four-stage model. Lossy data compression systems typically include even more stages, including, for example, prediction, frequency transformation, and quantization
-The very best compressors use probabilistic models whose predictions are coupled to an algorithm called Arithmetic coding, invented by Jorma Rissanen
Data Compression Basics:
-I like this article because the writing is straight forward and seems to flow pretty well. The author also provides many examples, which are helpful and not complicated to understand
-Advantages of using data compression: lets you store more stuff in the same space, and it lets you transfer that stuff in less time, less bandwidth
-“The fundamental idea behind digital data compression is to take a given representation of information (a chunk of binary data) and replace it with a different representation (another chunk of binary data) that takes up less space (space here being measured in binary digits, better known as bits), and from which the original information can later be recovered.”
-Provides numerous examples on run-length encoding (“Run-length encoding replaces ‘runs’ (that is, sequences of identical characters) with a single character, followed by the ‘length of the run’ (the number of characters in that sequence), or vice-versa (first the length and then the character, the order isn't important as long as it's always the same”).
-RLE used in the compression of images
-Pixel color information is generally stored as a sequence of three values, representing the amounts of red, green and blue that define it.
-RLE by itself will never achieve high levels of compression on photographic images, or any other kind of image where there are no adjacent pixels with the same color
-Examples of algorithms and their uses; “Instead of writing "Red, Green and Blue", we often write just "RGB". The same goes for things like HTML ("Hyper-Text Markup Language"), PC ("Personal Computer"), and so on. Acronyms are a form of data compression. However, acronyms can't be "uncompressed" by themselves; the reader needs to know (or find out) their meaning by matching them to the "uncompressed" version.”
-Use of flying spaghetti monster reminds me of the Wii episode of South Park (side note)
-sliding window algorithm- technique of looking back and copying sequences using a length-distance pair
-Lempel Zip (LZ) algorithms are the basis of most modern lossless data compressors and compress data by locating and eliminating redundancy
-Entropy coding- technique that assigns codes to blocks of data (sometimes called "symbols") in such a way that the length of the code is inversely proportional to the statistical probability of that symbol
-Identifying such "typical patterns" or tendencies in specific kinds of data is the key to efficient compression, example: in photograph it is rare to have a red pixel followed by a blue pixel, followed by a white one
-Prediction and error coding is a very successful technique for compressing "natural media" (images, sounds and other data sets with an analog origin).
Imaging Pittsburgh:
-Question: is this part of the current website, Historic Pittsburgh?
-Based on a 2 year grant to the University of Pittsburgh’s Digital Research Library from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to provide online access to multiple photographic collections held by the University’s Archives Service Center, Carnegie Museum of Art, and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania.
-“When the project ends (or ended), the project team will have mounted over 7,000 visual images depicting the people, places and events of the greater Pittsburgh region during the mid–nineteenth and mid–twentieth centuries.”
-“main focus of our project is to create a single Web gateway for the public to access thousands of visual images from photographic collections held by the Archives Service Center of the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Museum of Art, and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania”
-Benefits include the increased access to these collections and the digital preservation of the images
-Summary includes examples of photos
-through the website, patrons will be able to; Conduct a keyword search across all the image collections;
· “Browse images within any given collection;
· Read about the collections and their contents, including provenance, date span, and coverage;
· Explore the image collections by time, place and theme; and,
· Order image reproductions.”
-The are challenges within the project as to communication, selection, workflow, metadata (like use of dates), and website development
-Website launch prediction was February 2004
YouTube and Libraries: it could be a beautiful relationship:
-ALA article written by Paula L. Webb
-idea that YouTube, deemed one of the most popular and frequented sites on the web, could provide libraries with opportunity to spread its messages and reach out to distant learning students
-article goes on to explain how to set up an account and the advantages of YouTube
-Possibilities of this resource include: digital storage of instructional videos, video tours, tutorials,
-Wide range of advantages if librarians choose to incorporate the website into their services.
-the process of encoding information using fewer bits than unencoded representation would use through use of specific encoding schemes, example=zip file
-only works when all parties involved understand the encoding scheme
-helps reduce the consumption of expensive resources
-Lossless Compression- usually exploit statistical redundancy in such a way as to represent the sender's data more concisely without error
-lossy data compression- guided by research on how people perceive the data in question
-used to optimize disk space on office computers, or better use the connection bandwidth in a computer network
- For visual and audio data, some loss of quality can be tolerated without losing the essential nature of the data
-Many lossless data compression systems can be viewed in terms of a four-stage model. Lossy data compression systems typically include even more stages, including, for example, prediction, frequency transformation, and quantization
-The very best compressors use probabilistic models whose predictions are coupled to an algorithm called Arithmetic coding, invented by Jorma Rissanen
Data Compression Basics:
-I like this article because the writing is straight forward and seems to flow pretty well. The author also provides many examples, which are helpful and not complicated to understand
-Advantages of using data compression: lets you store more stuff in the same space, and it lets you transfer that stuff in less time, less bandwidth
-“The fundamental idea behind digital data compression is to take a given representation of information (a chunk of binary data) and replace it with a different representation (another chunk of binary data) that takes up less space (space here being measured in binary digits, better known as bits), and from which the original information can later be recovered.”
-Provides numerous examples on run-length encoding (“Run-length encoding replaces ‘runs’ (that is, sequences of identical characters) with a single character, followed by the ‘length of the run’ (the number of characters in that sequence), or vice-versa (first the length and then the character, the order isn't important as long as it's always the same”).
-RLE used in the compression of images
-Pixel color information is generally stored as a sequence of three values, representing the amounts of red, green and blue that define it.
-RLE by itself will never achieve high levels of compression on photographic images, or any other kind of image where there are no adjacent pixels with the same color
-Examples of algorithms and their uses; “Instead of writing "Red, Green and Blue", we often write just "RGB". The same goes for things like HTML ("Hyper-Text Markup Language"), PC ("Personal Computer"), and so on. Acronyms are a form of data compression. However, acronyms can't be "uncompressed" by themselves; the reader needs to know (or find out) their meaning by matching them to the "uncompressed" version.”
-Use of flying spaghetti monster reminds me of the Wii episode of South Park (side note)
-sliding window algorithm- technique of looking back and copying sequences using a length-distance pair
-Lempel Zip (LZ) algorithms are the basis of most modern lossless data compressors and compress data by locating and eliminating redundancy
-Entropy coding- technique that assigns codes to blocks of data (sometimes called "symbols") in such a way that the length of the code is inversely proportional to the statistical probability of that symbol
-Identifying such "typical patterns" or tendencies in specific kinds of data is the key to efficient compression, example: in photograph it is rare to have a red pixel followed by a blue pixel, followed by a white one
-Prediction and error coding is a very successful technique for compressing "natural media" (images, sounds and other data sets with an analog origin).
Imaging Pittsburgh:
-Question: is this part of the current website, Historic Pittsburgh?
-Based on a 2 year grant to the University of Pittsburgh’s Digital Research Library from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to provide online access to multiple photographic collections held by the University’s Archives Service Center, Carnegie Museum of Art, and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania.
-“When the project ends (or ended), the project team will have mounted over 7,000 visual images depicting the people, places and events of the greater Pittsburgh region during the mid–nineteenth and mid–twentieth centuries.”
-“main focus of our project is to create a single Web gateway for the public to access thousands of visual images from photographic collections held by the Archives Service Center of the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Museum of Art, and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania”
-Benefits include the increased access to these collections and the digital preservation of the images
-Summary includes examples of photos
-through the website, patrons will be able to; Conduct a keyword search across all the image collections;
· “Browse images within any given collection;
· Read about the collections and their contents, including provenance, date span, and coverage;
· Explore the image collections by time, place and theme; and,
· Order image reproductions.”
-The are challenges within the project as to communication, selection, workflow, metadata (like use of dates), and website development
-Website launch prediction was February 2004
YouTube and Libraries: it could be a beautiful relationship:
-ALA article written by Paula L. Webb
-idea that YouTube, deemed one of the most popular and frequented sites on the web, could provide libraries with opportunity to spread its messages and reach out to distant learning students
-article goes on to explain how to set up an account and the advantages of YouTube
-Possibilities of this resource include: digital storage of instructional videos, video tours, tutorials,
-Wide range of advantages if librarians choose to incorporate the website into their services.
Week 4 Muddiest Point
One of the slides mentioned the various database programs, with Microsoft and IBM both having two, I was wondering if Apple has ever made, or it currently working on a program itself?
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Week Four Comments
This week I posted on the blogs of Laura: http://lar-lar-lu.blogspot.com/, and Jenelle http://jenellelis2009.blogspot.com/
Friday, September 12, 2008
Week 4 Notes
Database
Wikipedia Article:
-Computer Database-“ structured collection of records or data that is stored in a computer system”
-relational model most common today
- Database management system (DBMS) used to organize storage of data
-November 1963 first known use of term data base, became a single word “database” in Europe in the 1970s ( and obviously the trend was adopted)
-Charles Bachman was a pioneer in the field; his aim was to make more effective use of the new direct access storage devices becoming available.
-CODASYL created a network database based upon Bachman’s idea. (hierarchical model)
- The relational model proposed by E.F. Codd in 1970. “He criticized existing models for confusing the abstract description of information structure with descriptions of physical access mechanisms.”
- The first successful database product for microcomputers was dBASE for the CP/M and PC-DOS/MS-DOS operating systems.
-1980s focus on distributed database systems and machines
-1990s shifted toward object-oriented database, currently XML database, which “aim to remove the traditional divide between documents and data, allowing all of an organization's information resources to be held in one place, whether they are highly structured or not.”
-hierarchical model- data is organized into an inverted tree-like structure, implying a multiple downward link in each node to describe the nesting, and a sort field to keep the records in a particular order in each same-level list
-network model- records can participate in any number of named relationships. Each relationship associates a record of one type (called the owner) with multiple records of another type (called the member)
-relational model- structured as a table where information about a particular entity is represented in columns and rows. The columns enumerate the various attributes of an entity while Rows (also called records) represent instances of an entity
- Security is usually enforced through access control, auditing, and encryption.
-Locking: how the database handles multiple concurrent operations
- number of database architectures in use
Introduction to Metadata:
-data about data
-important to understand role of metadata “types of metadata can play in the development of effective, authoritative, interoperable, scaleable, and preservable cultural heritage information and recordkeeping systems”
-The common features in all information objects:
1. Content- relates to what the object contains or is about, and is intrinsic to an information object.
2. Context -indicates the who, what, why, where, how aspects associated with the object's creation and is extrinsic to an information object.
3. Structure- relates to the formal set of associations within or among individual information objects and can be intrinsic or extrinsic.
-“museum registrars, library catalogers, and archival processors are increasingly applying the term metadata to the value-added information that they create to arrange, describe, track and otherwise enhance access to information objects.”
-Library metadata- includes indexes, abstracts, and catalog records created according to cataloging rules and structural and content standards such as MARC
-Archival and manuscript metadata includes accession records, finding aids, and catalog records.
-Structure has always played a vital role in information, even before the computer age
-applied outside the repository, the term metadata acquires an even broader scope, i.e on the internet
-Types of metadata include: administrative, descriptive, preservation, technical, use
-little known facts: Metadata does not have to be digital. Metadata relates to more than the description of an object. Metadata can come from a variety of sources. Metadata continue to accrue during the life of an information object or system. One information object's metadata can simultaneously be another information object's data.
An Overview of the Dublin Core Data Model
-DCMI-international effort designed to foster consensus across disciplines for the discovery-oriented description of diverse resources in an electronic environment
-created to enhance searching of document-like objects on the web
-first workshop in Dublin Ohio, hence the name Dublin core(sadly nothing to do with Ireland)
-issues: "Author/Creator" element does not distinguish between corporate authors and personal authors; does not prescribe a syntax for element values
-Simple Dublin Core comprises fifteen elements; Qualified Dublin Core includes three additional elements (Audience, Provenance and RightsHolder
-abstract model provides a reference model against which particular DC encoding guidelines can be compared, independent of any particular encoding syntax.
Wikipedia Article:
-Computer Database-“ structured collection of records or data that is stored in a computer system”
-relational model most common today
- Database management system (DBMS) used to organize storage of data
-November 1963 first known use of term data base, became a single word “database” in Europe in the 1970s ( and obviously the trend was adopted)
-Charles Bachman was a pioneer in the field; his aim was to make more effective use of the new direct access storage devices becoming available.
-CODASYL created a network database based upon Bachman’s idea. (hierarchical model)
- The relational model proposed by E.F. Codd in 1970. “He criticized existing models for confusing the abstract description of information structure with descriptions of physical access mechanisms.”
- The first successful database product for microcomputers was dBASE for the CP/M and PC-DOS/MS-DOS operating systems.
-1980s focus on distributed database systems and machines
-1990s shifted toward object-oriented database, currently XML database, which “aim to remove the traditional divide between documents and data, allowing all of an organization's information resources to be held in one place, whether they are highly structured or not.”
-hierarchical model- data is organized into an inverted tree-like structure, implying a multiple downward link in each node to describe the nesting, and a sort field to keep the records in a particular order in each same-level list
-network model- records can participate in any number of named relationships. Each relationship associates a record of one type (called the owner) with multiple records of another type (called the member)
-relational model- structured as a table where information about a particular entity is represented in columns and rows. The columns enumerate the various attributes of an entity while Rows (also called records) represent instances of an entity
- Security is usually enforced through access control, auditing, and encryption.
-Locking: how the database handles multiple concurrent operations
- number of database architectures in use
Introduction to Metadata:
-data about data
-important to understand role of metadata “types of metadata can play in the development of effective, authoritative, interoperable, scaleable, and preservable cultural heritage information and recordkeeping systems”
-The common features in all information objects:
1. Content- relates to what the object contains or is about, and is intrinsic to an information object.
2. Context -indicates the who, what, why, where, how aspects associated with the object's creation and is extrinsic to an information object.
3. Structure- relates to the formal set of associations within or among individual information objects and can be intrinsic or extrinsic.
-“museum registrars, library catalogers, and archival processors are increasingly applying the term metadata to the value-added information that they create to arrange, describe, track and otherwise enhance access to information objects.”
-Library metadata- includes indexes, abstracts, and catalog records created according to cataloging rules and structural and content standards such as MARC
-Archival and manuscript metadata includes accession records, finding aids, and catalog records.
-Structure has always played a vital role in information, even before the computer age
-applied outside the repository, the term metadata acquires an even broader scope, i.e on the internet
-Types of metadata include: administrative, descriptive, preservation, technical, use
-little known facts: Metadata does not have to be digital. Metadata relates to more than the description of an object. Metadata can come from a variety of sources. Metadata continue to accrue during the life of an information object or system. One information object's metadata can simultaneously be another information object's data.
An Overview of the Dublin Core Data Model
-DCMI-international effort designed to foster consensus across disciplines for the discovery-oriented description of diverse resources in an electronic environment
-created to enhance searching of document-like objects on the web
-first workshop in Dublin Ohio, hence the name Dublin core(sadly nothing to do with Ireland)
-issues: "Author/Creator" element does not distinguish between corporate authors and personal authors; does not prescribe a syntax for element values
-Simple Dublin Core comprises fifteen elements; Qualified Dublin Core includes three additional elements (Audience, Provenance and RightsHolder
-abstract model provides a reference model against which particular DC encoding guidelines can be compared, independent of any particular encoding syntax.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Week 3 Muddiest Point
Muddiest Point---I know when Microsoft Word came out with 2007, it claimed the changes were all based on consumer surveys and desire to make the program easier and more efficient, which after some getting use to I completely agree. My question is, hat kinds of input does Microsoft or Mac use when changing their WIMP interfaces, do they runs surveys or internet discussion before creating or testing a product?
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Week Three Comments
This week I have commented on the notes of Nicole: http://nicplana.blogspot.com/, and Dustin: http://dmb97.blogspot.com/
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Week Three Notes
Muddiest Point--> It was said in class that within time, in accordance with concepts like Moore’s Law, computer CPUs could be the size of flash drives, making it possible to have computers become even smaller. My question is, why is there such a great desire to make every new technological advance smaller than its predecessor? I understand wanting to make things faster and more reliable, but do we really need computers small enough to fit in the palm of our hands? It makes me think of the SNL sketch in which Will Farrell, working at some high end retail store, pulls out a phone so small that it was barely larger than a tic-tac. Maybe it is because the computer started off being so large, but I really do not understand the desire to make everything as small as possible. (I apologize if this seems more like a rant than a question, haha)
Machtelt Garrels. “Introduction to Linux: A Hands on Guide”
-Bell Labs laboratories created a system in 1969 to deal with the problem enormous computers had due to the fact they all ran on different systems. The New system was called UNIX, which Written in the C programming language instead of in assembly code and able to recycle code.
-UNIX was originally only available in large venues, like university, for the government or for large financial
-Linus Torvalds, of the University of Helsinki, set out to create a form of UNIX for home computers in the early 1990s, called LINUX
-Today, Linux is available for the desktop and workplace market, it also runs on " ‘gadgets’ like PDA's, mobiles, shipload of embedded applications and even on experimental wristwatches”
-Depending on the user, those that were familiar with UNIX find Linux to be a great program due to its similarities to Unix, coming standard with compilers, libraries, development and debugging tools
-For those not familiar with the original UNIX, companies like RedHat, SuSE and Mandriva have worked to add graphics and make the program similar to those of MS Windows or an Apple workstation (thought the screenshot seems to look more bulky, awkward and somewhat primitive compared to the other two in my personal opinion, but of course I am very use to Windows)
-Open Source, type of Linux software, is already accepted by academic and technical people, but to expand into the workplace, must adapt to include options like the internet and continue to be as user friendly as possible
- other projects include SAMBA and Apache HTTP
-The pros of this system include, that it is free, secure and versatile, scalable, and short debugging time
-The cons include, that Linux is not very user friendly and confusing for beginners and has questions of trustworthiness
What is Mac OS X?
-writer believes there are many misconceptions when comparing Linux and Mac OS X
-site is meant as an introduction to users unfamiliar with the program( I noticed a trade make after “not that there’s anything wrong with it,” which reminds me of the Seinfeld episode)
-Writer is relatively new to Apple, as his main operating systems are Linux, Solaris, *BSD, and the Microsoft Windows
-Writer seems to come off somewhat pretentious in introduction
- Steve Jobs, along with five other former Apple employees, created NeXT Computer, Inc, in a desire to make the “perfect” research computer, the first being unveiled on October 12, 1988
-In the Fall of 1990 the first web browser was created for NeXT Computer
- Apple acquired NeXT in February, 1997, for $427 million and called the upcoming NeXT-based system Rhapsody
-Apple came out with Mac OS X in 1999
- The pieces of software that constitute Mac OS X can be grouped into logical layers
- “Open Firmware (IEEE-1275 Standard for Boot Firmware: Core Requirements and Practices) is a non-proprietary, platform (CPU and system) independent boot firmware”
-The writer provides numerous examples while explaining the booting process, including interaction and operation
- The Mac OS X kernel is called XNU, “XNU contains code based on Mach, the legendary architecture that originated as a research project at Carnegie Mellon University in the mid 1980s”
-A lot of commercial software is available for Mac OS X
-Writer has positive feelings towards Mac OS X, as he finds many things lean heavily towards Windows, shows a fondness of Linux, but ultimately one must remember there are a variety of choices to caters to the various ideals people desire for their computer and software
Mac OS X- Wikipedia
-defined as: “a line of computer operating systems developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc, the latest of which is pre-loaded on all currently shipping Macintosh computers”
-successor to Mac OS (1984-1999)
- specialized versions of Mac OS X for use on three of its consumer devices, the Apple TV, the iPhone, and the Ipod touch
- Mac OS X's core is a Unix operating system built on top of the XNU kernel, mentioned in other reading as being created at CMU
-Prominent features (that I find interesting) include: Aqua GUI, “a fluid graphical user interface with water-like elements,” Time Machine, “automatic backup technology that allows users to view and restore previous versions of files and application data,” and Dashboard, “a full-screen group of small applications that can be called up and dismissed in one keystroke.”
-There are numerous versions of the software, each upgrade named after a sleek, fast animal, i.e. Puma, Cheetah, ect.
-Mac OS X is available in 22 different languages
An Update on the Windows Roadmap
-Bill Veghte, Senior Vice President: Online Services & Windows Business Group, email to Microsoft customers regarding the extension of Windows XP support
-Impressively, 1 billion personal computers around the world run Windows
- Continued support for Windows XP will be available, and the product will still be available to purchase to satisfy costume demand (this is an obvious blow to the company that desires to move on to their new product, Windows Vista, which will be championed throughout the rest of this email)
-Security issues are being addressed in terms of Windows Vista
-a focus has been placed on compatibility, and “98 of the top 100 applications for Windows sold at retail in US in the last year in the categories of Finance, Business, System Utilities, Imaging/Graphics, Personal Productivity, and Education, are compatible with Windows Vista”
-Windows Vista is a “very significant step forward” and Microsoft will continue to improve upon the design to ensure the greatest benefits to users
-Future work, Windows 7, working title that I feel has not spunk to it, 3 years after the January 2007 general availability launch date of Windows Vista, ensuring there will be a smooth transition between the two (learning for the issues that arose between XP and Vista)
- Bill Veghte, again, thanks us for our business and “partnership”
Monday, September 1, 2008
Week Two Comments
I have commented on Alison's Blog: http://ab2600.blogspot.com/, Computer History Museum
and Rebecca's Blog: http://rap70.blogspot.com/
and Rebecca's Blog: http://rap70.blogspot.com/
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