521 log

January 15

First class. Introduced and tried open source operating system Linux; high quality free software.

After reflection on class and the syllabus, I figured out that the essence of this class is to use the lease cost to achieve the most, say, to use Linux to take the place of Windows, to use OpenOffice to take the place of Word Office, Nvu to take the place of DreamWeaver; to use Moodle to take the place of BlackBoard, etc.

January 18

Installed 1, text processor OpenOffice.org, 2. HTML editor Nvu, 3. FTP tool FileZella and 4, PDF Creator. I have already installed 7 Zip and FireFox, 7 Zip. Recently I use a web browser called Maxthon.

After I used OpenOffice, I found that I don't need to install PDF Creater because OpenOffice provides PDF output.

So, for my first assignment, I used OpenOffice to write text and made PDF output, and used Nvu to creat a HTML file. I tried to upload the PDF and HTML files but when I was prompted to fill in content for the “Port”, I did not know what number to fill in. So I used SSH Secure File Transfer Client to upload the files to my VolSpace. This SSH software automatically set the port number for me.

After I installed OpenOffice, a survey window prompted. I chose not to make any firm commitment get involve in heavy-duty or time consuming volunteer work, since this is the first time I use this product. I need to explore the website more to know what and how can I contribute to the OpenOffice.

January 20

Holy Smoke! Last night when pluged in a USB portable hard drive, my computer prompt some “PnP Bios” problem then automatically restart. I tried many times, it could not show the normal XP window, nor did it show Safe Mode window. The blue screen was filled with tech words. The last sentence announce that there was a hardware problem. After a restart, the computer was prompted into Recovery Mode. I had no choice but to restore the system to the factory setting, thus, I lost everything.

January 21

Lots of things happened today.

I re-installed OpenOffice, Nvu, 7 Zip. When installing GNU, an error message show up, asking me to “install GTK+ before running the Gimp setup again.” I downloaded but was curious: did GNU and GIMP have connection? Or the CD given by Dr. Pfaffman messed them up? Anyways, I was not in a hurry for digital photo editing and I had a lot Win XP update to download and install, so I put this doubt aside.

In the afternoon I happened to met Hui, one of our classmates. She wanted to check with me about the first assignment. So I watched how she used UTK Unix and VolSpace. I told her how I used OpenOffice, Nvu and the FTP tool and mentioned to her that our CD contained a FTP tool. I was contended that I began to promote OpenOffice and quality free software.

This afternoon I faced a challenge: I wanted to use OpenOffice, but I was assisting my friends in China in English-Chinese translation and doing proofreading. The document was send in Word format.

I decided to use OpenOffice to edit the Word document. After that, I copied and pasted the content into a blank Word document and saved it. I checked and found out that some format (highlighted text, eg) was different from the way edited by Word. Since the Word documents sent to me strictly follow certain font, font size rules, and I was warned when converting the formate using OpenOffice that certain format would lost during the process, I decided that I still use Word for the proofreading but OpenOffice for all my work. See, I am changing my habit.

To update OpenOffice may solve format lost problem, I was suggested. But when I clicked the “update”, somehow the connection could not go though and the update was failed.

My reflection on OpenOffice and Word was that Word has become so convenient and popular, it has become a standard text processor for PC. It is difficult to change such trend. Concerning another important function of OpenOffice, I observe that most people view PDF files rather than writing and editing it.

January 22

This morning I went to OIT desk at the library and registered my laptop to UTK's campus wireless network “nomad”. I downloaded and updated UTK network's assigned anti-virus software McAfee.

I still wondered why I could not install GNU. Last night I was risking my computer since I did not installed anti-virus software. (Any anti-virus software needs to be removed before joining UTK's wireless network so I did not installed Norton trail version comes with the laptop.)

Now I have connected UTK's network and installed MaAfee, I have some confidence in browsing websites.

I need a tool to edit digital image, most likely from my Canon D30 digital camera so I decided to retry GNU. I googled “GNU” and was directed to GNU.org. The website explained that GNU is an operating system, but is sometimes mistaked as Linux, thought both are free software. I clicked “free software” and then “free software directory” and chose “graphics”, “Graphics editors” and chose GIMP to download and to install. This time the process was good.

So my biggest achievements these days were tried Linux environment, installed OpenOffice and GIMP.

PS.

How to register a laptop to UTK's wireless network.

1. Find wireless logo at right bottom corner, mouse right click to show “Open Network Connections”, a window will open. Choose the logo “Intel(R) Wireless WiFi”.

2. Right click to choose “properties”, “Wireless Network”, “Add”, fill in “nomad” as network name. At “Data encryption” choose “disabled”. Click OK, OK.

3. Open IE, type in “antivirus.utk.edu”, choose “workstation”, “Window XP”, “upgrade”, provide Net ID and password. Download McAfee and install, upgrade it.

I remembered that the first time I registered, the service personnel did some magic and found my laptop's digital ID. But after registration, I don't need to provide the digital ID anymore.

Reflections on the assigned reading:

1. The 1^st article It's Time to Consider Open Source Software did not have content. At first I thought it was caused by my browser Maxthon, but I tried FireFox the content still did not show up. The reference showed up, though.

2. The 2^nd article “What Business Can Learn from Open Source” was a good one. And Dr. Pfaffman made a nice summary of the article by saying:

   “three big lessons that OSS/blogs have for business.

1. that people work harder on stuff they like,

2. that the standard office environment is very unproductive, and

3. that bottom-up often works better than top-down. ”

3. The 3^rd article “Why 'Open Source' misses the point of Free Software” pointed out the spirit of open source: it is a value, a believe, a spirit of freedom, and volunteers use their craft to provide freedom for common people.

In class we had heated discussion on many issues, such as opinions on open source, free ware. Looked like today the generation are “game generation” or “computer generation”. Bob said that if he assigned some text work, his students would make complain. But if he said “use computer”, then his students would jump for it.

My thought is that today MS XP, Office and IE have become the name of personal computer and software. Computer literacy level is different among people in the world. Most users enjoy the convenience computer brings to us. People may think those who know how to use Apple or Linux are elites or computer gurus. Not everyone can have strong computer skills and abilities and is energetic to try new softwares. I know one of my friends tried Linux but turned back to XP.

In the past, I have miserable experience on trying new software: three times I ended up with restoring operating systems. I am not sure if this is the result of my kama. Right after I installed and tried some free softwre, I had to restore system again. But that's fine with me.

January 25

Computer and Internet has melt into my blood. My connection to the world my entertainment, leisure depend heavily on that. The day before my apartment network connection broke down and for three days I had tried all I know to fix it, including calling UT OIT (Internet service provider). Obviously my roommate shares the same feeling with me. He also called tech service and this afternoon I need to try one more time.

Yiyang Fan

Jan 29, 2008

Task:

1. Create a document with Google Docs.

2. Publish the document

3. Put something on your Google calendar

4. Set up Google Reader

5. Set up your Personalized iGoogle and include on it all of the stuff above.
6 Take a screen shot of your iGoogle page

7. Write a timeline about how to accomplish these things.

8. Include a link to Google doc

9. Attach a screen shot

Document:

So far I have learned a lot about free software and internet resources. I put my hands on many but still think I need more time to explore further. Eg, for OpenOffice, I have formed the habit to use it whenever I need to process word. Besides, I found GIMP is a powerful image editor but need to explore more functions other than digital image resize. I begin to explore Linux, a thing I have long been want to do. I am excited about exploring all possibilities.

End of the document

Link:

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhpptgg8_0f93dv5c2

Timeline:

12:00: logged in Gmail

12:04: began to organize igoogle

12:06: chose theme

12:10: add stuff.

12:30: explored offers from google reader to decide which one to subsrice to. Chose "Small Business".

12:40: went into every link I was interested in, not in a hurry to finish igoogle.

1:00-2:00: nap

2:05: continue to add stuff into igoogle. Had interest in making igoogle gadget. Before making it, googled and found "don't do that! I am loosing time on it!" warning. Read relevant comments. Since I was at work, checked out and checked in books.

3:00-3:40: found adding too many gadget, decided to delete some. Not knowing what to do, in panic and google again. Found answers and was happy.

Happy New Year

I can't help to shout "Happy New Year" in this sunny day.

I didn't done wrong -- Chinese New Year begins on Feb. 7, 2008, the Pig Year. We are so excited that some of our friends have planned for big home parties: dinners, games, etc.

As for me, I plan to celebrate my new year with a gift -- PlayStation 2.