Magazine Article Ideas

[rubentje1991]

Well; I'm staying with 1-2 displays on my desk 
However, I'd like to try some white led backlight behind my main screen - have seen it different times now; maybe in the near future 

[AS]

"The PCLinuxOS directory structure explained"
Along the lines of http://www.tuxfiles.org/linuxhelp/linuxdir.html

Are you offering as a volunteer ?   

[parnote]

"The PCLinuxOS directory structure explained"
Along the lines of http://www.tuxfiles.org/linuxhelp/linuxdir.html

Silver22,

Thanks for the suggestion. Something like this ... but a bit more detailed, indepth and customized to PCLinuxOS ... is on my "to do" list.

Stay tuned!

Paul Arnote [parnote]
PCLinuxOS Magazine Chief Editor

[MuddleFuddle]

You haven't mentioned any sexy Firefox add-ons lately.

Here are my suggestions for the add-ons I couldn't manage without:


MORE ESSENTIAL FIREFOX ADD-ONS

These have been covered before in PCLOSMAG:
 
BetterPrivacy 1.68   http://nc.ddns.us/extensions.html
Kills all cookies dead!

DownloadHelper 4.9.9   http://www.downloadhelper.net/
Download movies to your hard drive.


These are excellent and deserve a mention too:

Flashblock 1.5.15.1   http://flashblock.mozdev.org/
Stops flash from downloading and playing unless you want to see it.  Protects you from unsolicited movies that steal all your bandwidth.  Works well with DownloadHelper (see above) and YouTube.

gTranslate 0.9   https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/918
Right-click selected text for instant translation in pop-up window.

Mozilla Archive Format 2.0.5   http://maf.mozdev.org/
Create single-file archive of current tab or all tabs.  Can create backward-compatible MSIE mhtml file too!

Nuke Anything Enhanced 1.0.2   https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/nuke-anything-enhanced/?src=api
Obliterate those hideous floating objects that obscure so many websites.  Right-click it, nuke it, and it's gone!  You can also "undo" a delete that took away an important bit of the page.

Pixlr Grabber 2.1.1   http://www.pixlr.com/
Save any part of the displayed web-page to an image file.  Has an online editing option too.

Print Edit 8.3   https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/print-edit/
Take out the adds, pictures, blank spaces and other junk before you print a web-page.

SyncPlaces 5.0.1   http://www.andyhalford.com/syncplaces/index.html
Store and synchronize your bookmarks on any server or a harddrive/usbdrive too.  No subscriptions reqd.
UPDATE: Andy Halford, developer of SyncPlaces has abandoned the project.  This addon is no longer available

Wiktionary and Google Translate 5.8.1   http://www.toptip.ca/
hover over a word and get a dictionary lookup in a pop-up window. NEAT!


Also nice to have if you use like to post news items to Facebook

AddThis 3.5.7   www.addthis.com
Share any web-page that does not have its own "share" button.

[sammy2fish]

I'm sorry.  I only read the first page, and have to leave home shortly.

I have a half-decent dell tower that I want to make into a ftp-server.  I have windows-xp on it, but would like the security of Linux.  Why can't an end-user as I, get what I want without having to learn a massive amount of Linux first?

Secondly.... I like to collect backgrounds from all over the world.  Including lots from my neck-of-the-woods.  What about a "my neck-of-the-woods, pics & background spot?

[Xenaflux]

Why can't an end-user as I, get what I want without having to learn a massive amount of Linux first?

At 38 that amount looks small
at 48 the same amount looks much bigger
at 58 the same amount looks massive

Solution: Get 38 again.
fwiw: I also have that problem

[YouCanToo]

I have windows-xp on it, but would like the security of Linux.  Why can't an end-user as I, get what I want without having to learn a massive amount of Linux first?

It's Winders that is why it is never going to be as secure as Linux As for an FTP server in Linux is IS NOT that hard to setup and run. One does NOT have to learn a massive amount of Linux first either.

[The Chief]

As for an FTP server in Linux is IS NOT that hard to setup and run. One does NOT have to learn a
massive amount of Linux first either.

Well, once you know how, it's easy - like anything else.   

[YouCanToo]

As for an FTP server in Linux is IS NOT that hard to setup and run. One does NOT have to learn a
massive amount of Linux first either.

Well, once you know how, it's easy - like anything else.   

Which FTP server were/are you trying to setup and run?

[The Chief]

As for an FTP server in Linux is IS NOT that hard to setup and run. One does NOT have to learn a
massive amount of Linux first either.

Well, once you know how, it's easy - like anything else.   

Which FTP server were/are you trying to setup and run?

None, but the observation stands.  It's easy after the blood and pain.  Just as an appendectomy...

[alansecker]

During the last couple of weeks, like a lot of people in the UK, I lost my digital TV channels and couldn't scan for their replacements. With a bit of help and a compile of w_scan, I got it together. It's a bit parochial but would you like the nitty gritty written up?

I could also provide w_scan compiled to the current 64-bit kernel although I don't know how to package it into an rpm.

[Just17]

During the last couple of weeks, like a lot of people in the UK, I lost my digital TV channels and couldn't scan for their replacements. With a bit of help and a compile of w_scan, I got it together. It's a bit parochial but would you like the nitty gritty written up?

I could also provide w_scan compiled to the current 64-bit kernel although I don't know how to package it into an rpm.

Was that only necessary because you were using 64 bit, as w_scan is in the 32 bit repo .....  or does the package need updating?

I mention it only because it is my understanding that the mag will not be carrying 64 bit articles until 64bit is released.

[Neal ManBear]

w_scan has been added to 64bit repo.     

When the mag staff is ready to do 64bit articles, they will do some fine articles. I have no doubt of that.      

[parnote]

Ok ... I've been going back through this thread, and I've found a few things that I can definitely do. I should be able to do the Kompozer article, since I use Kompozer every month to update the new PCLinuxOS Magazine website. I should also be able to cover the repurposed use of older computers (that one completely escaped my mind, until I went back through this list).

Might I ask the rest of you to do as I've done, and go back through this thread to see if there are any articles that you might be able to help provide? Me and Meemaw are pretty proficient in a lot of areas, but just like with everyone else, there are areas where we have next to no knowledge. It's definitely in those areas that we need your help.

There's a LOT of really good ideas here. Let's see if we can come together and get as may of these topics covered as we can.

Let me know if you see something listed here that you can help with!

Thanks!

Paul Arnote [parnote]
PCLinuxOS Magazine Chief Editor

[parnote]

Just so it is clear, this is how Screenshot Showcase selections are made:

1) Only one screenshot per user per month will appear, so as to even the playing field between those who post prolifically and those who post sporadically.

2) The selected screenshot should include a fairly high quality, original or unique wallpaper and/or theme.

3) Feature as many of the available desktop environments/window managers as possible, since PCLinuxOS features so many to choose from.

4) The screenshots must be in good taste and appropriate for publication in the magazine. This means PG or G rated materials.

5) The desktop environment must be able to either be discerned by looking at the screenshot, or it must be denoted in the screenshot post.

6) The screenshot posted must be of sufficient size as to allow clean publication in the magazine. Screenshots that are too small will, unfortunately, be eliminated from consideration. Posted screenshots must be a minimum of 550 pixels wide for consideration. Of course, larger is better, since we will resize all images prior to publication in the magazine, using a resizing algorithm that preserves the quality of the screenshot for publication in the magazine.

7) Screenshots created with too great of a level of JPG compression will be eliminated from consideration, given the lossy nature of JPG compression and the resulting artifacts in the image, lowering image quality.

So, while random, the selection of screenshots must fit into the guidelines we've established for the magazine. Screenshot Showcase is an effort to showcase PCLinuxOS, its users, and the wide range of desktop environments available to PCLinuxOS users. Trust me -- I am fully aware that The PCLinuxOS Magazine is read by many who are NOT PCLinuxOS users.

parnote

Just a reminder about Screenshot Showcase.

I might also add one more condition that may determine whether a screenshot post is used ... call it number 8. We will not feature screenshots that feature items from testing. This means (at the moment) no screenies from users running 64 bit ISOs, no kernels from testing, or anything else that is not generally available to the average new user.

Thanks guys! Y'all post some mighty fascinating and fine screenshots. Please ... keep on posting!

parnote