ottdmk - Slashdot User

Comment Re:BSD loses support from Open Source (Score 5, Informative) 149

by ottdmk on Sunday December 30, 2012 @08:46PM (#42429195) Attached to: New Releases From FreeBSD and NetBSD

I have to respectfully disagree. While it takes some getting used to, the FreeBSD ports system is, imo, absolutely awesome. Running into conflicts is extremely rare. I ran into a software conflict two months ago. It was the first time in probably five years. (I've been using FreeBSD as my main home system since 2002.)

Yes, if you install a desktop, X is not automatically a dependency. This situation works rather well for those who want to remotely log into the machine and use a GUI. Until recently FreeBSD supported FreeNX quite well (I've had trouble with the port recently. In my spare time I'm hacking away at it.). If you're remote administering a headless system, having X pulled in as a dependency is not what you want.

I'm sorry you ran into difficulties with X. The thing with X is that you have to remember to use the x11/xorg meta-port. You can install all the X components one at a time through the other ports and I imagine that if you're building a desktop it would be an exercise in extreme frustration.

If you ever decide to try FreeBSD again you might want to try PC-BSD. It's a full FreeBSD system (they just released 9.1 as well) but the installer installs a desktop by default and the PBI system is less arcane then ports can be. (Bear in mind that PBI is built from the FreeBSD ports system and ports remain available to users in PC-BSD.)

Submission + - Judge overturns patent suit, rules RIM did not infringe (ottawacitizen.com)

Submitted by ottdmk on Friday August 10, 2012 @02:50PM

ottdmk writes: You may recall this recent Slashdot story about Mformation being awarded 147.2 million dollars in a patent suit agains RIM. Well, it appears a California appeals judge has disagreed with that verdict. As part of the ruling if Mformation successfully appeals, the matter will go to a new trial instead of the jury award being restored.

Submission + - FreeBSD 8.3-RELEASE is available (freebsd.org)

Submitted by ottdmk on Thursday April 19, 2012 @10:54AM

ottdmk writes: Although FreeBSD 9.0-RELEASE has been available for a while now, the 8.X stream is still supported. 8.3-RELEASE is now available for download and use. Check out the Release notes, find the torrent files here or find the ftp mirror nearest you.

Submission + - FreeBSD 9.0 has been released (freebsd.org)

Submitted by ottdmk on Thursday January 12, 2012 @05:52PM

ottdmk writes: FreeBSD has released 9.0-RELEASE, the first official release from the 9-STABLE branch. Highlights include a new installer, updated ZFS, user level d-trace and much more. Check out the release notes, the the initial errata notice or just go get it (mirror sites, BitTorrent tracker).

Submission + - Ottawa physicist claims to generate truly random n (ottawacitizen.com)

Submitted by ottdmk on Tuesday November 29, 2011 @12:07AM

ottdmk writes: An Ottawa physicist claims he can generate truly random numbers using laser light and diamonds.

Submission + - Bendable computer to debut at ACM's CHI 2011 (ottawacitizen.com)

Submitted by ottdmk on Thursday May 05, 2011 @12:34PM

ottdmk writes: A Queen's University researcher is set to debut a paper-thin, bendable computer at the Association of Computing Machinery's Computer Human Interaction conference in Vancouver.

Sony Joins the Offensive Against Pre-Owned Games 461

Posted by Soulskill on Friday February 19, 2010 @07:11AM from the saddle-up dept.

BanjoTed writes "In a move to counter sales of pre-owned games, EA recently revealed DLC perks for those who buy new copies of Mass Effect 2 and Battlefield: Bad Company 2. Now, PlayStation platform holder Sony has jumped on the bandwagon with similar plans for the PSP's SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo 3. '[Players] will need to register their game online before they are able to access the multiplayer component of the title. UMD copies will use a redeemable code while the digital version will authenticate automatically in the background. Furthermore ... anyone buying a pre-owned copy of the game will be forced to cough up $20 to obtain a code to play online."

Comment Difference with FreeBSD? (Score 2, Interesting) 815

by ottdmk on Monday October 19, 2009 @02:23PM (#29797387) Attached to: PulseAudio Creator Responds To Critics

Hi all... FreeBSD user, not really a Linux guy. What's the difference between our sound system and Linux, anyways? IIRC we're based on Open Sound System, but I could be mistaken. Sound still isn't configured by default in FreeBSD, but it seems to work quite nicely once the right kernal module is loaded. I can have any number of sound-using apps open. They all open /dev/dsp and get their own sound channel. Anyways, just curious is someone who's familiar with both OS's can fill me in. This conversation has been really interesting.

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