I've been doing the telecommuting thing for nearly a decade now, focusing mainly on emebedded linux kernel and driver developent as well as Android work more recently. I not only get my job done from home, I sometimes work on the road in an RV. I mostly use an Ubuntu laptop, Verizon MyFi, and a cell phone. I also have a Tektronix oscilloscope and a BDI3000 hardware debugger... but that is more specific to my kind of work than most people will need I suppose. On the software end, I mostly use gmail for email (though I have used Thunderbird in the past). LibreOffice does everything I need in document department. I trade Word and Excell docs with Microsoft users all the time with no complaints. Gmail also seems to handle the calender thing pretty well, including interoperting with Microsoft calendar messages. I've occasionaly had to work with clients with a very Microsoft centric infratructure, and that has meant using the web interface to their Outlook server and other such hastle... but I've always manage to get by.
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I've been an independent computer consultant for more than 15 years now, and spent many of those years working from home on my own schedule. I find it helps to set aside a specific work area and specific hours of work (assuming those aren't set for you). It helps if you have a spare bedroom you can turn into an office. Keep non-work visual clutter to a minimum to avoid distractions, but don't be afraid to schedule breaks for yourself. I do most of my work in Linux, so on the computer end I keep all my work related stuff in a different account or at least a different virtual desktop.

... It's a debate classic!

Since their latest Amazon Instant Video upgrade, I've been unable to watch any Amazon videos either on my 32 or 64 bit system. I've made sure I have the latest Adobe flash plug-in and have HAL installed. Their tech support was useless. I've cancelled my Amazon Prime membership over it.

And they wonder why some people resort to bit-torrent.

I run my business, surf the web, stream video, and even play games using Linux... have for years now. I don't miss Windows at all. I certainly don't miss all the hassle with anti-virus software etc.

I am actually an Android developer that uses a Verizon MiFi as my primary Internet. With my frequent repo syncs and source code downloads, I could easily blast past a data cap. If they take away my $70/month unlimited account, I'll probably just cancel and look for alternatives.

Since I've been doing embedded Linux and Android work, I mostly work from home AND my pay is higher. Its a simple supply and demand thing. Go where the demand is, and you'll get better pay and a better work environment.

You can have an S-Corp with only one shareholder (at least here in WI and most other states I know of). That's how I do my consulting. It involves more paperwork that being a sole proprietor, but their are liability and tax advantages to having a real corp over going sole proprietor. An LLC is also a good option; it lacks some of the advantages of an S-Corp but involves less paperwork.

As I read it, he had an S-Corp, not an LLC, but paid himself a salary just as you suggest. The problem is that the IRS claims he paid himself too little (which he could have also done with an LLC). The reason he did this was to reduce his payroll tax contributions. This can also reduce your eventual social security benefits, but as a CPA he probably figured he could do better investing the money. As an independent consultant this is the same situation I am in. I take a fixed, modest salary and take any additional income as just profits from the corporation. In year where I book a lot of hours, my income from profit can be more than my salary... which it looks like according to this article could put me in the cross-hairs of the IRS. I guess its time to give myself a raise. :-/

Dude, if they had actually released the source code to their client, someone would have already ported it to Linux (heck, I would do it nobody else stepped up). Netflix uses open source tools in the course of doing business. That is very different than actually releasing their product as open source.

If you are into puzzle games at all, the bundle is worth it for Machinarium alone. Heck, even if you are not into puzzle games, Machinarium is worth it for the fantastic artwork. Me and the GF have been playing it non-stop since we downloaded it.

As one of those 'sell outs', I'm curious why you think that? At the heart of the open source ethos is the license under which the software is distributed. As long as the code that is developed is submitted back to the open source community, that ethos is satisfied. How or even if the developer is paid is not really relevant. Indeed, a world in which most commercial software is open source and the developers are paid for their efforts is very much in keeping with our dreams of an open source utopia.

I've been working as an embedded Linux developer for almost a decade now, and yes, most of us kernel hackers are paid for our work. For example, right now I'm working for a major microchip manufacturer that wants to make sure their products are fully supported by Linux. Consequently, they fund teams of open source developers (often hired through big name consulting firms) to port the kernel to their latest CPU's, develop drivers for integrated peripherals, etc. Just look at the email addresses in the submit logs for major open source projects. You will see ibm.com, intel.com, ti.com, redhat.com, windriver.com ..., and many, many more big commercial technology companies. Its been this way for a while, which is why I would always laugh whenever some MS fanboy would try to denigrate Linux programmers as a bunch of basement dwellers. I make a better than average living from Linux coding, with multiple job offers right now, even in this horrid economy.

This is also why I have no worries about Microsoft ever killing off Linux. There are far too many companies making far too much money from Linux based products in market niches that MS has no traction in. The embedded and mobile markets are pretty much owned by Linux, and those are pretty much the only tech sectors seeing strong growth right now. If you haven't yet added Linux skills to your resume, do it.

If anyone wants to ask me about the Linux / embedded / open source consulting world, go ahead and post your questions. I'll check back and answer if I can.

Correct. I jut bought a new LG Android phone and had no trouble upgrading the custom 2.1 Android OS that it came with to stock google 2.2. If that had not worked, I would have immediately returned the phone as 'defective'.

It won't do it out of the box, but as an open platform it should be possible to make it happen. Might require an a custom OS patch though... As an Android developer myself, I might look into this and release something if someone else doesn't beat me to it.