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LINUX VOICE STAR LETTER THAT’S NUMBERWANG Mathematica [reviewed in beginner’s guide to using it. LV007] is nice, but there are Sage is very good and the several FOSS alternatives. plotting worked better than Octave was recently reviewed GNU Plot on my machine, but in another publication, which I know I am going to need got me interested as I’ve geometry, which led to another succeeded in getting my search and the discovery of mentee enrolled in computer GeoGebra [www.geogebra.org]. engineering at university and GeoGebra is relatively new now find myself helping with and absolutely wonderful. homework, prompting me to Perhaps you could do a review my college math books comparison of the leading and note that we’ve moved on FOSS computer-aided math a bit from the days of hand- applications in a future edition cranked desk calculators, slide of Voice. Whatever the relative merits of Mathematica, a basic version of it now rules, and books of tables. Andrew Shead. comes free of charge as part of Raspbian. Octave is powerful, but not the best choice for analytical Ben says: As I said in the review, have their own shortcomings. modules), although this also has or symbolic math. I tried the idea of coding in a proprietary Personally, my language of its limitations. This does sound Maxima, which is in the Mint environment deeply troubles choice for mathematical like an area ripe for comparison. repository, but changed me. The software you mention computation is Python (with We’ll look into it for a future issue to Sage because I found a are all good choices, but they all NumPy, SciPy and other of Linux Voice.

RELENTLESS CHEERINESS Still loving the magazine, thanks wife is obsessed with line-drying for the i3 tutorial – it was just what clothes in the depths of winter so I I need at the moment. I have two would get major brownie points if I suggestions for the magazine. could build something that let her Firstly, although the gaming know if it rained. Maybe you could section is welcome and a good even cover serving requests on a read I wonder if it’s time for it web server so others nearby could to become a bit more critical? access the same information? As the gaming on Linux scene Take the British obsession with the matures we are being asked to weather and Linux-ify it. pay upwards of £30 for some of Keep up the great work. If ever we come across the games and it would be nice to Chris Beeley, Nottingham in-depth review, and as such we don’t a big name title that’s know more about whether they will feel there’s any point including stuff robbing people blind, repay the investment. Andrew says: The gaming section that’s rubbish. As for a Pi weather we’ll let you know. Secondly, a plea for a rain- is really there to provide a snapshot station, I want one too. Clothes dried detection Raspberry Pi tutorial. My of what’s going on, rather than an outside always feel much fresher.

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TOO EASY? TOO HARD? Whatever the subject, be on KDE desktops; they do not it computers, astronomy, appear to work on Ubuntu’s Unity mathematics etc, there is a desktop). Whilst I have no doubt tendency for those who know the that your instructions are far subject well to forget how easy it more comprehensive and cover is to confuse or ‘scare off’ those more situations, not all of us are of us who are new to the subject, yet ready for your ‘Masterclass’ and in this case, your excellent approach. Please do not forget magazine. If someone asked that we ‘refugees from Windows’ me, as a novice, how to copy a need to start at the easy end of the DVD, I would tell them that I used Linux subject. Kubuntu 12.04, which contains There are many ways the burning software as Andrew says: Hmmm. The point B. That said, the balance has to skin a cat in Linux; standard , and installed K9Copy masterclass section, by definition, tipped away from new users in recent sometimes the most from the software store. This is meant to provide an exhaustive issues, and we’ll have an opportunity reliable way isn’t the allowed a 7.9GB protected DVD examination of a particular to address that soon. Out of interest, easiest. to be shrunk down to 4.2GB application, and so it’s never going to is there anything that you’d like a and burned onto a blank DVD. be aimed at anyone who just wants beginners’ guide to? Let us know and (K9Copy & K3b only work together to get from metaphorical point A to we’ll do our best to provide one.

PANIC AND FREAK OUT! So, Symantec has discovered a computers? new computer virus thing called David Watson, Melbournes Regin, and it’s going to kill us all in our beds, or something. I looked on Mike says: You’re absolutely right the BBC, Sydney Morning Herald David, and I tried to get in touch with and Symantec’s own website and the BBC’s Rory Cellan-Jones to let apparently this latest doomsday him know about this oft-repeated virus affects “computers”. I have error. At least, I hope it’s an error: the a computer! Should I be worried? cynic might suggest that the BBC et Or is it actually more likely that al are afraid of angering Microsoft this, like all them seem to be, is by suggesting that it bears any just a Windows virus and the culpability for the holes in its security, media either doesn’t know or is and instead is hedging its bets by too craven to make the distinction using the vague (but still accurate) Far be it from us to illustrate the concept of a computer windows that Windows computers ≠ all term “computer virus”. virus with a lazy stock photo search for the term ‘computer virus’.

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CALM DOWN DEAR! As a long time listener to your a bullying culture about it now that podcast (and as a listener to I don’t like. TuxRadar before then) I’ve laughed along with you on many occasions Andrew says: Two things: yes, you’re about the dafteries that free right. Technical criticism is one thing; software throws up. But I’m a personal abuse is quite another, and bit concerned over the Systemd (apart from anything else) must be argument that’s raging on and pretty alienating for anyone looking that you’ve touched on recently at from the outside in. in the podcast. I must admit that But the other thing is that the pond I don’t understand the technical life who are harassing the Systemd arguments (though I trust the developers are representative only of Debian people, so if they’re happy themselves. with it, I’m happy with it). But the There are many, many people who level of personal invective that’s contribute to free software, so the been levelled at Lennart Poettering law of averages suggests that some [the developer of Systemd] is of those people will be idiots. But on another level entirely, and is they are only a minority. Actually, making me rethink the reasons they’re more than that; they’re a vocal that I got involved in the first minority, and like all vocal minorities, place. I thought free software was they shout louder than the rest. supposed to be about inclusivity; Everyone has a different opinion, but instead it seems that there’s a as far as I can see the best thing to do This man does not deserve the hate he gets online. Trolls, stop it! nasty element taking over. There’s is ignore them. Image: Ramkrsna CC BY-SA 2.0.

FREEEEEEEDOM! I just wanted to get in touch to say a big well done on releasing issue 1 as Creative Commons CC-BY-SA. I subscribed when you launched before Christmas 2013 partly because I trusted your reputation from your old magazine, but what really grabbed me was your commitment to release your content free to the community. I’ve been looking forward to the day when you relicensed issue 1, and now you have I’m so happy I subscribed. You’ve done everything I wanted you to, and I’m really glad I backed you. Well done! Marco Pahl

Graham Says: Modesty forbids me from bragging, but I do think we’ve done a brilliant job in such a short time. I’m especially proud of our giving content away under CC-BY-SA as well; it means that, as well as feeding our families, Linux Voice is producing something of value to society, and that’s a really lovely feeling. Thanks a million for your warm wishes.

Issue 1 of Linux Voice is now free as in beer and speech from www.linuxvoice.com/download- linux-voice-issue-1-with-audio. Take it, share it, download it, change it, remix it, do whatever as long as you credit us, and we really do hope that it’s useful to you.

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