One affordable and fun alternative is called Ubuntu. With a name derived from the Bantu word for unity and togetherness, Ubuntu is a computing environment based upon the Linux operating system. Its development has been funded mostly as an act of charity by South African entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth.

Aside from the cost, another benefit of Ubuntu is that it operates under the free software philosophy. This doesn’t mean “free” as in getting something for nothing, although that is usually the case. It means “free” as in you are free to modify and distribute it in any way that helps you or your organization. Almost all Linux source code is free to download.  This means the technically minded can completely reprogram, modify, or distribute the software. In Windows, the first that you do is click on a EULA (you know, that long scrolly text thing) saying that you won’t modify their software. Moreover, most non-Linux operating systems are licensed in such a way that you pay a per computer fee.  In Windows, if your computer breaks down and you replace it, you might have to buy the exact same version of Windows that you previously used. With Ubuntu, system administrators can install the software on as many computers as they need.

Using Ubuntu isn’t quite as easy as using Windows or Apple OSX.  When I use laptops I have experienced hardware compatibility issues, and I have had  to search for fixes.  For instance, early versions of Ubuntu required specialized software to make use or WiFi cards, and I’ve had slight issues with graphics cards. Fortunately, there are thousands of other Ubuntu users that participate in forum discussions and have many of the same problems in the Ubuntu Forums.  After a day or two, there has never been a problem that I haven’t been able to fix.

Ubuntu comes bundled with all of the software that you’ll need for day-to-day tasks. Open Office is a replacement for Microsoft Office. It’s not quite as slick as Office 2007; but if you’re still using Office 2003 or Office XP, you might even like Open Office better. Banshee and Rhythmbox work in the same way that Windows Media Player and iTunes work.  Moreover, the Ubuntu media players won’t install digital rights management on your movies and songs.  This means there will be no limit on the devices that you can use and the number of back-ups that you can make. Due to some patent issues, installing DVD playback requires a few extra steps, but it is an easy process.

In a school environment, the Edubuntu add-on disc can be installed and you’ll have a full featured array of educational software to use. There are games for kids as young as three, educational networking features, research tools, music composition software, as well as mind mapping and note taking tools.

Similar to Mac OSX, the one thing that you can’t do with Ubuntu is play the latest 3D games. You also can’t use certain proprietary programs such as iTunes. However, in a school setting that is a benefit and not a detriment.

The best way experience Ubuntu is to try it yourself.  In order to start using Ubuntu, you can go to the official site and download a CD image.  This comes in a special file called an .iso which you burn to a disc.  You can then stick it in your CD/DVD slot and reboot your computer. Having the disc in the drive will “boot to CD.”  From this point it will load a version of Ubuntu directly from the CD. If you like the environment and it seems to work on your computer, you can follow the menus and install.  If you select the dual boot option, you can select from either your original operating system or Ubuntu each time you boot your computer.

If you become a Ubuntu wiz, your entire computing experience will change. You’ll feel liberated from using Microsoft, the setup process will help you learn about your computer in new ways, and you will have the option to use a greater variety of software that is more flexible than what is offered for Windows and Apple OSX.

Visit the official website, and give Ubuntu a try.

Download Ubuntu

]]> http://www.cullenhartley.com/2009/07/ubuntu-the-best-operating-system-for-educators/feed/ 0 http://www.cullenhartley.com/2009/05/save-time-with-rss/ http://www.cullenhartley.com/2009/05/save-time-with-rss/#comments Sat, 09 May 2009 16:41:26 +0000 cullenhartley http://www.cullenhartley.com/?p=354

I’ve been using the internet almost since its public inception.  I remember the mid-1990′s when my junior high buddies and I would telnet into sites around the world.  Later we all clamoured for Unix shell accounts so we could use the primitive text-based Lynx web browser and TinTin++ for online gaming.  The next phase in the internet occurred in the late ’90s when the Mosaic web brower was unleashed upon the world, and graphics, the occasional video, and audio-streaming were finally incorporated into the average person’s internet experience.

Unfortunately, this is where the evolution of most people’s internet experience stops.  They use their web browser, typically Internet Explorer or Firefox, to check various sites that come to mind.  People spend hours checking the same sites each day.  You probably know the sports fan that loads ESPN.com fifteen times a day or the newshound that visits CNN an equal amount of times.

Aside from simply avoiding compulsive behavior, there is a better way to surf the internet.  The solution is called Really Simple Syndication (RSS), and I would have to say that this is the most under-used feature of the internet.  RSS is a form of distribution that allows information about website updates to be pumped directly to you, instead of you having to constantly check the website.

Websites that contain RSS typically have an orange icon with a dot and several lines or they say ‘RSS” in the footer (like this one). Other terms that you might see that indicate an RSS feed are Atom, XML, XUL, or just the word “feed.” Web programmers have come up with many different ways that you can use these feeds.

Ways to Access RSS Feeds

1. In the bookmarks section of your web browser

If you use a modern web browser such as Firefox, Internet Explorer 7, or Safari, you can use RSS feeds as a live bookmarks.  Unlike a normal bookmark that just lists the name of the website, a live bookmark will have an expandable portion that lists the content of the website.  Instead of having to constantly visit a site to check for updates, you can simply scroll through your bookmarks to notice any new headlines.

On this page, I’ve made it easy to try it out.  Click the orange icon at the top of the article.  When prompted, click subscribe.  You now have your first live bookmark!

2. In Google Reader

Google Reader is a powerful application that allows you to scan dozens of websites at one time.  Just get an account (it’s  super easy if you already use Gmail or Blogger), and click the “Add Subscription” buttom in the top left corner.  You don’t even have to know the feed name.  Simply type the name of the website and Google Reader will find it for you.

If you spend even five minutes using it, you’ll see that there are all kinds of ways that you can share websites with your friends.  If everyone used Google reader, you’d no longer get those “Hey, Look at this Awesome Website” e-mails.

3.  In Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Outlook 2007 and above has built-in RSS feed integration.  To start subscribing, simply do a right click on the RSS folder and follow the prompts to subscribe to your favorite websites.  Now checking websites will be as easy as checking e-mail.  You’ll no longer be compelled to keep clicking reload on your favorite sites.  You can also set it up to reformat your favorite websites to look like e-mail.  In a workplace situation, this has obvious benefits.

4. In iTunes, Apple Safari RSS, and Many Others

I don’t use these applications, but there are many other applications that allow easy access to RSS. Mac users should know that there are many, many options for them.  iTunes is probably the most commonly installed on desktops.  Imagine, reading cullenhartley.com in the same application that you use to download your favorite pop music.  What a panacea!

5.  In Specialty Applications

There are specialty websites like NewsGator and single-function programs like FeedDemon to access RSS feeds.  I personally think these solutions are cumbersome and not well-integrated into most people’s computing workflow.  If you are already using them, that’s great. But if you are that involved in RSS and you made it to the end of the article, it is minor miracle.

Facebook for Pastors by MinistryMarketingCoach.com‘s Chris Forbes is a step-by-step primer describing how a pastor might use Facebook.  This thirty page e-book clearly presents the benefits of how social media can help shape a ministry, and provides a theological justification for using it as a tool.

The bulk of the booklet presents information that even the most novice Facebook user will know, but the information should still be of some use to the technologically illiterate set, seasoned pastors seeking something more that may just now be dipping their toes into the digital universe.  The last few pages are filled with testimonials from various ministers who have effectively used Facebook in their ministry.

Fortunately, Chris Forbes licensed this book for free distribution via the internet.  On the copyright page he explains:

You have permission to post, email or print this e-book and pass it along for free to
anyone you like as long as you make no changes or edits to its contents or digital
format. The right to bind this book and sell it is strictly reserved.

In that spirit, I have posted a copy of Facebook for Pastors for others to download.

Facebook for Pastors by Chris Forbes (PDF)

I learned about this book on the WM Communications Asia-Pacific website.

I’ve previously written about the limitations of the Nikon D60: the comparatively poor ISO performance, the limited lens compatibility, and the slow flash-shutter sync.  After my first few months with the camera passed, I realized the camera’s limitations; and I became fairly frustrated with my choice.  Fortunately, I made a decision that rectified my error: I purchased the AF-S Nikk0r 50mm f/1.4G.

The AF-S 50mm f/1.4 allows you to freeze the moment.

What I learned from my trials is that it is not the quality of the camera that creates a magnificent picture, it is the skill of the photographer combined with the lens that he uses.  With the AF-S 50mm f/1.4G I am able to take stunning portraits, low-light street shots, and exciting indoor sports action shots. Any dissatisfaction that I find with my pictures while using this lens is my fault, and it is not the fault of a poorly designed camera or lens.

The power of this lens rests in its gigantic aperature. So much light will hit the sensor of your camera, that the distinctions between 1600 ISO and 3200 ISO cameras begins to disappear.

The AF-S 50mm f/1.4 is the perfect lens for indoor basketball.

The lens’s large aperture also allows for the generation of pleasing bokeh (the blurry background of a potrait) around human and animal subjects.  You can easily create a stark contrast between the subject and background when operating this lens in dynamic area and single area focus mode.  It is possible to get these types of shots with a kit lens, but a shot will be achieved with trial-and-error.  A properly configured Nikon DSLR equipped with an AF-S 50mm f/1.4 will instantaneously and reliably takes beautiful bokeh shots.

The final positive aspect of this lens is that it works great with Nikon’s smaller, entry-level DSLRs such as the D60, D40x, and D40. In order to save size and cost, an internal focus motor was not included in these cameras.  Since the 50mm f/1.4 has the AF-S specification, it is equipped with an in-lens silent wave motor.  The lens operates more quietly and more quickly than the old AF versions of this lens that rely on the internal motor.

The 50mm f/1.4 can generate portrait shots with pleasing bokeh.

I’ve used this lens extensively when taking shots for my school’s yearbook. My favorite aspect of this lens is that the large aperture allows me to use the fastest shutter speeds.  The end result is surprising indoor sports images that show fast motion action frozen in time. Parents and students adore these pictures and frequently ask for more.

One serious limitation of this lens is that it has no zoom.  I knew this when I purchased it, but when I loan this lens to students it frequently disappoints them. Lack of zoom also means that this lens is not good for distance shots and it probably is not what you need for outdoor action shots. On the other hand, indoor shots in environments that allow you to get close to the subject can be amazing.

The AF-S 50mm f/1.4 has a shallow depth of field which makes it easy to get a poor focus.

There is also a high possibility that casual photographers that use this lens will produce worse pictures than they might with a kit lens.  If you don’t carefully correlate the ISO level with the available light or properly adjust the aperture, your pictures will appear fuzzy or overexposed.  There is also a high likelyhood that you will accidentally focus on the wrong object.  The object that someone is holding may be in focus, but the subject’s face may be blurry. The 50mm f/1.4 is not for someone who wants to point-and-shoot, but rather people that want to constantly tweak their cameras and their photography skills.

The 50mm f/1.4 generates pleasing bokeh in portrait shots.

You can help support this site by purchasing this lens through my Amazon Associate’s program.  Please remember, you must click the link and purchase for me or this website to benefit.

After I accepted the assignment as the faculty yearbook sponsor, I had to learn the art of photography fairly quickly.  I invested in gear that would allow me to do the job, furiously began reading books to help me improve my technique as well as share that knowledge with my students, and slowly became proficient in my new found hobby and workplace responsibility.

However, after a few weeks I began running into a problem.  My four year old laptop computer simply didn’t have the disk space to store the archive of photos that I was accumulating.  I was also well past the two gigabyte limit set by my workplace system administrator.

Short of spending hundreds of dollars on a few extra external hard drives or spending over a thousand dollars on a new laptop, the best solution that I could muster was to select an online photo archiving service.  Fortunately for me, there are many of these available and many of them are free.

Hands down, the most well known service out there is Flickr.  The user base is huge, and it is backed by internet giant Yahoo.  You can upload 100MB of photos a month for free.  Their photo groups are an incredible resource as well.  Tens of thousands of people critique and evaluate photos, and dispense and discuss advice every minute.  Unfortunately there are drawbacks.  The 100MB limit is pretty shallow.  With today’s modern cameras you’ll be pushing it to add more than twenty pictures in a month. The free service also limits your ability to categorize and organize your pictures; you can only have four sets. Perhaps most audaciously, Flickr doesn’t offer access to your original files unless you pony up some cash.  They hold your original files hostage and only offer lower resolution, degraded versions unless you pay for their “Pro” account.  The bottom line is that for the service that I desired, free Flickr was not an option.  I would have to pay.  But then I asked myself the next question, “If I have to pay, is Flickr really the best?”

After a little research, I decided that the answer is an adamant “No!”

Once I filtered out some of the maturing, but not-quite-ready-for-prime time, services such as Google’s Picasa Web Albums and Zoomr, I discovered SmugMug.

SmugMug pages are infinitely customizable and sport an infinite disk space limit.  Each page can be given different themes, and if you’re a geek you can even modify the CSS.  You can have as many sets as you like, and and people with Power and Pro accounts can store video online. There’s also an option for a custom URL (mine is photos.cullenhartley.com). Plus, if you’re ambitious, you can sell your prints for a profit.

SmugMug makes it easy to store and share pictures from school events.

The only drawback of SmugMug is that you have to pay, and the price is nearly double what most photo services charge.  Whereas Flickr costs $25 a year (for only slightly improved functionality) SmugMug charges $40.  For the advanced features such as full length video and site-wide customization you’ll pay $60.  If you want to sell your prints online, you’ll pay $150.

But even if you opt for the most expensive option, you’re getting what you pay for.  No other mainstream site allows you to sell prints with the potential to earn profit.  No other site provides the extreme flexibility and amazing storage options that SmugMug offers to its customers. Moreover, it is easy to look past the high cost.  Had I decided to purchase two external hard drives (one for storage and one for backup), it could have easily cost me $300, and I would be the only person that could access the photos and content.  Now, I have access to a full featured website that allows me to keep backups and share photos with the world.

This service is also ideal for schools that want to make their photos available online for students and parents.  I have several galleries that I’ve uploaded for my workplace this school year. As a matter of ethics, I don’t make any money from these pictures.  However, if a large school created a policy that allowed school photographers to upload and sell pictures to parents and students, it could potentially add an additional school revenue stream and provide a service that would allow parents to save a lifetime of memories. Some might scoff at the thought of selling pictures of students, but yearbooks, newsletters, and class photographers have done this for years.  There’s no reason that this practice should not move into the digital arena.

Do you want a discount on the cost of SmugMug? If you sign up for a SmugMug account, you’re welcome to use my discount code.  By signing up, you get $5 off the cost of the account, and I get $10 deducted from my next renewal fee.  Please enter the following discout code when you purchase your account: wASFesjLdNPtM

Students must learn that material on the internet is public information.  Even if they think it is locked down or disseminated only to “friends,” it is not. Once something is distributed on a social networking site, it is public information.  Companies can save the information and use it for whatever purposes they desire at anytime in the future, it may be cached on websites likes the Wayback Machine (www.archive.org), or it may be forwarded onto other people.

From the perspective of a professional educator, you’d think this would be an easy problem to handle; unfortunately it isn’t.  Nowadays, web page URLs are increasingly dynamic and social networking sites are building more and more ways to filter information.  A teacher or school administrator might see something atrocious that was posted by a student on the internet, but by the time they go into work the next morning it may be moved, altered or deleted.  After some minor occurrences of students insulting faculty members online, some teachers and I were facing the very issue of how to track down and save this type of material.

I’ve decided to post a procedure to permanently capture material that a student (or anyone) has posted online:

1.       Make sure that the offending remark or comment is displayed on your computer monitor
2.       Push the “Print Screen” button on your keyboard. (Don’t worry, it won’t actually print anything.)
3.       Open up Microsoft Paint
4.       Go to the edit menu and click paste. A copy of your computer screen will be placed into them image.
5.       Click File and Save as.  Name the file and save it.  Make sure you remember the directory that you saved the image.  (If you’re technically inclined, you can save the file as a JPEG to reduce space, but really any format will do.)
6.       Find the directory in the folder that you saved it, and make sure that it worked.
7.       Close Microsoft Paint
8.       E-mail the screenshot as an attachment to the student’s parent, any parties that were insulted, and (if necessary) the principal.

I recommend that everyone try this once just to make sure that you know how to do it.

In our classes, teachers should instruct students that online speech should be treated the same as face-to-face speech.  If something is inappropriate to say out loud, it is inappropriate to type. If you said something inappropriate to 50 people, you would be in trouble.  If you use the internet to distribute something inappropriate to 50 people it is nearly the same.

The circumstances surrounding my decision to upgrade to a DSLR camera are dire and obscure: they started at a concert when the frustratingly dark conditions prevented me from taking a clear picture with my previously trusty point-and-shoot Kodak, became solidified when I was assigned the job of faculty sponsor for my school’s yearbook (I’m a teacher), and came to fruition when I followed the masses to Comex and decided amongst the consumerist frenzy to indulge my DSLR desire.

After a little research, I decided to go with Nikon instead of Canon. Like Indiana Jones walking across the invisible bridge,I made this decision mainly as a step of faith. I appreciate that Nikon typically has better support for legacy hardware, and in some cases Nikon is just a little less pricey. However, I have also read some articles that claimed that Canon has sharper image rendering and presents more vivid colors, and I’ve read other articles that disagree. My photographic eye is not yet sharp enough to see a distinction. I also consulted a few blogs (such as this one) and several Flickr groups. Based on the end result, I couldn’t determine if one brand really had an advantage over the other. At my beginner level of photography, I’m sure that it doesn’t.

The three Nikon models that were in my price range were the D40, D60, and the D80. The higher end models such as the D300 were simply too expensive. After testing each of these cameras at the booth, I ended up purchasing the Nikon D60. The package that I selected came with two lenses, the 18-55mm VR (vibration reduction) and the 55-200mm VR.

My first few weeks with the camera were happy and joyful. Purchasing the D60 was everything that I had hoped for, and I was completely at peace with my decision. I was able to easily adjust the manual settings and snap pictures that had previously been impossible for me. The form factor was perfect for my hands, and each picture was captured with a satisfying click of the shutter. But as I spent more time with the camera, I realized that these thrills would come with any DSLR camera and the D60 has some serious limitations. I now realize it would have been wiser for me to purchase the more inexpensive D40 or shell out a little more money for the beefier D80 or (now available) D90.

Even with its 18-55mm VR kit lens, the D60 handles panning quite nicely.

The first D60 limitation that I encountered is one that was entirely preventable and entirely due to my lack of research. One of the reasons that I decided go with Nikon, the company’s support for legacy lenses, is almost entirely invalidated with this camera. If you are getting this camera to use some of Nikon’s inexpensive, yet high quality lenses such as the 50mm/f1.8- forget it. The D60 lacks an internal focusing motor. (For the record, the D40 has the same limitation.) The old AF lenses will attach to the camera, but unless you get the newer (and more expensive) AF-S or AF-I lenses you won’t be able to auto-focus. I guess this isn’t a problem if you love carefully manually focusing your shots, but I find one of the great joys of any digital camera is the ease of focusing. Granted, you can buy the more expensive lenses, but you could also just pay more for your camera in the first place and get a model such as the D80 or D90 that has an internal auto-focus motor that supports these lenses.

The second frustration that I have with this camera is that it simply wasn’t designed to handle low light situations well. Taking any picture that requires ISO 800 or higher produces an inordinate amount of noise in the image. I’ve read that this occurs because Nikon decided to cram more megapixels (10.2) in this camera but sacrifice the quality of each pixel. The end result is that in low light situations the D60 may produce a larger image, but a camera with fewer megapixels like the the D40 would produce a higher quality image. As a consumer you can take your pick, but unless you are producing large posters or high resolution desktop wallpaper, you’ll probably want a clear image over a large image. Of course, a Nikon lover could also just get a superior camera like the D90 or D300 that stomps the punier cameras in both picture size and quality. The trick is, of course, you just have to spend more money.

Another light performance flaw in this camera is its limited flash shutter sync speed. Unlike the D40 which can use its flash and take pictures at up to 1/500th of a second, the D60 can only take flash pictures at half the speed, 1/250th of a second. The implication of this is that when taking pictures of hyperactive little kids or fast-paced sporting events, the D40 would do a better job than the D60. This is inexplicable considering that the D40 costs less than the D60, but I imagine it has something to do with the sacrifice in pixel quality for the increase in megapixels.

Another thing that I realized after buying this camera is that I paid for a lot of fluff in the camera’s firmware. The D60 has about a dozen ways to enhance your image or apply virtual filters while the images are still in the camera. It even comes equipped with a feature to render stop motion video. Unfortunately, few people will want to use these functions. If you are seriously into editing your photos you will undoubtedly use GIMP or Photoshop to edit your images; you’ll feel like you’re wasting your time manipulating the pictures on the D60’s modest little LCD screen.

One of the most satisfying aspects of taking pictures with a DSLR is the ability to isolate your camera’s focus. The D60 can do this without a problem.

But Nikon is proud of these features, and the feature that they boast the most about is something called “Active-D Lighting.” They’ve even designated a button for this on the top of the D60. In the manual it says the purpose of this feature is to “preserve details in highlights and shadows to create photos with natural contrast.” After using it a bit, I do think that Active-D Lighting presents a slightly better contrast, but it also slows down your camera as it takes pictures. And virtually the same affect can be achieved by using the camera’s “D-Lighting” image enhancement feature in post processing. My conclusion is that Active-D Lighting may be a good feature, but it certainly doesn’t need its own button. If Nikon had placed a button that allowed me to easily manipulate white balance, ISO sensitivity or AF servo, it would have been infinitely more useful because currently you have to poke around the menus on the LCD screen to adjust these settings.

After I purchased the pricey 50mm AF-S lens, I was able to utilize the full capabilities of the D60. If I had purchased a D80 or D90, I would be able to take the same pictures with a more inexpensive lens.

In the end though, I am satisfied with the camera. I’ve taken some great pictures and had some good times with it. Moreover, my knowledge of photography has increased exponentially during the past six months. It serves my purposes for the school yearbook, and with the 55-200mm VR lens I can take adequate concert and sporting event pictures. If you’re like me and a DSLR newbie, the D60 isn’t a bad choice, but it isn’t the best choice. What sold me on this camera was the quality of the lenses that came with it, but these same lenses could also be used with a D40. If I decided to buy an entry level DSLR again, I wouldn’t buy this model. I would get the more inexpensive D40 and try to buy a few used VR lenses, or I would close my eyes, grit my teeth, and spend more money to get a D80 or D90.

These photos and more are available for purchase at photos.cullenhartley.com.

I know that I discussed some of the limitations of this camera, but I still feel it is a solid camera and it has been good enough to use for the school yearbook.  If you decide to purchase this product, help me out by purchasing it through my Amazon affiliates program.  Please note, for the website to benefit you must click on the link.

This post originally appeared on Claudia.sg