Be good to the sub while I’m in L.A. and study Linux

While I’m in L.A. on business till Wed., I want you to write a paragraph on each of the following topics:

1. What is open source software?
2. What is Linux? Who invented it? When?
3. How is Linux like Windows and how is it different?
4. What are the two different Linux package management systems?
5. Please find the Internet addresses to download at least 5 different distributions of Linux. While you’re at it, find out what a “Linux distribution” is.

I’ll have some more questions for you to research tomorrow. I’ll also ask to drop your finished work first thing Wednesday. By the way, you should use Google, Wikipedia and Howstuffworks — and other sites — to do your research. You should check out www.linux.org. Naturally, there’s a lot of info there.

Shop online for your own computer

Here are the beginning guidelines for shopping online for a computer costing $650.

1. You’re going to recycle your monitor, keyboard, mouse & speakers. Therefore, you don’t need to shop for any of them.
2. The first specification to keep in mind is that the 3 major components – processor, motherboard, and RAM – all need to run at 1066 MHz bus speed. That’s the speed of the front-side bus, abbreviated as fsb in most abbreviated spec sheets.
3. Your processor should be picked first, and it should be dual core. It can be Intel or AMD.
4. Your motherboard needs to be ATX and P4 ready – which also makes it Intel dual-core ready – although if you buy an AMD processor, you’ll need to get an AMD-ready motherboard, one that has the right chipset and socket for the AMD chip.
5. Depending on whether you want gaming performance or just all-around performance, you might want to save money by being sure there are some on-board adapters. In other words, some of the cards we put in the expansion slots already come as a chip right on the motherboard. Common on-board devices are Ethernet, sometimes abbreviated “lan,” sound, “aud,” and graphics, which is abbreviated as “vid.” Many of you will want to buy a quality video card so your box will be great for gaming. In that case, you’ll want a motherboard that have PCI Express slots, and you don’t need one with on-board video.
6. Whatever CPU you decide on, the motherboard has to have a socket that matches. For example, if you get a LGA775-style chip, you’ve got to get a motherboard with a LGA775 socket.
7. Don’t forget that your processor needs the right fan/heat sink. Often the processor will come with the fan as part of the package. If it doesn’t, you must buy the right one. Intel and AMD chips take different fans.
8. Motherboard combos are deals where the motherboard and CPU come as a package. There are also motherboard combos that also include the RAM. Often the amount of RAM is not enough, but that’s not a deal breaker. Just buy an extra identical DIMM.
9. The best memory going these days is DDR2, which is second-generation DDR. You’ve got to buy it 2 modules at a time in order to double the data rate by running in dual-channel mode. That way 533 Mhz DDR2’s can run at the required 1066. Get it? BTW, aim for a GB of RAM.
10. Everyone will need an SATA hard drive, a CD/DVD burner, and a CD/DVD-ROM drive just for times when you want to burn straight from disk. We don’t necessarily need floppy drives anymore.
11. Finally, we need to buy an ATX form-factor, P4 or better case with at least a 450-watt power supply. Power supplies generally come with the case. Of course, the ATX form factor matches the form factor of the motherboard, which can be either ATX or mini-ATX.
12. If you do buy a separate video card (graphics adapter), you’ll want to find one advanced enough for Windows Vista. That might be expressed in the online shopping listings as “Vista Ready.”
13. Most of the cables you need, if not all of them, come with either the motherboard or the drives, so don’t worry about that.
14. I almost forgot the OS. You need to purchase XP or Vista. Sometimes OS’s come as an add-on to another product, like a case, and that can save you money. You can also qualify to buy it at an academic site.
15. Remember: We’re buying behind the curve about 6-8 months. Today’s state of the art is too expensive. Buying slightly older – only slightly – technology saves us big-time while letting us have really good stuff. Also, OEM means “original equipment manufacturer.” That means the part is packed without extras for manufacturers who build in bulk. So a fan isn’t included with a CPU, a cable is not included with the hard drive, etc., etc.

Be good to your substitute, part two…

I’ve got a brand new assignment, as promised.

• The topic is: The TCP/IP suite, also known as the Internet Protocol suite.
• The question is: How is the TCP/IP model similar to the OSI model?
• First introduce and explain the TCP/IP suite, then compare it to the OSI model.
• Research this using the usual links. 
• Your answer should be at least 200 words.
• Submit it as a comment. You know how to do that.
• Your answer will be graded. It is due by the end of the period.
  

Thank you and good luck. Help each other to do well.