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Bummer

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Everything posted by Bummer

  1. Bummer
    You can check out Ubuntu and Fedora. Wanderer suggested Mepis. All three offer LiveCDs you can test. I find Ubuntu somewhat constraining. I don't find it as easy to compile software on. I also find security to be a bit weaker. Ubuntu was spun off from Debian to offer Windows users an easy path to Linux. I was never actually a Windows user, so I don't find that path particularly useful. I started out with Linux using Red Hat 4 on a laptop. Red Hat spun off Fedora to slow its rate of change. Fedora went on as the bleeding edge with a fairly quick upgrade cycle. Red Hat uses what's learned with Fedora to create a rock solid, fully supported commercial product with the longer update cycle businesses like. There are quite a few distributions of Linux. They range from the simple like Ubuntu and Mepis, through test beds like Fedora, to something like Gentoo in which everything is compiled from code right on your machine. Any prices listed are for delivered disks. If you simply download and burn it yourself there's no charge. I'm more used to Fedora, but it may not be right for you. That's why I suggested trying the LiveCD versions of several of 'em first.
  2. Bummer
    Since March of '06. Just shy of 40k miles so far. No. Absolutely. I'm using the kit, but I don't change my pressures a lot. I put it at 5 and leave it there. I don't care about the load, I do it to prevent bottoming on hard braking.
  3. Bummer
    Yep. Believe it or not, there's always been something. If you install with the machine hooked up to the internet most of the distros will automatically set up your connection. It might even try to use it as part of the install. Depends on the distro. If you do have problems, the easiest way to connect to the Internet is to use a router. Fifty bucks or so. The router automatically connects to the modem and the computer automatically connects to the router. That way if you ever have to call the provider for help you don't have to say "I'm running Linux", and have them refuse to talk to you. (Not all of 'em hassle Linux users, but some do.) You get to say "I have a Linksys (or D-Link, or whatever) router and can't connect". Since Windows users have routers too, they'll fix that. It gets better all the time, but printers can be a problem. Cannon, for example, has been pretty uncooperative, while most of the others have worked with the open source people. HP and Epson don't make Linux drivers, but at least they've made the info to write a driver available. If you have an HP or Epson, it'll probably plug and play. Lexmark should too. At one time they even supplied their own driver software. Cannon? I don't really know. Because of the way they've treated non-Windows users, I won't even carry a Cannon product home to toss in the trash. As a last resort, there's a commercial program called Turboprint that serves as a printer interface for Linux. The author started out on the Amiga and added Linux back when there were always huge problems. I bought it long ago, but haven't used it in several years since it's largely not needed now as long as the printer is fairly common. GNU/Linux has gotten better with every distribution since Linus Torvalds wrote the Kernal and Richard Stallman wrote the GNU application layer. The hardest part is picking a distro that fits your needs. If you're not an obsessive/compulsive techie you probably don't want Fedora. I am, so I do. Folks who are not techies but who are trying to escape Microsoft's rather expensive lock-in will probably be happier with Ubuntu. I'd suggest starting out with a LiveCD version of Ubuntu to see how it fits you. You can also try Fedora as a LiveCD. Just keep in mind that you don't want to judge system speed. It's running off a CD which is worlds slower than a hard drive. If it feels right and works ok, you can install it and it'll be as fast as anything else. If you give it a try and have questions or problems, don't hesitate to ask. I'll be happy to help to the extent I'm able from a few hundred miles away.
  4. Bummer
    When I install or upgrade I select "Customize now" and add to the base install configuration. All the programming stuff and libraries, at very least. One thing I like is the ability to pick just how far one wants to go. Bare bones or kitchen sink. I tend to be a kitchen sink kinda guy. I also add non-free stuff through one or more of the third party repositories. Livna has to be there, but that one has become semi-official. I just added the Google repository so I could yum Chromium onto the box. I also use the Adobe repository for their software. At times I've used Dag, FreshRPMs, and Dries. Of course, I'm running a home hobbiest power box, not a work machine. The only actual trouble I ever had with Crossover involved its operation as a plugin in the Opera browser. We got that ironed out several years ago. It might not support a given program, but its own operation was hard to fault. I find myself wondering how difficult it would be to port the Access stuff to one of the SQLs, possibly with something like Rekall as graphic front end when needed. I've read that the file sharing system works well, but in that I have a huge Microsoft allergy, I've never had occasion to try it out. Generally, when I'm called upon by a buddy, I show up with a Knoppix disk and an external hard drive and save their stuff that way. That's kind of excessive for daily use.
  5. Bummer
    Guilty as charged. That's one of the things I like about Linux. I can still, and sometimes must, compile software and tinker with the code. It's not as challenging as the old machine code was, but it's still reasonably interesting. "640k will be enough..." Well, maybe not.
  6. Bummer
    I used Crossover Office for a while back when there was no native version of shockwave and it wasn't possible to view wmvs without Windows Media Player. Now pretty much everything's native or there are drivers. One of the things I liked about it was when there was a technical issue, I wound up in an email exchange the/a primary author. It was great to be able to help sort out a problem with someone who actually codes well. Beats the Mumbai help desk big time. You mentioned running Fedora. Do you follow any Installation Guides? Fedora's fully open, which can be a pain. I usually add proprietary stuff from third party repositories. I find it's easiest to tell folks to follow a guide that takes 'em through the setup process. It's not as easy to install as Ubuntu, but it's a lot more "Linux" in flavor and I find it a lot more powerful.
  7. Bummer
    I have never been a Windows user. I started out with an 8086 running CP/M and moved to the C=64 when it came out. I started using Linux in 2000 when I blew up my last functioning Amiga. I currently run Fedora on both the home boxes. I have run Red Hat, and now Ubuntu on three HP laptops. I find that Ubuntu, being aimed at the Windows world, is easier to connect to windows centric hotel wi-fi setups. I don't use it for much else, since I don't care for the way Ubuntu handles root security. I installed Suse on a box I built for my sister. She also has an Eee that is running EasyPeasy, which is a Debian based distro aimed at netbooks. I generally use Windowmaker configured with four desktops as my GUI when I want to get any real work done. I have Gnome with Fusion set up as second choice, and for showing of the 3D desktop-on-a-cube graphics. I don't care for KDE and very rarely use it, though I have it installed. Gotta have the libraries, so I might as well include the GUI. For those tied to Windows based software, you might want to try Crossover. They're a commercial branch of Wine that began by making Windows business apps run under Linux.
  8. Bummer
    No question. There's a stretch south of Silverton that's called The Million Dollar Highway. Wow. And if you get a chance, stop in Durango and ride the train up to Silverton for lunch. Wow.
  9. Bummer
    You're welcome, Tom. Glad to help. According to their web site, cabin reservations must be made for a week at a time and may be made now. Tent reservations may be made as much as six months in advance. Here's a link to a pdf of the description, map, and rules they hand you when you get there. I've never been to Potato Creek. I'm hoping for either a decent Indian Summer, or Global Warming to kick in, so I can go check the place out.
  10. Bummer
    July 12th thru the 14th.
  11. Bummer
    I believe I'd put it back together by the book.
  12. Bummer
    Hannigan made this:
  13. Bummer
    You can use a die grinder or dremel tool with a cut off wheel to cut the head off, then remove what's left of the bolt with a ViseGrip once the bag is out of the way. If you're careful you can re-use the washer. I ordered several of both size bolts and a couple of washers. I figure I tinker with this thing enough I'll need 'em sooner or later.
  14. Bummer
    Better handling? Safer? So which brand of motorcycle tires pointed the right direction will you be changing to?
  15. Bummer
    If you ordered it from the dealer, he'd just get it here. (Third from the bottom.)
  16. Bummer
    I just updated my web site with pics from Leadwolf's Michigan M&E and FreezyRider's Southern Indiana M&E. I'll be working on getting the video caught up. Unfortunately I only got three minute-and-a-half clips this time. I suspect I've killed the video camera's battery.
  17. Bummer
    I wouldn't overdo the screw end on the Firefly. Seems a little light. The rest of it is pretty stout. Well, except for the folder's hinge, anyway. That's just a roll pin through pot metal. Very disappointing. Anyway, just keep in mind there's no need to over tighten this stuff as long as it's not going anywhere.
  18. Bummer
    And how long did it take me to notice? About a thumb's worth, I'd say. That's way too long. Nope. I see that one as a classic Anyone-Can-Miss-It problem.
  19. Bummer
    Paypaled for two of each. Thanks!
  20. Bummer
    I'm suspecting a plug. Audio or power. The ERR should mean the audio system can not talk to the CB. The spacer being in the wrong place won't do that. The DIN plug with the yellow band, inside the fairing, is the CB. Under the seat, on the left side, there is a DIN plug and a power plug. (Page 8-61 and 8-62 in the Service Manual - "CB does not operation".) The nylon spacer goes on the top side of the stock mount to insulate the antenna from everything else. [ame=http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=11486]Pics here.[/ame] It sounds like you got it right. Above the spacer is antenna. Below the spacer is base/ground. You can use a meter to test for continuity between the antenna and base/ground. If it beeps something's wrong. If the insulating washer is on the wrong side you won't be able to set the SWR, but it won't kill the radio. At least not immediately. You can get away with trying to set it several times, put the washer in the right place, then actually set it. The biggest problem this caused was a dead battery from trying too many times with the bike off. You have to key the mic to set SWR. I've always been told it's the talking that lets the magic blue smoke out of the radio. That's why I don't even plug in a mic while setting SWR. I also keep it to short bursts rather than just leaning on the transmit key. Just in case.
  21. Bummer
    I'd like two of each, please. Patiently awaiting details...
  22. Bummer
    The bike on the right has the Custom Dynamics turn signals and the 128 LED RadiantZ tail light from Custom Dynamics. The bike on the left is stock.
  23. Bummer
    I saw the results of a fleeting second of inattention this summer. His entire shoulder, where his t-shirt was missing, was as red as the shirt that was still there. I believe I'd pay way more than $200 to not wear the scab that was gonna grow up to be. Medical bills may well be a factor, but they're not really at the top of my list.
  24. Bummer
    As Dano mentioned above, Irene and I wear Draggin' Shirts. They're knitted kevlar mesh. You can get a sun burn right through the things. (That came as a bit of a surprise.) We wear t-shirt under them. They come in black and natural. The natural is a yellow that darkens in the sun to a gold/mustard color. Not much of a fashion statement, but very abrasion resistant. Mid-summer they're a bit warm when standing still, so we take 'em off at stops. When we're riding there's plenty of air flow. When it's really hot we carry bottled water (or more likely water bottles to fill) and soak our shirts down at each rest area or gas stop. The combination of mesh shirt and t-shirt holds quite a bit of water. The evaporative cooling is very nice and will last 50 or more miles at highway speeds. At first we hesitated to do this - it does look pretty goofy. We finally got desperate enough to try it on a 100+ degree day. Now it if gets to the mid 90s we're breaking out the water bottles. No point in 'taking' the heat if we don't have to. We also wear kevlar lined jeans. Right now I prefer the Diamond Gusset Defenders to the Draggins, mostly because of cut. They too are a little warm, but not enough that I actually notice it.
  25. Bummer
    I'd certainly be interested in a couple. I've been a sucker for place-pins since I first started touring. I'd love to have a VR pin to add to the collection. I'd also be interested in a First Gen version. The big half of my place-pins were acquired on an '85.
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