Hari's Corner

Now that my main machine is back up, I have had time to work on the blog template off-line. I was having difficulty getting this blog to render properly in Internet Explorer and I have been correcting those CSS issues which caused elements to misalign in IE. While Firefox rendered the website perfectly and Opera 8.5 near-perfectly, IE was misaligning all the DIV elements and pushed the sidebar right to the bottom. Now this problem has been fixed.

If you find any problems, please do drop a comment here so that I can look into it.

I'll begin this essay with a question. And that is "how many times have you thrown away a computer in the last five years out of sheer frustration of not being able to get it fixed by a competent support technician/department?"

I've been having computer trouble for a while now. My home machine has been down thanks to a host of issues with the motherboard and the PSU. And it's got me thinking about computer technology as a whole and the level it's at now.

It's amazing, but finding a real hardware expert has got to be one of the toughest tasks in today's environment. Sure, there are a lot of technicians, but the less said about their knowledge the better. Leave alone a rudimentary knowledge of electronics, most of these "hardware" experts know much less than I do about how a computer fundamentally works. I can quote a couple of examples. When I recently went to test the system RAM at my dealer's tech support department, all he did was to fit the RAM into a system, booted into Windows and just left the computer idle. Five minutes later, nothing happened and he just took it out and returned it saying, "no problem." But the fact was, I tested this piece of SDRAM using the memtest86 utility which came with Knoppix and it threw up hundreds of errors. Leave alone diagnosing the problem, he couldn't find any! How could he, just by running a computer for five minutes idle in Windows? And testing the CPU? Fit it into a motherboard and switch on the computer. The display showed up and he promptly concluded that there was nothing wrong with it either! Without even booting into the OS! It's amazing that these people get jobs as hardware technicians just by knowing how to assemble a computer. Even a child could do that with the right instructions. The true test of an expert is in knowing how to diagnose hardware problems and for that, you need at least a basic knowledge of electronics. Computers are complex electronic machines and you need a certain level of basic expertise in the field of electronics before you can proclaim a working knowledge of computer hardware. Unfortunately these days, so many computers are thrown out for minor problems that could probably be fixed by a half-competent technician.

I'm more worried about the implications of this present-day "use-and-throw" culture in the IT sector in the long run. Going by my experience, I can imagine how many computers are thrown away as useless every day. I have no statistics, but I believe that five out of ten discarded computers probably could be fixed, but people simply don't bother at all to get them fixed, preferring just to discard them. The trouble in getting a computer fixed is simply not worth it these days when you can get new and better components at dirt cheap prices in the market. A single chip failure can render a whole PCB useless. Maybe a couple of decades ago, people might have picked up the soldering iron to sit down and fix it. Today, you just dump it and move on. And so a huge mountain of silicon waste is being generated every single day. Since a large majority of this waste can be classified as "non-biodegradable" there is a huge environmental problem just waiting to come out in the open. Compound this with the problem of the rapid rate at which this technology is getting obsoleted year after year and we get a clearer idea of the problem at hand.

I think the current era of technical problems has a lot to do with the fact that we are cramming in more and more transistors into less and less space. Modern processors run at terrifying speeds and their crystal oscillations produce a tremendous amount of heat. Motherboards are getting more and more complex with so many components being fitted into less space. And a majority of these modern monstrosities are still air-cooled. In tropical countries there is a real problem of computer components just wearing away due to these reasons. As a result of all this, the lifetime of a computer is just shrinking. Just to give an idea, a ten-year old Pentium machine might still work today, but I wouldn't bet that today's 64-bit processors would last two years, let alone a decade. The technology has just become too fragile and the level of complexity has grown exponentially. In other words, the manufacturing sector in the computer hardware industry has far outrun the after-sales service side of things. Or maybe it's been deliberately kept that way so that you buy new stuff rather than reusing or recycling the old.

Because, you see, I think the solution to this growing problem of silicon waste can only be in recycling some of the older technology. It's not such a bad thing if we can put an old but perfectly working printer to use. The only reason it might have been discarded today would be because it is no longer "supported" either by the hardware port or the software drivers. Neither are difficult problems to fix if only the hardware manufacturers stopped this deliberate obsoletion of perfectly sound technologies just to boost their sales. Maybe the memory chip you threw away a few years ago was in perfect condition but just didn't fit the slot in the new motherboard. If only those devices could be used again, we would save not only economically but also environmentally. There are a dozen examples of how many of these devices could be used again if these hardware manufacturers didn't work hand in glove with the software manufacturers to obsolete our current technologies at such a pace. It's not as though there has been a revolution in the computer industry in the last ten years or so. We're still using the same basic technologies that we were using ten or fifteen years ago. With a few exceptions, the majority of the "advancements" have been mere technology upgrades and not innovations. There is no reason why a perfectly working device should be discarded just because a modern motherboard doesn't support it. It's a criminal waste to throw away good money and unfortunately we've been doing just that for some time now, thanks to the way the market has been manipulated and the way we've been fooled into thinking that we've been having computer revolutions every six months or so. Throw in a few buzzwords and then force them to upgrade by throwing away their old systems. So, unlike your television, your refridgerator or your music systems which have a shelf life of ten or fifteen years or even more, you are led to believe that computers can only last a couple of years at the most before you're asked to move on with the rest or be left behind. The heartening thing is that with growing technology awareness, people have wised up to this and hardware vendors can no longer bamboozle the customers with such a marketing strategy.

And finally, it might just be a good idea to make it compulsory for these computer technicians to obtain a basic diploma in electronics before they're allowed to touch these machines. If nothing else at least ten percent of computers can be recycled rather than being thrown away as gigantic pieces of paperweights.

For a while now, I have been considering the idea of drawing up a list of the best applications for Linux in 10 broad categories. The purpose of such a list would be to cover as many areas as possible while not overwhelming any single category with too many apps. I also thought it would be a good idea to involve my readers in this exercise so that I would have more choices to add to the final list than the ones I have come up with.

The ten categories would be:

• Basic productivity
• Word processing and publishing
• Media players (audio and video)
• Multimedia authoring
• Games and entertainment
• Internet clients (desktop)
• System tools
• Programming and development
• Images and graphics
• Miscellaneous utilities

Now the hard part would be to draw up a list of the best five apps for each category. For the purposes of this list, it would be a good idea to limit the contest only to Open Source (that means no Opera, Acrobat Reader or RealPlayer - sorry folks!). The other limiting factor is that this is open only for desktop Linux apps, so enterprise Linux apps and server software are excluded from this list.

I welcome nominations in all categories. Please post your nominations as comments here so that I can draw up a final list soon!

I recently received a couple of mails in my Inbox which made me chuckle. Unfortunately these jokes are in Tamil and my English readers would be unable to appreciate them. These jokes cannot be translated because they are one-liners which rely heavily on punning and clever usage of words. An English example of such a joke would be "A rooster can crow, but can a crow rooster?" Yes, they are rather silly, but Tamil is such a rich language with an endless variation of puns. So here you go: all credit and copyright belong to the respective authors of these "thathuvams." This one is specifically for Thennavan who has entertained me with his fantastic blog and so I thought I should share something which made me laugh.

Neenga Evvalavu Periya Dance Mastera Irundalum Unga Saavvku Ungalala Aada Mudiyadu

Yevalavu Dan Neechal Therinjalum Tumler thannila Neentha Mudiyathu.

Ennathan Naiku Nalu Kaal Irundhalum Athaala Kaal Mela Kaal Pottu Ukkara Mudiyathu

Mandaiya Pota Die Mandaila Pota Dye

Nee Enna Thaan Costly Mobile Vachiruthalum Adhula Evalavu Thaan Recharge Pannalum Unnaala Unnaku Call Panna Mudiyathu

Kosu Kadicha Yaanaikaal Varum But Yaanai Kadicha Kosukaal Varathu

Vaalkaikum Valukaikum Orea Vithyasam Onnumae Illatha Vaalkai Bore Adikum Onnumae Illatha Valukai Glare Adikum

Policesikkum Porukikkum enna Vithyasam "Adi-Thadi" Senja Porukki "Thadi-Adi" Senja Police

Ennathan Karatela Black Belt Vanginalum Naai Thorathina Odi Thaan Aganum

Busla Nee Earunalum Unnmalae Bus Earunalum Ticket Vangaporadhu Nee Thaan

PAAL Kotinna Vera Paal Vaangikkalam Arisi Kotinna Vera Arisi Vaangikkalam Aana Thel Kotinna Vera Thel Vanga Mudiyuma?

Ticket Vangitu Ulla Poradu Cinema Theatre Ulae Poitu Ticket Vangaradu Operation Theatre

Iron Boxla Iron Pannalam Anna Pencil Boxla Pencil Panna Mudiyathu

Cream Biscuitla Cream Irukkum Anna Naai Biscuitla Naai Irukathu.

Sirpi Kalla Uliyaala adicha that is "Kalai" But Namma Sirpiya Uliyaala adicha that is "Kolai"

And the best one is: Shampoo vukkum Paambukkum enna vithyasam? Shampoo potta thalayil nurai varum... Paambu potta Vaayil nurai varum...

Vaayaala Naiyunu sollu mudiyum... Aana, Naayaala vaiyunu sollu mudiyuma?

Adayar Anandha Bhavanoda Branch Neraya edathula irukkum Ana Adayar Ala marathoda Branch Adayar la mattum than irukkum

Aambalaikku adi patta thookittu poga Ambulance irukku... aana Pombalaikku adi patta thookittu poga Pombulance irukka?

Railway station la police station irukkum aana Police station la railway station irukkathu

Caru kulla tyre inrunthaa adhu stepney, adey Nambha mela antha tyre erinaa, nambha chutney!

Ulla pora varaikkum than brandy, Veliya vantha athukku paer vaandy (Courtesy: Some Vivek comedy)

Thannambikkai-kum thalaiganathukkum oru nool allavu thaan vithiyaasam... ennnala full adichittu steadya nikka mudiyumnu solrathu thannambikkai - ennnala mattum thaan full adichittu steadyaaa nikka mudiyummnu solrathu thalaiganam.

Quarter Adichittu Kuppura padukkalaam... Aana kupura paduthuttu quarter adikka mudiyathu.

Naai Vaalai Aattalaam... Aana Vaal Naaya aatta mudiyathu.

Kaakkaa ennadhaan karuppa irundhaalum adhu podara muttai vellai! Muttai ennadhaan vellaiya irundhaalum adhukulla irukkara kaakkaa karuppudhaan!!

Train evalo vegama ponalum, kadaisi petty kaidaisiyathaan varum…..

Bus poita bus stand angayae thaan irukum aana cycle poita cycle stand koodavae poogum.

Cellula balance illana call panna mudiyathu.... Aaana.... Manushanukku call illana, Balance panna mudiyathu....

Files na okkanthu parkanum... aana Piles na parthu okkaranum.

Payasam pathu naal appadiye irundha POISON aaidum... Aana poison pathu varusham appadiye irundhaalum paayaasam aagaadhu.

Here is the next cartoon character! "Bayilwan" Balaguru himself, the body-builder and wrestler.

Name: "Bayilwan" Balaguru
Curriculum vitae: Wrestler, body-builder and trainer.
Daily diet: 20 raw eggs for breakfast, 10 glasses of milk, 50 sandwiches. 5 chicken legs and 2 plates of mutton biriyani for lunch. Dinner: 5 glasses of buttermilk, 3 omlettes and plenty of black tea (good for the heart).
Favourite job: Challenging the public for championship matches and prize-fights. Occasionally "trains" prospective young talents.

Add your own thoughts here!

It's amazing how many people seem to accept Software License Agreements (or End User License Agreements) as the final authority that decides how you use a particular software. Over and over again, I keep coming across this argument on so many online discussions relating to software licenses and piracy.

(Assuming a holier than thou attitude) If you don't accept the license agreement, just stop using the software. If you break the terms and conditions, you're breaking the law and you can be put in jail/fined/punished for it.

I can understand why people without a legal background can get bamboozled by the wording of a software license agreement. But legal terminology alone does not a valid license make. You can take that from me. I'm not your law expert either, but I know enough of law to assure you that just because a software asks you to click on the I agree button, that doesn't necessarily mean that you've accepted the contract or that the contract is valid or enforceable by law. In many cases you can even say that forcing somebody to agree to the license agreement is itself an invalidation of the contract. Just think: when you've paid your hard-earned money for a software package, you're not likely to click I don't agree. And most people don't read the license agreement anyway, so the whole procedure turns out to be a mechanical gesture.

Has anybody ever tried to find out which country's laws you're bound by when you accept a license agreement? Sure, EULAs often talks about jurisdiction, but in most cases, unless you live in the same country as the software company, can they even enforce any of the terms against you? What about the laws of your own country? Have people ever bothered to find out if the license agreement is in accordance with your own country's laws? Because, there is no way that a software company can legally enforce anything against you by bypassing your own country laws.

I still keep wondering how many people actually think of the restrictions that software companies place on genuine, paying customers after they've shelled out their money for using the software. Suppose a software program incorporates a technology which does not allow you to make a backup copy for your own use, I'm sure the company can be sued in a consumer court. Customers have their rights as well for things which they've paid for, and I'm sure that software companies cannot go beyond a point in restricting the usage of their software for bona-fide customers.

The big catch here is that software companies (read giants) are huge entities and can sometimes get away with anything. An individual is often not in a position to seriously challenge a company for dubious business practices. I'm not saying that all licenses are invalid or unfair. It's just that customers often don't know their own rights with regard to software. Even In countries where customer rights are often asserted and enforced, software continues to remain a grey area. The culprit here is that the laws of so many countries have not caught up with current technology and hence there are so many loopholes and hazy areas in them. Of course software companies continue to manipulate this situation to their own advantage.

I believe that every country needs laws which protect consumers of software products, just like there are laws to protect consumers of other goods and services. There is a sore need to redefine the situation and clarify it so that consumers have a fair idea of their rights no matter where they live. When you buy any other product you own it. With software, you just get a license to use it. Obviously in such a situation the customer needs that much more legal protection against the company because the company is in a position to enforce their rights while the customer hasn't a clue as to what his rights are even after paying for the license.

The situation should change. In the meantime I believe that consumers of software products should be even more vigilant against unfair business practices and restrictive license agreements. The key lies in not accepting anything at face value but verifying its source of authenticity.