Category Archives: computers

Installing Ubuntu on M2N68-AM Plus board

It’s been more than a decade since I started using Linux on the desktop. During that time I’ve installed and used various flavours (Red Hat, Suse, Yoper, Vector etc.) before finally settling on Ubuntu.

I’ve never attained Linux “god” status, though I’m usually able to find my way around things – keep that in mind while reading this guide 🙂

In the past decade, Linux as a desktop operating system, as well as its built in driver support has matured considerably. In fact, I can’t even recall the last time I had to resort to any sort of hack or work around for a successful install.

Today was a little different. This install took a little tweaking, so thought I’d post what worked for me, in case anyone else faces similar problems installing Ubuntu on this motherboard.
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Migrating from Pivot 1.x to WordPress

Since 2004 I’d been running the “Blog” section of this website on the Pivot 1.x platform, while the rest of my website used simple HTML pages. Over the years I’d regularly updated with each release – till the last available version Pivot – 1.40.6: ‘Dreadwind’. After that they moved to their next generation called PivotX. It’s a great little platform, running off ‘flatfiles’ (no need for a database back-end), fast rendering, etc. BUT I felt I’d be better off shifting the entire website on to a slightly better featured CMS and eventually zeroed in on WordPress.

The following is the process of how it got done, posted here in the hope that it would help out others.

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Corporate Web Presence – An Indian Perspective

corporate internet

Much has been written, rewritten – ad infinitum, about the Internet as a medium of the future. Despite a variety of views being expressed on this subject, almost all analysts agree that the Internet’s true power stems from its inherent (two-way) interactive nature. From a company’s perspective, the Internet is the single largest (worldwide) community of consumers talking – talking to each other, talking about their various interests, experiences – talking to an organisation/ company or its competition – the list is endless.

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The end of TV as we know it?

(This article was published in The Economic Times (Networked section), 23rd November 2000 issue)
End of tv graphic
“Societies have always been shaped more by the nature of the media by which men communicate than by the content of the communication…. Innumerable confusions and a profound feeling of despair invariably emerge in periods of great technological and cultural transitions. Our “Age of Anxiety” is, in great part, the result of trying to do today’s job with yesterday’s tools – with yesterday’s concept’s.”
Marshall McLuhan, The Medium is the Message, 1967

With the Indian government’s recent decision to allow private companies to own and operate their own gateways to the Internet, it wont be long before we start seeing broadband Internet access making inroads into the Indian market. Whether this is in the form of DSL, cable access, Wireless (3G etc.), Direct to Home Satellite based (DirecPC etc.), or any other technology its impact on the traditional broadcasting industry (amongst others) is inescapable. Content will be the main driver for mass-market broadband penetration, with users migrating to broadband seeking a better Web experience despite the stiff initial price. Although later price cuts will help push up the number of subscribers to double (or more), compelling new content will be the key to attracting the average person to broadband.
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