Away from My Son

Until now, it's the first time to be away from my son for such a long time. I have to finish my magister program in MTI UI (hopefully another one semester). He was with me and family in the first and second semester and should be away for his first year study in Palembang. I know he and I both sad with this situation but we don't have better choices.

I keep on thinking of him and can't help calling him on the phone. Boy, I really care about you and miss you every single day. I can't resist my self to wonder what you are doing and what happen to you.

Be a tough boy. I'm sure you can.

LinuxFocus Magazine

After waiting a long while, finally my translation in LinuxFocus appears. This days,  the head of the team is busy now preparing for marriage.

The translation of the new LTSP documentation that has been completed partly has also showed up on the website. Apparently there are many typographical errors: (I know, there is much remains to be translated. But at least, efforts have begun to contribute even in a very simple form.

I am just another Linux user

1987: I found myself interested in a strange stuff called computer. My friend introduced that stuff to me. I was very impressed to see how it worked eventhough it was not that sofisticated like today's. Trying to play a bit, learned how DOS worked to see directory, copy, rename, delete a file. I found that my floppy got boot sector virus, but I didn't know what to do. I also learned about word processing, WordStar.

1991: I had to learn more about computer. There was programming subject in the Civil Enggineering department. Fortran was the language I should learn. I also found myself in the middle of being impressed with basic programming but I didn't learn about it in deep.
During this year also, the first time in my life, I worked on a computer using harddisk. That was on PC AT 286.

1993: Having started using Civil Engineering Softwares, I knew how computer could be a good tool to finish engineering jobs. I learned how to work with AutoCAD.

1994: My sister's friend, a structural engineer, gave me a demo copy of Structural Analysis and Design System (SANS), an SAP like software written by Nathan Madutujuh. I didn't know what to do with that software until my lecturer taught me how to use Structural Analysis Program (SAP). That was under DOS. That stimulated me to learn about SANS myself.
I started to learn how to install Windows and Office on PC, too.

1995: Started to use Windows 95, the new way to operate computer. It was so nice and felt so easy to work. I used MS Word and Excell, too.
I started to work on programming project for my final project to get my engineering degree. Using Fortran, I made a simple structural analysis program, inspired by SAP and SANS.

1996: The first time I used internet. My friend introduced me how to find a midi file of the Beattles, my favorite group.

1997: I had my first own computer, Pentium I 120 MHz, 8 MB RAM, CDROM drive, and SoundBlaster sound card. It had Windows 95 installed.

1998: The first time I learned how to make a database using Access. I also started to learn visual basic programming.

1999: In the middle of working on construction project, I realized that I needed to make a database for my concrete production data recording. I built a database for that purpose using MS Access and found it very useful.
At almost the end of the year, I started using dial up connection to internet, started to make a simple web page, had email account, etc.

2002: I attended a Linux road show that introduced Linux and how to install Linux. I got a copy of Mandrake 8.2. At home, I spent all night trying to install Linux on my box. Finally, It was running but very heavy on my box. Bit by bit, I learned about Linux. It was (and still is) an interesting stuff to learn.

2003: I spent much time to learn about Linux, but still I am not an expert. I tried several things like LTSP and Knoppix remastering.

2004: Nothing much to learn, just working on mobile devices.

2005: Here I am, just another Linux user. Since 2002, I tried several distros like Mandrake (8.2, 9.0, 9.1, 9.2, 10.0, 10.1), Slackware (8 and 9), RedHat (8.0, and 9.0), Debian (Woody), Lycoris, and some of LiveCD like Knoppix (my favorite LiveCD), SuSE Live Eval, Freeduct and MandrakeMove.

I Hope that I can learn a lot about Linux and make a contribution to the community.

Discrimination against Linux???

Last Wednesday I went to Mangga Dua Mall. I intended to buy external harddisk case for a 3.5 " hard disk as a companion for my notebook if I need extra space. If I buy an external hard disk, the price is quite expensive. At one store I finally found an interesting model of my taste , the brand is Smart-drives. It looked nice and made of aluminum. The written description box explaining that this device is suitable for Mac OS, Win 98SE, Win XP, Win ME and Win 2000. Linux? Although not written there if this device can be used in Linux but I believe that this can be used in Linux. After haggling the price, eventually this stuff was in a plastic bag and I brought home.

This morning I had the opportunity to try it on Linux. After all installed according to instructions and plugged the power cord, then the power button was pressed. Then I opened a Konsole in Mandrakelinux 10.1 on my system. Then I mounted / dev/sda1 because this device associated to it. Without magical spell, the contents of the harddisk can be read. Alhamdulillah.

This is not the first experience using a device that is not written in his statement to Linux. The same experience I had when I bought pcmcia wireless (WiFi pcmcia). All could work satisfactorily. We need not be afraid to buy a device that is not written to be used in Linux. In fact many devices that can run under Linux, though not written that way.

What indication is this? Does the vendor did not try to run on Linux? Or is there discrimination against Linux?

If they tried to use it in Linux and write in the box will make sure that Linux users buy more.

Wireless Charger

About two years ago, I imagine one day people will make a wireless charger and wireless power supply. This discourse I was talking with my friends in  'coffee shop' chat that we often do at lunch or in the court of the mosque before prayers. My friends just smiled and gave a brief comment. Perhaps they already understand it because I often talk about the 'crazy' ideas with a half-joke.

This morning, this thought crossed my mind again. Smoking a cigarette (sorry, forgot to censor - smoking is bad for health) and listening to Led Zeppelin's 'Dazed and his Confused'  through Yahoo! LAUNCHcast Radio, I go to Google and search with keywords "wireless charger". Surprise! there  was already someone that embody these ideas into a product even since 2002 (perhaps earlier). In addition Edison GE  had even made mass PowerDesk. There is also a product called SplashPower similar to PowerDesk. Although not exactly as I imagined at that time but at least my imagination has been come true by the scientists behind these products.

Actually there is another imaginary product that I want to see the flashdisk with Bluetooth connectivity. Flashdisk is worn around the neck with the pairing code which we have loaded. We do not need to plug the flash disk into the USB. Was there any products like this?

IT Human Resources

Indonesia is a country that has a large enough population. Thus this country rich in human resource potential in all areas. No exception of human resources in the field of information technology. If we look, how many high schools have faculties, departments, or even the specialized high schools for the field of IT. So many graduates from these colleges every year, even every semester. Starting from a diploma, undergraduate, master's, and Doctoral degrees can be obtained in the country. Not to mention the certification of IT expertise is widely available.

Does Indonesia have the IT resources adequate? In my opinion, many IT people who even have a particular expertise in this country. It is not so global as the Indians or Chinese. But I'm sure, Indonesian could not be considered one eye. Observe several IT mailinglist.From there we can conclude, though not accurate, that was a lot of competent Indonesian IT guys. It's just the matter of opportunities.

One day,  Indonesian IT human resources will go international, too. The role of government is also needed to encourage the advancement and empowerment in this area.

Whose fingerprint? (Sidik Jari Siapa yang Punya?)

Still remember the songs that have the words' ‘Nona manis siapa yang punya?’ If it was, easy answer, there is in the song itself. But if a crime occurs murder or robbery, the police officer was busy looking for the perpetrator's fingerprints left at the scene. Having met a few fingerprints and the question as the title above, the answer would be hard to find.

To match fingerprints found at the scene, the police would have to have a fingerprint database population. Did the police have it? I am sure, only a small portion. Not all residents enrolled in the police fingerprinted. So there is a possibility if the fingerprints found at the scene, the police officer had no comparison data.
How is the solution? Let you use your own thought.