Another (new) Open letter to the Sigma corporation

Yes yes, this is another open letter to the Sigma corporation. Why on earth you ask? Well after  I wrote the other one I have been looking into the concept of supporting Linux and from there I started reading a bunch about the Free Software Foundation and from there I have changed my mind.

I apologies
I would like to start by apologizing to Richard Stallman and the www.FSF.org for my comment on the Sigma Photo Raw converter to be a free program (not that anybody complained). It is gratis but it isn’t free software. After reading more about the Free Software Foundation and what Richard Stallman is all about I have since changed my mind about my previous open letter to Sigma. Do I mean I don’t want Sigma to support Linux? Well  yes I do want them to support GNU/linux but there is more to it. Then what the heck do I want?

I would like Sigma the make the Sigma Photo Pro Raw converter a Free software under the GNU General Public License v3.0 (* If anybody believes that it should be under different license then please comment since I may not be the best expert on these free Licenses).

Why should they do that? Well lets look at that step by step.

1. Are you making money from the Sigma Photo Pro raw converter?
I would think that the main product is the camera they sell and the SPP Converter is a program that comes gratis with the camera to get the best out of it. So if they want to sell more cameras there wouldn’t be any purpose to sell the camera alone and then people would have to buy the SPP software to get there photos converted to the high standard I expect from the Sigma raw files (this might however be a long term goal of Sigma if the Foveon camera becomes popular, I just don’t know). Canon sells there cameras with a simple raw converters which I think nobody uses since they are so primitive and Canon probably knows that people will most likely buy the Adobe Lightroom or (preferably) use the many open source free raw Converters out there like RawTherapee. So the Sigma SPP is provide with no cost at this time and the camera is the product they sell and intend to make a profit. But the Raw converter is not perfect. It may produce good pictures but it’s function could be improved.

2. Use the power of volunteers and create an outstanding SPP converter.
By making the SPP Free under the GNU license will open up the possibility to use other raw programs or codes that are open source and free, that might make the SPP even better, They could use for example the code for RawTherapee to improve the SPP (which also means RawTherapee could use the code from SPP to improve the x3f file conversion and I can’t see that it would be a bad idea. Since you are going to try and sell the Sigma Foveon camera and get world domination (of course) then why not do it under the GNU General Public License. Also you would have access to volunteers offering codes to improve the function on the SPP program for free. You could even enlist volunteers to help with the code and in a much faster time get an ever better functioning converter. One thing I would really like to get is copying settings between photos without opening a photo.

3. I don’t think you will lose profits doing it this way
How do I know? Well Sigma I am sure you are selling lenses and cameras. The better the SPP is the more attractive the camera might bee and just the fact you went GNU is going to be noticed and talked about. Can any one spell Free publicity? Since you are giving the SPP converter away why not benefit from the many people willing to lend a hand in making it better under the GNU license. Just reading my older post on dpreview with the first Open Sigma Letter and the response should show that there were people willing to help. Heck I would learn coding to help. You could even continue the current cost you put in to the development of the converter and then get the added bonus of the community helping and adding to the code. I truly believe this is a win win thing.

So how about it Sigma? Why not make it truly Free?

Ubuntu 12.04 lts

Well everybody who support and belive in free and open source software, congratiulation on the new realese of Ubuntu 12.04 lts. To test the new distro I did a live run via usb drive on my Asus x101 to see the changes and how it felt. But before I describe how it worked on my Asus I did try it on a 17″ Thosiba laptop with AMD E-300 1.3Ghz Dual core chip and running the Ubuntu 12.04 from the USB Drive feelt faster than running windows 7 installed on the machine. Even starting programs like Libre office from the USB was quick and I would imagen installing the Ubuntu Os on the machina would even work faster. But that wasen’t my machine so I coulden’t installe Ubuntu 12.04 lts on it. So my next step was try it on my Asus x101 and hoping it would work faster than Ubuntu 11.10. But it seamed to be showing the same sluggish (but not slow) performance as it did with ubuntu 11.10. Have in mind it isn’t slow as such, it just isn’t as fast as say Lubuntu I am currently running. But Ubuntu 12.04 seams to function very well on my Asus x101 just as 11.10 did but since i am not going to install it on the x101 I started the upgrade process on my Asus and found out that isn’t possibe with the Asus x101 with it’s 8gb drive (not enough space). It needs 1.2 gb of space and I have only 1 gb free space.

Xubuntu 12.04 lts.
So i grabed my 12 year old Dell Inspiron 7500 laptop with a 0,6 ghz Intel chip running xubuntu and tryed the upgrade process from 11.10 to 12.04 and yes that worked but it took a long time. Not that the process was slow, I just forgot to turn of suspend after 30 min so the pc was always sleeping when I checked the process. After the update I did have the feeling it was running faster (but not by much). After start up it was using 30% of the 512mb ram. I even installed Gimp 2.8 and it ran pretty well. Just to avoid any confusion my Asus x101 is faster than the 12 year old  Dell computer. I think I will just be using the 12.04 lts on the Dell from now on and stop upgrading it. Can’t imagine I will still be using it in five years.

But the only way for me to upgrade to 12.04 is by doing a fresh install on my Asus x101 which many say is the best way to go.

A Lubuntu review.

Yes I know what you are thinking. ,,hey Birgir I thought you were going to install Pear OS? What happened?”

Well while I was doing live runs of the many linux OS that are available I for the fun of it wanted to see if my Asus x101 could run 64 bit distro and for the fun of it I just downloaded Lubuntu.

Lubuntu desktop: not bad looking.

So how is it?
Eeee. well. Lubuntu is great. It far exceded my espectation. Lubuntu just feels quick and lacking a better word for it I can say simply it feels like Lubuntu isn’t in my way when using the computer. Ubuntu on my asus x101 worked fine, actualy the last days before installing Lubuntu the touchpad was going of line qute often, but Ubuntu felt slow sometimes so I was more aware of it while using the computer. Not to say that I was often waiting for Ubuntu. But Lubuntu feels great. It is light, everything is quick and I can install UbuntuOne, skype and Libre Office. Abi word didn’t read some files correctly which is strange since my 12 year old Dell inspiron laptop running Xubuntu reads the many doc files well. Some things work differently in Lubuntu but doing a quick search online always gave me the help I needed thanks to the many Linux users who help each other constantly. God I love Linux. Accessing power manager is a bit different than in Ubuntu for example.

The small Asus 10.1" screen get's used fairly well.

Actualy I think I am getting obsessed with Linux. But more about that in another post.

Back to Lubuntu. One thing I am wondering if there is a difference in regards to speed since I am using the 64 bit version of Lubuntu while I was using 32 bit Ubuntu. The only way to find out is to install Ubuntu again but in 64 bit version and see if it is faster.

Using a bit more ram than 32 bit distro's

Start up time is 30 seconds which is about 10 seconds better than Ubuntu was. Shut down time is also faster and the battery seams to last about the same or just somewere under 4 hours. Lubuntu 64 bit seams to be using a bit more of RAM but from what I understand that is normal for 64bit versions. Libre office starts up faster than Libre on Ubuntu 32 bit, don’t know if that is because of Lubuntu or 32/64 bit issue. Working on Lubuntu feels good and I will probably stick with it for a few more weeks before I install Pear os on the Asus x101.

So in short I do recommend Lubuntu 11.10 64bit on the Asus x101, it’s snappy and clutter free so to speak. An excelent Netbook OS and I am sure it also works even better on grown up laptops and desktops PS’s.

One thing that is pretty funny is that I have almost completely gotten used to the small keyboard on the x101.

A open letter to the Sigma Corporation

This is an open letter to the camera and lens maker Sigma.

And what is it the message?

Please support Linux.

Simple message I know, but why? I am a Sigma Foveon camera user since the year 2003 and have found the Sigma Foveon photo sensor to be one of the unique things in our world just after the Pyramids, sex and Linux. I use the camera because of the special pictures it can produce and I believe it is my responsibility to support Sigma by buying there products so Sigma will continue to develop this sensor. But I am also a Linux user and believe Linux is something I should support and advocate. What I would really like is to be able to use the Sigma Photo Pro Raw converter to process my photos within a Linux operating system of my choice. And I believe if Sigma would make there Sigma Photo Pro compatible with Linux they would be increasing there product awareness among a whole new demographic.  Let’s look at this in a more step by step manner.

1. Support a unique system
Sigma cameras use a unique censor and Linux is in my mind also unique. There is nothing quite like the philosophy of free software for all. Simply by making there Sigma photo Pro raw converter work in Linux Sigma would create a buss in whole new demographic of people. Sigma could even collaborate with System76 and create a Sigma equipped Laptop (along with a Sigma SD1 Merril camera).

2.Sigma will sell more cameras
Actually I have no idea if it will I just believe it will. Simply by advancing the raw converter to Linux will spark interest for Sigma products.

3. The Sigma Raw converter is free and so is Linux
Yes I know the Sigma Raw converter isn’t open source but it is available to anyone who wishes to try. So are the many Linux operating systems in the world. I am sure some PR person at Sigma who reads this is now thinking of a cool slogan to make for the next advert now. There are possibility’s here.

So in short. Sigma Corporation of USA  and Japan, please think about the next step for the Sigma raw converter and the possibility in the free press this will create.  I am 100% sure it will be positive. I my self promise to go to every Linux chat room I can think of and praise Sigma for your daring and innovation.

A new Linux Operating system for my Asus x101

I have been thinking about trying out a different Linux distro for my Asus x101 netbook. My main concern is getting a bit faster performance and still get good use from the small 10.1” screen. For this very unscientific test I did Live CD run of the following Operating system and checked how much ram the OS used after start up and then again with Firefox running. Here are the results.

Ubuntu 11.10
Ram usage after start up: 245.4mb or 12.2%
Ram with Firefox running: 259.9 mb or 12.9%
I had to go do something and when I came back after about 5 minutes the RAM usage was up to 426,2mb or 21.3%

The space on my 10.1" laptop gets good use.

Pear OS 4
Ram usage after startup198,6mb Ram or 9.9%
Ram with Firefox running 237.8mb or 11.9%

Almost as good as Ubuntu 11.10.

Pear OS 4 Netbook
Ram usage after startup: 208.7mb or 10.4%
didn’t try it with Firefox since Firefox doesn’t come with it so you won’t see any screenshot here since it would probably look just like the one above.

Xubuntu
Ram usage after start up 10% (can’t see mb)
Ram with Firefox running 16%

Loosing a bit more information.

Linux Mint 12 DVD
Ram usage after start up: 352.1 mb 17.6%
Ram with Firefox running: 417.7mb or 20.9%
It appears I may have destroy  the Linux Mint screenshot but it wasen’t as good as Ubuntu in regards to how well it uses the small screen, basically it looked like Xubuntu. (will add it when I find it again).

So my next Linux distro to try is: Pear OS 4. Stay tuned for a review.

All tests made with the Asus x101 with 2gb of ram and Atom 1.33.

I love Linux

The other day I was adding a wireless dongle to my in laws laptop which has a non working internal wireless LAN. The wireless dongle turned on and could see all the networks around it but couldn’t connect. I thought “aaa Scheiße, now they will stop loving Ubuntu and want to go back to Windblows”. So I restarted the laptop in Windows Vista and found that the dongle didn’t work at all there. so I switch back to Ubuntu and did a quick search. Found out about the bug with this dongle, downloaded the Linux drivers, followed the instructions I found by some guy who had the same problem, a few terminal codes here and few terminal codes there and boom. Everything works.

And I thought to my self.

Scheiße how much I love Linux.

I am sure I could have found the solution in windows just as easily but when I thought about the Linux community and the shared sense of everybody helping everybody for the better of free computer software world just gave me a fuzzy warm feeling in my heart.

 

Working on my web site and a burning sensation

I have been working on my other web page, www.birgir.org, were I will place my Open Source Print Edition for sale. The site is rather basic and my English site needs work. While working on it I was looking at the photo on my English front page and admiring the Sigma SD9 deep color palate. I always get the Velvia feeling from it. I think the one camera I would like to own again is the Sigma SD9.

I have also been working on my Gimp vs. Photoshop essay and soon it will be published, just processing a few photos and stuff to make things look good. You should follow my blog if you want to get notified when it is published.

I tried the other day to start a small computer side project and made contact with sellers on Alibaba to buy laptops and install Ubuntu and then sell them in Iceland. We (me and my friend) bought two laptops to test the seller and items he was selling and I just received the laptops. After contacting the custom office in Iceland I found out the packed contained only two 512Mb usb stick. After that I had a strange burning sensation in my ass and it lasted the entire week.