What’s the difference between Google and Bing?

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After the public release of Microsoft Bing on June 3rd, I began to test it out by running Google and Bing side by side using the same search. More often than not, the search results were the same. Some results were prioritized differently from one another. Bing had some nice features like the recent searches and side bar that popped out of the search result displaying detailed information about the webpage. After getting 3 – 4 pages deep I discovered that Google had decent result while Bing trail off to uninteresting websites. I have only tested the search results; I have not tested any of the other features of Bing. I will probably end up using Google as my search engine as Bing does not impress me.

Programming Paraphernalia

Podcast is up and running. Learn how to make programs on your windows machine.

http://techtony.podbean.com/

Free Directory Assistance

If you are looking for a number, most people go look in the phone book, or try to locate the number online, or last case is to use 411, which cost money. If you are most people, then you are frustrated with this primitive way. A solution was release by Google, they call it “Goog411”
All you have to do is call a toll-free number (1-800-goog-411) and you are connect to the internet directory database. With the innovative speech to text function you can search any city, state, and business. Then you have the option to send the details in a text message to your phone, or send a Google map of it on your internet capable phone. This is great for when your lost and you don't have a GPS. If this is the first time you’re hearing about Goog411, Try it out!

Open Source = Resourceful

We're all tired of trial version software. You know the ones, you try for 30 day but at the end it begs you to buy, with a usual $40 to $200 price tag. It’s time to take action, and I don't mean to pirate these programs. We need to start using open source software. I don't mean free software. Open Source software is a community software product available to the public, now what makes them different than free software is the source code is also available to the public. This makes it available to the community for custom enhancements. Then the users can download the modification to their software.

Open Source software is always free and always has a helpful community forum for support. Try http://sourceforge.net/ or http://www.opensourcewindows.org/ but, there are plenty of other sites dedicated to open source software and support all platforms, including OSX. By downloading and using these softwares, you are contributing to the community by giving helpful information in how well the program worked for you. Its time to help out our current and future programmers.If you’re tired of wasting money, try the community approach.

The Linux Advantage

Microsoft has certainly won our hearts with Windows Vista, and the upcoming release of Windows 7 is very appeasing. However spending anywhere from $100 to $400 per license for these user operating systems seem a little steep to me. Microsoft and even Apple have us brainwashed to think that operating systems need to cost money. Especially with the economy taking a big hit recently, who has the money to throw away on overpriced pieces of digital code. Support for Windows is just plain frustrating. Apple is very proprietary and expensive to support. It only leaves us one solution for the new age of computing.

Linux is here to appeal to all computer users; whether your the type of person having trouble finding the power switch, or the type that can whip up a custom program to automate part of our day. There are plenty distributions of Linux, and may be overwhelming to select one. Luckily there is an online quiz that gathers information about your computer knowledge and selects the best distribution for you. Also this quiz will teach you some basic Linux information if you are unsure. After selecting a distribution, your have just opened up the computing door.

The Linux community is an amazing combination of programmers, developers, and software testers that can be reach via forum. People on these forums provide detailed advice on just about anything, and even more, they are very helpful in finding solutions to user's problems. The software for Linux is usually just as good as some other high price brand name software. Open Office is a good example to a free alternative office suite instead of shelling out mega dollar for other office software.

When it comes down to it, Linux is just becoming more and more popular. This is by no accident, but rather caused by competitors outrageous prices and unloyal support. As this free community grows, I hope it will overtake our defacto standard of Microsoft and be replaced by a operating system that is supported by the people who understand computing. Linux!