TIPS E-Library

The Solaris Operating System—supported on over 1000 x86 and SPARC platforms—delivers the performance, stability and security your users and customers demand. With more applications available than for any other open operating system, one OS can span your entire enterprise: the Web tier, the data warehouse, and the most demanding technical compute applications. Moving to Solaris 10 is easy, whether you're upgrading from an older Solaris release or migrating from another OS.

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Linux is an operating system that was initially created as a hobby by a young student, Linus Torvalds, at the University of Helsinki in Finland. Linus had an interest in Minix, a small UNIX system, and decided to develop a system that exceeded the Minix standards. He began his work in 1991 when he released version 0.02 and worked steadily until 1994 when version 1.0 of the Linux Kernel was released. The kernel, at the heart of all Linux systems, is developed and released under the GNU General Public License and its source code is freely available to everyone. It is this kernel that forms the base around which a Linux operating system is developed. There are now literally hundreds of companies and organizations and an equal number of individuals that have released their own versions of operating systems based on the Linux kernel. More information on the kernel can be found at our sister site, LinuxHQ and at the official Linux Kernel Archives. The current full-featured version is 2.6 (released December 2003) and development continues.

Apart from the fact that it's freely distributed, Linux's functionality, adaptability and robustness, has made it the main alternative for proprietary Unix and Microsoft operating systems. IBM, Hewlett-Packard and other giants of the computing world have embraced Linux and support its ongoing development. Well into its second decade of existence, Linux has been adopted worldwide primarily as a server platform. Its use as a home and office desktop operating system is also on the rise. The operating system can also be incorporated directly into microchips in a process called "embedding" and is increasingly being used this way in appliances and devices.

Throughout most of the 1990's, tech pundits, largely unaware of Linux's potential, dismissed it as a computer hobbyist project, unsuitable for the general public's computing needs. Through the efforts of developers of desktop management systems such as KDE and GNOME, office suite project OpenOffice.org and the Mozilla web browser project, to name only a few, there are now a wide range of applications that run on Linux and it can be used by anyone regardless of his/her knowledge of computers. Those curious to see the capabilities of Linux can download a live CD version called Knoppix . It comes with everything you might need to carry out day-to-day tasks on the computer and it needs no installation. It will run from a CD in a computer capable of booting from the CD drive. Those choosing to continue using Linux can find a variety of versions or "distributions" of Linux that are easy to install, configure and use. Information on these products is available in our distribution section and can be found by selecting the mainstream/general public category.

Additional Information

If you're interested in learning about Linux, need help with some aspect of its use or are enthusiastic about it and want to help foster its adoption, you may want to get in touch with a Linux User Group in your area. There are groups in practically every country, region and city in the world, so there is likely to be one near you.

Each day, Linux use is increasing in every sector of our society. We have information about Linux deployments in government, industry and the arts.

Linux has an official mascot, Tux, the Linux penguin, which was selected by Linus Torvalds to represent the image he associates with the operating system. Tux was created by Larry Ewing and Larry has generously given it to the community to be freely used to promote Linux. More information on use of the image can be found on his webpage. More links to variations on the image and alternative logos can be found on our logo page

Many people are not sure of the pronunciation of the word Linux. Although many variations of the word exist, often due to native language factors, it is normally pronounced with a short " i " and with the first syllable stressed, as in LIH-nucks. You can hear how Linux creator Linus Torvalds pronounces the word in Swedish and in English .

More information on Linus Torvalds, can be found on our short biography page.

If you're interested in the history of Linux, we have a timeline page that features important milestones in the development of the operating system.

1. How to Increase Hard Disk Performance
2. Windows XP Trick - Increase Performance of PC, XP Tricks
3. Windows XP tricks
4. How to make your Computer FASTER Wnidows XP and VISTA
5. How To Make Your Computer Faster (No Download Required)
6. Make Your Internet 3x Faster in 3 mins.

Regardless of the size of business you are in – whether a large corporation, a small company, or even a home-based business – effective communication skills are essential for success.

The articles in this section of Mind Tools help you to understand how to communicate your message in the best possible way. After completing this section, you should have a better understanding of how to communicate effectively – to individuals and groups, and using spoken, written and electronic communication.

These articles are further supported by the additional career development resources found elsewhere on the Mind Tools web site.

Take a look around this section of Mind Tools, and then visit these other sections, all researched and written by the Mind Tools team, who share a strong commitment to helping you achieve lifelong success and happiness in your career.

Wireless IP-Relay for BlackBerry

Wireless IP-Relay allows Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing individuals the ability to communicate while they are mobile. Place IP-Relay calls from your BlackBerry phone book and view up to 10 previous conversations from your call log! The new application requires no APN set up.
View the features
Downloading Wireless IP-Relay
Wireless IP-Relay works with:

* Verizon®
* Sprint®
* Alltel®
* T-Mobile®
* Cingular®
* SunCom®

Over-the-Air Download

We recommend that you download Wireless IP-Relay using the OTA (Over-the-Air) method described below. You will only need to download and install this application once in order to use the service.

1. From your Home screen, launch the Internet Browser
2. Select Go To using your navigation wheel
3. Type in the following web address:
4. http://www.bb-relay.com You will be asked if you want to download the application
5. Click Yes
6. You will be notified once the application is successfully installed on your handheld. A double arrow IP-Relay logo will appear on your menu.

Desktop Manager
To install the application manually using your desktop PC follow these instructions.

1. Download the following file to your PC: http://www.bb-relay.com/IPRelay.zip
2. Unzip the file into a folder on your PC
3. Connect your BlackBerry with the USB cable to your PC
4. Launch the BlackBerry Desktop Manager software
5. Double click on the Application Loader icon
6. Select "Add" from the application list and browser to the IPRelay.alx from the zip file
7. Complete the wizard and the IP-Relay icon will appear on your BlackBerry.

Click Here to Buy a BlackBerry with Wireless IP-Relay Pre-Installed!
Using Wireless IP-Relay on BlackBerry devices

1. Download and install the application on your device.
2. From the Home screen, click the IP-Relay application.
3. A window will appear where you can type in the number you wish to call or select from previously called numbers.
4. When you have entered the number, click the wheel and select "call number"
5. You will then be connected to an operator who will process your call.
6. To end the call, type END CALL, SKSK, or just close the application.

Questions
Questions about Wireless IP-Relay on BlackBerry Devices email us here
Upgrade to BlackBerry Operating System (OS) 4.1 Questions

*You should have BlackBerry OS 4.0 or later on your device and in some instances BlackBerry 4.1 Go to Options on your home page and then "Applications" and then check to see what version of BlackBerry you are running. If it is not BlackBerry 4.0 at least, then download 4.1 at:
https://www.blackberry.com/Downloads/entry.do?code=A8BAA56554F96369AB93E4F3BB068C22

Please select BlackBerry Desktop Software V 4.1 from the pull down menu. Once you download the software to your PC, connect your BlackBerry to your PC. The PC will then sync the newest version to your BlackBerry.

Earlier this week, the Texas state Senate gave preliminary approval to a policy that would forbid the installation of Windows Vista on government computers.


Everyone, including Microsoft, knows that Windows Vista isn’t the most appreciated of operating systems. Large businesses have chosen to stick with Windows XP for support issues, and some consumers shy away from Windows Vista based on performance and other things they have heard.

Even though Windows 7 is nearly upon us, the Texas state Senate gave preliminary approval to a budget that would include a policy to ban the use of Windows Vista on government computers.

ComputerWorld reports that Sen. Juan Hinojosa proposed the bill because "of the many reports of problems with Vista."

"We are not in any way, shape or form trying to pick on Microsoft, but the problems with this particular [operating] system are known nationwide," Hinojosa said. "And the XP operating system is working very well."

While the bill also outlines that agencies who have a use for Windows Vista would have to first get the written approval of the Legislative Budget Board.

Microsoft was predictably disappointed by the proposal. "We're surprised that the Texas Senate Finance Committee adopted a rider which, in effect, singles out a specific corporation and product for unequal treatment,” a spokeswoman wrote. “We hope as the budget continues to go through the process, this language will be removed."

Texas Department of Information Resources spokesman David Duncan said that the department’s 265 employees remain on Windows XP and Mac OS X, and might skip straight to Windows 7 at the next upgrade. "We're not holding off as a reaction to what Microsoft is producing," he said, adding that Windows 7 also fits better with the agency’s upgrade cycle.

This still another black mark on Windows Vista, but fortunately for Microsoft, Windows 7 is the next big thing.