The "Linux questions (and other stuff)" thread

[Dngrsone]

But what happens when they die? I'd be looking at it like that, i.e., that I'd better get moving on a plan, now, to transition over to something else. I would not want to be in a position of being forced to take action as a result of a crash

That is a concern, of course, but it is difficult enough getting the bean-counters to let go of money to maintain the status-quo, let alone trying to get them to invest in replacements for equipment that is currently performing reliably.

As for repair, they are fortunate to have me.

Luckily, I have two machines, so if one fails, we will be able to make do with the other until we can effect a repair, or obtain a replacement somehow...

 

[mikedt]

That is a concern, of course, but it is difficult enough getting the bean-counters to let go of money to maintain the status-quo, let alone trying to get them to invest in replacements for equipment that is currently performing reliably.

As for repair, they are fortunate to have me.

Luckily, I have two machines, so if one fails, we will be able to make do with the other until we can effect a repair, or obtain a replacement somehow...

Although it's not actually your problem, presumably you've documented or at least told someone else how the system works and what they need to do to maintain and repair it. After all you could leave or retire, or even the company bean-counters decide that they need to downsize..heaven forbid.

 

[Dngrsone]

Although it's not actually your problem, presumably you've documented or at least told someone else how the system works and what they need to do to maintain and repair it. After all you could leave or retire, or even the company bean-counters decide that they need to downsize..heaven forbid.

Nothing complicated in it, actually-- just simple computers with special cards installed...

 

[mikedt]

If this is right, then someone had better be doing some better user guides than what's available. Some of us have enough knowledge to want more than the standard "how do I get on Facebook" and are not techy enough to understand the language.

Linux Today - Goodbye, Win XP - Hello, Linux?

That could be the average PC user. They know how to use the PC and login to FB or whatever, and maybe reset the PC to factory defaults from a manufacturer's restore DVD or partition, complete with original bloatware. But might not know how to install an OS fresh on a blank HDD and search and find the drivers and applications they might need.

 

[zuben el genub]

I can find drivers and various other stuff, I don't like to reinstall since I've usually stripped most of the crap out and MS insists on putting it back. The damn computer only exists to do work for me through programs, not to be a damn commentor or helper for my life. If I don't want MS crap, I don't install MS crap. MS doesn't make what I want anyway. Having everyone trying to use their coding for a program stinks, and half the time you need to jump through hoops.

I remember trying to install Embroidery software designed for XP on Vista - What a farce! The machine companies didn't get everything in order for over a year! In the meantime, those programs are expensive, and people who bought couldn't use. By expensive, I mean over 2 grand for the full program!

 

[zuben el genub]

I finally got time to play. Put the Kubuntu 12.10 DVD in the computer and took a good look. Could find most of the stuff.

I found the way to customize the desktop - those rays just looked dumb. I got the desktop to my taste. It showed the other HD as XP, so I can transfer files. Found Synaptic and the deb package opener.
It did find the Canon Pixma, i6000D. Ubuntu wouldn't. It found the Wacom Tablet, and the HP laserjet with no strain. I use a Gearhead Mouse and the old IBM clicker. Found those, too.

No scanner. Will have to save the driver files I had to download in Ubuntu to get the scanner to work.

What I need to know - what kind of flack is Kubuntu liable to give me if I want something that isn't in the repository? I still want Tbird and FX ESR, they are TAR.BZ files. I also want Skype and I need to know where the app is to test stuff like the microphone and videocam. I have no doubt Kubuntu will see it, I just can't find the app to test it.

I also want the SWIron browser, which Ubuntu 12.04 would install. I think that was a DEB file.

I found Stellarium and KStars, the Raw file processor I use, and there are enough card games to keep me occupied.

I want the ESR files as Mozilla updates just the security. I hate having to go to about:config to remove all the social stuff Moz thinks I want. The bank complains if I don't have the latest. I won't use Chrome, SWiron is bad enough. I like the menus on top where I can just mouse to them. The keyboard drawer is usually closed.

 

[MoodyBlues]

I remember trying to install Embroidery software designed for XP on Vista - What a farce! The machine companies didn't get everything in order for over a year! In the meantime, those programs are expensive, and people who bought couldn't use. By expensive, I mean over 2 grand for the full program!

Have you tried running those on Linux via wine?

I finally got time to play. Put the Kubuntu 12.10 DVD in the computer and took a good look. Could find most of the stuff.

I found the way to customize the desktop - those rays just looked dumb. I got the desktop to my taste. It showed the other HD as XP, so I can transfer files. Found Synaptic and the deb package opener.
It did find the Canon Pixma, i6000D. Ubuntu wouldn't. It found the Wacom Tablet, and the HP laserjet with no strain. I use a Gearhead Mouse and the old IBM clicker. Found those, too.

Yep. Exactly what I'd have expected.

No scanner. Will have to save the driver files I had to download in Ubuntu to get the scanner to work.

What kind of scanner is it? And what did you install for it? I've never had a scanner fail to work with Kubuntu, with basically no tweaking. I think I've always used sane and xsane.

What I need to know - what kind of flack is Kubuntu liable to give me if I want something that isn't in the repository?

None. This isn't micro$oft! No, seriously, I never have a problem installing anything, so I don't see this as an issue. YMMV, though.

I still want Tbird and FX ESR, they are TAR.BZ files.

That simply describes the type of file they're saved in. That has nothing to do with installing them, or whether they will install on your system. A tar file is an archive (think zip on other systems) containing multiple other files, and a tar.bz2 (or various other types) is a compressed tar file.

I also want Skype and I need to know where the app is to test stuff like the microphone and videocam. I have no doubt Kubuntu will see it, I just can't find the app to test it.

On all my Kubuntu boxes, including my Chromebook, the testing features are within the Skype app itself. I downloaded and installed Skype via its web site.

I also want the SWIron browser, which Ubuntu 12.04 would install. I think that was a DEB file.

Since *buntu is Debian based, deb files should always install without issue. You can also download rpm files and convert them to deb using alien.

 

[mikedt]

I remember trying to install Embroidery software designed for XP on Vista - What a farce! The machine companies didn't get everything in order for over a year! In the meantime, those programs are expensive, and people who bought couldn't use. By expensive, I mean over 2 grand for the full program!

That sounds like the company is not supporting their software properly. Like the fact it only worked on XP and not a later version of Windows for over a year. How recent was this, especially given now that XP is end of life in a few months time. And that you can't actually buy Win XP or a new XP computer now.

 

[argedion]

That sounds like the company is not supporting their software properly.

Thats the problem with a lot of the proprietary company's out there. Some are small business's that really can't afford the upgrades. Its why I like open source. Just better support.

 

[zuben el genub]

That sounds like the company is not supporting their software properly. Like the fact it only worked on XP and not a later version of Windows for over a year. How recent was this, especially given now that XP is end of life in a few months time. And that you can't actually buy Win XP or a new XP computer now.

Which is why I have a generic XP box for all my crafting software and it's offline. I can plug in the cable to flash update which does not involve a browser. Otherwise, I either download files in Ubuntu or the 7 laptop and transfer via USB. There is nothing in the new software that does any better than the old anyway most of the time. Since MS has delayed the end of sale for 7, you can get 7 pro with virtual XP which will run the stuff.

 

[zuben el genub]

Thats the problem with a lot of the proprietary company's out there. Some are small business's that really can't afford the upgrades. Its why I like open source. Just better support.

These companies are large. Before either selling or a merger, Viking Sewing Machines were part of the Husqvarna empire. Brother has printers, office machines, you name it.

Most were just sold a bill of goods by MS coding language and the ease of being able to get into a computer to fix the problem since most users had Windows and swallowed MS propaganda wholesale.

When computerized machines first became available, there was a program for Pfaff on a Mac, called Flutterwhumper. Once Pfaff went to a different style of program, there was nothing for Apple for quite a few years. Apple users had to run parallels. Programs are now being written for both, but nothing for Linux.

I've used mostly Windows since DOS, but never fell for the full line of BS,

 

[zuben el genub]

I use Epson scanners. I've had one for years. I like the fact that Epson doesn't make comments like an HP scanjet we had in the office. It would refuse to scan at 300dpi. I don't care for HP anyway. The Canon Lidoscans also won't work. I have a couple on machines where I am not scanning photographs.

Someone in another forum just figured out how to get an Epson printer to work in Mint 16. Same problem with the printer. That's mostly the companies that make the scanners and printers, but some of us like those items and there should be some kind of workaround. I will not use an all in one. I've got the files in downloads. I can shove them on a USB or the XP desktop and retrieve. The Epson has 2 files, and you have to install them in order, to boot.

If Linux wants to appeal to the masses, it had better not assume that everyone wants the same printers, scanners, what have you. I know you like GIMP, but a lot of Photoshop users control their prints via PS. You can calibrate your printer, monitor, and paper so you are exactly WYSIWYG on print. (Mine is) Most prefer the Epson line of printers, or they did. Some like dye sub. Same for scanners. Some others like the Brother line. These people won't switch to Linux, but they might move to Apple. I still have an old IBM impact printer and an LPT1 port that I made the tech leave. What would Linux do with that? I can still get paper and ribbons. If there was some research, a lot of printers might just work on older drivers that are available. I've used older ones on Canon in Windows. Didn't have all the bells and whistles, but you could print. I used a driver for a 600 on an i850 and was able to print. I don't install the software for the printers anyway, just the driver.

RE: TAR.**
I know that those are zipped formats. Ubuntu won't deal with them and I still need to see the actual written example of how to get it to work via root. I need to read the stuff to figure it out. Ubuntu 12.04 would not let me install like 11.10 did. I had all this stuff on 11.10.

Skype sound would not work on Mint. I use Skype as the main way to talk to kid in the UK. We just video call. Don't use it for anything else. I can text or call her on the phone using Viber.

Skype on Linux: Is It Functional, Or Falling Behind?

He's probably right, but looking at it from an American view. I read most of the Nokia Symbian fora that were written in English. The Indian one was great.
These people wanted VOIP type services and there are quite a few serving that area. Some companies only deal within the EU or Asia, and like some here, don't do EU. So far, Viber has done as promised.

Never heard of Alien. Will have to investigate.

What's really annoying me about the zipped files in Ubuntu, unlike Windows, the ESR files came from Mozilla, not some ripoff download site. If you can include the FX browser, then you should trust Moz.

If the reasonable stuff will install on Kubuntu, I will switch. I don't need much on there.

 

[zuben el genub]

I tangled with WINE once. Most want to run Adobe products but I wanted WordPerfect9. I like WP for the reveal codes which you can edit. No way, Jose.
At the time WP did have a Linux version, but I couldn't find one for sale.

WP9 also touted Netscape rather than the POS IE.

 

[MoodyBlues]

I use Epson scanners. I've had one for years. I like the fact that Epson doesn't make comments like an HP scanjet we had in the office. It would refuse to scan at 300dpi. I don't care for HP anyway. The Canon Lidoscans also won't work. I have a couple on machines where I am not scanning photographs.

I've never had any issues AT ALL scanning at 300dpi--or higher.

The Epson has 2 files, and you have to install them in order, to boot.

I can't speak to that since I have no personal experience with it. But I do want to say that this could be a misunderstanding of how things work on Linux. The best analogy I can think of right now is how peripherals, such as printers, typically come with a CD for window$ and their instructions always say to go through the installation process using the CD, blah blah blah. Well, those CDs are completely unnecessary in Linux. And I mean the files on them, such as drivers. They're unnecessary because Linux recognizes the peripheral and configures everything itself, with no need for the user to ever crack open the CD. Sure, you have to choose from a list of printers to select your brand and model, but that's about it. The OS does the rest. I do remember when I'd have to look online for certain HP files, but those days are long gone. (And the list of printer brands/models is HUGE, and definitely not limited to HP.)

If Linux wants to appeal to the masses, it had better not assume that everyone wants the same printers, scanners, what have you.

It doesn't. I don't really know where that idea came from.

I know you like GIMP

Yes, because it does everything I need, and then some.

but a lot of Photoshop users control their prints via PS. You can calibrate your printer, monitor, and paper so you are exactly WYSIWYG on print. (Mine is) Most prefer the Epson line of printers, or they did. Some like dye sub. Same for scanners. Some others like the Brother line. These people won't switch to Linux

Again, perhaps that's due to misconceptions/misunderstandings and/or lack of knowledge.

I still have an old IBM impact printer and an LPT1 port that I made the tech leave. What would Linux do with that?

Is this a trick question? :hmmmm2: Unlike window$, Linux can--and does--support ANCIENT hardware.

RE: TAR.**
I know that those are zipped formats. Ubuntu won't deal with them

I seriously don't know what you mean. ANY Linux distro will 'deal with' tar files. tar is as old as UNIX itself. Now, if you say you don't know HOW to make Ubuntu deal with them, that's one thing, but Ubuntu itself most definitely does handle them. At its most fundamental level, the command line, tar is a built-in feature of every *nix I've ever heard of.

and I still need to see the actual written example of how to get it to work via root.

Again, I don't know what you mean. A tar file doesn't need root. It doesn't even need a command prompt. Just right-click it in your file manager [I use Dolphin] and pick the choice(s) you want, such as "Extract archive here, auto-detect subfolders" so it'll extract it and correctly recreate its subdirectory structure. This has nothing to do with root. It also has nothing to do with installing whatever's inside the tarball. Extracting it is one thing, installing its contents is another--and, frankly, it kind of sounds like you're confusing the two, or thinking they're the same thing.

I need to read the stuff to figure it out.

Well, there's TONS of reading available online! But, look, if you've downloaded something and don't know what to do with it, just post here and ask for help.

Ubuntu 12.04 would not let me install like 11.10 did. I had all this stuff on 11.10.

I don't know. :dontknow:

Skype sound would not work on Mint. I use Skype as the main way to talk to kid in the UK.

Skype didn't exist when my kid lived in the UK. I wish it had! Anyway, as I've mentioned, it runs fine on all my Kubuntus.

Never heard of Alien. Will have to investigate.

Just go to a prompt and type man alien for its manual pages.

What's really annoying me about the zipped files in Ubuntu, unlike Windows, the ESR files came from Mozilla, not some ripoff download site. If you can include the FX browser, then you should trust Moz.

Again, this is NOT a *buntu problem. I'm sorry but...it's a user problem. Any Linux can handle tar files, and none of them, including Ubuntu, should care where the files came from or what's in them. If you, the user, wish to extract a tarball, there's nothing stopping you from doing so. At least nothing I've ever encountered.

Now, if you're talking about the CONTENTS of the zipped files, as opposed to the zipped files themselves, you may run into problems [as Nick has, but I have not] with trying to install something not intended for your computer's architecture. But that's not a problem with the files.

If the reasonable stuff will install on Kubuntu, I will switch. I don't need much on there.

I'd strongly suggest posting questions/issues either here or elsewhere, such as on Ubuntu/Kubuntu specific sites. There's so much help available out there!

 

[Dngrsone]

I tangled with WINE once. Most want to run Adobe products but I wanted WordPerfect9. I like WP for the reveal codes which you can edit. No way, Jose.
At the time WP did have a Linux version, but I couldn't find one for sale.

WP9 also touted Netscape rather than the POS IE.

Lord, I miss the old Word Perfect... it was a true text-based word processor, unlike that object-oriented travesty put out by Microsoft.

I remember rewriting curricula based in WP 3.2 using WP 7 (with the newer version, you could have more than two documents open at a time). Best damn tool for creating documents like training manuals and instructors guides.

 

[zuben el genub]

Ok - now I NEED help. first, Grub or whatever Kubuntu calls it doesn't see the other hard drive. I tried the command to refresh grub, and got informed that Grub isn't installed.

2nd - I still can't get those ESR on Iron tar.bz files. I can extract, but can't install.
This time I managed some error messages:

Blacked out~$ ~/firefox/firefox
XPCOMGlueLoad error for file /home/me/firefox/libxul.so:
libdbus-glib-1.so.2: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
Couldn't load XPCOM.
this was for FX - their instructions just don't work. It's on the Mozilla page.

QDBusConnection: session D-Bus connection created before QCoreApplication. Application may misbehave.
QDBusConnection: session D-Bus connection created before QCoreApplication. Application may misbehave. SW Iron.
Blacked out name, it's right.

Rekonq or whatever it is is a pain.

The scanner won't install either. It's an Epson Perfection V300 photo. It installed in Ubuntu 12.04. and Mint 14.

I really need the XP drive, I've got calendars to do. I can't even do them in Gimp since Kubuntu doesn't see XP and my photos are there.

I've also got a notice for a new version of Kubuntu, tell it to install by clicking on the button to install and it does nothing.
I can update, but it won't install the new version.

 

[zuben el genub]

Lord, I miss the old Word Perfect... it was a true text-based word processor, unlike that object-oriented travesty put out by Microsoft.

I remember rewriting curricula based in WP 3.2 using WP 7 (with the newer version, you could have more than two documents open at a time). Best damn tool for creating documents like training manuals and instructors guides.

I started desktop publishing with 6.0 for DOS. Word at that time didn't even have a GUI.

BTW, that's the other thing that Illustrator will do - page layout a la Pagemaker or Quark.
I did all the stuff for the webmaster so change to html, and the versions we printed in the office looked the same which was what the boss wanted,
We had MS publisher and the webmaster was pulling his hair out. It was a POS.

 

[zuben el genub]

I installed Xsane, the scanner was plugged in and i put in the iscan libraries that Epson needs, Both Canon and Epson decided not to bother with certain scanners. There are pages of people trying to install the Lidoscans that Canon won't support. The Epson wiil run, but you need a couple of files according to Seiko.
12.04 Epson Scanner will not install - Ask Ubuntu

I just saw the 3rd package - scanner installed. Heard it squeal and Xsane turned up.

Where do things go when they are minimze? 12.04 used to list open apps at the bottom of the page like windows. Where's the config for getting Kubuntu to do that?

I had the ESR files on Ubuntu 11.10, Clicked on the purple diamond and ubuntu asked to install and wanted password. So they run. I could be missing some lib files and I'd never know it. If it isn't intended for Linux, then why does Mozilla have it on their download page? They didn't specify which flavor of linux. That's why I said I got it from Moz. You can find all kinds of crap and corrupt files on Windows and have all kinds of hell installing.

If you meant a prompt in console, that told me man alien wasn't installed.

 

[mikedt]

I still have an old IBM impact printer and an LPT1 port that I made the tech leave. What would Linux do with that?

Work perfectly most likely....provided the PC has a parallel port of course. And it would have to be quite an ancient machine as well. LPT ports are very much legacy these days. In fact if I went into a computer shop here and asked for a PC with a parallel port, he'd probably just laugh, and if it were a young SA likely just give a blank look and wonder what the hell I was talking about. Even analogue VGA ports seem to be becoming legacy now, some new machines just don't have them.

There are manufacturers making impact printers, but they're all USB now AFAIK.

BTW anyone know if I can connect my model 33 teletype to my USB only Lenovo laptop?

In fact supporting legacy hardware is something Linux can do very well, far better than Windows 8 most probably.

Skype sound would not work on Mint. I use Skype as the main way to talk to kid in the UK.

I find Skype on Mint works perfectly, no problems at all and straight away, no configuring or messing around. And integrates and conforms with the desktop theme quite nicely. In fact I much prefer the current 4.2 Linux version of Skype, over the current Windows version, that seem to have become horribly bloated IMO. And it has ads in it! ..even when paying money for a Skype service. In fact when I was using Windows, I got Skype from oldversion.com.."Because newer is not always better!" because did not wish to be using it in it's current bloated adware form. Current Mac version of Skype is better in this respect, there's no ads in it, still rather bloated though.

 

[argedion]

Ok - now I NEED help. first, Grub or whatever Kubuntu calls it doesn't see the other hard drive. I tried the command to refresh grub, and got informed that Grub isn't installed.

2nd - I still can't get those ESR on Iron tar.bz files. I can extract, but can't install.
This time I managed some error messages:

Blacked out~$ ~/firefox/firefox
XPCOMGlueLoad error for file /home/me/firefox/libxul.so:
libdbus-glib-1.so.2: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
Couldn't load XPCOM.
this was for FX - their instructions just don't work. It's on the Mozilla page.

QDBusConnection: session D-Bus connection created before QCoreApplication. Application may misbehave.
QDBusConnection: session D-Bus connection created before QCoreApplication. Application may misbehave. SW Iron.
Blacked out name, it's right.

Rekonq or whatever it is is a pain.

The scanner won't install either. It's an Epson Perfection V300 photo. It installed in Ubuntu 12.04. and Mint 14.

I really need the XP drive, I've got calendars to do. I can't even do them in Gimp since Kubuntu doesn't see XP and my photos are there.

I've also got a notice for a new version of Kubuntu, tell it to install by clicking on the button to install and it does nothing.
I can update, but it won't install the new version.

1 where did you install grub at? - Are you sure that the other hard drive is mounted? for Dolphin to see it?

2. a bit beyond me

3. did you install on to a single drive with 2 partitions or do you have 2 separate drives?

 

[zuben el genub]

I din't install grub, I thought Kubuntu would. The other drive is mounted, I saw it listed while installing Kbuntu. It was listed when I trialled Kbuntu from the CD. Ubuntu 12.04 did this too, Someone said type refresh grub in the terminal then it appeared on a reboot


I have 2 separate drives. I told Kubuntu it could have all of Sdb, which is where Ubuntu was.
Sda1 is XP.

I have 4 entries when it boots up none refer to the other drive

 

[mikedt]

These companies are large. Before either selling or a merger, Viking Sewing Machines were part of the Husqvarna empire. Brother has printers, office machines, you name it.

OT: I'm sure Japan has a near monopoly on machinery for apparel production. Seems every garment factory I've seen, and we have a lot of them in China , it's like always Brother, Juki or Toyota. Husqvarna seems to be all about outdoor machinery now, chainsaws, garden tractors, lawnmowers, leaf blowers and the like.

BTW whatever happened to Singer?

 

[zuben el genub]

Singer got in a tangle - They bought Pfaff (German) and made a total mess of both products. Viking and Pfaff merged, (VIP) and Singer got back in. Viking and Pfaff use the same software, the TOL machines are made in Sweden, but everything else it the orient, mostly China. Some Taiwan, and I think someone is in Burma or that area. I don't think Singer has anything made in Sweden. Neither the Pfaff nor the Viking dealers want anything to do with Singer in the dealerships.
I do hear Singer quality is starting to improve.

A lot of the dealers have the same machine with different names. Brother and Babylock are almost interchangeable except for Sergers. Babylock has jet air and no one else does. There is one "quilting" machine that is sold by Babylock, Pfaff, under a few names. All made in China.

The progression for my machines - Pfaff 1471 and 1475, made in Germany. 2144 (updated) Made in Sweden with German Engineering. The last of the 2100 series was made in the Czech Republic with German Engineering. Now most say made in China. Singers are probably mostly from China also. Nothing wrong with most of the Chinese products if the engineers who design it keep their eye on production. I don't know how many factories you have there that produce machines.

BTW - you cannot buy a top of the line from any maker over the internet. Babylock, Bernina, Brother, Pfaff, Janome. You have to go to a dealer. Some, like Brother, Singer and Janome do make machines that hobby stores can sell, or online stores can sell.

A lot of these machines are computerized. Most have fancy stitches built in and I have no idea what OS, language or whatever they are based on. The software has to use vector images and files. You need the x,y coordinates to tell the needle where to punch. At first all machines had proprietary formats, but now you can put in a design in almost any format in any machine. So how they adjusted the software since each proprietary one had different specs, I don't know.
Like I said - the software for digitizing designs is expensive, but today, at least you can mostly use one brand of software for different machines.

I'd really like to know what they use for programming language. It might explain why it takes so long to fix if Windows brings out another variant. There can't be that many ways of programming vectors.

 

[mikedt]

Singer got in a tangle - They bought Pfaff (German) and made a total mess of both products. Viking and Pfaff merged, (VIP) and Singer got back in. Viking and Pfaff use the same software, the TOL machines are made in Sweden, but everything else it the orient, mostly China. Some Taiwan, and I think someone is in Burma or that area. I don't think Singer has anything made in Sweden. Neither the Pfaff nor the Viking dealers want anything to do with Singer in the dealerships.
I do hear Singer quality is starting to improve.

A lot of the dealers have the same machine with different names. Brother and Babylock are almost interchangeable except for Sergers. Babylock has jet air and no one else does. There is one "quilting" machine that is sold by Babylock, Pfaff, under a few names. All made in China.

The progression for my machines - Pfaff 1471 and 1475, made in Germany. 2144 (updated) Made in Sweden with German Engineering. The last of the 2100 series was made in the Czech Republic with German Engineering. Now most say made in China. Singers are probably mostly from China also. Nothing wrong with most of the Chinese products if the engineers who design it keep their eye on production. I don't know how many factories you have there that produce machines.

BTW - you cannot buy a top of the line from any maker over the internet. Babylock, Bernina, Brother, Pfaff, Janome. You have to go to a dealer. Some, like Brother, Singer and Janome do make machines that hobby stores can sell, or online stores can sell.

A lot of these machines are computerized. Most have fancy stitches built in and I have no idea what OS, language or whatever they are based on. The software has to use vector images and files. You need the x,y coordinates to tell the needle where to punch. At first all machines had proprietary formats, but now you can put in a design in almost any format in any machine. So how they adjusted the software since each proprietary one had different specs, I don't know.
Like I said - the software for digitizing designs is expensive, but today, at least you can mostly use one brand of software for different machines.

I'd really like to know what they use for programming language. It might explain why it takes so long to fix if Windows brings out another variant. There can't be that many ways of programming vectors.

Borland Delphi 3? Visual Basic 6? maybe..I don't know. Could be that they've invested heavily in a particular development system, and there's significant costs and staff retraining to use something newer and different. Or they just don't bother, not until at least enough of their customers start making enough noise about it. Or even, sorry this software is too old, it's end of life and we don't support it any more. As the software is proprietary rather than open source, it can't be supported by community and/or third-party devs.

Which is soon going to be happening to Windows XP of course, 14th April, 2014. There's Virtual XP in Win 7 Pro, but eventually that will be end of life as well. Windows 8.1 has no Virtual XP.

 

[argedion]

So I'm trying to get my google calendar setup with my Korganizer however it tells me that Kwallet is disabled. How does one enable it?

EDIT: Nevermiind I got it now I just had to delete the "kwalletrc" file