1820 Pandora Street
Vancouver, BC
V5L 1M5
604-879-GEEK (4335)
OPEN - Tues. ~ Sat.
11:00am - 6:00pm
CLOSED - Sun. Mon.
ubuntu
Ubuntu Vancouver Monthly Meeting, 2nd Thurs of the month @ Free Geek, 6:30-8:30, 1820 Pandora St. (back door)
Submitted by ifny on Sun, 2008-05-04 10:16.Jul 10 2008 - 18:30
Jul 10 2008 - 20:30
Location(s)
Ubuntu Vancouver Monthly Meeting
*Join us for our fourth regular meeting.*
Day: Thursday, July 10, 2008pm
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Where: Free Geek, 1820 Pandora Street. Please enter by the back door, off the alley.
Join the conversation:
Ubuntu Vancouver Wiki (where you can also join the local Ubuntu Vancouver mailing list)
»
Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron Release Party
Free Geek was proud to hold the Vancouver Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron release party. It is no secret now that computer recycling and free and open source hardware go hand in hand. Linux is one reason we can keep older hardware alive and working well. Hardy Heron is a great edition to the every growing story of Ubuntu. We see a steady stream of people fed up with Vista and wanting more control over their hardware.
Above - The Ubuntu community grows! Having fun at Free Geek, learning and laughing.
Ubuntu Vancouver: Hardy Heron Release Party, Friday April 25, 7-10pm
Submitted by iamturnip on Tue, 2008-04-22 18:11.Apr 25 2008 - 19:00
Location(s)
Ubuntu Vancouver: Hardy Heron Release Party
*Two days to the release of Hardy Heron, and Ubuntu Vancouver is going
to celebrate!*
If you haven't reserved your place yet then please click on the link
below to R.S.V.P. See you there.
Sponsored by Ubuntu Vancouver, Free Geek
<http://freegeekvancouver.org/>, and VanLUG <http://vanlug.bc.ca/>.
*When:*
Friday, April 25, 2008 at 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
*Where:*
Free Geek
1820 Pandora Street
Vancouver
[directions] <http://freegeekvancouver.org/directions>
*Activities:*
* Networking with fellow Ubuntu enthusiasts.
* Demonstrations of Hardy Heron (installs, upgrades, new features).
* Refreshments (pizza, chips, fruit, veggies, pop, juice, water).
Please R.S.V.P. to Kim Kulak
<mailto:kim@kulak.ca?subject=RSVP%20Hardy%20Heron&body=Number%20of%20persons%20to%20attend%20=%20>
so that we may get a good estimate of the number of people who plan to
attend. Thank you.
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Ubuntu Vancouver Meeting, Thurs. April 10, 7-9pm @ Free Geek (1820 Pandora, back door)
Submitted by ifny on Thu, 2008-04-03 19:14.Apr 10 2008 - 19:00
Apr 10 2008 - 21:00
Location(s)
Ubuntu Vancouver Meeting
(Our first one, yoo hoo!)
*When*:
April 10, 2008 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
*Where*: Free Geek (back door) [directions]
*Agenda*:
1. Welcome to Ubuntu Vancouver
2. Introduction to Free Geek
3. Announce Hardy Heron Release Party
4. Discussion: What Ubuntu Vancouver can do for me.
5. Closing Remarks
Thank you all! Please feel free to forward this announcement to anyone
you feel would be interested in joining Ubuntu Vancouver and may not
have already seen it.
»
Windowsless Wednesday/Linux Clinic, Wed. Feb. 20th, 7-9:30pm @ 1820 Pandora (back door)
Submitted by ifny on Sun, 2008-02-03 06:58.Feb 20 2008 - 19:00
Feb 20 2008 - 21:30
Location(s)
Free Geek offers workshops to folks wanting to learn more about
computers and software. All skill levels are welcome, including
absolute beginners! We strive to provide a supportive, empowering
learning environment...ultimately, we're trying to 'geekify' the
masses, one Wednesday at a time!
This week's topic: Open (General Clinic): Join us for a night of skill-sharing, problem-solving and education.
All are welcome! Beginners ok & skilled volunteers welcome! Free or by donation. We address free & open source software/hardware issues only.
Please note: Entry via back door. Indoor bike parking. Unfortunately our new location is not wheelchair accessible yet. We appreciate your patience while we work to change this; call us with concerns: 604-879-4335.
Want to try free & open source software? Find out how to install Linux on your computer? Or have a more complex question...? These evenings are first come, first serve. Drop in & write your name/question on the whiteboard; someone will come find you and lend a hand.
Linux Clinics are where we assist folks who have Linux issues, hardware problems, or who are just plain curious. If you want to see what Linux is all about, or try the Ubuntu operating system, you're welcome to drop by!
If you are already running a distribution of Linux, you might consider bringing your box down, so we can work together to solve your difficulties.
**CAN YOU HELP? We're always in need of extra helpers with skills
and patience! Particular areas in demand: Linux & wireless, Ubuntu
installs, hardware issues. Feel free to drop by and let us know you're
here to help.
Free and open source software offers community-oriented, nutritious and delicious alternatives. Join us for Windowsless Wednesdays & learn how to set your computer free!
Check back here for updates, or join our announcement mailing list to stay posted about upcoming events!
Introduction to Ubuntu Linux! Thurs. Feb. 7th, 7-9pm @1820 Pandora (back door)
Submitted by ifny on Sun, 2008-02-03 06:32.Feb 7 2008 - 19:00
Feb 7 2008 - 21:00
Location(s)
Free Geek presents:
AN INTRODUCTION TO UBUNTU LINUX!
- DATE: Thursday, February 7th
- TIME: 7:00-9:00pm
- LOCATION: 1820 Pandora St. (back door) [MAP]
- COST: Free! (Donations welcome)
Looking for a free & friendly community-based alternative to Windows, Mac os x and Co.?
Or are you a new Ubuntu Linux user?
Curious about Ubuntu and Linux in general?
This Thursday, come for a free presentation/workshop on the basics of Ubuntu Linux! The following topics and more will be covered:
- Startup and shutdown
- A tour of the desktop
- Internet access (Web, email, instant messenger)
- Commonly used applications (Office, photos, video, music)
- Finding and installing the software you need
- How not to get lost in the file system
- How to find more help... ahhhh!
Bring your questions and your curiosity, as we explore Ubuntu together!
Description of desktop edition
By the way, you don't need to bring a computer; this will have a presentation/discussion format :)
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Why Free Software?
Free Geek is proud to use free and open source software.
There is much discussion on what such a term precisely means. But a good introductory definition is that, simply put, the source code -- or computer language that software is written in -- is not secret, but rather is open to anyone.
With the source code of the software open, users have the right and ability to study, change, and improve its design. Also, the software license that goes along with this type of software often tries to ensure that improvements and sharing remain open as well, so that the community can continue to benefit from collective efforts.
Free and open source software is often distributed and shared without cost (though there are exceptions). It's helpful to remember that the term free is used to emphasize the freedom of individuals and communities, rather than just simple price.
Here are our stated policies related to software:
"We use free and open source software wherever possible, and promote the Free Software philosophy in other ways, such as transparent collaboration with others. The free software philosophy, with its emphasis on mutual assistance and freedom, is important to what we are; all of our software, documentation, and policies are open to whoever wants to avoid reinventing the wheels we've made."
"Free Geek will not distribute non-free and open source software on removable media, over the Internet or installed on hard-drives."
Here are a few in-depth articles that help explain why Free Geek supports free and open source software:
The Ethics of Free Software by Bruce Byfield
Look at the numbers by David A. Wheeler
What is Ubuntu? - a free and open operating system based on GNU/Linux
Here are some additional thoughts on GNU/Linux and why we use it:
When you get into your automobile to go from point A to point B, you don't EXPECT to stall every so often when you go out. You EXPECT it to function, and, with maintenance and repairs, you expect it to last a very long time. Knowing that, how can one expect anything less from their computer operating system??? One should not HAVE to reboot to clear memory, do garbage collection on strangling pointers and kill frozen, or misguided processes. Yet we do every day. By purchasing operating systems and "living" with the consequences of substandard programming, without voicing concerns for such problems, we as citizens degrade the technology available to us.
Enter GNU/Linux... a free operating system with the flavouring of Unix, easily capable of running on the same computer you run your commercial software on and more reliably too.
Some of the above text was taken from the Fraser Valley Linux Users Group.
Free Geek @ the Massive Technology Show
Thanks to a generous donation from the folks at Massive Events, Free Geek was able to have a booth at this year's Massive Technology Show.
We spent the day talking to people about Free Geek's aims, programs and ethical approach to computer recycling. We displayed a volunteer-built "GEEK BOX" demo computer running Ubuntu. Visitors were welcome to try it, and experience a typical example of a computer available for adoption by volunteers. Much of the imagery at our booth related to computer dumping sites in China and Nigeria. Many people were surprised to learn what happens to computer waste, and interested in getting involved with our organisation or donating hardware.
We were given six days to make a professional looking booth. It took no time for everyone to pull together and make it happen. Big thanks go to: Sarah S. for crafting our dramatic Free Geek banner; B.A.N. for permission to use their striking photos of overseas e-waste processing; Greenscape Silk Design for providing the apple blossom trees and greenery; Ian & DomBlue for assisting with printing; NAPA Auto Parts for donating our display board.
Free Geekers Joe, Gerald, Simeon, Ifny and David took care of the booth, and Rusty helped encourage people to visit us. It was truly a community effort!
