you will need a server with PHP support. make a directory on it, then make a file called index.gif and put this in it:

<?php
// Icon Code

header('Content-Type: image/gif');

$num=rand(1,38) . ".gif";

readfile($num);


 ?>

Inside that directory put gif images numbered from 1 to 38.gif

So then ur url would be somethin like this:

and you would use that as your avatar image. Lots of other neat things u can do with this.

just curious…

i made the switch a few weeks ago and am loving it (except the wireless support is not the best…)

it looks like evilXwind does, but i’m not sure

I’m going to reformat my computer after this semester ends, and I was thinking about getting some upgrades (extra hdd/ram), and I was considering trying linux on the extra hdd or setting up a dual boot.  I want to keep windows, just cuz I do play games every now and then, but I would really like to give linux a try.  I hear there’s a small learning cruve, but its well worth it since it doesn’t blow up like windows.

what do you like/disklike about linux? i want details man, DETAILS!  😛

details… OK… here’s a mini-review i wrote about Ubuntu Linux:

=====================
the Ubuntu Experience

I have been using SuSE 9.2 for about a week, but am pestered by a little voice inside my head saying ?BLLOOOAAAATTTWWAARREE!!! BLLOOOAAAATTTWWAARREE!!!? Therefore, i started to look for alternative distros that, as a rule, would fit on 1 CD. First, i looked at Yoper. It seemed decent, but it had such a small user base that i nixed it. Next, i looked at SimplyMEPIS. It also looked like a possible, but the download was taking FOREVER. Finally, i looked upon a distro that I had never thought of as an installable- only as a liveCD. I downloaded Ubuntu Hoary RC in about 15 min (VERY fast), and then burned it to a CD. then, i went on the #ubuntu IRC channel and was informed that Hoary final was being released in about 20min from then. Obviously, i waited until it was released, and then hopped on the Torrent. That download took a few minutes longer, but was still very fast. The next day, i did the install.

First, i backed up the /home/ben/ folder of the SuSE install onto a Jumpdrive, and prepared to abandon my SuSE partition. I would have done a dual boot, but in my few weeks experience with Linux, dual boot brings trouble. If i decided to bring back SuSE, i could just replace the /home/ben/ folder with my backup and be back on my way.

Then came the actual install. It went very painlessly. I put in the CD, selected all the default options, and let it begin (Tip: Don’t be scared by the ?text based? install; I was and it turned out to be just as easy to use as SuSE’s graphical YaST. It is text based, but it is not command-line based). The install took about 15min, then called for a reboot. I took out the CD, rebooted, and entered a username and password into the (still text based) window. Then, i watched as a few hundred packages decompressed and installed themselves. After it was done, i was presented with a nice looking login screen with the Ubuntu-brown style to it. I logged in and was presented with a horrible looking GNOME 2.10 desktop. It looked horrible because the theme included with Ubuntu as default looks, in my opinion, like digital puke. Of course, my first order of operation was to head over to http://www.gnome-look.org and get a nice theme and background.

As for the configuration, i haven’t done any yet. I haven’t needed to. Everything was detected PERFECTLY!

I enabled the online apt repositories, and went into Synaptic to get the packages i wanted. Everything is there. With the exception of Skencil (hard to find anywhere), every package i wanted was there.

My next task is to enable the middle scroll button and forward/backward buttons, but i’m sure it will work soon enough.
<<UPDATE>>
Got the mouse to work with Emulate3Buttons in xorg.conf

<<UPDATE>>
I got an internal wireless card, and, although not impressed by the wifi manager (or lack thereof), the signal is great… it was detected by hotplug, too
Ubuntu is a great choice for those who are looking for a distro that is Newbie friendly, but leaves some room for growth. This one’s staying.

hrm, didn’t like suse huh? my friend has that on his laptop and doesn’t mind it. I have heard the same thing, about suse being bloatware, but I guess that’s what makes it appealing, cuz its a little more user friendly.

I’ll look into ubuntu tho, doesn’t hurt to try different flavors of linux.  thanks for the review :D

maybe by the end of this we can make a “n00bs guide to linux” cuz I woudl certainly feel more comfortable making the switch with something like that.

[quote author=“benplaut”]just curious…

i made the switch a few weeks ago and am loving it (except the wireless support is not the best…)

it looks like evilXwind does, but i’m not sure

I have used linux but i just keep coming back to Windows. Maybe if i get my laptop some RAM, ill try ur distro. Im used to certain things in Windows and certain applications that wont work under linux using WINE.

But I still love the penguin!

[Edit]

Ur review has convinced me to install Ubuntu on VMware for the heck of it.

^^ Good for you :lol:  (with the VMware)

I also used to use linux(Dual Boot Win2k & Redhat Linux). But I went back to Win for the same reasons as evilXhwnd.

I’ve got 2 HDD on my desktop, anyone know if I can dual boot it using one HDD for windows and partition the other for linux?

illwon: Yes, you can.

the only problems I’ve had with wireless is the damned ndiswrapper. But after i got the netgear card, everything worked fine.

I liked Suse when i was using it. Very user friendly. For those calling it bloatware… have you installed fedora core 3? WOW. Now THATS bloatware.

Right now I’m on yellowdog. Which rocks pretty hard for ppc.

Ubuntu is fantastic. However, if you want to get the most out of your distro, I must say gentoo is the way.

[quote author=“enforce1”]illwon: Yes, you can.

the only problems I’ve had with wireless is the damned ndiswrapper. But after i got the netgear card, everything worked fine.

I liked Suse when i was using it. Very user friendly. For those calling it bloatware… have you installed fedora core 3? WOW. Now THATS bloatware.

Right now I’m on yellowdog. Which rocks pretty hard for ppc.

Ubuntu is fantastic. However, if you want to get the most out of your distro, I must say gentoo is the way.

well… gentoo is the way if you have a fast processor and have to time to set it up and tweak it :roll: ...

Nah, man, if you compile it right, you can run gentoo on a real lame comp, too.

That, and the install is a crash course in *nix! Even scared the h3ll out of me the first time, and i’ve been using linux for a long time.

I succesfully installed Ubuntu on VMware and WOW! THis thing is great, it beats the other popular ones that ive tried, Red Hat, Mandrake, Suse, etc… It just looks and feels so cool.

good for you 👏 ...

are you having switch-avatar anxiety?  :think:

wah? lol

i noticed you have a new avatar every 5 min :lol:  (or is it a looping .GIF?)

i noticed you have a new avatar every 5 min :lol:  (or is it a looping .GIF?)

How do you make those types of .gifs?

That is awesome. PHP is an amzing lenguage. Can’t wait until I fully learn it. Thanks for telling me the code for that.

yes it is. n/p