Love Cumulus but

[llewellyna]

With the flood on the market of 'Fine Ofset' ($100) stations which really work quit well , and Cumulus (which I was happy to donate to) a slight disappointed is also there.
Why? Well the total fixture on #$# Windows --- I wish someone would spend the time porting this to almost anything else.
Why? Well lets face it windows and the web is always a problematical situation.(one has to carry on with virus protection +++).
Linux -- no such problem -- or Android (heaps of small cheap computers available) or even (God forbid) windows CE also cheap computers.
It is such a shame that I have no choice but to tie up my EEEPC (running Windows) just to put the weather station on the net.
And Just to add insult to injury Cumulus realtime Insists on using X&%# SILVERLIGHT which locks browsing to Windows machines.

Cumulus :- Fabulous program -- shame about decent operating system choices.

[steve]

You perhaps are forgetting a few things: I write Cumulus for me, but I happily share it with others. I run (mainly) Windows. Windows still has the vast majority of desktop market share (things are different with servers). I would have either to have started off writing it in a cross-platform way (which would have been stupid, as I was going to be the only user), or I would now have to try somehow to port it (and at this point I'm not making the source available for anyone else to try) and I don't have the time. I'm not a commercial operation and I'm doing this in my spare time.

To "add insult to injury" I wanted to learn about Silverlight, and I had already paid for the Telerik components (Cumulus 2 uses them). There's no reason why someone shouldn't write something similar using some other technology. But Silverlight is actually cross-platform; runtimes are available for Linux and Mac OS X, and they are being developed with the assistance of Microsoft.

On a more optimistic note, it is just possible that the 'engine' part of Cumulus 2 might (eventually) run on Linux and Mac OS X using Mono.

[tjaliwalpa]

Valid points Steve. It's all fine with me and I assume many others.

Your dedicaion and generosity are much appreciated.

Bob

[Gina]

I'm happy to back up Steve on all he says Cumulus is a great program and he spends a lot of time helping people out. And not just with Cumulus either. This is a great and very useful forum even if, like me, you don't run Cumulus. I should say I did run Cumulus for several months and found it excellent for the Windows platform. Although I'm a Linux user, I recognise the place Windows plays in the world and also recognise that many people prefer it even after trying Linux. It's a personal decision. There is more support for Windows generally and most manufacturers of hardware only provide Windows drivers and support software. Linux is coming on quite nicely though, I believe, particularly in the form of Ubuntu and it's derivatives such as Mint. I don't knock Windows, it has it's place - it's just that the Linux way fits my mindset better than Windows.

As for Linux and other platforms for weather station software, there are some but mainly in development. eg. PYWWS and my derivative G-Weather. The latter may one day be made public but, like Steve, it's primarily for my own amusement and use. It's a hobby with no commercial side whatsoever. Unfortunately, I'm currently in a situation where my development has had to go on hold due to personal commitments. Even my websites have had to go without updates lately. I can, however, afford the time to go on message boards such as this and share my experiences with others. I do make some "ME" time

[llewellyna]

Steve,
I am sorry I did not mean to upset you. I guess I could have stated it with quite a lot softer touch.
In no way am I criticizing the wonderful job you have done, I do have some idea of the thousands of hours you would have put into this great product and I am very appreciative of the fact the you have made it available to others.
My point was more to get some linux or Android guru to perhaps be inspired enough to write something even half as good for these other operating systems. Yes there is PYWWS and when I can figure out how to use it I will give it a go -- but I am fairly sure it won't have half the features of your Cumulus (all the great ftp and web page creation stuff).
By the way I am not totally a Windows hater -- I just cannot get my head around how a system(Windows) can require you to keep paying for protection that they appear to be unable to incorporate in the first place. So my attitude is Windows is great -- just keep it off the web.

Again fabulous product -- and you you have done more that your fair share.

[steve]

I am sorry I did not mean to upset you. I guess I could have stated it with quite a lot softer touch.

Who said you upset me? I didn't really understand what point you were making, it appeared to be just another anti-Microsoft rant, and I answered as best as I could as far as Cumulus is concerned.

I understand that Weather Display runs on Linux and Mac OS, and Weather Display Live uses Flash, so non-MS solutions do exist already.

[nking]

By the way I am not totally a Windows hater -- I just cannot get my head around how a system(Windows) can require you to keep paying for protection that they appear to be unable to incorporate in the first place. So my attitude is Windows is great -- just keep it off the web.

The reason you need protection with windows is its popularity, not necessarily because it is inherently less secure. Re paying for security, MS do provide quite a good free package called Microsoft Security Essentials, in addition, Avast free and AVG free are also quite good. Check them out.

[Synewave]

Steve has written this software with Windows in mind. If he had wrote just for the Linux (etc.) market, he would have never had this much interest.

As Steve has said, it's a hobby, and kindly shares his developments with anyone who's interested (loads of people).

I really don't understand why anyone can post anything so negative on this wonderful forum? Steve, maybe change the software title to Cumulus for Windows?

Steve, just carry on with Cumulus as you want to, whether it be just for Windows or further. We're all happy.

[Charlie]

By the way I am not totally a Windows hater -- I just cannot get my head around how a system(Windows) can require you to keep paying for protection that they appear to be unable to incorporate in the first place. So my attitude is Windows is great -- just keep it off the web.

The reason you need protection with windows is its popularity, not necessarily because it is inherently less secure. Re paying for security, MS do provide quite a good free package called Microsoft Security Essentials, in addition, Avast free and AVG free are also quite good. Check them out.

Yes, the fallacy about virus issues is spread mainly by members of a certain computing cult and occasionally convinces the uneducated. Viruses target Windows because the vast majority of users are there, not because it's easy.
When was the last time you heard about a terrorist attack on the south pole?