Linux Install Annouyance

I was installing Fedora 16 on a fairly new HP elitebook laptop.  This laptop had never been setup before.  A clean slate.  HP setup screens are not the typical BIOS setup that most manufacturers use.  It is a major pain to use IMHO.  It does allow for much control over hardware/firmware.  I think HP may call it simple but I think it mostly stinks.  Dealing with HP setup was an annoyance, but not the main issue.

As set up progressed, there is a screen where you can choose additional Fedora Repositories.  I want to select these.  First you config the network.  That was easy.  Next it connects and downloads the repository metadata.  This is where the problem happens.  The connection is made, stuff is downloaded, then a cryptic error message stating that a network error has occurred.   No way to debug!  After much googling, network sniffing, etc.  I finally found the problem.  The TIME WAS NOT SET ON THE SYSTEM CLOCK!  This made the signature checks on the repository fail!  Leading to the bad and misleading error message.  Remember the little annoyance with setup!   So before you begin ANY OS install, check your system time in the BIOS first.  This will save a lot of time and aggravation.

After all that, I got Fedora 16 installed, however the HP will not recognize the system as bootable! I fell back to Fedora 15, That installs and works just fine, but 16 not so much.  15 is good enough for my needs, so I did not run down the problems with Fedora 16.

I will also avoid HP products in the future.

Tioraidh!

Rolf! Accepted ! How (NOT) to Make Money on Apps

 Rolf! Big Dumb Fighters has been accepted!  This is just the base game.  Plans are to have in app purchases of additional scenarios, characters, weapons, etc.  This will be an experiment in how to generate revenue.  


First a little background.  I am an indie developer that can barley afford the tools to make apps, let alone any budget for marketing or advertising.  I knew going in that I could not compete with any well funded organization such as PopCap or EA.  I also had no visions of grandeur or unreasonable expectations.   I was looking at this as a hobby that would at least pay for itself and something to have fun doing.   So far, my assumptions have been correct.  I am having fun,  It sorta self sustaining and its fun to watch the results.  I also started this blog, which seems to be pretty much me talking to myself.  At least I have an interesting, and educated audience!

Results to Date:

• Free Version - larger Pay Version  FAIL  No one wants to buy something that they can get for free
• Niche Market     Sorta Works My best sellers fall into this category.  iScry, Witch Board, etc.  Also by best sellers I mean a couple a day from this category.  Hardly sustainment income.
• In App Ads       FAIL  Apple changed the rules and my revenue cratered!  Was doing pretty well at 2x sales, now not so much.

So Now I have a niche  app (dont tell me that these games are not a niche!)  that lends itself nicely to in app purchases.   I have updates in work to Rolf! that will have scenarios, characters, weapons, etc for sale inside the application.  Future posts will chronicle progress.