Ubuntu - Lives in Montana!
The most recent convert to the Ubuntu operating system now lives in Kalispell, Montana :). The Zypper problem with OpenSUSE will happen no more, as the Debian derived Ubuntu machine uses the APT package management system to keep itself updated.
So far, so good. The owners seems content with the look and feel of Ubuntu.
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Cutting Edge lessons - Zypper, SUSE
One thing isomebody elses computer, you essentially own it for the life of the OS. Since I use Linux, and I'm confident in the operating system, this is not really a problem for me. Every once in a while though, you find something you wish had been done different.
The OpenSUSE install on a family members computer is just one of these issues. At the time of install, SUSE 11.0 was fresh off the presses. Having gone through problems with 10.3 and it's new package management system, I was happy to see how well it was working with 11.0. The OS was installed in the summer of 2008, and has been providing good service since then.
Suddenly, the owners could not log into the machine. Since my method of remote help was via RDP, neither could it. So, the CPU was shipped back to me via UPS.
Upon review, I found that Zypper had created a log file 25GB in size! Once the log was deleted, I was able to access the user account. The machine worked great. I'll need to take a hard look at Zypper on the latest OpenSUSE 11.3 before I recommend it to anyone.
The computer will be shipped back tomorrow, with a shiny version of Ubuntu 9.10.
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Kmail - Imap - Kubuntu
I've been looking for a solution to addressbook and calendar solutions on my laptop and desktop. One criteria, is that I can share data between them so that they are synchronized with each other. There are lots of possibilities available. I use Gmail, and it would work nicely, but I really do not want all of my personal data in one location. Perhaps, I'm just a little paranoid over security, but I'd like to keep MY data under MY control.
After lots of searching, I found something that I'm trying out. Using a pre-release version of Kubuntu 10.4, KDE 4.4, and the IMAP functionality provided at my secondary email address, I can keep contacts and calendar information on my IMAP server by using the Groupware functionality of Kontact and Kmail. So far, it seems to be working well. I'll test it further by setting up my desktop with the same software, and see how well it syncs up.
Kubuntu 10.04 - testing
Hello World!
Using the KDE blog client "Blogilo" and a xml-rpc plugin for Joomla, I am attempting a blog.
Windows In Time...
I like performing "side work" fixing computers. Sometimes, I get paid for it. Other times, I barter. It can be great fun, because each machine is different. Also, most of my clients really need the help. Let's face it, if they were guru's, they wouldn't be asking for help would they?
This past week, I found myself working on two different computers running the infamous Windows XP operating system. One machine was a Dell Desktop, the other, a Dell Notebook.
This in itself if not really spectacular news. I mean, this work is performed daily, by quite possibly tens of thousands os IT technicians around the world. It is precisely this thought that got me considering what I had just gone through:
Let's see - Clean up C:, remove un-used software, Defrag, install new antivirus software, search for spyware, upgrade flash, Get rid of Adobe Reader, install FoxIt.......you get the idea.
Why did it take so long, and why am I so drained? Well, becuase I'm used to working on an operating system that is so much more efficient to use. I usually have the benefits of a Package Manager to work with, where I can make changes to a great deal of software, and have it implemented with one click, or command. All of the "files in use", dependencies, or "do you really want to delete this file" problems would cease to exist. Such would have been the case, had I been using any version of Linux. Ubuntu, OpenSuse, Fedora, Mint, CentOS....any of them would have meant I could make these changes to the software and walked away to let the computer do it's work, unattended, no matter how fast, or slow. Not with these machines. Each and every item had to be painstakingly removed by hand.
Defrag? Oh, had I been running Linux, it would not have been necessary. The Linux Kernel is smart enough to perform this action on it's own, in the VERY rare even that it become fragmented.
Later, I took a phone call from a friend. He's retired, and likes using his computer. He was concerned because his anti virus software was expired, and "things" kept popping up on the screen saying he had to purchase a new version!
47 minutes later, he was done un-installing and re-installing the free version of AVG. Yes, 47 minutes! It's instances like this that make me realize just how un friendly the Windows OS really is. This guy will never get back these 47 minutes! He's older, and needs all of the time he has left doing stuff he likes.......not updating his anti-virus software!
What am I going to do? Well, I figure I can go make up some time using Ubuntu on my Laptop....gotta try and get back those 47 minutes!
Kubuntu 9.10 "Karmic Koala"
Kubuntu 9.10 brings a definate touch of class to the Linux destop experience. The long awaited, much hearalded, and often maligned KDE 4 series desktop, finally fills the desires of those waiting for it to mature.
The integration of all KDE components is complete, and allows for a seamless experience.
A shining light, is Digikam. The version in Kubuntu is fully ported to KDE4 now, and matches the ease of use of Picasa, from the folks at Google.
The CD burning utility K3b, is not also ported completely to the KDE4 desktop.
Way to go KDE & Kubuntu!
