Jay's Blog

Fun with Fluxbuntu

Hello,

Thanksgiving was great!  I hope everyone else's holiday went smooth and without incident.

Being a cheapskate, I tend to hang onto computers for longer than I probably should,  I also procure older technology if the price is right.  Many of these machines are barely suitable to run Windows XP, let alone Windows Vista.  My primary computing platform is the Mac, but I also keep my hands in the Linux/Windows realm too.  I love using Linux and consider the work-horse for my network computing tasks.  One machine I use to surf while at home is a Dell Optiplex GX240.  The computer has a Pentium 4 1.7GHz processor, 256MB of RAM, 20GB HDD, and an OEM license for Windows 2000 Professional.   I replaced the CD-ROM drive with a DVD/CD-RW drive, everything else is 'stock'.  Don't get me wrong, I love Windows 2000, but Microsoft does not develop security updates for that platform any more.  I cannot feel safe running it to surf the web.  No more Windows 2000 for me, or my clients.

I installed a variant of the Ubuntu operating system called 'Fluxbuntu', basically Ubuntu with fluxbox as the default desktop environment.  Fluxbuntu is designed for low-end equipment, and comes freely downloadable on a 300MB CD-ROM.  If you have never used fluxbox before you are in for a treat.  The desktop is clean and sports only four icons.  Installed software is minimal, consisting of Abiword for word processing, Claws for e-mail, Pidgin for chat and Kazehakase for web-browsing (No, I did not spell that wrong).

Check it out...

Happy Turkey

Hello,

Life with baby is great!  We have tonnes of fun, and learn new things every day.

Tech Lately...

The Leopard install I last wrote about did complete successfully.  It was just too much for my iBook to handle.  The clincher was the lack of support for work's 802.1X wireless network.  I need to use wireless with my laptop, and without that it is useless.  I was able to install Leopard onto a newer iMac 17" in my office.  That Mac has an Intel processor and a 'gig' of RAM.  The biggest issue I had was an I/O problem that precluded it from copying an 8.5GB file from one location to another.  That issue may not be completed due to Leopard, but has not sub-sided.  Until a fix for the 802.1X issue becomes available, I will be holding off on Leopard.

I upgraded my Ubuntu desktop/server from 7.04 'Feisty' to 7.10 'Gutsy'.  The computer is an old Dell GX400, with a 1st generation Pentium 4 (1.4GHz), 640MB of 'RAMBUS' and an 80GB hard drive.  I have an installation of 'MediaWiki' along with the usual 'AMP' programs.  My biggest reservation against upgrading was any adverse effects on the wiki and it's software.  I did some tests with MediaWiki on a clean install of Gutsy and then decided to upgrade.  The whole process took about three hours and went off without a hitch.  I do not use Compiz or Fusion with the desktop component, and did not mess with any of those settings.  All of my desktop, gnome, and bash preferences were retained post-upgrade.  The only thing that did not happen was my custom shortcut for Thunderbird, on my gnome toolbar was not migrated. Not a real show-stopper, like some of the Vista/Leopard migration horrors I have heard.

Apple replaced my iPhone within five days of me sending the original back.  I am telling anyone who considers getting an Apple product, buy the AppleCare, it will pay for itself the first time used.  My 5th gen iPod with Video has a horrendous battery memory issue.  I just went online and filled-out a service request form and they sent me a box two days later.  I put my iPod in the box, and sent it to California.  Five days later a brandy-new iPod came back in the mail, hooray!  I am a giant idiot.  I left my 2nd gen iPod Nano (8GB) in my pants pocket. One can probably figure out that it was washed throuoghly. It did not get into the dryer, so I will let it dry out for a few days and see what's happens.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!