A professional musician switches from Mac to Ubuntu Linux?

I just read Linux Music Workflow: Switching from Mac OS X to Ubuntu with Kim Cascone, and I have to say I’m shocked, especially after reading Kim Cascone’s Wikipedia entry. Kim is a serious musician, not just some schmoe dinking around in his basement. I’ve been a full-time Ubuntu user for a little over four… Continue reading A professional musician switches from Mac to Ubuntu Linux?

Google Chrome OS isn’t Linux?

Add one more to the tech journalism hall of shame. From PC World‘s “Google’s Chrome OS May Fail Even as It Changes Computing Forever”: First, Google will compete with another operating system, Linux, that has tried fruitlessly to replace Windows on consumer PCs. The Linux camp will give it another go with a Linux variant… Continue reading Google Chrome OS isn’t Linux?

What’s the point of Ubuntu remixes?

I remember when Ubuntu Christian Edition first came on the scene (don’t look for it any more—the project has since been discontinued). There was an uproar in the Ubuntu Linux community. Why are people bringing religion into software? Free software should be bringing people together, not separating them. And, of course, the objection of Why… Continue reading What’s the point of Ubuntu remixes?

Vanilla Ubuntu on the HP Mini 1120nr

Anyone who read my last post knows I am not a fan at all of the HP Mobile Internet Experience. It was a huge disappointment that made me almost regret buying the HP Mini 1120nr. Good thing I didn’t give up on it, though, just because of the bad MIE interface. I installed vanilla Ubuntu… Continue reading Vanilla Ubuntu on the HP Mini 1120nr

My HP Mini Mobile Internet… Experience

My Linux netbook search The first (relatively) popular netbook was the Asus Eee PC 700, which came out in late 2007. I waited until mid-2008 to get my Asus Eee PC 701, because I thought the second-generation would be better and worth waiting for. Turns out I should have waited just another few months until… Continue reading My HP Mini Mobile Internet… Experience

Inspiron 15n: Dell finally properly prices its Ubuntu option

Every now and then, Linux users get outraged because Dell prices the base model of Ubuntu cheaper than the base model of Windows, but when you match the specs of the two computers, Windows ends up being cheaper. This happened for the Dell Mini 9s when they first came out, for example. What I’ve noticed… Continue reading Inspiron 15n: Dell finally properly prices its Ubuntu option

Software installation in Linux is difficult

Linux is for geeks only. Software installation in Linux is difficult. It is not for the faint-hearted. Let’s take, for example, installing a simple game of Hearts. In Linux, you’ll have to download source code and have to compile it from source, and then you’ll run into dependency hell and have to track down all… Continue reading Software installation in Linux is difficult

Know why software installation is difficult on Linux? It’s a secret. I can’t tell you.

I love this line from Preston Gralla’s latest bit of anti-Linux propaganda: But when you try to install new software [in Linux], or upgrade existing software, you’ll be in for trouble. I won’t get down and dirty with the details here, but believe me, it’s not pretty. Actually, I don’t believe you. Why should anyone?… Continue reading Know why software installation is difficult on Linux? It’s a secret. I can’t tell you.

Do we have a say in who uses Free software?

Recently, Clem (the lead developer on Linux Mint, which is based on Ubuntu) posted a blog entry asking that supporters of the Israeli government actions against Palestine refrain from using and donating to Linux Mint. He has since removed the entry from his blog. A couple of years ago, there was an uproar in the… Continue reading Do we have a say in who uses Free software?

What I’d love to see in Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala)

I have to say I’m very impressed with Ubuntu’s latest 9.04 release (Jaunty Jackalope). I’ve used every single release of Ubuntu since 5.04 (Hoary Hedgehog), and Jaunty is by far the best and most polished release. And a couple of the usability bugs I pointed out two years ago have since been fixed (restore from… Continue reading What I’d love to see in Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala)