The GUI v. CLI Debate

I’ve been helping with online tech support for Ubuntu for over four years now, and every now and then the discussion comes up about whether it’s “better” to use terminal command instructions or to use point-and-click instructions when offering help. Inevitably, some die-hard CLI (command-line interface) fans come out and say that the terminal is… Continue reading The GUI v. CLI Debate

My response to Rory Cellan-Jones

Rory Cellan-Jones recently spent 24 hours with Ubuntu: I installed a few applications – including Skype, and a social networking application called Gwibber. But when I tried to install a free open-source audio editing program, Audacity, it appeared more complex to get hold of an Ubuntu version than the one I’ve used on a Mac.… Continue reading My response to Rory Cellan-Jones

Impressed with Karmic Koala beta

Ubuntu Linux gets released twice a year—once in the spring, once in the fall. The releases are numbered to indicate the month of release. Most spring releases (with the exception of Ubuntu 6.06, also known as Dapper) were released in April (5.04, 7.04, 8.04, 9.04), and all fall releases so far were released in October… Continue reading Impressed with Karmic Koala beta

Why I’m not a fan of Google’s cease-and-desist letter to Cyanogen

Those of you who follow my blog or are Ubuntu Forums members may know that I often come to the defense of Google. There is a lot of Google-bashing out there. It seems to now be the cool thing to do. I almost laughed out loud when there were blog posts framing the Apple rejection… Continue reading Why I’m not a fan of Google’s cease-and-desist letter to Cyanogen

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?

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

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.

Not that hopeful ARM will save Linux on netbooks

With the recent 96% Microsoft netbook fiasco (i.e., poor excuses for tech journalism, as usual), I see a lot of smug comments from the Linux community about the upcoming ARM-powered Linux netbooks. The argument goes something like this: Yeah, Windows may dominate the netbooks now, but Linux will come back. Windows doesn’t run on ARM… Continue reading Not that hopeful ARM will save Linux on netbooks