Ubuntu 9.04 beta boots in 18.94 seconds on old hardware.

I have a system that is about 3 years old and the HDD was pulled from older system pata 120 gig. I'm still getting a real fast boot with this on ext4 partition. I can't wait to upgrade and get it under 10 seconds. Click here for original png

Ubuntu Jaunty has 26,723 packages in default repository.

I was on a message board and I noticed how many people still think there's no software for linux. So here is a screen shot of available packages in the current UBUNTU JAUNTY repository available for download with 2 clicks (mark and apply) with a short screencast http://php.nudepenguin.net/ubuntu904juanty/synaptic3.gif if you want to see more.

UBUNTU netbook remix

I installed Ubuntu netbook remix on my wife's laptop(DELL 1420n) today and she hates it! Ginger(my wife) hates it but I love it, she uses ubuntu 8.10 with no modifications and she loves it. I was wondering if this is a woman thing or just that users don't like too much change? Ginger said she likes to start her computer and see her wallpaper without all the icons right up front in her face. I think it's very functional and has a layout that saves me time(I don't care about wallpaper) what do you think? If you haven't seen the netbook remix click here for a short gif video.

Dream Linux 3.5 looks like OS X

Dream Linux is a distro worth taking a look at. Looks like OS X almost, who needs to pay for software anymore??? There are so many ways to use LINUX these days.
Download dreamlinux 3.5 here!

amd vs. INTEL vs. microsoft vs. LINUX

I've been a GNU/LINUX fan for over a decade now! I've had some struggles (switching back to windows) earlier in the decade and becoming loyal (LINUX only on my home computers) later (2007) in the decade.
I can say the same for AMD and INTEL because AMD has had a better price/performance ratio.
Now we enter 2009 with a change and I'm changing my story on INTEL and it's all because of moblin2 which Intel is has fostered. Intel has customized linux to it's atom cpu and it's not only booting in seconds it's great. AMD this is your wake up call! I also like the fact that INTC(Intel) is investing $100,000,000 in development that involves Linux.
Here are some articles for further reading:

http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS8942465787.html?kc=rss

http://boycottnovell.com/2009/01/30/microsoft-intel-anti-linux/

http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS9302797289.html

Compiz cube, sphere, cylinder in Linux Mint

Here are a few screenshots and links to videos on Linux Mint and compiz effects.

Menu > Preferences > Appearance >

Visual Effects > Custom > Preferences >

Desktop(tab) > Desktop Cube(pulldown)

below are links to compiz screencast videos in full screen:

http://cube.nudepenguin.net/visualeffects.gif


http://cube.nudepenguin.net/cube1.gif

http://cube.nudepenguin.net/sphere1.gif

Puppy Linux puplets | tigerpup1_6

Linux is just too easy for those who want to customise it. When it comes to puppy linux you can see over 50 variants of puppy. If you want your computer to look like a Mac use Tigerpup, vista use vestapup and on and on. Here's a quick video tour of TigerPup1_6.

flexxxpup 1.4

I'm starting to transition all the linux videos to different pages to clear the clutter from this page. Click the thumbnails or links to view. Here's a simple preview of flexxxpup. It is fast, small and it works on old hardware.

install opera

Using Linux Mint which is based on Ubuntu or any Debian based distro you can easily install almost anything. Example I will install Opera from the .deb file on their website. Here's the howto video.

64bit flash on Ubuntu

I downloaded 64bit flash and all is fine in Jaunty now!
Download > extract > open destination > show hidden files > goto .mozilla folder > create folder(right click) called plugins > drag libflashplayer.so to plugins folder logout and back in.
click here to see fullscreen 1024x768.


This gif image was recorded with byzanz which was installed via synaptic.

Ubuntu 9.04 (Jaunty Jackalope) alpha 1

I downloaded Jaunty Jackalope today. It is a start, but you will not notice any changes up front. The changes are mostly to get Jaunty started, only the re-merging of changes from Debian. You have 39 updates waiting for you based on the re-merging. One thing that is a big pain, the install has no xorg.conf file so the resolution was stuck at 800x600. I had to build one, the file was not there. Luckily that was easy because I had a copy of my old one on google docs. I will put it here for everyone to copy. Flash will not install properly from youtube, or from synaptic ubuntu-extras. Click here for the howto video.

Copy the following into a terminal to make the file the copy the rest into gedit and save. You might need to replace the monitor type(mine is cm1997pf) with your model# in that section.

sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

# xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "stylus"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "stylus"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "eraser"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "eraser"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "cursor"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "cursor"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Generic Video Card"
Driver "vesa"
BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "CM1997PF"
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "Generic Video Card"
Monitor "CM1997PF"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Modes "1456x1164" "1456x1092" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1272x954" "1256x942" "1152x864" "1024x768" "800x600" "776x582" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen "Default Screen"
InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
InputDevice "Configured Mouse"

# Uncomment if you have a wacom tablet
# InputDevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
# InputDevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
# InputDevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
EndSection

Add local temp next to your time on ubuntu 8.10

The first thing I like to do after installing Ubuntu is add my local temperature next to the time. This is easy and it only takes 6 clicks unless you want to change some options and that's only a couple more clicks. Here's the howto.

Ubuntu Install on seperate partition

To get a little more into Ubuntu and have it run faster with more options you should install it to a seperate partition instead of installing it on the windows partition. This is not hard at all and ubuntu takes care of most of it for you so you can use defaults by having ubuntu partition your hard drive for you. If you want to select your own partition or seperate HDD(Hard Disk Drive) you can use manual as shown in the 2nd video clip below. The first clip just shows you the boot screens after you reboot with the cd in computer. This clip is cut short you will see the bar for about 3 minutes before you're on desktop.

This clip is howto install and manual partition(do not select manual unless you know what you're doing)

Ubuntu 8.10 Fresh Install

Here's a couple video clips on howto install Ubuntu from windows. This is the easiest way to install Ubuntu GNU/LINUX on your computer, however it is not the best. Livecd new partition installs take just a little more effort so I'll show you the easy way first.

If you have windows up just put in the cd and after a few seconds you'll see the Ubuntu cd menu in the middle of your screen. If you want to see a demo in full screen click it.

Install inside Windows you will see the ubuntu setup window that gives you some options(you can just stick with the defaults). You do have to make up a password that you will login with when you boot into Ubuntu. Take note of the default username being linux(change if you wish) make sure to keep your login name and password you chose wrote down. Click install and wait 10-45(depending on your computer) minutes. Once done click finish and click reboot. Then arrow down to select ubuntu on the boot screen (shown below) then ubuntu will boot and take more time (10min-1hr) to configure itself.

This next tutorial will be a fresh install from the livecd, just a few more steps, but the speed gain and flexibility is worth it.