..::B:R:A:D::..

Ubuntu 5.0.4:

Over the weekend I downloaded and installed Ubuntu 5.0.4 , which was just released last week. Overall, like the last release, it is fairly impressive. Ubuntu has started to gain quit a following.

One thing noticed was a new Ubuntu Hardware Database app. Basically what it does is collects information about your systems hardware and then walks you through a wizard that asks you if certain devices are working right. It then sends a report to Ubuntu’s hardware database. This is a terrific idea. I had a similar idea several years ago that I discussed with a few people. I had originally thought about it as a tool for MandrakeLinux…but that was also about the same time I had a falling out with Mandrake so the idea never got beyond talk. I am actually surprised other distributions haven’t come up with this idea before.

*LinuxReview Ubuntu 5.0.4 Gallery

Linspire LiveCD:

I also downloaded the Linspire Five-0 LiveCD over the weekend. I have been highly criticle of Linspire (then Lindows) in the past but it seems they are starting to turn it around and make a serious offering. I am still not entirely impressed with their root-as-default-user setup…but it does appear they are starting to make changes. They should really look at Ubuntu’s setup (somewhat similar to MacOS X’s I think?). It looks like I am going to have to update my Linspire Analysis series with their latest release if I ever get my hands on a *real* copy to install.

New Laptop!

I have been, slowly, looking for a new laptop. My old one, a compaq M700, is starting to show it’s age. The battery is dead, infact I can’t even turn on the laptop with the battery in the machine and the DVD drive no longer works. We currently have it setup in the living room for my wife to do research and listen to her itunes library.

While reading through the feeds I have setup in Bloglines I came across this article from Arstechnica about a $750 coupon on Dell Inspiron notebooks over $1499! I couldn’t belive my eyes, nearly half off! The deal started at 8:00am central time and was only available on the first 10,000 units sold. I later found out that all 10,000 units were sold in under an hour!

I ended up getting an Inspiron 700M, the thinnest and lightest Inspiron available. I has a 12.1″ wxga widescreen display, 1.8 Ghz Pentium M processor, 512 MB of RAM, 40 Gig harddrive, CDRW/DVD ROM, Intel Pro/Wireless 2200 internal wireless card, and I opted for the larger battery.

Now I just can’t wait for it to get here!!!

Comast Sucks!

No, I am not complaining about the fact that I can not watch baseball on TV or via MLB.TV again (thought that still gets under my skin!). I am talking about my Comcast Cable Modem. I have had a Comcast cable modem for about as long as I have lived here (approx 3 years) and haven’t had too many problems until recently. Over the last several weeks my service has been TERRIBLE! I have completely lost track of the number of disruptions in service I have had or how slow it has been on occasion.

It would be one thing if all I wanted to do was surf the net or send email but I do a lot of work, for work, from home and not being able to make a connection has really gotten on my nerves! As much as we are paying a month for this service one would think such problems would be minimal. We also have a Comcast connection at work too…which has also been having issues lately and it’s some 45-50 minutes away from where I live so I assume it’s more of a general comcast issues than a local loop issue.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 13th, 2005 at 4:45 pm and is filed under Linux, General. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site. Your comments will appear immediately, but I reserve the right to delete innapropriate comments.