Ubuntu - Exciting Stuff!

I have been using Ubuntu for the past three days and it is working like a dream. It definitely doesn't feel like Linux of the past where one had to open a terminal to access a CD. Add/Remove programs, Update manager etc, make Ubuntu feel like Windows. I loved the numerous apps available under 'Add/Remove'. I selected many apps, most of them under Education and Games. My personal favorites are -
1. KBruch: An educational game that works in either freestyle or learning modes and tests your grip on fractions, percentages etc.
2. Kanagram: KDE Anagrams
3. KGeography: Lets you play with world geography
4. Four-in-a-row: Name says it all.
5. FontForge: Typeface editor program.

It is kind of an aberration from what we regularly do and hence the excitement to try them. I had a weird, although not unsual, problem when I first started off with Ubuntu. Ubuntu, like all other versions in linux, prompts for Username and Password before we actually get to use the session. We can choose to bypass this and enable Auto Login by going to:
System->Administration->Login Window.
Under Security Tab, select 'Enable Automatic Login'

All is fine till here, but when we restart, there is an annoying message waiting for you.
"Enter password for default keyring to unlock"

A blunt and inefficient way would be to type in your wireless network key in each time you login. This defeats the whole purpose of having an Automatic login. A second (also inefficient) way would be to have a 'blank' wireless password which would get rid of this prompt and in the process will deprive you of security a wireless network password gives you. I'd bet you'd find some complex workarounds if you google this. But a straightforward way to solve this is:

1. Right click on the 'Wireless Network Connection' icon/applet in the system tray (which is on the top right of your screen).
2. Click 'Edit Connections'
3. In the 'Network Connections' window that pops up, go to 'Wireless' tab.
4. Select the wireless network, and hit on 'Edit' which is on the right.
5. On the 'Edit Network' window that pops up, 'Connect Automatically' box will be checked, as you already chose to enable Auto-Login. If this box is not selected, select it.
6. In the same dialog box, at the bottom left corner, there is a check box stating 'Available to all users'. Check that box.

That is it. You will not get this annoying keyring message again. The only catch in this method is, anyone who logs on the machine can access your wireless internet connection. So, you are totally risk free if you are the only user.

Anyways, am looking forward to an exciting ride on Ubuntu.

iUbuntu - My experiments with Ubuntu

In what could be a major first step in me drifting away from Windows, I got Ubuntu up and running on my secondary laptop. About two years ago, I started using Novell's Suse linux but had to discontinue it due to Dell/Suse compatibility issues and the fact that most of the software I needed at school was pro-windows.

Honestly, installing Suse on Dell was a pain. The drivers weren't readily available and I had to get my hands dirty. And I remember trying out Ubuntu. It gave up on me - my screen went blank and it was tough to figure out what drivers were missing and how to fix it. That was 2-3 years back. I somehow hate the concept of dual boot, don't know why. Though I had it occasionally in the past, I was not keen on having it this time round. So, had Ubuntu installed on an independent machine. I got a used Toshiba U205-S5034 from craigslist. It was a steal for $200. It had Windows XP Media Center with Office 2007 installed on it and the first thing I did was download Ubuntu 9.04 Desktop. Burning the downloaded image couldn't be easier. Got the instructions from Ubuntu's website. And then, did a clean install. The installation process took 15 minutes. That is it. Total time to get Ubuntu up and running was 85 min (download) + 10 min (burning) + 15 min (installing).

I also liked the option of first running Ubuntu from the CD to check for compatibility issues and then proceed with the installation. One thing that I instantly noticed with this version of linux compared to my previous experiences is that the operating system itself has become very user friendly. It gives users the flexibility to either run commands/apps from kernel or through menus. I just started playing with it. Connecting to the internet was as easy as it can be. Just the WEP key and I am hooked. I remember having to struggle to connect to the internet in Suse. But that was three years ago and lot should have definitely changed since then.

I am eager to see what Ubuntu has in store for me. Next steps would be to have Ubuntu on my other laptops too. As of now, I don't see a reason why I shouldn't. I just tried out the default messenger - Pidgin. Need to find a workaround for iTunes. At the outset, the major pros I see using Linux over Windows are
- a different look and feel from the age-old MS Windows
- no annoying 'Live Updates', esp for someone migrating from Windows Vista
- more secure
- lot to navigate and learn
- comes with all basic features, connectivity and open office
Only cons I can think of are the compatibility issues of some apps/software and devices, most predominantly the iPhone. I should be fine though.

Go Ubuntu!

Chrome OS - Google's answer to Microsoft Windows?

Yesterday, Google has come out with two new announcements on its blog. Firstly, Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Google Talk along with Google Apps are out of beta. Though it may not mean much for the company itself, it is definitely an eye-turner for corporates who may, to date, have restrictions in purchasing a beta product. As Google made it very clear, there would be no dearth in innovation in these services though they remove the beta tag. But, the second announcement, shook the tech world. Chrome OS. How you look at the word 'shook' depends on whether you like Google or not. An OS from Google's stable was due for quite some time but the timing of this announcement is slightly suspect.

I am a pro-Google guy with keen interest in all of their apps. But I find it so unlike-Google that they made an announcement about a product that they plan to release in late 2010. Stealth has always been Google's strength. You never know what to expect. But, somehow I feel Google kind of reacted to Microsoft's BING. In case you did not know what BING stands for, it is But It's Not Google. There have been some media reports and news articles how BING actually started eating into Google's search territory. It could be true. It could be false. I personally feel that the initial reports describing BING's share are biased. Users definitely have an urge to try out BING and that could have impacted the search shares. We will know the real picture in some time.

Coming back to the timing in which the announcement is made, it may be because Google wanted the spotlight back. It is more like an announcement to Microsoft. If Microsoft can challenge its territory, so can Google. That is the message. For now, we can ignore the fact that Chrome OS will initially be targeted at netbooks. The next logical step would be personal computers and enterprises. Odds are in favor of Google, given its brand image and innovative products. But, Microsoft is not underprepared. It already has plans for Gazelle - a web browser as a multi principal OS. Check this link. That Chrome OS announcement followed Microsoft Gazelle doesn't auger very well for Google.

I am pretty sure Chrome OS is not a vaporware. But how Google tackles Microsoft in the coming days will be pretty interesting. To date, Google doesn't have a quality rival in its flagship product - search. Microsoft could break that. Could.

Roger Federer - An Alpine Craftsman.

Roger has done it. He eclipsed Pete Sampras' 14 grand slams record in style. And one statement which was sort of a question till today became a grand statement - Roger Federer is indeed the greatest tennis player ever. I have been following tennis for quite sometime now and have watched almost all of Pete and Andre. I watched matches from the past - Bjorn Borg, McEnroe, Edberg and others. Two characteristics that set Federer apart are the ease in which he plays either from baseline or serve-and-volley and his ability to improvise at big points. His all-court expertise is what has transformed him into such a threat. And all these coupled with excellent agility and control.

It is difficult to compare players across different eras but I think it is definitely alright to assess their games in relative context. And it would be blasphemous not to mention Rafael Nadal when you speak of Federer. Nadal made Federer clamber in his quest for tennis immortality. Twice Nadal stopped Federer from reaching the golden slam (four grand slams in a year). And stopped is an understatement. Nadal was ruthless against Federer at Roland Garros in 2007, 08 against a motivated Federer. If Federer has retained his World Number One after today's one, a lot has to be attributed to Nadal's injury too. Nothing to undermine Federer's greatness. Again, being fully fit and agile is part of being a tennis pro and hence Federer has to be congratulated. Kudos to him.

It is nice to see Federer to see at the top of the pack. But I'd rather see Federer compete and work to win rather than have walk-overs. I'd rather see him battle out with Nadal or others from the crowd than see him decimate them. And that is why we need Nadal back. My gut says Nadal will come back stronger than before. He plays tennis of the highest intensity and quality and is more a slogger as opposed to Federer who is an architect. Nevertheless, a slogger versus an architect is more enthralling to watch than an architect versus an architect or a slogger versus a slogger. My thoughts go out to Andy Roddick who has played the best match in his career. 14-16 in the final set is too close. Andy was just points away from a well deserved Wimbeldon crown. He was awesome and never gave up. The fact that he dropped his serve only in the last set indicates fatigue.

Anyways, today is Federer's day. Other have to wait.