Ubuntu and Beryl

As well as playing with Vista, I also had a go with Beryl on Ubuntu Linux … just to keep the reviews fair!

The good points:

1.  Wow – it’s fast. I’m testing it on an AMD 2000+ with 512MB RAM and an old ATI Radeon, but it’s still quick.
2. The effects are gorgeous and are more advanced than Vista’s.
3. It’s fun!

The bad points:

1. It wasn’t easy to install and configure. I followed around 12 steps in an article and got it going, but few novice users will do that. The next version of Ubuntu is supposed to address that issue.
2. It has a lot of options, very little help, and can be quite daunting.
3. Although the effects are fast and great, it does noticeably slow down your machine. For example, scrolling down a web page was awkward, although remember that this is a 5-year old PC.
4. I had a couple of process crashes, although nothing major and the PC remained usable.

Like Vista’s aero effects, it’s great for showing off but I don’t think I’d use it all day. The good thing with Linux is that you can simply switch it off.

My first play with Windows Vista

I’ve just had my first experience of the final version of Vista Home Premium on a new laptop. The good points:

1. It looks pretty.
2. Aero effects were faster and better than I’d imagined.

And now for the bad:

1. It was slow. Booting seemed especially cumbersome.
2. The Start menu was impossible to use. It just lists all the applications in one big folder. I’m sure there are plenty of options to configure that, but I didn’t find them quickly.
3. The user confirmation messages are irritating. I was trying to configure Norton and a prompt appeared at EVERY change I made.
4. What looks like the ‘off’ icon puts the machine into sleep mode.
5. It wouldn’t let me run the application I was trying to install.
6. I couldn’t find Windows Explorer or any decent equivalent. Maybe novices don’t need it, but I did!
7. It crashed and it wouldn’t let me shut down.

Now, I only spent half an hour with Vista, so I’m sure that I’ll reconsider my opinions at some point. But, this is the first time I’ve used a new version of Windows and actively wanted to return to the previous version.

I cannot keep up with Digg.com!

If you’re not familiar with digg, it’s a social bookmarking site that allows users to submit URLs, rate and discuss them with others.

I’m subscribed to digg’s ‘popular’ RSS feed. It’s very handy to see what’s happening on the web and what’s becoming popular or topical. But the feed is growing and must generate around 100 posts a day! I can’t keep up with it – and if you don’t log on for a day or two, then forget it!

What I need is a secretary who will remove the dross and just give me the half a dozen useful links that I really digg!

CubeCart shop sitemap for Google, Yahoo, sitemaps.org and others

I’m a big fan of CubeCart – it’s the only online shop / ecommerce system that allows complete control over your template with web standards and CSS.

Search engine optimisation is its only drawback. Fear not though, because I have developed a system that creates XML, HTML and plain text sitemaps that are suitable for every search engine including Google, Yahoo, and MSN.

Installation is just a matter of copying a few files to your server. From then on, every product, category, document and page is automatically indexed in a single page that can be submitted to the search engines.

Many people are succussfully using the system and have reported excellent results…

Buy the CubeCart sitemap mod today…

Is Linux finally ready for prime time?

I’ve been using Microsoft software for a long, long time. DOS 3.0 was my first exposure to the company’s products but, like most people of a certain age, I started using Windows from version 3.0.

I feel safe with Windows. It may have its failings, but I know its quirks and I know how to get around them. As anyone with rudimentary IT skills will know, a little knowledge is power … and it also means you become an unofficial free support line for your family and friends.

Supporting multiple Windows installations is a frustrating experience. Most people’s systems end up crawling to a halt after a few months of installing spyware-ridden applications, and it’s no fun trying to sort it out.

Now I’ve tinkered with various versions of Linux over the years, but never really saw it as a viable alternative. However, last year, I obtained a second-hand PC for my wife who is a complete novice. So, I thought I’d give Ubuntu a go since it would allow me to stop her installing anything dodgy.

I have to say that Ubuntu’s installation is quicker and easier than any version of Windows I’ve ever tried. Just boot up from the live CD, check your hardware works, and click the “install” icon on the desktop. Four questions and half an hour is all it needs to have a full working installation with all the applications that most people need (email client, Firefox, OpenOffice, and a few games).

Not only that, but it looks great, supports all the hardware, updates are easy, and it’s simple to use.

Like many, I’m in no rush to install Vista. I’ll get it eventually with a new PC, but there’s no compelling reason to upgrade. That’s a shame – I attended the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference in LA during 2003 and Longhorn was stunning. Unfortunately, Microsoft ripped so many features out.

But Linux, and Ubuntu especially, has made computing exciting again. That’s possibly because it’s different, but it suits novices and professionals alike. There will be issues in the corporate market place, but home users should give it a go. Get a live CD and try it.