Ubuntu64

I know, it’s been a long time since I’ve been around here making posts about the Ubuntu 64 bit version. I downloaded and installed their 7.10 version back in October and was not really impressed with the improvements that they had made.

I was forced to do a full install from scratch with that release and all the stuff that I had configured on my laptop was wiped out. I’ve been so busy with my work that actually makes me money and my MacBook that I strayed for quite some time.

I have a little project going which includes PHP and internet so I decided I would revive my Ubuntu64 laptop and use it as my development platform so my dodgy scripts don’t bother my Hosting Provider when they fly off the handle.

That itself says a lot about Ubuntu, that I would prefer to use it as a development platform over my Mac and of course Windows. With Ubuntu the process to get an Apache Server, PHP and even MySQL going is like a 15 minute job and I’m up and running.

Gedit has always been my favorite client for looking at code and it’s almost painful to use something else. Other programs on other platforms like TextWrangler and even DreamWeaver try and mimic what comes natural to Gedit but they just don’t quite cut the mustard if you know what I mean.

So whilst digging out my dust-balled Ubuntu laptop I thought that I’d cruise on over to the Ubuntu web site and see what’s new in that neighborhood.

Low and behold! Can you imagine how good these guys really are. Have they EVER missed a release date target? I’m thinking no way - how is it that they can always hit their target release date and the biggest bull in the whole OS market misses it almost every time when they are giving it away for free!

As I was saying earlier I was pretty disappointed in their last release but this next one looks like there are some spectacular improvements going on. But upon a little closer study I’m thinking that I’m giving the Ubuntu team a little more credit than they should be entitled to. If you read their Ubuntu 8.04 Release Page you’ll see that their claiming a lot of improvements that aren’t rightfully theirs.

• Xorg 7.3 is on the list of improvements but if I recall correctly X has been around a lot longer than Ubuntu and I’m pretty sure it’s not Ubuntu’s project.
• Linux Kernel 2.6.24 is also on the list… Really stretching themselves here when they use the words NEW FEATURE.
• Then we have Gnome 2.22 which… also isn’t Ubuntu.

I guess I should remember that this is a Packaged Linux Distribution project more than anything.


• PolicyKit is up next… Hey! Now that’s something Ubuntu. I know it sounds like Windows but really, I’m pretty sure that Canonical owns this guy.
• PulseAudio - I hope this fixes the audio problems that some Ubuntu users are blessed with.
• Firefox 3 Beta 4… Beta 4… BETA 4??? Are they going to release the product with a browser that’s in Beta phase? This really disappoints me when companies release their products in beta and leave them there… forever. YES! I’m talking about you GOOGLE!!!
• Transmission, Vinagre, Brasero - ahhh so Spanish sounding… You all know I’m living in Mexico right???

There’s a bunch of other little things in there too like a Firewall that’s… wtf? Command line configured???

So… As I was saying - I really enjoy Ubuntu and think that Ubuntu is a great development platform when I’m working with PHP, MySQL and an Apache HTTP Server.

This 8.04 Ubuntu release with the Ultra-Groovy High Tech World Clock Applet sounds like it’s going to really kick some butt!

The next update for Ubuntu is going to be released in less than a month and I’m pretty exited about it. I’m hoping that they will have rounded off some sharp edges.

So here’s my wishlist!

As you can see it is a really short list which is a compliment in itself because for a wishlist to be short you already have to have it all.

Ubuntu really is a great operating system and with the unmentionable operating system flop that happened recently I hope that a lot of people decide to try something new. At least download the LiveCD off the Ubuntu web site and try it!

If you’re thinking about changing just do your research and you’ll find that Linux is not ‘just for geeks’ anymore.

For the release that comes after this one (new release every 6 months) I wish for….

A less dumb-sounding codename - Maybe one that isn’t so easy to make fun of like this funny rip on thinginabag.com.

If you’re like me and you run a laptop with a wireless internet connection you may notice sometimes that when you take your laptop to a location that has no access point available that your laptop takes forever to boot.

You can help solve this little problem by turning off automatic updates or slowing down the frequency in which it checks for updates.

You can access the controls for this by navigating to System, Administration, Software Sources and then by clicking on the Updates tab.

You’ll find a drop down box that lets you set the frequency of how often your OS will check for updates.

I’ve decided to take a major stray off the beaten path again and install a great program called Automatix which is very similar to the Synaptic Package Manager.

My problem was that I just could not be without a few applications that I really liked and had an intimate relationship with while using the MS Windows operating system.

Using the Ubuntu 64bit edition sometimes puts us out when it comes to being fully supported and some applications are not just not easily installed. Although there are work-arounds and manual installations and configuring and a whole lot of customizations that may all become broken when a new upgrade comes out all the manual stuff is just too much trouble for me and I don’t want to spend that kind of time playing with my computer when I could be enjoying some quality time with my girlfriend (brownie points for me if she reads this). Continue Reading “Google Earth, Skype, Truecrypt on Ubuntu 64″

Just because you use Ubuntu in either the 32 or 64 bit flavor doesn’t mean that you get left out of the best of the Internet. Don’t forget that a lot of applications were developed on the same architecture that Ubuntu is built on before ever being a Windows or mainstream application.

In this case when I refer to the “best” of the Internet I mean file-sharing which of course includes Torrents and your standard P2P (Peer to Peer) networks.

Torrents are great for the popular items that come and go with time, grabbing a torrent for the latest movie trailer lets you download from more than one source at a time. If you were to go to one of the Big Media web sites and download a movie trailer you may find that the download rate is slow and that it can be improved by downloading a torrent instead. Continue Reading “Filesharing (P2P & Torrents) on Ubuntu”