ubuntu explorations

Ubuntu tablet? bring it on...

2012-01-11T13:30:00.000-08:00

If you have been an enthusiastic user of Ubuntu for a while, ask yourself this question, "Would I like to see an Ubuntu tablet computer?"

Count me in! I want one, especially one that costs about half of the price of an iPad...

this could actually happen, in fact Ubuntu is saying that it will happen. For details, read the interview at infoworld's site: http://www.infoworld.com/d/open-source-software/canonical-ceo-ubuntu-tablet-os-will-battle-android-ios-183456

2011 using Ubuntu 11.10, and happy as can be

2011-12-22T14:28:00.000-08:00

As 2011 closes out, I will take two minutes to say how much I like the Unity interface. It's intuitive; I rarely have trouble finding what I need with the search tool.

Now this is the same tool that some long-time Linux users have belittled in weblog posts. From my point of view, it's wonderful. Between that and the on-line community pages, I've had no trouble keeping the 6 year old Acer laptop in action.

Don't misunderstand me - I don't use Ubuntu at work, because my company enforces all windows 7 all the time. When I come home after work, Ubuntu gives me all that I desire for digital life. Dang, I even use 'gimp', along with the free office software.

Long live ubuntu (and the other debian linux packages)!!

Audacity + Samson bus mike

2010-01-01T17:34:00.000-08:00

Well, podcasts are possible! here's an example.

Karmic Koala: audacity + the Samson C03U

2009-10-31T09:55:00.000-07:00

After upgrading to Karmic Koala, I had moment of questioning, would my new microphone work with Karmic??? The answer is Yes. Using the interface I was able to find and enable the c03u. Bingo! No pain, no strain. It's working! Now I can go back to work on the guitar piece "Route 58". So the good news is that you still use audacity and the Samson condenser mike C03U. Happy recording!

ubuntu and GIMP

2009-10-19T12:08:00.000-07:00

Here's a link to an example of utilizing GIMP for cropping and color correction.

http://sites.google.com/site/lorinscottruggierio/boy

I actually have a series of 11 paintings by Lorin Ruggierio, which are scheduled for high quality scanning. However, I wanted to start right away with a new website. So, I snapped the pictures on an overcast day, then edited and color corrected on the spot.

GIMP, another reason to use Ubuntu, and the Debian packages in general

thanks

Jay

Ubuntu & Audacity & Google sites

2009-01-23T01:22:00.000-08:00

Good Morning!

Recently, I used the Open Source software "Audacity", installed in Ubuntu, (go to sourceforge) to record some music with a nylon string guitar. Music files are big, so the next question in my mind was, "Where in the heck am I going to store this music?"

Well, I noticed the Google Sites feature - no code websites.

so here's the output

http://sites.google.com/site/jayfultonmusic/

The thing to catch on to here is that the total cost was $0.00, zero, nada. Is this sinking in yet? The OS was free of cost. The recording software was free of cost, and google too.

Google's engEDU presents a great talk by Mark Shuttleworth

2009-01-10T12:14:00.000-08:00

Care to watch the leader of Canonical Software, give a 54 minute presentation about Ubuntu?

I found this fascinating to see the software from the other end of the kaleidoscope. Usually, I'm trying to learn something new everyday, but this view is from another perspective entirely; listen to the thoughts of the leader of the Ubuntu linux.

Jay

Considering to use Ubuntu Linux?

2009-01-07T16:22:00.000-08:00

If you are casting around trying to decide if you can try linux, but you're not quite sure, allow me to suggest that you look at some training videos in youtube. There are a series of 5 minute videos that really show what it looks and feels like, along with some basic instruction,

Good luck!

Jay

Ubuntu Forums

2009-01-03T09:53:00.001-08:00

I recently wanted to see some files about training for Linux and downloaded a free rar file. That left me with issue of what do I do next?

http://ubuntuforums.org/

The Ubuntu Forums are an excellent resource for finding answers to your "how to" questions. Never hesitate look for ways to use freely available resources! I love this operating system, and the community developing around it. I suggest YOU get familiar with the ubuntu forums and see the knowledge advantage you gain by participating there.

Using rar and unrar seems to be really easy in linux, as long as you are comfortable opening a terminal window, with the clicking sequence Applications, Accessories, Terminal. It turns out that RAR is a ***proprietary*** file format for data compression and archiving, developed by Eugene Roshdal. Also check out videos like this Introduction to Terminal 1 on youtube -->http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtIe4nL6BmY

Collaboration and Certification about Ubuntu Linux

2009-01-01T13:12:00.000-08:00

If you're interested in Ubuntu for your personal computer or laptop, you can find the all the tools you need at http://www.ubuntu.com/ If you are new to Ubuntu and Linux, you might logically ask, "what's in it for me?" Well, linux, and especially Ubuntu Linux, offers a free operating system for your computer, along with software resources that cover most of the needs of an ordinary user. Free means that your cost-of-computer-ownership will be lower because you won't need to pay extra to Microsoft or Apple. Hear me out.

Over the last 3 years, I've installed Ubuntu, various versions, and used the operating system on 3 personal PCs and 2 personal laptops, with generally great success. The latest version, 8.10, named Intrepid Ibex, is running beautifully (dual boot) on my laptop that came with XP. I rarely have a reason to boot to windows anymore. And cost of software for my family has been $0.00 for the last two years, thanks to the amazingly useful menu of open source software available under linux generally, and Ubuntu specifically. If you have any questions about the personal use of ubuntu, feel free to write.

Are you interested in professional certification for Ubuntu? I am. Here is some news about training. Recently, Rich Piquette of Bridge Education (BE) has been in touch about Ubuntu Professional Certification. BE was selected as the first US based Authorized Ubuntu Training Partner, and will begin delivering Ubuntu classes in February 2009 in the following areas:

Portland, ME
Boston, MA
Hartford, CT
Philadelphia, PA
Baltimore, MD
Washington, DC (and Northern, VA)
Richmond, VA
Norfolk, VA
Denver, CO
Colorado Springs, CO
Albuquerque / Santa Fe, NM

Schedules are currently being developed and will be posted to the bridgeme.com website soon.

The Ubuntu Professional Certification is attained by successfully passing the following three (3) exams:

Linux Professional Institute - LPI-101
Linux Professional Institute - LPI-102
Ubuntu 199

Ubuntu is linux; that means great desktop software

2008-01-26T11:37:00.001-08:00

Have you ever paid for a graphics editing program? I have, and I learned to use the Adobe products first. Imagine my surprise and delight when I discovered the FREE program that came with Ubuntu (& lots of other distributions) called GIMP. To me it is every bit as usable as programs for which I paid lots of money.

Here's an example of a photo edited creatively with the Gimp. If you're from the Greater Boston Area, you may recognize the guitarist from his silhouette! It's the veteran of rock and folk music, Mark Cunningham. He put the rock in Rockland, Massachusetts.

Upgrading to Gutsy was easy

2007-09-30T09:11:00.000-07:00

Following up: a previous post described how Ubuntu rescued a dead machine, restoring it to active use. Yesterday, I followed the simple upgrade instructions to try out the beta version of Gutsy Gibbon.

Once again, the process was easy, painless, and - best of all - free. I noticed a press release from the ubuntu community. Using the information at the site below, I just followed the instructions.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/GutsyUpgrades

If the page moves, you can just search the web for it using terms like: ubuntu, upgrade, Gutsy.

In any case, if you have been considering ubuntu but not sure if you want to make the plunge into open source, I say "Do it". I think you'll be pleased. If you are nervous about converting a new machine, find an old one and start experimenting.

Good luck!

Jay

Looking for a quick, understandable overview of Ubuntu?

2007-09-17T08:53:00.000-07:00

Here's a post from Ashton Mills that does a very nice job of explaining the whole process. He created an organized review of the way it works, for the reader who wants to know the story of how-to, and what to expect. Click to launch it..

The Open Source Challenge by Ashton Mills at APC

Brought back to life

2007-09-04T16:20:00.000-07:00

After using Ubuntu Linux for nine months, in 2 home machines, I began to suspect that old PCs could be brought back to life for nothing - or close to no expense. That just happened! I recommend that you try it too.

I asked my friends and acquaintances to give me their old PCs, alive or dead, so I could install Ubuntu Linux to rescue such computers. Mostly. my friends said, "What? What is Ubuntu?" At that point I'd try to explain the free operating system with pre-installed open source software. Usually, eyes would roll and expressions would blank. However, my niece's fiancee said, "Sure, take that one because I'm going to throw it out when we move. It's dead". I looked it over and saw the windows 2000 sticker. He & my niece had no interest in an old windows PC, because they had changed to use pearly new Macs for everything they do. I took it.

Once I got it home, I connected the usual peripherals: Mouse, Monitor and Keyboard. After pressing the start button and watching the boot process, I determined that the old 20 gigabyte hard drive had failed. After a quick trip to Microcenter in Cambridge, Massachusetts, I returned with a new 80 gigabyte IDE hard drive. Fifty-two dollars invested, including tax. I love that store. Microcenter is my favorite technology store.

I took me 20 minutes to open the case, vacuum and wipe up the dust, and finally install the hard drive. It wasn't difficult; replace the drive and snap fit the ribbon connections. Installing Ubuntu from a CD is very easy, comparatively convenient considering the software monsters of the past If you ever installed a windows OS from floppies or CDs, ( remember the 16 floppies of IBM's OS2?), you'll positively enjoy ease of Ubuntu. It takes less than 15 minutes to the first desktop appearance and another 30 minutes or so for the rest of the process, in my case. I did not reserve any partitions, and simply allowed Ubuntu to take the whole disk. Approximately 45 minutes later - this box is up and running, with a full set of office software, graphic programs, and accessories. Running? YES! This box has only 256 ram and it seems to run better than the other, newer PC I had been using.

I say "this box" because I'm using it now to write to you. Another bonus was that Ubuntu Linux was able to use the graphics card to properly handle this modern 22" monitor. My newer Dell Dimension couldn't do that. As a result, it's unplugged now; this resurrected machine is better than the one I had been using.

The desktop experience of Ubuntu is very good; I don't want to say "windows-like", because you might get the wrong impression of Ubuntu. However, some visual elements are similar, task bars, big useful workspace, normal accessories like text editors, dictionaries, calculators and terminals. If you don't like issuing commands by typing in the terminal window, you won't need to do that., because there's such a nice GUI for ordinary tasks. A casual computer user can easily adapt to the open source software. My favorite free software, which arrived via the Applications Add/Remove is GIMP. I've paid for Photoshop Elements in the past but never again! GIMP is similar enough to Photoshop, that it serves me totally. Mac advocates will think that Ubuntu is somewhat like OS X, but lacking the flash and the launcher, and the familiar branded software. If your primary use of the computer is browsing the web and corresponding by e-mail, then the free Ubuntu operating system will save you money. Consider that for 52.00, I've got a new, used computer that works very well.

I'm imagining that I'll be doing this for friends and neighbors a lot in the future. We'll be saving money and exploring the world of open source software.

Thanks for reading this. Your thoughtful comments are welcome here

Jay Fulton