Thumbs Up For Ubuntu

I just installed Ubuntu Linux 4.10 from a CDROM I'd burnt a few weeks ago. This was on an old Toshiba Protege laptop (6Gb disk, 192Mb memory and PII CPU). It could not have been easier.

It automatically found and was able to use my LinkSys 10/100 PCMCIA network card. It installed a working system from a single CDROM in under two hours. And it looks nice. It's running GNOME 2.8.1 and has Firefox for its default browser.

Thanks for making this a pleasant install experience. I see that 5.04 is now available. That'll give me a GNOME 2.10.1 based desktop. Looks like I need to do a free download of that, burn a new CDROM and upgrade.

PS: Love the cow screen saver.

[Technorati Tag: Linux]

( May 25 2005, 12:03:04 PM PDT ) [Listen] Permalink Comments [4]

One Year Anniversary

One year ago today, I started this blog on blogs.sun.com with my first post. This post will be my 446th. Over that one year period, I've refined my style (typically a small iconic image in the top left and text beside and below it), and I've now settled down to 9 different categories.

I've changed the look 2-3 times, and learnt some CSS on the way. I've tried several blog clients and haven't been satisfied with any of them, so I keep coming back to writing these posts "by hand". I've tried to make the posts interesting and have enjoyed researching some of them. The best part is getting comments that educate me even more.

Along the way, I've occasionally mentioned Sun related things that have impressed me. I can't continually take the gung-ho marketing approach - it's not my personality. I'll leave that to others like Jonathan, Mary and Jim.

I've really enjoyed reading other peoples blogs. Best part is finding a link to another interesting article two or three links in. I've no idea what the next year will bring, but if it's anything like this last year, it'll be fun.

[Technorati Tag: Blogging]

( May 25 2005, 06:52:39 AM PDT ) [Listen] Permalink

The Ever-Changing Book Buying Process

[Original java.net posting]. I'm an avid book reader. Anything from fiction through to technical books. The following applies to all types of books.

Ten to fifteen years ago or so, I'd happily go spend an evening browsing a local new or second-hand bookstore. Six to nine years ago, along came the online web bookstores like Amazon and I tried it out with a simple relatively small order, found that it was good and started using it more and more. My time at new bookstores reduced (although I still went to the local used bookstores).

Amazon and the larger bookstores like Barnes and Noble and Borders (which also have an online presence) have been one of the main reasons why smaller bookstores are no longer in business which I find depressing.

Over the last five years, my book buying style has changed again. I've recently been buying a lot of books from Edward R. Hamilton. This bookseller sends out a catalog every month or two that reads like the For Sale section of a local newspaper. These books are typically remaindered or shopworn books but there are the occasional newer books - all at reduced prices. A good thing is that no matter how many books you order, the shipping cost is only $3.50. There are a couple limitations to the way this bookseller works that are a distinct inconvenience, but I've learnt to live with them. You can't order online (although you can search an online catalog). You have to send in your order by snail mail with a cheque or money order (although you can generate an order online which you can then just print out and mail in). As the bookseller is on the other side of the U.S from where I live, this order process takes about two weeks.

(Update: thanks to one of the comments from the original post, I was shown that Edward R. Hamilton has a better online presence here).

Another problem is that a lot of these books are unknown to me. Are they any good? Should I buy them? To decide that, the reviews section at Amazon.com has helped me. If a potential book that I want to buy has a rating of 3-1/2 stars or more (out of 5) and has been reviewed by 5 or more reveiwers, then there is a good chance that I will buy it.

Another change is to use the online book search facilities provided by companies such as the Advanced Book Exchange. If there is a particular book that I'm searching for that is either out of print or I can't find it in the local second hand stores, then I'll try to locate a copy through ABE, typically picking the cheapest copy from several choices.

(Update: another change that has happened since the original post about a year ago, is I've avidly started getting used books via Amazon too).

I also enjoy going to the local library book sales. These occur typically every 3 months (although one local library does have a sale every month). Prices are very low and you can find some true bargains. Some library book sales have a special "bag sale" near the end, where you can fill a bag with anything for a fixed prices (usually $3-5). This is like a feeding frenzy at the zoo. Not for shy retiring types; at least not in the first fifteen minutes.

[Technorati Tag: books]

( May 25 2005, 06:40:07 AM PDT ) [Listen] Permalink Comments [2]