Moving Out

I have decided to move my blog and start posting at http://regentlynx.livejournal.com/

LiveJournal.com seems to have more options than blogger. Hope to see you there!

Linux and Me

Well, as is obvious from lack of any Blogger entries over the last year or so, I pretty much lost interest in not only Blogging but interacting with my PC at all during the time I was facing some life challenges. Now that I am feeling well again my interest in things has definitely returned, including my interest in personal computing.
When I began regularly using my PC again I became interested in Linux. I briefly tried Redhat Linux about 4-5 yrs ago but quickly lost interest because it just didn't seem user friendly. A couple of weeks ago I stumbled across the article, Ubuntu Linux: The Easy Installation Guide. For some reason it piqued my curiosity, especially the part about Ubuntu now allowing users to install Ubuntu Linux within the Windows OS, this is a great way for anyone who is curious to explore Linux because this allows the Wubi installer to put Ubuntu into your existing Windows partition just as if it were a Windows application (albeit one that required 5GB of disk space). After installation, Ubuntu will appear as a menu option in your Windows boot menu (which you may now be seeing for the first time during boot-up). This is a nearly hands-free initial installation if you simply accept the default settings. And if you don't like the results, you can use the Wubi installer to remove all traces of it in a few clicks!. A very elegant, risk free, way of exploring the world of Linux!!

Well, I couldn't resist and gave it a go, and man was I immediately impressed. Linux has come a long way since the last time I explored it! The availability of very good software was one thing that surprised me the most. It seems like the variety of available software has really come a long way since I looked into Linux 4-5 yrs ago. Installing new software could not be easier in Ubuntu, you simply go to the Add/Remove entry in the Applications menu and hundreds of available choices are waiting for you. You just simply place a check mark in the software you're interested in and Ubuntu downloads and installs it for you and unbelievably 99% of the time a reboot of the PC is not even necessary or asked for, I don't miss Windows install process at all!!! Of course, the stability and immunity of Linux to most computer Viruses is a major benefit too. Needless to say I became hooked very quickly and decided within a week to go ahead and do a full Ubuntu install to it's own dedicated drive partition, I kept a small partition dedicated to Windows so that I can dual boot and have Windows XP available for those few times I wish to use it. Truthfully though, I have only booted into Windows a couple of times in the last two weeks.

I mentioned the hundreds of available software choices Ubuntu presents to the user. I literally have not found anything I could do in Windows which Ubuntu does not allow me to do as well, and sometimes Ubuntu does it much better. In fact, I just posted this Blogger entry using Drivel just one example of some nice free software readily available from the Add/Remove Menu in Ubuntu.Drivel can work with Blogger, LiveJournal, MovableType, WordPress, and other popular journaling tools. Despite an elegant yet simple interface, Drivel packs in some very useful features, such as an integrated spellchecker, HTML syntax highlighting, and the ability to edit and update past entries.

If you haven't ever considered Linux I strongly encourage you to give it a try, especially since it's now so easy to explore using the Wubi installer to install it directly into Windows as explained here. As explained, this is the best option for anyone trying Ubuntu for the first time, as it allows you to remove the entire Ubuntu installation from within the Windows uninstall tool if you don't like it. If you're not yet convinced that Ubuntu is for you, this method will give you the most peace of mind.

Here are some useful Links to help you along in your exploration of Linux;

Ubuntu Linux-You can try the live CD first, to make sure that all of your hardware is detected properly before you commit to a full install. Overall, I found Ubuntu to be fast and stable.

The Ultimate Linux Newbie Guide-Since 2001, The Ultimate Linux Newbie Guide has been helping computer users who are both beginner and expert switch to the Linux Operating System.

An Introductory Guide to Linux Basics

Using Linux Every Day

Japanese Tea Garden

My Lady and I spent a fantastic weekend in San Francisco where, among other things, we visited the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park. You can see more images from our trip to the Garden here.

Welcome To My New Blog

This Blog was created due to the fact that I am no longer as focused on the subject material of my original Blog. Thus, I needed a space were I could be more eclectic in my subject material, in essence, a wider lens onto the world.