Tech

I got a laptop from work to use. A very pretty Sony Vaio VGN-FW45GJ, I decided to dual boot. I installed Windows7 and Ubuntu 11.10.

Installing Windows7 was a HUGE mistake, but it did allow me to discover what an absolute scam the Windows ecosystem is. And to make matters worse, I decided to write this post from my Windows7 boot while installing a load of Windows updates. In writing these short sentences, I have been interrupted by FOUR popups, one to reminde me to install IE9, one to inform me that some of the updates did not install and two from the two Driver Downloaders that I tried to get Windows working on this machine.

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I haven’t blogged in a while, mainly because work has been busy and I have been administering new servers for a project going live soon.

Those servers have led to this quick blog entry, if you enjoy a good rant, read on.

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The mobile device revolution is in full swing. From Smartphones and Superphones that changed the mobile device game to Tablets that are threatening to effectively put Netbooks out of business save for a few niche applications, our mobile world is changing. This is having an impact on less than mobile computing – your large Laptops and also your venerable Desktop Computer.

Are we moving toward the death of the computer and laptop as we know it today?
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I thought I’d regale you with a tale of three hours spent sorting out a client’s home network.

One of the techs was sick this week, so I inherited this callout. I have been to this client before, and his printing has been an issue before – more on that later on. continue reading…

I love operating systems. They are the most wonderful pieces of software that has ever been put together. What you use daily interfaces with your hardware. Every button press causes the OS to send a message to the hardware, and then to read the response from the hardware to provide you with the correct feedback.

Most Operating systems are very good these days. A modern OS can do most of the things its direct competitor does, some do certain things better than others, and some are very specified in their use.

Where the largest focus is today, is the Desktop Computer. Primary focus for the Desktop Computer should be ease of use, or so you’d hope. I take five Operating Systems and compare them using six tasks that most users will need to do at least once a week. Here is how they did.

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Today I spent some time visiting with some clients, and one in particular stands out. They are a small shop, eight computers in total (running Windows XP), and a server (Running Windows 2000). Spending an hour and a half with them I realized that 90% of their issues could be solved if I replaced their desktops with Ubuntu. And then I realized that Ubuntu and other Open Source applications would be a great solution for small business. Heres why.

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If you have not followed this series from day one start here: DAY ONE 

Right. I have reached a tipping point in this series.

Honestly my experience with Windows 7 has not been all that bad. Has it been good enough to lure me away from Linux and open source? I honestly don’t know at this point. There was a few times that I wanted to throw in the towel and go back to my Linux install. Right now I am willing to wait and see what Karmic Koala will offer before I switch.

Switch I will, but not because I feel that I NEED to, but because I can.

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If you have not followed this series from day one start here: DAY ONE 

8:20

Start my day with my usual tasks, yesterday putty started using my key for ssh, this morning it won’t. And Windows now takes two minutes before I can launch any programs…

I have decided that desktop widgets, plasmoids, gadgets (as windows refers to them) or even conky is useless as a means for getting information about your system, being notified of e-mails or keeping up to date with the latest rss feeds.

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A reader pointed me in the direction of Microsoft Security Essentials as an alternative to Bitdefender. Unfortunately it is not available in my country. So for now BD it is.

I am looking forward to today, I have just finished breakfast and am getting ready to go to work. Now that I have sorted out most of my needs for today, with the exception of finding a closed-source alternative to Putty, I am wondering how my day will go using the tools I have chosen to make a living.

Off to work…

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If (Windows Lockup due to Antivirus scan – more on that later) you have not followed this series from day one start here: DAY ONE

My First Virus Alert

And now on to the reason for the title to this post. Last night, just before starting to play scrabble with the family, I decided to install some kind of Adblocking software for IE.

Off I go to the microsoft ieaddons.com to get a download from MS.

ieaddons.com is a portal that allows you to get a stack of addons for Internet Explorer, but beware – tharr be trojans about!

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