Posted by Ben Smith on Tue, Apr 27, 2010 @ 09:22 AM
I've had some time now to evaluate Ubuntu NBR on my Acer Aspire One and I've come to a simple simple conclusion...
...I LOVE IT!!!
I've not had a single compatibility issue nor any reliability issues. I am able to function (very highly, might I add) with this OS on my netbook. I've done a lot of different tasks with no issues.
For dealing with my multi-computer life I have the built in support of Ubuntu One. I am able to store files locally and on the web through this built in file storage service. Whether I am at my Netbook or my PC I have access to all of the files that I'm working on.
For dealing with MS Office documents I have the latest version of OpenOffice. I am able to keep up with my Excel loving boss and my presentation loving peers using OpenOffice. I've done massive analyses and written entire decks using OpenOffice and no one has caught me yet! OpenOffice's compatibility with all of the regularly available MS products has saved me time and time again.
For dealing with images I have the GIMP. I previously adopted the GIMP years ago when I realized that my pirated copy of PS2 was WAY out of date. I've continued to use the GIMP and advise all of my cost concious friends to do the same. The fact that it's baked in to Ubuntu NBR makes it even more user friendly.
For dealing with web development I have gedit, which I used to shun for vi on linux machines. No more!!! vi has become a nightmare now that I have joined the ranks of the living! gedit is a great editor and has awesome, built-in color coding and sdk capabilities for so many languages that I haven't even gotten to experience them all.
To sum it all up, if I were you I'd run out and get Ubuntu NBR for my netbook...and hey, you don't even need to actually run anywhere. The best netbook OS can be found right now, even from your couch!
Posted by Ben Smith on Thu, Mar 04, 2010 @ 09:03 AM
Whenever I rebuild my netbook, I have to go through the arduous process of getting the software tools that make this little computer a little more fun to use. After a Windows install, I've got to run around the internet to find apps like Google Chrome, Firefox, OpenOffice, the GIMP, a lite twitter client, etc. A lot of times I hit up download.com (cnet's download center) to look for interesting apps to try. More often than not, I end of with something that doesn't meet my needs and the uninstall is more painful than finding the crapplication was. I say...NO MORE!!!
Ubuntu's native Ubuntu Software Center is an App Store for Linux
Realizing that learning to use a standard Linux package manager (like rpm or yum) was a barrier to entry for those new to Linux, the Ubuntu community set out to make software installation and removal easy by following the app store paradigm. With the Ubuntu Software Center, users can:
- Browse for applications by "Department"
- Search for applications by term
- "One-click" install applications
- "One-click" remove unwanted applications
Like other popular App Stores, when a user finds an app that they would like or is already installed, it's easy to see what to do!
Once an app is installed, there's no need to do anything to keep up to date with the latest version as the Ubuntu Software Center is integrated into the operating system and application updates will arrive auto-magically along with the regular system updates. I'm glad to see that the Ubuntu community is hard a work bringing Linux to the masses!
Posted by Ben Smith on Sun, Feb 28, 2010 @ 06:23 PM
Well, my days of the using the free Windows 7 Release Candidate are over...I hate getting messages telling me that my computers going to shut down if I don't give M$ some money.
Looking back on my time with Windows 7 on my Acer Aspire One, I must say that I was very pleased with Microsoft's offering this time around! I would suggest that anyone wanting to stay on Microsoft who already has a netbook running XP: Go for it! I had no problems with the RC for the 6 or so months that I used it. Windows 7 was so great that I actually upgraded my wife's Gateway laptop and my work laptop to the full version of 7. (It helps that my wife has a .edu address so she could purchase her Win7 license at a great price.)
Now on to Ubuntu Netbook Remix! It was a really easy install and almost everything works! Take a look:
I'll tell you more about it later. Any specific questions you want answered, just put them in the comments!
Posted by Ben Smith on Fri, Sep 26, 2008 @ 02:41 PM
Previously I described the mobile office tech gadgets that I've been carrying around in the gadget bag for the last few years. I've recently refreshed the bag as I've been transitioning from one platform to another over the past couple of months. Here's what's in the gadget bag now:
- Acer Aspire One
- Replaced Linpus Lite with Ubunty 8.04 (Hardy Heron)
- 1.6 GHz Intel Atom processor
- 8 GB SDD (enhanced with +4GB SD)
- T-Mobile Blackberry Pearl 8120
- 180 GB of external 2.5" USB drives
- Pharos BT GPS Receiver
Notice how much shorter the list is. I've gone from 7 to 4 in an effort to make room for newer mobile gadgets as they come out. Let's run down why each item is included in the bag now:
The Acer Aspire One is a fantastic little netbook that I picked up for $349. This is less than half the price of the Q1 and I was able to repurpose the RAM that I took out of the Q1 during an upgrade to enhance this little machine. It's zippy, easy to use, and Ubuntu runs fantastic on it. Battery life with the standard 3 cell battery is limited to about 2.25 hours and I am actively searching for the 6-cell extended battery so I can stop looking for open power outlets.
The T-Mobile Blackberry made it in since I wanted a cell phone that could work with WiFi and save on some cell minutes. The 8120 coupled with HotSpot calling makes for more calls, better service, and smaller bills. Additionally, a little Googling and hacking allows me to use the T-Mobile EDGE connection with the Aspire One with a USB tether. Not wireless like before, but for a Linux/T-Mo solution it works like a champ.
I still carry the same 180 GB of external drives (for now.) I'll be consolidating to a single 100 GB drive in the near future.
The Pharos BT GPS Receiver is the same receiver I've had, but I bought a used BT andapter for it on Amazon for cheap. MS Streets and Trips has been replace by Google Maps on the Blackberry (free, always updated, small, geeky.)
The current gadget bag doesn't have a 12-volt option, but since I'm traveling to Boston every week for a while and won't have a car, I figure this doesn't matter. The Aspire One gets charged with the small power brick that it came with and both the Blackberry and GPS get charged via USB from the Aspire One.