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Ubuntu + Cinnamon - A good idea? No. A great one.

I've got something super-cool for you: a short tutorial and awesome screenshot tour showing how to install Cinnamon desktop environment in Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin as a replacement for Unity, demonstrating its great usability and aesthetics, with some comparison to alternative solutions and workarounds like Ubuntu Classic, MATE, and Unity Launcher shifted to the bottom of the screen. Have fun.

ArmA II - The nostalgia pack

Here's a review of the Cold War Crisis Classics mission pack for ArmA II, which includes 32 singleplayer and multiplayer missions from the original Operation Flashpoint game. Enjoy!

Ubuntu 12.04 + Nvidia - Heavy CPU usage

I've written a short tutorial explaining how to work around the problem of high CPU usage and slow system responsiveness in Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin with Nvidia graphics card, including diagnosing the problem correctly, post-release driver updates and Sync to VBlank option. You should read this.

GIMP 2.8 - Bloody amazing

I'm the fanboy, baba ba da bo! Here's a lovely jubbly review and image tour of GIMP 2.8, a free, cross-platform image manipulation program, featuring single-window mode, image tabs, layer groups, save vs export functionality, old plugins support, new file format support, Linux installation via PPA repository, cool screenshots, and more. Gotta check it.

Cisco Unified Communications Manager 8 cookbook review

I've written a review of Cisco Unified Communications Manager 8: Expert Administration Cookbook, by Packt Publishing, a collection of 110 advanced recipes to efficiently and effectively manage the call-processing system. Take a look.

How to convert LaTeX documents to e-books

Here's a handy tutorial explaining how to convert documents and books created in LaTeX and LyX into e-book compatible file formats for electronic readers and mobile devices such as EPUB and MOBI, using Calibre and tex4ht tools. Enjoy.

Xubuntu 12.04 review - A most pleasant surprise

Blimey, who would have thought! Dedoimedo liking Xfce, is that possible? Anyhow, here's a super long and extremely enthusiastic review of Xubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin Long-Term Support (LTS) release edition with Xfce desktop environment, covering live session testing, installation in a quadruple-boot configuration on SSD and post-install use, including look & feel, accessibility, menu, notifications, Wireless, Bluetooth, Samba sharing with good system integration, rich application choice, package management with Ubuntu Software Center and Synaptic, multimedia playback - Flash and MP3, plus gmusicbrowser cover art and skinning, desktop customization with new theme, windows borders, Faenza icons, transparency, and wallpapers, touchpad control, system resources, stability, suspend & resume, some glitches and crashes, and more.

Instancing Brush in Kerkythea - the reality magic wand

I've written a tutorial explaining how to use the Instancing Brush in Kerkythea, a free, cross-platform 3D rendering program, to create realistic background props and settings, with grass model examples from my 3D galleries.

Ubuntu 12.04 on a high-end laptop

Here's another review of Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin, this time on my high-end laptop with 64-bit CPU and Nvidia card, covering installation in a quadruple-boot configuration, user account import, graphics card issues, look & feel, visual integration, webcam, power consumption, system resources, performance, responsiveness, and more. This should be rather interesting.

SOPA, PIPA and how to boycott like a champ

Please enjoy a very important and somewhat semi-sarcastic article explaining how public boycotts and protests over Internet-related privacy and liberty laws and various companies' products and business practices can be effectively pursued in modern society. There you go.

Hybrid cars are massive bollocks!

Ladies and gentlelads, the green Dedoimedo is talking to you now: an article debunking the popular media buzz and ecological myths of hybrid-powered cars, focusing on increased complexity, weight, cost, health hazard, and overall inefficiecy.

Kubuntu 12.04 review - Precise what?

The spring season great distro hunt is in its midst, so it's time for some more Ubuntu family fun. Here's a review of Kubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin 64-bit Long Term Support (LTS) edition with KDE desktop, covering live CD usage, installation in a quadruple-boot configuration and post-install use, including network connectivity - Wireless, Samba, basic look & feel, installation quirks like text overlap and keyboard selection, user home directory import, applications choice and integration with third-party software, webcam, multimedia - Flash and MP3 playback, Amarok localization and integration, Muon package manager and some issues, desktop effects, stability and crashes, suspend & resume, system resource usage, visual decorations, and more.

Mechwarrior revisited - fresh new images!

I have remade the 3D art gallery of the BattleTech universe robotic war machine commonly referred to as Mechwarrior, designed in Google SketchUp and rendered in Kerkythea, with new images showing weathered materials, water reflection, grass, and other cool effects.

LaTeX and LyX, more useful tricks

Here's the second tutorial presenting additional common tips and tricks in LaTeX and LyX, focusing on typical styling and formatting problems that a user may encounter when migrating from an office suite, including working with LaTeX Preamble, title fonts, date and author placement, document classes, unneeded layout elements, page-spanning images in multiple-column documents, definite image placement, ragged and justified document bottoms, table and figure numbering reset, tracking changes, Feynman diagrams, and more.

Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin - Five years of excellence

The spring season begins; I've written a long, ethusiastic review of Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin 64-bit Long Term Support (LTS) edition, covering live CD usage, installation in a quadruple-boot configuration and post-install use, including Wireless, Bluetooth, Samba sharing, webcam, look & feel, menu changes, the Heads-Up Display (HUD), multimedia playback - Flash and MP3, applications, Ubuntu Software Center tweaks and polishes, updates, customization, privacy settings, stability, speed, responsiveness, suspend & resume, resource consumption, other changes and features, and more. Have fun.

Best Linux software - The latest and greatest compilation

Linux users worldwide, rejoice. I've carefully prepared a new, comprehensive, up-to-date list of highly recommended, must-have programs, free tools and utilities for Linux desktops, across a wide range of categories, with multiple screenshots, examples, tutorials, and guides. Over 40 types of software, more than 50 apps, all lovingly tested and personally favored. You will like this a lot.

Boot speed competition - Ubuntu, Kubuntu and Mint

Something simple and delightful for today - a boot time comparison between Ubuntu, Kubuntu and Linux Mint on my new test box with two SSD hard disks. It should be interesting.

ArmA II - Anniversary Edition review

I've written a long and gritty review of Arma II - Anniversary Edition, a highly realistic first person shooter by Bohemia Interactive, covering singleplayer campaigns, multiplayer games, graphics, features, and more. Enjoy.

The Betrayed win-a-book contest winners announced

Dear fellows, it's been two weeks since I've announced my win-a-free-book contest and it's now officially over. Luckily for me, I will not need be crying in a corner forever alone, as I've managed to get more than ten entries submitted. To be more precise, a total of seventeen different people mailed me, and I had two more friends abstain from their participation knowing they would get their free copies anyway. All right, let's announce the winners.

Dedoimedo crosses the million pageview mark!

It happened, just a few days ago. Dedoimedo has crossed the magical threshold of one million monthly pageviews, as registered by the server's urchin. Now I'm in the big league and no longer need to impress me wife by washing dishes before uploading new articles. But there it is, 1,000,000 views. Yippie. In fact, the threshold was crossed some time before, but I wanted to be sure. In fact, the server urchin did flake on two days in the last month, counting only about half the actual traffic on those two days, so the real figure is even larger. Anyhow, join me for a micro-celebration and a quick tour of Dedoimedo's audience statistics. Let's see what those millions pages really are.

How to recover partitions and data using Linux - Tutorial

I've written a long, extensive tutorial explaining how to recover lost partitions and data in Linux using tools like TestDisk, PhotoRec, recoverjpeg, plus manual recovery using hex editor, and more. You should read this.

Triple review - Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Linux Mint

Here's something ultra-awesome: an enthusiastic triple review and head-on comparision between 64-bit editions of Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric Ocelot, Kubuntu 11.10 Oneiric Ocelot and Linux Mint 12 Lisa with Cinnamon on my new test box with two SSD, featuring hardware detection, installation speed, desktop look & feel, updates, stability, and more. This will blow your socks off, guaranteed.

New renders of my tank model!

I have recreated the gallery of my highly accurate model of a main battle tank, designed in Google SketchUp and rendered in Kerkythea, with new realistic material textures and grass, plus special effects in GIMP. Must see.

E-book version of The Betrayed is available

Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to spam your senses a little more with my book news. The Betrayed, the first volume in The Lost Words fantasy series, is now also available in Kindle Edition, a tiny humble download that should warm your heart and mind. Grab it while it's hot. And don't forget the win-a-book contest!

How to create Linux live multi-boot setups - Tutorial

I've written a tutorial explaining how to create multi-boot live USB setups using automated tools like YUMI and MultiSystem. Have fun.

Best Linux apps for non-Gnome, non-KDE desktops

You will love this - a thorough compilation of the best alternative software for non-Gnome and non-KDE desktops, optimized for weaker machines running Xfce, LXDE and other non-mainstream Linux desktop environments. Enjoy.

My new test box for Linux

Something lovely and radical and modern - an article introducing my new test box used for Linux reviews, with two SSD hard disks and a quadruple boot configuration. Spring fever, here I come.

What to do when giving away an old computer

Say you have an old computer that you wish to get rid of: give away, donate to charity, let a friend enjoy it for a few more months before it dies, maybe even sell it. Whatever you decide, you might be faced with a big question. What kind of steps do you need to take to make sure that your data is not going to be used by the new owners? This article will teach you about different methods designed to ensure your private data will not fall into wrong hands when you dispose of the hardware that previously stored it.

Chaise Lounge in Kerkythea - Awesomely realistic!

Holy banana! My wife has been borgified into the collective of Level l33t 3D artists, and I didn't even have to threaten her. She just made her first Kerkythea model, and it's bloody superb. Please enjoy this latest creation, a chaise lounge, designed in Google SketchUp and rendered in Kerkythea. Truly great, must see.

The Betrayed is published - win-a-book contest is on!

With utmost pride, satisfaction and excitement, I'm pleased to announce the official release of The Betrayed, the first book of The Lost Words epic fantasy series. The novel has been published just a few days ago and is available in online stores in paperback format. E-book edition is coming soon. And now, let's announce the surprise I've been hinting on for the past few months. I want to give away ten books for free. At this point in life, I'm not yet a best-selling celebrity, but one day, I might be, and having a first edition release on your shelf might account to something. So please read on to learn how you can enter the contest and win your own copy.

Scorched3D review - As great as ever

Five years after the original, here's the second review of Scorched3D - a free, cross-platform turn-based artillery game based on DOS-era Scorched Earth, The Mother of All Games, with spectacular graphics, great humor, LAN/Internet multiplayer, and challenging gameplay. Must see.

Linux live CD persistence - How to

I've written a short tutorial explaining how to automatically create persistent Linux distribution live USB images using operating system specific and cross-platform tools like Universal USB Installer, Unetbootin and Startup Disk Creator, plus references to many other distribution-specific utilities.

PCLinuxOS 2012.02 review - Hope?

Ladies and gentlelads, I present a review of the PCLinuxOS 2012.02 distribution with KDE desktop, including live session, installation and use, covering topics like Wireless, Bluetooth, Samba sharing, desktop effects & ATI card support, multimedia playback - Flash and MP3, applications & LibreOffice setup, package management & updates, system resources, stability, suspend & resume, problems like screen resolution, odd programs, laptop function keys, small glitches, and more.

The Greatest sites page updated!

I've got two more most splendid websites for your perusal and utmost enjoyment. One - Ksplice Blog. Indeed, when Oracle purchased Ksplice, this blog was already on my to-be-published list. But then, I started having second thoughts. And then I started having third thoughts. I realized that the fact the site owners have changed does not mean the site's quality has changed. Two - Bent Objects, an extremely witty, extremely unique, hence filed here, website created and designed by one Terry Border, an arteest, not an artist. Whatever his fancy title may be in the neo-posh circles, the man knows his way around art and taking simple, mundane, everyday items and turning them into objects of quirky adoration.

The Betrayed proof approved

Finally, it's done. I've just approved the book for print. The Betrayed should be available in online stores in about a week, and a little longer to reach the shelves in retail shops and libraries. It took a while to get this done. After almost nine months of work, including no less than four soft proofs and two physical proofs, the book is ready for publication. Oh, I'm rather pleased. And so should you be.

Hybrid aircraft - part plane, part ekranoplan, 100% cool

Ready to be dazzled? So here's a new 3D art gallery - a large hybrid cargo plane with elements taken from several existing aircraft and ekranoplans, designed in Google SketchUp and rendered in Kerkythea, with awesome mockups and special effects. Commence coolness!

How to remain safe on the road

Planning your next vacation soon? Well, this article ought to teach you all you need to know about the electronic road perils, including which Wireless access points to use, network and firewall setup, DNS use, secure and insecure Web connections, remote connectivity, data protection, Internet coffee shops, personal discipline and trust, optimal travel set, Linux considerations, and more. Don't forget the sun tan.

CentOS 6 & Firefox 10 - Modern becomes you

Here's a short review of Firefox 10 Extended Support Release (ESR) on top of CentOS 6 as a part of the standard distribution upgrade, highlighting the technology improvements, stability and support benefits.

Enhance your GIMP with GIMP plugins and scripts

I've written a tutorial showing how to install and use plugins and scripts in the free, open-source, cross-platform GIMP image manipulation software, including G'MIC toolbox, plus special effects like Diana Holga, National Geographic, 300, Che, Technicolor, and many others. Have fun.

PDF Readers for Linux - which one is the best?

I've just compiled an article examining the best PDF reader software for Linux, comparing Evince, Acrobat Reader, LibreOffice, and Okular across several categories like ease of use, available functionality, editing tools, font rendering, and other features. Enjoy.

Cinnamon 1.4 - Stairway to Heaven

OK, here's another highly enthusiastic review of the Cinnamon user interface, this time the very recent version 1.4, tested on Linux Mint 12 Lisa 64-bit, with many new improvements and features included, like visual tweaks, new configurations, system area control applet, ability to restart or revert changes, panel edit mode, Scale and Expo desktop effects, additional system integration, and more. Really great.

Android-x86 4.0 review - Not impressed

Dedoimedo's first encounter with Android, on a normal computing device, no less! So here's a spanking new review of Android-x86 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich release candidate, a port of Android open-source project for x86 architecture, including live session, look & feel, connectivity - Wireless, Bluetooth, Samba sharing, Web camera, multimedia - Flash, MP3 playback, browsing experience, apps, shop, command line, sharing files using micro-SD card, security, settings, performance, suspend & resume, problems, business model considerations, and more.

How to stream and record media in VLC

I've written a short tutorial explaining how to stream online audio and video media, transcode media formats, enable advanced controls, and record current playback in VideoLAN (VLC), a free, cross-platform media player.

Windows 8 Consumer Preview - One word: fail

Time for some super serious drama - a long, negative review of Windows 8 Consumer Preview, focusing on the loss of productivity and functionality with the removal of the classic Start Menu, additional degradation in performance, responsiveness, plus some other bugs. May the hating commence!