Well, I’d been poo pooing Vista for at least a year with out really giving it a fair shake. So when I was given a new PC at work I decided to load it with Vista. It ran really nice on a dell precession with 4 gigs of ram and a big ol’ graphics card. The thing that struck me the most was how much different it was from Windows XP, so much so it took me a while just to attach it to my companies domain. No wonder Linux might look more attractive to a user wanting to move to a new operating system, if you got to learn something new might as well do it for free.

Vista is nice it sure looks pretty, put it’s sure not user friendly, how many times have you heard that about Linux. Ubuntu, while it might have it’s issues like no LANdesk console, or not being able to use my companies helpdesk software (which by the way neither could Vista), Ubuntu still out preforms Vista. Needless to say I installed Ubuntu after a few hours of Vista.

Looks like I might have found my next laptop, and to be able to order it with Ubuntu out of the box makes the deal even sweeter. Sure hope I can use my discount.

For almost the entire summer I’ve not been involved with my local Ubuntu loco, the New Mexico Ubuntu Loco. I’ve missed the interaction with other members as well as the weekly IRC meetings. I’m back, even if a little bit more limited in scope. So updates to the wiki, and meeting notes should be getting back on track. We have lots to get ready for with Barcamp Albuquerque 3 coming up and Software Freedom Day just weeks after that.

So I’m back promoting the users group and trying to get as many people as I can to try Ubuntu, wish me luck.

I will be presenting an Ubuntu presentation at this years Albuqueruque’s Bar Camp this year. Hope to see you there.

After hearing what Homeland (sounds way to much like the fatherland if you ask me) security said ” We can seize laptops for an indefinite period”, read more here. I began thinking that encrypting my computers was something that i seriously need to do. I’m no criminal mastermind and 100% of the software on my computer is open source, the media files on my computer are just as legal. It’s just that in America I thought I was protected from unreasonable search and seizure, guess I was wrong. In America more and more of our rights are being whisked away in the name of national security “again I can only think of 1930’s Germany”.

I’m a pretty good law abiding citizen of the United States of America, I’m even a public employee working for the Judicial branch of this government. Why do I find myself using Tor and applications like IPBlock? I even have to take steps to make sure no one can snoop on my torrent downloads (hey news flash there are lots of good legal downloads in torrents, leave it alone Comcast).

What I find sad is that I want to secure my network and computers not from criminals but from big business and my own government.

So, what do you use to secure your network, how do you encrypt your computers from unwanted eyes?

Oh and Homeland Security please read:

United States Constitution, Bill of Rights, Fourth Amendment:

“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

Canonical’s director of corporate services, Steve George, says that the goal is to provide Ubuntu to customers who are looking for software and support. The version sold at Best Buy comes with 60 days of support service.

I think it’s a great Idea, you sure don’t get Microsoft Support when you buy Vista.

Years ago I first bought slackware at a Hastings records and tapes (and apparently software) just because it was $9.99 and I heard that this new Linux thing was fun to play with. That single purchase all those many years ago launched me into Linux and I never looked back. Now Ubuntu is on the shelves of Best Buy’s all across America I can only hope that there will be one or two folks out there that have heard this Linux thing is allot of fun and think $19.99 is a bargain. It also looks like you get a little support too so it just might be a bargain. I’m glad to see it sitting right there amongst the out of control Windows display (really Microsoft do you need that much shelf space, you would think their selling breakfast cereal).

Looks like the Linux Game Tome is back up. It also appears they were the victim of a DOS attack.

A quote from the site ” As you probably noticed, the Game Tome was down for a couple of days. We were under attack by someone and had to pull the plug.Now, hopefully everything is back as it should be.”

Man that just burns my butt, sure glad to have them back.

The Linux game tome has been down for a few days, anyone have any news on what’s going on? It’s a wonderful service I hope it’s nothing to bad.

How cool it was to read today about Ubuntu MID Edition, now even though the Latitude X1 does not have a touch screen. It’s small screen size, under powered CPU, and with only 512MB of ram this MID edition sure seams made for just such a device.

So what do you say any of you developers out there need a beta tester, if so I’m yours. I have this X1 waiting and willing to test test test.