CAT | Linux
With the recent announcement of the development of the Google Chrome OS, the possibilities for the end user has opened even wider in terms of choice of operating system for desktops, notebooks and especially netbooks. An OS with the Chrome browser as its centrepiece will certainly open interesting possibilities for the holy grail of ubiquitous availability of data which is the central tenet in the concept of cloud computing. No longer will the user need to carry their data with them, but the data will come to them wherever they could have an internet connection. This will certainly change how we work, in much the same way as working with Microsoft Word compared to working with Google Documents.
I suspect the new OS will be based on one of the pre-existing Linux distro (Ubuntu?) with the Google layer built on top to enable constant synchronising of data when online and caching mode when offline (ala Google Gears?). When it is released, hopefully it will free us all from having to worry what or which computer we are working on at any given time. To a certain extent, I have already implemented some of the ideas of cloud computing by using Google services to synchronise my calendar on my notebooks and phones. I guess the only other thing that I would like with the Google Chrome OS is cheaper data rates. This issue of data charges is what prevent a lot of people from utlising cloud-based services more often on their wireless devices (phones).
2009 · google · Linux · netbook · notebook · open source · Technology · ubuntu · windows
24
Aptana under Ubuntu 9.04
Comments off · Posted by johannes in Linux, Notebooks, Web development
Everybody has a favourite HTML editor on a platform, but does anyone have a favourite on ALL platforms? Well at least on the personal computing platform, that is. Well, I must tell you that my favourite HTML editor has been Aptana, which has served me well since I stopped using Dreamweaver exclusively. For me the major attraction of Aptana is its cross-platform nature. I can start work on my Windows laptop, then continue it on my MacBook and then finish it off on my tiny little Linux laptop the HP 2133 Mini note.
At the completion of my install of Jaunty Jackalope (Ubuntu 9.04) on my netbook, I found that Aptana just would not load. It would show the logo for a couple of seconds then it would just come up with an error. After scratching my head for a little while, I tried to look up an answer on Google and I found this thread on the Aptana user forum.
So basically, the issue is the version of xulrunner that Jaunty comes with. Currently it is version 1.9, while Aptana needs version 1.8. To fix this issue you need to download xulrunner 1.8 and unzip it to /usr/lib, so its path would be something like /usr/lib/xulrunner/. Then you create a script which looks like this:
#!/bin/sh
MOZILLA_FIVE_HOME=/usr/lib/xulrunner-1.8.1.3
if [ $LD_LIBRARY_PATH ]; then
LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$MOZILLA_FIVE_HOME:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH
else
LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$MOZILLA_FIVE_HOME
fi
export MOZILLA_FIVE_HOME LD_LIBRARY_PATH
~/aptana/AptanaStudio -vm /usr/lib/jvm/ia32-java-6-sun/jre/bin/java
Make the script executable and then on your panel add an application shortcut to point to this script file, mine is called “aptanastart”. Oh, and you need to have Java installed, since Aptana requires it.
2133 · 9.04 · Aptana · computing · hp · html · ide · jackalope · jaunty · java · Linux · ubuntu
23
Jaunty Jackalope on the HP Mini-note 2133 part 2
Comments off · Posted by johannes in General, Linux, Notebooks, Opinion, Technology
I have found that using Jackalope on the HP 2133 Mini-note to be quite a good experience so far. Compared to installing Intrepid (8.10), the installation process was a complete breeze. There was no need to install using weird methods and there was no need for installing any drivers from VIA to get the display working in the correct setup.
The only issue that can be noted is with the wifi connection manager. It seems after a few hibernates that the connection is stuck at the “getting ip address…” stage. This can be quickly fixed with a reboot. Other than this issue, I have not found any major ones to mention. Sound works flawlessly, Bluetooth works normally and the webcam works with Cheese (I have not tested it to work with Skype or anything like that).
Recently, I also purchased the 6-cell battery for the Mini-note, which makes the notebook (or netbook, if you like) much more usable. Since I use this notebook mainly for writing text, coding and web browsing, I have found that having that extra amount of battery capacity makes the notebook a little easier to use. No longer staring at the battery icon every few minutes to see if I will have time to finish what I am doing. It puts the usability of this little notebook on par with my MacBook and my Dell Inspiron laptop. Using it with little power management and with wifi on seems to give around 3-3.5 hrs of uninterrupted use. What joy!
Had this notebook shipped with Jackalope instead of Windows Vista Basic (standard on all Mini-notes shipped in Australia), it would have been a winner from the start. A 6-cell battery, even though it adds a little to the price should have been standard on all models.
2009 · 2133 · computing · hardware · hp · Linux · mini-note · netbook · notebook · open source · ubuntu · vista
20
Ubuntu desktop 9.04 (Jaunty Jackalope) on HP Mini-note 2133
Comments off · Posted by johannes in Linux, Notebooks, Technology
Having worked on the Ubuntu 8.10 for a few months, when Jaunty Jackalope was released publicly it was a definite temptation to upgrade. Considering it was a real pain to install 8.10 last time around on my HP mini-note 2133 (Via C7 1.6Ghz, 1GB RAM with 120G HDD, originally was loaded with Windows Vista Basic), I was a little hesitant. However, since there were a few reports of success such as this article at bl1nk.com and the semester break is nearly upon me, I decided to bite the bullet.
Having upgraded the BIOS last time around, this time installation was quite sane and smooth. It was so smooth that it happened while I was watching TV without a single glitch. When install was done, I rebooted and voila! The screen worked OK, there was no need for funny hacks or even VIA’s driver to install and Wifi and Bluetooth worked out of the box! When I plugged in my USB modem from Three networks (Huawei E220), it was recognised straight away.
When I was done entering my wifi configuration, I was online surfing the net with a fresh install of Ubuntu 9.04 on my HP mini-note 2133. I have not tested everything so far, but everything that I need from a basic notebook perspective was working quite well.
UPDATE
I have now had sometime to test the webcam and bluetooth and they are both working fine. Webcam works fine through Cheese, but I have not tested through Skype.
2133 · Australia · hardware · hp · Linux · mini-note · netbook · notebook · open source · Technology · ubuntu
4
Service with a happy ending
Comments off · Posted by johannes in General, Linux, Notebooks, Technology, Uncategorized
On one hot January night while I was trying to write a statement about some art project that I was working on, I just fell asleep on the lounge. I was trying to type this statement up on my trusty little HP Mini Note 2133 that was runing Ubuntu 8.10. Due to extreme tiredness and heat, I just felt that I could not go on typing or even thinking so I closed the laptop expecting it to spin down and hibernate while I just headed straight to bed.
When I woke up in the morning, the notebook was in an extremely hot state, it was more than the normal warmth you get from running a notebook for a few hours. When I tried to switch it on, it was not responding as normal. There was no HP logo at startup even though all the normal lights were on. The notebook was pretty much dead and did not respond to anything.
After leaving it alone for about a week (actually I just forgot all about it for a few days), I decided to contact HP since the notebook was still under warranty. After the usual menu selections I spoke to an operator who suggested that I plugged the notebook to the power (already done), to see which lights were on (already done) and then to plug it into an external monitor (already tried that too). He suggested that it might need a mainboard replacement (thought so).
The operator then rang me back and suggested that he could guide me over the phone to try to reseat the RAM module (unfortunately, already tried and I even tried another module of the same specification–1GB DDR2 667Mhz). He then said that I would get a phone call from an engineer who would visit me with a new mainboard.
Three days later, the engineer showed up and replaced the motherboard in all under 20 minutes. I was very impressed with the service and wish all notebook manufacturers provided the same level of service. Good work HP! Shame on you Toshiba! Shame on you Apple!
2133 · hardware · hp · Linux · motherboard · notebook · replacement · service · warranty
To be able to use the Via beta driver that was released in December 2008 in Ubuntu 8.10, you will need to do the following:
- Update the BIOS
The latest version of the BIOS is F.05F for the Mini-note that was released in Australia. You can download it from here. Instructions on how to update the BIOS can be found inside the zip package and you will need a USB flash drive to format and use as a boot device, which should automatically update your system’s BIOS. I found that once the BIOS has been updated, you can install Ubuntu in the normal way instead of having to rely on the ‘xforcevesa’ option when starting the installer. - Download the latest driver from VIA
Download the latest driver from VIA, make sure it is the one intended for Ubuntu 8.10 (there are two drivers, one is marked as the 2D driver and the other one is called gfx, the one with “2D” is the one I am using as I don’t care too much about Compiz and such). This has to be done after installing Ubuntu 8.10 using the vesa driver (very basic graphics functionality and it does not support external monitors) such as shown in the Ubuntu Wiki. - Unzip the package from VIA and run the setup process by using the the file called “v2dinstall”. This has to be done as root, so the command may look something like this:
sudo ./v2Dinstall [will prompt you for your password].
When the installer is done, edit your xorg.conf file so it will look somewhat like this:# xorg.conf (X.Org X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by reidy90, by copying correct settings from
# the xorg.conf that was provided with the SUSE hp 2133.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type “man xorg.conf” at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# Note that some configuration settings that could be done previously
# in this file, now are automatically configured by the server and settings
# here are ignored.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorgSection “Device”
BoardName “Framebuffer Graphics”#Change the line underneath to “via” after you have installed the driver (step 3).
Driver “vesa”
Identifier “Device[0]”
Screen 0
VendorName “VIA Technology”
Option “NoDDCValue”
Option “ActiveDevice” “LCD,CRT”
Option “PanelID” “3”
Option “DisplayHardwareLayout” “LCD”
Option “ForceLCD”
#[<bool>]
Option “VideoOnDevice” “LCD”
# Option “LCDPort” “DVP0”
EndSectionSection “Monitor”
DisplaySize 250 150
HorizSync 28-500
Identifier “Monitor[0]”
ModelName “VIEWSONIC VA912-4SERIES”
Option “DPMS”
VendorName “VSC”
VertRefresh 43-60
UseModes “Modes[0]”
EndSectionSection “Modes”
Identifier “Modes[0]”
Modeline “1280×800” 120.33 1280 1368 1504 1728 800 801 804 839
Modeline “1280×800” 118.88 1280 1368 1504 1728 800 801 804 839
Modeline “1280×800” 116.21 1280 1360 1496 1712 800 801 804 838
# Modeline “1280×768” 114.53 1280 1360 1496 1712 768 769 772 806
# Modeline “1280×768” 113.01 1280 1360 1496 1712 768 769 772 805
# Modeline “1280×768” 111.63 1280 1360 1496 1712 768 769 772 805
Modeline “1280×768” 80.14 1280 1344 1480 1680 768 769 772 795 -HSync +Vsync
Modeline “1024×768” 92.05 1024 1088 1200 1376 768 769 772 806
Modeline “1024×768” 90.83 1024 1088 1200 1376 768 769 772 805
Modeline “1024×768” 89.72 1024 1088 1200 1376 768 769 772 805
Modeline “1280×600” 88.68 1280 1352 1488 1696 600 601 604 630
Modeline “1280×600” 87.48 1280 1352 1488 1696 600 601 604 629
Modeline “1280×600” 85.59 1280 1344 1480 1680 600 601 604 629
Modeline “1024×600” 71.11 1024 1080 1192 1360 600 601 604 630
Modeline “1024×600” 69.32 1024 1080 1184 1344 600 601 604 629
Modeline “1024×600” 68.48 1024 1080 1184 1344 600 601 604 629
Modeline “800×600” 55.22 800 840 928 1056 600 601 604 630
Modeline “800×600” 54.47 800 840 928 1056 600 601 604 629
Modeline “800×600” 53.80 800 840 928 1056 600 601 604 629
Modeline “768×576” 50.62 768 808 888 1008 576 577 580 605
Modeline “768×576” 49.92 768 808 888 1008 576 577 580 604
Modeline “768×576” 49.32 768 808 888 1008 576 577 580 604
Modeline “640×480” 34.80 640 672 736 832 480 481 484 504
Modeline “640×480” 34.38 640 672 736 832 480 481 484 504
Modeline “640×480” 33.90 640 672 736 832 480 481 484 503
EndSectionSection “Screen”
SubSection “Display”
Modes “1280×768”
EndSubSection
Device “Device[0]”
Identifier “Screen[0]”
Monitor “Monitor[0]”
EndSection - Under the driver option, you need to change the driver from “vesa” to “via”.
- Reboot the machine and you should end up with a netbook running Ubuntu 8.10 utilising the newest 2D driver form VIA.
I have not actually used the gfx unified driver provided by VIA, because I personally I do not care about or need the compiz desktop effects on a netbook as tiny as the HP 2133 Mini-note. I just want a netbook that I can write reports on. It just needs to have basic media capabilities such as playing video or audio files, without any major problems.
Good luck.
2133 · 8.10 · hewlett · Linux · mini-note · netbook · notebook · packard · ubuntu · via
6
A month with Nokia E71 on the Three network Australia
Comments off · Posted by johannes in General, Linux, Notebooks, Observation, Opinion, Photography, Technology, Uncategorized, phone
After two years of using the I-mate Jamin smartphone, I finally decided that it was time to upgrade to something with better feature set and a more open connectivity options. This time around, data was becoming more of a priority, since I don’t seem to use voice calls terribly much. I needed a phone that I could get on a contract that has a cheaper monthly payment than what I was paying before. While I was with Vodafone with the Jamin, the best I could get was $50 plan and $20 repayment for the handset. It offered GPRS EDGE connectivity with no included monthly data allowance which was charged at a rate that would give anyone a heartburn . With the least addictional cost, the best Vodafone could offer was an extra $10 on top of the already quite expensive plan to give me a mere 5MB of data per month. It definitely hurt.
Soon after i Acquired the I-mate Jamin, to make the experience even worse, I ended up buying a MacBook. The first thing I wanted to do was install Thunderbird (my favorite email client on all platform) on it and to my disappointment, I discovered that I could not do a sync between Mac and Windows Mobile without either using Parallels and Windows (and then only with that beast called Outlook) or buying some third party software. It seems that neither Apple or Microsoft wanted to know about people in my situation who did not want to subscribe to either one of the platforms (aka platform agnostic) for everything. The only thing that came close to being a solution was to use a Funambol Server installed on one of my servers, which was not only clumsy to use, but also difficult to manage. In the end I settled with using Schedule World so I could do sync between my Windows XP, Linux and OS X notebooks and my Windows Mobile 5.0 phone. This approach, while it works, is not really ideal since I have to rely on an external server to manage the synchronisation and the data.
The I-mate Jamin was a reasonably good phone, but its shortcomings were mainly caused by the Windows Mobile platform it was built on. While it works almost seamlessly in a Windows world, when you start venturing outside that walled garden the problems become unbearable. The minute you don’t want to use Outlook anymore (did I mention that an early version of Microsoft anti-virus product ate my entire Outlook database because of a single infected email?) you start seeing the ugly brick walls and quickly hitting your head against it. This gets a lot worse when you decide to try working on another platform such as Mac OS X. While there is Microsoft Office for Mac, there is no activesync for Mac. Entourage which was supposed to resemble Outlook on the Mac does not have support for syncing with Windows Mobile.
The only way you could access the files on your Windows Mobile was to use the Acitvesync software which was not a good thing when Activesync decides to play up. In the end I basically had had enough of the “closed” way in which Windows Mobile was working, so this time around I decided to look around for a phone built on a platform which supports open standards.
My first choice would have been the iphone from Apple. It is a beautifully-designed piece of technology with a very nice and intuitive interface, based on a platform which originated from a Unix world. I was quite sure about getting the iphone, until I discovered that despite its appeal, it does not really support open standards that well and I just could not understand why they would limit the bluetooth profile to headset-only. So the iphone is out.
The next on my list was the Nokia E71. Ever since my partner acquired the E65 phone from Nokia I was always a little partial to the Symbian platform, so when the Nokia E71 was released I was itching to get my hands on one to try it out. However, when I read more about the specs it soon looked like a very good candidate for my next phone. It supports 3G HSDPA, most of the common bluetooth profiles, SyncML synchronisation standard, Wifi, Assisted GPS, Flash Lite 3.0, push email and the list goes on. It even has IRDA support.
The day I went to a Three shop in Sydney, I just wanted to check it out and hold it in my hands. The phone feels very nice to hold. Its thin and wide frame sits well in my hand and having a qwerty keyboard definitely makes things a lot easier when it comes to hammering an email or a text message. The screen looks nice and smooth and the phone is suprisingly large. It definitely amazes me what Nokia engineers manage to fit into such a thin and small device.
I liked the device so much that I decided to sign up for a plan right away. What I ended up getting was the E71 on a $29 cap plus $10 handset repayment a month on a 24-month contract. This was cheaper than getting the E71 on a $69 cap plan with no repayment. To quench my thirst for mobile data, I added $20 X-series (1GB/month) to the plan which brought the total to $59 per month including 1GB of data. This is definitely in my ball park and having 1GB of mobile data to play with means I will not hesitate to use the phone as a modem with either my Nokia N800 tablet or a notebook when needed.
3 · Australia · data · E71 · HSDPA · mobile · mobile data · Nokia · phone · Three
22
Linux is an excellent OS, but it still leaves my hands dirty (part 2)
Comments off · Posted by johannes in Linux, Notebooks, Opinion, Technology
Right after I had had enough of Knoppix in a PMI (poor man’s install) configuration, I decided to look for something better. While Knoppix was a great beginning and an eye-opener to what could be achieved in a well-configured Linux laptop, it was not enough. It did not allow for software install (well, without a lot of difficulties anyway) and everything I worked on had to be saved onto an external USB drive.
2
Linux is an excellent OS, but it still leaves my hands dirty (part 1)
Comments off · Posted by johannes in Linux, Notebooks, Opinion, Technology
Having three notebook computers has its own problems. My main notebook at the moment is the Macbook that I purchased nearly 11 months ago. It has been a solid companion of mine in doing teaching work and general everyday computing. Then I have my old Dell Inspiron 8600 which functions similarly to an everyday desktop computer. It is also the machine on which I play games such as Colin McRae and Medal of Honor (not the latest ones, of course).
Linux · open source · os · ubuntu
