Ubuntu in my desktop (status)

I'm preparing to install Ubuntu 8.04 "Hardy Heron" in my desktop machine.

Before starting

• Try, using the Ubuntu live-cd, at least graphics, sound and cable network access (done)
  
• Backup important data (done)
• Decide the partition layout for all my hard drives (example) (done)
• Rethink my home network (IPs, Windows workgroup names...)
• Decide between Ubuntu 32 bits and Ubuntu 64 bits for my AMD Athlon 64BIT X2 DUAL-CORE 4200+ SKAM2 2.20 GB
  • I've decided to go with Ubuntu 32 bits (done)
  • Check if both cores are beeing used (done)

I will be dual-booting (for now) with Windows XP, and in order to release myself from Windows completely, here's a "to achieve" list.
This list doesn't have a significant order of importance.

To achieve (check the installation eXPerience here)

• Internet access using my home network (cable) (achieved)
  
• Internet access using my home network (wireless)
• Read and write support from Linux to my Windows partitions (just in case) (achieved)
• Read and write support from Windows to my Linux partitions (just in case)
• Divx and Xvid playback with subtitle files support (achieved)
• Full browser experience (Java, flash...) (achieved)
• Microsoft Office 100% support (achieved using a virtual machine)
  • it isn't enough .doc support
  • as an example, the Excel formats, graphs, etc. should be exactly the same
  • it could be done using a virtual machine
• Windows XP in a virtual machine (objective - legacy support) (achieved)
  
• Streaming media content (xvid, divx) to my Xbox 360
  • the the content must be converted to the right format in real time
  • it must add subtitles to the media (for instance .srt separated files)
  • in Windows I use TVersity
• Print to PDF (achieved)
• Have a subtitle editor (achieved)
  • a needed feature is to fix the subtitles in order to keep a fixed number of characters for column
  • in Windows I use Subtitle Workshop
• Software to mount cd image files (like .iso) (achieved)
  
• Recording software (CD and DVD support) (achieved)
• Google Earth and Google Notifier (achieved)
• Full iPod Touch support (it could be done using a virtual machine)
• Full Calendar and Contacts sync support for Qtek 9100 (it could be done using a virtual machine) (achieved)
• Apache, PHP and MySQL solution for my home database solution, currently working in Windows (achieved)
• Remote Desktop Connection to other machines, including Windows (it could be done using a virtual machine)
• Home network (at least shared folders) (achieved)
  

Other nice stuff I'd like

• BIOS upgrades (it could be done using a virtual machine)
• System monitor (hard drive free space, cpu, memory, network and temperature)

last updated: 21-05-2008

[ Starting ]

This blog is intended to log my latest experience in Linux.
Through the years I have tried out several distributions such as Red Hat (and later Fedora), Suse, Mandrake (now Mandriva) and the Portuguese Caixa Mágica.

There were always something that drove me back to Windows and as the years passed the free time started to be insufficient to allow me dive right into it.

I recently decided to format my laptop and install Ubuntu. I started by dual booting it with Windows to try it out first, but soon (in the same day actually) the eXPerience begun.
My desktop machine will be next.

This blog will help me (and perhaps others) in future installations and to document my favorite software and tips.

There will probably be others posts about other subjects. News, funny stuff and maybe even some crude blogging.

I will organize the blog using labels as an index to the several subjects. Each post can have zero or more labels. The index is bound to change.

Some posts will be edited through time instead of adding new posts with the same subject. If I need to add some new info about configuring network setting, the original post will probably be edited.


last updated: 17-04-2008