wahlau's online hut

finally got the office unit 2 days ago - a spanking new IBM Thinkpad T43 (the cheapest version though :P).

along with the system is the XP Pro... which i have no problem to use. But i would want to have linux on it. For quick test, i came home late and repartitioned the HD to squeeze out 15GB out, and popped in my Ubuntu Hoary CD.

the installation went on as how you will see in many how tos. A few things i would like to mentioned:

1. partition - this is perhaps something newbies will have problem. but again, you probably would like to have 512MB or 1024MB swap, then use the rest for the system. In my case, i have 512MB swap, and 5GB /home. the rest just junk into one big partition.
2. network and update - it is good to have your notebook connected to Internet and a DHCP server, so the process would be automated.
3. hmm, what else? :)

what i really like, is the just work effect. After installation, the reboot brought me to the login page. Looks superb, and installation have never been so simple :)

after installation and first login, there are few things i did:

1. wireless connection - i want to connect to my wireless AP for DSL. the Intel 802.11b/g card works superb, and setting it up with WEP (yeah, i know it is not secure) was *very* simple, probably simplest of all i have tried (i assume FC3 would be the same, since that is about Gnome).
2. remember to update - launch Synaptic package manager. I have add in Universe and Multiverse, and updates plus installation have never been easier.
3. install mp3 library :) - by using Synaptic and multiverse, install the gstreamer-mad library. then you can play mp3s without problem!
4. video anyone? - i use VLC nowaways, which i think it rocks. remember to install vlc-esound or vlc-esd instead of vlc-alsa, else you will not get sound. The default installation put in esound daemon as default multimedia sound manager (i think), but i shall try alsa soon when i have time.
5. java in the house - Ubuntu has a pretty good wiki page. following here you will get java 1.5 in no time. I need that since my current projects would be using java and eclipse... dang, should install eclipse next :P

there are many things you can play with. i finally (don laugh, please) can play Tuxracer without jerky effect (poor me only has a t20 previously) :) and with Synaptic i can install/uninstall/update my system with some clicks. Firefox and Sylpheed are in, so my daily communication stuffs are as before. Hibernate is a beauty. Under the Log-out popout menu, you even have hibernate option instead of the 3 normal options (logout, restart and shutdown). coolness :)

ToDo:

• Tomcat with Axis
• VPN with Ipsec and Cisco
• more games :P
• Crossover office(if i have the $$)
• video and midi editing
• php programming
• water my plants
• ... etc etc.