Kubuntu 8.04 w/ KDE 4
Posted by Stretch | Filed under Other OSes, Personal
After using Kubuntu 8.04 for a while, I decided to try out Fedora 9. It was nice, at least the stuff that worked was, but it still needs more. I installed it on a laptop, and the trackpad settings were not to be found in the “out of box” installation.
I tried numerous different tutorials I found on the web, trying to get some sort of GUI for the trackpad settings. None of them worked. Using a trackpad without tap is like running with your shoes tied together. So I scraped it, and now I’m downloading Kubuntu with KDE 4. I’ll see how this goes. Hopefully much better than Fedora.
Ubuntu Audio
Posted by Stretch | Filed under Other OSes
I’ve finally gotten audio to work on my laptop. It took several hours of searching the internet, and trying many different things. The command that finally got it to work?
sudo apt-get install linux-backports-modules-generic
sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base
then add the following line to the bottom of the alsa-base
options snd-hda-intel model=hp
Its nice to have audio working again, and thanks to the Ubuntu forums I finally found my answer.
Ubuntu Linux
Posted by Stretch | Filed under Computers, Other OSes
I recently got a laptop. Its a Compaq Presario V3000t. Its a nice little machine, slightly bigger than the MacBook, and about equal in specs with some of them. It came with Windows XP Home, but I wanted something different. OSx86 sounded good, but the computer has an unsupported chipset, so I went with the second best. Ubuntu Linux. I may switch to Ubuntu Studio in the near future though.
Set-up was pretty simple. Reboot with the install/live disc, and let it install. I had a little bit of a problem getting the wireless card to work, but a quick run-through of Ubuntu’s documentation and troubleshooting and I had it all working.
I don’t understand why anyone would want to use Windows over Linux. Linux has tons of support, and doesn’t come with all the bloat of Windows. It comes with all the major applications that you would need, including an office suite, image editor, and email.
If you are thinking about trying it out, stop thinking, and get to it. Its a huge improvement over Windows.
The Gates Foundation: only for needy and starving kids?…
Posted by Macheadcase | Filed under Opinion, Other OSes, Personal, The world, man...
I remember a few months ago there was this big hoopla on some websites about Steve Jobs being a billionaire and not publicly donating some of his cash while Bill Gates, Micro$oft’s co-founder, was in the news about his charity donations and setting up the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for needy children around the world. Some of his donations in the past were all about giving away some computers and software to the needy, so I’m sure the starved kids got their tummies full with all those computer parts and software… Holy smokes, the software might go directly to their brains, come to think of it! :yikes:
It was said back then that Gates was the good charitable businessman while Jobs was a baddy keeping all of his cash for himself. Except me thought at the time, that this was all a show for the media and an attempt to win the public’s favour on the part of Gates. But what do I know, right? Besides, as a few people noted in comments, what if Jobs did donate but wanted it to be held secret and not make it a public display thing?
Anyway, the Drudge Report has an entry on the Gates’ Foundation maybe not being all that it is publicly known to be for, Bill Gates ‘Charity’ Foundation finances newspaper purchases.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation declares its noble mission is to bring “innovations in health and learning to the global community.”
But the world’s largest philanthropic organization also is among the organizations that collectively loaned nearly $400 million to MediaNews Group INC. — for the acquisition of newspapers in California and Minnesota!
“I thought this foundation was all about starving kids, not starving newspapers,” mocked one Seattle insider.
MORE
The Gates Foundation loaned an unspecified amount to MediaNews, along with General Electric.
In April, MediaNews agreed to buy four newspapers, including the San Jose Mercury News and Contra Costa Times, from McClatchy Co. for $1 billion. MediaNews also bought California’s Monterey County Herald and the St. Paul Pioneer Press in Minnesota. It also own the Denver Post. …
I’ve heard that newsprint paper has a lot of fibre in it… Maybe the ink is a source of extra protein?
So I wonder what the Pro-Gates/Jobs-bashers have to say about this charitable gesture from the Gates’ Foundation… I for one am very impressed, as it looks like Gates is trying to diversify his earnings as a true businessman. 
Desktop pictures available at Rampant Mac
Posted by Macheadcase | Filed under Computer history, Design, Other OSes, Personal
Mister Scott Chitwood, former ResExcellence Big Boss, asked me a couple of weeks ago if I wanted to upload some of my photos for desktop picture use on his website, Rampant Mac, in its latest incarnation. So how could I refuse?
Scott has amazing creations in there so please check them out! No matter your screen rez, you’ll find the right size you need. You’ll really dig his stuff. 
