Linux Mint releases Cinnamon

Sick of the new GNOME 3.0? Sick of Ubuntu’s Unity desktop? While let me introduce you to Cinnamon. Cinnamon is the first stable version of Cinnamon created by Linux Mint. It is designed to look and feel like the old GNOME 2.0 interface.

Now I was hoping I could tell you how I like it, but I can’t. It doesn’t work on my virtual machine and I am not brave enough to install it on my production machine.

I can tell you that I will run Ubuntu 10.04 LTS until I have to choose. I will not stick with Ubuntu if the old GNOME 2.0 is no longer available. By then I hope that Cinnamon has worked out all the bugs.

I have, however, been able to run Mate in my virtual machine. It is at least an option. Worst case scenario I will move to Xubuntu. It is at least a workable alternative at this point.

LINKS
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/open-source/linux-mint-releases-cinnamon-gnome-2x-style-desktop/10220
http://cinnamon.linuxmint.com/

Thoughts about Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric Ocelot

Before you switch to the new and not improved Ubuntu, you should know that Unity is now the default desktop. There is no Gnome classic version. So like it or not Unity is what you will get. On newer systems you can run the 3D version, on older systems you will default to the 2D version.

So what’s wrong with Unity? In my opinion it is taking several steps back. It takes away so much of the flexibility and usefulness of the old Gnome desktop. In all fairness to Ubuntu, the real problem is up-stream. The Gnome Project made some major changes and it has effected everyone down stream. Even Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, hates Gnome 3. So Ubuntu has decided to create their own shell to run on top of Gnome 3.

Honestly, in my opinion, both shells suck. I have got to the point where I can use the new Ubuntu Unity desktop, I just don’t like it. However, I can see how it would work fairly well on a touch screen device. And this is what I think they are really aiming at. But in the process they are leaving us desktop users behind.

So what advice do I give to users? Don’t install Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric Ocelot! Burn yourself a live CD and test drive it first. Don’t install it unless you are sure you like it.

For those still running Ubuntu 10.04 LTS don’t upgrade. Stay with it for as long as you can. This is what I am doing on my main system. I used my laptop to test the new Ubuntu 11.10. So that is my first recommendation – stay with Ubuntu 10.04 LTS.

For those of you who just have to have the latest and greatest Linux, I recommend Linux Mint. This is my first recommendation to those just beginning to use Linux. In the next version of Linux Mint they are going to try to fix Gnome 3 to act like the old Gnome 2 that we all loved. I am not convinced that they will fully succeed, but at least it is a move in the right direction.

For those who do not have issues with Ubuntu shoving Unity down your throats, there is always the option of one of the alternative desktops. The closest to Gnome is Xfce, but LXDE is also maturing and feels a little more like Windows. Then for the more adventurous there is always KDE. KDE feels a little like Windows 7 to me. It is very flashy and has a very good group of programs that go with it. It is not very good for older machines, but then neither is Gnome 3. If I have to stay with Ubuntu I think I would switch to Xfce, called Xubuntu.

So there you have it, my thoughts on the latest and saddest Ubuntu to date. I went from an Ubuntu fan boy to an Ubuntu hater. Yes I hate where Ubuntu is going and that millionaire Mark Shuttleworth does give a damn about what the users want. He could have fought for the old desktop that we can to trust and love, but he didn’t. He could have forked off a Gnome branch of Ubuntu and let Unity be a separate thing. But no, he knows better than us.

If I had to make the switch today, Linux Mint would be my choice. But I am waiting to see what happens in the Linux world in the next few years. Canonical will provide support for Ubuntu 10.04 LTS until April 2013 for the desktop version. At that point I will have to make a choice. That will give Gnome 3 time to mature to the point where the damn thing might actually be usable. I blame the Gnome project as much as Mark Shuttleworth for messing with a good thing – Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx.

LINKS
http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS8745257437.html

Setting Up TOR

Under Software Sources add:

Type: Binary
URI: http://deb.torproject.org/torproject.org
Distribution: lucid
Components: main

Type: Binary
URI: http://deb.torproject.org/torproject.org
Distribution: lucid
Components: main

It should refresh cache when closed.
Search for TOR in software center and install it.
Also install Vidalia.

For More Help:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Tor?action=show&redirect=TOR

What is Linux and Why Should I Care?

Linux is an operating system kind of like Windows. The reason you should care is that unlike Windows there are no viruses in the open for Linux. And although you are not charged for it, companies like Red Hat, Novell, Oracle, and IBM have spent a lot of time and money on it. There are well over a thousand computer programmers who have worked on it. So although Linux is free, it is not cheap.

Linux is also open source. That means that you can see the computer source code, and if you can read programing languages, you can know what your computer is doing. In fact, you can actually change it and make it better if you want. This is great, because there are a thousand eyes looking at what your computer is doing. There have been rumors for years that Microsoft Windows has a back door that allows Microsoft or any government agency to spy on you. There’s no way to disprove it because Microsoft doesn’t share their source code with anybody. It is closed source.

Linux can be shared. Again to compare with Windows, although it’s the same for Apple’s Mac OS X, you can’t share Windows with your friends. I know, we all grew up being told that sharing was a good thing. Well not to Microsoft or Apple. Not only is it wrong, it is criminal. Doesn’t that seem strange to you? Sharing makes you a law breaker. Well with Linux, sharing is not only allowed, it’s encouraged. Make as many copies of Linux as you like and give them to as many people as you like. It’s legal because Linux is copyrighted with those permissions already given to you. It is called the GNU General Public License.

Lastly, Linux will run on older computers. Is Windows getting too big for your computer? Is it running slower and slower? Well Linux can give you back your old computer. (If its really old, try a distribution called Puppy Linux.)

Linux includes over 30,000 free programs including Firefox, Thunderbird, Google Chrome, and LibreOffice. Although many Windows programs would run on Linux, some will using a program called WINE. But even if they don’t run, you will find many substitute programs that work just as well or better.

Actually you might already be running Linux and not know it. Android is a Linux based operating system, so if you have a Droid phone you are running Linux. If it’s good enough for your phone, it might be good enough for your desktop. Worth a try, don’t you think?

So where do you begin? I suggest you begin with a live Linux Mint CD. Linux Mint is a distribution of Linux that bundles together all the programs you will need. The live CD allows you to put the CD in your computer, reboot, and then test drive Linux Mint. This allows you the chance to get use to Linux Mint before you actually install it. Remember to backup all your files before you install Linux Mint, otherwise you will loose everything.

Linux Mint
http://www.linuxmint.com/download.php

Celebrating 20 Years of Linux

Twenty years ago this August a computer programmer from Helsinki, Finland started a revolution. His name is Linus Torvalds. He made the bold choice to share his operating system with the world and to do so for free. Later he decided to release it under the GNU General Public License, which guaranteed that it would be free and its source code open. This revolution in computing created the largest collaborative development project in the history of computing. Literally thousands have contributed code to the Linux kernel.

Today the Linux operating system is literally found everywhere. In fact most people don’t even know they are using Linux. Linux is a leading server operating system, which means most of the web is running on Linux. In fact the 10 fastest supercomputers in the world are running Linux. I dare say that most Android users have no clue that they are using a Linux operating system. But it doesn’t stop with mobile phones, Linux is also found on almost 2% of desktop computers as well tablet computers, routers, ATM’s, video game consoles, and can even be found in cars.

The film industry has also gone Linux. The first major film produced on Linux servers was Titanic back in 1997. Since then major studios have migrated to Linux including such giants as Dreamworks Animation, Pixar, and Industrial Light & Magic. The Linux Movies Group says that more than 95% of the servers and desktops at large animation and visual effects companies use Linux.

Today Linux turns 20 years old and many are joining in the celebration. The Linux Foundation will officially celebrate the 20th anniversary of Linux at this years LinuxCon in Vancouver, Canada on August 17-19. It only seems appropriate that we are launching the first episode of the Linux News Podcast on the 20th anniversary of Linux. We hope to become the source for Linux and Open Source news, and in a small way give back to the great Linux community.

Source: Linux News Podcast

Simple File Sharing: Giver

Giver is a real simple file sharing desktop application. First you have to install Giver. It can be found in the Ubuntu Software Center as well as in Linux Mint.

After it in installed on more than one computer on your home network, simply start it. It is located under Internet in the program menu. It will automatically detect anyone running Giver on your network. You can then send files to them by simply dragging the files to their photo or icon shown in Giver.

It is really that simple. I use it on my home network and love it.

Link
Giver File Sharing

More Ubuntu Missteps Coming This Fall

The Ubuntu Developer Summit comfirms that Ubuntu will continue its missteps. Ubuntu 11.10, code named “Oneric Ocelot” will no longer ship with the classic Gnome desktop on the default CD. Now you will have to choose between Unity 3D and Unity 2D. Since it is build on Gnome 3, I assume you will be able to choose that.

Next there are plans to dump Evolution as the default email client and switch to Thunderbird, that is if they can complete an extensive number of items in time. If not, the change will likely occur in Ubuntu 12.04.

They will be dumping PitiVi Video Editor, the Computer Janitor, and possibly not include LibreOffice on the Cd to conserve space.

There was also talk of dropping Firefox as the default web browser and switching to Chrome. Although I prefer Chrome, it is not the best browser for some languages. Furthermore most user still prefer Firefox.

All this mean that the next Long Term Service (12.04 LTS) release will be Unity based. Like it or not Unity is Ubuntu. Well, I don’t like Unity and I am beginning to not to care for Ubuntu. I am hoping some distrubution will step up to the plate and make a user friendly distro that doesn’t suck. Right now I think Linux Mint is the best choice. I am tired of Ubuntu ignoring the users and just going with what Mark Shuttleworth wants. I think it is time to ditch Ubuntu no matter how much it hurts.

Links
Plans for Ubuntu 11.10 crystalise
Ubuntu Developers Party In Budapest