Ubuntu Productivity

If Ubuntu Linux had not won me over yet then it certainly has now. Ubuntu Netbook Remix is a fantastic set of tools for running Linux on small screens and boosting productivity in a limited workspace. The official description of the project says:

Ubuntu Netbook Remix is a ‘remix’ of the standard Ubuntu Desktop 8.04 release to enable it to work better on devices with small screens, such as Netbooks (sub-notebooks), although these packages will work on any 8.04 installation.

The Remix instantly captured my attention because of its focus on small screens. I have a 13″ MacBook laptop. Its 1280 x 800 screen can feel cramped sometimes, especially compared to my dual-scren iMac setup at work.

Given that my entire Ubuntu experiment is about productivity I had to give it a go. I have grown fond of how easy Linux makes experimentation. I knew that I could very easily install the Remix, test it, and just as easily uninstall it when I was done. But I’m keeping it. Here’s why. Read the rest of this entry »

I have really grown attached to Picasa as a photo manager. Since I have been using it more frequently I have been seeking ways to better integrate Picasa into the Ubuntu desktop.

Nautilus as Picasa’s default file manager

I found a great tip at the Ubuntu communities Picasa page demonstrating how to use the Nautilus file manager as Picasa’s default.
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You’d better hurry—I’m not sure how long this offer will last!

I found an awesome deal this weekend. The book entitled “Ubuntu Unleashed, 2008 Edition” from Sams comes with a free upgrade to Ubuntu 8.10! I found this at the local Barnes & Noble.

But don’t fret if there’s no Barnes & Noble in your area. The listing at Amazon states that it “Includes a DVD with a full Ubuntu Linux distribution, plus a free upgrade to Ubuntu Linux 8.10 once it is released.”

Simply amazing…can you believe there just givin’ this stuff away?

Really...is this necessary? A "Free Upgrade to Ubuntu 8.10" sticker on the book "Ubuntu Unleashed, 2008 Edition" from Sams.

The "Free Upgrade to Ubuntu 8.10" sticker

I thought this would be valuable to some of you that are new to Ubuntu. Being rather new to this Ubuntu Linux thing myself, I have struggled to get the terminal commands for fixing the .dmrc permissions issue just right.

The problem

When logging into Ubuntu 8.04 I would see this error message. It explains that the permissions on my user’s hidden .dmrc file and home directory are wrong.

A photo of the .dmrc permissions error I was getting when logging into Ubuntu 8.04

Hehehe. This is soooo true.

View original comic at xkcd.

Ahhh…that day has finally come! I just got my Dropbox invite for the linux alpha

I have been using Dropbox on my Mac for a few months now—it’s fantastic! There are three features that the service offers: backup, syncing, and sharing. It is the second feature, syncing, that I am most impressed with. Any file inside the Dropbox folder is continuously synced with the server. Every time I change the file Dropbox quietly and adroitly sends the changes, and only the changes, to the server.
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