Next stop, OS X

I am going to buy a Mac, at last. I knew it was coming. I just tried to deny it and somewhere down in my heart I was hoping someone convince me to convert to OS X and buy get a Mac. well, it happened and I am going to buy a Macbook (maybe Pro or Air or just a simple macbook).

As I continue using Vista on my desktop, there should be some interesting compatibility and connectivity issues. If I find them interesting enough to address, I will write about them here.

First experience with Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon): Disasterous!

I have been impatiently waiting for the release of Ubuntu 7.10, Gutsy Gibbon.

I finally managed to download the DVD iso image, burnt it into a DVD and just waited for the right moment. Late in the night, I grabbed my coffee, dimmed the lights, and fired up my computer with the DVD. For me, the most exciting aspect of Ubuntu is its visual appeal. Very recently, with the introdoction of Compiz Fusion, this appeal just become something hot.

When the computer was starting up with the live DVD, something badly went wrong. The right graphic driver could not be found and instead I was forced to opt for basic one. It had never happened to me with any version of Ubuntu and with my current hardware configuration. My graphic card is an integrated Intel GMA 965, X3000. It has been serving Ubuntu 7.04, Feisty Fawn without any problem.

I was hopping that with the installation of Gutsy Gibbon to the hard drive, it will resolve the problem. I was so wrong.

When installation finished and system restarted, I was shocked to see a resolution of no more than 800x600 on a wide screen monitor with native resolution of 1440x900.
I played with different settings. after a while I managed to get the resolution right. but to my surprise, visual effects (Compiz) could not be started, a sign of wrong graphic driver.

Finally, I gave up with a bitter sense of disappointment. I may find a solution here and there. I will definitely give it a try. But I will never forget that Gutsy Gibbon was not what it meant to be in the first try. Feisty Fwan! I have so missed you!

When I edited menu.lst, to set Windows Vista as default operating system again, and restarted back to Vista, for the first time, I felt happy going back to Windows.

[Update: it is known that Intel 965 graphic chipset is in compiz blacklist. You can force compiz to skip checking and everything goes back to normal.

to do so, in terminal make sure you are in your home directory then type:

sudo gedit .config/compiz/compiz-manager

and add this line:

SKIP_CHECKS=yes

now try compiz again.]

Palm quick install and Windows Vista

It is really nice to see that "Outlook® 2007 Update for Palm OS Devices" is out and lets Palm devices sync with outlook 2007 easily and almost flawlessly. Though I should mention that sometimes it refuses to sync when outlook 2007 is running. I have to close outlook and try again.


My happiness did not last long when I found out that "quick install" is not compatible with Microsoft Windows Vista. Such a pain! There are some workarounds but I personally haven't found them useful.

I hope they release a patch before long.

I my next post, I will write about GRUB and Windows Vista. Does it ring a bell somewhere?

What is wrong with Flip 3D and Control Panel in Windows Vista?

Some users in Microsoft Windows Vista have a strange problem. Here is what it looks like:

Flip 3D does not work, i.e. when you try flip through windows a simple effect of task switching comes up. It doesn't mean that Aero is off. There are shadows under windows and glass effect in place.

At the same time running control panel is impossible. Control panel window appears for a very very short time (as an empty window) and disappears instantly. None of the components of control panel are operational. For example you cannot even change your background wallpaper.
The confusing part is that it does not happen every time the system boots up.

I googled the problem but found few things as to what the reason could be. It is suggested that a driver, or software that you have installed might be the problem. But believe me, you cannot find out which one is to blame.

Of course you can start uninstalling all your software one by one to see which one causes this problem but if you have been long enough with windows, you know that even uninstalling a software doesn't mean that all the dlls and junks are off the table.

The temporary work around that I have found to be useful is to restart a service called: "Software Licensing".

To do so, right click on Computer, select "manage". Then fins "Services" and from there find and restart "Software Licensing".

Update: After the latest updates for Vista in October 2007, this problem is resolved.

Vista vs. Ubuntu poll

[Update: Poll is now closed. An analytic report is coming soon.]

I just noticed that blogger has added a new gadget to its arsenal of add-ons, polls!
It is poll time folks! I have arranged a poll as to what your preference is when it comes to operating systems war. I will write a detailed report and analysis after the poll is closed.

Please kindly spare a few seconds and express yourself.

Cheers!

Expose in Windows Vista

Having moved from Ubuntu Linux to Windows Vista, one of the very first thing I missed was expose-like effect. Expose is originally a Mac idea that is also implemented in Compiz.

We do know that Windows Vista comes with its own flip 3d effect, but let's be fair, it is not as useful as expose in fast and visual switching between running applications.


Switcher is a very small and capable application that add expose like effect to Vista.
You can find Switcher here.

My new system and operating system

It happened at last! In the worst time imaginable. When I had loads of things to do my computer (the old, the only) simply refused to live any longer. I did the autopsy and the cause of death was motherboard failure. In a laptop computer, when the motherboard is gone, we have to let it go.

I was expecting to move to an Apple but I was in rush and as you know iMac line is to be revived shortly (it might has happened as you read this). I was in rush to buy a new computer and I didn't want to buy an old iMac. So I Bought a PC with Vista pre-installed.


I cannot really compare Vista to Ubuntu Linux or Windows XP in terms of speed, responsiveness and so on simply because my new hardware, by today's standards, is a monster and it MUST run Vista lightening fast.

However my first take on Vista is that it is not a huge step forward from Windows XP. It is refined, it has some eye candies but it is not hugely different.

I have also some compatibility issues with some software that I was using in XP. I just finished installing Windows XP in a virtual machine. To be perfectly honest, it performs well and I can easily install old software in XP without affecting Vista performance.