Monday, March 29, 2004

Debian, where art thou?

After spending over an hour trying to save the Debian boot image to a floppy disk so I could Multiboot, I ran out of time.
I needed access to some programs on the Windows XP partition.
I got Windows XP to boot again using the Windows XP Recovery console - which is one of those things which you need to find out how to use beforeyou need to use it.
Now Debian no longer boots up.

Saturday, March 27, 2004

Impressed, so far

Now I'm impressed. Debian GNU Linux configured the X-Windows Server properly, and I was able to log into Gnome Desktop without a problem. Here I should note that I'm using the testing version of Debian, called Sarge, which has a newer installer than the stable version. Now I just need to get Windows XP to multi-boot with Debian....

And now for the mind-bend

Got the crazy idea to install Debian GNU/Linux over a perfect good Xandros Linux partition on my old machine. The Xandros Linux is at version 1.0, and I would need to fork out about $30 to upgrade to version 2.0 Standard. Since I don't use Linux that much, I though I'd give the free (yes, really free) Debian Linux a try.
Let's see now, I downloaded the network install about 3 hours ago, and the install has been running since then. It's got to the "Setting up Packages" part. When and if it boots, I'll see if the X-Windows actually works without my having to delve into virtually incomprehensible configuration files. Okay, okay, I know Windows XP has totally spoiled me, but then it's not free...

Tuesday, March 16, 2004

More McAfee

I'm still using the McAfee Internet Security Suite, despite the problems. Basically
it was either that or Norton Antivirus 2004 with it's Activation (and activation
problems), or a crossgrade to McAfee. There was also a PC Magazine article
which gave McAfee Internet Security 2004 a better rating than Norton Internet Security 2004,
specifically for detecting Spyware. I was looking for an Anti-virus, and with the current paranoia
about spyware, (and a good price), decided on McAfee.

I'd tried an earlier version of Norton Internet Security, and it worked fine,
although after a few weeks I had to turn off Ad blocking to speed up my machine, and
eventually the firewall mysteriously stopped my PocketPC from syncing. After that I
uninstalled it.

I don't use the pop-up ad blocker in McAfee. My browser of choice is Mozilla, which
has its own pop-up ad blocker. For the rare times when I use Internet Explorer, I
have the free Google toolbar installed, and it's pop-up ad blocker works really
well. As for blocking webpage ads, that is also built into Mozilla.

Saturday, March 06, 2004

Thoughts on the Palm Tungsten E

I've been using this handheld for a month now, and I like it.
It's light (weight-wise and pocketbook-wise) and has plenty of features for the
price.
Favorite feature - the whopping 29Mb of free RAM. This is something that is so important to a software hoarder like me - I literally have CDs full of freeware and shareware apps, some of which I've never installed due to space limitations on my personal handheld (a Sony NX60 which only has 11Mb of available space out of 16Mb) Currently I have just over 1 Mb free on the Sony NX60, and about 11Mb free on the Tungsten E. I would even choose RAM over extra features like a camera.
Thing I miss most compared to the Sony NX60 - the keyboard, especially when entering
a lot of data.
The Tungsten E also comes with loads of useful software, like Documents To Go Professional Edition and Handmark MobileDB, amongst many others. One thing it could do with though, is a File Manager (although the freeware program FileZ is good).
Must have software (for me anyway): Teal Script.

Conclusion: Move over Zire 71, the Tungsten E is the winner in this price division.