It’s been a few months now since I’ve gone completely Linux on my computers. As you would expect you start figuring out the little quirks of a system from day to day use. I’ve been doing my best to make notes as things crop up and what the solution is.

One of my more frequent issues is regarding Adobe Air. I only have a couple of applets that I use but I use them often. During it’s initial beta period on Linux, the Air platform when through pretty regular updates. I noticed a problem every time I updated it on Ubuntu. Adobe Air would break my Add/Remove Applications manager. The window would show up completely blank every time I loaded it to go hunting for a new program. After a little research on the Ubuntu forums I found the quick and easy way to reinstall the manager itself. Nothing too fancy, just open up the terminal and enter:

sudo update-app-install

It’s worked every time so far without issue. I just wanted to make a permanent note of it here for my own reference above everything else. And possibly share it with anyone else who stumbles across the same problem.

As my cable provider begins to cap my bandwidth with a monthly limit.  I begin to ponder two things.  The first is, what took them so long.  The second is a bit more disturbing.  We are well into the age of cloud computing, a bit of computer history in the making that I initially found ironic.

Having moved from terminals and mainframes to supercomputers on our desk, we seemed to have returned full circle.  What was once a mildly humorous concept is starting to cause me a bit of concern.  It seems the way applications are used today, and how we access our applications are in opposition.  Everyday I find myself using more and more tools on the web to manage my data, while Internet providers across the nation are cutting off my access to that data.

If my Internet Service Provider decides to not to provide me with Internet services, what do they think is going to happen to them?  Perhaps the circle will continue.  Maybe well move back to storing all of our information on our desktops until new methods of communication take place of the cable and DSL companies.  Maybe we’ll have another Dot-com bubble were everyone will get rich and then quickly get poor again.

While this all makes for an interesting intellectual exercise, I simply don’t have the allotted bandwidth to discuss it any further.  My time on the mainframe is almost up.

I finally broke down and bought an Asus EEE PC netbook several weeks ago.  I’ve been threatening to purchase one since they originally came out.  I carefully compared what was available and got what I felt were the best features for the price.  I settled on the 901 model.  It had all the features I wanted while keeping the smallest possible foot print.  Moving up to the 10 inch model seemed like it was defeating the purpose of a netbook.  Moving up to a larger size lessens portability.  Also opted for the linux version as opposed to the XP.  You got a few extra gigs of storage for it and I figurd I could always add XP later if I really wanted.  I liked the idea of knowing for sure all the hardware was linux supported and would work under Ubuntu when I installed it.

Battery life on this thing is great.  The claim was six hours.  I regularly get 4-5.  Considering how much manufacturers usually exaggerate I think thats pretty impressive.  Over all it doesn’t feel sluggish or low powered at all. The built in Xandros OS was interesting.  Lot of web-based apps pre-linked like Google Docs.  Out of the box this thing would probably be quite usable by my parents.  Even though it’s purpose in life is to run web-based applications, I’m still impressed how well it does the job.  Despite how functional it is out of the box, I went ahead put on a full Ubuntu install so I could be sure I  was familiar with what was installed.

Though Ubuntu installed fine off a USB key, there were a few post install changes that needed to be made to perfect things.  Wi-fi isn’t running right away, but there is plenty of information on the network for getting that running.  There is a custom kernel for the Eee PC to take advantage of all of its features that I installed, as well as the interface from the Ubuntu Netbook Remix project.  It’s a nice menued interface that provides something a bit different from the standard desktop we are all use too.  There are good tutorials on how to do all this online, but they are just slightly out of date as newer versions of Ubuntu are now out.  I plan to document everything I’ve done as usual for my own personal benefit, as well as all those who might be curious.

Bottom line is I’m extremely pleased with my purchase.  My Eee PC has become as indispensable as my iPod.  Its surprisingly fast.  As portable as I could want it to be.  Good enough for reading ebooks, news, and do a little retro gaming.  Watching video is good too as long as the resolution isn’t HD, otherwise it gets choppy.  Also usable enough to write this review and publish it on my blog.

Here is a gallery of the initial unboxing:

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[View with PicLens]

I’ve joined the internet blackout to protest against the Guilt Upon Accusation law ‘Section 92A’ going into effect February 28th in New Zealand.  To find out more check here.

I got some Doublemint gum in my Christmas stocking this year. It came in a nice little that I’ll eventually use to put junk that I refuse to throw away. Generally I’m not a big gum chewer. Can’t throw all the gum away though because that would just be wasteful. What do I do instead? I start playing with it.

I had popped a couple pieces of gum in my mouth when, like anyone with a severe case geek, I noticed the wrapper was about the size of a USB key. I then of course grabbed my USB key, threw it in the wrapper, and it was a perfect fit.

Having being struck by inspiration I grabbed a fresh pack of gum and headed to my secret laboratory. There, after many late hours and painstaking trial and error, I developed my own Doublemint flavored USB key. Here I have meticulously documented the process.

First things first. Gather all the tools and supplies needed. The following are required: Hot glue gun, Appropriately sized USB Key (I used a 16GB Kingston DataTraveler 100), A fine point Sharpie pen, an X-acto knife, and a pack of Wrigley’s Doublemint chewing gum. Optionally a ruler or some other straight edge could help. I found the gum just as effective.

Technically speaking, you could use Juicy Fruit, but that would just be weird.

You’ll need to get the wrapper open, with minimal damage to the packing. The traditional method of pulling the little tab is out because it is self-destructive to the packaging. Grab your X-acto knife and carefully shim the blade under the outer fold on the side of the packaging. Open the side of the package like you are opening a very tiny package of cereal.

You’ll be able to carefully open the wrapper down the side and pull the gum out. Enjoy a little chewing break but save a piece for later.

Unfold the wrapper completely, using the same cereal box technique to open the opposite side. Lay it out flat.

Place your USB key on the wrapper for measuring. Line it up with the fold on the left side. This side will get folded back and form the bottom of your USB key (presuming we are calling the plug the top.)

On the foil side of the wrapper, measure how far the USB key reaches. Use the fine point Sharpie to mark a line using a piece of the gum (or any other flat edge).

Use the X-acto knife to cut along the line and remove the excess wrapper.

This particular USB key has a switch on the skinny side.

Line the skinny side of the USB key up with the folds on the wrapper that belong to the skinny side of the package.

Use the Sharpie to mark where the beginning edge of the switch rests.

Flip the switch now and mark on the wrapper where the switch ends.

Use the marks to measure out the space you’ll need to cut away to make room for the switch to stick through the packaging.

Cut along your measurements to make the hole in the wrapper for your switch.

Line up your USB key on the wrapper to make sure everything is going to fit together and you haven’t made any mistakes. Things get a little more permanent from this point on.

Remove the USB key for the moment. Grab your hot glue gun and place a small dab of glue where you just had the USB key placed.

Replace the USB key and press it firmly down on the glue.

Place another dab of glue on a parallel spot on top of the USB key.

Fold the inner flap of the Doublemint packaging around the key and press it firmly into the glue.  Don’t be a baby.  The glue isn’t that hot.

Place to small dabs of glue on either side of the inner flap and fold over the outer flap.

The plug end of the USB key should be flush with the end of the wrapper where you cut. The other end should be recessed. Stand it up with the plug facing down and the recessed end upward. Add a drop of hot glue down inside the wrapper on the USB key.

Fold the end of the wrapper back the same way you opened it up. It should look like a fresh pack of gum when you are done.

Test the switch that pops out the USB plug to make sure you made all your measurements properly.

If everything looks good, then congratulations. You are ready to make everyone at the office think you have some weird chewing gum fetish. If they do, thats your problem and I can’t help you.