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These ain’t gon fit on Twitter so I’ma post these here…
I’ve found these at least two weeks ago.
- Google Chrome loads pages faster than Mozilla Firefox; but
- Google Chrome crashes on slow PC’s
Just that…
“You have been Joliclouded!”
That is what your mail will tell you when you receive your invitation code to test Jolicloud.
Jolicloud is a new operating system optimized for netbooks tagged as “a cool new OS for netbooks.” It is still on alpha, called “robby release”, so download is avaible after getting the code.
But don’t let the “alpha” make you not want it. For an alpha build, Jolicloud knows how to deliver.
The idea of Jolicloud revolves around building a laptop that woud run an Internet operating system that utilizes web alternatives of existing costly software.
Jolicloud has a long list of supported hardware and the list grows as more and more netbooks are tested by the community.
What makes Jolicloud different from most open source OS is that besides its being optimized for netbooks, it is made for the “always online” generation – the ones who don’t seem to shut down as they can always be found online. Jolicloud gives you a gorgeous interface and a set of social features for a more fun experience.
When you boot your Jolicloud netbook, you might say that it is the Netbook remix but it just looks like one. In fact, it is way different.
The “Get Started” icon is the most interesting part of the whole system. This takes you to your Jolicloud homebase. The homebase is divided into four sections: the Dashboard, Applications, Settings, and Lab.
The dashboard is your Jolicloud social networking platform. This is where you can find updates from Jolicloud, both for the apps and the system, and from people you follow. Updating only takes one click on the update button.
Now the Applications tab is the most valuable tab in your homebase. This is the part that makes Jolicloud easy to use. The applications directory gives you a list of all the apps you might need for your netbook – and more. It gives you the “one-click install” feature that Jolicloud is proud to give you.
You just have to click on the “Install” button, authenticate, and the system will start downloading and installing the app for you. If you get tired of the app, the “Remove” button will be there for you. The app directory is also constanly being updating so you are to expect more things.
The Settings tab is also indispensable. It shows you your profile and and other information about your system. If you have another netbook and you want to install Jolicloud on it, too, the system will be there for you to sync both netbooks. Your different subscriptions can also be found here.
The Lab tab is mostly grayed-out.
That is just some of the awesome things that Jolicloud can give you. Right now, it is the OS that can give you all you need and a lot more.
The computing world should not run only on Microsoft. Besides, a lot of free, open-source, and high-quality software are available on the web that can replace the apps pre-installed with your MS XP OS.
I know a huge majority of PC users use the Microsoft OS in their systems and use commercial software*. I, for one, replaced my Xandros OS with MS XP cuz I can’t modify Xandros to my flavor that time. At least, I didn’t know how to. As for the apps, I’ll stick to the free ones. There are a lot of ‘em out there. You just have to know where to look.
This is gonna be some sort of glimpse to my rig cuz I’ma be listing stuff I use in it.
This idea just got into my mind after a few things. I was actually really inspired by a few articles I found from the web. There was this article on the most essential software for your MS PC and another on the top open-source software; both came from the same site but I forgot the address. Mostly, I was inspired by Mozilla’s plug-in for Firefox 3.5. It says:
“You’re not using VHS… Why use Internet Explorer?”
Or something like it… So, in the spirit of SpreadFirefox and open-source, I’ma give this one…
This is so gonna have a lot of tags…
Let’s start! (Note: The links after each section are download pages or links.)
Web Browser
If you have an MS OS, by default, there will be an installation of Internet Explorer. IE sounds to me like so yesterday already; even though I know they’ve been updating. In comes Firefox. It isn’t really the first web browser beside IE that I got to know. I was first introduced to Opera. That was 2003, I think. Opera can be a good one. I learned about the tabs feature and immediately stopped using IE. Then, the internet cafe I frequent that time, actually, until now, found Firefox. I wouldn’t know why the owner went looking for alternative web browsers but it was good that I got introduced to a better one.
I can also love Google Chrome. I’ve got the chance to use it and I loved it. Yes, it loads pages faster than Firefox can but I’ve read that Firefox is still more secure so I’ll stick with the Fox. Besides, I can’t have another web browser as I have to save up as much space in my system as I can as I am using an EeePC 701.
| Mozilla Firefox | Google Chrome |
Mail Client
I don’t remember when was the first time I found out about Mozilla Thunderbird but I remember having an installer that I never used. There was no point in having a mail client when you do not have your own system. It’s rather pointless and unsecured. MS have Outlook Express and I never really cared to try it. When I got my rig, I didn’t really immediately get the Bird but lately I added one to my rig.
For most users, web-based mail is good enough but there is always gonna be some of us who will want more functionality. Thunderbird gives you that. Multi-account is one of those features that’s cool; you wouldn’t have the need to check ‘em mail accounts one at a time.
Media Player
iTunes! Yes, iTunes ain’t open source but it is available for free – totally free. I didn’t bother searching for some other media players as iTunes works for me. I don’t find Windows Media Player good for me especially that I am stuck with whatever version this one is. I didn’t even bother clicking on it even just for once. Yes, they’ve updated and upgraded the player but I still ain’t lovin’ it. iTunes still looks better and works better for me. Plus, when it’s Apple, they think about style – I love that part. The super-awesome visualization that they installed in iTunes 8 is a bonus.
However, it ain’t gon be able to play every media there is. Even with AVI’s, you’ll need to download additional software. That’s when VideoLAN’s VLC media player comes in. As far as I’ve used it, I haven’t encountered a media file it can’t play. Just like the tag, “VLC: Plays it all!”
| Apple iTunes | VideoLAN VLC |
Office Suite
Before I post a blog, I encode it first in my rig. I used to have MS Office 2003 but then MS Office 2007 files ain’t totally compatible with MS Office 2003 unless you don’t miss the “Save As”. I can’t allow myself to upgrade to 2007 given the display of my rig. MS Office 2007 has a huge toolbar at the top and that won’t work for me.
It’s good that I got to remember the existence of OpenOffice.org. At first I thought I’d have to adjust to the interface of OOo first but apparently, it ain’t that hard. For a former user of MS Office, OOo is not really hard. OOo 3 can recognize MS Office 2007 files so I ain’t gon have a problem with compatibility. I am using OOo for this article.
| OpenOffice.org |
Instant Messenger
I ain’t too certain what exactly MSN as I never really cared about it but I am thinkin’ it’s for instant messaging. Yahoo! Messenger works but it’ll only work for your Y! account and for one account at a time. I know a lot of us have more than one account and it’ll really be handy if we can add all those buddies and talk to buddies from different account at the same time. Multi-account comes in again.
I was introduced to Pidgin when I was in my Xandros. It might not have the Y! Chat rooms but the fact that you can use different accounts from different services at the same time Is awesome.
| Yahoo! Messenger | Pidgin |
Drawing
MS Paint is practically useless for me. No layers, the text box is messed up, limited colors – very limited. Basically, you’ll immediately want to look for an image editor. Adobe Photoshop might come to your mind but I don’t plan to use it.
GIMP is the answer. GIMP may not have as much features as Photoshop but it works well enough for me. Oh, yeah, I get the part that says, MS Paint, the built-in one, is just too far away from GIMP. For those who want something really close to Photoshop, there’s GIMPshop. I never really got to use that one but, as far as I’ve read, GIMPshop is practically an open-source version of Adobe Photoshop.
System Tools
Anti-Virus
Well, Windows doesn’t really have a built-in anti-virus but this is like a must-have for all computers. I can only think of one thing for this one: ClamWin. Yes, scanning is slow but it is efficient. It’s like, it searches every nook and cranny of the file it is scanning. As long as I’ve been using it, it’s work well.
| ClamWin |
Defragmentation
For the surface users, as I love to call them, this one ain’t important. As for me who kinda loves to have my fun with my system, it’s pretty important. Besides, I mostly do multi-tasking and defragmentation gives for speed.
Windows has a built-in defragmenter but it ain’t able to do its job well enough. My friend gave me Piriform’s Defraggler when I wasn’t able to use the built-in one due to a virus attack. It’s able to defragment files better and demands a lesser amount of free space to be able to do its job well. However, it used to just ask for 5% but the one I got asks for 10%. Anyway, that ain’t too big. The built-in one asks for 15%.
| Defraggler |
Disk Clean-up
The built-in cleaner will want itself to be used when you’re running out of disk space. More specifically, when you have less than 200Mb of disk space available. For someone like me who uses a lot of stuff and only has a 4G of memory available, this can happen a lot. However, the built-in one doesn’t really know how to look for temporary files and the such. Or so I think.
When I scan using CCleaner, it displays more files available for deletion. The registry cleaner is a bonus.
| CCleaner |
Bonus:
Dock System
Microsoft doesn’t seem to have thought of this but it is actually a good one. Most especially when you are someone like me who wants her desktop clean and wants more customization. Punklab’s Rocketdock does it well. With the community it’s got, I can’t think of a reason not to like this particular dock.
| Rocketdock |
If anyone can tell me how to completely remove IE, Outlook Express, and Windows Media Player from my system, please do so. I will totally appreciate it.
*When I say “commercial”, I mean those software which have no hint of being free. Not even free to download and use.
This was written with no intention of of making it sound like a professional article.
Banners, banners…
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I so need a new theme…
I created a dealer the first time I logged back in to ROSE Online this year. Then, I decided to create a full array of characters. Now I’m thinking of building a Visitor forever – just for fun! I wonder if the AruaROSE team can make a special visitor forever job…
Uhm, my charcters are all females, BTW. The models are unfortunately males and you ain’t got no choice for the gender when you create the sig.
Uh-huh. Once again, even if it ain’t the summertime, after a few months, I think it was more than a year, I’ma play ROSE Online. What can I do? I still love the game!
I’m still in download stage but still… I’ma be in soon!
I still need some stuff to get the installation done…
I’ma have to get it tomorrow and be done with the switch…
This ain’t too awesome no more. These virus attacks can get through and I’m hatin’ it. Havin’ ‘em in my system has never been awesome and I just did a really very stupid thing yesterday. I actually activated a worm which was staying silently in my external HDD…
So, after one almost sleepless night and some hours of thought and askin’ a few people…
I’ve decided to do a switch.
I’m some sort of a risk-taker anyway. So why not take it higher? Well, it’s just a matter of switching OS’s. I’m fed up with my Microsoft XP getting viruses once in a while a getting my data in danger. I’ve searched a few. On how to get through password protected windows and then switched keywords… I found this: Swapping Windows for Linux.
Right now I’m downloading EasyPeasy and it’s on 43.3%. Download’s rather fast cuz of the download accelerator.
I know I’ma have to download some apps – a lot actually. And get myself used with the OS but I’ma get through. Anyway, Windows XP was never built for Eee PC’s.
Right now, I’ma have to get some replacements. OSalt will always be there.
My iTunes! And the hits… And the playlists… I was loving iTunes 8 and its visuals…
Oh, and… This is when I can consider some Wine…
I’LL BE DAMNED!
I just remembered a li’l something from the article “How to Become a Hacker.”
There’s this one rule, or something like it, that says,
Don’t use a silly, grandiose user ID or screen name.
So…
I will now have to change my display name. At least, keep it closest to my real name.
The problem with screen names or handles deserves some amplification. Concealing your identity behind a handle is a juvenile and silly behavior characteristic of crackers, warez d00dz, and other lower life forms. Hackers don’t do this; they’re proud of what they do and want it associated with their real names. So if you have a handle, drop it. In the hacker culture it will only mark you as a loser.
Now…
Skye—>MJae
From: How to Become a Hacker
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