Improving media playback

Media playback on Ubuntu can be improved by installing extra codec from https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Medibuntu

Opera mini and my nokia e63

After reading many good post on the discussion forums about Opera mini, I decided to give it a good on my Nokia E63 as the Nokia browser come with the phone is slow and buggy at times especially these sites with Javescripts. What can I say, it is much better experience with the Opera mini on this phone. Browsing the WWW is reasonable ... in fact, I am typing this post with my phone using the Opera mini

xorg.conf

I just found this little utility called xorg-options-editor-gtk which allows me to customize the xorg.conf "graphically". Although I would like something simpler, it guess this will do for now. It is a lot better than customizing the configuration file by hand with a text editor!

Linksys HP200

Finally, Linksys release the driver for Linksys&at;Home HP200 Wireless PC Card. This model was particular troublesome as it seemed Linksys&at;Home was a special brand for Tesco. Hence, there was no trace of such product on Linksys page before. Anyway, if you like me who has a Linksys&at;Home HP200 card, grab the driver from Linksys before they change their mind.

Printing with Windows shared printers

If you want to print to a printer connected on a Windows machine, you need to have samba-client installed. This will add an extra option onto the printer configuration which allows you browse and connect to a Windows shared printer!

Chinese ... another step closer to ditching Windows

Today I have found a little Java utility, called HanziLookup which can do Chinese handwriting recognitions. Windows comes with a utility which can recognize Chinese handwritings. This is very handy for people like myself who cannot type Chinese. I have been looking for something similar in Linux world and this discovery means I am another step closer to leave Windows world.

Windows 7 and my VirtualBox

I have just installed Windows 7 RC on VirtualBox to see how it compares with XP on the same setup. Well, it isn't doing so well. System monitor reported it used more CPU and more memory. If you are thinking of replacing XP on your Netbook with Windows 7, you may want to hold your thought. At least I will after this experience. I guess this explains why Microsoft has extended XP license for Netbook again.

Another negative aspect of Windows 7 is its footprint. Windows XP consumes about 3GB with minimal installation, i.e. Windows itself and AV software. Whereas Windows 7 takes over 6GB as it stands now with minimal installation. Again, this isn't something good for Netbooks which tends to have relatively small hard drive.