Linux Mint 9

We stumbled on a great Linux version today that was new to us: Linux Mint 9. It's based of Ubuntu 10.04 but uses a desktop more like WinXx. We've tested it a bit today and it's very cool (not just because of the cool, minty background!).

Check it out at www.linuxmint.com.

Of course, the price is $0.00, as in FREE.

Facebook

OK, I admit it: I'm addicted to Facebook. I'm discovered more old friends and keep in touch with family members who are far away and I enjoy it.

Today Facebook started rolling out improved security features and that is good. I hope their new policies solve all of the problems users have encountered in the past.

MSFT shakeup

Steve Ballmer of MSFT sent an email today to the tech press outlining the latest re-org of the company. There were a LOT of  personnel changes and a new web based organization created.

I've predicted for a long time now that MSFT is going to shift their emphasis to web based products and I think this re-org is part of the change.

Money matters

After some bad publicity Apple has decided to change its debit or credit only policy for purchasing an iPad.
Apple had instituted the policy to enforce the two iPad limit per customer, but it had some unintended consequences – in the form of bad press – when a California woman, Diane Campbell, was denied the ability to purchase one with cash she had carefully been saving.

Someone at Apple HQ had the good sense to change that no-cash-for-iPads policy. Now, you're free to buy an iPad with cash, as long as you set up a free Apple account at the store. Apple's PR department  sent a pair of Apple staffers to Campbell's house with a free iPad.

In other news,  Owning an iPhone ain’t cheap. As it turns out, getting rid of one isn’t either.

You got your initial upfront cost starting around $200. You’ll need a case some film to protect the screen, so figure on that. And then you got your monthly charges; I believe mine are right around $70-75 a month -- and you don’t get the cut-rate price withAT&T’s iPhone service that many service providers offer when you add a second device to the plan.

For me, although I am very financially conservative, and many other users, the cost is well worth it.
Those that don’t dig the iPhone, get frustrated with the AT&T service that supports it, or just decide they no longer want the service for whatever reason, however, should get themselves ready for another financial hit. AT&T is raising the fee for iPhone – or any smartphone - users who prematurely pull the plug on their two-year service contracts.

That’s the word from a recent report on the matter, which says that starting next month, those folks will have to shell out $325 for the honor of cutting the virtual cord. That’s $150 more than the $175 punishment AT&T currently metes out to discourage an early exit.

HyperOffice Releases New Version of Cloud-Computing Collaboration Software Suite for SMBs

A press release came out today announcing the latest update to the HyperOffice cloud-computing suite. You can read the entire release agt the link below.

HyperOffice Releases New Version of Cloud-Computing Collaboration Software Suite for SMBs

Netbook Linux

I've been using both Ubuntu and Kubuntu 10.04 Netbook versions for the last 24 hours and have some thoughts. I loaded the software onto bootable flash drives and have tested them on multiple Netbooks from Lenovo, ASUS, Dell and Gateway. 

The biggest surprise I've had so far is the desktop used by the Kubuntu version. Kubuntu Netbook Edition uses the Plasma Netbook shell. This features two desktop activities, one for launching applications and one for using Plasma Widgets. There is a retracting panel at the top for the system tray. Switching applications is done with a, currently incomplete, widget in the top left corner.

It's VERY different and will take some getting used to.

Ubuntu 10.04

Ubuntu 10.04, the Lucid Lynx version, is now available for download at www.ubuntu.com. We have downloaded the 10.04 files for Ubuntu, Kubuntu and UNE- the Ubuntu Netbook Edition (the OS formerly known as ReMix).

Once we've had a chance to test the software we'll have a full review in the newsletter. As we test each version we'll be sure to post updates on this blog so everyone will know how we're doing.

By the way, the price for all versions of the software remains the same. They are all free.

Nexus One

This week Sprint joined Verizon in dumping the Google Nexus phone. That leaves T-Mobile as the only partner selling the phone.So much for Google having a magic touch and everything they touch turning to gold.

Both Sprint and Verizon have been pushing Android phones and I must admit, I think they're right to dump the Google phone. I've been using an Android phone for the past month or so and have become a definite convert!!

Karen Oberlin at the Algonquin

KAREN OBERLIN AT THE ALGONQUIN -- 3 FULL WEEKS IN JUNE: 1-19

My favorite singer, will be at the Algonquin in Manhattan for three weeks in June. If you're in the NYC area please go, you'll have a wonderful time.

THE OAK ROOM SUPPER CLUB at THE ALGONQUIN HOTEL presents KAREN OBERLIN in HEART & SOUL:  A Centenary Celebration of Frank Loesser
Tues-Thurs:  8:30 pm
Fri & Sat:   8:30 pm & 11 pm
RESERVATIONS:  212-419-9331

Sony Introduces World's Smallest and Lightest Interchangeable Lens Digital Cameras

Today Sony announced a new series of small digital cameras that take interchangeable lenses. This has become a hot product line lately with new cameras from several manufactures. I love to see innovative competition like this because it always makes for great products. You will find Sony's press release here: 

Sony Introduces World's Smallest and Lightest Interchangeable Lens Digital Cameras

More free software!

I saw this today and want to pass it on. Free Data Recovery Software from EASEUS - New EASEUS Data Recovery Wizard Free Edition 5.0.1

HP Hurricane

I read this online today and thought I'd pass it on:

HP killed off development of its Slate tablet recently, supposedly because of the company’s unhappiness with how it ran Windows 7. After HP acquired Palm and promised that webOS would boldly go where webOS had not gone before, everybody assumed that HP meant tablets, and now we’re hearing the first rumblings of a webOS-powered tablet coming through HP’s pipeline.

Little concrete is known at this point, but a rumor confirmed by the usual unnamed “insider” is that a tablet code-named Hurricane will be running the OS that has powered the most recent generation of Palm phones (like the Pre and the Pixi), and will be coming as soon as the third quarter of this year.

In its favor over the iPad, a webOS tablet would already have multitasking built in from day one, and having the biggest PC manufacturer in the world behind it could give it a lot more clout when it comes to spurring the development of apps that would be needed to compete against Apple’s ecosystem. Still, would it be enough to be viable against tablets running Android, which could be coming from any number of manufacturers and has a sizable and growing app selection already? Even with HP’s backing, webOS would be a third option for tablet software, and a third option is usually one too many for most developers. Do you agree, or could the Hurricane compete well against Android-powered tablets and the iPad?

via Endgadget

Seagate GoFlex drives

Seagate has announced their FreeAgent GoFlex series of external hard drives. All of the new 2.5 and 3.5" drives will come with connecting cords that will allow the drives to be used with USB 2.0 and 3.0, eSATA or FireWire connections. Seagate has said it will change the way drives are sold.

Yeah, I guess so. Congratulations to Seagate for re-inventing the wheel. MicroSolutions, may they rest in peace, sold a line of external drives MANY years ago that used all available connections at that time: parallel, USB 2.0 and PC Card.

What goes around comes around.

MSFT Office 2010

One of the casualties of the severe flooding we've had in middle Tennessee was the postponement of MSFT's Office 2010 briefing. We had hoped to have a major blog piece on the new suite but it's been postponed for a month. Don't worry, we're still going and we'll have a blog after we hear what they have to say.

Floods

I apologize to all of our regular followers for not posting anything to this blog for a few days. For those people that don't know, middle and west Tennessee have been enduring what has been described as a Once in 500 Years Flood. Nashville and Clarksville, where we are based, have been particularly hard hit.

All of our staff have been involved with so many flood related matters that we that haven't had a chance to update blogs. Hopefully we'll be back to normal soon.