Dell Mini 12 updating to Karmi Koala
For those thinking about updated their Dell Mini 12's to Karmic, there is a great post on the forums with simple instructions to get everything working...
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1294173
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Friday, January 02, 2009
Dell Mini 12 with Ubuntu pre-installed: optimizations and information for owners
This will be an ongoing updated post about our new Dell Mini 12 we just received Dec 29th. We purchased several days after Dell made the ubuntu versions available and the netbook/laptop is serious everything we hoped it would be. However, there are tweaks and optimizations and a number of questions we have when using it, and we will focus on those here. Please please post comments if you have your own advice and tweaks you like on your Dell Mini 12 (obviously, www.ubuntuforums.org is a wonderful research for all ubuntu related tweaks, but this will focus on the Mini 12). i assume some basic knowlege of ubuntu, but something isn't clear please post...
1st order- get rid of the Yahoo toolbar, unless you like it
in your favorite package-manager, remove yahoo-toolbar-extension
2nd order-make it mp3 capable, DVD playback, and get all those necessary codecs not allowed in the US because of our heavily lobbied congresspeople...
install ubuntu-restricted-extras in your favorite package manager
for me, using the default repositories, there was a hitch in aptitude because of package conflicts. i had to remove tzdata-java i think (it didn't seem necessary anyhow) but i can't remember for sure now. but this brings me to the next question...
which repositories? the default repos all start with
http://dell-mini.archive.canonical.com/ubuntu
and are for hardy with most specific to this computer. what about a generic install of ubuntu? well, based on what others on the ubuntuforums say about setting up the SCH Poulsbo chipset with Intrepid, it sounds like there is a regression in Intrepid that could complicate the upgrade, then also the wifi and more with the chipset in this enormous thread. They got Intrepid working on their Mini 12s (they were originally Vista, since they got them before the ubuntu versions were available) but it sounds like they were pulling teeth the whole way... I'll stick with the working configuration Dell gave me, even if it might not be perfect... The only repo I'll add is medibuntu of course. well well, the medibuntu repo doesn't work because the packages must be compiled for the LPIA architecture (low-power intel architecture, which is basically an optimised i386 for the atom cpus). so it appears i'll stick with the default repos for now...
install the package ssh (installs the ssh-server-one of the great things about linux if you ever want to connect between machines...of course, make sure your password isn't 12345)
ssh to another computer is just hanging. whole terminal just sits. strange. oh, after installing libpam-ssh and ssh-krb5 it seems to be goen (these were recommended packages from ssh-client, probably necessary for proper talking? if you have this problem try ssh -v -v -v [connection] for extremely verbose output to see what's happening )
bios update - there is a new version out (A02 right now, my mini 12 has a01) but currently the update is only for windows. some people have discussed how to try it on ubuntu, but right now it seems there isn't an easy way.
To be continued...
This will be an ongoing updated post about our new Dell Mini 12 we just received Dec 29th. We purchased several days after Dell made the ubuntu versions available and the netbook/laptop is serious everything we hoped it would be. However, there are tweaks and optimizations and a number of questions we have when using it, and we will focus on those here. Please please post comments if you have your own advice and tweaks you like on your Dell Mini 12 (obviously, www.ubuntuforums.org is a wonderful research for all ubuntu related tweaks, but this will focus on the Mini 12). i assume some basic knowlege of ubuntu, but something isn't clear please post...
1st order- get rid of the Yahoo toolbar, unless you like it
in your favorite package-manager, remove yahoo-toolbar-extension
2nd order-make it mp3 capable, DVD playback, and get all those necessary codecs not allowed in the US because of our heavily lobbied congresspeople...
install ubuntu-restricted-extras in your favorite package manager
for me, using the default repositories, there was a hitch in aptitude because of package conflicts. i had to remove tzdata-java i think (it didn't seem necessary anyhow) but i can't remember for sure now. but this brings me to the next question...
which repositories? the default repos all start with
http://dell-mini.archive.canonical.com/ubuntu
and are for hardy with most specific to this computer. what about a generic install of ubuntu? well, based on what others on the ubuntuforums say about setting up the SCH Poulsbo chipset with Intrepid, it sounds like there is a regression in Intrepid that could complicate the upgrade, then also the wifi and more with the chipset in this enormous thread. They got Intrepid working on their Mini 12s (they were originally Vista, since they got them before the ubuntu versions were available) but it sounds like they were pulling teeth the whole way... I'll stick with the working configuration Dell gave me, even if it might not be perfect... The only repo I'll add is medibuntu of course. well well, the medibuntu repo doesn't work because the packages must be compiled for the LPIA architecture (low-power intel architecture, which is basically an optimised i386 for the atom cpus). so it appears i'll stick with the default repos for now...
install the package ssh (installs the ssh-server-one of the great things about linux if you ever want to connect between machines...of course, make sure your password isn't 12345)
ssh to another computer is just hanging. whole terminal just sits. strange. oh, after installing libpam-ssh and ssh-krb5 it seems to be goen (these were recommended packages from ssh-client, probably necessary for proper talking? if you have this problem try ssh -v -v -v [connection] for extremely verbose output to see what's happening )
bios update - there is a new version out (A02 right now, my mini 12 has a01) but currently the update is only for windows. some people have discussed how to try it on ubuntu, but right now it seems there isn't an easy way.
To be continued...
Friday, December 12, 2008
Quick review of Amarok 2, which I tested today on my non-primary machine (since it was just released and I wasn't sure about if it was ready for primetime, for me at least).
Upgrade process: Actually installation was cake, took literally less than 3 minutes on the fast connection here. Just added the repository and instructions here: http://www.kubuntu.org/news/amarok-2.0
I at first didn't realize I needed to install the package "amarok-kde4", it doesn't upgrade your old amarok until you install that package...
Along the lines of the upgrade process though, is important your old collection database. With a bit of digging, under "configure amarok"->"collection"->"import collection" a dialog for importing from amarok 1.4 or itunes is presented. i tried from 1.4 and chose SQLite, the standalone database I had been using. It failed to connect to the database, however. This could be a showstopper for some people, and is for me on my primary machine since I have ratings for 100s of songs in the database and definitely want to keep these. There is probably a workaround or reason for the failure, but I haven't investigated further yet... Upgrade rating: B-, since the old database is lost and importing did not work.
New interface/usability: I don't mind the new layout, it could take a bit of getting used to but so far its fine. The song display pop-up when a new track is played looks rough and unpolished (black and white with ugly trim). The "fetch album cover" option worked perfectly for me for all the tracks I've tried, so then I enabled "automatically download cover art" in the options. All the albums started getting covers right away, and it is very nice to have album covers now....
.... several weeks have passed now, I haven't switched my other computers over yet and haven't used A2 that much on my laptop, so can't really properly finish my review. I'll just post this and move on. When the next version comes out I'll try to give a better review
EDIT: ok, last time i used A2 it crashed when searching the song list. additionally, it wasn't properly recognizing my collection, getting songs mixed up in it's database. so i switched but to the tried and trusty Amaraok 1.4, which i'll still with probably until Ubuntu 9.04 comes out, which will default to Amarok 2. hopefully then it will a bit more polished, as my conclusion at this time is it's kinda like KDE 4.0 was-cool with good potential, but not quite ready for "primetime".
Upgrade process: Actually installation was cake, took literally less than 3 minutes on the fast connection here. Just added the repository and instructions here: http://www.kubuntu.org/news/amarok-2.0
I at first didn't realize I needed to install the package "amarok-kde4", it doesn't upgrade your old amarok until you install that package...
Along the lines of the upgrade process though, is important your old collection database. With a bit of digging, under "configure amarok"->"collection"->"import collection" a dialog for importing from amarok 1.4 or itunes is presented. i tried from 1.4 and chose SQLite, the standalone database I had been using. It failed to connect to the database, however. This could be a showstopper for some people, and is for me on my primary machine since I have ratings for 100s of songs in the database and definitely want to keep these. There is probably a workaround or reason for the failure, but I haven't investigated further yet... Upgrade rating: B-, since the old database is lost and importing did not work.
New interface/usability: I don't mind the new layout, it could take a bit of getting used to but so far its fine. The song display pop-up when a new track is played looks rough and unpolished (black and white with ugly trim). The "fetch album cover" option worked perfectly for me for all the tracks I've tried, so then I enabled "automatically download cover art" in the options. All the albums started getting covers right away, and it is very nice to have album covers now....
.... several weeks have passed now, I haven't switched my other computers over yet and haven't used A2 that much on my laptop, so can't really properly finish my review. I'll just post this and move on. When the next version comes out I'll try to give a better review
EDIT: ok, last time i used A2 it crashed when searching the song list. additionally, it wasn't properly recognizing my collection, getting songs mixed up in it's database. so i switched but to the tried and trusty Amaraok 1.4, which i'll still with probably until Ubuntu 9.04 comes out, which will default to Amarok 2. hopefully then it will a bit more polished, as my conclusion at this time is it's kinda like KDE 4.0 was-cool with good potential, but not quite ready for "primetime".
Friday, May 18, 2007
Friday, February 16, 2007
Seattle-based startup Zoji.com is making great progress. I'm please to inform you I will use it almost exclusively for my future blogs and general web activity. Additionally, on my profile you may read my restaurant reviews and view my photos, so I'll happily be living there for the indefinite future.
If you haven't used Zoji yet then you definitely should :)
If you haven't used Zoji yet then you definitely should :)
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Making Ubuntu Big Time: Why Google needs to team with Canonical
I posted this poll and thread at the Ubuntu forums to start some conversation and perhaps get attention on this from Google. Google's success depends on winning the desktop OS market away Microsoft. Canonical has 68 paid developers and created an excellent Linux distribution - what would happen if they had over 1000? Vote & share your opinion.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Monday, July 10, 2006
Check out my Seattle Happy Hour Guide Wiki at my Ubuntu served website (http://helpthehappy.com). If you're in Seattle, this guide is invaluable when you're searching for a good deal for food and drinks around the area.
Thursday, February 02, 2006
NPR reviews under-the-radar fuel source that may be ideal for US
Switch grass can produce 1000 gallons of fuel per acre. At even $1.50/gallon, that's a gross of $1500/acre. No other crop we grow has that potential.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
I'm back! I think I'll blog here a little more, since blogging is becomming so popular and such.
To start, check out this light show:
http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000263069055/
Serious Craziness.
To start, check out this light show:
http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000263069055/
Serious Craziness.
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Been working on updates for my friends race website, the Great Divide Race Website. Also using a blog to post updates more easily (the WYSIWYG editor for updating the main race website is terrible...) at Greatdividerace.blogspot.com. Anyway, time to do some more work, hopefully getting my masters next week.
Tuesday, June 08, 2004
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
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