All I can say is “urgh.”

Despite my best wishes, Ubuntu has actually trumped both SuSE and WinXP for once. The shock is liable to bring me to my knees and make me contemplate suicide. Seriously. I never thought I would say this but Ubuntu actually has an advantage.

Now, fortunately, it is not a massive advantage. It raises its ugly head when it comes to installing MySQL. (So, not exactly something you do every day!).

With the other operating systems there is a combination of lengthy downloads, messing about with sockets (and in the case of windows ensuring you have working connectors etc), and so on. Based on Ubuntu’s normal difficulty with letting you install things, you would be reasonable to consider this the same.

But no. With Ubuntu the process is:

sudo apt-get install mysql-server (enter)

That is it. Seriously. It works. (Tested just now). I need to go and have a lie down.

Well, this may seem like a forgone conclusion (based on http://linux.sci-tech.co.uk/ as one of our sites), however here at WhyDontYou we are always open to debate.

Today I was in a discussion about the merits of Windows vs Linux and vice versa. One of the main arguments against the wonder that is linux was the boot time.

Now, everyone knows Linux is a powerful server operating system which is why it takes for ever to boot up and let you do things. Windows is soooo much quicker.

Or is it?

Yes, this is a loaded question! To prove a point I booted up a Dual Boot (WinXP and SuSE10) computer. The time to go from GRUB choice to log in screen was, indeed, about twice as long for the Linux machine as for the windows machine. (Both run roughly the same software). In fact, compared to the Linux machine the Windows system provided a log in prompt almost instantly.

However, this is where things went wrong. From entering the password to having a useable machine in windows took about half the lifetime of the universe. Each of the USB devices was checked, MSN started, tried to log in, failed because it had come up before the network device (etc.). Absolute chaos. While it is easy to be fooled into thinking the log on prompt means the machine has “booted,” in windows this is FAR from the truth.

In comparison, the Linux box had a fully loaded desktop (connected to the internet and running more server software) in about a hundredth of the time the Windows machine managed it. The difference made the delayed boot sequence inconsequential in comparison.

If you dont believe me, try it yourself!

Lulworth Cove – Coloured Pencil,
originally uploaded by etrusia_uk.

This is another example of what can be done with the photoshop effects. After a long portion of my life being spent thinking the effects were worthless, I am now starting to change my mind!

The original image is reproduced to the side here, and as you can see, this (artistic effect) is quite effective (pun?). It does help that the cove is almost ideal for a pencil effect. I did try with a watercolour but this was no where near as good.

Over the coming weeks and months, I will try experimenting with other filters and effects to see what is good. Obviously, only the best will be posted here…

As an aside, you would be amazed at how hard it is to get the two images into one blog entry. Amazing. So much for the advances of technology!

Insect,
originally uploaded by etrusia_uk.

Found this in the garden.

Any one know what it is?

Ubuntu’s quest for world domination seems to be gaining pace.

Apart from the fact they use an interesting business model (not only is the software free, but they will PAY THEMSELVES to send you the CDs), Ubuntu must be paying off the computer press for the huge amounts of advertising. The sheer volume of mentions in printed materials combined with the insane amount of websites talking about them (sadly, including ourselves) points to just one thing.

Ubuntu is actually a cover for the Cybermen (or Daleks) who are trying to take complete control of all the computers on Earth. Where is the Doctor when you need him. What else could explain the insane choice of names (By the way – “Ubuntu” is not an “african word”) – Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Edbuntu…. I mean… Really.. What HUMAN would think of this!

With the Dapper Drake (6.06) version of Ubuntu they add in a “Long Term Support” package, which although somewhat vague on the Ubuntu site seems to mean they will be happy to support and patch this version for longer than the others.

This is a strange “selling” (*) point for a Linux distro – which largely relies on the work of the “commons” to produce upgrades / patches and so on. It is pretty much required for *buntu though because of the crazy way they tie you in to using the PC in the manner set up for you. A far cry from the reason most people turn to linux…

I am not as massive “enemy” of *buntu, I just think it is a shame that the desire to match Windows on the Desktop means that people are slowly turning Linux into windows. More and more people are growing up computer literate now, people have had years of internet experience, installing pretty much ALL distros is very simple now – so why get rid of the one remaining difference.. User customisability?

Do not let the *buntu take over be complete. Use linux. Use it every day. Use a different Distro every day!

(*) Odd choice of words for something free, I agree. But I couldnt think of anything better to use 🙂

Old Wardour – Watercolour,
originally uploaded by etrusia_uk.

(Loathe though I am to divert from the SEO experiments…)

This is one of the old wardour photographs I took a few days ago (The original is online as well). It has been put through photo shop and given a water colour filter.

Generally speaking, in the past I never rated the photoshop filters. When you work on small, or self made, images the filters are pretty pointless.

However, given a large photo like this – with lots of data in the first place – the filters work fantastically.

Almost looks real 🙂

Well, a combination of apology and news update here. The linux convert site has been providing information and advice for people looking to build their own Linux PC since the late nineties and is still going strong. It has looked after transitions from the arcane world of Linux in the past to modern, easy to use distros (no, I wont mention Ubuntu in a good light.. :))

However, over the last few months this site has been allowed to slip. Given the fast pace of change in todays world it is understandable that this site needs constant attention, and currently we havent been able to provide that. As such it is now a little bit out of date when it comes to its main content – the Q&A are up to date though!

Hopefully, this will be resolved soon and a brand new version of Linux Convert will be unleashed.

Solaris – Img 3,
originally uploaded by etrusia_uk.

This is a photo I took today in the garden. It has a tungsten filter and the exposure was dialed down to -1.5 so it muffled a bit of the brightness.

Despite all this the imagery is amazing (at least I think so!)

Remember – be very, very careful when taking photos of the sun – NEVER look at it directly.

Rollright Stones – King Stone,
originally uploaded by Alun Salt.

This is an excellent photo of the King Stone at the Rollright Stones. (www.rollrightstones.co.uk for more information).

In this picture the clouds really imressed me – they look great and highten the sense of “drama” around the stone.

The rollright stones are stone circle (along the lines of Stonehenge of Avebury) in Oxfordshire. Unlike some of the more well known circles, there is little in the way of tourist trappings around this site.

Old Wardour Main View,
originally uploaded by etrusia_uk.

This is the castle from “Robin Hood – Prince of Thieves.” This image shows the main view of the castle and was taken from just to the side of the grotto.

(The grotto would be on your right as you look at this picture).

Overall a very attractive castle, still largely intact as it only saw action in the English Civil War. It is not a “proper” castle – which I arbritrarily designate as one which evolved from older strongholds – as this was built initally as a residence, not as a stamp of Norman authority.

The black and white used for this photo give the castle an old-worldy, eerie, appearance which makes it seem all the more suitable. 🙂

Old Wardour Grotto,
originally uploaded by etrusia_uk.

This is the “hermits grotto” at Old Wardour castle, built in the eigtheenth century by a local garden ornaments maker (Josiah Lane of Tisbury).

This is a completely artificial cave and it was made from the castle stones and volcanic lava from Bath. The fossils and water courses inside were designed to make the grotto look like a faerie home – when it reality it was just an overblown version of a garden pond. 🙂

Fantastic.

Old Wardour Tower of Sun,
originally uploaded by etrusia_uk.

This is a photo I took at Old Wardour castle yesterday (3 June 06) showing the main tower pointing into the sun. For some reason I just liked the way the angles and the sun came together 🙂

Like a fool, I took about 768mb of photos yesterday but set the camera date wrong (2005) – as a result all the picture EXIF data is a year wrong! If any one has any idea of how I can mass change the EXIF then I would love to hear it.

This is cool – www.meganwake.co.uk – blogging from an early age 🙂

Not many posts yet, but some cool pictures of a cottage in Northumbria if you are ever interesting in going there on your holidays. http://www.meganwake.co.uk/blog/2006/06/03/holiday/

Stonehenge,
originally uploaded by Tulna.

Well, as you can see I am still going through flickr.com – a search with the term “english heritage” is very worthwhile.

This shot of stonehenge (I dont know if the colours have been edited at all) is pretty cool. It creates an interesting green sheen over the stones and the lack of people is pretty impressive.

Stonehenge is a good bench mark as it seems to be the most photographed place in England. (From my unscientific view point! :))

jokulsarlon glacial lagoon,
originally uploaded by krmuir.

Sorry to keep the photo thread going… but this lagoon shot looks amazing. Some excellent work done on some fantastic landscape there.

(I will try to limit my use of superlatives soon…)