Parallels Desktop 6

Ever since I've been attached to the Macbook Pro, I could not stop thinking of dual booting or even using two OS together. I then had to look up on the internet for various softwares which will allow me to do so. in the end, I have come to a conclusion that I can either use VM or Parallels Desktop.

Why Parallels Desktop 6?
I have chosen Parallels Desktop 6 because I do find it easier to maneuver. As I've only had the intention to install Windows 7 on it, it runs pretty well! First of all, you do need to update your Apple Mac OS X and then insert your Parallels Desktop CD and begin the installation. You could configure the capacity of the virtual hard disk which you desire and the amount of memory to be allocated via the 'preferences' option.

The installation of the Parallels Desktop 6 (PD6) went smoothly without any problems. Straight after installing it, the programme will ask for an installation DVD or CD for your new OS. I do feel that the software is user friendly and I did not have any problems with the installation.

Pros
With the installation of Windows 7 on my virtual hard disk, I can run both Mac OS X and Windows 7 at the same time without much of a problem. Bear in mind that it will be best to upgrade your Mac's memory to 8GB (although 2x8GB is possible with both Samsung and OWC but it cost around US$1400 a pair of 8GB). I would most probably upgrade it to 16GB in due course. With 16GB, it will most definitely help to speed up processes under Mac and Windows.

Cons
With PD6, there are a few things which the software developer could improve. First of all, they could improve on the support for Apple's bluetooth and usb ports as I can't use Nokia PC Suite with bluetooth under Windows 7! I can only use usb via Nokia's Ovi Suite. That is just so cruel.

Final words...
I would definitely recommend this product. Well, it is selling quite cheaply on eBay as compared to some online stores. Just get it and you will like it.

Linux safer than Windows?

Remember the old saying of Linux is safer than Windows? Well, Dell has spoken this time regarding Windows. They said that Linux is safer than Windows for one particular reason - Not many viruses were written for Linux.

Well, Dell has a point though. Not many people arer well versed in most of the DOS command these days although the latest Ubuntu is trying to close the gap between Linux and Windows' infamous GUI interface. I think Ubuntu is doing well. However, I don't quite get Linux because I am more used to the user friendliness of the Windows system.

One good reason of using Linux is that the OS is not prone to crashes as much as Windows. This will make Linux more stable than Windows. However, the development of Linux is rather slow but yet the open source is constantly improving...

Go Linux!!!

Ubuntu 9.4

Ubuntu have released their latest version of their popular Linux OS – The 9.4 Ubuntu for the public sector. I am thrilled and could not start experimenting on the ways in which they have improved on the core. I will try it out and see what I can do about it. As for now, it is taking me some time to download the 698MB worth of data before burning it onto a CD.

Google Chrome 3.0

With the release of Mozilla's Firefox 3.5 and Internet Explorer 8, Google have launched their latest web browser, the Google Chrome 3.0. I've tried using it for a day an immediately I can sense something different - it is much faster in terms of speed in comparison to IE 8 and Firefox's 3.5. I have to say that Chrome 3's menus and setup relatively easy and simple. It does not contain much extensions as compared to Firefox and IE 8 and I do advise people who are using older machines to start using Google Chrome 3 which you can download from here. I still feel that Mozilla's Firefox 3.5 is the best browser but Google's Chrome is a very strong contender to Mozilla's Firefox! Having said that, Chrome 3.0 does not contain any privacy settings which you have in FIrefox so I will give it a four star out of five. However, Firefox 3.5 is still the best internet browser until now! Well, forget about Safari 4.0 because it does not support many multimedia extensions and Opera 10 is just too heavyweight. The browser does not boot up faster than Firefox 3.5 or Google Chrome 3.0. I am not surprised if the rumour about Google releasing their own Operating System is true. If that happens, we will have a serious OS contender after Microsoft. So far, Microsoft dominates and Linux is still trying to play a catch up. Will Google's own Andriod OS live up to their expectations?

Based on the latest news about the Chrome OS, I am just eager to see the release of the new OS particularly Intel is part of the project. Acer is also going to release a dual boot netbook (Android OS and Windows XP) sometime in October 2009. It will be fun to see the development of it. I just can't wait.

Moblin

I have started using Moblin Linux for my notebook as I feel that since I am using an old laptop, I might want to try out some Linux distributors like Moblin. I have tried using Red Hat and also Debian but they are just too much for the notebook to handle. I have also tried ubuntu but it takes up a lot of resources. Well, what about Moblin then? I am going to try out...

Update: 25/05/2009 - I have tried to install Moblin on my Intel based machine and it does not work. It will only work on Intel Atom based netbooks. Well, for those who are using the Samsung NC20 or the HP 2133 which runs on VIA's C7 cpu, forget about using it. After all, Moblin is not the best Linux distribution - Go for Ubuntu 9.04!

Problem Solved - Ubuntu 8.10

I've got to thank a few people including Ron who gave me some tips. I do cherish all of them very much.

I want to report on my progress into the journey of Ubuntu Linux 8.10. After being able to get hold of skype for linux 2.0, my worries are over! I did install an antivirus and firewall for Linux too. That, I hope, will solve my basic antivirus and firewall problems. Anyway, I am really happy right now using Ubuntu Linux. It is so much different from Windows. With Windows, you need to buy the softwares before you could install it on your machine. With Ubuntu Linux, you just need to update the software!!! After that, you would just need to go to add/remove, just like Windows, to be able to install and uninstall programmes. There are times where by you can't add or remove a programme. In that sense, you will need to move over to the package installer and look for the particular file.

The whole process was a success! I would really like to thank many people in helping me to get on with Linux. I quite like it especially StarOffice - It is free!!! With Firefox as the default browser, any complaints? Nope!!!

I thank all those people who were involved in making Ubuntu Linux or rather the Linux community!!! I now dualboot with Windows XP and Ubuntu Linux 8.10 but I do use Ubuntu for most of the time. You do not need to install separate programmes if you want to use ICQ,MSN or skype - Just use Pidgin on Linux!!!

Last but not least, Linux does not require the firepower which you need to run as compared to Windows!!!

Ubuntu 8.10 Update

I am not sure the cause of my laptop in a frozen state when I tried to restart the laptop after updating Ubuntu Linus 8.10 but I am determined to find out.

I have installed Ubuntu 8.10 and did the necessary software updates through the internet. After that, I tried to restart the laptop. What happened was that the Ubuntu icon appeared but the progression bar did not move. Instead, it just stopped for no apparent reason. I have to hold on the power button untuk the laptop switched off and restart the laptop.

My question would be whether it is a problem of me formating the drive space for linux or was it due to incompatible hardwares. I have not seen any problems while using Linux as I am dual booting it with Windows XP except that. I have just changed my hard drive to a WD 160GB IDE.

Could it be the problem of the hardware? My Windows seem to be running alright though, no crashes so far... Thank God. With Ubuntu, I had two instances where the software crashed.

Update on Ubuntu Linux

Yes, I have been testing out Ubuntu 8.10. It is fairly a new product to me and I have been longing to use one of these free distributions for years. No doubt that I have tried to use Ubuntu when it was first released, it was then still full of ;non-user friendliness' type of interface. I have to say that developers are marvellous!

After installing Ubuntu 8.10 (which is really straight forward), I have to upgrade the OS, just like in Windows. I was really surprised that it could detect wi-fi instantly without me installing the driver! That is marvellous! Last time I was strulling to install my wi-fi driver. With 8.10, surfing the internet is easy.

I have managed to install msn,icq,qq and yahoo on the 8.10 but installing skype is a different thing. I went to skype.com to download the software but the internet connection was down. I don't understand why is it down. Perhaps Telekom Malaysia is still trying to determined whether the undersea submarine cable which links Europe to Asia is fixed. Right now, I could not finish downloading skype for linux because of that problem. Oh well, what to do?

I do welcome any suggestions to install skype on Ubuntu 8.10. Thanks

Linux

I used to meddle around with Linux distributions when I was young. I liked the OS because I was familier with DOS command. Thanks to Windows, I am a little bit rusty when it comes to keying in command codes. I used to play with Red Hat and feeling very happy with it because the OS does not need to meet high requirements, i.e. Windows XP and also Vista.

It came into my attention of Ubuntu distribution. It is also another form of Linux but I think, it is easier to use. In fact, with the updated version of 8.10, Ubuntu is becoming more like Windows XP or better - User friendly!!!

Moreover, Ubuntu is free to download from the internet. All you need to install it after you have downloaded Ubuntu is to use MagicISO or Nero to burn the image file into a CD-R. After that, just restart the pc and you will just need to follow the prompts. Good luck!!! Come and support the open source!!!

Perhaps there will be people who would say that using Ubuntu and other Linux distributions are troublesome because you need to learn the codes. Well, this is true to an extent but the user interface of Ubuntu have improved greatly!!! Why not try? Depending on your OS, you can choose the platform from www.ubuntu.com. You would just need to browse through the pages to get support and the required files to get you started!!! Have fun!

Ubuntu

Ubuntu is relatively good. I do compare Ubuntu to Mac OSX. I do believe that if someone could not afford a Mac, by installing Ubuntu is sufficient because both OS seems to be quite similar. The good thing is that Ubuntu is FREE! Well, you do need to have a MAC before you can actually install any Mac OS on it so the alternative would be Ubuntu. I find Ubuntu is pretty good indeed! No doubt that I am a newbee in linux, nevertheless, much to be amazement, Ubuntu is very user friendly! After using it for one day, I think I am going to explore Ubuntu a little bit more. Besides, there is nothing on Windows that I can explore. It is quite boring anyway.

The conclusion is: Try Ubuntu! the GUI is so much better than Windows and so far, I have no problems when running on Ubuntu and certainly no crashes!!!