So finally Google is making its push onto the desktop. But not just the desktop, as has been speculated for a long time now they want to make their own operating system. It is time for them to push Microsoft and Mac out of the way and take their place as the gate keepers of the internet.

They have released a wonderfully simple looking and very well done video to introduce you to the concept.

You have to hand it to Google, they make a wonderful pitch. (more…)

Convert to Linux, you will not be disappointed

I have been living away from Windows in the wild country that is Linux for a couple of years now. Windows still infests my day job (in a good way) but Windows has been banished from home PCs for a long while.

This week saw the release of Ubuntu 9.10 and I am already running it. One of the things I love most about Linux is its ability to partition almost everything in clever ways Windows just has not caught up with. This time when I installed my system I setup my home drive on a separate partition. Installed Ubuntu and it pulled in all my settings as if nothing had happened, even my background wallpapers were integrated into the new ones.

In the scheme of things its only a minor thing, but it just makes going from version to version almost effortless. (more…)

The future of the desktop?

This week Google finally entered the operating system market. It has been much talked about for a long time. In many ways it is a logical step for them, they run everything from Linux based machines, and with that amount of know-how and the availability of excellent distributions like Ubuntu, why not release their own?

There are very few companies with the power to taken on Microsoft, even fewer still who would have the inclination or a reason to do it. But Google are one of them. With their world famous reputation and massive pots of money to back them up, I think we might finally see something that can topple Microsoft’s grip on the desktop.

Is that a good thing? In my mind yes… but it has a price. (more…)

With my new PC built it was time for the troublesome task of picking which OS, I have a prehistoric version of XP (SP1) I could use officially but that wouldn’t use all 4gb of RAM and still leaves problems like the hassle of securing it and spending 4hours doing every update, or I could go the pirate route and grab Vista (ain’t no way I’ll pay for that crap – I’ve already had to fix 2 laptops and a PC that were supposedly secure thanks to a combo of Vista and various anti-virus and firewalls but which were still laiden with adware. I don’t have time to deal with that crap and won’t pay for it if it’s still that weak).

(more…)

With my anicent old Pentium refusing to play HD mkv files I finally had to splash some cash on some new parts to build a new PC. Sure I could have gone to Dell but they never have the balance of quality and price I demand.

• Antec NSK2480 case with 380w PSU
• Asus P5E-VM-HDMI motherboard
• Intel Core 2 Quad Pro Q6600 “Energy Efficient SLACR 95W Edition” 2.40GHz
• 4GB Corsair DDR2 (2×2gb)
• Western Digital – Green Power 1TB Hard Drive SATAII 7200rpm
• Arctic Cooling AC-FRZ-7P Freezer 7 Pro
• Sony NEC Optiarc AD-7200A 20x DVD±RW IDE Dual Layer ReWriter (Silver)

(more…)