2008-11-26

google chrome (review)

google chrome is a next generation, user-friendly web browser. currently it's not available for linux, but i had to do some work under windoze so i used the opportunity to try it out.

i love...

  • the simplicity
  • the speed
  • the search bar (which is a universal bar for keywords, shortcuts, urls, config..., enhanced by very smooth auto suggest)
  • the new tab (where you can choose from many options what page you want to open - bookmarks, most visited with previews, history, recently closed, history search...)
  • the hideable bookmark toolbar (ctrl+b)
  • history manager (ctrl+h)
  • the automatic and smooth import of my firefox profile
  • memory usage stats (about:memory)
  • dom inspector (right click, inspect element)

i hate...

  • absence of linux version
  • lack of integration into google services (bookmarks, notebook...)
  • lack of support for atom, rss feeds
  • absence of bookmark shortcuts (even if i type full name of bookmark, chrome offers to search the web first
  • no option of master password, instant incremental search...

overall, i had very good feeling using chrome. i believe most of my complaints will be addressed in the future versions.

2008-11-05

ubuntu installation + configuration (howto)

The following guide is suited to my personal preferences and serves as a memo how to fluently install and configure ubuntu linux system (in this case ubuntu desktop edition 8.10 Intrepid Ibex on Thinkpad X41 Tablet).

preparation

  1. backup old system (/etc, /home, export mysql databases, /usr/share/jedit, package list...)
  2. download freshest ubuntu image
  3. create ubuntu bootable cd/dvd or bootable usb flashdisk (memory stick)

installation

  1. boot from ubuntu live cd/dvd/flashdisk, choose "install ubuntu"
  2. set disk partitioner to manual, create two partitions:
    • swap (~1GB)
    • ext3 mapped to "/" (>2.2GB, which is the size of installed ubuntu 8.10 system)
  3. finish the installation, reboot and install updates

configuration

  1. terminal
    • create profile jjblack (black bg, no menu, no scrollbars)
    • keyboard shortcuts (disable F10,...)
  2. keyboard
    • add czech keyboard layout
    • import my layout from backup (/usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/cz)
      in older versions of ubuntu: (/etc/X11/xkb/symbols/cz)
  3. firefox
    • create profile jjmini (addressbar right from menu, mini icons, no toolbars, blank start page, downloads to inbox, master password, instant search typing)
    • import bookmarks from backup (bookmarks/organize bookmarks/import and backup/restore/choose file
  4. install essential packages sudo apt-get install mc vim lynx sun-java6-bin jedit p7zip-full p7zip-rar subversion
  5. config files
    • .bashrc, .vimrc, .lynxrc, .gtk-bookmarks...
  6. customize filesystem
    • setup mountpoints (sudo gedit /etc/fstab), reboot
    • customize names of special dirs (gedit ~/.config/user-dirs.dirs)
    • rename and create home dirs (desktop, inbox, outbox, template, public, music, speech, pic, vid, temp, bin, ...) and mount dirs (/mnt/winxp, /media/lib, /media/voyager
    • import my data and settings from backup (inc. dotted files+dirs, /usr/share/jedit/jars, ...)
  7. hardware
  8. desktop
    • theme (gdm, gtk, icons, wallpaper, sounds)
    • keyboard shortcuts
    • panels
    • system/preferences, system/administration
    • compiz config manager (sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager)
  9. dev
    • apache (sudo apt-get install apache2 libapache2-mod-php5 libapache2-mod-python mysql-server mysql-client php5-mysql php5-mcrypt phpmyadmin)
    • ide (eclipse)
  10. productivity
    • drawing/sketching (xournal, gogh, tux paint, open office drawing)
    • graphics/publishing (inkscape, xara extreme, Scribus)
    • mind mapping (freemind, vue, labyrinth)
    • project manager (Project Management)
    • handwriting recognition (CellWriter)
  11. communication
  12. learning
    • japanese dictionary (gjiten)
    • flash card learning (mnemosyne)
  13. multimedia
    • audio/video codecs (gstreamer extra plugins)
    • player (mplayer)
    • audio editor (audacity)
    • character map viewer (charmap)
    • music player/scrobbler (last.fm)
    • guitar tablature player/editor (tux guitar)
  14. filesharing
    • dc++ client (DC++)
  15. performance tweaks (see also ultimate ubuntu performance tweaking)