I am quite pleased with how the pumpkin turned out and think the Ubuntu logo looks quite like it is supposed to. I will admit that Matt helped slightly by scraping out the seeds from inside the pumpkin (who knew there were so many of those dastardly things in there) and bandaging up my finger after I cut it on the sink drainer while cleaning up the pumpkin. But otherwise I carved the whole pumpkin myself.

Now for what you have all been waiting for… photos of my pumpkin:

You can see the rest of the photos on my Flickr page.

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Matt mentioned off-hand one night when we were discussing “the lap top of my dreams” that I should just get a netbook. After some thorough online research, I agreed with him whole heatedly, and eight months later I absolutely love my Lenovo s-10.

It has the same fit and finish as its larger counter part, but comes in a compact, portable size that lets me easily take it anywhere I want. The smaller screen took a little a getting used to, but for the most part there isn’t anything I use my netbook for that I need a larger screen for.  It also has a keyboard that is 85% of full size, but the transition to the smaller keyboard was quick and easy.  The only complaint I have about the keyboard is the placement of the right shift key.  The up arrow where the right shift key normally is, and the shift key is one space further to the right.  That has definitely taken some getting used to, and I would suggest Lenovo find a way to upday the layout so this important key is in the default position in the future.

Because I kept my desktop computer and use my netbook as a supplemental/travel computer, I use it mostly for surfing the Internet, word processing, and processing photos we take with our new camera.  For those purposes, it works like a charm.  The only time I have noticed the slower processor is when trying to do extremely processor heavy activities like design work or trying to access my computer at work remotely.  For any other day to day function the netbook has more than enough processor power.  As any good geek, I also made my first order of business to remove the Windows XP the netbook shipped with and replaced it with Ubuntu.  Ubuntu is designed to work more efficiently on less powerful hardware and does not come loaded with lots of unnecessary applications that slow the computer down.  Ubuntu is also more stable and secure, but that is another blog post.

Probably one of the biggest reasons I chose this netbook over others is the fact that it does not have a glossy screen.  All the other netbooks on the market at the time I purchased the Lenovo came with a glossy screen.  I have found them hard to use in anything other than low-light situations and love the fact that the Lenovo netbook does not have one.

Last but not least, I love the design of my netbook.  The red cover is attractive and eye catching.  For me, having a laptop that I enjoy the look of was just as important as having a laptop I enjoyed the functionality of.  Lenovo also makes other color options in case red is not your thing.  The only complaint I have is that the red cover has a glossy finish that tends to show finger prints.  A matte finish would be more practical.

All-in-all, I absolutely love my netbook and am very happy with my purchase.  I would and have recommened this computer to others.

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Apparently my recent new user review of Ubuntu Linux found its way onto Linux today and thousands of people clicked through to read it on my blog.  The trend has continued and today another 1300 people have found their way to my blog.  Along with the visitors have come 32 comments on my post.  I can honestly say I am quite awestruck.

This is the first post I have made that has gotten this kind of recognition, and it is a great feeling to be taken seriously by the Linux community.  Being a woman in the technology field can be challenging at best, especially when it come to being taken seriously, and I am grateful for everyone who not only took the time to read my post but also left interesting comments.

I am definitely feeling inspired to write more.

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Even though I work in the technology industry, I have never considered myself to be a “real” computer geek, and I feel this puts me in a good position to review Linux from the perspective of a less technical, more typical PC user.

Pros:

Customizable:
Linux is highly customizable. Unlike Windows and Mac, you have total control over the user interface. I have my desktop setup to look like a mash-up of Mac and Windows, taking the best from both interfaces, while my mom’s Linux laptop is setup to look and feel almost exactly like Windows. There are numerous websites you can download themes from, or you can use the customization tools to create your own. It also has a lot of built-in “eye candy” so you can make your computer as flashy or plain as your heart desires, all controlled by simple on/off switches.

Price:
Ubuntu Linux is absolutely free. There is no astronomical licensing fee as with Windows or Mac, and a majority of the programs available to run on Linux are also free. This is made possible because Linux is an open source program. This means the source code or backend is open to programmers to use and manipulate and is not created for profit. The open source nature of Linux also allows for free software, because developers don’t have to pay fees to access the source code when creating their software.

Program Installation:
Installing programs on Linux is an absolute breeze. There is a very easy to use program that comes standard with Ubuntu called Synaptic Package manager, which allows you to search for programs by name and install them with the click of a button. It also manages dependent programs and ensures that they are installed at the same time. This makes adding new programs quick and painless. And because Linux is open source, there are a wide variety of programs available that will allow you to do nearly anything you could ever want.

Updates/Support:
Because Linux is constantly under development, it is constantly being improved and updated. As new features become available or security updates are completed you are notified and installation is as simple as clicking a button. Also, Linux has an amazing online support community. Because the primary users of Linux are members of the technology community, there is an abundance of people who have experienced and solved problems that might arise.

VirtualBox/ wine:
Using a combination of VirtualBox, a program used to run virtual instances of operating systems, and wine, a program that allows you to run Windows programs natively in Linux, I am able to run any Windows programs I still find necessary. While I have found open source programs to replace a lot of my Windows applications, there are still a few that I rely on, including Microsoft Money, Picasa, Adobe Photoshop, and Dreamweaver. Having Virualbox and wine allows me to have the best of both worlds.

Stability:
Linux is an amazingly stable operating system. It is a rare occasion that I have to restart my computer, and unlike Windows, Linux rarely crashes. I have been able to leave my computer up and running for months at a time with no loss of resources.

Cons:

Compatibility:
Because Linux is an open source program as opposed to a commercial offering by a large corporation, there are sometime compatibility progoblems. Often new programs and applications are not developed for Linux in the first round of production, if ever. While there are usually open source alternatives available, sometimes you just want to use a program you are familiar with that has all the features you are looking for. In addition to compatability issues with software, sometimes very new or vendor-specific hardware is not as well supported. However, common or even older hardware is usually very easy to use with Linux.

Availability:
For non-computer-geeks, migrating to Linux can be difficult. While it is becoming more common, Linux is not often installed on computers from the manufacturer. This leaves users to intall the new operating system themselves or with the help of their local computer geek. For someone who operates from the “plug-and-play” mentality, installing your own operating system can be very overwhelming.

Learning Curve:
For Windows users especially, Linux is a very different operating system. It is based on a different file structure, which can make navigating the folders and files on your computer difficult at the beginning. With the myriad options that come with customizing your Linux install, it is also easy for new users to become overwhelmed. While it allows you to set up your user interface in just about any configuration you desire, it can be time consuming wading through all the options and deciding what works best for you.

Conclusion:

All in all I have been very impressed with Ubuntu Linux 7.10 and would recommend it to anyone who is willing to learn a new operating sytem. There was just recently a new version of Ubuntu released, 8.04, which improves further on the current iteration, and I hope to upgrade soon. I cannot imagine ever returning to Windows and look forward to the future as Linux becomes even better supported and more widespread.

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