Multitouch coming to Ubuntu 10.10

If you're a Linux fan, you're probably familiar with Ubuntu. This free operating system will run on almost any system. The next release of Ubuntu is 10.10 and it will be supporting multitouch gestures. That's great if you have a multitouch screen or a touch/track pad like Apple's Magic Trackpad.

Do you have an older PC that's just sitting around? Try installing Ubuntu and experience the world of Linux. You might actually like it.

Ubuntu on the ThinkPad X200 Tablet

I'm a big fan of Ubuntu because it's a free Linux operating system and it's always getting better with each release. The latest version is 9.10 and they even have a "netbook remix" version for netbooks.

I have an older ThinkPad X200 tablet PC (this model does not include a capacitive multi-touch screen). Although my tablet supports passive touch, it won't support multi-touch gestures. Ubuntu works just fine on my ThinkPad and it's a nice alternative for users who wish to avoid using Microsoft Windows.

Ubuntu 9.10 is now available

You can now get Ubuntu 9.10. Ubuntu is a free Linux operating system that will run on almost any computer. If you're looking for a relatively simple and free operating system, then you should try Ubuntu. You can even install Ubuntu within Windows and create a dual-boot system with ease.

So what makes Ubuntu so popular? It's because you can get so many free applications for it. Of course, there are many other benefits associated with Ubuntu:

• stable OS
• nice interface
• easy to use
• free
• and much more
  

If you haven't tried Ubuntu yet, you should give it a try. You have nothing to lose.

The Ubuntu CD saves the day!

So, the other day I happen to be somewhere and the only working laptop suddenly had a problem with Windows XP. It simply stopped working. People tried System Restore, etc. They simply needed a machine that could access the Internet for some clients and they were starting to panic.

I happen to have an old Ubuntu CD for version 8.04 and I offered to start the computer up using that CD. I didn't install Ubuntu - I simply started the computer using this disk and we were up and running very quickly with Firefox. You don't have to be a Linux pro to use Ubuntu. The interface is so simple that anyone can pick it up very quickly.

The lesson for the day is simple: keep a Ubuntu CD around in case you ever need to start up your broken PC.

Is a smartphone a pocket computer?

How do you define the word "computer?" Here's how Webster defines it: a programmable usually electronic device that can store, retrieve, and process data.

Today, so many devices and gadgets qualify as a computer if you choose to follow the Webster dictionary. Of course, most of us expect that personal computers will run an operating system such as Linux, Mac OS X, and Microsoft Windows.

We now have specific terms for simpler devices that don't run a complete OS. The line between a mobile internet device or MID and smartphone is getting blurred all the time. At what point will a smartphone replace all these ultra-mobile PCs (UMPCs) and micro PCs that are emerging? I often wonder about the role of these pocket-sized computers that run Windows XP, Vista, or 7. Does that really make sense? Or is Google Android sufficient?

For some people, the smartphone has become their pocket computer. They check e-mail, use Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and they browse the Internet. You've seen those commercials on television where people are using their smartphone to stay productive outside of the office. Is that realistic? Are people actually doing that? How productive can you be on such a small device?

Netbook or smartbook?

If you thought a netbook was a cheap laptop, think again. Smartbooks are now appearing that are in the price range of $100-200. These devices are running similar processors that are found in smartphones.

Imagine taking a smartphone and putting a large screen and a really big keyboard on it. Now you have a smartbook.

• A netbook is designed to run a full Windows (or Linux) operating system. It's a complete PC that's packaged in a tiny body and it's not meant for serious computing or gaming.
• On the other hand, a smartbook is built to run a really simple operating system such as Linux or even Google Android - which runs on smartphones.

At the end of the day, I think smartbooks are going to flop. That's just my opinion.

Microsoft vs. PC Makers

BusinessWeek has a nice story titled, "Microsoft vs. PC Makers." Here's the headline by Cliff Edwards: "A battle is shaping up over pricing of the new Windows 7 as both sides struggle to profie while hardware prices fall."

We all know that Windows 7 is coming out this fall. However, we don't know how Windows 7 will be priced on these new computers. As the average price of notebook computers continues to fall each year, consumers are expecting to find machines that are less expensive. This is one of the main reasons why netbooks have been so popular among students (including medical students). If you're not a gamer and you're not doing intensive multimedia, then a netbook may be enough to let you run your favorite e-mail client and the Microsoft Office suite of applications.

The average price of a notebook was $1,420 in 2004. It's now $788! The average notebook is actually CHEAPER than the average desktop. Can you believe that? If Microsoft doesn't price Windows 7 strategically, perhaps we'll start seeing more computers shipping with Ubuntu, a free Linux distribution that is gaining popularity. Perhaps Google's Android will appear on more netbooks. Maybe Windows XP will continue to live beyond 2014 and set some type of record as the operating system that never dies. I personally hope that Microsoft prices Windows 7 in such a way that it makes up for its embarrassments in Windows Vista.

Viliv X70EX UMPC

James Kendrick at jkOnTheRun has been reviewing the Viliv X70EX UMPC (ultra-mobile PC) and it looks like a really interesting device. It's a small tablet PC that could also be considered a mobile internet device or MID. Since it runs both XP and Linux, I guess it could be considered both a UMPC or MID. It looks thin and reminds me of my Samsung Q1 Ultra UMPC. I have the thinner version, not the "Premium" version of the Samsung Q1 Ultra. I mainly use it as a note pad during corporate meetings, but I also use it as a mobile internet device and multimedia player. If the Viliv X70 is priced well, it may put some heat against netbooks. My gut tells me that it will be overpriced (like the Samsung Q1 series) and it will have a hard time surviving in the U.S. market. Image source: jkOnTheRun

Have You Tried Ubuntu 9.04?

Ubuntu is one of the most user-friendly Linux operating systems. If you have an older PC that you don't really need, you may want to install this free operating system and take it for a test spin. Why? I think it's beneficial to gain experience using multiple operating systems. You become a better computer user if you've played around with the different versions of Microsoft Windows (including XP, Vista, and now Windows 7). Plus, if you know how to navigate the Mac OS X, then you're in an even better position to help with troubleshooting and other technical problems.

Ubuntu is free and it also comes with many applications such as a web browser, presentation, document and spreadsheet software, instant messaging, and more. Why not take Linux for a spin? One of the nice things about Ubuntu is that you can install the operating system within Microsoft Windows (this is referred to as the Wubi installer). If you use the Wubi installer, then you'll end up with a dual-boot system.