April 26, 2008

Ubuntu

I've installed Ubuntu on my PC, not in a dual-boot setup, but as the only OS. Why? Because I want to prove to myself that I can get by without Windows.

The sad truth is that I can't entirely abandon Windows for one reason: the iPhone I'm using to create this post. I could unlock it and use the plethora of open source software available to manage it, but we have a significant investment in DRMed music from the iTunes store that I am not willing to abandon. However, I'm hoping that running Windows virtually for iTunes alone will solve this problem.

Installing Ubuntu is now easier than installing Windows. I've installed many Linux distros over the years and this version of Ubuntu beats them all. Suse 10.3 offers more serious management tools, but Ubuntu's driver management is unbelievable. I have a newer Nvidia card; the company does not offer open source drivers. However, Ubuntu offered to install the "closed" driver after informing me that they would not support it. Fair enough, considering the support is free.

So here I go. Piss off, Steve Ballmer.

Posted by Matthew at April 26, 2008 11:36 AM
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Comments

iTunes on Windows?

I thought you had an iMac. Couldn't you just authorize your iMac and transfer all your music to it?

Hash

Posted by: Hash [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 26, 2008 11:35 PM

Well, I DID have an iMac. That's a tale for another day, but for right now I'm stuck in a non-OSX environment.

Posted by: Matt_D [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 27, 2008 10:02 PM

You could use Floola to transfer your DRM files from any machine to your iPod and so forth. Best of all, you can use any OS and not have to reformat your iPod.

http://www.floola.com/modules/wiwimod/

Posted by: Ed at May 2, 2008 10:30 PM

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