CrunchBang - Code, Design & GNU/Linux

Becky the Linux user

Last night I installed Linux on Becky's laptop. I have been trying to persuade Becky to give Linux a go for a while, but until now, she had been quite content with using Windows XP. Then, last night, when Becky asked me to create a backup of her collection of digital photos and music, I took the opportunity to ask her [again] if she thought it was about time she dropped her ageing Windows XP installation in favour of modern Linux desktop. To my surprise, she agreed.

So, I created a backup of Becky's data and proceeded to install my latest remastered version Ubuntu. I could of installed a vanilla Ubuntu install, but I wanted her first real experience of Linux to be as smooth as possible. Once the installation had completed, I restored Becky's data and handed back her laptop; she powered it up and proceeded to go about her business.

I waited for the comments and questions, but they never came. As it turned out, I actually ended up pestering her to show her a few things; we had a play with entering a few terminal commands and installing the odd package. Finally, Becky reluctantly said, "It's quite good".

Result :)

Progbox, citizen media at its best!

On its homepage, Pete Savage introduces and describes Progbox as:

Welcome to pr0g80X.vid, an almost monthly show about technology, Linux, open source and many other topics. The format of the show usually contains a news section, book review, showcase of small open source project and two large tutorial/howto sections.

While Pete is not wrong in describing the show as such, I would like to point out that Progbox is so much more. For me, Progbox is a shining example of citizen media at its best; somehow, Pete has managed to produce a show which is not only entertaining and easy viewing, but preferable viewing over anything currently shown on regular UK television.

Having said that, I know I do not represent your average television viewer, my absolute distaste for what currently passes as Saturday evening viewing [excluding Doctor Who!] lends proof to that; still, if Progbox represents the future of user created media, I am going to be a happy man, looking forward to a time when there is enough of the same quality viewing material to turn on, tune in and drop geek out whenever I like.

Why the praise? And why now?

I think it is all too easy to undervalue/underestimate exactly what is involved in creating something like Progbox. Having recently attempted to create a small screencast myself, I have acquired a new found respect for anyone who manages such an undertaking, it is incredibly difficult; not only do you have to deal with the technical details, but there are also the personal performance hangups to consider [and Pete also has the added complication of styling his hair!]

Finally, not only does Progbox advocate Free and Open Source Software in its content, but also in its existence; Progbox is developed with FOSS on Ubuntu.

So, congrats Pete, you are creating something which you should be exceedingly proud of!

Ubuntu On The BBC

In case anyone does not know, the BBC News 24 channel has a technology programme named Click. The Click website describes the show as, "The BBC's flagship technology programme"; so expect a fairly mainstream show featuring technology news and gadget reviews. Anyhow, Andrew kindly reminded me that this week Click contains a special on free [as in beer] software. Ubuntu Hardy Heron and OpenOffice.org are clearly spotted in the programme, which has to be a good thing :) If you missed the show, you can watch it online with the BBC's iPlayer.

Also, while I am on the subject of the BBC, is it not about time the BBC made their online services more Linux friendly? As a fully paid up license holder I am somewhat frustrated with the BBC's continued support of Windows Media Player and Real Player media formats, neither of which are particularly well supported on Linux. In fact, these days I rarely use the BBC website as it frustrates me so :(

Random Ubuntu Advocacy - Serbian Version

A Serbian translation of the random Ubuntu advocacy images is now available. The translation comes courtesy of Milos Jakovljevic and the Serbian Ubuntu LoCo team. Thank you Milos.

The complete Serbian set can be viewed on this demo page. The code to display the images is below, simply copy & paste into your HTML/blog template where you would like the random image placement to occur:

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://crunchbang.net/advocacy/rs/ubuntu_199_164.js">
</script>
<noscript>
<a href="http://ubuntu.com/getubuntu" title="Get Ubuntu!">
<img src="http://crunchbang.net/advocacy/rs/199_164_ubuntu.png" alt="Get Ubuntu."></a>
</noscript>

Random Ubuntu Advocacy - Russian Version

The Ubuntu advocacy images are now available in 12 different languages. Alexander Telenga has done a fantastic job converting the images into Russian. These new Russian images are some of my favourites to date, I love the Russian character set. Thank you Alexander :)

The complete Russian set can be viewed on this demo page. The code to display the images is below, simply copy & paste into your HTML/blog template where you would like the random image placement to occur:

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://crunchbang.net/advocacy/ru/ubuntu_199_164.js">
</script>
<noscript>
<a href="http://ubuntu.ru/get" title="Get Ubuntu!">
<img src="http://crunchbang.net/advocacy/ru/199_164_ubuntu.png" alt="Get Ubuntu."></a>
</noscript>

Random Ubuntu Advocacy - Elvish Version

So, Andy Loughran, AKA Eärendur of Dorthonion, has been busy translating these images into Elvish. Not wanting to upset our pointy eared friends, or the Elvish Linguistic Fellowship [I hear the E.L.F are BIG on Ubuntu!], I've uploaded Andy's translations and made them available from my file server. Thank you Andy, I think!?

The complete Elvish set can be viewed on this demo page. You can help spread the word of Ubuntu to the oldest of all common races by copying and pasting the code below into your HTML/blog template:

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://crunchbang.net/advocacy/ev/ubuntu_199_164.js">
</script>
<noscript>
<a href="http://ubuntu.com/getubuntu" title="Kaer Ubuntu!">
<img src="http://crunchbang.net/advocacy/ev/199_164_ubuntu.png" alt="Kaer Ubuntu."></a>
</noscript>

Can of worms anyone?

Random Ubuntu Advocacy - Turkish Version

Another translation of the Random Ubuntu Advocacy images. Ali Servet Dönmez has done a fantastic job translating the images into Turkish. This translation takes the language count into double figures, at this rate we're going to break the record for the most translated web advert!?

The full turkish set can be seen on this random rotation demo. As with all the translations I've made the images available from my file server, simply copy & paste the code below into your HTML/blog template where you would like the random image placement to occur:

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://crunchbang.net/advocacy/tr/ubuntu_199_164.js">
</script>
<noscript>
<a href="http://ubuntu.com/getubuntu" title="Get Ubuntu!">
<img src="http://crunchbang.net/advocacy/tr/199_164_ubuntu.png" alt="Get Ubuntu."></a>
</noscript>

Random Ubuntu Advocacy - French Version

Va-va-voom! Yet more of these Ubuntu images, thanks to Alexis Metaireau the images have now been translated into French. Merci beaucoup Alexis.

The full French set can be witnessed in this random demonstration. The code to display the images is below, simply copy & paste into your HTML/blog template where you would like the random image placement to occur:

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://crunchbang.net/advocacy/fr/ubuntu_199_164.js">
</script>
<noscript>
<a href="http://ubuntu.com/getubuntu" title="Installez Ubuntu!">
<img src="http://crunchbang.net/advocacy/fr/199_164_ubuntu.png" alt="Installez Ubuntu."></a>
</noscript>

Random Ubuntu Advocacy - Polish Version

More random Ubuntu advocacy images, this time translated into Polish. MeanMachine was kind enough to perform the translation, thank you MeanMachine :)

The full image set can be seen on this demo page. As with all the translations, I've made the images available from my file server. The code for the images is below, simply copy & paste the code into your HTML/blog template where you would like the random image placement to occur:

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://crunchbang.net/advocacy/pl/ubuntu_199_164.js">
</script>
<noscript>
<a href="http://ubuntu.com/getubuntu" title="Rata Ubuntu!">
<img src="http://crunchbang.net/advocacy/pl/199_164_ubuntu.png" alt="Rata Ubuntu."></a>
</noscript>

Also, believe it or not there are more translations on the way, I'm working my way through them and hope to post an update for each as I do. French and Serbian translations coming soon.

Random Ubuntu Advocacy - Romanian Version

These images keep on rolling. Thanks to Tache Ionut Madalin they're now available in Romanian. That takes the language count to 7. w00t!

The complete Romanian set can be viewed in this random rotation demo. As with all the translations I've made the Romanian images available from my file server. Copy & paste the code below into your HTML/blog template where you'd like the random image place to occur:

<script type="text/javascript" src="http://crunchbang.net/advocacy/ro/ubuntu_199_164.js">
</script>
<noscript>
<a href="http://ubuntu.com/getubuntu" title="Ia-ti Ubuntu!">
<img src="http://crunchbang.net/advocacy/ro/199_164_ubuntu.png" alt="Ia-ti Ubuntu."></a>
</noscript>