Ubuntu vs. Windows

 

Because this is a blog that deals also with networks I would like to say a few words to explain my vision on Ubuntu as an alternative OS. Ubuntu as most open source software is the result of abrilliant initial idea from a creative person that is developed and built by a network of voluntaries. This is one of the miracles of the Internet: to make easy and feasible that people from different parts of the world find other people with the same interests and share their ideas for a positive purpose. Sometimes, the purpose may also be negative, or even criminal. But this happens also in our every day’s life.

What’s the difference than of an open source OS like Ubuntu and Windows. As Shuttelworth, his creator said yesterday in Valencia (Spain), the stability, the safety and the economy (it’s free). On the other hand Ubuntu has to improve on the available drivers, and the integration with some games. For the rest, you can do fairly the same things than with Windows. Installing programs is now with Ubuntu fairly so easy as with Windows, but with Ubuntu you have more control on the process of installing the program and you can decide how to organize the folders of your system.

In my opinion, Ubuntu has also the advantage of consuming less energy of your computer than Windows Vista, because your processor has no need to work so intensively. Windows gets on my nerves all the time when organizing my computer, even if I don’t need that or if I have not asked to do so. With Windows you have to activate the update program to be up to date with your computer, so do you have to do with Ubuntu. The important difference is that with Ubuntu you don’t have to restart the PC every time you update the sw, while with Windows you have to. This bothers me as a user, because I have to interrupt my work every time. For some technical information read this article: Ubuntu Linux Vs. Windows Vista: The Battle For Your Desktop

Becoming a world leader makes companies arrogant and ready to think that they know better than the users what their interests and needs are. When Bill Gates started, he was a user himself and felt somehow as a user. Now he feels like “God”. His 25.000 workers want to please God and forget really how simple do users want to deal with computers. Open source means something done by users (and experts of course) who deal everyday with common problems of users. This is, in my opinion, what makes Ubuntu more innovative. The idea is great, because it is handled and managed as a commercial product, but produced and maintained as free code one.

So if you had in mind to try Linux, I would like to encourage you to explore the web searching for information. There are plenty of forums and other web sites (even Wikipedia) that will help you to introduce you in this new philosophy of IT: becoming free of Windows.

Oriol

Beeing “slow”, living “slow”

These days I’m preparing my holidays as you probably are doing too. Since 1999 I’ve been travelling to the Black Forest in Germany for holidays. Knowing that I live in a wonderful country with an attractive and beautiful coast and with the peaceful mountains, some of my friends have been asking why I’ve decidede to go so far to spend my holidays. The answer is: because I’m looking for peace.

I thought holidays had to be a time for relax and for charging the batteries for the next year coming in September. Now I think that we can try to have more relaxed life all the year round, not only on holidays. You just need to know how to do it. I’m reading a book now where it says, that you could start living “slow” by leaving your watch at home and trying to find time for everything you want to do, without stressing. Many friends are doing so on their holidays, so I asked them why they did not the same the rest of the year, and they answered that the pressure of their bosses or of their customers banned them from planning the day their way. We’re all affraid of breaking the chain by relaxing and forcing others to “slow” their rythm in the their lifes. But, would things run this way? Would it be a chaos to have breaks in our lifes to relax, to reflect, to take a deep breath?

Having peaceful holidays is also labeled as “slow” holidays. I enjoy the Black Forest walking through their dark and fresh woods, swimming in their lakes, biking through their paths, and enjoying their praries for laying and reading, reading, reading, ….. and listening to my favorite songs; having conversations with my family; getting to know how germans live in this town; visiting castles; eating exquisite ‘Kuchen’ and drinking excellent bear…

What do you have in mind for this summer? Why don’t you plan to live in a “slow” rythm during the next holidays. Just give you some time for everything you decide to do, and try to decide as few things as possible. Don’t fill your days with to many compromises or obligations. Relax.

There’s an association in Klagenfurt (Austria) that is fosterin “slow” living. It’s called Zeitverein (Time association). They want to be “masters” of their time. You also con visit the web of SlowDown (they call this site as the Official Site of the International Institute of NOT DOING MUCH).

There are more and more people all over the world that are trying to get “slow” and fight for their right to be so. I invite you to join us.

Have a wonderful and “slow” holidaytime.

Oriol