Okay, I've seemed to have found a really nice Blog hosting site that I like. So, I'll be transferring my rantings and such to the new site.

The link is at: judland.blog.ca. Come and visit!

I was riding (bike riding that is) in to the office this morning and had the strangest feeling that I was not alone.

Then I thought I heard something just over head, so I looked up to discover....

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So, for the past few days I've been giving the Kompose task manager a try on my KDE desktop, and I have to say that I like it. I also recently learned that Kompose is going to be playing a part in the next release of KDE (aka Plasma), which is good news. I can see how Kompose could really help provide a truly innovative environment for future KDE/Linux users.

Looking forward to what the KDE team all have in store for us.

Just came back from FutureShop, after purchasing ourselves a new keyboard. We tried out a few that they had on display and settled for a BenQ model.

It's a very slim profiled keyboard with soft touch keys. Very nice, and I've just configured the shortcut keys on my KDE desktop.




Anyway, as we (my wife and I) were waiting in line at the checkout, I noticed a couple in front of us about to buy a piece of software called "MP3 Maker". The sad part about this was the price tag on it was $40.00.

This poor lost soul. If only I had a Kanotix CD handy, I could have saved this guy some money and a lot of frustration.

I've got to remember to carry a couple Live CDs in the car for emergencies such as this.

Well, finally, all of my repedative bagering finally payed off. Pat, from the Linux Link Tech Show (aka TLLTS) finally got around to giving Kanotix a try.

Not surprising to me, he discovered that he likes this distribution better than Ubuntu and Mepis, the two most popular "newbie friendly" Linux distributions today.

Pat mentions in his post on the TLLTS forums that he'll be discussing his findings with Kanotix on this Wednesday's broadcast of the show. I'm looking forward to it and am pleased that Kanotix has another satisfied user.

Do I know a good thing when I see one, or what?

Just out of curiosity, I've started playing with a desktop manager that comes with the KDE environment called Kompose.

What it is, is a virtual desktop manager that shows you scaled down versions of each application window in use on all of your virtual desktops within KDE.

It allows you to group your application windows in different ways, depending on the style that best suites your needs. It also uses little, in the way of system resources, and quite frankly, is an interesting way to navigate through your desktop.




In this example, I've got two applications running in my first virtual desktop session and two others in my second virtual desktop. The third and fourth sessions are empty at the moment.

I like the idea of having a bird's eye view of all of the applications I currently have running. However, I think this tool is better suited to a person who's in the habit of having several applications open at the same time. I usually only have open applications I'm immediately using, so rarely do I have more than four windows to switch between at any one time.

There are a few ways in which you can switch to the Kompose view. You can configure a hot-key, use the KDE system tray launcher icon, or set it us so it appears when you move your mouse pointer to a particular corner of your screen.

In practicality, I really don't see Kompose as a required replacement for your standard KDE task bar, it's just a different way of managing and navigating through your desktop environment.

The only big problem I have with our LCD monitor is that now there's no place for the cat to lounge.

Used to be the cat could jump up onto the old CRT monitor, stretch out and keep near us without being too much of a pain. But now he has no where else but the empty desk space in front of the new LCD monitor.

Only thing is, he likes to stretch out. Well, the LCD monitor is no where near as heavy as the old CRT, so it's not very difficult for the cat to push the thing over.

I suppose, if our cat didn't have to always be the center of attention, things would be different (and easier). But, that's not the case, and I've got a cat who's blocking my ability to read what I'm typing.

When they manufactured LCD monitors, they should have included a cat shelf that we can attach to the top of the darned things in order to keep everyone happy.

To be ignorant about something is one thing. But to base an opinion - and voice that opinion - on such ignorance always seems to put a knot in my shorts.

Case in point: The boys over at The Linux Link Tech Show last night interviewed Eric Raymond, of the OSI and I was interested to hear what I had to say.

The first question they asked him was what he thought about Linux and it's readiness for the desktop of the "average Joe". Well, that's where my respect for his opinion kind of burned up on take-off.

His opinion was that the Linux desktop was not quite yet ready for the main stream, and estimated that it probably wouldn't be there for the next couple of years.

Okay, I can respect that, even though I think differently. However, what I can't respect is the answer to the next question he was asked.

"So, have you had a chance to see Linspire or Mepis?" Well, surprise, surprise, no he hasn't. And that's where my opinion of Eric's opinion took a nose dive.

My question is, how the heck can he sit there, commenting on a system he obviously has never even tried for himself? If you haven't been working with the latest advancements in Linux desktop software then you sure as hell shouldn't be commenting on it, other than stating "I have no experience on the subject so I cannot comment at this time."

If he's pulling opinions out of the air on this subject, then what other topics is he purely bull*hitting about?

Basing an opinion on hear-say and speculation is not a very professional thing to do. It certainly doesn't gain my trust or respect.

Okay... got that off of my chest. Back to reality.

Just as I suspected, Microsoft "Longhorn", now called "Vista", doesn't offer anything more than what I can do with my Linux and KDE system TODAY, let alone in a year's time.

In fact, it's actually going to restrict its customers even more and offer less, from what I've read here. And it's still a year away.

Just think how far more advanced the Linux desktop will be next year at this time.

I think this is the beginning of the end for Microsoft. All they seem to be doing now is playing catch-up. And strangely enough, people will be forced to pay for their substandard service. Shameful.