Linux | Dominik Mayer – Products, Asia, Productivity

Skype updated its version 2.0 beta for Linux but I still don’t see any profile pictures on my 64-bit system. :-(

Lenovo called me back when I was waiting for my appointment to get two more vaccinations. Influenza and Rabies. The friendly man said I get 30 Euro for the Windows license and that he has already sent me the information per mail. Interesting things:

• According to his contact information he is a Customer Relations Specialist Senior EMEA situated in Slovakia.
• I shall send in the Anytime Upgrade CD of Vista. My computer came with a hidden partition but no CDs.
• The pdf form was created October 29th, 2007, so they had dealt with the problem before I called.

I’m really pleased with the Lenovo customer service.

Skype finally released version 2.0 beta for Linux including video support. Two years after it was first introduced in the Windows version and one year after Mac OS got it…

There are two main concerns I have about Mac OS: It might not have more features than Linux and it’s a proprietary system.

Because the computer here in Cham is almost seven years old and not the fastest one, I gave Xfce a try. There are still some problems with the panel, especially the task bar which only shows question marks instead of the window titles. So at home, I’ll stick to GNOME but Xfce is really speedy and probably the best desktop environment for this machine.

Lenovo Worldwide Competitive Analyst Matt Kohut published two interesting posts on his blog. He first wants to figure out if and why people would want Linux on a ThinkPad and asks for the prefered distribution in the follow up.

I can’t say I’m unhappy that Ubuntu is leading the field with 47 % of all votes. The chances increase that they will offer a laptop as desired.

I can’t take my desktop computer to Shanghai so I have to look for a laptop. I’d like to get a ThinkPad but couldn’t figure out yet how to customize a model instead of just buying one. It works on the US site, why not on the German one?

And why do I have to spend money on Windows Vista?? I’m very happy with my Ubuntu Linux and even if I’d want to use Windows (what I don’t) I could get a free and legal copy from my university. Praise Dell that offers computers with Ubuntu.

I’m also thinking about getting a cheap laptop from a discounter which I’d use at home where size, weight and battery life won’t matter and try to find a small used ThinkPad at eBay. But then I can just as well get another desktop computer in China… Anyone competent around?