What can you do with a Dell Mini 9?
I was thinking about getting a Dell Mini 9 but I’m not sure what I would want one. I have a Power Mac for home. I have a 15″ laptop. I have a Nintendo DS.
The reason i mention the DS is that I use it when I’m waiting for someone (like at a Dr’s office for 45 minutes). Anyway, I was thinking I could use the Mini in that situation but for what gain?
What do you use your Mini for? Do you write on the beach using Word? Or do you listen to itunes while you jog with bluetooth headphones? How about playing games, is it good for most common games? (I’m not into heavy gaming but I would like to be able to play serious games on it, but none that really needs a serious video card. I’m not into Halo or whatever.)
And is Ubuntu really better than Windows or a Mac OS like PC magazine says?
Anyway, what do you do with your Mini 9? Why would anyone want one? What do you like about it?
Thanks,
Tom
Ubuntu is more Secure than OS X and less viruses/spyware than Windows… The Dell Mini 9 is not a bad machine, it is basically a netbook.. A compact Computer mainly used for general stuff and internet but compact enough to have with you..
Ubuntu is a nice OS although it takes some time to get used to it.. it is linux.. and can be downloaded for free..
ADVANTAGES LINUX :
1) FREE (most versions are)
2) Install software by eitjher 1) Synaptic Package Manager, 2) Add/Remove 3) Opening a .deb or .rpm file (depending on distribution)
2) Like the Mac OS X effects? go yahoo/google COMPIZ FUSION which can do any cool effect a Mac can do and many ore….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3gkX9HDfEE (there is no flickering when you use it like on the video, not sure why the person has the flicker)
3) Mac OS X Doc? google/yahoo Avant Window Navigator.Cairo Dock, http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3rf5q_cairo-dock-mac-os-x-leopard-dock-on_tech
4) It is FASTERr/MORE SECURE to surf on the internet
5) Some Windows programs work with Wnehq/Crossover (also avail on Mac, but why pay $$$)
Instructions how to download, burn and boot http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/
Dual Boot Instructions http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_windows_xp_and_linux_xp_installed_first.htm
SECURITY
Mac OS X was hacked in 2006 less than 30 minutes, and within 2 minutes in a contest in 2008 . Linux and Vista were not hacked until another day when restrictions were lowered. Vista was next, and then Linux.
Macs are standardized with Cameras, if your Mac gets hacked, the hacker can turn on your camera with more ease.
Please Note: All OS’s have vulnerabilities.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/News/security/soa/Mac-OS-X-hacked-under-30-minutes/0,130061744,139241748,00.htm
http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/03/27/Gone-in-2-minutes-Mac-gets-hacked-first-in-contest_1.html
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Finds-Irony-in-Mac-OS-X-Getting-Hacked-Before-Vista-SP1-82135.shtml
VIRUSES
Mac OS X has viruses (and significantly on the rise), a friend of mine has a virused Mac. As more users use Macs, more viruses will come out for it. Especially when users think “they are safe”.
http://infosecurity.us/?p=4005
http://blogs.chron.com/techblog/archives/2008/07/malware_authors_take_aim_at_growing_number_of_1.html
http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/poll_have_you_noticed_an_increase_in_malware_viruses_etc_on_your_mac/
OPEN OFFICE TUTORIALS/HELP
Please Note: OOo Writer = Open Office Word Processor/Writer (like Word or WordPerfect)
OOo Calc = Open Office Spreadsheet (like Excel)
OOo Impress = Open Office Presentation (like Powerpoint)
http://www.learnopenoffice.org/tutorials.htm – Tutorial (done on windows XP but should be the same on Ubuntu)
http://www.tutorialsforopenoffice.org/ – Tutorial (done on windows XP but should be the same on Ubuntu)
http://www.kaaredyret.dk/openoffice_links.html – Open Office templates, tutorials, tips and faq
INSTALLING SOFTWARE ON UBUNTU
Ubuntu/Linux Equivalent Software to Windows: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WindowsApplicationsEquivalents
How to install software: http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/installingsoftware
http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-New-Ubuntu-User-Guide-Install-and-Uninstall-Software-49979.shtml
UNDERSTANDING WHERE FILES ARE LOCATED ON UBUNTU/LINUX…
Description of Directory Structure (Where everything is stored) http://www.arsgeek.com/2006/09/01/linux-newbie-directory-structure/
By Default: All your files are stored in /home/[your userid] so if you created a userid of jen it will be /home/jen If you created another user, and used that new userid it would be stored in /home/[userid].
==========================================================================================
Some Cool Stuff and Videos…
Take a look at some really cool effects you can do with a program called Compiz-Fusion which is included with Ubuntu 8.04, but can be installed on other Linux Distributions.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-249502467549542462&q=compiz+fusion&ei=FIQ1SLv6MJjQ4gKm37nWCQ (2007) Sample of Compiz Fusion 5 min.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-249502467549542462&q=compiz+fusion&ei=j4Y1SKnUGoWc4gLH7vToCQ (2007) Another sample of Compiz Fusion 4 min.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7661708787697852661&q=compiz+fusion&ei=ln41SLPxGpzQ4gKSyfnPCQ (2006) Sample of Compiz Fusion 4 min.
Remember Compiz Fusion will only run on ubuntu 8.04 if installed on the hard drive.
Here are Application Equivalents (Please note there are more equivalents than listed here but this is a good start)
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwitchingToUbuntu/FromMacOSX (Linux Equivalents to OS X Applications)
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SoftwareEquivalents (Linux Equivalents to Windows Applications)
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WindowsApplicationsEquivalents (Linux Equivalents to Windows Applications (Table))
ONLINE HELP VIDEOS
Ubuntu Clips http://ubuntuclips.org/index.html (Short Video Clips on how to use Ubuntu)
Ubuntu Screencasts (Videos that help demonstrate how to use Ubuntu which come from http://screencasts.ubuntu.com )
GREAT SOFTWARE FOR UBUNTU
BROWSERS (Like Internet Explorer – Allows you to view websites)
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/ Firefox (Already installed on Ubuntu by default)
http://www.opera.com/ Opera Browser
TOOLS
http://www.openoffice.org/
(already on ubuntu) Open Office (Similar to Microsoft Office, can read Microsoft Office Documents)
http://live.gnome.org/Pessulus
Pessulus Lockdown editor for Ubuntu
GRAPHICS TOOLS
http://www.gimp.org/ Gimp (already on Ubuntu)
http://www.inkscape.org/ Inkscape
http://www.blender.org/ Blender
SOUND
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ Audacity
BEST GAMES LIST
http://www.linuxlinks.com/article/20080510052539217/Games.html
http://www.linuxlinks.com/article/20080522164112313/Games-Part2.html
GENERIC LINUX ALTERNATIVE SOFTWARE
http://www.linuxalt.com/
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwitchingToUbuntu/FromMacOSX
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwitchingToUbuntu/FromWindows
DESKTOP ENHANCEMENT WEBSITES FOR LINUX
http://gnome-look.org/
http://www.kde-look.org/
http://www.osalt.com/
– Find free equivalents for any os (if OS is crossed off, not available for that OS)
UBUNTU SHORTCUT KEYS
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=50794
- I find the CTRL-ALT-BACKSPACE to be the most usefull keyboard shortcut on Ubuntu because it gets you back to the login screen quickly. If you have any troubles it is a good keyboard shortcut.
Again,
Any questions, feel free to ask
PC Magazine’s review of Dell Adamo Laptop
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