impressions of Mint

GNOME is very unusual. Yesterday I was unsuccessfully trying to configure Wi-Fi — there’s no network search anywhere. The drivers seem to be installed, but I couldn’t connect. On the other hand, the webcam was recognized; it works in Skype settings, still need to test it during an actual call. Finally got the keyboard configured — managed without editing the X config. GNOME doesn’t save the session by default (unlike KDE), meaning apps that were open last time don’t launch on login. Haven’t found where to enable that yet.

Mint & GSM

couldn’t resist, tried connecting my SonyEricsson k750 via USB cable to the machine running Mint. and guess what? it: 1. recognized the phone as a device, let me browse its memory with the file manager 2. recognized the phone’s memory card as an mp3 player, let me browse it as well 3. offered to set up a connection through the detected modem. I selected Ukraine, chose my carrier “Beeline” — and the connection was established successfully right away!

Linux Mint

Installed the subject. Had no DVD drive, so installed from a flash drive. From the moment I finished partitioning the disk and clicked “Install” to when the system reported it was ready and asked for a reboot, it took 7 (!) minutes. Installed on a work machine (3GHz/1GB/160GB SATA). Impressions — superb. Despite it being GNOME, everything is quite decent: clean, though somewhat more involved compared to KDE. Maybe just because it’s less familiar. Will be testing the printer and scanner.

Potatoes

Went to my mother-in-law’s to help with the potatoes. Turns out I’m not bad at it — didn’t expect that from myself. I think everything will ache tomorrow…

2009-07-24 11:56:49

failed to update … (unexpected error)

Might come in handy for Arch Linux newcomers. If after updating pacman it starts showing the following:

:: Synchronizing package databases… error: failed to update core (unexpected error) error: failed to update extra (unexpected error) error: failed to update community (unexpected error) error: failed to synchronize any databases

don’t panic — just edit /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist Uncomment the lines with the mirrors you use.

thanks to http://zlord.itcrazy.ru/

2009-04-02 21:33:48

Out of nowhere, carpal tunnel syndrome has flared up (or appeared for the first time?): my right wrist hurts, even though I can’t say I’ve been using the mouse or typing on the keyboard any more than usual lately. And I’ve had a pad with a silicone wrist rest for quite a while now.