Utah Open Source Planet

My Eee Box (model B202) arrived today. I actually plan on using this machine to run Windows (I have a very short list of things that I *require* the blasted OS to run).

First impressions: Yeah, they really are 'cute'. About the size of a Wii, but thinner. The splashtop mini OS that's built into the BIOS is pretty groovy, but I haven't really been able to think of a good use for it. The VGA mounting bracket for LCD monitors is just plain awesome. Out of sight, out of mind. I plan on using Windows XP via remote desktop from my main Ubuntu machine.

Who cares about all that, though. I obviously had to try and see if I could get Ubuntu running on it, which I did, and that's what this post is all about.

To do this, you'll need a linux machine with internet access and a USB key.

Create a bootable USB key with ubuntu-8.04.1-desktop_i386.iso and the isotostick.sh script mentioned on the Ubuntu FromUSBStick Wiki page. This assumes that you have an already pre formatted (ext2 or fat32) USB key, and that the device is /dev/sde1 (to find out what device your key is using, type 'dmesg' a few seconds after plugging it in).

$ wget http://mirrors.xmission.com/ubuntu-cd/hardy/ubuntu-8.04.1-desktop-i386.iso
$ wget http://www.startx.ro/sugar/isotostick.sh
$ chmod +x isotostick.sh
$ sudo ./isotostick.sh ./ubuntu-8.04.1-desktop-i386.iso /dev/sde1
Not verifying image...(no checkisomd5 in Ubuntu so skipping)!
Copying live image to USB stick
cp: cannot create symbolic link `/media/usbdev.Dn7319/dists/stable': Operation not permitted
cp: cannot create symbolic link `/media/usbdev.Dn7319/dists/unstable': Operation not permitted
Installing boot loader
USB stick set up as live image!

The 'cannot create symbolic link' errors are normal if your key is formatted with fat32. Next, you'll want to get the initial custom eeepc kernel packages from array.org and copy them on to the usb key.

$ mkdir eeepc
$ cd eeepc
$ wget http://www.array.org/ubuntu/dists/hardy/eeepc/binary-i386/linux-image-2.6.24-21-eeepc_2.6.24-21.39eeepc1_i386.deb
$ wget http://www.array.org/ubuntu/dists/hardy/eeepc/binary-i386/linux-ubuntu-modules-2.6.24-21-eeepc_2.6.24-21.30eeepc5_i386.deb
$ sudo mkdir /mnt/disk
$ sudo mount /dev/sde1 /mnt/disk
$ sudo cp -rv ../eeepc /mnt/disk
$ sudo umount /mnt/disk

Next, you'll want to configure your Eee Box to boot from your USB key. Unlike the manual (and the interwebs) would like you to believe, pressing F8 at the splashtop boot screen will not allow you to choose your USB key as the boot device. Plug the key in, and enter the BIOS setup screen. Press the right arrow key to "Boot", down arrow to "Hard Disk Drives" (if you don't see this option, make sure you plug your USB key in before you power on the Eee Box), select the "1rst Drive" option and choose your USB device. Press F10 and enter. The Box should now boot the Ubuntu install ISO.

If you are using an LCD monitor connected via the VGA->DVI converter, once you get past the "Ubuntu" boot logo screen with the progress bar, your monitor might just go into powersaving mode. If this happens to you, press CTRL+ALT+F2 to go to a virtual terminal. Your monitor should come back on. Type 'sudo bash'. Edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf and change it so that it looks like the xorg.conf file located here. Once you've saved it, type 'killall -9 X'. If X doesn't start back up automatically in a few seconds, just type 'startx'. If the installation doesn't start automatically after X is running, hit ALT+F2, type 'ubiquity' in the box, and press enter. The familiar Ubuntu installation screen should pop up.

I'm not going to go over the installation process, I assume you already know how to install Ubuntu. The Eee Box 80GB hdd is separated nicely into two partitions already. One for Windows, and one for "data". I chose to dual boot the machine, so I just erased the "data" partition, created a 2GB swap and used the rest as the root ext3 filesystem. Obviously you can partition the system however you want.

Once you get Ubuntu installed, and you've booted into the new installation, you're going to want to install those two custom kernel .deb files you copied onto the USB key. Because you installed Ubuntu from the USB device, your /etc/fstab file will have an entry telling the OS that your USB key is a cdrom drive, and it won't mount correctly when you plug it in. Edit /etc/fstab and remove the last line. Plug your USB key in if you haven't already, and if you have, remove it and plug it back in. It should mount automatically. Open a terminal, see where it mounted using the 'mount' command, and install the .deb files:

$ cd /media/disk/eeepc
$ sudo dpkg -i *.deb

Reboot. Everything should be working at this point. WiFi, the wired network device, sound, compiz, etc. Woot!

I recently purchased an EeePC 1000h, and I'm going to give a quick review here.

First things first, I purchased the 1000h rather than the 1000 because of the 80GB HDD instead of the 40GB SSD. In part because of the price, the 1000h was about $100 cheaper than the 1000, even though it only comes with Windows XP (as opposed to Linux). Also in part because I guess I'm old school or something. I still don't trust SSD. Even though I'm sure I'd never actually have a problem, the phrase limited writes scares me.

Even though the machine came with XP, I never actually booted into it. I have no idea how this machine works with Windows. I used the guide located here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/FromUSBStick to create a boot ISO of Ubuntu 8.04, and the guide here: http://www.array.org/ubuntu to get all of the EeePC specific hardware working. The only problem I encountered here is that, even after I installed the custom eee kernel from array.org, I couldn't get the wireless card to work. I jumped in #eeepc on freenode IRC, and quickly found out that the wireless card in the 1000h is disabled in the BIOS by default (what the hell?). Enabling it quickly fixed the problem. Everything else just worked.

Pros:

• The battery lasts about 5 hours. Longer than any other laptop I've ever had
• The video card can handle compiz very well
• Wireless card appears to have a good range (as opposed to my compaq presario v1000 which would drop packets even if the AP was just in the next room)
• I like the size, it's very portable, and comes with a cool travel case
• Everything I'd come to expect from a laptop works, including Sleep, Hibernate, and different power modes when on battery or AC

• The right shift key is in a very awkward position. If you're a touch typist, you're going to hit the pageup key more times on accident than the intended shift key. This is true for me, even after a two weeks of trying to get used to it
• It took me at least 20 minutes to remove the stupid "Made for Windows XP" and various other stickers from the unit. Haha.

I downloaded the new iPhone software last Friday after my coworker informed me that there was a "Pandora Radio" application available on the AppStore. Internet radio on your phone? No brainer, had to have it.

After getting everything updated and installing the app, I was also delighted to see that it worked decently on EDGE. However, once I got into my car and tried to listen to some "Shiloh Radio" on the way home from work, I was disappointed once I realized that the usual interference that I get if I don't put the phone on "Airplane Mode" was there, only a lot worse because, obviously, internet radio requires constant streaming from the data network.

Over the weekend, I waited in the Apple Store line, and purchased the new 3G iPhone. There are lots of reasons that I decided to do this, but the real one is "I like to waste my money on cool gadgets"; the other reasons are mostly just justification of this one.

Yeah, it's got built in GPS. The speakers are better. The battery lasts longer (at least, longer than my old iPhone, which probably has a pretty weak battery at this point). 3G is pretty cool, though not *that* much faster than EDGE. The real kicker: I tried Pandora in my car on the way to work this morning just for the hell of it. Absolutely no interference. I haven't determined if this is because of the new phone case design, or the 3G network itself. In addition to this, I noticed there is a new Last.FM app in the AppStore!

The iPhone has it's flaws (one of my major complaints is that there is still no non-annoying way to send and receive MMS), but seriously, who cares if you can get internet radio in your car from your phone.

I may update with a more comprehensive review of the new iPhone, that is, if I find that the differences between it and it's predecessor are worth mentioning.

I recently purchased an EeePC 1000h, and I'm going to give a quick review here.

First things first, I purchased the 1000h rather than the 1000 because of the 80GB HDD instead of the 40GB SSD. In part because of the price, the 1000h was about $100 cheaper than the 1000, even though it only comes with Windows XP (as opposed to Linux). Also in part because I guess I'm old school or something. I still don't trust SSD. Even though I'm sure I'd never actually have a problem, the phrase limited writes scares me.

Even though the machine came with XP, I never actually booted into it. I have no idea how this machine works with Windows. I used the guide located here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/FromUSBStick to create a boot ISO of Ubuntu 8.04, and the guide here: http://www.array.org/ubuntu to get all of the EeePC specific hardware working. The only problem I encountered here is that, even after I installed the custom eee kernel from array.org, I couldn't get the wireless card to work. I jumped in #eeepc on freenode IRC, and quickly found out that the wireless card in the 1000h is disabled in the BIOS by default (what the hell?). Enabling it quickly fixed the problem. Everything else just worked.

Pros:

• The battery lasts about 5 hours. Longer than any other laptop I've ever had
• The video card can handle compiz very well
• Wireless card appears to have a good range (as opposed to my compaq presario v1000 which would drop packets even if the AP was just in the next room)
• I like the size, it's very portable, and comes with a cool travel case
• Everything I'd come to expect from a laptop works, including Sleep, Hibernate, and different power modes when on battery or AC

• The right shift key is in a very awkward position. If you're a touch typist, you're going to hit the pageup key more times on accident than the intended shift key. This is true for me, even after a two weeks of trying to get used to it
• It took me at least 20 minutes to remove the stupid "Made for Windows XP" and various other stickers from the unit. Haha.

I downloaded the new iPhone software last Friday after my coworker informed me that there was a "Pandora Radio" application available on the AppStore. Internet radio on your phone? No brainer, had to have it.

After getting everything updated and installing the app, I was also delighted to see that it worked decently on EDGE. However, once I got into my car and tried to listen to some "Shiloh Radio" on the way home from work, I was disappointed once I realized that the usual interference that I get if I don't put the phone on "Airplane Mode" was there, only a lot worse because, obviously, internet radio requires constant streaming from the data network.

Over the weekend, I waited in the Apple Store line, and purchased the new 3G iPhone. There are lots of reasons that I decided to do this, but the real one is "I like to waste my money on cool gadgets"; the other reasons are mostly just justification of this one.

Yeah, it's got built in GPS. The speakers are better. The battery lasts longer (at least, longer than my old iPhone, which probably has a pretty weak battery at this point). 3G is pretty cool, though not *that* much faster than EDGE. The real kicker: I tried Pandora in my car on the way to work this morning just for the hell of it. Absolutely no interference. I haven't determined if this is because of the new phone case design, or the 3G network itself. In addition to this, I noticed there is a new Last.FM app in the AppStore!

The iPhone has it's flaws (one of my major complaints is that there is still no non-annoying way to send and receive MMS), but seriously, who cares if you can get internet radio in your car from your phone.

I may update with a more comprehensive review of the new iPhone, that is, if I find that the differences between it and it's predecessor are worth mentioning.

Ooh, and as we move towards the "Gimmie" season, I always love seeing the new products companies come out with to vie for my attention.  Well Leatherman has a very interesting new tool that looks quite cool.  The Leatherman Skeletool.  I currently love the Leatherman Wave that I carry, but this one has some spiffiness that cannot be denied.  I really like the look, the increased blade width, and the dual purpose carabiner/bottle opener.  It doesn't offer quite as many  "tools" as my wave, but covers the important parts, in a sexy new look, and especially in the CF body, a very nice weight.

Now here is a pretty spiffy little toy to have around, the FrogPad.  A small one-handed keyboard that can be worn, and bluetooth connectivity.  Says it has mac drivers, wonder how well they might work with an iTouch/Iphone when the new SDK comes out?
 
Image blatantly ripped from their site:

Yup, this article is about the iPhone, so if you're sick of hearing about them, I'd advise you to move right along.

I've had an iPhone since July 18th. I'd say, overall, the iPhone and it's software, out of the box (no hacks, etc), is pretty great. I do have some complaints:

• There is no MMS - this is my biggest problem with the phone. It's also the most mind boggling. Why is this feature missing?
• No 3rd party application development. This really isn't that big a deal to me, and I'll explain why later.