Softless

Softless Returns to Redmond

2009-07-20T05:59:00.000-07:00

One week into the LINUX project and we hit a snag. Well actually several.

First there was iTunes, or lack there of. Next there was the resolution. Then there was the TMobile USB broadband issue. But the problem that finally broke the camels back was the touchpad on the Dell Mini 10. The driver for the touchpad was impossible to use and for the life of me I could not figure out how to fix it from LINUX.

I did plenty of research on these issues. I found out that to fix many of them I had to download libraries, compile them, configure packages. And in the end, the performance on Ubuntu was not so impressive that I needed to have it.

At 9AM on Monday morning I downloaded the latest RC for Windows 7. By 4PM,in between doing my real job, I was able to create a USB drive that was bootable and had W7 installed and running. The cool part was that despite the horror stories I had read about the process of getting W7 on a Netbook, this was at least as easy as ordering Ubuntu. No kidding.

The trickiest part was creating the USB boot drive. I ended up asking for help (thanks OZ). But in the end we (mostly OZ) figured out that all we needed to do was format the stick with a Vista machine and specify that it be bootable. Then we used an ISO manager to expand the W7 download to the drive. Plugged it in, turned it on, and BOOM! The install started just like that.

The initial performance was a little slow, so I tweaked a few of the index settings and turned off Areo. My Netbook is as least as fast as the Ubuntu 8.0.4 and snappier than the limited XP version I was using.

By far the coolest thing was the fact that the first time around W7 did NOT pick up the display, but once it completed the install, it went out to the Cloud and found it, installed it, and then recommended the proper settings. Resolution resolved!!!

W7 picked up the touchpad the first round. It was correctly configured and I did not have to touch any of the settings.

I am not saying that W7 is better than Ubuntu 8.04, but it is far easier to manage for a guy like me. The strongest example of this was the USB broadband modem, when I used it under XP I needed to do some manual install for the drivers. I would had needed an LINUX Guru and several hacks to get it to work with Ubuntu. Under W7, the drivers on the USB drive were installed configured and ran the first time!!! If nothing else W7 is really smart.

For now I am optimistically hopeful for W7, but I was optimistic about the the LINUX move too. All I can say is I'll keep you updated as this progresses. Currently I am at 20K feet, between DFW and Greenville, SC typing this entry in Google docs, so the world is moving for me again. And my screen pointer is in synch with my finger tips on the touchpad!

LINUX people, I know you guys love your OS, but it just did not work for me on the Softless Netbook. If it is any consolation I am sure it is my lack of LINUX skills not the ability or quality of the OS.

Next stop is back to the search for the Powerpoint replacement. Just so you know I am holding true to carrying just the Netbook on the road, the presentation I have to give in SC, is on the USB stick and I'll use the customer's computer to show it until I get a Cloud version in place.

A New Arrival

2009-07-09T06:26:00.000-07:00

The new Softless LINUX Netbook arrived over the weekend.

The main difference is the battery. It's larger. Not only larger in terms of time I can work (6 hours it says) but it is larger physically. It is like my other battery got pregnant!

The issue is it tilts the entire computer down from an elevated back. It took a little to get used to it, but now that I have it actually makes typing a little more comfortable.

The next big change is the screen, or I should say display. The last one was limit in resolution, this baby goes all the way up to 1366 x 768, I keep it on 1280 x 768 so my eyes can focus on what I am typing.

Also I should mention that the processor in this Atom based machine is clocked at 1.6 not 1.3 as the previous version. I am not sure I would ever know the difference.

Before I get to the software configuration I have to get my old user data off of the Windows machine. I thought I should set aside some time, you know all those word documents and such! I found out that when you work online there is not much to undo on the computer you use. I simply un-installed iTunes (my exception to the rule).

I deleted my user, Un-installed DropBox and deleted that folder, and boom, things were as if I had never used the Netbook. I have to remember in the future that this entire process only takes a few minutes, not a few hours as my past Windows user deletions.

The old Softless Netbook is now a chapter in history! Goodbye Windows, hello LINUX...

Next was getting my new LINUX Netbook up to speed. First I went through the Dell setup wizard for Ubuntu 8.04. That worked flawlessly to create a user and get some folders set up and help me connect to the WiFi in my home. If I was at Office Depot I would have pressed the "That was Easy Button!"

I needed to install DropBox. I admit, I have not used LINUX that much and part of this exercise is to get my Penguin computing skills up to snuff.

My first realization is that sometimes the cute little wizards that Windows offers are not available, especially for utilities like DropBox. I ended up having to jump out to a -bash session, start a nautilus daemon and then start DropBox.

Not really, actually the folks at DropBox provided a cute little wizard similar to the ones you see in Windows. I simply had to start Firefox, go to the DropBox site, download the LINUX package, click on it and all of the above happened without me touching the keyboard. Pretty convenient. But I read some forum posts on the DropBox site where some users experiences were not quite as easy, be ready.

Speaking of Firefox, I also had to add the same host of addins. Omnibar, Speeddial, and of course LittleFox to make the browser use maximum display for the page content. These addins are now standard for me regardless of the platform I may be using Firefox.

The downside so far has been the discovery that iTunes does not have LINUX client. Amazing, I guess that means the iTouch is back in the bag for travel. I plan to investigate some alternatives for watching MEG movies and listening to music. I'll be sure to keep you updated.

And last but not least I have not abandoned my search for a PowerPoint replacement, and SlideRocket is still at the top on my list. Once I settle in on the new NetaBook I'll have some fresh updates on that fron as well.

The Wait and 3 Things I love About You (Netbook)

2009-06-28T14:27:00.000-07:00

No update on the LINUX Netbook. Well, that is not entirely true, there is an update, only it's "no update". Hopefully before the end of the week.

I also wanted to give an update on my quest for a Power Point replacement. I Tweet every week when this blog entry is made. Last week was no exception. Well, hats off to SlideRocket. They were listening and offered to fix my import issues. Great customer service always deserves mention. I will let you know the outcome as soon as I get it. Thanks again @SlideRocket.

Finally because of the lack of progress on either of the two fronts above, I want to take a moment to list three things I love about my Netbook.

1. It is small enough. Small and weighs very little. At the end of the day it does not feel like a chore to grab it to take home with me. I used to loath carrying the full size laptop. It is heavy, it is big, and I often just left it where it was. My Netbook has become as automatic as the keys to my car. On the airplane it is a dream, room for it and the warm nuts when I am luck to get an upgrade!

2. It is large enough. Once I get it home I can accomplish real work. It has now become my go to computer. Before I simply put off whatever it was I thought of, or tried to accomplish it with my mobile phone, but the Netbook has changed all that. When a thought hits me, I pop it open, hit the on button and in just a few seconds I am online working with close to full size keyboard and a real life browser that parses AJAX and runs FLEX!

3. The battery life is more than sufficient to have meaningful work sessions. I have about 4 hours worth. Dell calls it three, but if I stay away from videos, (harder to do than you think), I can work for 3 hours and 25 minutes before I start getting battery warnings. The new model will have a 6 hour battery, I can't imagine working that long without a break. But more importantly I have yet to run out on a plane trip.

Slideless

2009-06-23T06:19:00.000-07:00

This week has been full of distractions. The Yankees are on a skid, the events in Iran have me glued in front of Twitter and to top it off we are now into the stretch of Texas weather that makes one want to do as little as possible, its in the 100's everyday now and will be for the next few weeks. At any rate I am a little tardy with my post, sorry.

Besides being late I do not have a lot of news. The new Softless Netbook loaded with Ubuntu is in back order hell somewhere so we are in a holding pattern with those updates.

On the replacement for PowerPoint quest there has been a lot of traveling but not a lot of getting anywhere. I am at the point where lowering my expectations may be in order. So far I have tried four different packages. None of them have really met what I would call replacement level capabilities. Maybe they work so good that I am missing something. My basic requirement is to be able to convert an existing PPT and have it run with little modification. I have not found that. I think my definition of basic is probably a little skewed. Most of my presentations have at least some animations, even if it is simple slide transitions, none of the packages, strike that, none of the services I have tried thus far have made it through this process without some problems.

I hesitate to list the services just because I am not complete with my evals, but I suppose if I limit my comments to my importing experiences that is fair.

As I mentioned last week Google Presentation was first. As I also mentioned, it has its issues in some areas, and importing a PPT file is not different. I am not sure why, but it can import a simple slide deck with no animations, and it comes in completely formatted. But add just one animation and the same slide that formatted correctly is now jumbled with letters and graphics over written. No animation at all, but this is a limitation of Google Presentation as a whole, not just the import feature. I am still not impressed with Googles effort here.

280Slides was a waste of my time. I logged on, I tried to import, the service never came back. I tried again, same results. Third time was the point where I closed Firefox and moved on. Maybe I caught them on a bad day.

Empressr. I have to say that what did import came in formatted correctly. But the problem here was some things simply did not come over. I am not sure where they are, but I lost several pictures and text blocks. There was nothing exceptional about them, in fact other slides with similar items came across fine. The quality of the import was pretty good except for the losses. Animations of the slide transitions were created by Empressr, OK, but I didn't ask for them. None of the text or picture animations made it in the import, I think this is also a limitation of Empressor, at least the trial version I have.

SlideRocket was my fourth try. While the import did not work exactly right it was the closest by far. The problem came with the order of animations, some of my text "appears" were out of order. The text that I wanted to "appear" first actually "appeared" last in some cases. Sometimes the animation happened in reverse, in other words, all my text showed up, then as the animation ran it "disappeared". I think that this is probably something I can fix with some tweaking on the imported show, I will keep you updated on how much effort it takes.

So there you have it. Four tries, four not so perfect results. While I think the four services listed above have done a good job, they all failed to meet what I think are a reasonable first test, import my old stuff so I can use it with my new stuff. Stay tuned as I give up and just try to use my new stuff and create a Softless presentation from scratch.

Finally I am assured that the LINUX Netbook is on the way, look for my updates on that as well.

Getting Disconnected

2009-06-13T07:24:00.000-07:00

The purpose of my Netbook experiment was to go without software. There has been an interesting side effect of my efforts, I am now learning that I can go without hardware!

The more I push myself to become independent of the tether called software, the more I am realizing I do not need to worry as much about having a specific computer at hand. Don't get me wrong, I know I cannot walk around without the Softless Netbook and have any guarantee to be online all the time, but I am learning that if my computing life is geared to live in the clouds, then I don't care what I use to reach them.

Case in point, my wife offices out of our home. Her office is downstairs, my home office is upstairs. It is just as easy for me to jump on her office machine, log on to my office web email access, check email and send out meeting requests, as it is to climb 14 steps to retrieve the Softless Netbook. I can write this blog, work on my web site, Tweet to my heart's content, and never leave the first floor our our residence. Yes, I am lazy. But its true.

The importance of this week's story is that while we are achieving software independence we are also achieving hardware independence. This (I think) in part, is playing a large part in the proliferation of mobile devices. It just doesn't matter how you connect, as long as you can get connected. Thus ideas like Netbooks are now a growing reality, not an occasional visionary. Since I have been carrying mine, have noticed a lot more of them. This may not be a fad.

On another front, I am still chained to some applications. I have yet to find a suitable replacement for PowerPoint. Don't say Google Presentation, I'll make you put together a real deck with it as punishment. Its not that Google Docs Presentation does not work, it just does not work in the same class as PowerPoint. I am willing to compromise, I am not willing to go backwards in time. I am not sure why Google Docs Documents is so good, and Presentation is so bad, but in my opinion it appears they were written in two different eras, let alone buildings. Over the next few weeks I will be looking into some options. You can be assured I will report them here.

To cap this week's comments off, I want to mention a new application I started using this week. Its a remote desktop tool called LogMeIn. I use it to access the laptop (that I have started to think of as a desktop) at work. We have some very heavy client side data tools that are not anywhere near ready to be hosted (think Java Eclipse IDE for data stores). To use them I have been linking to the desktop of my office via LogMeIn. So far, so good. The video could be better, but once I start working on a project I forget all about the pink that should be white. The best part, they have a free version that meets my needs.

Also next week I think the new NetBook will be here...should be interesting to see how all this transfers over to LINUX.

Stop the Madness

2009-06-06T16:57:00.000-07:00

I told myself that this blog would center on my experience with this Netbook. I even told you the same thing. But this week I have reached a point where I have to get something off of my chest. My rant is going in this blog because it is related to Netbooks.

Begin Rant.

I have had enough! Mobile computing device manufactures stop the madness. You all are out of control. This is crazy. However, I can say it is not a surprise. We humans always try to out do ourselves. Improve upon our success. Make it better.

But I have to hold my hand out and say, "STOP!" This is one area where I think we have split the hair right where it needed to be split on the first pass.

Netbooks with 12 and 13 inch screens? Smartbooks (?) with Android OS on them?

Listen, if you want 1TB of hard drive, 8G of memory, a 4 core processor, a 14" monitor, all the bells and whistles of a notebook computer, then buy a laptop.

And by the same token if you want a device a little larger than a phone, with no hard drive, and a simple interface, get an iPhone and buy an add on keyboard.

I am not saying their are not improvements to made on the idea if Netbooks. There are plenty. But using current technology in different combination is not the way to get there. Innovate, give us something we don't already have, but don't ruin the idea by morphing them into pancea computing devices that serve evryone, but please no one.

Some thoughts:

I love the idea of the broadband being built in, that makes sense for a portable computing device. A larger hard drive or screen does not.

I also loved the idea of an instant on OS, with file indexing features removed, optimized to connect to the Internet. But we can get that from a modified version of LINUX called Ubuntu NBR.

The problem with taking away and adding to the core Netbook features I have today is my device either becomes more of a phone or less of a laptop. I already have both! I do not want to replace either.

I like the set of features I have as the base for all NetBooks.

10" screen. - (Dell, don't build the mini 11 that's dumb)
1G of ram. - (If you need more, you have too much software running locally)
60G Hard Drive - (I have 160G, too much probably, solid state if possible).
g/n Wireless - (This is the core, you have to be connected)
A good display - (Hi-res if possible, even watching Diggnation on LoRes sucks!)
A good keyboard - (The keyboard on my Dell was the difference maker)
A good touch pad.- (This almost made me not get the Dell)
Stripped Down OS - (I had to spend a few hours on XP to get it there)

These features are a great base for the idea of a mobile computing device that can substitute for my laptop on most trips. I do not think a Netbook replaces a Laptop, but it can augment one on trips where basic computing is all that is needed.

Manufactures of Netbooks, if you happen to read this, please take note. You are heading in the wrong direction.

It sounds like you are talking to a bunch of people who are dreaming up utopia, what they are describing is a device that will leave us all wanting. Including you, meaning shelves full of super Netbooks unable to unload once the rave is over.

Do yourselves a favor, talk to those of us using these devices in the field on a daily basis, before you try to fix them.

Remember, the reason we were attracted to these things in the first place were because they split the hair, right where the hair needed to be split!

(Rant over)...

Have Netbook Will Travel

2009-05-30T17:26:00.000-07:00

Excuse me for saying this, but if you travel and do not have a Netbook, you are a dumb ass. I was a dumb ass and didn't even know it until this week. I am no longer a dumb ass.

As you might surmise, I took the Softless Netbook on the road this week. I went to Mountain View for the 140tc conference (the Twitter Conference). My experience was a positive one, both at 140tc and with the Netbook.

I boarded American Airlines Monday evening, heading to DFW, then on to San Jose. On the DFW leg I sat in 9D, an aisle seat in coach. Since the flight is only 30 minutes in duration, about 55 minutes gate to gate, I didn't even bother to pull the Netbook out. Historiaclly getting the laptop out is such an event, I now know the Netbook is a breeze to get out, boot, use and put away. Hell, 15 minutes is enough time.

On the second leg, I was in 21D, an exit aisle. I feel guilty taking up so much room when I did not really need it. There were plenty of people struggling with their MacBook, Lattitude or ThinkPad while the person in front of them leaned their seat back into the computer user's lap. What a cool feeling. I did not have to worry that the seat in front of me would come back and mash my screen into small pieces.

I listened to my iTunes library while I worked on the Blog for my work site, and a few other work items. The battery lasted the entire trip (2.5 hours). Even betterwas I got the opportunity to show off to the guy sitting next to me, explaining how I was using an offline document from Google Docs. He didn't come out and say it, but I could tell he was impressed.

It would not be fair not to mention the one downside to the trip. While I was at the 140tc, the wireless service there sucked. It was not even slow, it was non-existent. My colleague and I struggled to stay connected. It was worse the second day.

I noticed that a lot of people had 3G broadband cards and they were Tweeting away. I am now the proud user of a T-Mobile USB Modem. It works perfectly. I would recommended one of these to anyone that has or is thinking about buying a Netbook. There are also NetBook models from HP and Dell that have broadband access built in. That is convinent but would also mean you are locked into the carrier. The only option I have seen so far is Verizon.

I also need to have full disclosure here. I carried my laptop with me. I was a little concerned I would need something on it, so I stuck it in my carry on at the last minute. I never opened it. Lesson learned.

When I say, "No", I Don't Really Mean It

2009-05-16T14:16:00.000-07:00

I wanted to order the Softless Netbook with Ubuntu, but I missed that Dell offering by a week or two. Because of that, I am using a modified version of Windows XP. That's OK, not great, but workable. Once I find out the UNR will work with the Mini 10 I may switch, but for now I will stick with XP. It will require some adjustment(s).

First I did the Windows Update thing and got all the latest patches.

I turned off most of the enhanced graphics(icon shadows, and window movement enhancements) to help with performance. While I was at it, I also turned off the Windows indexing for search features. I don't plan to store too much on this thing, and I should know where it all is if I need to find it. This kind of stuff is cool on a lap or desktop, but has no place on a Netbook. It would be too much to ask why it was not already stripped out. My guess is that there will be people that will try to use this thing as if it were a laptop, they will be sorely disappointed.

Next I want to replace IE with Firefox. I really want to replace IE with Chrome, but I have found that some web software (ZoHo and others) do not offer full support for Chrome. Firefox is a good second choice. I added a couple of add-ins right off the bat. Speed Dial, Omni Bar and Little Fox should just be part of the basic Firefox install. They are that good!

I also need some security. I'll use the 30 days of free Norton that came with the Netbook until it runs out, then I will replace it with AVG. Not because I have any data that one is better than the other, it's just I have used AVG for years, it has worked, and if I am anything I am loyal, ask my wife and golf partners.

I added GetDropBox, to keep photos and other files available to me. I don't really have an opinion here either. Again, I have used GetDropBox, it works, that's good enough for me to be a loyal supporter. If you have a better experience with another online file storage and syncing vendor then feel free to comment.

I added iTunes. I know it is client software, but I think it is allowed. If not, I am making an exception. After all, one of the big draws of a small computer like this is that I will finally be able to work on the Nerd Bird when I don't get upgraded. And I have realized, if i can turn on the music, tune out the guy snoring next to me, I can get some real work done.

That's already a lot of software. I plan to add more. But does this software count in the "No Software" kingdom? I am going to consider it infrastructure software. Except for iTunes, everything I installed was done to make the computer assessable and secure.

At some point the online file sync software as well as the security software will just be built into the OS. I know, monopolies and free market. As a consumer I wish I didn't have to go through what I just did to use this Netbook. But, I know if I didn't, we would not have the choice.

Maybe the answer is a configurable install for the OS. I go to a site to order my net appliance, and I select what "infrastructure software" I would like and it is configured before it is delivered. I will leave that to someone else to figure out.

Now that I am set up with a basic system I will begin to incorporate it as part of my everyday travels.

Next week, I'll let you know how my first 7 days go.

NetBook Selection

2009-05-13T06:20:00.000-07:00

Deciding what NetBook to use for this project was not as easy I originally thought. The issue was not the lack of choices but the plethora of them.

I think I hit the peak of new Netbook offerings from the hardware vendors. It indicates I am not the only person that believes we are close to a NetBook society.

I started my research reading several reviews online of the latest offerings.

The first stop was TestFreaks.com. The Freaks gave the Samsung NC10 the highest rating, citing the keyboard twice because of its size, something that registered with me when I finally went out to look at the little pc's in person. They also pointed out that it came with a 6 cell battery, something that I probably should have paid more attention to than I did in the end.

Time will tell.

Another candidate that caught my eye was the HP 2140. It also offered a 6 cell battery. The keyboard looks a little distorted, the keys are not as tall in relative proportion to their width. But I really like the way the machine looks to the eye, and it got a very good review from one of my friends on Twitter, @budweisner. She is a graphics designer and is very demanding in terms of performance. She is definitely not "softless" but she had some good advice, part of which I followed.

After my online research and discussions with friends and colleagues I went out to look for myself. I grabbed my trust technical friend and consigliery, @CSakon, and headed for our local BestBuy. They had a pretty good selection, the Asus Eee PC, the HP 2140 and they also had a Dell Mini 10 on display.

The reviews were right, one of the big issues is the keyboard and the Dell felt like home to my fingers. Not that some of the other models did not have larger keyboards, the Dell keyboard just fit my specific hands better. I would suggest that if you plan to buy a NetBook, type on it before you do, it could save you waiting on hold for an RMA number if you order it online.

I did choose the Dell Mini 10. I got the Atom 1.3 processor, the 160 GB hard drive, and I was one week to early to get it with Ubuntu. I am starting with Windows XP home, that may change once I insure Ubuntu UNR will suport all the Dell specific hardware.

About the only option I added was the Bluetooth wireless, I want to have the option of not being cabled to the computer if I choose to listening to streaming music or watching online movies.

I am typing this entry on the machine, while logged into Google.com/Docs. So far so good.

Lastly, I am not to nieve to think I will not need to install some somftware, IE an updated browser. By next week I would think I would have settled in on the base.

I'll update you then.

2009-05-09T16:40:00.000-07:00

The Beginning - May 9th, 2009

Every story has a beginning. This one starts with an ending. Actually the beginning of an ending. But an ending just the same.

I am referring to the end of software applications as we know them. The end of downloading, installing and configuring software, at least from an end consumer perspective. Gone are the days when software is built in one place, and executed in another. From this day forward it all happens in the "Cloud". In other words, the client server party is over. Put on your coats, you don't have to go home, but you certainly cannot stay here.

If we dare consume the wisdom that Mark Benioff bestowed upon us 10 years ago, and all that has been pontificated since (by Mark and many others), we should be marching along with Netbooks, actively conducting business.

There should not be a debate. All software, at least for the general population, should exist in the Cloud, and we should not have a second thought when we use it and or access it. We should be working without software, without application bits or bytes on our local hard drives, we should be Softless!

But we are not! I want to know why. I want to know just how difficult it is to unplug and work without software installed from a CD, the Internet, or otherwise.

My mission, if I choose to accept it, and I do, is to purchase a capable NetBook (something supposedly built from the ground up for this task) and perform all of my personal (and most of my professional computing) without installing applications. Essentially work from a browser 100% of the time.

This is a large challenge, I am mostly considered a "power user", not a programmer by any stretch, but I spend most of my normal days on a machine loaded with software. I am fairly competent with general software as well as some tech-centric analytic applications. This is not going to be a walk in the park.

I leave a loophole concerning the professional computing. I cannot dictate to our CIO the change required to replace local applications which are essential in my role at my place of employment. But, I will commit for the sake of the exercise, and because corporate policy would not allow otherwise, that I will use my corporate applications not accessiable directly from the web on a corporate machine.

All other computing will be performed via a Netbook (choice to be discussed) or my home desktop on which I have installed a fresh copy of Vista, iTunes and nothing else. At this point I am doubtful about my success.

I will chronicle my experience. Not so much for entertainment, but more as a log, so I can track the success and failure of my efforts. I have little expectation that this will be much more than a weekly BLOG post over the next 6 months or so.

I hope that you and some of your friends check in on me from time to time.