39 GB Available

After getting back from business trip, I was waiting to get my hands on to latest Ubuntu 12.04. As usual, I approached upgrade with new hard drive method.

First I tarred all needed stuff in my home directory (email, docs, GPG keys and development) and prepared USB stick with 64 bit alternate ubuntu. Then I retired my current rotating HD and replaced it with 64 GB SSD. In 5 minutes, ubuntu was in place with encrypted disk configuration and in in another 15 minutes I have extracted all my home directory data back in place.

After this, I get still 39 GB free for my laptop, which is by the way Panasonic CF-F9. Business ruggerized with incredibly fast Samsung 6 Gb/s SSD. Boots fast and shuts down in few seconds.

I really like this approach, because if there is any issues with new installation - I can always return to previous state by taking that previous version HD from safe and I am back on-line. This way also produces me 6 months backup cycle in forms of HD's. In some point I can of course start to rotate those, but so far not.

Best of all, spring is here - I am totally robust with my SSD fired ubuntu 12.04 and encrypted in case of laptop loss. You're welcome.

Days after MWC

Market reaction after MWC has been as I expected. Nokia did not scored high enough and Nokia 808 was only light in the tunnel. On the other hand all those mobiles are currently falling into same category of touch screen and Android. Nothing different enough for my eyes, I have to say.

I believe this 'all US based' mobile platform industry needs some counter actions from Europe. I have strong vision but no one to share that with. You never know.

Nokia at MWC 2012

Just watching Nokia's disaster at MWC 2012.

It feels like that my mom tries to explain 'best ever' phone for technical audience with shame in their minds. Lumia's are pushed to market with price cuts. Can you imagine? Price should be last thing to mention in technology presentation.

Only Symbian based Nokia 808 pureview gets me excited.

We'll see will it get any better.

Year 2012

Happy new year to everyone! This is first posting on 2012 and hopefully not last. I've been taking easy for couple of weeks, making some table cleaning at work and getting rid of my two 27" displays and moving totally to CF-F9 user in there also. I shall recommend this to every one once in a while. My 27"'s were bought back in 2007 when we launched our business and I've been really satisfied with them. But time to try something new.

All in one place (this CF-F9) makes backups and version handling easy. No more unity sync between laptop and desktop etc. Still I need to figure out how to handle spare computing issue, because business cannot stand even 30 minute break because of computing issues. I keep you posted.

Finally I also checked out what were search engine words which were used to find this blog of mine and few Nokia stuff of course but interestingly Mac vs. Ubuntu fight is going on in peoples mind. They keep searching answers for that. I am owner of Mac Air and my main computing gear runs Ubuntu anyway, so there are things to tell. I cannot but it on brief easily, but somehow if I had to describe use of those platforms I would say that engineering is Ubuntu and creativity is Mac. I just feel empty handed if I try to do my development business with Mac, I tried a lot but with no luck.

So now I am running Ubuntu with my toughbook. I recommend this.

Further with Panasonic CF-F9

I've been using now my new CF-F9 with ubuntu 11.10 alternative install and I just love this combination. I even received additional memory (+4 GB) just before Xmas and even distributor warned me about it usefulness with windows (32 bit) - there is full memory available now to my 64 bit Linux. Way to go.

This computer is really solid for carry on usage and big screen makes things productive. Only thing which is not configured at this point is 3G connection with on-board Gobi2000 module. Firmware loading is pain under Linux (big thanks to Sierra Wireless!) and I even think to replace sierra wireless with some another module working without external loaded firmware. Maybe sony ericsson have a model for that.

Panasonic CF-F9

After evaluating couple of weeks which laptop should I get to replace and relief my Thinkpad EDGE - I got totally lost. I got excited about ASUS X31 but after reading troubles with Linux on that, gave up an idea of getting it. Then I checked out multiple HP's and Lenovo models, but they were all taking forever to buy.

While been loyal user of Toughbook family, I have kept distance to latest models lately. But after evaluating possibilities, I came across two models: CF-53 or CF-F9. 53 was a bit bulky for me, so I ordered CF-F9. What I like about here in Finland is Toughbook distributor. They ship immediately and I got F9 in my hands in couple of hours. Learn that Lenovo.

But best was yet to come. I put ubuntu 11.10 alternative in for my F9 and world was open. With zero boot to windows I was already enjoying fully featured development machine with my home directory untarred in place. Learn that Windows.

This computer is part of our high security approach to few governmental projects and no skype is allowed here. XMPP rocks and disk crypto keeps mind rested while traveling. Learn that.

Windows Phone :: not so easy life

I've been playing with Windows phone for a while now and I feel sorry for Nokia. From my experiences, windows phone is nothing but pain for advanced users and too complicated for normal users. Here goes few points noted so far;

User interface is complicated. No matter what, I am quite confused all the time when using phone. For example switching between applications is some how confused. Ordinary tasks like forwarding someones number to SMS is pain and I am always lost where I am with this phone. Maybe it's just me.

I don't need xbox live etc stuff on my screen, make them disappear. I need text editor to type quick notes, straight and plain. No flying tiles and partly shown title text and other candy.

Biggest problem is music, video and photo copying to and from phone. When I plug my phone to Linux, nothing happens. Making things dependent of some proprietary binary is no go road for most of users. I see big troubles in this.

And for last; SDK's. We made program for this phone and compared to other platforms, microsoft is pain. $99 money needed, no file based deployments to phones and totally unacceptable code ecosystem for todays open source users.

Nokia, you're on wrong train now.