HP Customer support and Vista

Referring to previous posts, you probably remember that I've been starting to do some business together with couple of colleagues. We have put up a firm, targeted to develop something very interesting.

For that oblivious reason, I became a company customer to HP when I acquired a laptop from them. I also issued question to HP, am I able to use that Vista license under Linux hosted vmware, as a guest operating system. Answer was simple (from HP customer care); "of course you can". But I knew there was a catch in there.

When I indicated that I certainly would like to do that, because I own Vista license (even my primary working environment is based on all Linux approach - it would be nice to have that spyware magnet around). So, next question killed the fun from customer care. Since I knew that I cannot use those recovery DVD's to restore Vista to vmware, I asked how should I proceed?

HP customer care answered me; you can use it legally, but "you just have to get that (installable) media somewhere.." I asked from them that it's little strange that when I own rights to have something, I am allowed to use it in that way - I still have no meaningful ways to do it.

So, now I am after some copy of Vista installation media...

Windows - painful experience

It arrived yesterday. My coding laptop HP 6710b. It was a bit bigger what I thought, but after all it's very basic 15.1" laptop for business. Display is nice 1680*1050 resolution and over all appearance is solid.

But as usual, Microsoft part of it was pain. I booted it and Vista started it's preparations and after that HP own software started it's installation. Over two hours of that, I decided to do recovery DVD's and an another hour went by. I got my computer at 10 am and after 2 pm I was ready to wipe that Vista.

I had over 10 minute experiences of Vista in there and when ever I chose a program from menu - it kept asking 'are you sure that you trust to this and this can be run?'. I cannot see any future for such a system.

But Ubuntu was breeze, with in 15 minutes it was installed and everything worked right out of the box.

I have a nice story about HP customer support and Vista installation under vmware, but I'll make an another post of it later.

Coding laptop for personal use

Today I ordered HP 6710b laptop (GB892ET) for my own firm. Primary purpose for such a computer would be of course coding and developing. I issued couple of points to HP as a question - I know I will not get any decent answers to those, but here they go:

I buy that laptop with Windows VISTA (business) version. I have therefore license for this operating system. I will reformat computer and install Linux as primary operating system. As a owner of Vista, am I able to do following:

1. I install VMWare server for Linux host operating system. Can I restore Vista to one of the virtual machines ?

I think this Windows conspiracy sucks, it prevents our business to expand at it's full and limits too much of an innovations. I am happy that there are Linux for professional use - I really hope that computer manufacturers starts to support it.

Wired business with E90

I've been happy with this 'new' E90 which replaced my first E90. Previous one has this microphone and markings on inner screen syndrome. This new suffers no such failures or at least I have not been able to detect them yet.

But when running business with E90, you try to keep charger ready where ever you are. This picture is in Brussels, where E90 needed some juice before 5 pm, after I had unplugged it from my hotel charger at morning.

So, prepare to bring charger with you on those daily trips where you just imagined to survive without that laptop and charger :)

Ubuntu 7.10 experiences

Days with Ubuntu 7.10 are turning into very productive ones. I've spent hours with system, mainly working with my current projects and I must say that Ubuntu differs from various other systems (including kubuntu) by being most of the time away from productive work flow. I read that somewhere in web, where it was mentioned when ubuntu and vista was compared.

Here is eye candy screenshot of my current screen


And another one which shows you compiz-fusion expose plugin result:

Europe visit Estonia

After spending week in Spain and Brussels, two days in Estonia is totally different. Wifi access is free, it's everywhere and it's working without logging in. Just turn your devices on and you're online.

This is unbelievable, after you have spent your valuable time in heart of Europe, trying to catch that access just to check your emails or some web page. So, Europe. Visit Tallinn to check out how it suppose to work. It's not hard and it's not impossible.

This trip with my CF-Y5 equipped with Ubuntu 7.10 in Tallinn has been fun and good example what todays technology is able to provide, if you choose your assets correctly.

Ubuntu on Panasonic CF-Y5

Ubuntu 7.10 with Panasonic CF-Y5 toughbook. It's very attractive combination with 80 GB HD, integrated 3G (HSDPA), bluetooth and 1400*1050 display.

Ubuntu 7.10 was easy to install and it delivers excellent user experience and even panasonic is not doing a thing for Linux, ubuntu does a good job.

This is my primary now.