techy hour

I recently switched to linux - like, hardcore style, on my primary machine. I first tried Fedora Core 3 which is RedHat's desktop operating system. Then after forgetting to install all the packages and being unable to install some other stuff (and then peter telling me he likes suse linux better) i installed SUSE linux (by novell). And just like peter, I like it better too. Not only did it install everything that I need it to (and do it well), it has a really easy way of finding the packages I need to install to install other stuff. YAST is pretty fuggin cool.

Anyway, obviously SUSE is not Windows XP so I can't run any microsoft software on it natively, so I need to find replacements for everything I would do on XP on linux. Which brings me to the point of this entry - Things that (sadly but true), I miss from xp.

1. Microsoft OneNote - Notetaking software that let's you drag images (like powerpoint slides) to the "paper" and you can type on them, next to them, on top of them or anywhere you want. You can actually download a trial of it on microsoft's site for 60 days. It's really good software, and I'm going to miss it. I tried to find other software that is a "clone" of it, but there's nothing close enough for me to actually use it. So until I find that software, I'm just gunna have to fill in the "notes" section in powerpoint (openoffice.org impress btw - microsoft doesn't make office for linux - but sun does)

2. Microsoft Wireless Configuration - Each time I want to connect to a wireless network (which is how i get my internet, all the time) I need to run the wireless connection dialog. So in windows, when you click "connect" it does it (and if it needs a WEP code, it asks you for it, and then saves it) then it connects you to the network, while letting you know that you're connected in real time. The suse version of this isn't very functional because it tells you that you're connected (kinda) but when you click "connect" to a different access point, it says "it was unable to connect" - but you are connected (the other dialog says!) This is bad because someone that doesn't know how to use ifconfig in the terminal might not know that they're connected.

Regardless of who you are, the windows one did it better. Guaranteed.

3. The little windows icon button to open the start menu - yeah, it's silly that I would want the windows button to open the linux main menu, but it is nice for someone who likes to use the keyboard more than he likes to use the mouse.

4. MSPaint - Ok - "The GIMP" is great - it's good software that is almost as powerful as adobe photoshop (really powerful shit), but it's also just like photoshop with ease of use. Really fuggin difficult. When I want to just use something like Paint in windows, it's not there. I think I remember seeing something like it in Fedora Core, but I don't remember what it is, and SUSE didn't install it. As for paint, I actually just did an entire assignment in paint - it's really fun to use the skills that you gained when you were in like 7th grade computer class drawing naughty pictures with paint.

5. Mp3 and DVD Support - Maybe I messed up the install somehow, but the audio and video software didn't play anything. So - I had to find a new mp3 player (it's pretty cool - looks like winamp) and I'm still working on getting DVD's and Divx to work. I know that DVD decoders don't necessarily "come with" windows, but most machines that you buy have the support built in. Freaking A. I've never worked so hard to watch Rain Man in my life.

Alright, I'm done.

Don't get me wrong, I'm really enjoying using this new operating system - There's just a few things i miss *tear* from *gasp* windows.

Oh, one thing I don't miss is pop-freaking-ups. I'm not sure I've gotten one of those yet. Go linux!