Logitech M505 @Gentoo

Well, I needed new mouse, so I bought Logitech M505 (wireless with unified adapter). In the user guide we read:

Side-to-side scrolling (...) This function doesn't work on Linux.

Well, actually, it works. What distribution they used for tests?

o2 Prepaid ZTE MF100 @Gentoo

Well, I cannot live without Internet... So the first thing I did in Paderborn was to search for any Internet provider -- thus I found o2 prepaid offer pretty enough to try. It tooks me last 3 days...

Let's begin.

Forget about windows stuff -- the stick will work (sometimes), the software sucks, it differs from the included handbook, and you will get your hair off trying to figure out how it really works.

Let's try Ubuntu. First of all, the stick is recognized as a cd-rom (surprise!). After searching a lot, you can find usb_modeswitch utilty. Don't use it. You don't have to. Just eject (not unmount) the device. After a few seconds, you will see modem connection configuration screen. You run it by 4-click method, put the pin code and pray -- yes, I manage it to work only once. Surprised?

Now the funny thing. I don't want to use Ubuntu. And Windows XP on my VirtualBox at all. So I needed to find a way to connect with this o2 stick on my Gentoo box.

I don't want to describe step by step configuration -- you will find a lot of similar solutions on the web. Let me describe only some specific things:

1) using wvdial I have:

[Dialer o2]

Init2 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0

Modem Type = Analog Modem

Phone = *99#

ISDN = 0

Username = ;

Init1 = ATZ

Password = ;

Modem = /dev/ttyUSB2

Baud = 9600

Stupid Mode = 1

[Dialer pin]

Init3 = At+CPIN=[yourpin]

Modem = /dev/ttyUSB2

2) steps to connect to the Internet:

- put your stick in

- wait

- try to eject proper device: /dev/sr0 or so

- wait, in a few seconds the modem will appear

- now run wvdial pin to unlock the modem

- wait for green light from the modem

- try wvdial o2

If success, the modem will connect, ppp0 will get dns servers etc. etc.

You don't need to even edit /etc/conf.d/net etc. Just use wvdial.

For those who want to digg deeper: the device is ZTE MF100, with lsusb it is recognized as 19d2:2000, and after eject: 19d2:0031.

Now I need to create a script to do all the stuff automagically:)

Warszawska Karta Miejska

Gdyby kto pytał i szukał: Aplet do projektowania spersonalizowanej warszawskiej karty miejskiej działa tylko pod > IE7 z najnowszym flashem. Gratulujemy wykonania. Dla zatwardziałych Linuksiarzy, potrzeba maszyny wirtualnej z Windowsem w celu wykonania takiej karty i odstawienia w kąt wszelkich przeglądarek (Firefox, Opera, Chrome). Pod Firefoxem na Windowsie też nie działa. Tyle powiem.

It looks great. It runs fast. Faster than Firefox and Opera. Comparable to Arora. The development version of Google Chrome for Linux, which I installed today and work in it all day without a crash or other browsing problems.

I spent most of my day work on the Internet. Working with websites, searching for information etc, thus I need my main web browser to be fast, efficient, powerful and good-looking. I like Opera for its design, but its heavy. I like FF because of capability of extending its functionality by add-ons, and for great add-ons like Web Developer and AdBlock/NoScript. But it's heavy and slows down and look ugly in default configuration (I reconfigured the skin etc., but it is not the way). I track the development of Arora, which runs in a second, looks simple, but still, has some lacks and currently I cannot work on it as a webdeveloper.

When I first use GoogleChrome on my VirtualBox with WinXP I was amazed. Fast and well-looking, I discovered then themes. Today I installed the developer snapshot and worked all day. It has built-in webdeveloper tools, maybe not so great like FF add-on mentioned above, but it is usefull. Currently there is no stable flash support, but it is a matter of coding time;) . Minimalistic, great design, fast engine, runs in a second too:) For a web developer it is a good alternative for FF/Opera.

It was just a good day without spending time on arguing with FF or Opera. Just try it:)

Ubuntu 9.04, I'm impressed

Ok, my friends are scared when I tell them about Linux. Probably because they've seen my Gentoo box with Enlightenment17, where almost nothing works like they expect.

Ok, I've set up my Gentoo box to suit up only my needs. Thus, I don't have automatic mount, music/video players which looks similar to popular apps, even my Desktop look great, but this is strange... So, where do You have StartMenu?

Ok, I've observed Ubuntu for some time, I tried install it on my laptop almost 3 years ago, but it failed on X configuration. I've tried then several Linux distributions, and only on Gentoo I've managed everything to work OK. And Gentoo suits my needs, administration, package managment and philosphy. I'm not tired about compilations of software. This is my choice. And I'm happy with my Linux box, even I have to mount usb sticks manually, even I don't have F-spot or Digikam for managing my pictures (and I do a lot of pictures), even I use Xmms2 for managing my music and Smplayer for videos. Even, I use everyday command line. This is the most production suite I've ever found, and I will not change it to something else...

Just, I'm only waiting for stable and full operational E17 and one photo managment app without KDE or Gnome dependencies. I believe, it's just a matter of coding time.

Thus, I'm impressed of first look on Ubuntu 9.04. I downloaded live cd and unpack it. Because my CD doesn't work at all, I tried to manual add to my grub.conf entries with Ubuntu-Live, reboot the machine and try it. Just try it. I didn't want any effort to put it working. I gave it a chance. And I'm impressed. Again.

Everything just works. Out-of-the-box. Do you know what it means? It means, that any person without any knowledge about computers, and Linux, will find Ubuntu user-friendly. Just imagine:

• Graphical interface works, not to mention, that Compiz effects work too
• Automounting usb sticks works, not to mention, Ubuntu will ask what I want to do, i.e. if I put my photocard it will ask if I want to import photos to F-spot
• Detecting mp3-players. Works too. However, mp3 is not supported, but two clicks and I can listen to my favourite music in RhythymBox, even Jamendo works!
• Alright, now the crash test - the network. And I'm impressed again. Ethernet connection works, Ubuntu will notify if the cable has been plugged or not. Ok, that was easy. Time for wireless. I have an IPW2200 card with light-button. I push the button. Orange led lights up. Ubuntu notifies me about working card. I have only to put my password to the network. Have I written I'm impressed?

Remembering all stuff I had to do with Fedora/Debian and finally Gentoo 2 years ago, and my happinnes of making orange led working I can say, and I'm sure I'm right, that Ubuntu 9.04 is one of the easiest operating systems on that planet. Installing it on your hard drive will be easier than installing Windows Vista and you'll have after the installation, desktop ready to work. OpenOffice suite, Firefox, music and video player, email app, some games, photo managment app, network connection apps, cd/dvd recorder app and much more. For Linux geeks -- suspending and CPU-scaling works out-of-the-box. What do you want more?

I don't want to change my Gentoo with E17 to Ubuntu, but for you, if you don't have time for setting up operating system, and you want it to just works, I recommend you Ubuntu 9.04 or Fedora 11. Next time, I'll try Fedora 11 and Kubuntu 9.04.

Edit:
Kubuntu seems to be not-finished, at least for events notifying. KDE Plasma effects work very good, but first contact was not so easy as with Ubuntu. It is not intuitive where to click to find my usbstick! And Amarok didn't search for propertiary codecs...