I have started using Ubuntu 7.10 at on home on a laptop that we have been using with Windows XP SP2 on it for a year or so. My kids had loaded the Windows laptop with spyware, so it was time for a reformat, and I have decided to give Ubuntu a try. So far I really like it. It is easy to use. It comes by default with several really good open source applications preloaded.

The challenges I am facing so far are: connecting to my printer that is shared from a Windows XP machine, connecting to file shares on my Windows Vista machine, installing Mythbuntu (MythTV for Ubuntu), and watching DVDs (I can't get the codec necessary installed).

This laptop is mainly used by my kids, so as they use it I will post more updates on how it's going. Last night my daughter used it for the first time, she used OpenOffice.org Word Processor (which she has been using on WinXP for a while now), that went well, but then she couldn't print, so I output it to a PDF saved it on a share on my WinXP box and went there to print it, it wasn't as easy as it should be but at least she got her homework turned in.

Adam, I sure wish there was a version of Irfanview for Debian based Linux.

Everyone always wants new things. Everybody likes new inventions, new technology. People will never be replaced by machines. In the end, life and business are about human connections. And computers are about trying to murder you in a lake. And to me, the choice is easy.

Michael Scott (The Office)

Power:
Who doesn't want power? We as a nation, in our groups, as individuals. We are all looking for power somewhere. I would suggest you try looking here.