On Open Source, Kind Of

Today is the day that I finally decided to let go of Windows on my 5-year old laptop. It was around 3 to 5 years of decision making shifting to Ubuntu. What kept me from doing it? Adobe Audition, Photoshop and Lightroom.

Yes! These three applications that keep me sane whenever I have creative-rush-of-moment are my salvation. Currently, I am trying to work around using the alternatives in the GNU environment but it seems that I might be needing some help from WINE so I can run these. It just basically keeps the jobs done efficiently and smoothly. Otherwise, I might need to install a virtual machine for the sake of running these applications. Nevertheless, my machine runs smoother and faster.

To tell you honestly, giving up these applications was not really my main motivator to move in Ubuntu – it is open source. Most of the applications that are used in Data Science, R and Python, are based on open source. By using more command line syntax rather than GUI, promotes and forces me to relearn the art of coding. Besides, I am set to learn the basics of Linux on edX in the next few months.

Do you see the screenshot? I am trying to install a virtual machine via coding. Can I have some tissue please?

Ubuntu Edge

I am a big fan of Canonical software, as a matter of fact, if it is not just for my photo editing software, I am already running on Ubuntu. Must to say that I keep a stock of the updated version of Ubuntu OS just to keep in handy, especially that I can boot from a flash drive. But putting your Android phone in a spectacular Ubuntu version makes your data very mobile.

And so, if this is going to be available soon to the public, I might consider getting one.

As explained, this is going to be a limited edition. So all those who pledged will get an hands on experience of this new innovation. From the looks of it, as listed on the specifications below, this is going to be a powerful phone. With the requirements needed to flash a desktop in a mobile device require a pretty hefty list of good hardware details to produce a mobile-desktop OS convergence.

[blockquote align=”left” cite=”Indiegogo Ubuntu Edge” citeLink=”http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ubuntu-edge”%5D

• Dual boot Ubuntu mobile OS and Android
• Fully integrated Ubuntu desktop PC when docked
• Fastest multi-core CPU, 4GB RAM, 128GB storage
• Micro-SIM
• 4.5in 1,280 x 720 HD sapphire crystal display
• 8mp low-light rear camera, 2mp front camera
• Dual-LTE, dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4, NFC
• GPS, accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, compass, barometer
• Stereo speakers with HD audio, dual-mic recording, Active Noise Cancellation
• 11-pin connector providing simultaneous MHL and USB OTG
• 3.5mm jack
• Silicon-anode Li-Ion battery
• 64 x 9 x 124mm

[/blockquote]

Creating a Bootable USB

Earlier, I had my molar bands installed. Val, my dentist, asked me to fix her netbook computer. I wanted to buy this one before and too much surprise it was, hers was pink!

Her computer has Windows XP installed on it and it has a BSOD 0xED error – Unmountable Boot Volume. I have encountered this a lot of times when I was still with eTelecare and working for Matrix ACS (Dell) account.

Most of the netbooks today do not have an optical drive. Good thing I still have an extra USB here which I can make as a bootable drive to initialize the Windows XP repair.

[toggle_framed title=”Here are the stuff that you need:”]

• Another computer (to prepare the USB drive)
• At least 2GB high-speed USB drive
• OS CD (Windows XP, Vista, Ubuntu, etc.) or an ISO
• Bootsect.exe, bootmgr, PEtoUSB and USBPrep8
• English comprehension and very basic Windows UI knowledge (take note that computer nerd skill is not needed here though very basic DOS syntax knowledge is required)

[/toggle_framed]
Now, here are the steps:

1. Download the required files needed here -> usb_prep8. I have compiled it. Freeware FTW!
   [download_box] usb_prep8 [/download_box]
2. Extract the downloaded compressed file on your working computer.
3. Double-click usb_prep8.cmd. A new command prompt window appears.
   

   USBPrep

4. Press Enter key on the command prompt below. A new window pops up.
   

   PE to USB

5. Stay with the settings unless you are better than I am :P. Do not close the two windows.
6. Open a new command prompt window.
7. Go to the same directory where the files are saved via the command prompt.
8. Execute bootsect.exe /nt52 X: (note that the X: is the drive letter of your USB drive. Make sure that you do not have any Windows Explorer opened and targeted from the same drive because the command syntax will fail as it cannot lock and write the bootsector of the USB drive.
9. If all goes well, a print line shows: Bootcode was successfully updated on all targeted volumes.
10. Close the command prompt window where you performed the bootsect syntax NOT the other windows I was talking about.
11. Once converted, press Enter on the USBPrep8 command prompt until it shows something like this:
    

    USBPrep 2

12. Input 1. Press Enter. A folder browser window opens where the source files are located. Usually this is your CD-ROM drive. If you have ISO mounted, point it there (note that the ISO should be mounted, hence, treated as a virtual CD-ROM)
13. Input 2. Press Enter. Input any unassigned drive letter  on your computer (i.e. L:)
14. Input 3. Press Enter. Input the drive letter of the USB drive.
15. Input 4. Press Enter to start the process.
16. The script will asks you to format the L: (this is an example on this scenario). Press Y for yes as this is just a temp drive .
17. A set of lines that shows that files are copied appears. Press Enter to continue.
18. A popup appears asking you to copy the files to the USB drive. Obviously select Yes.
19. Once the script has completed copying the filed, a new popup appears asking if you want to have the USB drive preferred U:. Click Yes. It will unmount the temp drive.

Your USB drive has the OS installer on it and it can be booted directly from the BIOS. Make sure that you select to boot from the USB first, not the CD-ROM or the HDD.

Let me know if anything is unclear 😀 have fun!

Ubuntu

Ubuntu Desktop

I have always admired Ubuntu ever since I tried using it when it was still on Warty Warthog. I just couldnt give up on Windows because my father used to ask me to design our work on Adobe PageMaker and Photoshop. For the past few months, I rarely use these and just open Lightroom after each photoshoot, the rest are web browser, torrent, email client and music player.I havent destroyed the MBR factory installed by Dell, so if the time comes that I need to do a reformat-reinstall, it will only take 10 minutes due to Dell PC Restore. Once I modify the MBR because I have to allocate some partition for the upcoming Lucid Lynx this month, the convenience of reinstalling Vista will be gone and I have to deal with CDs.

I am not willing to give up Windows yet because I primarily run my graphics software here. I wont run any Windows-based application on cross-platform because it will just mess up the performance.

But seriously, I want Ubuntu OS as my primary OS and just use Vista whenever I need to run Lightroom. I tried running a virtual machine on Vista but the feeling is not the same 😛

Shall I!?!?!