Brandon's Blog

9/16/2004

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So…On a total impulse I just completely reformatted the Linux box and brought it up from scratch.  All configuration was done in less than 2 hours or so, and the total project time expanded to a mere handful of hours basically as a result of having to download some security/stability patches from a slow FTP server.

This is an impressive amount of setup time for Slackware, even considering that I am experienced with both the OS and the hardware.  Slackware can’t be that hard if you can get config time to under 6 hours.

The big reason for the update was clutter and nonsense generated from learning how to compile stuff by practice and repetition.  Firefox 1.0 Pre-Release is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen in my life.  Built-in RSS syndication reader (integrated with the Bookmarks menu/toolbar), cleaned up interface, no more “Load Profile” bug for multiple browsers, improved Bookmarks stability, faster app and page load times…everything is perfection.  I can’t wait until 1.0, which I will heartily recommend to all of my Windows friends as an IE replacement, at least on a testing basis.

Another reason for the update was to get my /home directory into a separate ext2 filesystem (basically universally-understood) partition so all my videos and music survive upgrades.  I also carved out 3 circa 5 gig partitions for test systems.  I’m planning Gentoo, Debian, SuSe (gotta keep up with the up-and-coming big performer), and some homebrew Linux playing.

Okay, gotta bug out.  ATI released a driver that supports my video card.  More news later.