Quick DVD Backup May I suggest a trick that delivers a properly installed and clean Ubuntu – otherwise it could contain a lot of waste after repeated program installs and uninstalls. After installing an Ubuntu distribution with all necessary components and cleaning the surplus ones, I use the remastersys program to make a system backup ISO file, and burn it to a rewritable disk to make a Live DVD with username and password, but without personal data. This Live DVD could be used for experimental program installations, while using the same system as the one installed to the HDD. With 4 GB RAM, some 1.7 GB to 1.9 GB additional free space could be made available. This way, I can run tests without any risk of leaving any waste on my installed system since, after rebooting with the Live DVD, I have a clean system again. Based on the results of the tests, I can then be confident that the tested programs will also install and run correctly on the HDD system.

Sauvegarde rapide de DVD

Puis-je suggérer un truc qui permet d'avoir un Ubuntu installé correctement et propre - sinon, on peut retrouver beaucoup de choses inutiles après des installations et désinstallation répétées du programme.

Après avoir installé une distribution Ubuntu avec tous les composants nécessaires et effacé les excédentaires, j'utilise le programme remastersys pour faire un fichier ISO de sauvegarde du système et je le grave sur un disque réinscriptible pour faire un DVD Live avec identifiant et mot de passe, mais sans données personnelles.

Ce DVD live pourrait être utilisé pour l'installation de programmes expérimentaux, tout en utilisant le même système que celui installé sur le disque dur. Avec 4 Go de RAM, de 1,7 Go à 1,9 Go d'espace libre supplémentaire pourrait être mis à disposition.

De cette façon, je peux exécuter des tests sans risque de laisser des déchets sur mon système installé puisque, après avoir redémarré avec le DVD Live, j'ai un système à nouveau propre. Sur la base des résultats des tests, je peux alors avoir l'assurance que les programmes testés s'installeront et se lanceront correctement sur le système du HDD.

Using this approach, I can successfully try some Amateur Radio programs, both .deb extension Linux and .exe extension Windows ones (among them SSTV, PSK31, etc.). Moreover, I can surf the Internet without any risk of infection since the DVD is write protected and the RAM memory will be empty after shutting down the computer. If I download any file then it can be saved directly to a pen-drive or to an external HDD after checking it with the “Clamav” anti-virus program already installed on my Ubuntu operating system (and refreshing its database from the Internet). I was using an older computer without a built-in HDD, and the computer was used exclusively with a Ubuntu Live-CD and with a broadband internet connection. This was the less expensive computer I had! András Szabó

Avec cette approche, je peux essayer avec succès des programmes de radio amateur, ayant les les deux extensions .deb pour Linux et .exe pour Windows (dont SSTV, PSK31, etc.)

De plus, je peux surfer sur Internet, sans aucun risque d'infection, car le DVD est protégé en écriture et la mémoire RAM sera vide après l'arrêt de l'ordinateur. Si je télécharge un fichier, il peut être enregistré directement sur une clé USB ou un disque dur externe après l'avoir vérificé avec l'anti-virus « Clamav » déjà installés sur mon système d'exploitation Ubuntu (et rafraîchissant sa base de données à partir d'Internet).

J'utilisais un ordinateur plus ancien sans disque dur intégré, et l'ordinateur a été utilisé exclusivement avec une Ubuntu Live-CD et une connexion Internet haut débit. C'était l'ordinateur le moins cher que j'ai eu !

András Szabó

My Bad! Sort Of… I have to apologize for not sending in those reviews I promised, here’s the reason why. After I built my new pc system – moving from an AMD cpu to an Intel Ivy Bridge – I then installed 12.04 LTS, and, long story short, it was a complete disaster. Robin reported 12.04 instabilities on his blog a few weeks ago, at the time I was on a AMD 64-bit build and had no problems. The moment I switched to an Intel system it was problems galore with random freezes, crashes, etc from nautilus to firefox, chrome, gwibber – even the software center would crash! You can read more about it here (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-video-intel/+bug/993187). So, for a few weeks I could do nothing more than browse the web trying to figure out what was wrong before the system went crazy – and I had already given away the AMD system. Please post the solution to this (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xserver-xorg-video-intel/+bug/993187/comments/91) for people who may be experiencing the same problems with the latest Intel architecture. Meanwhile, I will get started on those reviews I promised. Dougn Redhammer

Unity, Mint and Tablets. Oh my! I have been using Linux Ubuntu for about 4 years and do not use a Windows dual boot. I do have a Windows machine for a couple of programs, but have “almost” managed to eliminate this necessity with Wine. I was using Ubuntu up to version 11.10 with the Classic login. The Classic login works on Laptops/Desktops, but you are stuck with Unity if you have a net-book. I have an Asus Netbook with 2GB RAM and a 250GB hard disk. I use this a lot while on the move, and got enticed to Linux Mint 12 from articles in other Linux magazines. I installed Mint on my netbook and it even recognized the extra touch-pad button to turn it on and off. Ubuntu did not recognize this button. I also installed Mint on two other high spec laptops and… so far so good.

Now on to the Unity-Windows 8-Tablet debacle, so clearly described in the FCM60 article by Art Schreckengost. I can understand why Canonical is going the Unity route as this is the way Windows 8 is heading. It is aimed at tablets, touch-screen computers and TVs. I have an HTC Android mobile phone, which is great and very convenient, with its touch screen, but I cannot see myself swiping the screen of a laptop. On several trips to computer and mobile phone shops, I have checked out the non-Apple tablets on the market. The tablets on sale are very confusing as some have a USB port, some don't. Some have Bluetooth and some don't. They all have a reduced storage capacity and memory. Some are cheap but in general they are very expensive. As someone who is somewhat of a gadget freak, the tablet is one piece of technology that I have not rushed out to buy. Why buy a tablet, with reduced characteristics, when you can get a high spec netbook at a better price. My netbook does all that my laptops do, with the addition of an external DVD drive. In my opinion the tablet is not going to last in the market. Allan Hambidge