With this release of VMware Fusion we’re now approaching what virtualization should be. Check out these features:

• Improved Unity functionality so that you can run your Windows apps right on your Mac. Now includes Linux Unity support
• Mapping and mirroring folders between Windows and OS X, e.g. Pictures, Documents, etc.
• Vastly improved performance and less resource usage
• Full support for all major guest operating systems
• Keyboard and mouse keyboard mapping
• Automated snapshots for a “Time Machine”-like backup experience for virutal systems
• View Windows content with Leopard’s QuickView
• Dock and Status bar notifications for guest applications

Links

[ VMware Fusion | vmware.com ]

The latest version of Gentoo Linux has just been released. Here are some of the highlights:

• an updated installer
• improved hardware support
• a complete rework of profiles
• a move to Xfce instead of GNOME on the LiveCD
• tons of updated ebuilds

I’m especially excited about the Xfce change; I love minimalist interfaces. So I think this going to be my main distribution here at home. I want to use Ubuntu more, but I just keep coming back to Gentoo. I think this speaks to the concept of,

Assuming you’re choosing from one of the leading options, the “best” Linux distribution is the one you’re most comfortable with.

And for me this is definitely Gentoo.

Screw the distro-religous wars: Gentoo rocks, Ubuntu rocks, Debian rocks, Fedora rocks, SuSe rocks. All these top distros rock because Linux rocks. Linux is the loyal companion that will be there if/when OS X deteriorates due to management or philosophy changes at Apple.

Support your favorite distro whenever you can; it’s good for Linux and it’s good for technology innovation in general.:

Something to refer people to who think Microsoft is innovating on the desktop.

[ A Gentoo Linux Compiz Demo ]

My friend Jason just posted a really cool command line trick that lets you log stderr and stdout to different files while still having them visible in the console.

($command | tee /logs/stdout.txt) 3>&1 1>&2 2>&3 | tee /logs/stderr.txt

Very cool.

[ Jason Ormes ]

I have a problem. I hate when people mispronounce things. It pains me to hear “line-ix”, “oh-es-ex”, or “you-bun-too”.

Ubuntu is becoming more of an issue these days. As it gets more popular more are getting the opportunity to mangle it. When I first saw the name I proceeded to mess it up myself, but I immediately sought out the right way to say it (weird, I know). I found a video clip of Nelson Mandela pronouncing it. It was most informative and quite clear.

oo-boon-too

Ah, but people still want to argue.

The way you say it doesn’t matter, as long as you know what they meant.

Shure. Kep one beeleeving thate. Just because someone can figure out what you mean doesn’t make it right. If that were the case then what would be the point of syntax at all? Why not just gesture wildly and grunt until the other person gets the idea?

Anyway, for those who aren’t convinced by the whole authentic African pronunciation bit, here’s a screenshot from the official site a few moments ago:

Ooo. Boon. Too.

Saying something else is not a different kind of right; it’s just wrong.:

–
[ Update: Well, thanks for the few positive comments that have been left. A couple of thoughts come to mind given the responses.
1. We're not talking about varying pronunciations of common things. These are names that have explicitly defined ways for pronouncing them as determined by an accepted authority. Linus Torvalds is a Linux authority and he says very clearly that Linux is always pronounced "Lih-nucks". That means something. Apple explicitly says that it's "OS *TEN*". And it's the same with Ubuntu. They told us how they want us to pronounce these things because it matters to them, so it should matter to us as well.

2. I'm not advocating an anal enforcement of static language (that would be stupid). Language changes; it always has and it always will. The point is simply that all pronunciations of well-defined names are not equal. Calling the capital of the U.S. \WAY-Chang-TONE\ (Washington) is not a different type of correct. And the fact that someone could figure out what you meant doesn't make it so.

3. There is a slider between promoting accuracy in communication using syntax and allowing the natural evolution of language. Either extreme is wrong. My simple point here is that when we have an explicit and authoritative example to follow in the case of a name we should embrace it and promote its proper usage.

So, ultimately, is this as important as our next elections in the U.S. or solving the energy crisis? Of course not. But it's just a website talking about language and geek stuff. Relax. :) ]

Itching to try out a new Linux distro? If you’re becoming disillusioned with Ubuntu or just feel like switching things up, head over and check out Sabayon Linux.

It’s a Gentoo-based system, which intruiges me greatly. This site runs Gentoo and it’s been my favorite distro since I started using it back in 2002. The news that there’s now a “desktop flavor” is interesting indeed.

Check it out and let me know what you guys think. I’ll have it in a Fusion Virtual Machine here shortly as well.

(thanks to Tim for the link)

[  Sabayon Linux ]

Normally the first thing I do on a Windows system (after installing 40,000 updates and restarting three times) is install Firefox. A number of non-Microsoft habits follow, including using Google as my search engine. Well, I’m not going to do that anymore — at least not in Windows.

From now on, when using my Windows system (Vista + Office 2007 in VMware), I’m going to use nothing but Microsoft solutions — Internet Explorer, Windows Live Search, etc. And I’m also going to experiment more with their latest products.

The idea here is to force myself to remain exposed to Microsoft’s solutions. I like Active Directory. I like Office. Microsoft has potential, and I’m doing both myself and my clients a disservice by shunning their offerings due to their spotty past.

So that’s the new rule: whenever in Windows I’m going to do everything the way that Microsoft would want me to, just to see how it goes. If I remain unimpressed by Microsoft’s offerings after honestly giving them a chance I’ll at least have gained the ability to articulately discuss their shortcomings based on current experiences.:

I’ve finally got around to building an RSS feed for my study resource. I will update the feed as I add articles, but don’t be alarmed if the addition frequency is somewhat erratic. New stuff will come.

[ dmiessler.com/study RSS Feed ]

I’ve just posted my latest study piece. This one’s on Unix/Linux permissions.

[ Link: Unix/Linux Permissions ]

[ Link: Linux Mac Ads ]

You definitely need to see the second one. Great stuff.