Lightining Pics taken with my iPhone

I took a few pictures with my iPhone last night. I am kinda impressed with a few of them.

Office 2007 Zenworks Deployment

First extract the files into a network accessible location. Next run the setup file with the /admin switch ex: \\server\volume\Office2007\setup.exe /admin . This will bring up the Office Customization Tool. This tool allows you to customize the installation. I checked these boxes for a silent installation with a status screen. 

• The "Product Key" must be entered
• The Organization Name is entered
  
• The "I Accept Agreement" box must be ticked
• The "Display Level" drop down box must be set to BASIC
• The suppress modal box must also be ticked
• I check that "No Cancel" is ticked (optional)
  

When you have the install customized to your liking, save the MSP to the updates folder. ex \\server\volume\Office2007\Updates  This folder is checked during the install for a customization file. This is also used to push out updates.

Back in ConsoleOne create a new  "Simple application (no .AXT, .AOT, .MSI file)." Give your NAL Object a name like Office2007Install. When prompted for the path, specify \\server\volume\Office2007\setup.exe . You don't need to worry about the "parameters" as with older versions because it looks inside the updates folder for the customization file. You can now test the app by associating users and running the app.

Essential Linux Desktop Software

When I set up a new Linux deskop there are a few pieces of software that I install right away. First off I mke sure that Firefox is installed with Greasemonkey and Google Bookmarks button. Next I always install GNOMEDo for a keystroke launcher. My favorite text editor is Notepad++ and it is a windows software. Since I use this all the time I install Wine or Crossover. This is very handy when you need that windows app to run I then usually install Conky. Lifehacker has a great collection of scripts to customize it the way you like. I also love to use Photoshop but GIMP is a good alternativ (and the price cant be beat). I always install Remote Desktop support and VNC support. Last but not least is my favorite desktop background. That pretty much sums it up for me. Depending on the application I will install different software but for my desktop that is my starting list.

Motorcycle + Talimena Drive = Perfect Day

Nickie and I went down Talimena Drive today after church. It was a beautiful fall day and the leaves were showing their colors. We first went to Queen Wilamena Lodge for lunch. They had chicken fried steak on the buffet and it was great. After our bellies were full we stopped by to see the trains.  

Now for the drive. It is 54 miles of changing elevation and curvy roads. The roads are in great shape and it has plenty of lookouts.

 

 

 

The search for the best Linux Desktop.

I have been searching for a good all around desktop to replace windows. I like Ubuntu but it would sleep properly with my Latitude D620, and I had problems with wireless. I switched to OpenSuse 11 and was fairly happy. It didn't seem very responsive and Yast was a little slow, but it worked. I recently tried Mepis Linux 8. I have only been using for a couple of days and I am very impressed. With the live CD my wireless and audio worked. This is a good sign. The installer is very intuitive and used Gparted to resize partitions if you want to keep your Windows installation. It installed very quickly and edited the MBR for the boot. After it starts is where it shines. Boot is very quick. Mepis uses 2.6.26.5 kernel, ntfs-3g34, OpenOffice 3.0rc2, and OpenJDK 6. I am really not a big fan of KDE but it is growing on me. Apt-get is great as it is something I missed with OpenSuse. I am having trouble installing Photoshop CS2 with Wine but that is another issue. More to come.

OpenSuse 11

Linux again. There are so many different flavors I really cant choose. I liked OpenGEU a lot but it really didn't fit me. I think Suse will always be my favorite. The installation: I downloaded the ISO and burnt the DVD. I have never been successful with a DVD install of Suse on my laptop (Latitude D620). Today wasnt any different. It went fine until it started actually installing packages and it crapped out. I kind of expected it to happen so no problem, I will do a network install. It found my wireless (I dont have any cat5 cable around here) and accepted the repository fine. After 2 hours I had a working OpenSuse 11 installation. Man that was easy I think i will update, wrong! This is where Linux has its downfall, my wireless doesnt work. I was hoping for a smooth out of the box install. Since 11 hasnt been out very long there wasnt really much information about the problem. My card is a PRO/Wireless 3945ABG which I think is pretty common. Since I dont have a lan cable I am up the creek. Then I remember I brought another laptop home from work. I found the iwl3945-ucode package and moved it over from my new flash drive. It worked fine. So I am online and everything is running smoothly. I start up Firefox ver 3 and no flash. I was sure that I installed the plugin. Well the plugin doesnt work. I kind of expected this also. The gnash plugin really doesnt work either. I am searching for a solution to this and if anyone finds it first let me know. By the way I really like this distro. It is pretty fast and seems to be stable (so far). I am thinking I will keep this one for a while, or until something a LOT better comes out.

Back on the Linux bandwagon.

I am back to the ways of Linux. I started out with OpenSuse 10.3 but I could not get my wireless working. I spent half a day on that and then decided to go with the reliable Ubuntu. Install was easy and I have Office running in Wine. If Google would only release a Linux version of Sketchup I would be set.