Linux Cool Stuff
Longtime readers know I have been experimenting a bit with Ubuntu Linux. I have it running (actually right this minute) on a prehistoric Dell GX1, Pentium II (333MHz) box with 384Mb of RAM. (That would be my "Hot Rod Yugo" - not to be confused with this one.) I can't get Ubuntu to deal with an old wireless card I have - but then, Windows XP has issues with this card, so it's no great loss. But I have found a rather neat - and free - application for Linux. If you're a bit of a space buff, as I am, there is a program called "KStars" that gives you a live, real-time planetarium on your desktop. And it appears to be scary accurate. I just compared the sun position (still daylight here) with the model and it is right where the program said it would be (one assumes the stars are, too, but I'll know that after dark.)
Hell, if I had known this puppy was available, I would have installed Linux a long time ago. If you have a spare box sitting around, go ahead and try it. Ubuntu 7.04 has a lot of nice features added in. (I've been using mine off and on to post with. It is rather limited in capabilities due to age and power, but it works really well as a basic internet computer. Absolutely rock-solid with no hangups or glitches yet. The processor is about screaming for mercy, though - it is pretty much at 100% all the time if something is running.)
But KStars is a very cool program.
Geek Stuff | Gaius Saturday, 16 June , 2007
By Nate, Saturday, 16 June , 2007 @ 8:15 pm
You might also want to checkout Stellarium which I think is more polished… It’s in the add/remove programs list or you can compile the very latest source from their website - screenshots here: http://www.stellarium.org/screenshots.html
By jpe, Saturday, 16 June , 2007 @ 8:38 pm
I’ve tried unsuccessfully the last two weekends to boot up ubuntu, but can’t get the darn thing to boot.
By Gaius, Saturday, 16 June , 2007 @ 8:47 pm
Are you running it from a live CD? Or did you do an install?
By Gaius, Saturday, 16 June , 2007 @ 8:53 pm
Nate, I have loaded it. It appears to be a very slick program, but it is seriously resource intensive and the hot rod Yugo is struggling with it - it takes a long time to load or respond. I’ll try it on another, newer box that I am playing around with at the moment. But thank you for the tip - it is pretty neat.