Initially I worked with four applications tiled vertically across the workspace. This was very efficient. However, I do a lot of work just using the browser. So a few Firefox extensions and a vertical re-haul later and I’m in business

So here’s what I’m doing. First thing I did was switch the Windows task-bar vertically to the left-hand side of the workspace. Because I’ve got so much width, I can easily afford a generous sized task-bar now. I’ve got the task-bar at approximately 96px wide. I can clearly read the titles of at least 24 application tabs with 18 32px icons attached as well. It’s daunting at first, and I still look at the bottom right for the time, but it’s certainly much more efficient. My only gripe is the start menu doesn’t invert with the task-bar, so when you press it you have to navigate to the bottom to find “All programs”.

Setting up Firefox wide was pleasurable. I use Personal Menu to eliminate the menu-bar from the top, essentially hiding the menu-bar (like Internet Explorer and Chrome). Although I’ve got a good height, applications and websites will always scroll down, so having a few extra pixels really helps. (Don’t get me started on stupid side scrolling website )

For the tabs, I use Tree Style Tabs. It’s a beautiful add-on that sorts out tabs in a hierarchy, making them easily manageable. By default, it groups them and collapses the tree when out of focus, but I’ve disabled this as it would take me about 60 tabs to get that far

I can see the title of each tab very clearly. Because I’ve got sooo much width (brag brag brag eh?) I also keep the bookmarks side-bar always open.

So to conclude: when I’m working, because I’ve got so much width, I have adjusted my desktop and Firefox to use vertical menus and tool-bars, instead of the horizontal by default. At home, I’ll still use Chrome, because I haven’t got the width and I can always scroll for more height. The point is I still don’t have to side-scroll.

Vertical tool-bars and wide screens – it’s the future

I reinforced a lesson I’d learnt after last Thursday’s Brick gig – always be prepared.

My main points are strings. If you go on with month old strings, no matter how often you tune during a gig, they’ll sound flat. I’ve also gigged with strings fresh out from the packet. This has a similar effect though, as the strings need to be a little warn to your guitar first

So I recommend re-stringing on the rehearsal before the gig.

A few more points too, always bring spares! A spare guitar or just strings, a spare power adapter if you’re using effects, or spare batteries if you’d prefer.

On Thursday I wanted to gig my new Tele (blog post to follow ). I guess I saw the gig as quite a casual affair. This is such a bad mistake to make. You should always treat every gig as if it’s your last, if not for your own enjoyment. I didn’t take any spares, as you may have guessed!

Half-way through the set, during our song “Friend or Foe”, I went to smash into a pounding loud chorus. I’d hit the effect pedal, and I picked on the low D-string (we play drop-tuned). Nothing happened! The string had bust.

So I had to go through the rest of the set, playing one of my favorate songs “Seven Questions” sans D-string. Such a shame.

On the plus side I’ve always wanted to state to someone

Yeah, when I snap a string, I keep going because I can compensate

but the truth of the matter is, you can’t for a low-D string. I was always inspired from a performace Gary Moore did with Phil Lynnott. He bust his string and kept going strong. However, I’m not playing blues solos, I needed that extra string!

So lesson learnt (again!) – awlays be prepared!

I’ve never had a problem with Windows at all and I absolutley love it, but I’m really taken by the ideas behind Linux. If I can also legally run an OS and a DAW for free how could I not? Another factor is the element of control. At first the thought of building an OS from various components seemed bollocks to me but after adding bits on and taking bits off it gives a sense of control you just can’t get in Windows.

A while back I tried out openSUSE 10.3 with KDE and Debian Etch with GNOME and wanted to fall in love so badly. I found the compatability a big problem as drivers very rarley “just worked”. I had to give up because I couldn’t get it to connect to the Internet without lugging my PC upstairs and plugging it into the router and sound and graphics just weren’t working.

This time around I had an idea of what I wanted an OS to do – music recording and production and web design. I had a more educated surf around and through my good mate Joe Barker was encouraged to use Ubuntu. This was around the time that Jaunty, versions 9.04 was about to make a release.

I’ve always had reservations about Ubuntu. Isn’t it just Debian for children? It’s always come across and whiney and too easy to use. But now with my previous Linux experience I knew this couldn’t be

So I tested Jaunty in VirtualBox, got all impressed and decided I was gonna do it. Another quick surf around brought me to Ubuntu Studio. The distribution looked ideal for my wants. I got as far as 800×600 with no wireless. I persisted.

Within a week I had my wireless working and resolution back. The resolution looked at the monitors EDID and I was using an old LCD TV that reported it’s native was 800×600. In Windows it’s just a matter of un-ticking “Hide modes that this monitor cannot display” and I tried hard to get the same thing here. It didn’t happen so I found a 1280×1024 TFT lying around. The Nvidia graphics driver wasn’t working and I tried hard again to fix it with no sucess.

My first thoughts are this – man it’s ugly! I have to dedicate a good proportion of my life to getting it working and it looks like this? It’s free so I shouldn’t expect professional artwork or a consistent GUI. It does not compare asthetically or ergenomically to Windows in the slightest. The fonts are hideous beyond words.

One thing has to be said though – the community support is beyond emense. It’s honestly breath-taking. I’m able to diagnose my problems sometimes down to the exact detail using Google. The Ubuntu forums is full of litterally thousands of enthusiasts helping each other out. Ubuntu has a lot to boast about here and it’s inspired me to keep going.

I’ve persisted since and here’s a list of issues I’ve solved:

• Understanding NDIS wireless connection
• Coming to terms with EDID
• Making the fonts look a lot better
• Working with websites
• Recording and mastering
• Getting nVidia drivers working

I’m glad I’ve persisted. Now that everything works I couldn’t be happier. Compiz makes me smile a lot. I’m happily running it day to day without much to gripe about. It does what I wanted. I’ve even contributed back to the community

I can’t recommend Linux if you’re not tech savvy or not looking to put a lot of effort into getting things working. It’s made me appreciate Windows a hell of a lot more. If you want astonishing results for relativley small effort and you know your PHP from your KDE then you should be using Linux today. Damn it’s so good.

So I’ve migrated to WordPress and I’m happy. I nearly had a theme down but I changed my ethics half way through and ended my love affair with Microsoft. But we’re delving into geek territory here. More on that later.

For now I leave you with this. It’s my very subtle office workstation. Didn’t want to settle with one monitor see.