Matthew East

Software

I like using Free Software. This is software which everyone is free to use, change and improve without restrictions. It has two major advantages, at least in my mind: first it is free (in the sense that you don’t have to pay for it); and secondly it is high quality and innovative. The second aspect comes from the fact that all the people in the world can bring their ideas and skills to bear on it. This gives free software the edge over traditional proprietary software.

Aside from charitable organisations and volunteer groups, there are also loads of really great corporations which further open source software development. To read more about the philosophy of Open Source software, see the GNU project website.

My operating system is Ubuntu, which is professional, exciting, productive, and well supported. You’ll probably find a recent screenshot of my desktop here.
Within Ubuntu, I use other fantastic open source software on a daily basis, including the Linux kernel, GNU tools, the Gnome desktop environment, the Evolution email client, the OpenOffice.org office suite, and lots of others.

This website is brought to you entirely by free software. Among vital components are the Debian operating system, Apache webserver and two great web publishing systems: Wordpress (for the blog) and Gallery (for the photo gallery).

Hardware

Kalliope:

• This is my laptop, an IBM Thinkpad T43. It was given to me for free by the lovely Canonical, the company behind the Ubuntu Operating System. I test the development version of the system on the laptop, to try and make sure that everything is compatible. You can see my report here
• I use this computer at home and work.
• Specifications:
  • Intel(R) Pentium(R) M processor 1.86GHz
  • Built-in centrino wireless
  • 495 MB RAM
  • Intel Graphics and Sound

Eustathios:

• This is my desktop pc, it is a Dell Dimension from 2000.
• I use this computer as a home server (it serves this website and I use it for backup and other things). Pic
• Computer Stats:
  • CPU Model: Pentium III (Coppermine) Speed: 731.058 MHz Cache: 256 KB
  • RAM 256M (upgraded Feb 2005)
  • HD Model: QUANTUM FIREBALLlct15 15 Size: 13G with 1G Free ]
  • Intel Corp. 82810E DC-133 CGC [Chipset Graphics Controller] | Screen Resolution: 1280×1024 pixels / 16 Bits

Kallisto:

• This is my old laptop, a Compaq Presario 2104EA.
• It has quite good linux compatability, apart from the occasional bug. For my report on Ubuntu on this laptop, see this page.
• Specifications:
  • Mobile Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 2.00GHz
  • RAM: 512 MB (64MB shared)
  • VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Radeon IGP 340M
  • Network controller: Texas Instruments ACX 111 54Mbps Wireless Interface

Aiolos:

• This is a Compaq Deskpro 4000 that I found in the trash outside my flat! It gave me some good service as a webserver, but I don’t use it anymore.
• Specifications:

• Intel Pentium I CPU 166Mhz
• 96MB RAM (originally 32, but I added some from another salvaged computer and some I found in the road near where I live)

Philomela:

• This is my Ipod Mini