Hi Everyone…I’m a guest blogger in this site. I’m filling in for my wife who is currently working on the recovery of her crashed pc.  My presence on the web is at reanergy.blogspot.com and rt-earthwatch.blogspot.com.

My wife and I both had our PCs crashing recently, thanks to automatic XP SP3 updates.  My laptop was much worse than her desktop because it also had motherboard issues.  So I decided to purchase a new PC. (Actually, its a surplus PC… one more thing taken out of landfills!)  I set up my new PC with two partitions, one for XP and the other for linux.  I wanted to try linux because I like to experience the freedom of open source.    I got ubuntu 8.04 hardy heron and install it.  Immediately I fall in love with the look and feel of the desktop (i.e. characters that don’t pixelate, etc.).  I went a step further, I got the Ubuntu Studio upgrade to Hardy Heron and got a grungy, artsy look to my PC.  I’m also loaded with open source multi-media tools such as GIMP and Blender.

You can download all the installers for free at www.ubuntu.com.  In the site you will learn about the different flavors of Ubuntu (i.e. Edubuntu, Ubuntu Studio) The site has documentation, fora and even merchandise. You can check out the shirts, caps and promotional pens.

I’m pushing my wife to move to GIMP after hearing all the hullabaloo about Photoshop CS4.  She says that GIMP doesn’t have all the capabilities that Photoshop CS3 have.  For her, its something between Photoshop elements and CS3.  I guess its high time for users like her to be involved in developing the open source alternative.  Since its open source, users  have better chances of getting  their ideas included in the software.  You can check out www.gimp.org for details.

The essence of open source is captured in an ubuntu video.  It features Nelson Mandela explaining that Ubuntu is about humans getting humanity from sharing and community.   I guess that’s why they call their product “linux for humans”.  Its definitely time to get software for humans.

Here’s that video, enjoy…

This is Rean signing off for