BJs Blog

2008-07-07T21:02:00.001+01:00

This blog is now waaaay out of date, so, If you want actually want anything recent visit Freedom Dreams.

2006-11-30T15:23:00.000Z

As you can see, I've posted a bit sooner this time.

I've been looking at Linux recently, and wondering whether I could use it instead of Microsoft Windows. My first experience with Linux was Mepis Linux. I chose this version, simply because it was the only one I could find compatible with Virtual PC. I downloaded the .iso image and was able to try it without even burning to CD, using Microsoft Virtual PC. My first impressions were very good, so I decided to burn the image to disk, and install it on an older machine running Windows ME.

This past weekend, I have installed SuSE Linux instead, as it has more features (5CDs instead of 1!). SuSE allowed me to test both of the main Linux desktop environments, GNOME and KDE. Out of these, I found the KDE to be much the superior, although GNOME was still quite resonable.

Another application I have been trying on SuSE is Wine - designed to run Windows programs on Linux. Not even the latest version from the website seemed able to run any of my PC games, which was unfortunate (I think I might submit some bug reports), but I did manage to get a nifty little Decimal Time program running as well as some of the games off a freeware arcade cd.

Overall, Linux is probably almost as good as my pervious Windows system, ME, or even XP. However, the main downfall is the many Windows programs that will not run. Hopefully, Wine will become better and better suited at its task, so that Linux will be on par with the almighty Windows.

If you've not seen Linux yet, I suggest you try it yourself, rather than pay £100 for Windows.
Ben

2006-11-20T20:19:00.000Z

I haven't posted to my blog for almost a month now, which is much less frequently than I was planning. So I will try to post again sooner this time.

I have finished making an Archive for my website, just click on the home link at the top of this page and you will find snapshopts of my past sites.

Recently, I have also been on Genealogy Wikis a lot. At the moment, I am waiting for and helping make a merge between the three main projects - WikiTree, Rodovid and WeRelate.

Continue watching this space. :)
Ben

2006-10-23T13:43:00.000+01:00

This is the first real post of my blog. I was origninally going to do one on my msn space, but I thought a more specialised website like blogger would be better for the job.

Anyway, its the start of half term.

This last week was work experience - a very interesting experience for me, as I was in the pathology lab at Manchester University. I got to see bits of body cut up, including a finger and look at slides under the microscope.

More recently, I've downloaded and had a play with a free graphics tool called the GIMP - I've uploaded some of my creations. I've also used it to create logos for some new website designs of mine - www.webb-site.co.nr, www.1quasar.co.nr and www.joelmole.co.nr.

Over the half term I've also got to do a geography survey in denton and crown point north. I got 40 results yesterday (Sunday), but I need to go back on Wednesday for another 40!

Watch this space for more blogging!
Ben

2006-10-22T19:56:00.000+01:00

Hello there and welcome to the blog of Benjamin James Webb, aged 15, of Manchester in England. I hope to be able to sustain the same blog for as long as possible. Hopefully several decades. If anyone actually reads the drivel I put hear, please add a comment, and let me know I'm famous :).