Geekons.com: Christian Technology Podcast

Show Notes

35: What rhymes with wubi?

2008-12-07

Pop-Up: Wubi

5 Stars

  • The Windows-based Ubuntu Installer.
  • Allows you to install and dual-boot Ubuntu from your existing Windows 98, 2000, XP, or Vista computer without changing the partitions on your drive. You don't even have to burn a CD!
  • After downloading wubi, you simply double-click the icon, fill in the options on a single preferences window, and click Install.
  • The installer then downloads the ISO from the Ubuntu site, checks it for errors, creates a virtual disk and adds it to the Windows bootloader.
  • After that, it tells you it needs to reboot, when you reboot you choose the "Ubuntu" option from the boot loader screen, then wait as it finishes installing.
  • Once it is done installing, it reboots again, and if you choose Ubuntu, you can log into your new Ubuntu system!
  • It took me 15 minutes to install, and that was because I spent at least 3 or 4 minutes getting it to work with my monitor. (I have a generic old monitor which is picky.)
  • You can download the ISO ahead of time, or let wubi download it for you.
  • If you get tired of Ubuntu, or decide it isn't for you, you can easily undo everything you did by removing "Ubuntu" from the add/remove programs in Windows!
  • I can't speak to how well the uninstall works, because I haven't been able to bring myself to uninstall it yet!
  • 5 out of 5 stars, It installs Ubuntu to let you try it out in a real dual boot environment in a safe manner, and it is open source!

Geek-Tweak: How to set up a website for your ministry!

  • First, establish why you need a web host, and what your goals are for the website.
  • Second, find a host that has good user reviews. The only two I've used (and enjoyed) are Powweb and Bluehost:
  • Things to look for:
    • FTP
    • PHP
    • MySQL
    • Storage (I have 40GB with Powweb, and 1.5TB with Bluehost)
    • Transfer (I have 800GB/month with Powweb and 1.5TB with Bluehost)
    • SSH access (Bluehost offers this, but not Powweb)
    • User communities within the host
    • Custom MX and DNS record support.
  • What to avoid:
    • Hosts that ONLY offer templates
    • Hosts that do not support PHP and MySQL
    • Hosts that are totally cool with adult content.
    • Hosts that require advertisements or affiliate links.
  • What to do when You've made a decision:
    • Decide on a domain name, use http://www.internic.net/whois.html not the Host's website, since you never know if they are going to "park" the domain for you
    • Email the provider to see if there is non-profit pricing, just in case.
    • Sign up for a basic package that includes the items in the "things to look for".
    • Don't worry about Exchange support, that is usually pretty expensive and you'd be better off with a free Google App account anyway.
    • Fill out all of the paperwork and sign up for the account!
    • I always pay one or two years at a time. If you can't afford the full price up-front, you may want to hold off on starting a website!
    • Never pay more than $100/year on a shared host!
  • What to do when You've got your host:
    • Make an awesome simple site with all the info your congregation needs to know!
    • Avoid animated .gif's, flash/javascript dependent navigation, and table based layouts.
    • Do not put "under construction", in the time it takes to find a real classy "under construction" animaged .gif you could have typed out some simple text in your CSS based website.
    • Start working with a TEAM of people to help decide the direction of the site, and be diligent!

View-Source: Simple isn't Easy

  • Linux is simple, but definitely not easy
  • The Christian life is simple, but definitely not easy
  • The Christian life hinges on loving God, then loving others.
  • God defines loving Him as obeying Him.
  • Loving and obeying God is a simple task (His burden is light), but it definitely isn't easy (narrow is the path).
  • We are called to lose our life to gain it, to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice.
  • By sacrificing ourselves to God's will in the small things, we can begin to live the life God has for us, and have a better relationship with Him.

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