I’ve blogged a few times about virtual desktop solutions. Originally it was because my favorite computer - the Thinkpad X60 - only has a 1024×768 screen. Recently, the reason has grown a bit deeper. First, here is what Stephen writes …

… using said 3D functionality off and on I had a special interest. Among other things, he expressed his hope that the various communities that provide and consume the functionality would seek ways to apply the new capabilities to the task of making the user more productive.

A month ago, I would have wholeheartedly agreed. And in fact, I still do, for the most part. But my recent usage has led me to question my original belief that these technologies - while visually impressive - were largely gratuitous and trivial in their current incarnation. While having transition animations like OS X and transparent borders and so on is a definite improvement over the usual staid desktop experience, it did little to make me more productive. Source: Stephen O’Grady

However, Stephen goes on to say …

But over the past few weeks, I?ve taken to using the multiple desktop concept quite heavily. I typically assign one side of the cube (a desktop, in other words) to a browser, IM, IRC and other related tasks, one to writing, one to Songbird, and the last to my terminal windows and other miscellaneous tasks.

This is very much the model I now use with Ubuntu. My cube (or more accurately my octagon as I have 8 desktops) has one for my basic “daily drivers” of email and IM. I use one for each major task I have during the day. for instance, when writing a paper, I have the document, a diagramming tool, wikipedia, and various Google searches open together. When I get interrupted, I leave everything on that desktop and either rotate back to email or - if I need to start a temporary task - to a clean desktop. Finally, I use one desktop each for remote computers. I typically have 2 other machines I connect to. On the occasion I need to access a VMWare image, I now give each of those their own desktop just like the remote machines.

This division of content has had an interesting side effect. With my email and IM off on a different desktop, I find I can more easily ignore the interruptions they generate. I can focus on my research papers for longer periods of time. And, when the interruption necessitates immediate action, I can leave all of my work open and undisturbed while I address the interrupt and everything is where I left it when I return. I also have a cleaner *real* desk as I have relegated all other computers to the corners of  my office.

BTW: Stephen, if you read this, the trick to getting a good screen clip of the 3-D desktop is to use GIMP and capture the full screen with a 5 second delay <grin>.

It was quick and painless and I managed not to ‘brick’ my iPod ! The photo shows the legal disclaimer and the names of the developers. That area on the left is used by the menus so you can be navigating the iPod and still see the mini “currently playing” !

It’s two years later and I’ve had enough. I asked the local dealership what options I had. It came down to two choices; (1) swap out nearly the entire drive train - all wheels, axles, hubs, and probably brakes, or (2) just run with one set of the dually wheels in back. Once I was convinced there was no safety issue with the wheel reduction, I started the change.

The dually fenders came off last week. The truck now has a few visible holes down both sides of the truck bed but those are clean and finished so they should not be a rust issue. Next, the rear wheels don’t track in line with the front wheels. It turns out the centerline of the front wheels passed between the dual wheels in the back. The resolution is to add wheel adapter/spacers between the hub and single wheel. Those should get installed this weekend.

The last step will be to add fender flares. These are only needed because the truck bed had an unfinished wheel well edge under the dually fender. I have found a supplier for the fenders. Unfortunately their ‘mechanic’ is not available to do the installation.

Next, all mail started to bounce. The bad part was that outbound mail worked but inbound messages got rejected so people trying to reach any of the mail users on my site got the impression we had closed up shop.

It turns out my ISP actually knew this was happening to “some number of their customers” as an “unfortunate situation as they migrated to new hardware and software”. Rather than warn customers, they chose to stay quiet and avoid “unnecessary concern”. Not good. Not good at all.

I’m currently stuck in the first year of a 2yr contract but these two problems are not the first I’ve ever had. So, I am considering jumping ship and eating the loss. My requirements are pretty simple, MySQL, PHP, email, FTP, etc. These are the basics when hosting on Linux.

Who should I switch to ?