A few weeks ago we reviewed DropBox as a means of storing files and back-up remotely.  It now transpires that the Linux distribution Ubuntu now have a similar Cloud Computing application, Ubuntu One, which  currently being Beta tested.
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This testing is currently closed, but is available to Ubuntu users with a Launchpad account by invitation.  Reports indicate that requests on the site are taking a long time to come through, however CoConut Solutions jumped the queue somewhat by asking for an invite in the #ubuntuone IRC chatroom.
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Of course by taking a product that is currently being Beta tested, means that you are part of the testing team, and that there are likely to be bugs in the platform, as a result it is a good idea NOT to use the facility for sensitive, valuable or irreplaceable data just yet.
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The basic package seems to be very similar to, and in Ubuntu, works in the same way as DropBox.  Clicking on the icon in the panel opens the Ubuntu One folder, which appears just the same as any other folder in the Nautilus file system.  From there you click & drag, or copy & paste the files and folders across from your computer to the ‘Cloud Computer’.
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The proposals are that (again) like DropBox there will be free (no-cost) accounts fro storage up to 2GB.  For $10US per month you can upgrade the account to 10GB.  In addition:
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• Seamless integration with your Ubuntu based computer
• Sync files between multiple machines
• Access to your files away from your computers via our web interface
• Free 2GB Storage Plan

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I’m sure that you are wondering what the advantages of Ubuntu One will be over DropBox.  The answer is that Ubuntu One comes from a trusted source, as such updates and patches will be released through the Update Manager, and latest versions held in the Ubuntu Repositories.  If things change with DropBox, there is the danger that they may not be able to co-ordinate patches or upgrades in the same manner that Ubuntu can.
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There is no indication as to how long Ubuntu One will be in Beta, however there have been unsubstantiated rumours that there is a desire to have Ubuntu One available with v09.10 which is due for release in October.  If it is not possible to have it ready later in the year, we are sure that Canonical will what this feature as part of v10.04, which following Ubuntu’s release schedule, will be the Long Term Support release.
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Last week Microsoft made the Release Candidate of its new operating system Windows 7 available for free download.  Before you go ahead and click the download button there are a few things that you need to know.
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1. The file is almost 2.5GB – this means on a dial-up connection (56k/sec) it will take about 5 days to download.
2. The licence that MS provide is only a temporay one, and not only will it expire in May 2010, reports indicate that a couple of months before expiry it will start to automatically shut down every couple of hours.
3. This is not the final product, so it must be remembered that despite all the testing that has already gone on, it is likely that there will still be bugs in it.

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Is it any good?

CoConut Solutions have been testing and early indications are that it’s faster than Vista, however in all honesty that’s not saying much.  Vista was renowned for being very heavy on computer resources.  In all tests XP outperformed Vista, and this was the reason why Vista was never adopted by the emerging NetBook market.
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The second issue is that there are possibly too many editions:
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• Starter
• Home Basic (only available in developing nations NOT T&T)
• Home Premium
• Professional
• Ultimate

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In addition there will be the Enterprise edition, however in all fairness this will only be seen by volume licensing customers.  Our opinion is that this such a wide choice only leads to consumer confusion as to the package to suit their needs.  Life was a lot easier when XP offered Home or Professional Editions.
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However it appears that Starter edition is a low-cost stripped down version, designed for NetBooks and low cost machines.  It most notable limitation is that it will only run 3 applications at one.  This means that by the time you’ve opened your e-mail, opened your web-browser, there is only one more application that Starter Edition can support before you have to start shutting things down.
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As I write this, I have 6 applications open – E-mail, web browser, 2 file browsers, calculator & notepad.  Bare in mind this is being written on a Sunday, and I don’t consider writing a blog entry to be actual work.  Tomorrow morning I will be also using CoConut Solutions’ company database, The GIMP (image manipulation software) as well as various spreadsheets.  All of these import word-processing documents.  Starter Edition will be of little use to anyone who wants to use their computer to do some work as well!
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Windows 7 is not what you would call backward compatible.  If you are considering upgrading from XP, there will be some applications that will not run with Windows 7.  MS provides an XP emulator to run these applications.  Although it is a way of catering for users of the earlier OS, it’s not the pretiest of solutions for what many hoped would be a more inclusive OS.
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Criticisms, and one or two gripes with the user interface aside, Windows 7 does look good.  However in our opinion Microsoft seem to lack direction as to how and where they want to take their business.  CoConut Solutions are sure that if they had there way, Microsoft would have developed an OS that looked incredible – far better than Windows 7 actually does.  However they have had to listen to the critics regarding their Vista ‘mistakes’, and then came along NetBooks, for which a bloated and overly resource-thirsty just was not an option, which caused MS to strip down Windows 7 further!
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CoConut Solutions will continue testing.  If you are interested in it yourself, get hold of a copy and run it in a virtual machine.  However if you want to spend money on a computer with an Operating System that works, buy a Mac.  If you just want an Operating System that works, contact CoConut Solutions for the best Linux solution.
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One of the things that CoConut Solutions loves about Linux is the cool desktop effects of Compiz Fusion. The most noticeable, and useful in terms of increasing productivity is the cube.  This is a video from Our sister site DaveySpeedstar.com, which shows some of the effects on a basic desktop.  Notice that each face of the cube is a separate desktop in it’s own right.
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The cube means that you can have different applications on different faces of the cube, allowing your desktop to be less cluttered, and individual windows easier to find.
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This effect is not just limited to Linux users.  If you run Windows, you too can have access to this facility.  Companies such as Otaku Software and Cube Desktop have produced programmes that will give you 3D effects to your Windows desktop.
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Cube by Otaku Software

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Unlike the Compiz version, this software is not free, but if you have to run windows for whatever reason, this is a way that you can get the slick effects that once tried Linux users cannot live without.
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Please note that CoConut Solutions has not tested the propriety products shown, they are merely examples of products we found from Google.  CoConut Solutions does not guarantee, and cannot be held responsible for the content other websites.
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