So, in other computer related news, I am giving some very serious thought to trying to switch over to Ubuntu. Though I do also have some video games that require Windows to run, and this box in particular to meet the various game hardware requirements.

I do have some older hardware -- my Frankenbox, that ND put together for me out of his old spare parts, and an old power PC that's straining hard to run an outdated version of MacOSX.

Would trying to install a dual-boot on my good box (for which I don't actually have the XP Pro install disk, btw) be biting off more than I can chew/asking for more headache than I really want? Or should I just try the install on one of my older boxes and play with that for a while.

(Yes, it's a question that more or less answers itself, but I'm asking it anyway)

Installing a dual-boot system is no trouble at all -- especially with something like Ubuntu, which is designed to be super-easy to set up. It is easiest to give Linux a hard drive of its own if you can spare one, however.

That I can do.

Is Ubuntu a good way to get back into Linux (I used to play in Unix, but waaay back when it was LUI)? I've been wanting to tinker with a Linux distribution of some sort for a while, and have seen Ubuntu mentioned in here once or twice.

Given that you have a box to spare, I might go for a single install on the older hardware anyway, but if you do want to go dual-boot, there's really no hassle about it.

on edit: I love Ubuntu (specifically, Xubuntu, but I'm a little weird that way). It's very easy to set up and manage, which is really what you're picking when you choose a linux distro, since the programs you can get are pretty much the same with all of them. My old Fedora systems were utterly clunky by comparison.

It would probably be wisest to test-drive on an older machine regardless, since I have one or two to spare.

I keep thinking I should install a variant of Linux on at least one of my large pile of computers.

You know you want to, ND. The first one's free!

(and hey, so are the others....)

I feel you in particular are somehow lacking in geek cred by having so many computers, and yet no Linux representation among them.

OH! Also, ND? I thought you should know that one of the extra long FBT IEC cables made its way into my tool bag somehow. I only noticed yesterday when I looked in the bag for the first time in a month, so you're only short two of those nice long cables. Maybe Fenne has them?

Our 2 year old iPod is losing the ability to hold a charge, so I looked into getting a new battery. Am I reading it right that you have to return the whole thing to Apple, and they just send you a new one? $70 seems like a lot for what was an entry-level iPod 3 years ago, and they don't promise to send you a new new one, it may be reconditioned. Are there any options for replacing your own battery?

(mr flea would know all this, of course, but the idea is to do it as a gift for him, so I ask you.)