Xubuntu Works Great, But I Had to Choose Better Office Apps

As I've been going on about for the past few days, Xubuntu works great.  It saved my computer, which was with Windows 7 was simply not worth keeping.

There is one point to Xubuntu that is a pro and a con at the same time:  it comes with a complete software package - word processor, PDF viewer, web browser, e-mail, photo editor ... the list could go on.  Everything is chosen to be reliable and light weight, since most users, like me, choose it for that reason.

However, not all of the apps turn out to be 100% reliable.  The following are the apps I changed, for anyone that cares.

Less than Perfect Word Processor - Abiword
Abiword is the word processor included.  It is most certainly light weight, and super fast with just about any function you could want.  Here's someone else's screen shot that I found on the web:
 

 
I believe for most users who are just creating their own new documents, it would be fine.  However, I had problems saving documents in other formats.  For example, the work I had saved from before was in docx (Word) files.   Within 2 days, it had corrupted 3 files.  Fortunately, the last two had been backed up (by Abiword, which is a point in favour), but I just wasn't going to take any more chances.  It was also messing up formatting, which was a minor point.

I tried "downgrading" to the last stable version (8.7, I think - it came with 9.2) but this didn't help.

An Old Favorite - LibreOffice
To replace Abiword, I installed LibreOffice, which is actually a package including pretty much the same stuff as MS Office.  Here's the start screen:

This is the word processor:

(This is my own customized toolbar, which I prefer to have very trimmed down.  The default toolbar has plenty of functions right at your fingertip.  It also has large zoom to make up for the mini netbook screen.)

Back when I had my last laptop (the one I revived 2 days ago) it hadn't come with MS Office Starter as this computer did (which, by the way, is also really annoying for a low-memory computer, since it eats up memory with constantly changing ads.)

So, when I first discovered Ubuntu in a local computer shop (in Playa del Carmen) I decided to give OpenOffice a try even though I wasn't ready to make the leap to Ubuntu; I had seen it listed on the back of the installation disk as one of the included software.  I had been quite happy with it, but when my computer supposedly got "fried" and no longer worked, I stopped using it.

When looking for a replacement for Abiword I discovered LibreOffice which is a branch from OpenOffice.  (It essentially the same thing, but based entirely on open source.  OpenOffice, in the last days I was using it had been acquired by Oracle, who had a dispute with the open source developers.  The developers just decided to continue the project on their own.  So, both exist parallel now.)

Advantages of LibreOffice
Of course, LibreOffice is entirely free.  It's also available for Windows if anyone needs a good, free office suite.  It is rich in functions, so it loads a little slower than Abiword, but it's a question of about 3 seconds.  It opens and saves Word files flawlessly, maintaining the format.  It also converts them really easily.

I've read that there are good, reliable word processors for Linux which are lighter than LibreOffice.  But, LibreOffice is very much like Word and it's easy to get used to.  So, since I'm very new to the whole Linux thing, I can live with the 3-5 extra seconds of loading time.  Most importantly, it works very well for all my needs.

Even the "heavy" programs are doing just fine within Xubuntu.

Spreadsheet
I had also been making heavy use of XL.  Xubuntu came with a spreadsheet called Gnumeric:

This worked better than Abiword, but it took a long time to load XL files (xlsx.)  Converting was also a pain, requiring a command line feature, which seemed to have glitches, or copying and pasting the content into a Gnumeric file  one page at a time.  It didn't corrupt any files, but it was becoming time consuming which defeats the purpose of having a light-weight program.

The spreadsheet in LibreOffice (Calc) also works very well, loading and opening files in a matter of seconds and reading and saving other formats without any problems. (The default format is the open document format, ODT, ODS, which are fairly universal in the world of open source programs, or so I've read.)

Here's a screen shot of LibreOffice Calc, again with my customized, trimmed down toolbar:

Finding, Downloading and Removing Software
The easiest way to find and download software or even plug-ins in Xubuntu is the Ubuntu Software Center which is included:

However, I found that it didn't do such a good job of removing software, leaving files and packages behind.  This is a normal problem with Linux.  It is also a problem with Windows.  (Most people wouldn't even notice this.) For me, it wasn't really a problem since my computer is working with a minimal number of programs and only 8% of my hard drive is full.  But I like to keep things clean from the beginning.

The program is also slowed down by rotating, internet-fed ads as you can see in the picture above (like MS Office Starter.)  Since I use it infrequently, this isn't a huge problem, but together with the messy uninstallation, it's enough to find an alternative.

So, I installed Synaptic Package Manager, which not only installs and un-installs programs, but also identifies and removes orphaned packages to ensure the uninstallations are clean:

I'm still using the Software Center to install since I think it's easier for this, but Synaptic seems to be better overall.  Once I a more seasoned user, I will change completely to Synaptic.

Actually, either one of these alone is better than Windows; Windows has no single program or web page which lists out program options an offers easy installation - especially not FREE ones!

I also installed BleachBit which is a Linux version of CCleaner, to clean up unnecessary files left by internet programs (web browsers and e-mail.)

Ready to Rock and Roll
Other than some minor adjustments I made to individual programs (mostly just little, unimportant preferences), that's about it.  I think Xubuntu is completely ready for me to use just as it is now.

If anyone needs to know how to make any of the changes I listed above, I can share the links where others describe the steps in pretty easy terms.

For now, I just have one more post about Xubuntu coming up, which will be the story of my old laptop, abandoned for dead, now brought back to life.

I Canned Windows 7 for Xubuntu ... and I Love It!

One of the official screen shots of Xubuntu

So, as I told the world during my impassioned complaints against my beloved Firefox, I had switched to Chrome.  I thought the problem was solved.  Then, a little more each day, the computer started slowing down again.  Last Thursday it got to the point where I was wasting up to fifteen minutes at a time waiting.  It didn't get to the point of freezing or having to power off manually, but it was still wasting my time and frustrating me.

I could no longer blame any of the individual programs. Basically from the beginning I knew that Windows 7 just wasn't right for this light-weight mini.  But I had been resisting and trying everything else first.

So, last Friday, I said good-bye to Microsoft Windows and switched to Xubuntu, a free, open-source Linux-based operating system.

So far, I couldn't be happier!

After a bit of research on Google for a low memory operating system, I chose Xubuntu for a couple of reasons:

• I knew about Ubuntu

I had already toyed with the idea of switching to Ubuntu a few years back, so I was somewhat familiar with this system

• Xubuntu is a lighter-weight version of Ubuntu 

Ubuntu works best with more than 1 GB of memory, which means my mini was right on the threshold.  I would rather play it safe.

• It is visually appealing 

Apparently, other lighter-weight systems, like Lubuntu (the lightest choice in the Ubuntu family) can be rather austere

• It's easier for Windows users

Apparently, it is easier to get used to for Windows users than many other Linux systems.  It comes with a full package of programs, it's fairly user-friendly and takes minimal computer knowledge to get the hang of it.

My Xubuntu Desktop after some minor customizations

I'll be trying some of the other light-weight systems I saw, like Lubuntu and Puppy Linux, for some abandoned old computers that are kicking around, just to see how they do when a nice but ultra light-weight system is installed.

Why Not Get a Better Computer?

Some people will wonder why I just didn't invest in a new computer.  Basically, if I had several hundred dollars that I could readily fork out for a computer better than this one, I'd have better things to spend them on.  I use my computer for work, but my needs are so simple, I shouldn't need anything more than my Acer One.

Someone mentioned installing more RAM.  Minis don't take any upgrades whatsoever.  Which brings me back to square one.

Finally, I don't mind the idea of avoiding giving more of my money to Microsoft.  I not on a boycott or anything silly like that, but it sure is a nice bonus.

The Installation and Customization

To install Xubuntu, I had to download a torrent file and then unpack into a USB stick to create a boot drive, and from there it's fast and easy.

The only difficult part is that instructions for just about everything have to be Googled, relying in bloggers.  Their site has basics, but if you don't know what a "torrent" is (my situation) they don't help you much.

There was an option to have Xubuntu running parallel with Windows and choosing between the two at start up.  Stupidly, in a moment of over excitement of canning Windows 7 I opted to wipe Windows off my computer along with all its programs and files.

I had saved all my work, pictures and documents, but I had forgotten to save logins and passwords.  This week has been defined by me hunting out this information again, usually from its original provider or (on the rare occasion) from my brain - nothing of Windows is left on my computer.

Spectacular Performance!

The performance of my computer with Xubuntu is amazing!  I used to power on my computer and go to make a coffee while I waited for Windows 7 to boot.  It now turns on in about 10 seconds.  Programs open faster and run faster.  I used to have to wait about 5 minutes for Skype to close properly.  It now closes instantly.

The file manager in Xubuntu

With a few adjustments to visual preferences (including a desktop background, a little luxury which the Starter version of Windows 7 denied me) everything is smooth running.

Programs and Apps

The biggest time consumer since installing Xubuntu has been choosing and adjusting programs.  But I would rather be spending time on this than waiting for a bogged computer while I should be working.

Most importantly: I owe Firefox and Mozilla an apology.  But I will post about the programs in the days to come.

My Verdict

My recommendation at this point: if

• you have a computer with tonnes of memory that you will probably never use
• the monsters of Windows 7 and 8 work well with it
• they meet your needs
• you're happy with all of the above,

why look for anything new?

On the other hand, if you find your computer is just getting bogged down and keeps freezing up, try Xubuntu or another light-weight free operating system.  If you take it too the store for repairs, they'll just tell you to buy a new version of Windows (which might do the same thing if your computer is a light-weight) or buy a new computer.  They make the cost of repairs so high that it's not worth it.

Xubuntu may make a computer that you thought was no longer working right a smooth-working and functional machine.

(Disclaimer: I'm by no means an expert on any of this stuff.  Coming into this, I knew almost nothing about Linux and systems like Xubuntu. This means two things: 1. There may very well be much better options than Xubuntu. 2. At least it speaks well for Xubuntu that someone who knows as little as I do can install and use it.)

Folgers Coffee, Again ...

Early on writing this blog, I wrote a complaint of how one of my favourite morning routines of all times was soured because a well-meaning friend decided to change her locally roasted, delicious Mexican coffee for Folgers; "It's American, and it's from Walmart - it must be good," was the reasoning. (See Coffee, Wonderful Coffee!)

About a week and a half ago, I did the unthinkable and bought a kilo of Folgers coffee.  It was on special for $5 at Walmart!! Even at that price, I hesitated.  However, we were have a large number of guests over (see Baptism of Our Twins), and so someone managed to convince me that it was a good idea, especially at a time of tighter budget constraints.  I now regret the decision; I could have bought a much smaller container of better quality coffee for only a bit more and still had enough.

I am now paying the price.  At the gathering we used about 1/10 of the can.  That leaves us with the rest to use up on our own.

Even my wife, who cannot tell the difference between butter and margarine, between real whipped cream and the edible oil product version or even between real artisan Mexican coffee and Nescafe has said she has trouble getting a whole cup of Folgers coffee down.  (In fact, even way back 6 years ago in Cuernavaca when that friend duped us with Folgers coffee, my wife was in pain trying to finish the cup out of politeness; this friend had made it very strong as well!)

This is a really bad sign when even my wife has trouble getting it down.  She has no taste for quality or "food elitism."

We've realized that if we make it just the right strength and drink it fresh it's doable.  However, if it sits even half an hour, the re-heated product simply won't go down.  We feed it to the plants. (The plants can't complain!)

To make things even worse, this morning I was opening up my green bin (the spacial garbage can for organic waste.)  Normally smells of decomposing fruit waste and meat scraps blend with that of week-old dog droppings.  Today I'm sure that it was the smell of Folgers coffee grounds that came wafting out.  I still can't decide if this was a good thing or a bad thing.

A Beautiful Ghetto

The narrow street where I lived, typical of La Barona

Last week I stayed in Cuernavaca, with my wife's cousins in a community called La Barona.  La Barona is typically considered the worst neighborhood in Cuernavaca - a city about an hour south of Mexico City.  Back in the 70's there was a time that there was a murder every day, taxi's refused to take people there, and the buses stopped at the first traffic circle - pretty much the only way in and only way back out to the rest of the city.

Since then, this neighbourhood has a complete turn-around, and it's now a pleasant & vibrant family community where you can live comfortably with all the basics within walking distance. I've written about this community before - see A Community Turn-Around Story in Cuernavaca.

An important point is that the bad reputation has long outlived the reality.  Sure, basic common sense and care must still be used.  Yes, the community is generally a poor one; but it's not the ghetto it used to be - it's safe, and, in it's own way, picturesque and beautiful.

The community is a labyrinth of tree-lined streets, alleys lined with colorful flowers and roundabouts with playgrounds in the middle, but where you really can't tell which is the "main street" going in and out. It's also very hilly, with nice views of the nearby hills that separate Cuernavaca from Mexico City, and hide the magical village of Tepoztlan.  There are lots of local small shops that sell everything from fruit and freshly baked bread to appliances, computers and cell phones.  Because of the flowers, the trees, the views and, perhaps most of all, the relaxed lifestyle of the people, the many half-built homes, shops covered with graffiti, the unplanned tangled overhead wiring become a lot less unpleasant.

I've been accused before of liking ugly and off-colour places just to be different; but I can guarantee you that this is not the case with La Barona.  My wife and I lived there for 3 months, and every time we go back, we feel more convinced that one day, in the distant future, it could be a good home for our family.  We feel comfortable and at home there.

One of the nicer houses - this was probably built up, little by little

The bad reputation, though, has some advantages:

• It gives the community a very distinct atmosphere of its own; places that are "quaint" because they were planned to be that way often all end up being the same and somewhat boring.  This place is very down to earth, real and practical.
• It keeps the prices low. Rent is low; $100 USD/month gets you a large house that will need a bit of paint but is fine to live in.  Food is cheap (not quite as cheap as the main downtown market, but much better than other places I've seen - in Cuernavaca or anywhere else.  I've written about a similar theme in The Low Cost of Living in Cuernavaca.)

A typical main street, lined with trees

As I said, it's picturesque in its own unique way.  I'll admit quite readily it's not the place for everyone's taste, but that's true of anywhere.  Here are a few pictures with some comments.

A typical sidewalk - not always practical

Small sports complexes and regular transportation do a lot for the community (not to mention the "boutiques!")

A view of the hills in the distance

Another nicer home

An ally way heading downhill, with hills in the distance

A very narrow ally - there are many of these, and many homes have their only access off of a street like this

Poverty Is NOT a Problem ...

This says: "I have time and money to waste ..."

... in  a place where people so much money, food, possessions, etc. that they take a complete papaya, nice, ripe and perfect for eating, and smash it against a wall, letting it rot on the sidewalk, just because they feel like it.  Or in a place where kids have enough money and time at their disposal to buy spray paint and graffiti walls all night.  Or where people can buy their kids a coca cola and large bag of chips every day for their snack.  Or where people can buy take out food and throw half of it away.  Or ... I could make this list much longer, but I won't.

I live in a community which by many people would be considered "poor" or at least (even in Mexico) significantly below average.  I've estimated that the average household income in our neighborhood would probably be a bit over $7000 CDN, annually.  (Based on the cut off for mortgage requirements for buying a home.)  From my experience, the cost of living is about 1/2 of that in Canada, so by Canadian standards we could say it's equivalent to about an annual income of around $14,500.  By all the standards, it's well below the Canadian poverty line , which is about $30,000, I believe.  (The Canadian "poverty line" is a joke anyway, since it has no relation to poverty; it's measured as the bottom quarter of household income, not by basic needs or standards of living, but that's a different story.)

Too much money? Too much to eat? (A papaya)

The average household income in Mexico is about $10,000 USD per year, according the CIA Word Factbook.  So it's even noticeably below this country's average.

So, my community is officially poor. Yet, at the same time, I walked out of my house this morning to take my son to school and saw a papaya splattered all over the neighbour's house and sidewalk, left there to rot.
I go for walks every day, and every day I see new graffiti on the walls.  I see garbage bags ripped open by dogs with half-eaten take-out meals strewn all over the sidewalk.  I've been to countless parties where people pick a few things off their plate and throw the rest away.

On one level it's annoying that the first three habits make my community dirty, but that's a different issue.  The issue here is that people are absolutely wasteful.

I think our definition of poverty has been very, very skewed.  If we define poverty in terms of material needs - food, clothing and shelter in their most basic and necessary sense - then I've never seen poverty.  I know it exists somewhere, but I've never seen it.  I'd guess that people who REALLY were poor would absolutely never consider destroying any kind of food, just for fun, even to prove a point.  I'd guess that knowing what hunger really is like, from experience (which I don't, and, as far as I know, no one I know does) would simply eliminate that possibility that you could throw away food.  I'd guess that you'd never consider wasting what little money you had on a can of spray paint to graffiti your neighbour's wall.

Yet, all of these these problems are usually associated with poverty.  It's strange, isn't it?  I'd say the problem is abundance and idleness, not poverty.

The person I know who is closest to poverty does not consider himself poor.  While his living conditions are substandard (by our standards), he does not feel he is lacking anything in life, and would never ask anyone for anything.  He works hard, every day of his life.

Yet the "poor" people in my neighborhood can throw away food, give their kids money to buy spray paint, etc., etc.  Then they complain about the government and big companies.



While it's less visually obvious, I'd say the problem is just as big in Canada.  And we like to talk about the 99% and all of that.  People like to talk about poverty, yet I see so much complete wastefulness, that I can't take it seriously.

My wife and I believe in helping the poor.  And we do.  We help the poorest people we know every time we have a chance.  But as long as people have enough money and idle time to waste food and vandalize their neighbourhood, I don't feel sorry for them.

The Low Cost of Living in Cuernavaca

In Cuernavaca, everything is cheap.

Vacationers arriving in Playa del Carmen think it's cheap, but when we arrived there, we almost packed up and left because of the prices (and the heat.) Cuernavaca really is cheap. When we arrived in Cuernavaca 5 days ago, we bought all of our groceries for the week for $20 at the local market. This was mostly lots of fresh, local fruit and vegetables, plus bread, tortillas, granola, rice and some other dry food like that. When we used to buy meat from the market butcher back when we used to live here it was only two or three dollars more.

My wife's cousins also gave us some oats, beans and zucchinis; they don't like oatmeal, and apparently brown beans are better than black ones (I can't taste the difference.) They've eaten so much zucchini that they don't want more. These people are not well to do, but I guess food is cheap enough here that they feel that can be picky. (Although I've known some very poor people in expensive places that were even pickier – a concept I've never been able to figure out.)

When we lived here, we paid $120 for rent. It was a small home with 1 very large bedroom, and a nice shared lawn. From what I understand, rent is still very affordable.

I guess that for most people, if you live here, it's hard to find a good income, so the two aspects balance each other out. It's perfect for someone who's income source is from somewhere else.

More about Cuernavaca:

The World's Perfect Climate