I believe that every one of us are promoters. If we feel good about the stuff that we use, we will always tell it to someone else whether directly or indirectly. Today I’m going to write about a new high tech tool that I’ve been using for the past 2 months. Being introduced to Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) during one of my visit to a Microsoft road show, it has truly changed the way I’ve been looking at computers. If you are using Windows XP like me, the application is already built inside START > All Programs > Accessories > Communications:

If you have never used RDC before, you need to find another PC for you to connect and try out. However, it is best if you are familiar with IP Address and networking configuration before you use this facility. This application when in use and connected, acts like your normal Windows but you are actually controlling another computer remotely. If you want a free web-based application that is easy to use, one more tool that I use is a web service called LogMeIn:

If you look at the screenshot above, that is my remote computer or specifically known as a Virtual Private Server (VPS) located half way across the globe in Pennsylvania, US. I pay USD19 per month to use this VPS which is always online 24/7. If you do the math, I save a lot by leasing this VPS instead of owning one simply because:

1. I don’t have to buy those expensive PC/Server stuff that will cost me thousands of dollars
2. The VPS is always online 24/7 and I don’t have to worry about high electricity bill because the extensive need of cooling system the computers/servers need to have
3. The download connection in the US is superb. At 1GB per second network connection, it is hundred times faster than my normal internet connection. Of course, getting that file to my PC requires FTP that is limited by my internet connection
4. I can use a unique static IP address for my website or web apps for a fraction of a price rather than leasing one from my local ISP

My only problem for using this VPS is it can be sometime slow just to access and because of the low price, I only get 256MB of RAM which is rather limited. Occasionally, I need to restart my VPS at least once a week to free up the RAM or the VPS will crashed. Well as usual, you get what you pay for right?

If you are interested to use a cheap VPS for your Windows remote development or even Linux powered one, check out SWVPS. I’ll write more of how and what I have use my VPS for in my next following post to come.

I just love the concept of virtualization. It’s like doing something dangerous but in a contained and controlled environment where it is basically safe. Before this, I’ve seen how a big corporate IT department utilizes VM Ware for their server virtualization, tried Virtual PC on my own computer and the latest, Virtual Private Server. If you’ve seen movies such as The Matrix or the 13th Floor or you’ve played Second Life, you might understand the concept of it. If might provoke some radical idea of how you live your life but I think it is natural of a human being to fantasize about something that they don’t have.

I found this free application a couple of weeks ago. It’s called SafeSpace. So, how does this virtual application works? Well, a picture describes a thousand words:

If you can’t understand the figure above, let me just brief you a little bit. See that red box surrounding the registry, file system and application. SafeSpace actually creates some kind of layer on top of what your windows system have. Basically it’s like a protective layer that protects you from getting something harmful. If that layer gets an infection, you just tossed away that layer and you’ll have a new one. Sounds like a condom to me. Anyway, based on my experience, my Internet Explorer version 6 has been hijacked by numerous toolbars that suddenly appears out of nowhere. There was one time, my Internet Explorer 6 just went unusable because it got corrupted by these malware stuff. In fact, even before I installed SafeSpace on my system, there was a pop up box that keeps on appearing whenever I launch IE6. I tried cleaning up my registry and boot up applications but it was still showing up. Luckily, after I’ve installed SafeSpace, that pop up kind of dissapear. My problem was solved.

There is however one issue that was quite significant. The installation of SafeSpace caused my boot up to become longer. I had to wait almost 5 minutes before I can launch any other of my other application. Then there is this annoying coloured box surrounding the application which I don’t like. Since I’m using Firefox for my browser and normally Firefox doesn’t get hijack like IE6, I removed Firefox from the default setting of SafeSpace where it includes every Instant Messenger and browser that you have. From what I heard, this application is still buggy so it’s not really recommended if you are the kind of person who just use a computer for basic need. Oh, there is one more issue concerning SafeSpace. When I tried to insert attachments in my e-mails, the files just went corrupted. Most probably because of the layer filtering the files you are trying to put in.

The plus point of SafeSpace is that it prevents your internet browser from being hijacked and most of all it’s FREE (for personal use of course). Some screenshots of SafeSpace in use:

Visit SafeSpace from Artificial Dynamics for more information.

All my life, I’ve always been a Windows user. So if you ask me to use other operating system such as Linux or Mac, I can always use it but the comfort level would never be the same as using Windows. However for Internet browsers, now that’s different. I’ve tried most of the browser that is available for download but I’ve never tried Safari browser. When Apple decided to give away their beta version of Safari 3 public beta browser, I downloaded it. So, what is so special about this browser and is it suitable for me?

Another reason for me to download is because I need the latest Apple Quicktime that is bundled with Safari browser download package since I just installed a fresh Windows XP SP2 on my computer. I tried and install Ubuntu as a dual boot on my computer but something went wrong so I decided to scrap that idea and just stick with Windows. I’ll write about that in a special blog post.

While downloading, I was reading my RSS feed using Google Reader and found this:

• Safari 3 Is An Half-baked Web Browser from Apple, Wait for a Patch

I almost ditched my downloaded Safari browser installation file but I decided to install it anyhow. I wasn’t really going to use this browser permanently so I gave it shot.

I like the fonts and the User Interface (UI) that Safari browser renders. It looks similar when using FireFox on Ubuntu and also when we use Internet Explorer 7 on Windows Vista, everything looks so nice to the eye. What I don’t like is, it slows down my PC. Until I can afford a faster PC, I don’t think this “eye candy” software would benefit me. Still, it’s a great alternative for a change. I don’t think web developers and designers would welcome this browser as that would mean another change to the source code.

I can’t remember where I stumbled upon ubuntu but I wasn’t really aware about their existence. Because of the bottleneck of broadband internet connection, I was put off from the idea of downloading Ubuntu which is based on Linux OS. So, on the 5th of May 2007, I requested a Ubuntu 7.04 (Fiesty Fawn) CD. At first I couldn’t believe that they are ship out those CD for free. However, I proceed to filled the form anyway.

Yesterday afternoon or 18 days later, I found this package inside my mailbox:

Inside the package is this:

It’s a CD package along with a few stickers of ubuntu. I am always excited to get something new so I tried my new OS immediately:

I don’t want to install ubuntu yet on my PC, so I’m using the Live CD feature to try it out. So far, I’ve spent a couple of hours exploring this fantastic operating system. It detects all my computer hardware including my Wireless USB stick. I tried surfing the internet using my 4 days year old Maxis Wireless Broadband connection and it worked better than Windows. I’m still editing my review about my Maxis Wireless Broadband I just got last Sunday beside doing a couple of more testing. I’ll post my outcome shortly.

Here’s a screenshot of my ubuntu desktop:

I just love the desktop GUI and there is so much features and softwares bundled together that I become ecstatic about this OS. I’ll try and write something about my discovery in my next posts. Here comes the hard part, I’m still trying to figure out whether I should install dual boot-up (ubuntu and Win XP) or just use Virtual PC 2007 to install ubuntu under Windows environment. I’m a Windows user since the DOS era which later on followed by Windows version 3.1, Windows 95/98/NT/XP so it’s kind of hard to get used to something that we are not accustomed to. Oh well, I need to back-up all my files first before deciding anything.