I did something similar and found it to be quite pleasant and usable. It's still my back-up phone. The limited app ecosystem kept it from being my daily driver, but as far as a smartphone, it's perfectly functional and very responsive.
I miss Windows Phones for the third alternative they presented. I really wanted something (Windows Phone, Firefox OS, Sailfish, Ubuntu Mobile, anything!) to present a viable alternative to the iOS/Android duopoly. It seemed like Windows Phone had the best chances, even if it wasn't my first choice of that bunch, so its failure is particularly regretful.
Ditto on Mint LTS. I installed Mint on my mom's computer on a temporary basis (after the second or third time she got a virus that required a reinstall) and she found it usable enough that she asked to keep it. For a woman that didn't figure out email until about 10 years ago, that's pretty impressive.
I have found Lubuntu to be somewhat faster, but I can't argue with Xubuntu (or Linux Mint xfce) as very solid operating system for beginners or advanced users. Very good choices. Seems like the best things in the Ubuntu sphere are happening outside the core Ubuntu distro.
Don't forget Lubuntu. The LXDE variant of Ubuntu is, in my opinion, and under-appreciated distro. The stability and community support of Ubuntu, with the speed of the lightweight LXDE and without that distracting Unity stuff. For older PCs or machines with modest specs, this has repeatedly been my distro of choice. 13.10 added Zram for the live CD too, which will help with low spec machines.
By the way, Lubuntu is a good choice for former windows users because of the familiar taskbar, window, and menu layout. I never did get used to having the buttons on the left when I used Ubuntu.
Nice, I've been waiting for this version to drop so I can install the latest version of lubuntu on an older laptop. I really recommend trying lunbutu nowadays. LXDE has matured well, and it wins the "just works" seal of approval for me. I've had good experiences with migrating Windows users over to it as well, because it has maintained many of the Windows features (bar on the bottom, menu button where Start button is, close windows from the top right, etc.). It's ridiculous how fast a 5-year-old laptop can be with lubuntu instead of Vista.
I actually like Seamonkey quite a bit, and use it periodically, but I wish it had better extension and customization support. There were only about a half-dozen themes last time I looked, and only a few extensions. Fortunately, they had the important ones (AdBlock, NoScript, Ghostery, etc.) but it would be nice to have access to more. Still, a fine and stable way to browse the web.
Question: When I've used software PeerBlock in the past, I've seen quite a few blocked connections in the log. But does using PeerBlock or something similar actually work to prevent the monitoring identified in the study?
I second the Nook Color. It's not high-end, but it does a great job at a great price. I can find wi-fi pretty much everywhere I go. And considering the risk of damage, loss, theft, etc.during travel, the simplicity and lower price are very attractive.
I sure hope it continues. It took a while to wrap my head around it, but after a while it was the most useful Firefox extension I used, second to AdBlock. Maps, emailing, web searches, image searches, calculator tasks, translations—Ubiquity was my go-too source.
I've been listening to Pandora all day with only a handful of ads. So far it seems like a fine trade-off, and I definitely don't mind supporting a great service like Pandora. I also appreciate that the ads aren't too invasive or lengthy.
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I did something similar and found it to be quite pleasant and usable. It's still my back-up phone. The limited app ecosystem kept it from being my daily driver, but as far as a smartphone, it's perfectly functional and very responsive. I miss Windows Phones for the third alternative they presented. I really wanted something (Windows Phone, Firefox OS, Sailfish, Ubuntu Mobile, anything!) to present a viable alternative to the iOS/Android duopoly. It seemed like Windows Phone had the best chances, even if it wasn't my first choice of that bunch, so its failure is particularly regretful.
My thought exactly. What about these optimizations couldn't or shouldn't be implemented across the board?
Ditto on Mint LTS. I installed Mint on my mom's computer on a temporary basis (after the second or third time she got a virus that required a reinstall) and she found it usable enough that she asked to keep it. For a woman that didn't figure out email until about 10 years ago, that's pretty impressive.
I have found Lubuntu to be somewhat faster, but I can't argue with Xubuntu (or Linux Mint xfce) as very solid operating system for beginners or advanced users. Very good choices. Seems like the best things in the Ubuntu sphere are happening outside the core Ubuntu distro.
Don't forget Lubuntu. The LXDE variant of Ubuntu is, in my opinion, and under-appreciated distro. The stability and community support of Ubuntu, with the speed of the lightweight LXDE and without that distracting Unity stuff. For older PCs or machines with modest specs, this has repeatedly been my distro of choice. 13.10 added Zram for the live CD too, which will help with low spec machines. By the way, Lubuntu is a good choice for former windows users because of the familiar taskbar, window, and menu layout. I never did get used to having the buttons on the left when I used Ubuntu.
Nice, I've been waiting for this version to drop so I can install the latest version of lubuntu on an older laptop. I really recommend trying lunbutu nowadays. LXDE has matured well, and it wins the "just works" seal of approval for me. I've had good experiences with migrating Windows users over to it as well, because it has maintained many of the Windows features (bar on the bottom, menu button where Start button is, close windows from the top right, etc.). It's ridiculous how fast a 5-year-old laptop can be with lubuntu instead of Vista.
Ars Technica says it's not true. http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/03/fake-headline-of-the-day-the-pirate-bay-moves-to-north-korea/
I actually like Seamonkey quite a bit, and use it periodically, but I wish it had better extension and customization support. There were only about a half-dozen themes last time I looked, and only a few extensions. Fortunately, they had the important ones (AdBlock, NoScript, Ghostery, etc.) but it would be nice to have access to more. Still, a fine and stable way to browse the web.
Question: When I've used software PeerBlock in the past, I've seen quite a few blocked connections in the log. But does using PeerBlock or something similar actually work to prevent the monitoring identified in the study?
I second the Nook Color. It's not high-end, but it does a great job at a great price. I can find wi-fi pretty much everywhere I go. And considering the risk of damage, loss, theft, etc.during travel, the simplicity and lower price are very attractive.
I sure hope it continues. It took a while to wrap my head around it, but after a while it was the most useful Firefox extension I used, second to AdBlock. Maps, emailing, web searches, image searches, calculator tasks, translations—Ubiquity was my go-too source.
I've been listening to Pandora all day with only a handful of ads. So far it seems like a fine trade-off, and I definitely don't mind supporting a great service like Pandora. I also appreciate that the ads aren't too invasive or lengthy.