Ubuntu netbook remix

2009 February 18 in Software | No comments

Ubuntu netbook-remix 9.04 alpha4

Ubuntu netbook-remix main panel

I download the alpha4 release of Ubuntu 9.04 netbook remix (from here) a few days ago to install on my IBM T43. The screen resolution is 1024 x 768 px, so I thought the GUI would increase the workspace. I was using Ubuntu 8.10 before, and installed Kbuntu 9.04 and Xubuntu 9.04 (both alpha4 releases) before deciding to keep netbook-remix. The interface is a little different than the regular Ubuntu, but in a good way for smaller screens and screen resolutions. When a window is mazimized, the window border is displayed in the top panel. The bottom panel is missing. There is an  option to swith to the regular desktop mode in the preferance panel, but I think I’ll stay with the netbook-remix interface.

Notice that the window title is inside of the top panel

The window title is inside the top panel

The files in your desktop  folder are not shown on the ‘desktop’ because the main panel is the desktop. There is not menu button in the panel because the main panel acts as the menu. You can add more folders to the right side of the panel by adding it to the bookmarks in Nautilus. Overall, I really like the netbook-remix and recommend it to other users with small screens or screen  resolutions.

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Nokia N810

2009 February 6 in electronics | No comments

a sketch from the Nokia 810

a sketch from the Nokia 810

I’ve had a Nokia 810 for the last week. It is a touch screen internet tablet with wifi, blue-tooth, and GPS connections. With Maemo Mapper, I can use the maps from www.openstreetmap.org, and even edit the maps with  another application. The time to aquire the GPS signal is long, and  it isn’t as good as the Garmim 60SCx. If you are not within a wifi area, you can use your phones data plan to connect the N810 to the  internet. There is a wizzard to set up the bluetooth connection so that the phone shares the data plan with the N810. I am typing this post on the N810 via my data plan on my Nokia E51. Coo1, huh?

Oh, one missing feature from the sketch program is the ability to keep the custom  colors in the color palette. If I add a color not in the palette to the custom palette, it persist only as long as sketch is open; but once I close sketch and open it again, my colors are deleted!

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Jamis Dragon 29er

2009 January 25 in Bicycle | No comments

Jamis Dragon Pro 29er, 2008 model in hemp

Jamis Dragon 29er, 2008 model in hemp

Last year I purchased my first mountain bike, a Jamis Dragon 29er. I has some trouble choosing between a traditional 26” wheel and the newer 29” wheels, but in the end, I decided that I really enjoy riding over things; a 29” wheel does this more comfortably than a 26” wheel. On the whole, the bike has been good. I flipped the stem and dropped it below the spacers. I did not cut the steer tube, and I am not sure I will. I took off about 25mm on each side of the handlebar, and replaced the stock Crank Brothers Candy C pedals with a pair of 5050xx pedals, including the 5mm spike kit. The grips tear into my hands every time I ride without gloves, and they are too long. I think the lock style grips are made by WTB. I’ll replace them soon enough. This is what is stock on the bicycle, except for the pedals:

  • Bottom Bracket: Shimano XT with external ball bearings
  • Brakeset: Avid Juicy 3 brakes with Avid Juicy 3 levers
  • Chain: SRAM PC-971 with Power Link, 1/2 x 3/32″
  • Crankset: Shimano XT, 22/32/44 teeth
  • Fork: RockShox Reba Race 29″, 100mm travel
  • Frame: Reynolds 853 chromoly
  • Front Dérailleur: Shimano XT, clamp on 28.6mm
  • Handlebar Stem: Easton EA50 31.8mm clamp
  • Handlebar: Easton EA50 flat bar
  • Headset :1 1/8″ threadless Aheadset TH-857
  • Hubs: Shimano Deore disc
  • Pedals: Crank Brothers 5050xx
  • Rear Cogs: 9-speed, 11 - 34 teeth
  • Rear Dérailleur: Shimano XT Shadow
  • Rims: WTB Laser Disc Trail, 32-hole
  • Saddle: WTB Silverado
  • Seatpost: Easton EA50, 27.2mm diameter
  • Shift Levers: Shimano XT
  • Tires: 29 x 2.30″ WTB ExiWolf

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Spreadsheet makes building a bicycle easier

2009 January 25 in Bicycle | No comments

a screen shot of the spreadsheet

a screen shot of the spreadsheet

My neighbor received a Soma Speedster frame for Christmas. That is a nice present for him and a lot of work for me! We’ve spend almost 10 hours searching for the parts he wants (and he even changes his mind the next day). Since I had built a few bicycles in the past, I knew that we would probably make a mistake by ordering an incompatible part or one that did not match the bicycles style. I still have one of my friend’s old Cannondale f200 mountain bicycle in my room because we purchased disc only rims and only later found that is it almost impossible to find a 1″ thread-less steer on a fork for a 26″ wheel that has disc brake mounts. Almost impossible because we found a frame builder that can make one ($300-ouch). Sorry Pete!

So, keeping track of all the parts and the design parameters is important. Plus, you can keep tabs on the cost of the parts. After you’ve added all of the parts, you can even go through the list and find less expensive alternatives to reduce the cost. My architecture friend calls that “value engineering”.

Alright, since I know that selecting all the parts for this frame was a disaster waiting to happen, I built a spreadsheet to keep track of all the information. We spent almost 10 hours selecting and adding the parts to the spreadsheet. We had to modify the spreadsheet so that all of the parts we wanted to add are present. I also added some brief notes about what you need to know about your frame and parts so that you do not end up with compatibility issues. There is a column for the cost so that you can track expenses, and a pie chart to show you the relative cost of each part. In the end, it was very helpful; We included part numbers and web addresses so that we (or the local bicycle shop) could easily order the correct parts.

I think others will find this spreadsheet helpful. It is in OpenOffice.Org .ods format. You can see a screen-shot above. Enjoy! If you make and improvements or have suggestions for improvements, let me know! Download Generic Bicycle Build.

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Jamis sputnik

2009 January 25 in Bicycle | No comments

Phil Wood high flange track hub on a 2007 Jamis Sputnik

Phil Wood high flange track hub on a 2007 Jamis Sputnik

In November 2007, I bought a Jamis Sputnik frame with the stock Easton EC70 carbon fiber blades and alloy steerer fork. The main tubes are made from Reynolds 631 seamless air-hardened chromoly, the stays from double tapered heat-treated chromoly, and the dropouts are lost wax rear entry dropouts. I added the following components.

Part Description
bottom bracket Phil Wood SS 68×108
chain KMC 1/8” superlite
chainring Sugino Messenger 46t 1/2×1/8″ 130m
cog Phil Wood Track Cog 1/8 x 16teeth SS
cranks Sugino single speed arm set 170mm black 130mm
front brake Shimano Ultegra BR6600
front brake lever Diatech Gold Finger
front hub Phil Wood FSA H/F Track Fr Bolt 32h 100mm
handlebar Nitto Mustache 25.4mm
handlebar tape Cinelli Gel Cork Blue
headset Chris King NoThreadSet 1 1/8”
lights Knog frogs
pedals MKS Sylvan Road
rear hub Phil Wood FSA H/F Track Bolt 32h 120mm
rims Velocity Deep V 700c 32 hole
saddle WTB rocket v pro
seatpost Thompson 27.2mm x 330mm
spokes DT competition 2.0/1.8 282mm
stem Thompson X2 road 90mm 31.8mm 80/100 degrees
tubes Maxxis ultralight 700c x 18-25 48mm pv

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