Finally, I switch back to RedHat Enterprise Linux again. This time I am using the Version 5 and I am glad that the school give us subscription. I do agree it need some extra work to make it fit for desktop using. But it has less issues and really stable compare with other distributions.Here is some stuffs yum doesn't have. I install from some custom build rpms or compile by myself:
ntfs-3g: I need this to read and write my ntfs partions.
fuse: Filesystem in Userspace, It is needed by ntfs-3g.
Some other gadgets, libraries.

Recently I heard the new Ubuntu 8.10 has improvment on mobile computer. Probably I will try it on my laptop. Really I haven't find a idea distribution for my laptop. The suspension or stand by always gives trouble, either the video card won't wake up or the wireless module crashes.

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Friday, August 1 2008 at 21:30, by Norman

Update: On my Desktop, I am using Fedora Core 9, it has some improvement, but something are annoying. First, the gnomemount, in FC8, windows partitions will be recognized as removable media, and will be mounted everytime system is up. But in FC9, they will not be automatically mount(although show in Places). But if you run nautilus as root, it will mount the windows partitions and after that, everytime when system is up(even log as normal user) they will be automatically mounted. Really have no idea why redhat designed it to be like this.

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Sunday, October 2007 21 at 17:30, by Norman

Except this, when I tried it on my laptop, I can not tap the touch pad as mouse click! I already hate the touch pad enought, without tapping, I doubt I will use it again. After google for some time, I got the solution. The reason that the tapping doesn\'t work is because Redhat turned off a bit in synaptics package. Some guy rebuild the package to add the tapping function. you can get it from here.

Recently I installed several systems on my laptop in order to find a good one for my study in Temple. Since My laptop is a little bit old, I googled the boot time before I choose what system I am going to install. But the problem is most web site only compare the time from loading system to login screen, which result windows xp ranks very high. What I did is compare from system loading to open google in firefox.

Windows XP: I did basic system optimization, disabled some useless services. From system loading to login screen: about 60 seconds which is the fastest. But from system loading to open firefox: about 120 seconds! almost doubled.

Ubuntu Linux 7.04: Disabled some system services. From system loading to login screen: about 60 seconds. From system loading to open firefox: about 100 second. It is fast, and small, but I just don't like it, so give it up.

Suse Linux 10.2: Disabled some system services, recompiled kernel. From system loading to login screen: about 80 seconds. From system loading to open firefox: about 120 seconds.

Fedora Core 8 test 2: Disabled some system services. From system loading to open firefox: about 110 seconds.

Slackware 12.0: I didn't do any optimization, and forgot to record the time, but it is the fastest! But, it does not have gnome desktop, and really needs lots of works to make it fitting in my laptop. So I give it up.

Right now I am waiting for the release of Fedora Core 8(November 8?). After that I am going to set everything up in the winter break. And I am going to buy a new desktop before next semester. I also planed to install it on it.

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Tuesday, January 22 2007 at 15:30, by Norman

Update: Now I am using Fedora Core 8, it is really good! And it support writting NTFS file system! I remember even in FC7, I have to recompile the kernel to make it read NTFS. And the kernel support for NTFS writting is useless(only support changing files with out size change). The speed is moderate but the power management still has problem. If I hibernate the computer, I won't be able to wake it up or when wake up, the system becomes unstable.