My Writings. My Thoughts.
Bye bye windows, almost.
// June 21st, 2009 // No Comments » // Web Development
I’ve recently got an ASUS EEE PC 1000 that came with a linux distro instead of Windows. Now, I’m not very techy when it comes to Linux so I thought it was going to be a steep learning curve and I’d get too frustrated with it.
The linux version that came with the netbook was Xandros, and was for netbooks and their small screens. It worked fine and I was impressed at just how usable it was. I will admit that I haven’t mastered the terminal yet, but thankfully you can do a lot without resorting to the command line interface.
It wasn’t long before I started looking at what other distros were available. Ubuntu looked like a good choice, and a version of it called Easy Peasy (sorry, but that’s a rubbish name) which was specifically for the ASUS EEE PC. So I gave that a go. Again it all worked and installed without a hitch.
Then I heard that Ubuntu had released 9.04 Jaunty Jacolope (great name) and a version for netbooks. Now Easy Peasy is a derivitive of Ubuntu with a few tweaks, but I wanted to get as close to the main stream Ubuntu as I could, so it got installed. Piece of cake, and worked without any issues.
I was beginning to become a fan of Ubuntu despite still not really knowing all the ins and outs of running linux.
I then thought that it could bring my knackered Acer laptop back to life after I’d stuck it in a cupboard after it became far too slow with windows on it. So today I downloaded the iso from ubuntu.com and wiped my windows laptop and got ubuntu up and running. I’m using it now and it’s great. So I now have a laptop again. The netbook is great of course, but the screen just isn’t big enough for development work. So I can now sit on my sofa with my feet up and do the things I need to do on my other web sites, including redesigning and rebranding my photography forum which is long overdue.
So that got me thinking, and gave me the idea for this post, just what do I need windows for? Can I get rid of windows on my desktop computer too?
So let’s think.
Email and web browsing. Well I run all my email through a google apps account, so it’s all online. So all I need is a web browser, and ubuntu comes with firefox, so no issues there.
Web development. Well all I really need is a text editor, so again no issues. I’ve found Bluefish to be pretty decent for ubuntu so that sorts that out. But hang on, what about graphics. Now, this is where I start to hit problems. I use Adobe Photoshop to produce graphics for my web sites, and it’s not available for linux. Bugger. But there is a decent graphics program for linux called GIMP (great name) which will do everything I need it to, just not quite in the same way as photoshop, so a little learning is needed, but that’s not a major issue.
Right, this next one is a problem. Microsoft SQL Server. I need this for when I work at home as it’s the database that powers the web sites I work on for my day job. With my current knowledge of linux, this is a problem. I believe there is a windows emulator where I could run SQL Server, but I don’t know how well that would fit in with the dev environment I need. So some research needed there.
Perhaps the main sticking point for me Adobe Lightroom. I am really into photography and I use this excellent piece of software to manage and work on my photos. I can’t do without it. I have seen similar software for linux but I haven’t really tried it and I’m sure it’s not going to be as good as Lightroom is.
Thinking more about it, it is only SQL Server and Adobe Lightroom that I need windows for. So if anyone knows a solution for those two, then I can finally get rid of windows all together which will be great!
Why do I hate windows so much. Well without being too rude, it’s a pain in the arse, clunky and all the software costs lots. Linux is now a viable alternative. The interface is very similar to windows so using it is very simple. Some things are done slightly differently. The file system is a lot more secure, no bad thing, there are loads of good, free applications for it which cover just about anything you need to do on a computer and best of all, it’s free. No stupid licensing, serial numbers or ways for microsoft to keep tabs on you.
So as soon as I can find a solution for the two sticking points, it will be bye bye windows and I shall drink many cups of tea to celebrate when that day comes.
Do you want to know another good thing about linux. By downloading the iso and putting it on a cd, you can run ubuntu on your windows machine without actually installing it. So you can try it and see what you think while keeping windows as it is. How good is that. Imagine running windows without having to install it…. I don’t think so.
That is all.
Don’t worry, it’s just a post
// April 2nd, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Life
I’ve just noticed how little I update this site, which is quite frankly, embarrassing.
So why the lack of updates? Well, laziness has to be up there as one of the reasons, but I do have some other reasons which I’ll try and make you believe.
In August last year I joined the design team at TheHut.com who along with running their own online store, also run sites for companies such as Tesco, WHSmith, ASDA, Lovefilm, Argos and Sendit. We also bought the zavvi brand a little while ago too and have relaunched the zavvi site too. So that keeps me busy and although I gave up the freelance life to get my evenings and weekends back, I seem to be working a lot of hours. Saying that though, I am enjoying it, and the hours don’t seem to be as bad as similar hours of freelance.
So what else is going on? Well I am currently working on rebranding, redesigning and moving my photography forum to a new domain which is a much better one in my opinion. The forum itself is growing at a steady pace now with nearly 1700 members and fortunately I have a great team of moderators and admins who keep it going when I’m not about. I’m not sure of the launch date yet, there is a still a fair bit to do yet.
I bought an iPhone too! The beginning of my assimilation into the fruit collective has started. I have to say though that it puts any previous phone I’ve had to shame. It’s corny but true, it just works! Everything is nice and simple and so far there is nothing to complain about. I tried to get the wordpress app for the iPhone but it didn’t want to play ball, but if I get it working (ok, some things don’t “just work”) then I shall be able to update this site a bit more frequently.
I’ve been twittering a lot too. You can follow me at http://twitter.com/gazraa if you want to hear my random mutterings. Twitter, when used well, is a great marketing and social tool. 140 characters at a time may not seem enough but celebrities like Stephen Fry seem to do ok with it, and considering his vast volcabulary of long words, that can’t be bad.
I’ve been trying to do a bit more photography too. I run one or two photography basics courses a month which seem to be going down well. No complaints so far anyway! I enjoy doing the courses but I just wish I was luckier with the weather. I have only run one course so far where it hasn’t rained! Hopefully that will improve as we head into spring and summer.
So there you go, a brief update on my life and why I haven’t updated this site in a while. 4 updates in 2008! Shocking. I’ll try and do better this year.
The A Team of design
// November 22nd, 2008 // 1 Comment » // Web Development
Ok, no one smokes a cigar, or has a crazy hair style.
I joined TheHut.com in August this year after being a freelancer for 3 years. Nearly 4 months later I thought it was about time I named and shamed the great team I work with. While I am still not sure the term ‘designer’ fits me too well, being a ‘Design Team Leader’ is great and I’m not regretting going back to the 9-5 (well, 8-8 lately) grind.
So who are these people that have to suffer working with me.
First of all there is Darth AppleMac, or Ross as some people call him. He’s the man in charge of us all and he has a worrying obsession with computers of the fruit variety. Nevermind eh.
Then in no particular order…. well ok, the order we sit round the desk… we have the Wheel aka Nealy Wheely aka Neal. King of the pack shot, master of automated scripts, wearer of hair gel, and drinker of not much before he wobbles. A big fan of pink too… the colour not the singer.
Then we have Deano or Dwayno as he’s known by some. Partial to running round with 10 other men in a field trying to score and maker of many brews.
Next is Michelle…. well there are packets of biccies that come next on the desk before we get to Michelle, but they seem to disappear pretty quick. Apart from being a slightly crazy scouser, Michelle is a bit of an artist and creates lots of weird and wonderful characters.
Then we have Stacey, hidden away behind a sea of macs. Stacey dreams about imovie and time lines and has been known to flash occasionally too…. that’s Adobe Flash, nothing rude!
Next is Nikki, the resident polo dealer and DIY expert. If you need minty floorboards then Nikki is the top choice.
Last and by no means least, we have Matt. A big fan of Motorhead and The Spice Girls and a drinker of pear cider. He has to suffer sitting next to me but does his best to ignore my by plugging himself into his ipod full of shouty metal music and talking to Nikki about poo……. don’t ask!
So that’s the design team I work with (although they might not want to after reading this) and it makes the hellish commute most mornings all worthwhile… awww.
Take a look at their sites too, we’ve just introduced most of them to wordpress and I think they are all convinced it’s the mutts nuts and are working hard to get their sites sorted.
“The rebel base will be in firing range in 7 minutes” 
The ignorance of people
// September 29th, 2008 // No Comments » // Life
OK, before I get into this, this is going to be a bit of a rant so I apologise in advance.
So here goes.
I was sitting in my car outside tescos in Oldham today and saw that there was a shopping trolley in the middle of the road and cars were having to drive around it. It was about 5ft from the edge of the road.
Now, I only sat in my car for 5 minutes, but in that time at least 6 people, of all ages, walked right past that trolley, within 6 inchs of it, and not one of them thought to move it out of the road. That pissed me off. Why are people so friggin up their own behinds (I’m trying not to be too rude hear) that they can’t just do something that will make someone elses life easier (the car drivers)? It wouldn’t even have taken any effort to move the bloody trolley!
So I got out my car to go into tescos and moved the trolley on the way in.
Then, on the way out, I noticed someone had just dumped a different trolley in the middle of the exit when the trolley park thingy was only 5ft away. Just bloody ignorant!
It’s just that mentality that really, really annoys me.
That is all.
Freelancer to Full Timer
// July 23rd, 2008 // 5 Comments » // Freelancing
I read lots of blogs about the freelance life and quitting the 9-5 job. My favourites are Freelance Switch and Self Made Minds, but there are plenty more. All of these give you great advice about going it alone, leaving the full time and how you can continue to make money.
I have now been freelance for coming up to 3 years and I have been in the fortunate position of not having to have looked for work, it all came to me through my large network of contacts I had built up before making the leap to freelance and word of mouth advertising. Two of the most useful ways to get work!
So you may be thinking, ok, this all sounds great so why is he going back to a full time job? What about the freedom of freelancing? What about the money, freelancers are all loaded aren’t they?
Well, the reasons are, in no particular order:
- I’ve been getting cabin fever working at home. It’s only in the last 8 or 9 months that the lack of the the social side of office work and lack of office banter has hit me, and I miss it!
- Working all hours. This last year has been busy for me, with a fair bit of work and working weekends and evenings as well as during the day has taken it’s toll and I’ve had enough of it. I haven’t had any time for my main hobby, photography, and have no social life and I want more time to spend doing what I want to rather than working on other people’s web sites.
- The bad times, financially. Even with a lot of work there have been times when I have been completely skint. Most of the time this has been caused by clients not paying on time, but I’m also not the luckiest person in the world and just when I think my bank balance is recovering, my car will break down or something will go wrong that puts me another step back. A regular salary will be a great help.
- Career progression. OK, working for yourself is great, being your own boss has a lot of benefits (although mine has been a slave driver) but in three years I am still working on the same sort of thing, nothing very high profile (in web terms) and want a bit more to show for my skills.
Now this all sounds quite negative, and most of it is down to me not being very good at selling myself, hence he type of work I’ve been doing, but also for financial reasons I have had to take on work just to pay the bills instead of taking on the more interesting projects.
So I guess what I wanted to do with this post is give you some advice from someone who has done it, enjoyed it, but decided it wasn’t quite what they wanted. So here you go 10 tips to be a successful freelancer (in no particular order):
- Have a backup fund for the bad times and keep it topped up when the times are good. Believe me you will need it! I didn’t have one and suffered because of it.
- Learn to say No. This has been my big problem, taking on too much at once.
- Get rid of problem clients quickly. If a client is failing to pay on time or anything else that means you are spending more time fire fighting them rather than working on the project then politely terminate working with them. Don’t let it drag on causing you stress and hassle.
- Network. Since starting freelancing I haven’t met many other freelancers or people in the industry. Make time to get out there and network.
- Work to live, don’t live to work. Another of my problems. Work took over and my life outside of work was non existent. So make sure you separate work from your life. Don’t work evenings unless you really have to. If you do it all the time, clients will expect it of you.
- If you don’t already wear glasses, you will probably need them soon. My eyesight went downhill quite quickly staring at the screen all the time. Take regular breaks, set your working environment up properly and get regular eye check ups.
- Get your fingers in lots of pies. If one aspect of your work slows down then you will have other options. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket and other such sayings.
- Exercise. I used to be quite fit, regularly mountain biking, but 3 years on and I my bike has cobwebs on it and I have a beer belly. That’ll be changing when I get my evenings and weekends back.
- Prioritise and schedule and stick to it. If you have 5 jobs to do that day, prioritise them and don’t let anything else get in the way. Obviously sometimes things crop up, but be firm with clients. If you have a project to finish, don’t start doing small site amends for someone else and then miss your deadlines.
- Work always takes longer than you think! Add in extra fix and tweak time to all work and charge for it!
Well there you go. 10 tips to hopefully help you.
Don’t get me wrong though, freelancing has been great and I wouldn’t have changed it. For me though I think I’ve done enough of it. I am off to work for an online company as a senior designer/developer type person working on front end stuff as well as mentoring junior staff, which for me is great and I can’t wait to start.
Oh, the regular pay cheque is a bit of a good thing too. Money coming in each month is definitely a good thing!!
Adsense update
// June 26th, 2008 // No Comments » // Blogging
ooh what’s this, an update to my blog…. wonders will never cease.
Anyway, this is just a bit of an adsense update really. I have several sites running with adsense context sensitive ads on them and the income has never been anything to wow anyone, but I am now averaging a massive 3 dollars a day. What will I spend it on!! Actually the last 7 days has averaged out at over 4 dollars which is good…. at least for me.
Although it doesn’t seem much, it’s passive income meaning I don’t have to do much to get it. 4 dollars a day, 28 dollars a week 104 dollars a month, 1248 dollars a year. It pays for my hosting reseller package and a bit of beer money. Can’t argue with that can you?
Another day, another wordpress update
// November 2nd, 2007 // No Comments » // Wordpress
Wordpress, the amazing script that powers this site and many others, has had a few upgrades lately. Great that the developers are taking the script forward, but a bit of a pain when you run multiple sites using wordpress and have to update each one.
Anyway, at least it’s a really simple job to do, another reason why wordpress is so good!
The web hosting companies offer the reliability of their services by connecting all datacenter with the dedicated servers. There are a lot of manufacturers which offer variety of windows backup software for the recovery of all data in the most efficient way. If you purchase the cheap web hosting services, you have to face a lot of limited services with other drawbacks of technical systems. The website designers use a variety of templates of web site design for building the websites in the most unique styles. DNS stands for domain name system which nominates the websites by following @ sign in email address. The application of data recovery software is very assistive for the restoration of backup computer files immediately. The cheap domain hosts offer all kinds of hosting plans in the most inexpensive rates.
Adsense, back to a dollar a day
// August 9th, 2007 // 5 Comments » // Web Development
Ok, not really much to shout about, but I’m pleased that I’m now back to an average of a dollar a day from adsense earnings after the dip I had over the last few months.
A large amount of this is due to a mini site I made. A one page site with information about a particular niche, keyword rich, but still reads well, and some adsense ads. My forum and other few sites are still pulling in a little too, but the noticeable gain has been via the mini site.
When I set the site up, I linked to it from this site and posted one comment on a popular blog on a similar niche and google didn’t take long to find it and start sending people my way.
OK, so what next?
Well, more one pagers I expect for now with my next target being $5 a day average which is a big jump. I’ve also got an idea for a larger site on the same theme as my current mini site, so that may help a little too when I can get round to building it.
The web hosting service providers offer the individuals and IT organization to have accessibility of World Wide Web for running their websites. Now-a-days, there are a lot of telecommunication companies which are providing high speed broadband internet access. The search engine optimization helps a lot to improve the quality of websites by driving the massive traffic of visitors. In the modern age, the trend of online marketing for the products and services has been increasing. There is a great scope of online advertising which encompasses the extensive range of the customers by contacting via internet services. The massive traffic of visitors to the websites may boost up the revenue of the webmasters with the implementation of strategies of pay per click ppc. The internet marketers provide their services and unique marketing tools for starting internet marketing program.
Social Networking = Facebook
// July 15th, 2007 // No Comments » // Blogging
With the recent announcement that Facebook reached the 30 million active users milestone, yes, 30 MILLION!!!, you can’t ignore what the site has become. From what is essentially a very simple idea, it has grown to a massive site. Facebook has also opened up it’s API allowing anyone to create applications for everyone to use meaning that more sticky content can be created without the facebook team lifting a finger…. nice!
With that sort of audience, it also has the potential for driving traffic to your own site. Once registered you can create groups on just about any subject you like, and if you look at some of the groups you will see that it can be about absolutely anything. So, if you have a site that has a reasonable user base, why not create your own Facebook group for it. Drive traffic to that group via your site, then as it grows in size on facebook it will help drive traffic back to your site. All for free!
Every little helps, as an advert for a supermarket says.
Win a web site
// July 12th, 2007 // No Comments » // Blogging
Well, you can’t win a web site on my site, but I am trying to win a web site from Scott off of selfmademinds.com
Scott is running a competition to win fictionforum.net which requires me to write what I would do with the domain should I be the lucky winner.
Well, here goes.
If I was to win fictionforum.net I would initially keep it as it is, but maybe moneytise it with amazon affiliate links. I would then work on an idea that sprung to mind when I heard the domain name. Did you ever read those ‘choose your own adventure’ books where you read a bit of the book and then had a few choices of where you wanted the book to go. Well how about a community driven site where they build the choices.
From a starting paragraph or two, people can register and then submit a choice for the route the story would take. Maybe there could be a limit to the amount of choices each juncture could have, and the amount they could write would be limited too. So a story will unfold, from people writing their own fiction.
When someone reads the story, it records what choices they make, thus giving them a complete book …. if the story ever ends of course.
How about that idea then Scott?
The web designers have to use the different kinds of strategic tools for the website development. The web hosting providers offer the multitude features of hosting in different price packages for the customers. The services of shared web hosting are not reliable due to the insufficient uptime and data coverage due to the shared servers which provide the shared services. The wireless internet services provide the fine and high-speed broadband services in the most reasonable prices. The scope of affiliate marketing has been flourishing rapidly with the introduction of online advertising and marketing of the products and services. The cheap hosting services are considered not a good one due to the inappropriate and limited services. The freelance web designers are earning a lot of money by having web design contract from online sources. The webhosting review provides very authentic information about the different hosting companies with all their pros and cons.
