We have several computers around the house, we use for a variety of different tasks.  None of them are particularly special and a couple of them are getting toward the end of their useful life.  Our plan to reorganize the computers over the holidays has more to do with the fact that we want to have an excuse to fool around with the computers than with an benefit we might derive from the reorganization.  On the other hand, we might learn something.  Today, I will list the computers and how each of us uses them.  I hope Lorena, Kelly, and Christian will correct me where I am wrong.

The HP computer in the living room

  • Specs:  AMD 64-bit microprocessor, 512M RAM
  • OS:  Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex
  • Internet:  Wired connection to the router
  • Printer:  HP PCS-1610 Printer/Copier/Scanner (shared via Samba/CUPS)
  • Lorena:  Reads the “news” with Firefox, talks to Mexico on Skype, emails with Thunderbird
  • Kelly:  Manages her blogs/facebook/myspace with Firefox, emails with Thunderbird, writes reports with OpenOffice.org, prints recipes and craft projects
  • Christian:  Performs administrative tasks when Kelly and Mom cannot figure it out or something is not working
  • Dad:  Scans and prepares Betty Blonde comics with GIMP, prepares and prints homeschool schedules with OpenOffice.org

The Dell computer in the bonus room

  • Specs:  Intel Pentium, 512M RAM
  • OS:  Windows XP
  • Internet:  Wireless
  • Printer:  Uses printer connected to HP/Ubuntu computer in the living room
  • Mass Storage:  MadDog 500Gig external hard drive
  • Lorena:  Cleans up the computer table and dusts
  • Kelly:  Rosetta Stone Spanish, Teaching Textbooks Math, and CLEP U.S. History II
  • Christian:  Rosetta Stone Spanish and adminstration
  • Dad:  Nothing

Christian’s Dell Laptop

  • Specs:  Pentium Dual Core, 1G RAM
  • OS:  Dual boot:  Windows Vista and Ubuntu Intrepid Ibex
  • Internet:  Wireless
  • Printer:  Uses printer connected to HP/Ubuntu computer in the living room
  • Lorena:  Nothing
  • Kelly:  Teaching Textbooks, report writing with OpenOffice.org
  • Christian:  C++ programming, Inkscape, Administration, Teaching Textbooks Math, GIMP, general experimenting, NerdHow management, etc.
  • Dad:  Nothing

Dad’s Dell Laptop

  • Specs:  Intel Core Duo, 1G RAM
  • OS:  Windows XP
  • Internet:  Wireless
  • Printer:  Uses printer connected to HP/Ubuntu computer in the living room
  • Lorena:  Nothing
  • Kelly:  Nothing
  • Dad:  Python w/Eclipse (BleAx), C++ w/Visual Studio (Volcano computer), Firefox, Thunderbird, GIMP

We will wait until Kelly and Christian to finish with Rosetta Stone Spanish two before we make any big changes.  We plan to turn the HP desktop computer in the living room into a server that will host files and an internet site I want Christian to learn how to manage.  We will add RAM and a better graphics card to the Dell desktop upstairs, install Ubuntu Jaunty Jackalope on it and bring it downstairs to replace the HP.  That is about all.