Podcast Seasion 1 Episode 11

[popey]

In the eleventh Ubuntu Podcast from the UK LoCo team, Ciemon Dunville, Alan Pope, Dave Walker and Tony Whitmore present interviews recorded at LUGRadio Live 2008, hardware reviews, discussion and news alfresco style.

http://podcast.ubuntu-uk.org/2008/07/31/s01e11-blowin-in-the-wind

In this episode:-

* Discussion:
* Pete Stean reviews the Advent 4211 (MSI Wind)
* A review of the Viglen MPC-L - which we're also giving away. We also give details about how you can get the Viglen MPC-L for £80
* Sarcastic News
* A great interview with Andy Robinson and Etienne Cherdlu from OpenStreetMap
* Some listener feedback.

* Competition:
* We announce the winner of the Efficient PC 'Wraith'
* We start a new competition where we give the Viglen MPC-L All you need to do is follow the instructions in the show to be in with a chance of winning this cracking tiny PC.


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[tintax]

Is anyone else having trouble contacting Viglen with regard to purchasing one of these PCs at the reduced price? I've sent them several e-mails now and haven't had a single response.

[popey]

When did you mail them? If over a weekend then it could be that they aren't in the office.

I have had a reply and have given payment details, and as I understand it I am not alone.

[tintax]

I sent them an e-mail last Sunday, and then a follow-up during the week. It's encouraging to hear that some people have managed to get a response though. I shall try again (perhaps from another account this time).

[popey]

Yeah, there was some confusion at Viglen initially, but this should be sorted now.

[Balachmar]

Would this MPC-L be a good frontend for mythtv? Using the Mythbuntu installation that also has XFCE as the basis?

[popey]

It's certainly small enough to hide behind a TV, but I dont know if it has the grunt to be able to do mythtv. I'll have a go when mine arrives :)

[Balachmar]

It's certainly small enough to hide behind a TV, but I dont know if it has the grunt to be able to do mythtv. I'll have a go when mine arrives :)
Please do let me know, because that would be ideal to use for the extra tv in the bedroom!

[deadrabbit]

It's certainly small enough to hide behind a TV, but I dont know if it has the grunt to be able to do mythtv. I'll have a go when mine arrives :)

I bet it would work well as a thin client - isn't Mythbuntu set up as an LTSP server? With a good gigabit network, it's the perfect solution for MythTV: keep the noisy powerful machine in another room, and use a cheap machine with no hard drive or fans (and therefore no noise). Plus, it's a lot easier to maintain and update.

If you don't want to install Mythbuntu on your main machine, you could try running a VM. I've had good luck using a Ubuntu LTSP server in a VMware virtual machine, though I've never tried to play back HD video.

[greggish]

Please do let me know, because that would be ideal to use for the extra tv in the bedroom!

Unless I misread the specs, there is no TV out on the thing. So I don't know how you plan on using this with a TV as the display. By the way, on a brighter note, it seems that Viglen now ships this with an 80 GB HD as default instead of 40 GB.

[popey]

You're right, it doesn't have TV-out in any way. However my TV has VGA in :)

When I called Viglen to order mine he said it had an 80G drive, I said I expected a 40G and he told me that there was no way for him to specify 40G on their system. Will let you know what I get.

[phayz]

In Pete Stean's review of his rebadged MSI Wind, he said that he often presses the Function key instead of the Control key, because it's located where a Control key would normally be located. To get around this problem, I believe he could set up a customised keyboard mapping, so that these two keys could be swapped.

I've never done this myself, but...