Monday, January 31, 2011

Linux Blogging Clients

As you well know, I have been scouring the web lately, looking for a suitable desktop blogging client. In my travels, I have read where people were loathe to rid themselves of Windows 7 because of the Windows Live Writer. Up until that point, I had yet to try the Windows Live Writer, as I had been searching exclusively for a Linux client.

Since I was on my Linux partition, I rebooted my computer (I actually had to reboot twice, because I missed the grub menu list) and logged into my Windows 7 install. A few minutes later, not only did I have Windows Live Writer installed, but I also had my custom WordPress blog all setup and configured. Now, I don't like MS - the why to that statement is for another post - nor most of their products, but when I started playing around with WLW, I came to realize why all these people were so unwilling to give up their Windows 7. To me, WLW really sets the bar for the OSS community as far as releasing a suitable equivalent.

That being said, I am also a firm believer in the fact that whatever MS can do, the OSS community can do just as good, or better. In my quest to prove this point, I have tested a number of different blogging clients. Sadly, only a few of these clients made the cut. Over the next couple of days, I'm going to blog about the different blogging clients that I have tried. As it stands right now, I have tested the following blogging clients:

ThingamaBlog
BloGTK
Drivel
Gnome Blog Editor
QTM
ScribeFire
Google Docs 

 

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Google Documents as a Blogging Client

This is a test using Google Docs as a blogging client.

Since I am supposed to be documenting my experience with my CR-48, I figured that I may as well give Google Docs a run for it's money as a blogging client.

Due to updates in Google Office, some features in the old version have not yet been implemented in the new. One of these features is the option to publish a document to a blog. After a

little bit of help from Ed, I finally figured out how to do this.
This site, here, explains in greater detail what I just made mention of in the above paragraph. According to that website, you simply go here to create a new document in the old version of Google Docs and then under the "Share" drop down menu, select the "publish as webpage option." This will open up a new window where you can then publish to a blog. This goes without saying, but you will be prompted for your blog type, as well as your login credentials.

I can vouch for this method, as that is the way that I accomplished this blog post. Although I haven't tried inserting images into a post, I can only imagine that it would work, as you basically have the same type of wysiwyg editor as you do in wordpress. The only drawback to using Google Docs as a blogging client is the inability to create hierarchies and categories. Other than, this is a great way to blog using your CR-48

Alrighty, next up, ScribeFire

Friday, January 28, 2011

My CR-48

So, who has heard about Google’s CR-48? I have.

I first read about Google’s pilot program last December, and promptly signed up for it. Although I hadn’t given up on getting a laptop through the program, I was completely surprised when I got home this afternoon and found a package from UPS sitting on my porch.

Here are some pictures as well an initial review of my latest acquisition.

This is what was inside the UPS box. A somewhat non descript box with a handle and some nice artwork on the front.

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Although the box was kinda’ cute, I was more interested in what was inside!

 

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Everything was packaged up real nice. You’d have to do something real serious to this bad boy to damage the laptop.

Although I’m not real big on dressing up my laptops, Google did throw in a nice sticker for those of you who do like to play dress up.

 

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After letting this bad boy charge for a little bit, I finally decided to turn it on and give it a spin…

 

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Although I’m thrilled to have a new toy to play with and show off to my friends and fam, I must say that it’s going to be hard to get to used to a browser as my OS.

After I have had a chance to play with it some more, I will write up something a bit more substantial, as there are some things that I definitely like about this notebook.

Until then, go sign up to get one for yourself!