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 

 

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

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.

 

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

 

 

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.

 

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

 

 

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!

BloGTK 2.0

So, I decided that if I was going to make a go of my blogging career, than it was imperative that I find a desktop client from which I could administer my blog.

After trying out several different linux clients, I finally settled on BloGTK.

The easiest way to install BloGTK is to edit your Software Sources:

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list

Then add these lines to your /etc/apt/sources.list file:

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/jayreding/ppa/ubuntu lucid main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/jayreding/ppa/ubuntu lucid main

After saving your changes, be sure to update your package list:

sudo apt-get update

After you have updated your package list install blogtk:

sudo apt-get install blogtk

That's it! Now you should have BloGTK installed.

These instructions will work whether you have Lucid or Maverick installed.

There are other linux clients out there, but out of all of them, BloGTK has the fewest shortcomings.

In Full Swing

Now that layoff season is in full swing, it's time again for me to get busy working on the many different projects that seem to keep popping up.

The first thing that I'm going to do, is revisit the wood working project that pretty much consumed my entire free time last winter. That project was my wooden PC case. Nearly a year has passed since I have built this beast, and I have been able to observe some things, and as such, I want to make some modifications to the case.

Priority # 1 is to finally install a power switch. This whole year, I have had to open up the case and operate the plunger switch that I scavenged off a case skeleton that I had laying around.

For some time now, I have been eyeing a switch over at Frozen CPU. Now that I have both the time and the money, I decided that I had better make that priority number on on this case.

Priority # 2 is to employ some sound dampening measures.

Priority # 3 is to dress up my case a little bit more than it already is.

When my wife and I were at the thrift store, availing ourselves to their $4 bag sale, I found a wood burning kit $1!! I have already managed to whip out a tux logo - see image below - onto a scrap piece of wood. I'm thinking that I'm going to mount this to the front of my case, and the power switch will be mounted to look as though it were Tux's belly button. :)

After I complete my existing case, I can then move on to my other case builds. Yep, you read that right...other case builds! Thanks to Ed, I now have parts enough to build two complete machines, both of which are in need of a case. A couple of months ago, I purchased a couple of junk computers from a Re-store, just so I could use scalp the case for parts to build a wooden case. Not only do I have to build cases for those two machines, but I need to build another case for an existing PC, whose case has just about had it.

If I have time after that, I may try to build a custom laptop case. Before I can do that, however, I need to get the laptop over to Ed so that he can reflow the GPU for me.

Anyways, that's a wrap on my life...be back soon,
Ch@d

Deer Season...and layoff season.

November 15th marked the first day of regular firearm season here in Michigan. Not only that, but it also marked the beginning of my unemployment season. Although unemployment is not the ideal situation, it is not entirely unwelcome.

This past summer has been so hectic, that a season of respite sounds just about right. It will give me a chance to get some things done around the house that need to be done. Some of which are already done. I managed to finally get the garage cleared out so that the car can be parked overnight, should it snow. I have also managed - thanks to Ed - to get the wolfmap-up.net site up and running.

With all the things that I am getting done, I am, unfortunately, not going to be able to get out and do any hunting. Not only do I not have the time, but I do not have the funds to do so. So, deer bambi, rest easy this year...grow your horns out nice and long, so that I can harvest them next fall... :)

The New and Improved Me!

Well, since LXH moved, so did my blog...

Things have been a bit busy this past summer, as if you couldn't tell by the gap between this post and the last one...lol

Things have started to quiet down a bit, and with seasonal layoff looming, I will now be able to spend some time on my TODO list, as well as some other things that I'd like to get done yet this year.