Hi,

a few days ago i get my notebook, and also a modem 3g (huawei e226) with for a movile internet connection.

after receive it, i try to find the form to install it in my ubuntu (the modem only provide the software for windows). i search in google and only find very unuseful information and too confuse and complicated how to’s. but just when i’m giving up, i found the easy and perfect solution :), for our luck, a spanish company (vodafone) develop a easy-to-use driver for this type of modem for linux (and you can use for any provider, not only vodafone ).

the first thing it’s download the driver from here:

https://forge.vodafonebetavine.net/frs/?group_id=12

you have deb, rpm and binary packages

when you finish the download, unplug any internet connection what you are using and plug your usb modem, then, install the driver and execute it, automatically going to detect your hardware (the mine detect like huawei 270 but it work anyway), and then you need to create the profile, you see a screen like this:

there you need to enter:

*name of the profile (any name)

*username

*password

*host APN

and optional (and necesary in my case) you can define the dns to use (my service provider dont send correctly th dns, then i use the dns of movistar, i think you can use any public dns).

this necesary data you can get from the windows software what install the modem, search in internet or ask  to your ISP (normally it’s the same for all the user’s).

it’s work for me and i hope it can work for you too ;D

ths it’s some bechmark of my connection, i have a 2.5mb plan but i dont have a good connection here

Regards,

Shadow.

Hi,

well, after a few days i tested the Symphony Os 2008.1 what i download a few days ago.the review has been done in a VM with virtualbox in a ubuntu 7.10 like host.

Installation

the installation it’s the normal 6-7 step like have ubuntu, it’s take like 20-30 minutes all process including the copy of the files.

when the installation finish, the system occupied like 1.5 gb of the disk with the basic installation.

The Good:

First of all it’s a clean system, maybe you lost in the beginning why it’s not a normal desktop but it’s easy to use and know where are the things. you only have 4 buttons what display a menu with options.

in the top left icon, what it’s like the icon for a console, have the options to change the theme,remove/install app and other configuration options, it’s really easy to know what do each thing.

the top right icon, show the device and the file system, with folder for download, documents etc.., all organized and using nautilus for the file browser.

bottom right, easy to know, are the options to reboot ,logout and shutdown the system.

and the bottom left have the main menu (like the menu of app for gnome or KDE), there you have listed all the app installed and web app inserted.

all the system it’s like a ubuntu system but with another feel, more simply and beauty.All the tools and app what you use in ubuntu, work in symphony (or it’s logical it work :p ). also the OS have a nice feature integrated in firefox, what you can use a web app like a desktop app (you see the gmail option in the menu?), that mean you can grab any web app and put in you app menu, then you run it directly by there.also the the open app’s are showed in the bottom bar with images of the content (like the efects what have compiz fusion).it’s important to say this system it’s really fast, load fast and run fast, the creators say can be used in 200 mhz machines (great ).

The Bad:

I think the team has been released a too premature version to be a final release :s, this have several bugs, like the shutdown button dont work, and need more work to be a production system. the font what use the system it’s too hugly and have a theme for the windows like vista what i cant change easily (the theme manager dont change that) and i dont like how look with all the system.the app menu dont add the new icon of the new app installed, you need to logout or reboot the system to see the changes.also the system dont have the tray bar, programs like amsn, ktorrent or any what use the tray bar if you close it, you can access again to the window.several image what use the system, the icons of the app and including the fonts show pixelated or dont show (you see in the image above the thunderbird whiteout icon), i thing can be improvement to make more friendly the system. the icons what use for the folder and other things are like use windows vista, it can be changed by the theme manager but i think the distribution need to find he own look like do so far and not copy what already exist (the distribution itself it’s a new form to use the PC, why need to copy a simply icons?).Too less app included in the iso, i think need to add at least some media player and the open office suite, to have a complete and functional system (i dont think this can be a problem, why the iso weight only 463 MB, have enough space to add some essential app’s).

Conclusion:

It’s not a system to use like primary system, but i think it’s going to a good way, the $1 what i waste to buy this OS worth to colaborate for the evolution of this distribution. the team have a great idea and i think with more testing, and fixing the details, in the future can be a good competence for the principal and more used linux distribution, like ubuntu, why this system it’s easy to use, consume less resources and, with the necessary fixes can be the perfect OS for the people what commonly use windows.

i hope you enjoy and found useful this review and my opinions about this wonderful Linux Distribution.

Regards,

Shadow.

Hi,

well, i dont receive any donation but i donated the dolar to download my copy of symphony os (via torrent why the server it’s too slow xD ).

now, when i finish some things with the work, i going to install in a VM and test it, make a review and if it’s good, maybe i going to replace my ubuntu with this OS

stay tuned

Regards,

Shadow.

Hi,

the new version of Symphony OS has been released, after a year of development has been released the 2008.1 version. with a lot of changes and a rewrite of the system, now based in ubuntu 7.10 and full compatible with it. you can view more information here:

http://symphonyos.com/cms/?p=8

when i get $1 dollar of donations, i get my copy to test it and make a review of it (and if you can do the same to help this great project).

Regards,
Shadow