Alternative to Network-Manager (Ubuntu) …

Installing Wicd in Ubuntu

Installing Wicd in Ubuntu is very simple. You just have to add the Wicd repository to the Ubuntu package manager. To open the package manager in Gnome, go to Administration > Synaptic Package Manager. When it appears, go to Settings > Repositories > Third Party Software > Add…, and enter the following line:

deb http://apt.wicd.net gutsy extras

where gutsy is your version of Ubuntu in lowercase (dapper, edgy, feisty, gutsy, hardy). Then, click Reload, and wait while the package lists are downloaded. Now, search for “Wicd”, and right click on it. Select Install, then press Apply, and Wicd will automatically be downloaded and installed for you. This will also keep you automatically up to date with the latest and greatest version of Wicd. Please note that this will remove network-manager, which is the default GNOME network manager and may cause loss of network connection temporarily.

In GNOME, to get the tray icon to automatically appear at boot, go to System > Preferences > Sessions. In the “Startup Programs” tab, click the “New” button. Give it a name (“Wicd” works fine). For the command, enter “/opt/wicd/tray.py”.

(taken from http://wicd.sourceforge.net)

Thinkpad X301

Yes, there was recently a Thinkpad called the X200 and before then the X300, but now we have caught a glimpse of the Thinkpad X301.

This roadrunner of a notebook is 20% more powerful than the X300 partly due to DDR3 memory being used. The screen remains at the neat size of 13.3 inches and this Thinkpad will be making use of the all-new ultra-low-voltage Intel Core 2 Duo CPU giving the end user boosted performance coupled with rock-your-world battery life. In addition the X301 will come with a 128GB SSD Drive in September this year.

Business Wire reports that “New support for DisplayPort makes viewing high definition content easy and ideal for models with the ultra-thin DVD burner. With support for both DisplayPort and VGA, users can even watch high definition content on multiple displays.
The ThinkPad X301 notebook also continues Lenovo’s focus on environmentally-responsible design. Its 13.3-inch LED backlit display, solid state drive storage and other energy-efficient technologies help make it rated Gold by the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool. This designation adds to Lenovo’s portfolio of Gold-rated ThinkPad notebook and ThinkCentre desktop PCs.”