Tony Yarusso

About Me

I am an undergraduate student majoring in Physics at Trent University and in the Concurrent Education program with Queen's University, both in Ontario, Canada. During breaks I live in Minnesota, USA.

Contact Info

E-Mail: tonyyarusso@earthlink.net

AIM: tonyyarusso

MSN: Same as my e-mail

IRC: tonyyarusso on freenode, sometimes found in #tonyyarusso

PGP Key ID: 2C32D771

Other Web Presences (aka My Links)

[https://launchpad.net/people/tonyyarusso Me on Launchpad]

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:TonyYarusso My Wikipedia page] (coming soon)

[http://www.xanga.com/tonyyarusso/ Blog]

[http://home.earthlink.net/~tonyyarusso/ Main Web Page]

[http://www3.sympatico.ca/anthony.yarusso/ Secondary Web Page]

Contributions

I am regularly found in #ubuntu, #ubuntu-offtopic, #ubuntu+1, beginning to frequent #ubuntu-nun and #ubuntu-doc, and occasionally visit #kubuntu, #ubuntu-ca, #ubuntuforums, ##linux, and #gaim, both asking questions and answering others'. I also keep summarized logs of answers to many of my questions, for ready retrieval when someone else has the same one.

I have made some posts on the forums, as well as answered some support requests on Launchpad.

I also frequently use the Wiki, and make contributions where I see fit, as well as occasional additions to Linux/Ubuntu related pages on Wikipedia to keep the general public up to speed.

I am a member of the [NewUserNetwork] - a list of members is available both [https://wiki.ubuntu.com/NewUserMentors on the wiki] and [https://launchpad.ubuntu.com/people/unp on Launchpad]. I am also a member of the [https://launchpad.net/people/ubuntu-ca Canada Launchpad team].

I hand out as many CDs from ShipIt as I can, my most recent unexpected opportunity being half a dozen 6th graders from my last Con-Ed placement who became interested after seeing my laptop running something they didn't recognize.

I recently began a series on my blog relating to open source software alternatives, as a lead-up to Dapper release. My main target audience is Windows users who have never used anything else, and I hope to raise general awareness, and ideally get a few to try at least cross-platform FOSS apps, or hopefully even Ubuntu Linux itself. On that note, I do take the stance that it's okay to dual-boot, and stress that possible new users do not have to leave their Windows comfort zone unless they decide later that they want to. My primary goal is to make people aware and get them to try things; I am confident that they will make the decision to switch later largely on their own accord as I work with them to point out the numerous advantages and they become reassured that this is a usable alternative for them.

Linux and Me

I have come to Linux relatively recently from a long background of other OSs, including a Commodore 64 (from back when 64 didn't refer to the new 64-bit systems!), DOS, Old World Macintosh, and every MS Windows from 3.1 through XP. After getting frustrated with Windows, and with the new concept of buying my own computer, which I would then have full control over rather than it being a shared family one, I starting thinking about other options. I had heard of Linux, but honestly had never seen it in use. So I hit up Google. I was tentative about the concept, so not looking for anything with significant investment, which ruled out all "Enterprise" editions. When I found out that Ubuntu was free, and would even ship to me for free, I figured I'd hit gold, and would try it out. I had. ShipIt came through and I installed Ubuntu Linux for the first time in August 2005. I started with Hoary (5.04), currently run Breezy (5.10), and will be installing Dapper (6.06) when the final is released on June 1. Post-Dapper, I intend to run both stable and development versions, and at that time will join testing teams.

My System

I run an IBM/Lenovo T43, model 2668-49U.

Specs:

Pentium M 750 1.86 GHz processor (686 architecture)

512 MB RAM

40GB 5200rpm hard drive

64MB ATI Radeon X300 video card

CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive

Intel Pro Wireless 2915 a/b/g

Conexant chipset built-in winmodem

Gigabit ethernet card

Came with MS Windows XP Pro - I currently theoretically dual-boot. Meaning, I have it on the system, and can support dual-booting and Windows questions, but don't actually use it for my own use anymore.

Follow-up

If you'd like to know more, have a question about Ubuntu or an app, or whatever, contact me by any of the means listed above, and I'll see you in #ubuntu!

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