Daniel Maclean

So it seems Dell have actually listened to some of the ideas posted on their IdeaStorm site: "Pre-Installed Linux Options It’s exciting to see the IdeaStorm community’s interest in open source solutions like Linux and OpenOffice. Your feedback has been all about flexibility and we have seen a consistent request to provide platforms that allow people to install their operating system of choice. We are listening, and as a result, we are working with Novell to certify our corporate client products for Linux, including our OptiPlex desktops , Latitude notebooks and Dell Precision workstations . This is another step towards ensuring that our customers have a good experience with Linux on our systems." http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/ideastorm/ideasinaction?c=us&l=en&s=gen As far as I can see it's only for business customers in the U.S which is a shame really since I'M OVER HERE IN THE FUCKING UK!

After reading on slashdot and on osnews about Dells new "tell us what you want" site I thought it was worth a look at. I've always wanted to get a Dell PC since they started using AMD processor's, but kept hearing that because Dell use propriety hardware that Linux is a pain in the ass to install and maintain. And since I use Ubuntu as my main operating system I would need some guarantee that my hard earned cash was not going to be blown on a Vista bloat box which has no support for Linux or even a chance of working to an acceptable level. But lets look at the bigger picture here. If Ubuntu ( or any Linux distro ) gets a distributer as large as Dell, Linux will finally have a chance of competing with Microsoft on the same field. I don't need to preach what this will mean, but this of course begs another question... Is Linux ready for the mainstream 'End-Users' who call support lines when they get the message "Press Any Key". Alot of people will a...

I discovered this little gem of software while browsing the compiz forums. I'm currently running the svn version which compared to most svn's I use is remarkably stable. http://code.google.com/p/avant-window-navigator/ I really like this dock as it's stable and actually works as a replacement for the window selector that comes with gnome.

So it's been a while since I posted anything on here so I suppose I'd better write something! Since my last post I've been really busy on alot of coursework at uni from module coursework to my dissertation. More to the point of this post, I've recorded footage of game play from both Call Of Duty 2 and Battlefield 2:Modern Combat. The reason why i'm now using both is COD2 provides me with the correct timesettings for my characters and surrounding buildings. However doesn't provide very good landscapes which is essential when dealing with movies set in Norway. So Battlefield 2: Modern Combat provides me with excellent looking landscapes while also allowing me to retain some of the WWII theme which is essential to my machinima. I've also done some characters models and now have four characters which will star in my short trailer. The usual war types, the hero, the veteran who tires of war but has nothing else better to do, the rookie and the local norwegian res...

LOL, i couldn't stop laughing after I watched this. Sorta reminds me of my grandparents! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHOgUTq5zU0

Here's something I ended up playing by mistake today. I kinda like this, so i'm gonna work on it and see what I can come up with. http://www.mediamax.com/danielmaclean/Hosted/danielmaclean-jazz1.ogg

Here's some photos of me and my best mate calum up in the Shetlands enjoying "Up Helly A"

This snippet is taken from a blog I read regulary, Paul Thurrott's Internet Nexus. "I hate Macs Someone at "The Guardian" is having a bit of fun: When you see the [Apple 'I'm a Mac, I'm a PC'] ads, you think, "PCs are a bit rubbish yet ultimately lovable, whereas Macs are just smug, preening tossers." In other words, it is a devastatingly accurate campaign. I hate Macs. I have always hated Macs. I hate people who use Macs. I even hate people who don't use Macs but sometimes wish they did. Macs are glorified Fisher-Price activity centres for adults; computers for scaredy cats too nervous to learn how proper computers work; computers for people who earnestly believe in feng shui. PCs are the ramshackle computers of the people. You can build your own from scratch, then customise it into oblivion. Sometimes you have to slap it to make it work properly, just like the Tardis (Doctor Who, incidentally, would definitely use a PC). PC...

My previous decision to use Call Of Duty 2 sort of when bust. I started playing about with the game and when about trying to create realistic recordings of conversations and events. However the results were less than satisfactory. So I made a switch to Battlefield 2: Modern Combat and got MUCH better results. This was mainly because I could remove nearly all on screen HUDS and get a better picture of the scenery and the events I would like to cover. I'll post more on some of the scenes I would like to feature in due course.

Well it's been about a week since I posted anything and I thought I may as well broadcast why. Three words "Up Helly A". I was up in the Shetland Islands catching the very local and community based event "Up Helly A". I had an amazing time and learnt so much not just about there local history but also about how handle with life in such a remote area of Scotland. I've just got back and I'm stinking after my 12 hour ferry journey and 3 hour coach journey so I'm away to clean up. I'll post some photos and videos when I get the chance to sift through them. I managed to get over 100 photos and about 50 minutes of video footage so expect a fairly large post.