depth first search

My bootchart:

First, I now have a dual monitor setup working. The only catch is that I haven’t figured out how to automatically detect the external monitor. I have to manually change xorg.conf every time I go between dual and single monitor situations (and restart X).

In other news, I figured out how to disable my touchpad (it tends to be overly sensitive to taps, which can cause my cursor to jump around). First set:

Option "SHMConfig" "on"

In xorg.conf under the Synaptics device section. After restarting X, the command

synclient TouchpadOff=1

will turn off the touchpad. I believe there are methods to automate this, but they are not yet cooked into the distribution. I  am fairly certain now that these kinds of details are standing in the way of wider adoption of desktop Linux. Gui configuration of the desktop works in Windows, it should work in Linux.

I managed to get Skype installed. So right now the only things I’m missing from my current setup are:

1. External monitor support (I’m still working on this)
2. Quicken 2008 (May work in WINE, but I’ll likely try to switch to another system)
3. Netflix online viewing (I’m really at the mercy of Netflix, but I can always just watch DVDs)