apt-get install

It occurred to me that, as cool as Compiz Fusion is on Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy), I almost never get to take advantage of that anymore. I do most of my computing from my laptop, and connect to my Ubuntu machine via FreeNX. Over a 54mb/s wireless connection using a standard mix of applications, FreeNX provides real-time remote access. It is really almost impossible for me to tell the difference speed wise between sitting at my desktop or accessing remotely. I can see why No Machine called their company what they did.

Of course, there are things that one just doesn’t get over the FreeNX connection. Video, games, good quality audio. All the nice parts of computing, and one’s that I would really miss, if it weren’t for the other devices I can use. For example, watching TV on my High Def set. It’s a tradeoff, one that is usually worth making.

One other big advantage is being able to access my home computer at other places than just home. The FreeNX connection is still pretty fast piped through Comcast’s pathetic upload pipe and over the ‘net itself. I don’t run full-screen sessions then, but normally run floating windows. Which is kinda cool, because then the apps come up like any other Windows application. The difference being that it is running on my home computer, and I can’t easily trade data between the two.

All in all, it is very cool. If you haven’t given FreeNX a spin, do so immediately. You won’t regret it.