aaaantoine

What you see is really the GUI on top of the operating system. Also, there are a few differences between my setup and the default KDE setup: 1. I've set up the main panel vertically to the left for an optimal layout on my wide laptop screen. 2. For task switching I've employed a set of icons-only buttons representing each task or group of tasks (like Windows 7 & OS X, but no built-in launchers). Text labels on tasks never seem to look right on vertical panels.

On this note, I'm glad I didn't follow my own advice that I posted a few years back and buy GM stock.

KDE 4 (running on Arch Linux). my desktop has pretty much remained unchanged from this since April.

Reminds me of something Chrysler would have put out in the late 50s / early 60s, but I have no idea.

I actually surprised myself by reemerging here... What with all the goings on at GM and with my interests shifting elsewhere, my enthusiasm for General Motors is at an all-time low. That said, I'd still take a Chevy over a Toyota any day. Ubuntu is just fine if all you do is browse the web. Its SUPER fast with marginal resource usage. Also, when you use any Linux-based OS, you get the following additional benefits: - Access to a lot more Free/Open Source Software (FOSS) applications, if you're into that sort of thing. Let me explain. Whenever I would try to find a specific type of application for Windows, it would usually be unavailable without purchase or it would be trialware (basically, money or a crack required). When I do the same search in Linux, commercial software is the exception, not the rule. And the free stuff usually does a pretty good job for what I need, which is not bad considering what I paid for it. - In addition to being more obscure (less often targeted by malicious attacks), Linux has a built in security model that up until Vista & Windows 7 Microsoft couldn't even touch. As long as you don't run everything as root (Administrator) and -- like in the Windows world, choose your download sources and applications carefully -- your computer will never need Antivirus software. - In the case of distributions like Ubuntu, surprisingly easy to use and install. See Oldsmoboi's post. By the way, this is what I meant by shifting interests.

An Acer Aspire 5050 running Arch Linux. It's less than 3 years old, but I use it for work and leisure, and therefore spend 40+ hours a week on it.

My next laptop will either have Windows 7 or Ubuntu preloaded, depending on what I can get for a better price, and also depending on if my current laptop will last until November.

Since I'm driving a Grand Prix, I am qualified to answer this question. I was never strictly a Pontiac fan, so I'd probably just get a Chevy. We may go back to a small car -- but it has to be a 4-door now, so the young'n can get in and out easily. The Cruze looks interesting, and so does the Malibu. While I've actually considered a Malibu in the past, this time around they're actually attractive. What worries me is that GM may never again make a car that is, IMO, as hot as the Solstice... At least not one that I can afford.

Another one bites the dust, as they say. I'm actually driving a 2005 Grand Prix these days. I wasn't particularly looking for one, but it was still pretty new and available at a good price when I bought it. Unlike Oldsmobile, I don't have any nostalgic attachment to Pontiac. But I sure as hell will miss the Solstice.

Hey guys. Long time no see. I'm trying to change my email address in the control panel, and the system tells me I can't use the one I'm giving it. Can anyone tell me why not? I'll PM details to one of the admins on request, but other than that, I was wondering if there was a general issue with changing email addresses. Thanks.

Hang on, I think I missed the part where Opel totally screwed over GM and I'm wondering why everyone now hates them.

But-- But-- Where are the tail fins!?

I hope the center stack "buttons" have tactile feedback. They sure don't look like it. Aside from that, a superb interior! The exterior reminds me too much of the Prius, though, and that makes me sad.

Front and rear angles look good. The profile shot looks okay. It doesn't look bad, but as already pointed out several times, my first impression was "Cadillac VUE". Why is it that since Art & Science, Cadillac can only seem to make the CTS look great, and all the others just look frumpy and/or stale?

Solar panels? It's about time a car manufacturer introduces this into production cars.

I'd want my car to sound like a Jetsons flying car.

I resort to saying 3-door and 5-door because it differentiates from coupe and sedan using small and concise words. While I have no qualms with the term "hatchback", it doesn't describe whether the car has two or four side doors. You'd have to say "2-door hatchback" or "4-door hatchback". Being a fan of efficient language, I prefer saying "3-door" and "5-door" There are a number of words that people use that either are not acceptable English, or do not represent the original meaning. For instance, a "hacker" is supposed to be any programmer, not just those that try to break into computers. Hackers that use their expertise to break into computers are traditionally known as "crackers". However, popular culture has taken the term "hacker" to represent the latter group in particular. Speaking of terms that were probably coined for political correctness, I imagine calling them "crackers" would me misinterpreted by most news-watching individuals... And of course, let's not forget how the meaning of coupe and sedan have shifted over the years... And how Mercedes-Benz brought the topic to the forefront by calling their CLS a "4-door coupe".

A few years back I spotted, more than once, a Chevy Astro (or GMC Safari) with a 1st gen Escalade grille.

Yes. Also, the GM CSVs, for being minivans that try to look like SUVs. And the Mazda5, for being the ONLY non-van in the US that has sliding doors. For this I give much credit, and I hope to see more manufacturers take this approach.

I'd say I'd miss them, except that I haven't seen a new one in years.

Since my list of personally owned vehicles is very short, the following list is that of family-owned vehicles that I have likely driven more than 100 miles in. Grey: Car that I could have called my own, except the title wasn't in my name Green: Cars that actually have/had the title in my name (or wife's name). Bold: currently in the possession of immediate family. Cars are listed in approximate chronological order of family possession. 1972 Chevrolet Van - Formerly a G30, but the rear axle was replaced with that of a 1972 Chevy Nova. Sits in my dad's garage to this day. Sending it to the junk yard is on the to-do list, but probably won't happen for years. 1985 Chevrolet Beauville (Passenger Van) - Much bigger (and more reliable) than the 72 Van. Used mostly for hauling either lots of people or lots of stuff. My dad sold it off at some point in the past decade. 1997 Oldsmobile Achieva SL - The beater family car until the engine compartment melted. RIP. 1985 Cadillac Seville - Quite possibly my favorite beater of all. My father-in-law drives it now. 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix GT - My dad's current car. 1997 Chevrolet Astro AWD - A seller's remorse vehicle that my dad bought for hauling purposes. 1997 Chevrolet Venture - My wife's car until we bought the Cobalt. Now driven by mother-in-law. 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt LT - My current car. And my favorite out of all of the above. Honorable mentions: family cars that I have spent very little driving time in. 1998 Chevrolet Malibu - A lease car. The car I drove my first mile in. 1994 Pontiac Firebird Formula - Brother's car, titled and financed through my parents. Brother stopped paying; parents repossessed. Parents eventually sold car to a high school friend of mine. As awesome as the car itself was, it represented a bitter time for my family. 2000 Chevrolet Impala - A lease car that I was privileged to use sometimes. 2008 Cadillac CTS4 - My sister recently leased this car. Fully loaded minus Navigation. So far I've done little more than pull this car in and out of the driveway... but my opportunity will come. :AH-HA_wink:

I can't say that there's anyone I would wish death upon. Osama bin Laden, maybe, but his death would be pointless in the grand scheme of things.

Hey, a desktop thread.

D'oh! I have a habit of calling everything beyond NYC "upstate NY". Comes with the Long Island upbringing.

Don't forget the part where you use a public computer and register these email addresses with fake information, so as to slow down your arrest for committing a denial-of-service attack.