Ubuntu 6.06 (Dapper) on my Inspiron 6400

Ubuntu Dapper Drake is working very nicely on my new laptop. I had to install the ATI proprietary drivers manually as the ones in the repositories are too old to support my Radeon X1300. I have written some brief notes on how to setup Ubuntu on a Inspiron 6400. Now I can finally break my code on a true SMP machine :).

Dell Core2 laptops out

Hurrah! Dell UK has finally started selling Core 2 laptops, just in time for me going to university. My new Inspiron 6400 should be with me in just over a week.

IOI training weekend

Last weekend I attended an IOI training session in Guildford. Six of us - the British team and the two reserves selected at the BIO - were invited, with food, travel expenses, and lodgings all provided. The event was generously hosted and funded by Lionhead Studios. We were programming in the the room where they keep their BAFTAs!
It was very educational and relaxed weekend. We got a lot of work done over the Saturday and Sunday - covering a large amount of algorithms material, and doing a fair few past competition questions. I hadn't been to a BIO training weekend before, as they haven't done them over the last two years, so this was quite an experience, and a very enjoyable one at that.