You’ll get display server issues if you try to install Ubuntu v7.10 in Parallels. But the Parallels Tools CD does have drivers to fix those problems. This blog post, Ubuntu 7.10 Install Guide, helps you get past the display server issues long enough to get the OS installed, and then gives instructions on how to get the Parallels Tools installed.

It worked great. Instructions were very clear and the process was mildly simple.

This Mac user is particularly cranky today. I got my copy of Mac OS 10.5 Leopard like a good little Mac user and installed it on my aluminum 24-inch iMac via the Archive and Install option. I then went through the process of creating a new user account, copying over my bookmarks, mailboxes, address book, calendar, files, etc., as well as reinstalling all of my apps.

My OCD felt much better having a nice, clean, system. After reinstalling the iLife apps from my System Restore discs, there were some updates available, so I started the system update process. Halfway through, my system took a hard freeze and I couldn’t do anything. I even connected via SSH from another machine and tried to kill potential suspects that might have been causing the freeze. Nothing. I tried to reboot from the command line. Nothing.

With no other recourse, I did the unthinkable: I held down the power button. Not a terribly big deal, right?

Upon rebooting, I was welcomed with the registration window that appears the first time you boot up a new Mac. “Weird, but that’s fine,” I thought. I filled it out. Upon finishing, the window disappeared and reappeared, asking me to fill it out all over again. And again. And again.

I’m completely locked out of my computer because I can’t get past that registration window, and don’t know what to do without reinstalling the OS again.

Here’s one cranky Leopard user. At least, I wish I could use it.

UPDATE: This issue is confirmed on Apple’s support page. I discovered this from Ars Technica’s Infinite Loop blog (ironic, isn’t it?) in the iMac 1.2.1 Update article.

Okay, sorry for the dorky play on words. In addition to AIR getting an article from Oliver Goldman over at Dr. Dobb’s, the AIR app called Spaz–one of the AIR Developer Derby winners–and its developer, Ed Finkler, got some attention via an interview over at Ars Technica’s Infinite Loop journal.

Spaz gets more time in the Twitter limelight, and Ed talked up the benefits of AIR. Good job, Ed! I haven’t had a chance to read the whole interview yet, but look forward to reading it soon.

I discovered the Easy Envelopes widget over at Apple Gazette This widget makes it really easy to print an envelope without having to open Word or some similar app, and without having to worry about formatting. It’s literally faster than scribbling it out by hand, which is half of the point for me; the other half is satisfying my OCD by having nice, clean print.

It autopopulates the return address by looking up your “Me” record in the OS X address book. You may then fill in the destination address by searching for a contact or by manually typing in an address. Very well thought out.

The widget did a great job at getting over typical problem areas, like printer and paper size. Overall, this widget is definitely Ambrosia calibre. And it’s free!