• New iMacs and Linux:
  Can anyone tell me how good the Linux experience is on the newer editions of the aluminium iMacs ? I need a second machine badly (I can’t send away my Dell XPS M1330 for servicing before I get a second box to work from). I have been looking at the Dell Vostro systems, but it looks like due to some new laws/regulations, I’ll need to do a lot of govt. paperwork myself before I can get the machine, so Dell is out of question.
  I’m looking at the lowest version of the iMac (20 inch, 2.4 Ghz one). I need to run a couple of VMs on it, and access some external storage to it (for storing my photos, etc). I will max out the RAM to 4 GB (no, I won’t buy Apple RAM) – the rest of the config should remain the same.
  
• New internet connection:
  I have been using the UL900 plan of BSNL, which gave me 256Kbps speed (with no data transfer cap) for the past one year. 256Kbps was a bit slow for my work, so I finally changed my service provider, and opted for a 1Mbps no-cap plan from Airtel Broadband. It costs a bit more (Rs 2222 monthly, which is approximately equal to 52USD), but I’m pretty happy with the service till now.

A breakdown in an international undersea cable network badly disrupted Internet links to India and Egypt on Wednesday.

This should explain the slowness I have been experiencing today, both with my primary BSNL connection, as well as with my slower (but more reliable) Reliance CDMA connection. It feels like as if I’m on my ancient 28.8k dialup once again .