Since I am planning on learning Arabic, I found this to be extremely cool, Ubuntu Muslim Edition. It is a version of Ubuntu that has applications for learning Arabic along with the Quron and prayer times. I am going to try it out sometime next week and I will let you know what type of benefits there are for the non-Arabic speaking user.

I am really happy to see all these awesome distributions that have been coming out that are centered around a certain purpose. Last night I created 5 virtual machines so I can separate my development from my desktop. I have a Python Dev, Ruby Dev, .net Dev, Linux Server, Junk testing box. So now I have a separate purpose for each one and I can limit the use to just that making my life a little easier…I think.

I am working on my Arabic little by little, well honestly I have done very little with it and I am disappointed in myself for not working on it more. I thought I could share with you how I set up my computer to allow me to type Arabic.

1. Go to control panel, Regional and Language Options.
2. Go to the Language tab and click the check box for “Install files for complex script and right-to-left languages”.
3. This will bring up a dialog to insert your Windows CD, but if you have a copy of the files locally that is fine.
4. In most cases you must reboot.
5. When you computer has rebooted return the the Regional settings and go to the Language tab.
6. On the Language tab click Details and then on the Add button.
7. Select Arabic and the country from the drop down and select your keyboard.
8. After you have added the keyboard, go to the Language bar tab and enable that for faster switching of languages.
9. After the language bar is enabled you want to go to the Key Settings and select the keys for switching languages.
10. You should now be able to open notepad, rightclick and select reading from right to left, hit your hotkeys to change languages and begin typing Arabic on your US keyboard.

To help with the keyboard layout, download the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator.