$Cred = Get-Credential -credential Domain\account
$servgroup = “”

Function Pause ($Message = “Press any key to continue . . . “) {
If ($psISE) {
# The “ReadKey” functionality is not supported in Windows PowerShell ISE.
$alert = $servgroup + “Server Group Rebooting. Waiting 8 Minutes.”
$Shell = New-Object -ComObject “WScript.Shell”
$Button = $Shell.Popup($alert,480, “Servers Reboot, Script Paused”, 64)

Return
}

Write-Host -NoNewline $Message

$Ignore =
16, # Shift (left or right)
17, # Ctrl (left or right)
18, # Alt (left or right)
20, # Caps lock
91, # Windows key (left)
92, # Windows key (right)
93, # Menu key
144, # Num lock
145, # Scroll lock
166, # Back
167, # Forward
168, # Refresh
169, # Stop
170, # Search
171, # Favorites
172, # Start/Home
173, # Mute
174, # Volume Down
175, # Volume Up
176, # Next Track
177, # Previous Track
178, # Stop Media
179, # Play
180, # Mail
181, # Select Media
182, # Application 1
183 # Application 2

While ($KeyInfo.VirtualKeyCode -Eq $Null -Or $Ignore -Contains $KeyInfo.VirtualKeyCode) {
$KeyInfo = $Host.UI.RawUI.ReadKey(“NoEcho, IncludeKeyDown”)
}

Write-Host
}
restart-computer -computername (Get-Content C:\batch1.txt) -force -credential $Cred
$servgroup = “Batch1″

pause

restart-computer -computername (get-content C:\batch2.txt) -force -credential $Cred
restart-computer -computername (get-content c:\batch3.txt) -force -credential $cred
$servgroup = “Batch2 & Batch3 ”
pause
restart-computer -computername (get-content c:\batch4.txt) -force -credential $Cred
$servgroup = “Batch4 ”
pause

The Nook’s screen is very clear and easy to read. The battery life is good, allowing me to read for several days if I turn off the WiFi and 3G. The touch screen for navigation is simple to use. The Web browser included  isn’t the greatest and lacks some abilities to reformat pages to fit on the Nook’s screen. But I didn’t get the nook for web browsing. A friens has the Nook Color, and is much better at web content.

I think e-readers in general are a great thing. If an e-reader can get people to read more, I am all for their use. I find that by and large too many do not read.  I have noticed that with the ease of checking online, I have read more samples of books.

The future of e-readers will be interesting. EInk is working on a color display but the prototype photos look like junk. If you want a touch screen, the Apple iPad is the best interface going. Pixel Qi has an interesting display technology, a LCD panel that can run in several modes and allows the screen to be easily read in daylight. A tablet made with a Pixel Qi display with multitouch and running Android as the OS would make a great device. Content for the e-readers is improving.

First, Ubuntu releases new versions on a time based system. While Ubuntu is not the first distro to do this, they are fairly consistent, and they do not delay a release because they are waiting on some new feature in the kernel or some user space utility. Ubuntu really makes upgrades for this release schedule work well. Ubuntu releases twice a year. This means that you will have access to newer software in the repositories, and that you will enjoy the new enhancements to GNOME or KDE about every 6 months.

Second, Ubuntu really pioneered the use of the Live CD installer. Before Ubuntu it was very hard to try-before-you-buy. I spent hours installing, formatting, installing, wiping, installing before finding a distro that was easy to use, powerful, and simple to maintain. With Ubuntu’s Live CD new users can see if they like the interface, and if they do they can just click on the installer to have a new OS.

Third, Ubuntu has taken on the task of accessing proprietary drivers. if you network card requires a closed source driver, you can install it using the restricted driver module installer, and Ubuntu’s repos. It is much easier than hunting down each driver and guessing that you have all the needed parts to install it.

Fourth, Ubuntu has focused on usability, especially for desktop users. Ubuntu recruited professional programmers and designers. the developers have worked to stamp out bugs, and add features. All while not charging the end-user.

Lastly, Ubuntu has created a large community. If you are a new user, check out the wiki, or forums. You are bound to find answers to your questions. Ubuntu has worked hard at making users feel welcome. So these are just a few things Ubuntu has done over the past 5 year. It will be interesting to see what 5 more years bring. If you are a Ubuntu user what do you really like about Ubuntu? What are you looking forward to?