My Ubuntu Impressions

[Killer Cop]

I have now used Ubuntu more and more since last time I edited this thread. I've begun to use Ubuntu as my primary operating system, and I only switch to Windows when I have to play a little BF2 or something.

Of course, switching to a new operating system is a difficult process, but there should be some things which should be easy, fast and simple to learn and use. Ubuntu is getting better and better at this, absolutely, but we still have some of the same drawbacks.

First, I will mention the command line. The command line is way to difficult to use for the mainstream users. Of course it easier to use on forums and faster, but most of the times it's better to guide them through GUI, so the user can learn how to do that the next time, and use it for other purposes. I hate when I just get the "type this in the terminal" replies. I don't want to know how to use the command line, I'm just fine without it! And I think there's alot who has the same opinion like me on this matter.
And if Ubuntu is so safe as said, why is it possible to run dangerous commands in the terminal, without any warnings? Like the problem we have/had on these forums?

Second, the screen resolution. It's easy to change the screen resolution as long as you don't have nVidia drivers enabled. Everytime they are enabled, Ubuntu can't regonize the screen and resolution, and the problem is unsolvable for the normal main-stream user. A bit like me.
Althoug, I solved this problem with configuring my xorg.conf with some help from these forums. Although it works, i have no idea how that xorg.conf thing works, and again, I couldn't care less about xorg.

Third, why so many programs inculded as standard? Don't get me wrong, I think it's cool to have programs like OpenOffice installed automatically, but I think it's too much now. Too many programs already. And as me, I don't like Evolution but prefer Thunderbird. And I have to install it to get it of course, but I also "have" to uninstall Evolution then. And the same with some other programs, like Transmission for an example. With this, I still have some administrative work to do, as was tried to be avoided with having programs already installed. Why can't we just have a clean OS install, it's dead easy to install programs anyway?

But besides all these three things, I really like Ubuntu and it's clearly going in the right direction. I'm alittle dissapointed with 8.04, but it's okay. I hope they solve the common screen resolution problem which is much debated right now.

[Joeb454]

I know what you mean about more developers and everything...but I'm not so sure about removing the command line options.

Purely because, the command line is actually a really powerful tool :) I've just learnt how to use it and am now quite adept at it.

As for the commands given, always google them or wait for somebody else to verify it before you run it :)

Hope you're enjoying Ubuntu & Merry Christmas :)

[anewguy]

I understand your frustrations, but charging for Ubuntu would not be legal because of the licensing of the pieces. Some developer out there could theoretically develop a piece of software to do whatever you want, and even charge for it, but probably with limited or no success. You see, Linux is built upon freedom - and that includes individuals modifying it and developing new tools for it. It's mostly a volunteer effort that keeps any of this together.

As far as the command line, knowing that Linux is a modeled after Unix would help to understand including the command line. There is much, much more power there than any command line in DOS or Windows, and it used to be that you used the command line for all kinds of things. Now people have gotten used to everything being GUI'd, and there are things in LInux that have not been ported to GUI. Some have a GUI interface thrown in as a front-end but still use the command line. In the case of the casual user, most of their dealings with the command line will be purely for system administrative purposes of one sort or another.

[kjb34]

I've been on this forum for some time, getting help and information about Ubuntu, but have installed Ubuntu 7.10 now, for the first time as serious installation. Here is my impressions with Ubuntu so far, make use of it or not - now you have my feedback.

Installation was easy to go through, especially with the Live-CD, I like that concept. It was fast, and very user friendly. With the basics handled already I started to work with my monitor, graphics card, and Compiz Fusion. Compiz wouldn't work at all in the start. I tried everything several times, but each time I tried enable the normal or extra settings it just wrote "Changes could not take affect" and the system rebooted - with no changes. I had my uncle besides me and I was trying to convince him with Ubuntu, but it didn't go very well as you might have guessed. And I tried several times with that and no good out of it. Then I tried searching the net, and found this link which FireFox havn't stored, with some ATI card solution. XGL something... And I have a nVidia FX5500.. :/ Found it now: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=488385&highlight=ati+compiz+fusion

First of all, this is not a good solution for support. But I just tried copying the text into the terminal, and bang it worked weird enough. I have no idea what that text did, what is was for, and it could just be hazardous for my computer as well. And I think I only put in the first 3 quotes.

This is gotta change to a more user friendly solution.

But luckily enough it worked. So I tried the settings and now it works fine.

Next, I have absolutely NO clue how to install programs, besides them from the programs menu. I tried getting Blender, Adobe PDF and Flash player, but there is several packages and I don't know which of them I can use. Then I tried to download and run them all. But none of them work - I think so at least. How the hell do I install programs?

So far, in my opinion, Ubuntu is for now a good OS for hobby and interest and text/image editing etc. But there is much to do if Ubuntu is to get popular. Sometimes my programs also crashed, I don't know why.

Besides all that, I think it's a shame Ubuntu is for free. There you have it. Come on, flame me, you know you want to :P . Ubuntu is very good, don't get me wrong, it still has a long way, but it's very good work! And if all these problems were solved I would happily pay 60 USD or something like that. And I think it's a shame Ubuntu doesn't recieve money for their brilliant work, also so Ubuntu could improve faster and more professionally and gain more respect within the developers and retailers.

Here's my feedback, hope you can get use of it.

Merry christmas! :)
I too am a new user but I have had a lot of problems also but I'm not angry at Ubuntu and think it sucks or anything. I recently built my computer but I had problems getting it running. First it took forever for memory chip to arrive then the motherboard didn't work.Got that replaced my DVD-ROM goes out. Get that fixed I tried to install 7.04 on a live CD but the first one had didn't have the correct ISO. I ordered one but it didn't work replaced that one and my system would get half way through the install before freezing. So I downloaded the alternate install CD it works. When i get connected to the internet and try to download plugins dvd playback they don't work. My wife couldn't play flash videos so I try to download them they don't work.Eventually I get it to work along with the DVD playback. I said all that to say this yes there may be some problems with Ubuntu but as me personally I enjoy using it. As I start to get better using terminal it seems to be getting easier. Yes it is frustrating at times but it could be worse.

[Nano Geek]

Next, I have absolutely NO clue how to install programs, besides them from the programs menu. I tried getting Blender, Adobe PDF and Flash player, but there is several packages and I don't know which of them I can use. Then I tried to download and run them all. But none of them work - I think so at least. How the hell do I install programs?If you went into the applications menu, then you must have seen the Add/Remove... option there. Didn't you?

If you hadn't, then you could have clicked on help right next to the E-mail shortcut and then from there click on Adding and Removing Software.

Linux isn't going to be like Windows, and you can't expect to do things in the same way.
You need to learn the Linux way of doing like you did when you first learned Windows.

[freesitebuilder]

Two pages I found helpful:
https://help.ubuntu.com/ - the main documentation
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ - the community documentation, scroll down to the link to "switching from Windows" which has specifi help.

I wasn't so worried about using the terminal, as I started in the days before GUIs were invented :) but I agree it can be confusing when someone gives a list of terminal commands, especially as most of us newbies don't know what the commands will do!

[mivo]

Ubuntu does not have to be free if you would like to pay for it. They do offer a support contract that you can purchase. This would allow you to support the project and also get professional support if what you need goes beyond the scope of the forum (or, at least, without having to search). :) (Though I have to say the forums, and Ubuntu's community, far exceed any kind of paid support I ever experienced, in general.)

[Killer Cop]

I too am a new user but I have had a lot of problems also but I'm not angry at Ubuntu and think it sucks or anything. I recently built my computer but I had problems getting it running. First it took forever for memory chip to arrive then the motherboard didn't work.Got that replaced my DVD-ROM goes out. Get that fixed I tried to install 7.04 on a live CD but the first one had didn't have the correct ISO. I ordered one but it didn't work replaced that one and my system would get half way through the install before freezing. So I downloaded the alternate install CD it works. When i get connected to the internet and try to download plugins dvd playback they don't work. My wife couldn't play flash videos so I try to download them they don't work.Eventually I get it to work along with the DVD playback. I said all that to say this yes there may be some problems with Ubuntu but as me personally I enjoy using it. As I start to get better using terminal it seems to be getting easier. Yes it is frustrating at times but it could be worse.

Yeah Ubuntu is really great, but it still isn't ready enough for competing with Windows. I also have problems with Flash. I hope your computer work now, it can be difficult to built a PC there is many things to look after.


I understand your frustrations, but charging for Ubuntu would not be legal because of the licensing of the pieces. Some developer out there could theoretically develop a piece of software to do whatever you want, and even charge for it, but probably with limited or no success. You see, Linux is built upon freedom - and that includes individuals modifying it and developing new tools for it. It's mostly a volunteer effort that keeps any of this together.

As far as the command line, knowing that Linux is a modeled after Unix would help to understand including the command line. There is much, much more power there than any command line in DOS or Windows, and it used to be that you used the command line for all kinds of things. Now people have gotten used to everything being GUI'd, and there are things in LInux that have not been ported to GUI. Some have a GUI interface thrown in as a front-end but still use the command line. In the case of the casual user, most of their dealings with the command line will be purely for system administrative purposes of one sort or another.

I know that Ubuntu can't be charge for profit, and I think it's a shame, because I would gladly pay some money if it could improve the development and complete it faster and better.

I have no doubts that the command-line is a powerful tool, but I'm not really interested in learning it, and most don't or can't.


If you went into the applications menu, then you must have seen the Add/Remove... option there. Didn't you?

If you hadn't, then you could have clicked on help right next to the E-mail shortcut and then from there click on Adding and Removing Software.

Linux isn't going to be like Windows, and you can't expect to do things in the same way.
You need to learn the Linux way of doing like you did when you first learned Windows.

I know how to install from Add/Remove programs, but how do I install this?;

http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash

I tried all of them, and I got no clue what so ever how to make it work.


Ubuntu does not have to be free if you would like to pay for it. They do offer a support contract that you can purchase. This would allow you to support the project and also get professional support if what you need goes beyond the scope of the forum (or, at least, without having to search). :) (Though I have to say the forums, and Ubuntu's community, far exceed any kind of paid support I ever experienced, in general.)

Yeah, this forum is pretty good. Sometimes some people is to overprotective over Ubuntu in here, but besides that it's very good.

I guess that the phone support is Ubuntu's main profit. That and then the misc. shop. Do you (or anyone) know what Ubuntu earns money on (if they do)?

[King_Critter]

Shockwave, unfortuanatly, cannot be nativly installed in Linux. Blame Adobe.

There is, however, a "hack" to get it working -- download Wine, download and install the Windows version of Firefox, and viola. Not exactly user friendly, but at least it works...

And if you want to give the Ubuntu devs some money, I belive they accept donations.

[lgambett]

I would like to add some elements to the discussion...Ubuntu is not an operating system, is a Linux distro, born from Debian. This is important, because no one is in charge of the full development of Ubuntu. The Ubuntu team develop the installer software and take care of the re-packaging of what comes out from Debian.
Having said that, in my personal view Linux is far better than Windows for many applications... but is not an easy replacement ! (To date I have installed dozens of Ubuntus in both companies and private homes)
There is a learning curve, and a good knowledge of the Unix fundamentals is essential to master your system. Command line is very practical, as is under Windows, and should not be refused a priori.
BTW there is a learning curve, and there are many problems, also if you are planning to switch from XP to Vista....

[kjb34]

Yeah Ubuntu is really great, but it still isn't ready enough for competing with Windows. I also have problems with Flash. I hope your computer work now, it can be difficult to built a PC there is many things to look after.



I know that Ubuntu can't be charge for profit, and I think it's a shame, because I would gladly pay some money if it could improve the development and complete it faster and better.

I have no doubts that the command-line is a powerful tool, but I'm not really interested in learning it, and most don't or can't.



I know how to install from Add/Remove programs, but how do I install this?;

http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash

I tried all of them, and I got no clue what so ever how to make it work.



Yeah, this forum is pretty good. Sometimes some people is to overprotective over Ubuntu in here, but besides that it's very good.

I guess that the phone support is Ubuntu's main profit. That and then the misc. shop. Do you (or anyone) know what Ubuntu earns money on (if they do)?

Oh its working now. Thanks. Like someone else said there is a learning curve. But there would be a learning curve going from Windows to a MAC.