theholyclam
January 15th, 2008, 03:35 AM
Hi there. This is more of a story documenting my efforts in making Ubuntu work for me than it is a testimony, so read it if you have time, but please don't criticize it for being too long lol.
I was introduced to Ubuntu through a friend at UC Davis (thank you William) whose CS professor had the class install and work with Ubuntu. He linked me to some youtube dude demonstrating godly 3D cubed desktop manipulation skills using all sorts of unnecessary plugins Vista users don't even know exist: conjuring fire with the click of a button, alt-tabbing like you're on a Mac, commanding snow fall with Super F3, etc. That being said, I was extremely excited when my copies of Ubuntu 7.10 came in the mail.
Little did I know I would be missing 2 days of class. My first problem started with the 64 bit version--it didn't come with a boot splash? I scoured the forums for hours trying to find a solution and finally gave up due to my inexperience with the terminal. Frustrated, I reinstalled, rebooted, and once again, no boot splash. I packed my installation disc in its sleeve and opened the drawer. The 32-bit version had been lying in the drawer ever since I got it and despite neglect, it was still smiling at me. I popped it in for installation, and was hopeful when I saw the splash upon rebooting.
I got my boot splash, but with it came an ugly Ubuntu brown desktop. Even before I changed my desktop, I googled instructions on how to install Compiz. I reached some blog with a Linux whiz instructing Unbutu virgins and Compiz fans how to install Compiz Fusion. Tinkering with Compiz and the ADES, my computer suddenly became unstable and I lost the title bars in every window--I could no longer close, minimize or maximize. I reinstalled.
This time, I tried installing AWN first, but my computer told me I didn't have permission to modify files let alone install programs. A friend on the floor, also an Ubuntu newbie, suggested I chown my entire drive. A lot of you are probably laughing at me, because I also chowned by /usr folder in the process...which means I could no longer sudo or bash. I reinstalled. At this point, I was wondering to myself why I haven't gone to dinner yet, for my transition to Ubuntu has been a thorny one.
It was the next morning that I discovered the Synaptic Package Manager. Instead of pasting terminal commands from random blogs and downloading files from shady repositories, I could download it directly with a click of a button. I skipped class to experiment with my cube, and installed this beautiful Autumn plugin (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHLDtJXc8fg), which received quite a number of compliments.
I have been using Ubuntu for a week now, and it continues to be my main OS of choice. Looking back, I feel that my skipping class and installing Ubuntu was completely justified. I continue to invite others into my room for a personal tour of Compiz in hopes of converting and enlightening them with open source software.
I was introduced to Ubuntu through a friend at UC Davis (thank you William) whose CS professor had the class install and work with Ubuntu. He linked me to some youtube dude demonstrating godly 3D cubed desktop manipulation skills using all sorts of unnecessary plugins Vista users don't even know exist: conjuring fire with the click of a button, alt-tabbing like you're on a Mac, commanding snow fall with Super F3, etc. That being said, I was extremely excited when my copies of Ubuntu 7.10 came in the mail.
Little did I know I would be missing 2 days of class. My first problem started with the 64 bit version--it didn't come with a boot splash? I scoured the forums for hours trying to find a solution and finally gave up due to my inexperience with the terminal. Frustrated, I reinstalled, rebooted, and once again, no boot splash. I packed my installation disc in its sleeve and opened the drawer. The 32-bit version had been lying in the drawer ever since I got it and despite neglect, it was still smiling at me. I popped it in for installation, and was hopeful when I saw the splash upon rebooting.
I got my boot splash, but with it came an ugly Ubuntu brown desktop. Even before I changed my desktop, I googled instructions on how to install Compiz. I reached some blog with a Linux whiz instructing Unbutu virgins and Compiz fans how to install Compiz Fusion. Tinkering with Compiz and the ADES, my computer suddenly became unstable and I lost the title bars in every window--I could no longer close, minimize or maximize. I reinstalled.
This time, I tried installing AWN first, but my computer told me I didn't have permission to modify files let alone install programs. A friend on the floor, also an Ubuntu newbie, suggested I chown my entire drive. A lot of you are probably laughing at me, because I also chowned by /usr folder in the process...which means I could no longer sudo or bash. I reinstalled. At this point, I was wondering to myself why I haven't gone to dinner yet, for my transition to Ubuntu has been a thorny one.
It was the next morning that I discovered the Synaptic Package Manager. Instead of pasting terminal commands from random blogs and downloading files from shady repositories, I could download it directly with a click of a button. I skipped class to experiment with my cube, and installed this beautiful Autumn plugin (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHLDtJXc8fg), which received quite a number of compliments.
I have been using Ubuntu for a week now, and it continues to be my main OS of choice. Looking back, I feel that my skipping class and installing Ubuntu was completely justified. I continue to invite others into my room for a personal tour of Compiz in hopes of converting and enlightening them with open source software.