Waiting On Better Ubuntu Release.

[R@inm@n]

Ubuntu is a great system. I have been playing around with it as a dual-boot with Win XP Pro on one of my Lan machines.

The things I love about the Gutsy Ubuntu are:

It's Free. It has great support from forums like this one. It releases you from the tyranny of Microsoft. It works very well for most stuff. It's free. It looks good. It's fast. It isn't bloated. If you know what you are doing, it can be a delight to use.

The things I didn't like about it?:

If you are a complete Linux n00b like me, then it can be rather difficult to get the hang of how everything works. The drivers for graphics cards are terrible. You can't play a lot of popular games on Ubuntu. Sudo commands are alien and I had no idea of how to do anything from the terminal.

Today, I messed up my graphic card drivers in a BIG way and couldn't get it back to where it was before, so I deleted the Ubuntu partition on my HDD and re-claimed the space for Win XP.

I still have a basic copy set up on another HDD in a second Lan machine which I will fiddle around with to try and become more familiar with as I wait for the next, hopefully better release.

Maybe Hardy will be easier to handle, I hope so.

I wanted to thank everyone who helped me with my first Linux experience and with setting it up. I think I did ok for a n00b, I was able to get just about everything going by myself, and even managed to self-rescue a couple of times when I was in waaaay over my head.

I really believe that Ubuntu needs better driver support for graphics cards though. In the end, that was what did me in. I was able to get the system to recognise my ATI card, but when I tried to get it to run at a decent refresh rate and resolution, it spat the dummy.

I'm not giving up on Linux, because I really want to get away from Microsoft. I've been a Microsoft user for many years now, and I have seen things go from bad to worse. Linux holds the promise of freedom from the tyranny of Microsoft and it's restrictive rules and regulations which are just getting worse...eg: " Bloated Vista ".

So .... I'll be back. When the next release is available, i'll try again.


Thanks for the help.


Rainman.

[Dark Hornet]

Well, hopefully we will see you back very soon. And as a side note, Ubuntu is not the one that develops the drivers for the graphics cards, thats ATI and nVidia's job. ATI is known to not support Linux near as well as nVidia does. I used to have an old ATI 9800 PRO, and I just had too many issues that I went out and bought a cheap nVidia card. At any rate, hope to see you back!

--Dark Hornet

[R@inm@n]

Thanks for the kind words, and yes, I will be back. There are things about Ubuntu Linux that I love, and I don't want to stay with Microsoft any longer than I have to.

When I installed Ubuntu and started using it, I felt like I used to in MS Dos many years ago....lost..... but it was exciting and challenging. :lolflag:

I don't want to give up, but right now I just don't have the time to learn all the "ins and outs" of Linux.

If I could learn how to use the terminal, I think that I would be set... :)



R.

[Dark Hornet]

I have a bit of an advantage in that department, as I only use Unix at work...I am a Network Engineer for a major ISP...and all we do all day is use Sun Solaris...so I have become real familiar with the command line.

[wolfen69]

since ubuntu is not a gaming OS, i avoid any problems by not installing the video driver. besides, the only thing the nvidia driver is good for is watching the cube spin around.

[MNICY]

Maybe try out Linux Mint?
Its an Ubuntu based distro, with a bunch of stuff already installed :D

[R@inm@n]

Maybe try out Linux Mint?
Its an Ubuntu based distro, with a bunch of stuff already installed :D


I have been looking closely at Mint. It seems to be a real possibility. I may have a play around with it whilst i'm waiting for Hardy to be officially released.


R.

[Antman]

besides, the only thing the nvidia driver is good for is watching the cube spin around.

Having native drivers for ATI and Nvidia cards are important for people (like me) that use dual screens. My desktop has dual flat panels connected to an Nvidia card and my laptops use ATI drivers in order to dual screen to a projector and/or flat-panel display for presentation work. So, I need the graphics drivers in order to be fully functional.

:popcorn:

[Antman]

Maybe try out Linux Mint?
Its an Ubuntu based distro, with a bunch of stuff already installed :D

Yes, Mint is AWESOME for newbies.

The only thing you'll need to load is restricted video drivers if you have a Nvidia or ATI card (if you want 3D acceleration or dual-screen capabilities).
But that is easy with the included Envy application.

[R@inm@n]

Definitely going to give Mint a run..

It sounds like you had the same problems as I did with Ubuntu.

Setting up screens/cards/drivers in Ubuntu was ... umm, 'interesting' lol.

Did you manage to get yours set up and running well?


R.

[talvon]

I'm also looking at trying LinuxMint, in fact I'm downloading the iso now :P

Just got a few quick questions:

1. Can I install it over my ubuntu partition?
2. Can I reconfigure the boot order to make XP boot 1st?
3. As it uses ubuntu repositories, can I still use Synaptic etc to easily install my programs?
4. Does it have that plugin to allow reading and writing to my NTFS XP partition?
5. Is it as easy as it is in ubuntu to install and run the gnome and KDE sessions alongside each other?

Also, I only have a blank DVD with me, can I burn the iso to that and will it still boot/allow install?

Cheers :P

[R@inm@n]

I just tried 3 times to burn the ISO mint disc...errors every burn... :confused:

Slow burns, then verify...!error!

Damn...I wanted to give it a run. Tried to get it on Torrent, and from the site. Still get errors.

Ahhh well. :(


R.

[R@inm@n]

I finally succeeded in installing Mint. :)

Very nice.

But .... I missed Ubuntu Gutsy so much that I re-installed it and i'm back...

I guess i'm hooked...:)


R.

[mivo]

That's the spirit! :) I think it's best to stick with Ubuntu and try to fix the issues and problems you run into. Every solved trouble makes you more knowledgable and, in turn, able to help other users. I haven't had trouble with the binary drivers for my Nvidia card, and they work fine even with games (Quake Wars, NWN, some open source stuff). I grew up with a terminal-only OS (CP/M+), so I always considered it a plus, but if you never used one before, it may seem a little intimidating at first. Still, it's a very powerful tool. Best advice is to use the forums here, search, or post if you run into anything that seems strange. It's going to be a fun ride, and in the end it'll be worth the effort. :)

Welcome back.

[R@inm@n]

Got it running like a clock... :)


R.