Is Ubuntu for You? [Archive]

aysiu

September 7th, 2005, 08:50 PM

In light of a recent thread by a user who felt misled by Linux zealots, I thought it appropriate to create a thread to avoid misleading potential users. I'm telling it straight here.

I'm talking to you, potential user. You've used Windows almost all your life. You think you know a little bit about computers. Maybe you know a lot... about Windows computers. Thought you'd give the most popular distro on DistroWatch (http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major) a chance, eh? Well, let's see if Ubuntu's the right choice for you.

Hardware
First of all, keep in mind that any OS will have its hardware limitations. People have endless arguments about why Linux doesn't support absolutely everything. It does come close, but there are some gaps. I know that Broadcom or Atheros wireless can be a toughie. I've heard Lexmark printers are almost a no-go. I'd say in the vast majority of cases, you'd be surprised at how much Ubuntu does recognize without any configuring, but you may end up with too low a screen resolution or something.

General distro rule of thumb: if the distro doesn't recognize more than two of your hardware pieces (say, the internet, sound, and screen resolution), you've got the wrong distro. Don't fight it. You can if you want to, but it'll be frustrating. Just get a new distro. Libranet was a pain when I tried to install it--no internet, weird screen resolution... it wouldn't even recognize my mouse. I tried Ubuntu and only my screen resolution was off. I tried Mepis, and it recognized everything.

Software
There are many Linux equivalents for Windows software (http://www.linuxappfinder.com), but not for everything. Some Windows programs can be run in Linux with some helper applications, but some programs are just hopeless. Find out. Ask questions. If you think you have some Windows-only programs with no Linux substitutes, pop a question into a forum, "I use Macromedia Shockwave. Is there a way to get this working in Linux?" Don't expect too much (Linux can't run everything Windows has), but don't expect too little either (Linux often has more variety, and some programs are even better in Linux), especially if you have money for Cedega or Crossover Office.

By the way, it's always better to go with a native Linux application (http://www.osalt.com/) than Windows-only software. If you're planning to go Windows-only using Wine (a software compatibility layer that allows you to run some Windows programs in Linux), check out the Wine App Database first. (http://appdb.winehq.org/)

Interface
Can you copy and paste instructions? (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=315402&highlight=user-friendly#post315402) I mean literally copy... and paste? You can't? You hate the command line? You'd never want to even touch the command line once? You don't have any frends who are willing to install Ubuntu for you? Okay. If you answered no, no, yes, yes, and yes to those questions, then Ubuntu is not for you. You're probably better off with Mepis or PCLinuxOS.

If, however, you embrace the command-line just for setting up Ubuntu you'll realize it's easy to copy and paste stuff that people tell you to type in, and that once you've got things set up, you can graphical user interface most of the regular programs (email, internet, etc.).

Keep in mind that a lot of times people will post command-line instructions for a good reason, but that doesn't mean the command-line is the only way to accomplish said task. More details here (http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntucat/the-gui-v-cli-debate/)

Free Price
Does the lack of having to pay for something (software, OS, or even shipping) appeal to you? Maybe Ubuntu is for you. A lot of other Linux distros will be free but have a more up-to-date edition you pay for, or some subscription that gives you a little more. Ubuntu is free, free, free--no money for anything. Of course, if you want to donate and you have the money, go for it.

Free Software
The software is also not proprietary. In practical terms that means you don't have to enter an activation code or limit how many computers you can install the software on. And if you're a programmer, you can even modify the code. However, you should realize that a lot of what you consider "basic" may, in fact, be proprietary. If you want Java support and MP3 support and DVD codecs right away, and you're not willing to copy and paste some simple commands to get them up and running, Ubuntu is not for you. One of the major draws of Linux Mint is that it has some pretty good out-of-the-box proprietary formats support. The legality of the proprietary-codecs-preinstalled version of Linux Mint may vary from country to country.

Read more about Ubuntu's Free software philosophy here:
http://www.ubuntu.com/community/ubuntustory/philosophy

Community
Ubuntu's community is amazing. We even (most of the time) put up with trolls and Linux-haters. You'll find the vast majority of users here are knowledgeable, supportive, responsive, and patient. There are a lot of HowTo's (http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=100) as well and some good links (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=801404).

Not Windows
Do you want an OS that's Windows without the spyware? Linux isn't for you. Linux is not Windows (http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm). Linux can perform tasks that Windows can perform and even more, but it is not Windows. If you can't come with an open mind to Linux, then don't come at all. It's kind of like going from Windows to Mac. There's a learning curve. If you don't have time to learn, just cough up some money for anti-virus and learn more about securing your Windows computer. I've done it. It's not that hard.

I know this generally sounds like a downer. I say use Mepis. I say use Windows. I say something may not work, or you may have to do a lot of copying and pasting to get something working. I just want to warn you. I don't want you to come in with weird expectations about Ubuntu. Please don't twist what's basically a marketing slogan ("Linux for Human Beings") to mean that just about anyone can actually install Ubuntu on any computer and not have to learn anything to get it working. You can't even say that about Windows. If you want to complain about the first thing that goes wrong, don't even bother, because I know you'll complain even if nothing goes wrong. You have to have a positive attitude.

However, if you can get past all that and say, "Yes, I do want a free OS. I don't mind copying and pasting a few commands in the beginning. I want something stable and a little bit different. I don't mind learning things and being part of a supportive and fun community," then dive in! The water is nice. Ubuntu can be a wonderful experience. I used Windows for twenty years, Mac for six years, and Linux for four months (tried more than twelve distros), and here I am using Ubuntu.

P.S. - try it out
You don't have to reformat your hard drive to give Ubuntu a try. The Desktop CD comes as a live CD that won't affect your Windows installation You can also set up a dual-boot whereby you can choose whether to boot into Windows or Ubuntu. And Wubi (http://wubi-installer.org/) allows you to do this without even repartitioning your Windows installation.

P.P.S. If you don't have internet access (or have dial-up and little patience with hours of downloading), then please don't use Ubuntu. Software installation and updates will be painful if not impossible without internet access. Debian is a better distribution for those without regular internet access, since it has about 14 additional software CDs.

KingBahamut

September 7th, 2005, 08:57 PM

Yep. It is.
=)

Good article though.

Perfect Storm

September 7th, 2005, 08:58 PM

This one need a sticky and a dublicate in the Absolute beginner talk forum IMO.

XDevHald

September 7th, 2005, 08:58 PM

This one need a sticky and a dublicate in the Absolute beginner talk forum IMO.
Agreed with above post.

KiwiNZ

September 7th, 2005, 09:00 PM

Very well written.

matthew

September 7th, 2005, 09:02 PM

Clear, easy to follow, and kindly phrased. Yep, that's a good article. Thanks aysiu.

KingBahamut

September 7th, 2005, 09:06 PM

asyiu, permissibility to reproduce as a quoted article?

Steve1961

September 7th, 2005, 09:13 PM

Great article. The thing is, although some things can be tricky to set up - sound and wireless networking in my case - if you're willing to put in some intial work you'll get the rewards at the end. Up until 3 months ago I was competent windows user but linux scared me, particularly the command line. I'd played with a few distros about a year ago but couldn't seem to get anything to work.

The thing that makes the difference with this distro is the community support, and by becoming an active member of that community I've learnt a huge amount in the last few months, and my systems now purring like a ***** cat. I'm even growing to like the speed and flexibility of the command line! What really frustrates me though is that although the software is open source I can't customise it without programming skills. So, I've just done something that I'd never dreamed would interest me - I've signed up for a nightschool class in C++ - and what's more, I'm looking forward to it.

So yes, there is a learning curve, and that's the price you pay for free software. But there's a lot of satisfaction in learning as well, so if you're prepared to put in the effort, go for it. But don't expect a completely free ride, there's always some price to pay.

Kvark

September 7th, 2005, 09:15 PM

In light of a recent thread by a user who felt misled by Linux zealots (http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=62866), I thought it appropriate to create a thread to avoid misleading potential users. I'm telling it straight here.
In light of that thread your post is a good read for someone who has heard someone speak well of Ubuntu and is interested. Articles like this are good for people who want to try "Linux".

I wouldn't go "yay! sticky this!" though since this is too specific for people like the newcommer in that thread. Perhaps dig up several "Is Ubuntu right for you?", "Who should try Ubuntu?", "Whose desktop is Ubuntu ready for?". "How to switch without too much pain?" articles and sticky a combination of their different points and perspectives.

GeneralZod

September 7th, 2005, 09:17 PM

Agreed with above post.

Thirded :)

Kvark

September 7th, 2005, 09:23 PM

The thing that makes the difference with this distro is the community support, and by becoming an active member of that community I've learnt a huge amount in the last few months, and my systems now purring like a ***** cat. I'm even growing to like the speed and flexibility of the command line! What really frustrates me though is that although the software is open source I can't customise it without programming skills. So, I've just done something that I'd never dreamed would interest me - I've signed up for a nightschool class in C++ - and what's more, I'm looking forward to it.
Yes, source code doesn't do you much good unless you are a programmer. Just like blueprints to your house doesn't do you much good unless you are a plumber, architect or something else in the construction sector.

When more non programmers start using open source I think there will be a huge need for hireing programmers to customize details in the same way as you hire plumbers or carpenters.

I'm even good with code but would still need to pay someone to make a few changes, cause I'm not yet familiar with GNU/Linux under the hood.

aysiu

September 7th, 2005, 09:36 PM

asyiu, permissibility to reproduce as a quoted article? Sure thing.

KingBahamut

September 7th, 2005, 09:45 PM

Thanks Asy,

http://ubuntu.gwos.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

tseliot

September 7th, 2005, 09:48 PM

I completely agree with the author. Well done!

XDevHald

September 7th, 2005, 09:49 PM

Thanks Asy,

http://ubuntu.gwos.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
It needs to be documented with the users name at the top and not in a sentence and e-mail address viewable for credit to be given on that page.

Not against you KingBahamut but documents done by authors are taken very seriously and should be given credit and their name and other information is needed to be clear out in the open for them to be given valueable credit for their work and time given in that document.

KingBahamut

September 7th, 2005, 10:01 PM

BB.

Id have done so , if any of that information were actually on his profile.

Which isnt the case,

just a big N/A

KingBahamut

September 7th, 2005, 10:09 PM

Thanks Asy,

http://ubuntu.gwos.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

Asy, if you want anymore bibliographical data, just email it to me.

Ill set you up, thanks for the allowance.

aysiu

September 7th, 2005, 10:15 PM

Asy, if you want anymore bibliographical data, just email it to me.

Ill set you up, thanks for the allowance. I appreciate BB's concerns, but I'm fine with it as is. Thanks for double-checking.

KingBahamut

September 7th, 2005, 10:16 PM

One must always get the proper verifiable credit Asy....I push that as much as anyone. Ive written my share of prose.

XDevHald

September 7th, 2005, 10:16 PM

I appreciate BB's concerns, but I'm fine with it as is. Thanks for double-checking.
You're very welcome, just looking out for the authors. *Is one himself*

poofyhairguy

September 8th, 2005, 04:24 AM

Please don't twist what's basically a marketing slogan ("Linux for Human Beings") to mean that just about anyone can actually install Ubuntu on any computer and not have to learn anything to get it working.

This is my pet peeve personally.

poofyhairguy

September 8th, 2005, 04:25 AM

Can we please add something about "you can dual boot if you want."

aysiu

September 8th, 2005, 04:30 AM

Can we please add something about "you can dual boot if you want." Sure thing.

ssck

September 8th, 2005, 05:32 AM

excellent article, aysiu

poofyhairguy

September 8th, 2005, 05:36 AM

Here is a great guide for new users that wish to dual boot:

http://www.tipmonkies.com/2005/06/23/linux-filesystems-and-partitioning-a-primer/

arnieboy

September 8th, 2005, 09:41 PM

yeah my ole friend aysiu slam dunked on this one. way to go bro :)

openmind

September 10th, 2005, 03:19 AM

A complete Linux noob, I'd heard that Ubuntu had made steps in Linux "Usability", so I thought that I'd give it a try. A little googling homework to make sure I got the partitioning thing right, a deep breath and I dived in.

By following all the helpful posts here (and at the guide and Wiki) it was'nt bad at all! I had some semi-serious problems getting sound, but after that it was all downhill.

Now I've got this incredible, new OS which I'm loving more as each day goes by, (and learning about it too), my Windows partition is shrinking daily as Ubuntu takes over those tasks.

I would say that if you have a desire to learn new stuff, and have minimal knowledge it's more than worth the effort.

Oh by the way, thanks for all the help!

Parkaboy

September 11th, 2005, 11:35 PM

Writing this post was a great idea
Very good article
:-P

seiflotfy

September 12th, 2005, 12:49 PM

AMEN brother
I LOVE THE ARTICLE

warnetgm

September 15th, 2005, 03:39 AM

I'm a beginner,

1 - I know when migrating to Linux from Windows, I have to expect even absolute different and will face a newbie "again" great difficulty, but I'm on it.
2 - I know this is free software so I can't complain about well this is not as easy as windows, hardware not supported bla bla, well for an ex Windows ofcourse there will be a bit thinking of comparison, but still that doesn't mind if I can fix same problem with different approach.
3 - I know I must learn alot about new things ofcourse, and I like that.

Ok all those things can be fixed just by learning new things.

But.... unfortunately, even in this forum and others such as linuxquestions.org, sometimes, newbie doesn't get answer to fix a problem, even if they patiently, sincerely and actively asking and learning.

I my self doesn't know why, it is easier to learn about fixing windows problem compared to fixing linux problem from the community and internet searching.

May be people need more educated the linux (unix) way rather than commonly used windows in school worldwide. I live in 3rd world country, all school here only install Windows and so there is almost no linux known here for common student except just the name or for quite a geek one. Even in University only a slice of material been teached and it only the skin of every of it. That make student lack of interest and forget it kind of attitude.

Another thing is, in actual business world here, many uses windows, thats why knowledgeable of windows more interesting to have compared to linux in school.

Thats the reality (maybe only in here), but still I really hope linux community really have patience to help a newbie like me, because without help no one can learn anything. Even I tried to help myself by searching topics on google, sometimes that is specific things hard to find and not helping at all.

Also what I feel is, sometime the experts trying to help doesn't realize that the person asking is ABSOLUTELY newbie, and so there kind of attitude like "hey do this short of things and you know the rest how to implement it". While actually newbie really need a step by step approach to learn, because Linux is HUGE new area to conquer, no absolute newbie can understand alot of it just by short of things.

Thank You
and ---- HELP ME!!! :) hahahaha

warnetgm

September 15th, 2005, 03:56 AM

Ok my problem start here :
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=63470

Thank You
Please Help :)

Treggats

September 16th, 2005, 02:06 PM

Good post :smile:

and warnetgm, you're being helped in that thread :-)

kahping

September 16th, 2005, 02:24 PM

real nice post. :)

too bad the ones who'll end up reading this would mostly be those who are willing to put effort into learning. the target audience of this article would mostly not be bothered.

I'm not saying that it's not interesting or that it's a waste of time. it's just that I'm pissed by the fact that the ones who NEED to read this simply refuse to :mad:

kahping

poofyhairguy

September 16th, 2005, 07:49 PM

But.... unfortunately, even in this forum and others such as linuxquestions.org, sometimes, newbie doesn't get answer to fix a problem, even if they patiently, sincerely and actively asking and learning.

The life of an early adopter I guess....

aysiu

September 17th, 2005, 05:29 AM

The life of an early adopter I guess.... Or maybe people just don't know the answer. I don't think people are deliberately unhelpful. For example, I've never had internet connection problems in Ubuntu or any other distro, so when people say, "I can't get my internet working," I don't know how to help them fix it because I've never had to fix it myself.

warnetgm

September 18th, 2005, 01:59 PM

Re: Treggats

Yea at least after several days without answer at all, but what I need is actually a fix of my problem :) which I hope I will find here, coz I've been asking and discussing exactly the same question on linuxquestions.org without any result, unfotunately.

Re: aysiu
I agree with you "I don't think people are deliberately unhelpful". But the fact is there is still bunch of newbie got nothing to fix their linux problem, and unfortunately that will scare them away. And I think you are also got the answer why that happening : "because I've never had to fix it myself", this mean no center resposibility for customer care, which mean its all depend on the community. If for example a newbie have a specific kind of problem, whose no one in community have ever had the same exact problem, that will simply mean unfortunately "NO ONE can help".

I do understand Linux is not a profittable kind of things and so ofcourse there will be no customer care for each of the newbie user. Well maybe in the future linux can have a very good customer care and when that happen, maybe 99% computers in my country no longer using windows :)

Thank You
and don't forget => ALL EXPERTS IN UBUNTU HELP ME OUT PLEASE :)

aysiu

September 18th, 2005, 04:15 PM

Re: Treggats
I agree with you "I don't think people are deliberately unhelpful". But the fact is there is still bunch of newbie got nothing to fix their linux problem, and unfortunately that will scare them away. And I think you are also got the answer why that happening : "because I've never had to fix it myself", this mean no center resposibility for customer care, which mean its all depend on the community. If for example a newbie have a specific kind of problem, whose no one in community have ever had the same exact problem, that will simply mean unfortunately "NO ONE can help". And how is this different from any other operating system? Every single Windows problem gets solved on forums? Every single Mac problem gets solved on forums? I can attest from personal experience that that does not happen. Do you know who forum members are? We're just regular users like yourself. We're volunteering in our spare time to help out others because we want to help others. No one here is obligated in any way to help someone out. The fact that anyone gets helped or that a lot of people get helped is a miracle.

I do understand Linux is not a profittable kind of things and so ofcourse there will be no customer care for each of the newbie user. Well maybe in the future linux can have a very good customer care and when that happen, maybe 99% computers in my country no longer using windows :) If you want paid support, go here (http://www.ubuntu.com/support/supportoptions/support/supportoptions/paidsupport/).

Master Shake

September 19th, 2005, 01:51 PM

Excellent article!

xmastree

September 19th, 2005, 04:51 PM

The fact that anyone gets helped or that a lot of people get helped is a miracle.Not really a miracle, it's human nature.
I help where I can, partly to give back some of what I've taken from the forums, and partly to boost my own personal ego. If I can help someone fix their problem, I feel better.
My first real attempt at running linux was Mandrake 8.0 and I used newsgroups for help. There was a bad atmosphere there. If you hadn't explored every avenue first, and stfw till you were blue in the face, people were unwilling to help.

Here it's different, it seems much more friendly.

Newbies ask the kind of questions to which the answer can be found in five minutes (if you know where to look), but we still patiently answer them, and point them to the guide for future questions.
That's the attitude we need, welcoming new users, helping them as much as they need it, and not considering them too dumb or lazy to find out the answer for themselves.

We're all on a ladder. Those above us are reaching down to us to help us climb, whilst we reach down to those below us to help them. Before long, they also reach down to help the next batch. And long may it continue.

aysiu

September 19th, 2005, 05:38 PM

Not really a miracle, it's human nature.
I help where I can, partly to give back some of what I've taken from the forums, and partly to boost my own personal ego. If I can help someone fix their problem, I feel better. Yeah, I was overstating the case a bit. I try to help out as much as I can, but I get really peeved when people feel entitled to help as if they're paying for it. The Ubuntu Forums gives pretty good support, but it's all a volunteer effort, so people should appreciate what they get. No one has a right to complain about the help people offer in their free time. No one.

poofyhairguy

September 19th, 2005, 08:50 PM

aysiu

September 19th, 2005, 09:03 PM

They have the right to complain. And if they go overboard, I have a right to edit the post. Once again, poorly phrased on my part--I'm letting my anger and indignation get the better of me. People have every right to complain, but no one should exercise that right to complain about volunteer help. Everyone should be grateful for whatever help she gets.

matthew

September 19th, 2005, 09:26 PM

Once again, poorly phrased on my part--I'm letting my anger and indignation get the better of me. People have every right to complain, but no one should exercise that right to complain about volunteer help. Everyone should be grateful for whatever help she gets.
In a polite society one should always be grateful for whatever one receives without regard to whether it is volunteered or asked for. At the same time, one should never criticize or angrily berate those who lend aid to others with the best of intents simply because those same people do not/can not led the same assistance to a different person.

In other words, some here receive help because we can give it. Others do not. It isn't because we like some people here better than we like others, it is because the skill level of the members of this "community of volunteers" is varied and the member's time and knowledge do not always allow for quick/complete answers.

arnieboy

September 19th, 2005, 09:28 PM

arnieboy

September 19th, 2005, 09:28 PM

xmastree

September 20th, 2005, 03:55 AM

If there's one thing I dont like about this forum, it's that there aren't enough posts like this (http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=359911&postcount=9).
It's always nice to know that your advice helped, and to be appreciated.

aysiu

September 20th, 2005, 04:10 AM

XDevHald

September 20th, 2005, 04:36 AM

Ubuntu.....dreaming of Ubuntu..... I cannot picture myself running windows, if I did, I would have to hide in my closet until I come to focus. (Yeah ok, whatever) but really, I ran windows like all my life since the age of 20 and I am now enjoying what a real OS runs like and a desktop that is not slow as hell.

Winblows :)

warnetgm

September 20th, 2005, 05:05 AM

aysiu wrote :

And how is this different from any other operating system? Every single Windows problem gets solved on forums? Every single Mac problem gets solved on forums? I can attest from personal experience that that does not happen. Do you know who forum members are? We're just regular users like yourself. We're volunteering in our spare time to help out others because we want to help others. No one here is obligated in any way to help someone out. The fact that anyone gets helped or that a lot of people get helped is a miracle.

Wow, please don't be upset brother :) "peace", I think you've misunderstood my post, I didn't want to start flame here, but just to let experts or regular linux users know about what is the problem of newbie trying to embrace linux, aysiu please just abit sympathy :) no one get to a point without first to be a newbie.

On one hand linux want to defeat MS OS by attracting so many MS users to linux (as fact on many forum and bulletin linux user taunting MS OS and persuade its user to switch), but on the other hand newbie on linux doesn't get help as much as other OS which ofcourse scare them away back to their previous OS. This is what happening to date for so many newbie trying to embrace linux, including me, actually already trying linux several times before and failed then forced back to MS OS and trying again.

Maybe some people can switch with no problem or got helped, but not all people as lucky as they are and unfortunately this unlucky person is the bulk user of MS OS who want to switch but they can't, simply because there is so many problem in linux they had to face and didn't get any fix whatsoever which left them no choice at all other than back to the old MS days :(

I wish all linux forum filled with xmastree :) kind of person attitude for a NEWBIE and the old hard days will change and more and more people will left their old OS and come to linux :)

Well aside from topic of this forum I still need help on my thread :) http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=63470

aysiu

September 20th, 2005, 05:29 AM

but on the other hand newbie on linux doesn't get help as much as other OS I haven't seen any evidence of this being true. Can you present some?

xmastree

September 20th, 2005, 06:02 AM

I wish all linux forum filled with xmastree :) kind of person Damn, there's no :blush: smiley...

Well aside from topic of this forum I still need help on my thread I wish I could help, but I'm not so good with the programming stuff. If I could do that I wouldn't have to manually tweak my scanner permissions every time I start up the computer... ](*,)

xmastree

September 20th, 2005, 06:22 AM

Earlier I mentioned usenet, and mandrake. Searching google groups I found this in alt.os.linux.mandrake:

I can't create(edit) files(directories) in /dev/ directory

That's true.

(so I can't install modem drivers,

That's false.

so I have to use windows every time I want to get to Internet)

That's false.

as root and, of course, as any user I created.

That's false.

If anybody know help please, I fed up searching help or man in internet. Maybe I need account with greates rights then root( looks like joke, doesn't?) ?

No help is needed. You just need to correct your logic. When you perceive that there is indeed no problem that needs your attention, your anxiety will vanish and you will cease doing that distasteful thing with windows.

May I add that modems don't need drivers, hence you don't mean "modem".
You probably mean "winmodem".

Saying what you mean is the first step along the path.

A winmodem driver probably will give a device with a weird major and minor. You need to set up a special device node in /dev to allow you to talk to it. It sounds like you are running devfs or udev or similar on /dev (which is therefore not a filesystem with properties that you can change). If it is devfs you want to tell the devfsd to make and maintain the special device node that you want. If it's udev, you are probably sorely out of luck, for all I know. Use a special device node made somewhere else. Hic.

Ommmm...

I don't know, for hours I tried to understand this problems:

Grasshopper, understanding will only come when you cease perceiving facts as problems. Accept, and all will be well.

I created users with full rights, change permissions to directory /dev,give full access for files in it - all for nothing.

But WHY do you do such inanities? Not only cannot it help you, it would not even solve a problem if you had one! Why do you apply measures that cure problems of access permissions to a situation that has no access permission problem?

It is strange. Examine your mind and drive out the evil spirit that drives you to such inappropriate behaviour.

Ok, I'm empty to say more. Thank you. Goobbye

There is no point to complaining to the car-wash attendent that you still cannot buy fresh groceries there.

That's the kind of attitude which is more likely to drive people away.

warnetgm

September 20th, 2005, 07:12 PM

aysiu wrote :

I haven't seen any evidence of this being true. Can you present some?

Please re-read my previous posts thoroughly, you will find that evidence :)

to xmastree :
:) well luckily I didn't have someone answer as weird as your example till this day. What I've got is just a linux expert who doesn't realize that I am a newbie, so often I've got answer which is puzzle me alot to do what the he told me to do (at linuxquestions.org). From my experience, I'm quite happy, because I know alot more about linux now (because of those puzzles), eventhough my problem didn't get resolved yet, but I still have the spirit and patience for it.

I'm joining this Ubuntu forum, because I think it is more accurate place for me to ask, simply because I'm using Ubuntu, on other forum most experts stuck on saying "sorry I didn't use ubuntu distro".

Please Ubuntu Experts, HELP a NEWBIE on : http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=63470

aysiu

September 21st, 2005, 01:31 AM

Please re-read my previous posts thoroughly, you will find that evidence :) The only "evidence" I see is that you're frustrated that your one obscure problem isn't solved to your satisfaction.

matthew

September 21st, 2005, 01:46 AM

but on the other hand newbie on linux doesn't get help as much as other OS

I haven't seen any evidence of this being true. Can you present some?
Please re-read my previous posts thoroughly, you will find that evidence :)

I read your other posts. In order to substantiate your claim that newbies get better help with other OS's than they do with Linux you need to show some sort of example of receiving help for the same issue with another OS. Otherwise there is no valid basis for the comparison and it just escalates into a flame war.

In the future I would like to recommend you stay with comments like, "It would please me greatly if someone was to help me solve my problem...I still haven't found a solution. Does anyone have any ideas?" rather than making silly, can't be proven statements about support in other venues and implying that people here and somehow ignoring you or don't want to help you.

xmastree

September 21st, 2005, 03:53 AM

to xmastree :
:) well luckily I didn't have someone answer as weird as your example till this day. I'm not going to name names, but that particular bloke is rather legendary in that group.

What I've got is just a linux expert who doesn't realize that I am a newbie, so often I've got answer which is puzzle me alotWhy not post his suggestion in a new post, in the beginners forum, and ask someone if they can simplify it a little.
That will show others that at least you've tried to find the solution yourself, always a good thing.
Start a new topic, since that one's long gone off the bottom of the page now. More folk will read a new post.

arnieboy

September 21st, 2005, 04:17 AM

aysiu wrote :

Please re-read my previous posts thoroughly, you will find that evidence :)

to xmastree :
:) well luckily I didn't have someone answer as weird as your example till this day. What I've got is just a linux expert who doesn't realize that I am a newbie, so often I've got answer which is puzzle me alot to do what the he told me to do (at linuxquestions.org). From my experience, I'm quite happy, because I know alot more about linux now (because of those puzzles), eventhough my problem didn't get resolved yet, but I still have the spirit and patience for it.

I'm joining this Ubuntu forum, because I think it is more accurate place for me to ask, simply because I'm using Ub
untu, on other forum most experts stuck on saying "sorry I didn't use ubuntu distro".

Please Ubuntu Experts, HELP a NEWBIE on : http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=63470

warnet: look at line 15 of your code.. are u sure chr(19:cool: is correct syntax? if u are sure then u need to learn python a bit more in depth before u try and pick on ubuntuforum members...

1) this is a question about python NOT about ubuntu.
2) u need to ask questions about python code on python forums.. not OS forums
3) u need to be a bit more respectful of people who try and help u.

xmastree

September 21st, 2005, 04:59 AM

warnet: look at line 15 of your code.. are u sure chr(19:cool: is correct syntax?I know the answer there. it's a forum smiley thing.

Do this: Type 8) in a message, preview it, realise it's been interpreted as a smiley, go back and turn smileys off, and look what your 8) looks like now.

So the original code is really (198)

arnieboy

September 21st, 2005, 05:02 AM

I know the answer there. it's a forum smiley thing.

Do this: Type 8) in a message, preview it, realise it's been interpreted as a smiley, go back and turn smileys off, and look what your 8) looks like now.

So the original code is really (198)
smileys dont come in code sections.

xmastree

September 21st, 2005, 05:49 AM

They used to, now they just get altered. I just tried it.
With smileys turned on, type something containing eight right bracket and enclose it in code tags, then preview it.

8)

8)

warnetgm

September 21st, 2005, 05:26 PM

I'm really sorry, but to be honest I'm never intend to start flame silly things here. I just wanted to give linux community another side point of view. Aysiu show the point of view of a success linux embracer, while I'm giving a point of view on the other side. I'm hoping by telling the truth about a newbie case boldly so this linux community can realize that and grow alot better in the future.

Unfortunately and quite shockingly to me that aysiu didn't response positively, well I do understand many people bahave differently when what they're thinking got critics by others :) Well I'm sorry Aysiu, once again I told you that a flame war is NOT my intend, I just want to tell the truth out there, please thinking out of the box.

Linux is better and cheaper (even FREE) than other OS "in this case" especially MS OS (this is what most linux user wrote on many forums to taunt MS OS is bad compared to linux), then the question is why MS OS still got alot more world wide users ?
Linux is already old, old enough to crush MS OS. But why ? do you people ever asking why most people still prefer and use MS OS ?

The answer is simply because MS OS is widely "understood" compared to linux.
That doesn't necessary mean MS OS is easier to use, but it is more about the knowledge "transfer" (there is ofcouse many other cases but that is minor).

Ok I don't want to widen the argument, that just an interlude. About the prove, once again I didn't want to start a flame war, please keep cool and be positive also remember I'm on your side guys a newbie on linux embracer.

From my experience as a newbie trying to embrace linux is not as easy to learn other OS :
1. Hard to search specific topic for specific problem fixing on google, I'm trying several combination of words "run python session manager ubuntu gnome", but found none can fix my problem.
2. After that I'm trying asking on many forums including experts-exchange, linuxquestions and several others smaller one (which I'm already forgot sorry) but still doesn't get any answer which can fix my problem, because most volunteer didn't realize newbie capability about linux is almost ZERO and sometime experts stuck with comment "sorry I didn't use ubuntu" or "sorry I didn't have the problem you have".
3. Trying to find on books or other sources is not help because, books about linux isn't much and what being learned from one linux often incompatible with distro which I'm using (Ubuntu).
4. And ofcourse because Ubuntu is Free, no Customer Support hotline, email or chat. Or there is a way I can email and got answer from developer of Ubuntu ?
5. Alot more people know about MS OS compared to Linux because MS OS users alot many, which make easier to find help around real life community.
6. MS OS release more complete and structural documented feature of its OS and setup several ceritification standard program to learn deeper. Compared to what I've got from Ubuntu official site or from the Ubuntu disc.
7. In my country all school only install windows, also all internet cafe and gaming center (though lately some start to use linux).

So from the FACT above am I wrong to feel that it is harder to learn Linux compared to MS OS ? Especially Linux is not just a simple click click OS.

I'm using both linux and Windows, ok I really like to use Linux most over the windows because sure Linux is FREE (not all though). So I pick the nicest distro pit with Windows XP, which is Ubuntu. I like Ubuntu because it is install most easily and flawlessly (except from some of my computers and notebook) and only ONE CD. After installation Ubuntu present me with most application most people want to use. Until this point, Ubuntu distro is GREAT to attract user. But the things which will let most users is infact linux basically is not as easy and as user friendly as windows did. Sorry to say that sad but true. For example :

1. Installing new Applications, In windows I can easily as inserting installer CD install Delphi if I want to do programming using pascal. But it is difficult to do so if I want to install Lazarus and FreePascal on Debian based distro :( I can't even install Kylix on Debian :(

2. Plug and Play, In Windows if I change my Video card from ATI Radeon 9600 to Nvidia GeForceFX 5200 it easily as just plug the card and windows do all the detection automatically and run smoothly without any user intervention needed, while it is surprise the user with error and xwindows inactivated in Ubuntu if you doing just that and need the user to have specific knowledge to fix that thing such archaic "sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg".

3. Miscellineous, in windows bundled great mediaplayer which easily can play sound (MP3) and video (DVD), but it is unlikely in linux without the need of users tinkering.

4. Games, like it or not, games is a driving force of pc and windows home user sales, it is recognized by microsoft early (thats why there is WinG and DirectX later), while it is not the best interest of linux developer to support that (except lately for emulate them in WineX, etc.)

5. User Interface, if a user is experienced both WinXP and XWindows (gnome/kde), they ofcourse prefer the more robust and user friendly Windows interface environment (which ofcourse make them todo things faster and easier).

6. Compatibility, in windows environment we may know issue of incompatibility of some older software of Windows to the new one. But that is small compared to what happen on linux world where not old to new but all new have so many distros which often incompatible even on installing something need .deb .tar .rpm ????

7. Professionalism, most program in windows tend to be more professionally build while in linux more like a geeky program (which need user to have knowledge in some extend to using it, or it is a bit need more work out compared to windows counterpart or it is not as good as the comparable application to be used as in windows one)

Those tiny examples is what make common people away from Linux (not to mention another distros which sometime more difficult to handle than ubuntu).

I didn't represent them as an insult the the world of Linux, but to be honest I LOVE LINUX and I want to tell the developer peoples of linux to aware of those problems, so more and more common people will love linux more.

This is my linux quest story so you may imagine how hard for newbie :
I'm trying to convert to linux, but what linux distro ?
After days of reading, I'm picking up Ubuntu, because its simplicity (1 CD) and suite my need just for working on browsing and office thingy
After several days trying to install it correctly (because need several manual tweak on my devices).
But I'm also a Delphi programmer, I bought linux version of it "Kylix" but no luck because it didn't run on Debian based distro.
I'm trying to install Lazarus - FreePascal but after several weeks attempts with several forum & wiki help still can't install it stuck with problematic of distros package.
After several unsucessfull attempts, I'm thinking another way, learning several linux common programming language and found python is good to try.
After learning here and there and asking on many forum for weeks lastly I can build my own python modul containing basic program I need to test. And it run very well on terminal.
Now I want to run it on everytime I'm login, trying using BASH asking for many weeks but last with no conclusion.
Then rather than stuck with BASH, I'm trying another way, this time Session Manager but still doesn't got any fix for several weeks on several forums.
Well because I'm actually using Ubuntu so it is better to ask on Ubuntu forum, as my only question here :
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=63470

matthew wrote :

show some sort of example of receiving help for the same issue with another OS.

Ok my problem is simply running a program I made everytime I'm login.
In windows :
- I know I can create shortcut (from Windows help)
- I know I have StartUp folder (from many sources including books & searching tips trick on internet)
- So I can simply create a shortcut to my program then put it on StartUp folder and its working nicely

In Ubuntu :
- I know running my script inside etc/profile can executed every login (from linuxquestion.org)
- I know Add path of my script within Session Manager can execute it every gnome session (from buntu Help)
- I know chmod a+x script.py will allow it to executed (from linuxquestion.org)
- But don't know why it just don't work is there anything wrong ?

In the future I would like to recommend you stay with comments like, "It would please me greatly if someone was to help me solve my problem...I still haven't found a solution. Does anyone have any ideas?" rather than making silly, can't be proven statements about support in other venues and implying that people here and somehow ignoring you or don't want to help you.

I'm never making silly unproven statement on EVERY of my "QUESTION", if any please point it for me the URL :) I'll gladly appologize, thank you.
Anyway the only "question" I've made in this forum is here :
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=63470
Please read it, do I make silly can't be proven statements there ?

to arnieboy :
xmastree answer that for you about the : cool : thingy

1) this is a question about python NOT about ubuntu.
2) u need to ask questions about python code on python forums.. not OS forums
3) u need to be a bit more respectful of people who try and help u.

1. This question is not about python, because my python program already running smoothly on terminal
2. already asked when I'm learning to create that on python forum and finally done
3. Do I show no respect ? on which question ? I'm always said PLEASE HELP and THANK YOU and calling everyone EXPERTS and always cool and smiling :) if I didn't show respect so what was that ? Please arnie, I do respect aysiu and you in here never I'm doing arrogant writings here, I told you that I'm just a NEWBIE.

TO ALL who feel upset to me :
Please accept my deeply sorry and appologize, I didn't mean to hurt you guys, just wanted to give you another side point of view, a newbie side.

And please never have attitude : "If you think windows is easier then why don't you just use window, why bother using linux?"

Thank You :)
- Peace -

poofyhairguy

September 21st, 2005, 06:11 PM

This is my linux quest story so you may imagine how hard for newbie :
I'm trying to convert to linux, but what linux distro ?
After days of reading, I'm picking up Ubuntu, because its simplicity (1 CD) and suite my need just for working on browsing and office thingy

Actually after that, I say that you are probably a MEPIS person!

warnetgm

September 21st, 2005, 08:02 PM

to Puffyhairyguy :
Thank You I'm looking at Mepis now :)

aysiu

September 21st, 2005, 09:11 PM

warnetgm, I was going to type out an equally lengthy response to your tirade, but then I realized I already did (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=308405)

warnetgm

September 21st, 2005, 09:56 PM

aysiu wrote :

warnetgm, I was going to type out an equally lengthy response to your tirade, but then I realized I already did

I read your link :)
Brother well if you still showing that kind of attitude to a newbie, I think Kerberos said of why linux figure just 1 digit will continue on. I'm just concern the way your kind of linux expert threat a newbie. Rather than building a strong linux community you're just breaking it apart by doing so.

You use "insult" to a newbie, do you think they are all "dumb" just because they can't do linux the way you are ? just your attitude :( your kind make linux always have 1 digit!

But luckily there is still many experts have passion for newbie :) and when I can fully understood linux, I will try to help newbie as much as I could, rather than just posting rubbish insult to them.

Get real this forum especially this part "The Beginner Community-Absolute Beginner Talk" is for HELPING NEWBIE!

if you can't stand of a NEWBIE kind of talks, you can go posting insult on Experts part :) because "The Beginner Community-Absolute Beginner Talk" ofcourse absolutely have NEWBIE kind of post which maybe "irritate" your "expertise taste".

Anyway what is wrong, if a newbie post question which compare something from his older OS to this new OS ?
Ofcourse NOTHING wrong. That is simply an "ABSOLUTE BEGINNER" question! Do a newbie deserve hatred and insult just because asking that kind of question ?

Aysiu, maybe you think you are a smart person, but you still need to learn how to respect others opinion to be grown up :)

Thank You

matthew

September 21st, 2005, 10:32 PM

I read your link :)
Brother well if you still showing that kind of attitude to a newbie, ?

Aysiu, maybe you think you are a smart person, but you still need to learn how to respect others opinion to be grown up :)
Wow!! Such venom. I read Ayisu's post you are referring to both when it came out as well as just now and I am convinced it is clear, gentle, informative and respectful. I think his attitude towards newbies has been consistently helpful and kind. I don't think he is the one who needs to grow up.

Take a deep breath, go for a walk, do something to calm down and then feel free to post a follow-up if you want, but really...stop trying to be offended. Aysiu has to be one of the least offensive people in these forums.

John.Michael.Kane

September 22nd, 2005, 01:16 AM

I thought we was all brothers and sisters in opensouce....... Theres no need for fighting on any leavel. we can all learn something everyone...and give knowledge to those who ask..

warnetgm

September 23rd, 2005, 03:53 AM

matthew :

stop trying to be offended

I'm personaly never feel offended, didn't you recognize I called aysiu "brother" ? :)
Just your kind need to stop thinking you have right to insult newbies, expecially in this "The Beginner Community-Absolute Beginner Talk" part of forum.

Do "newbies = a Troll" just because they asking questions which looks silly to you? tsk tsk tsk :roll:

"The Beginner Community-Absolute Beginner Talk" is PURPOSELY for HELPING NEWBIES!
Don't you understand "Absolute Beginner Talk" ? :)

I said once again : If you can't stand of a NEWBIE kind of talks, you can go posting insult on Experts part because "The Beginner Community-Absolute Beginner Talk" ofcourse absolutely have NEWBIE kind of post which maybe "irritate" your "expertise taste".

SD-Plissken :

100% I'm agree with you, I think it is start unhealthy in forum if someone superior start to insult newbie, because newbie come here for getting "HELP" not for getting "insulted".

A Troll ???? [-X

brentroos

October 4th, 2005, 09:28 AM

aysiu

October 4th, 2005, 02:50 PM

I couldn't agree more--except that for many users, Ubuntu/Kubuntu is a replacement for XP (me, for example)--not for everybody, but for some.

nitricacid

October 4th, 2005, 03:04 PM

I couldn't agree more--except that for many users, Ubuntu/Kubuntu is a replacement for XP (me, for example)--not for everybody, but for some.

I would definitely say Ubuntu\Kubuntu is a windblows killer (I've officially switched to Linux).

brentroos

October 8th, 2005, 09:05 AM

aysiu

October 8th, 2005, 04:26 PM

If you're looking to get rid of Windows, getting an iPod is probably not your best bet. While there are many Linux programs out there that interface well with the iPod (AmaroK, GtkPod, etc.), iPods aren't ideal for Linux, and you're probably better off getting an iRiver or a Sandisk player. They tend to work well with Linux (without helper applications) and support drag-n-drop. iRivers, too, supposedly support the Ogg format (not just MP3).

lordnikotine

October 9th, 2005, 01:00 PM

Well, If I could only configure the internet and LAN connection right, maybe Ubuntu would be a great OS to use...

spikard

October 9th, 2005, 02:25 PM

First off, I would just like to say - thank you all for your work and your dedication to this community. I wish I had found it /before/ I installed Linux, but hey, it's a great help afterwards too.

I've been a Windows user for years, since 3.1 really. It's what's available where I live, it's what's used in the business and educational world where I live. It's what's supported by entities such as ISPs where I live. Tell someone you have Linux, and you get a strange look. So I have gone on through the years and used every MS Windows version that's came out. I've fought with spyware and viruses, with security exploits that had me re-installing windows, with missing CAB files that had me wiping harddrives clean.

Finally, I was tired of Windows. I moved on to a better OS, or at least tried to. I installed Fedora Core 4. And it was ok. Everything auto-detected just fine. And then I found YUM... and Fedora was never right after that. I probably messed up my video drivers in the update. Oops.

A friend suggested Ubuntu. He had been using it for a little while and was really getting into it. I was a bit wary at first, but when I heard of the Synaptic package manager... That did it for me. So now I'm the proud owner of a machine running Breezy Badger (you gotta love the names) and Windows XP.

Why still Windows? There are applications I need for work that have not been brought to Linux yet - though similar systems may exist they're not what I am required to have.

Well done, Ubuntu.

welly

October 12th, 2005, 01:09 PM

Just thinking here to myself! Is linux, or specifically ubuntu linux, suitable for people who don't like to "tinker"? You speak with many linux users and they tend to be developers or system/network admins, more often than not. They tend to be really interested in having a system that runs perfectly, that scheduled tasks to run nightly backups are running or whatever..

I've run ubuntu in the past and am looking at putting it on a new machine when the badger is fully released tomorrow - this will be mainly a PHP/apache development server but I'm going to run it in parallel with my main windows box and see if I can move over. While I do have an interest in tinkering about with my various boxes, I tend not to do a great deal with them once they're up and running to a stage I'm happy with.

Going back to the old idea of linux being suitable for grannies or whoever - basic to intermediate users - can a linux installation be set up for internet access,open office and so on and then the user just simply "use it" and not be concerned with kernel updates, running this script or that script.. not worry about bash and so on?

What are your thoughts?

Cheers,

Welly

oddflux

October 15th, 2005, 01:38 AM

Great article dude, evidently you spent time and effort on this. I don't think it's gone to waste. :)

Teroedni

October 15th, 2005, 05:56 PM

Great post Aysiu:)

aneeshm

October 16th, 2005, 04:47 PM

aysiu

October 16th, 2005, 05:22 PM

Could you please mention in the opening post that the LiveCD will be about a bajillion times slower than an actual installation ? I don't want a person trying out the LiveCD to feel that Ubuntu is horrbily slow compared to their previous OS . I added a quotation from the Ubuntu CD case about the live CD's slowness. I haven't experienced it to be "a bajillion times slower," but definitely is not as quick as a real installation. Thanks for the tip.

aneeshm

October 16th, 2005, 05:49 PM

The only "evidence" I see is that you're frustrated that your one obscure problem isn't solved to your satisfaction.

It may be obscure , but to the affected guy , it is still a big problem .

aneeshm

October 17th, 2005, 02:30 AM

Thanks for adding the quote about the LiveCd's slowness .

teaker1s

October 17th, 2005, 09:49 PM

for me the switch to ubuntu followed my ibm deathstar harddisk failing and being determined that I'd had enough of paid for operating systems which they re invent the wheel each time only to ditch it when it's semi stable and at the same time make your hardware redundant because it's all about income streams

I'd done system building and support and I've had enough of xp any other product you'd sue for fit for purpose and merchantable quality!!!!

linspire is the ms of linux it's CNR which I feel is a con considering that synaptic can be made to work but they would prefer to charge you.
yes linux will need comand line from time to time but try to completely crash it-it's extremely hard, apps crash, system doesn't.

I mainly listen to mp3's/email and surf since switching to ubuntu i've seen a 50-75% increase in system resources avaliable

yes I've had a few teething problems tried a few distro's but support and articles on ubuntu how- to are great and I am learning as I go.

Lastly the final reason to change is vista drm and closed system-if you don't have an approved setup vista will cripple it:p

aSTeRiX

October 18th, 2005, 05:41 AM

Over the last 5 years I have been switching back and forth from Windows to Linux. I'd get frustrated with Windows and move to Linux. Then when I couldn't get something working in Linux I'd give up and go back to Windows. Ubuntu is definately the distrobution for me. It's simple, powerful, and personalized the way I like it. I have ordered 70 of the free ship-it cd's for my friends and family to use. I will be printing out this thread to give to each person I know, then when and if they realize that Ubuntu is for them, I will give them one of the CD packages. Thanks for creating this thread!

dbott67

October 20th, 2005, 06:25 PM

Ubuntu for me? YES!

David Marrs

October 20th, 2005, 10:35 PM

linspire is the ms of linux it's CNR which I feel is a con considering that synaptic can be made to work but they would prefer to charge you.
I always feel this accusation is unfair. It's not as if they just freeze Sid and release it under a different name. Besides which, they don't make any effort to prevent you from tracking Sid if you prefer - the repositories are even in the sources.list ready to be uncommented (so I've been told) - but you're on your own if that's what you choose to do. Actually, you'll have better luck tracking Sid with Linspire than you will with Ubuntu.

You're no doubt aware that much of the software available in the Ubuntu repositories is unsupported and in some cases unstable. We have to go out and find our own w32codecs, and so on. This is reasonable considering that we don't pay for the software. Linspire guarantee stability and ease of use in exchange for a fee. I don't see any moral objection to that. They still provide the source code. They still allow you to redistribute it. The software is still "free."

aysiu

October 21st, 2005, 01:21 AM

I agree. CNR charges you for a service, not the software. The software is still cost-free. Linspire gets a bad rap, but I'm glad it's around. It's another option out there. If it doesn't work for you, don't use it.

Grampa Bear

October 24th, 2005, 09:34 PM

I'm a middle aged farmer. The hard time that users on other forums have given me for being a raw new linux user has been unreal. I'm in no way a power user, I barely use Windows. I'm just trying to set up some machines for local kids to use for homework and get on the internet. The machines are older Dell P-3 1.0 ghz. with 256 mb of RAM and 15 gb hard drives. I realize that these aren't the latest and greatest computers, but they were very clean and best of all they were donated to us. Since these machines will have 100 to 150 kids using them through out the day I wanted to use a server macine that was given to us. It's a P-3 800 with 768 MB RAM, 1 - 72 GB, 2 - 32 GB, and 1 - 9 GB scsi hard drives. All of the computers have 100 mb network cards.
Try setting all of this up when you know absolutely nothing and then need to ask for help from some of the forums. Man! They act like you're going to commit mass murder or something. One young fella finally directed me to Ubuntu, saying things here were easier going for beginners here. I'm going to gve Ubuntu a try. I have the server version and the deskto version of version 5.10.

dbott67

October 24th, 2005, 09:41 PM

Hi Grampa,

You may want to take a look a Edubuntu (http://www.edubuntu.org/), which is a version of Ubuntu specifically designed for educational purposes.

I've personally found the Ubuntu community to be very helpful in getting people up & running, so don't be afraid to ask.

-Dave

aysiu

October 25th, 2005, 08:54 PM

The hard time that users on other forums have given me for being a raw new linux user has been unreal.... Try setting all of this up when you know absolutely nothing and then need to ask for help from some of the forums. Man! They act like you're going to commit mass murder or something. One young fella finally directed me to Ubuntu, saying things here were easier going for beginners here. I came to Ubuntu for that exact same reason--the community. I get a cold feeling in other Linux forums--either because they're too large (and attract all sorts) or too small (and don't attract anybody).

Ubuntu's in an interesting place because it's just "user-friendly" enough to attract new Linux users (like me) but it's also "advanced" enough or easily tweakable so that it attracts more experienced and knowledgeable Linux users who can help others out. I've found some of the more "automatic" distros attract too many new users (it's the blind leading the blind) and some of the more "difficult" distros attract too many advanced users (it's intimidating!).

Also, Ubuntu's "humanity towards others" and "free" philosophy tends to attract users who are kinder to others--that's kind of the whole point, really... Linux for Human Beings.

clearnitesky

October 25th, 2005, 11:08 PM

Well I'm still finding out.
I've been using Linux for nearly two years now. I ditched Windows 18 months ago and I've never looked back. Up until recently my hardware was too limiting to play games on Linux and that used to wind me right up.

I've always used Slackware up until now because I found that even though it was hard work then eventually I'd always manage to get things working how I wanted. I like compiling things from source and for about a year thought that it was the only way to install software on Linux.
Recently I've been overwhelmed by curiosity about using packages and started making my own Slackware packages using checkinstall but IMO Slackware's package management it apalling so I figured I'd give something more package-based a try. I tried Fedora 4 and I thought it sucked so I installed Debian, which also sucked because everything is so out of date. I then went back to Slackware for about 2 months and slapt-get managed to completely destroy my system when I did a dist-upgrade.
I put Ubuntu on my box about 2 days ago and this morning I finally managed to get by video card going (who releases a distro without the kernel source?!) and I've found everything else to be fun and easy. So we'll see, I might be here to stay.

shade11

October 26th, 2005, 07:03 PM

Ubuntu is actually a great choice. This was a great article too. My friend actally got it to work with a mini computer from Japan.

egraham23

October 29th, 2005, 05:08 AM

Ubuntu 5.04 wasn't for me...it almost was, but some of my hardware didn't get along too well. 5.10 has been nothing short of a revelation. I've been toying with Linux for three years now, and I've been looking for a way to make a serious switch since April of this year. One thing I've learned is that Linux is constantly improving, especially with regards to hardware compatibility. If Ubuntu isn't for you right now then I really encourage you to check back in a few months...the chances are good that anything which frustrates you about the current release will be fixed by the time another version rolls out.

Donnut

October 29th, 2005, 06:05 AM

Yes. It is so much more advanced and different from windows, I made the mistake of trying it. I'm hooked. I will never go back.

ebonysurfer

October 31st, 2005, 05:19 PM

I think your thread is well written so I must be especially slow because I still can't get it:

nelson111

October 31st, 2005, 11:38 PM

Great article.

Unfortunately, I'm beginning to think Ubuntu is not for me. I tend to be the computer guy in my family and among friends, but it has been at least 10 years since I've looked at Dos in any meaningful way and entering commands just isn't my thing. I've spent several hours looking at all the instructions and still cannot even install the d--- thing!

That said, it does look like a promising version of linux and I will check back again someday in the future. Or maybe I'll try a different version of linux. Would like to get a feel for the Windows alternatives, especially if the rest of the world might gradually go that way.

;)

- Mike

BTW, if you're curious about my installation issues: I have an old HP Pavillion running Windows ME that I no longer need. I was hoping to install ubuntu on that. But I haven't been able to figure out how to open and install using the "iso" file (downloaded on different computer, copied to cd rom, attempted to install from cd rom and failed, copied to computer and attempted to install and failed, though I was able to open the iso file - I just didn't know what to do with it). Either the instructions or the installation package need refining for the ABSOLUTE (and impatient) NEWBIES such as myself.

aysiu

November 1st, 2005, 03:33 AM

That said, it does look like a promising version of linux and I will check back again someday in the future. Or maybe I'll try a different version of linux. Would like to get a feel for the Windows alternatives, especially if the rest of the world might gradually go that way. Take a look at Mepis--it's a live CD that you can also use to install--it's super easy, all point-and-click. There's a book that can walk you through the basics of Mepis, too. It's called Point-and-Click Linux

But I haven't been able to figure out how to open and install using the "iso" file (downloaded on different computer, copied to cd rom, attempted to install from cd rom and failed, copied to computer and attempted to install and failed, though I was able to open the iso file - I just didn't know what to do with it). Either the instructions or the installation package need refining for the ABSOLUTE (and impatient) NEWBIES such as myself. These links may help you with the ISO problem:

http://www.wizardskeep.org/mainhall/tutor/neroiso.html
http://www.wizardskeep.org/mainhall/tutor/cdcriso/cdcrtiso.html
http://www.cdburnerxp.se/help/english/burniso

I also wrote a guide that's everything I wish someone had told me when I started Linux:
http://www.psychocats.net/essays/linuxguide.php

If you need more help, start a new thread. Best of luck, no matter what you decide to do.

kakashi

November 2nd, 2005, 05:10 AM

ubuntu_demon

November 7th, 2005, 01:46 PM

very good article!

sometimes people know other people who might install and configure Ubuntu for them. Then Ubuntu is even more easy than windows for the average desktop user.

wilford

November 10th, 2005, 04:57 AM

Community
Ubuntu's community is amazing. We even put up with trolls and Linux-haters. You'll find the vast majority of users here are knowledgeable, supportive, responsive, and patient. There are a lot of HowTo's as well and some good links (http://www.ubuntuguide.org).

First of all. Great article aysiu. Great with a capital G! :D And since you mentioned it, i want to emphasize on what you said about the community here. I'v only been registered here for a couple of days and I don't regret joining. :D Everyone is treated with respect, helpful, informative, well-knowledgeable and kind. And most of all, they're FUN!:D
Whats a community without FUN?! :D Congratulation to all of you! :D

mikebravo

November 17th, 2005, 05:34 AM

I have tried it out and it is not for me. I put Hoary on my old Dell 233 Mhz Pentium II with 256 meg of memory in hopes that it would run faster than the Win 98 I had. There was some speed gain but not enough to matter. The install went smoothly, and I immediately had internet access through my Linksys router. I found drivers for my Brother HL-1240 laser printer and it worked, but that was just about the end of the good news. I can not get sound one out of my computer, which I thought would have been a very basic function. The other major problem is with my little LAN. Hoary can see my wife's Dell (Win XP) and my ABS computer (Win XP) but they can not see Hoary. I have read help files and forum postings until my eyes crossed and I have had no luck, and yes, it would take dumb luck because I have no idea what I am doing. I guess it is a testimony to Hoary that it is still working at all, but this nube wants to use his applications, not play with the operating system. I would like to try again someday but until them the great scratching sound you hear is me, crawling back to Bill Gates.

aysiu

November 17th, 2005, 05:40 AM

Sorry to see you go. You may disagree, but from your description, it sounds as if it went pretty well. I mean, the only real problem I saw was the sound not working. Installing an OS is never an easy task and to have only the sound not working isn't so shabby (yeah, yeah, yeah--easy for me to say--I know...)

Honestly, though, internet worked out of the box, it saw XP, and the printer worked. XP not seeing Ubuntu is hardly Ubuntu's fault, but I could see how that would frustrate you. In the grand scheme of things, it was really only sound not working that turned out to be a problem.

If you want it to zip on your 256 MB of RAM, I highly recommend installing (http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=487687&postcount=6) and using XFCE4 instead of Gnome. If not, well... maybe for Dapper? Oh, and if/when you do come back, try a live CD first before you go through the trouble of installing. A live CD will at least tell you if your sound will work.

dbott67

November 17th, 2005, 04:02 PM

...I can not get sound one out of my computer, which I thought would have been a very basic function.

I found the sound a pain to setup as well. Fortunately, I found a thread that got me going and pretty much everything I need is working.

Here's some info on some supported Dell laptops:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupportMachinesLaptopsDell

And some supported sound cards:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupportComponentsSoundCards

These lists are not complete; it is only a small list of those items that have been tried by users and what the results were.

If you post the make & model of your Dell, we may be able to point you to the right answer for your sound card (basicallly, we need to find out the model of sound card). You can either get that from Dell's website or by running a few different commands:

sudo lshw -C sound
Will list the hardware class for sound that the system has identified.

lsmod | grep snd
Will list any modules that are installed related to sound.

If you post the output of those 2 commands here (or better, in a new post in "hardware help" section with a descriptive title.

This is what I had to do (from my write-up of a "HowTo for the Toshiba Tecra 8000 (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=163824#post163824)):

Sound (many thanks to Buellman who posted the fix --- I've made a few changes for the newbie, such as using gedit rather than vi and changed the location of step 2):

1.) sudo apt-get install esound-clients
2.) sudo mv /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base /home/your_name/backup
3.) sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/tecra_sound
# ALSA Configuration.
alias snd-card-0 snd-opl3sa2

# some stuff for the OSS drivers
alias char-major-14 snd-pcm-oss
alias sound-slot-0 snd-card-0

# aliases for sound card #1
alias sound-service-0-0 snd-mixer-oss
alias sound-service-0-1 snd-seq-oss
alias sound-service-0-3 snd-pcm-oss
alias sound-service-0-8 snd-seq-oss
alias sound-service-0-12 snd-pcm-oss
4.) sudo gedit /etc/modules
snd-opl3sa2 dma1=1 dma2=0 fm_port=0x388 irq=5 isapnp=0 midi_port=0x330
port=0x538 sb_port=0x220 wss_port=0x530 <--- its one long row!
5.) refering to this link http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=26567 i
only did:
sudo apt-get install libesd-alsa0
6.) restart
7.) have fun

...The other major problem is with my little LAN. Hoary can see my wife's Dell (Win XP) and my ABS computer (Win XP) but they can not see Hoary. I have read help files and forum postings until my eyes crossed and I have had no luck, and yes, it would take dumb luck because I have no idea what I am doing.

In order for the XP computers to "see" Ubuntu (and be able to access files) you need to enable SAMBA. Here's a post (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=497158#post497158) on how to install & configure (very easy).

Anyhow, it's up to you if you want to give it another try.

-Dave

Element.Ren

November 19th, 2005, 06:34 PM

i like.

good article.

:) :) :)

tomwell

November 21st, 2005, 10:08 PM

Beautiful!!!

Very well written!!! The kind of article that would inspire any noob!! Me included!!!

Peace

Tom

Paul Casey

November 22nd, 2005, 01:18 AM

your writing is pretty good. linux to a person who only has used windows and had difficulty with it... can be difficult also. I suggest a brief training intro to anyone who wants to use use linux.

http://axelweston.com/theNewAxelwestonWebsite/training/saveHundredsOfDollarsWithLinuxCoverPage.pdf

also attending a linux users group mtg would be helpful. It's like learning computers again.

paulozzzz

November 26th, 2005, 07:44 PM

My only problem running Ubuntu is the winmodem, which I am having a hard time to set up. Thank God I have an ethernet card (which Ubuntu correctly recognized) so I can access the internet.

matthewstory

November 26th, 2005, 08:08 PM

Very good article, the ps should be highlighted. There is no reason that someone should install Ubuntu and accidentally stumble into a bunch of hardware and software issues that they didn't anticipate, because Ubuntu has a livedisk and anything that works on the livedisk will work on a proper install and anything that doesn't work on the livedisk won't work on a proper install.

cheers,
matt

aysiu

November 26th, 2005, 08:23 PM

the ps should be highlighted. There is no reason that someone should install Ubuntu and accidentally stumble into a bunch of hardware and software issues that they didn't anticipate, because Ubuntu has a livedisk and anything that works on the livedisk will work on a proper install and anything that doesn't work on the livedisk won't work on a proper install. Done. Very good suggestion.

viper

November 28th, 2005, 01:07 AM

Great article. Linux is definately for me because its a challenge!

paulozzzz

November 28th, 2005, 05:55 PM

solarcontrol

December 1st, 2005, 08:03 AM

Regarding Lexmark printers - there are some 3rd party drivers for foomatic that work, but you gotta find em.
Not too hard though.

I would add that Ubuntu is too modern for an old 233mhz Dell and Gnome is too heavy (forget KDE).
You need a light desktop environment on something that old.

You should use something like Puppy (http://www.puppylinux.org/home/) or DSL (http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/) or Buffalo (http://www.mcalesterlinux.net/) or STX (http://www.stibs.cc/stx/) or Zenwalk (http://www.zenwalk.org/) or maybe even Libranet (http://www.libranet.com/orig_index) 2.8 with XFCE (oddly it seems to be more compatible with old boxes than new ones).

They have fast light desktops like IceWM, Fluxbox, and XFCE (and a couple unique ones) and are intentionally made to recognize and run on old hardware.

I have a 255mhz CyrixII (old Compaq Presario 2266) and a 166mhz P1.
DSL runs beatifully on the P1.
I've had both Puppy and STX on the Cyrix.
Both ran nice and fast and now I have Zenwalk on it - also performing fine.

Tip: Grab a few old cheap sound cards. Online they are dirt cheap, and some shops will even give em to you. If a machine is too proprietary for linux to recognize the on-board chipset, chances are that it will recognize a pci card no problem.

dronepower

December 1st, 2005, 05:40 PM

daller

December 1st, 2005, 05:56 PM

I just started trying out linux with puppy linux on my secondairy machine. All went fine. Now Im thinking of trying Ubuntu on my main machine.

My question is if there is a reasonable linux alternative for adobe illustrator / coreldraw, and video editing programs like pinnacle / adobe premiere.

I also want to know if GIMP is capable of scanning a photo with my Canonscan 8400F.

I above answers are positive Im a happy man :)

cheers,

About support for your scanner, I'm afraid I have to disapoint you! (http://sane-project.org/sane-mfgs.html#Z-CANON)

Please post a single standing thread for your other questions, since this thread will become a mess if everybody's asking different questions about different issues...

dronepower

December 1st, 2005, 06:53 PM

About support for your scanner, I'm afraid I have to disapoint you! (http://sane-project.org/sane-mfgs.html#Z-CANON)

Please post a single standing thread for your other questions, since this thread will become a mess if everybody's asking different questions about different issues...

arrr.. that's not nice my scanner is not supported. Will is be possible to use it via wine? or is it no-go no matter what for this device?

poofyhairguy

December 1st, 2005, 07:18 PM

arrr.. that's not nice my scanner is not supported. Will is be possible to use it via wine? or is it no-go no matter what for this device?

WINE is just for software. The only trick you have left if what is called "the ebay patch." You sell the non-compatible stuff on ebay and use that money to by stuff that does work. Sounds crappy but sometimes its the only option.

damp

December 2nd, 2005, 02:57 AM

I'll know as soon as the FREE CD-ROMS arrive! :D

But there's a lot of good talk about this Ubuntu. Therefore, yes by default.

_damp

Tsar

December 2nd, 2005, 11:57 PM

Well now it has arrived

i ahve switched from a dual boot
window/suse
to
windows/ubuntu

and have used ubuntu for about a week

er luv it tbh
works well, had no problems setting it up

one happy bunnie
:p :p :p

Odracir Redwolf

December 3rd, 2005, 05:45 AM

I agree with the post is great... :)

oldwizkid

December 9th, 2005, 10:39 PM

I am going to find out. The live test disk showed everything on my system to work with Ubuntu!:smile:

r4ik

December 19th, 2005, 12:13 AM

Ubuntu is for me period.
I hope to turn that phrase around in the future.

EnGee

December 19th, 2005, 06:37 PM

I installed Ubuntu a week ago, got everything i want working :)
I tried some linux distributions in the past, starting with RedHat 5.2! but kept in this circle (RedHat, Suse, Mandrake). The biggest problem was the dependency hell. While the installation is very easy and installing from the CDs provided is very easy, the challange (and disappointment) when i try to install what i download, needed library, and this needs another and ..etc. it was a hell and after hours i forget what was the main thing i was trying to install!
Some advised me to get Debian, and when i read, i found that THIS is the one for me, but I wasn't barve enough to try, so i searched for Debian based distribution, then i found two candidates, Mepis and Ubuntu, i read the Ubuntu is using Gnome, which i like for Java programming more than KDE (based on my past experience), so i tried it, and i can say it is almost the opposite of RedHat, Suse ..etc, little difficulties to solve in the beginning, but when all is fine after installation and configuration, Ubuntu really shines. I don't have the dependency hell anymore (wow! i never thought it will come the day to solve this BIG issue), and in fact, the two problems i had (DSL connection, my monitor resolution) solved very fast (the first day!) just little search in Ubuntu forums and have the answer which WORKS from the first try! amazing, even now the resolution of my monitor is much better than automatic detection by Suse and others :) In addition, Ubuntu is much more stable than the 3 i tried for the past 5 years and I feel more organized with it.
I find myself now using it mainly, while Win XP is for my hobby (composing electronic music). Yes, Ubuntu what i was waiting for all these years.

504harry

December 21st, 2005, 06:52 PM

Is Ubuntu for You? a valid question, and well argued by aysiu - I'm sure he knows a lot more about Linux/Ububtu than I.
/
However, I think he is totally wrong, let me explain:-
let's suppose you want to displace Win,,,, then you have to offer something that is at least as easy to use. That's how markets work.
(We're used to clicking with the mouse, we scan docs, take digital pics and print.....to suggest that Lexmark might be a problem ((maybe and I suspect IS true))... ... brushes to one side the real issue that makes Win popular and Linux a very poor twelveth-man.IMHO.
For Linux to be popular (and I have used Ubuntu with a Lexmark - but only in openOffice-WP)....it must provide similar functionality - no If's.., no But's...
/
The recent update to 5.10 really caused me to rethink my relationship with Linux - 5.04 worked reasonably - it would detect my USB camera-memory and Gimp is a serious piece of software. It connected to the Internet after I entered my account details, server stuff etc....perhaps I was lucky because 5.10 will not address the internet/email at all.
For some strange reason I can't make it accept my printer (in OpenOffice) so in reality I'm looking at a pretty screen with zero functionality. It is a non-computer, taking power from the mains, in return for... nothing....
/
What is missing is that helpful prompt....on booting 5.10 tells me I need to insert UBUNTU into /etc/hosts (from memory, you understand...) and then gives me the option of trying the internet again....or log-in anyway.
Needless to say this doesn't "resolve" the problem - but whoever wrote that message must have understood something was wrong - why isn't there a "Let me fix it for you" option - why doesn't the pesky PC insert Unbutu in /etc/hosts for me?.......I tried, but it's a read-only file and that took some delving...
/
No, I think it is Linux and/or Ubuntu that needs to change - it could become much more "helpful" - I really don't need to read Loads of explanations when something is wrong - I want it fixed - so I don't even realise it.
/
/
5.10 has a new loading "face" - - - well so what?
- It may seem harsh, but the average user doesn't know what these files are, OR why he/she needs them - so only the {OK} is interesting.....but for some strange reason, the designers have made it very DARK - so dark that only faulty files show up (is this deliberate?) - what am I expected to do - shouldn't these faulty files be cached so I can read them later, or check if it's important? The booting scrolls-by and the one "red fault" disapeared (forever it seems).
/
Linux is very good at finding the video-card, the sound-card, and a host of other things - all this is Great....but when things go wrong I find it is really difficult to sort-out....
Ubuntu is giving users a "shot" of Linux - a chosen pallete of colours for the budding artist.....any more would be unnecessary - and maybe a few fewer would be good too.
Do we really need a fully-functioning bloated WP - yet I still can't change the colour of my text? - it will change to a brown colour but I am unable to find font-colours anywhere. Yet there are many other options displayed that few will want.
/
A final gripe and I'll shut up - Gimp will not print with my Lexmark - Oh dear...it seems Gimp (and Unix) likes printers with PostScript - well show me any sub £100, or sub-£200 printers that will work.....that would be useful - bear in mind that HP (etc),change Model-Numbers in each Country - so the list is nearly always "wrong" - or could it be that Gimp is wrong? Why shouldn't I use my printer that works in Win98SE - I can buy cartridges for it, in my local Store - is Gimp ignoring potential users?
/
Great things about the new Gnome (early2006) - but again I read it's a cleaner face, with extra features (yawn!) - no please fix what it doesn't do and which Windows does without a murmer. I can't see why the windows print-driver can't be used within some printing program - so I send my pic from Gimp to "Win-fix" (I coined-it) -then the (win) printer-driver just puts the ink on the paper. Lexmark aren't going to write drivers for Linux until the market is many times larger than at present - why should they? - but I do want to read about hardware that works and that includes Printers, scanners - and I don't care if they have to be USB-connected - I can do that.
/
Finally:
When updating - Ubuntu needs to be a scheme to "save my settings" (I don't update - I reload a dedicated HDD, no Win lurking about) - drop my ISP details, paper sizes, screen colours, fonts, points etc onto a floppy - so I can reload them - all mine are lost because I wasn't connected to the internet (at the time), neither did I have a printer on LPT1 - that "seems" to be part explanation. The partition tool is really hard work and WHY does 90% of the population STILL have problems with .ISO - let's sort it out - let the PC look at the "master" and offer "Working copies" - it found drivers for my DVD/cdROM-drive
Oh and - why is the screen text so darn small? - websites are about right - so why is Ubuntu making me squint? ( & I have a 17" monitor)....
/
I've wasted enough of your time folks, so let me say that IF Ubuntu wants more users, there is a simple way to achieve it......let's have a Forum-suggested range of hardware....AND... let's get it so the PC does all the fixing.......
Harry,

aysiu

December 21st, 2005, 07:33 PM

let's suppose you want to displace Win,,,, then you have to offer something that is at least as easy to use. You're confusing use with installation and configuration. Windows has the luxury of being preinstalled. Ubuntu is easy to use, as a matter of fact. Unfortunately, most people who use Ubuntu had to install it and configure it themselves.
to suggest that Lexmark might be a problem ((maybe and I suspect IS true))... ... brushes to one side the real issue that makes Win popular and Linux a very poor twelveth-man.IMHO.
For Linux to be popular (and I have used Ubuntu with a Lexmark - but only in openOffice-WP)....it must provide similar functionality - no If's.., no But's... And if hardware manufacturers do not release Linux drivers or the source code for their Windows drivers, how exactly are Linux developers supposed to interface with the hardware?

I can't see why the windows print-driver can't be used within some printing program Then you understand nothing about computers. When my wife and I bought a printer for her Powerbook, we looked specifically for printers that were Mac-compatible. We didn't just buy any old printer and then complain that it worked with only Windows.

What I don't understand is why Windows is so difficult to install and configure. Just about every hardware manufacturer makes hardware specifically to work with Windows. So why doesn't everything "just work" when you install Windows? Windows should have no ifs, ands, or buts.

Linux has plenty of ifs, ands, and buts, but it doesn't need them most of the time.

xtacocorex

December 21st, 2005, 08:12 PM

This is a very good article.

I'm pretty quick (most of the time) when it comes to figuring computer stuff out so learning Linux wasn't that hard since we had an a brief (and by brief i mean cd, ls, mkdir and that was it) introduction in my first year engineering course (6 years ago). One of my engineering classes is numerical methods programming in FORTRAN on RHEL machines, so in preparation, I got Red Hat 9 and put it on my computer. I soon upgraded to Fedora and followed that along. I soon came to appreciate compiling programs from scratch and not using package managers. This was a year ago.

One day this semester I decided to put Kubuntu Hoary on my laptop and check it out. I had it on the machine for 20 minutes before I reinstalled Fedora. Why? Kubuntu did recognize my 802.11g wireless card right away and had it working. Probably because I was scared of the change. Needless to say, the next morning Fedora got removed and have been running Kubuntu since.

I'm glad to say that I'm a Kubuntu user.

There is definately a learning curve to Linux, but the community here is very helpful and if you look hard enough after posting a thread, you might be able to solve your problem yourself.

My only problem is that my hardware isn't that old, but not great so I probably can't run Cedega as efficiently as if I had Windows still on the machine. I haven't tried yet, still working on persuading my wife for a subscription. This could also be fixed by dual-booting (which I used to do until my computer crashed during a project and I didn't have time to install WinXP on the new harddrive).

But after reading this article, I realized that I shouldn't force people to want to like Linux as much as I do.

Thanks everyone for all the help that you give to everyone else.

ihavenoname

December 21st, 2005, 11:14 PM

'Nuff said. This distro rocks, people. It's really the people, I feel, which makes it so great. There are hundreds and hundreds of Linux distros. What makes this one unique is the community-driven approach and friendliness.

I totally agree, I am currently trying to decided btw Ubuntu and Fedora. the main thing i like about fedora is that when i install it i can immediatly compile i cant do that with ubuntu i had to borrow my friends dvd to install the neccessary tools, (i have to compile ndiswrapper) so thats wuts got me leaning to Fedora but when i came to the Ubuntu boards for help lots of people jumped on and really did everything they could to help and i think that really counts i got absolutly no help on the Mepislovers boards which isnt to diss them i just assum they didnt know how to help. but still the Ubuntu boards are the most friendly(boards) ive ever seen.

now if anyone knows of the exact files that i could perhaps download and put on a cd so that i wouldnt need my friends dvd to compile it would be great! just please pm me! :D i belive it is the kernel headers but for somereason those dont help me....unless i use apt-get kernel headers uname -r....

aysiu

December 22nd, 2005, 12:27 AM

I totally agree, I am currently trying to decided btw Ubuntu and Fedora. the main thing i like about fedora is that when i install it i can immediatly compile i cant do that with ubuntu i had to borrow my friends dvd to install the neccessary tools You need the build-essential meta-package, which includes:

libc6dev
libc-dev
gcc
g++
make
dpkg-dev

ihavenoname

December 22nd, 2005, 06:29 AM

You need the build-essential meta-package, which includes:

libc6dev
libc-dev
gcc
g++
make
dpkg-dev
thank you ill keep u posted and tell u how it works out.

rhunt960

December 23rd, 2005, 12:42 AM

Yup!

I have been wanting to try Linux for quit a while and finally got an extra machine. I started with the 'Live Demo' and liked what I saw. The install of the 'Real thing' went without a hitch. I no I have a lot to learn ahead of me but am looking forward to it.

djgenesis

December 23rd, 2005, 01:39 AM

kwell :D
Call me Ubuntu meister :P:P:P

oygle

December 23rd, 2005, 02:01 AM

Hi,

I'm a complete noob, so please be nice to me. :D

Is Ubuntu for me ? I don't know, but I need a 'desktop' replacement, and someone recommended either Suse Linux 10 (http://www.novell.com/linux/suse/), or Ubuntu (http://www.ubuntulinux.org/). Now when I register here, I see there are 'flavours' of Ubuntu, so now I'm really confused.

Possibly if I explain my needs, someone can advise please ?

I've spent sometime doing some Googling, about the issues involved with replacing the Win95 OS with a Linux distribution, that would be suitable both as a 'desktop' and also run a (LAN only) web server.

1. The problem is of course, is the old OS, Win95b, and the continuing problems of more and more apps not running on it.

2. I also would like to run a web server on that computer, and have been limited with an AMP, or looking at the XAMPP from apachefriends, all in the hope of simply installing a bundled product on the Win95 box, and run the web server, which will only be used on the LAN. I say I have been limited, because even the XAMPP needs Windows ME, and various other AMP's I have tried, would only run an early version of PHP.

3. I _do_ have a recent OS on this (other) computer, Win XP Pro, but do NOT want to load it up with all the desktop applications that are running on the 95 box. Some of those apps will not run on XP anyway (like MS Money and MS Woks, they are both W95 versions), so they _have_ to stay on the Win95 box (or I replace them with ?? ).

4. I do have Nortons PartitionMagic, so that is also an option, to have a dual-boot box, one boot could be the 95b, the other can be a 'real' Linux OS, just need one that can run Apache, PHP, MySQL,etc, something to replicate a web server I use on the net.

5. The applications I use on the W95 box are:

* Pegasus Mail
* Office 2000 Developer suite
* Sygate firewall (the modem/router has a good NAT,etc)
* AVG anti-virus
* M$ Money (I think TurboCash will run on *nix ?)
* M$ Works
* Mozilla
* Filezilla
* Kiwi syslog daemon
* Powerchute UPS monitor
* Nero CD burner
* Beyond Compare
* Norton PartitionMagic
* Crimson Editor
* Irfanview
* PowerArchiver
* Adobe Reader

That's quite a lot, no wonder it runs slow. LOL

How many of these desktop applications can be replaced by a similiar product, to run on *nix, and at what cost ? Can you get a GUI look on Linux (ignorant, aren't I ).

6. What about drivers under Linux, the printer, the LAN, monitor,etc,etc ?

7. I realise there will be a continuing problem with apps not working on 95, as time goes on, more and more applications stop running on W95. :(

I do like the easy methods when using Win products, like I double-click a tar.gz file, and bang, it opens in a nice GUI/look feel. That said, I cut my teeth on command line stuff, and know a _little_ about Linux, having recently put IPCOP on a box (had dialup for a while, and wanted 'safe' surfing).

If I go for the dual-boot solution, that will solve the web server issue, but I _really_ don't want to have to reboot every time I need to use the localised web server.

If there is a suitable Linux distribution (like Ubuntu, or an Ubuntu flavour), that can replace the W95, and also if I can run the 'equivalent' of those Win apps on a linux box (and have the GUI), then I may just make the switch.

Here is the reply I got from a Linux forum, after I made the initial enquiry, the reply may save someone here a lot of time in answering what *nix apps can/wll replace those apps running on the W95 box.

Looking at the apps you have listed you'll find that most distros have appropriate replacements already built in.

* Pegasus Mail -> Mozilla Thunderbird (http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/) or Evolution (http://www.gnome.org/projects/evolution/)
* Office 2000 Developer suite -> OpenOffice (http://www.openoffice.org/)
* Sygate firewall -> IPTables (http://www.netfilter.org/) - SuSE also has a GUI frontend called SuSE firewall (http://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/feature/2745.html).
* AVG anti-virus -> Avast! for Linux (http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-for-linux-workstation.html) or BitDefender.
* M$ Money (I think TurboCash will run on *nix ?) -> GnuCash or KMoney
* M$ Works -> Depends.. use openoffice or Scribus
* Mozilla -> Most distros ship Mozilla as well as Firefox
* Filezilla -> KBear, gFTP, IglooFTP ... though I use lftp or ncftp (both console based) Though Filezilla is coming to Linux. ;-)
* Kiwi syslog daemon -> Syslog on Windows is normally a port from Linux/Unix. You'll find you have one by default.
* Powerchute UPS monitor -> Most ship with UPS monitoring software. Here is APCupsd, NUT, and Powerd. Both KDE/GNOME have desk applets that sit in the tray to monitor if you like. ;)
* Nero CD burner -> Nero have a Linux port, though most prefer K3B
* Beyond Compare -> KDiff
* Norton PartitionMagic -> Can still read Linux partitions, though I find that the Linux fdisk does the job for me. (reads/writes Windows, Linux, Sun and many more partitions).
* Crimson Editor -> Kate, KDevelop, Eclipse, gvim/kvim or gvim/vim
* Irfanview -> Linux comes with a swag of Image viewers/editors. GIMP is most popular.
* PowerArchiver -> KArchiver, Klik and built in support in Konqueror.
* Adobe Reader -> Adobe has a Linux port. Though there are many free ones normally that ship with your distro.. such as XPDF and Ghostview.

You'll find that almost everything you do under Windows has an alternative Linux program under Linux.

I'd be most grateful if someone can advise if Ubuntu will be a suitable 'desktop' replacement please.

Oygle

hoosemon61

January 5th, 2006, 05:35 AM

I'm a new (within the last 6 months) user of Ubuntu, and agree whole-heartedly.

I was lucky enough to be given a PIII computer with Win98 corrupted, that didn't have enough of anything to run XP, so I installed Ubuntu. I have the luxury of playing with it on non-essential computers (I now have 2 laptops and 2 desktops - total investment about $60), and can muck around figuring out how it works and what's available.

I can't say enough about how impressed I am with how well Ubuntu runs and how little it requires in the way of hardware resources. It continues to amaze me.

My command line days are many years behind me, so I struggled with that a little, but no big deal. The community support is awesome.

Not to sound too corny, but the way Linux has been developed and continues to be supported really demonstrates the power of positive human energy. That's what it's all about (IMHO).

Thanks to you all.

PS: Just what is Kubuntu anyway?

Hoosemon

aysiu

January 5th, 2006, 07:00 AM

PS: Just what is Kubuntu anyway? Ubuntu with KDE instead of Gnome.

estel

January 5th, 2006, 03:57 PM

Hi,

I'm a complete noob, so please be nice to me. :D

We try our best :), though this reply is delayed...

Is Ubuntu for me ? I don't know, but I need a 'desktop' replacement, and someone recommended either Suse Linux 10 (http://www.novell.com/linux/suse/), or Ubuntu (http://www.ubuntulinux.org/). Now when I register here, I see there are 'flavours' of Ubuntu, so now I'm really confused.

Flavours? There're Edubuntu, Kubuntu and Ubuntu. Kubuntu is identical except it comes with a different GUI; Edubuntu is for distribution in schools and things.
Additionally, there're Warty, Hoary, Breezy and Dapper; which are code-names for past versions of Ubuntu. (Warty and Hoary are old, Breezy is the current release and Dapper is the future release). All of these are free...

I've spent sometime doing some Googling, about the issues involved with replacing the Win95 OS with a Linux distribution, that would be suitable both as a 'desktop' and also run a (LAN only) web server.

1. The problem is of course, is the old OS, Win95b, and the continuing problems of more and more apps not running on it.

Yeh... can't you replace with a new *******?

2. I also would like to run a web server on that computer
Easy peasy :P

4. I do have Nortons PartitionMagic, so that is also an option, to have a dual-boot box, one boot could be the 95b, the other can be a 'real' Linux OS, just need one that can run Apache, PHP, MySQL,etc, something to replicate a web server I use on the net.

5. The applications I use on the W95 box are:

...

How many of these desktop applications can be replaced by a similiar product, to run on *nix, and at what cost ? Can you get a GUI look on Linux (ignorant, aren't I ).

6. What about drivers under Linux, the printer, the LAN, monitor,etc,etc ?

All of those applications you were informed about in the other forum were gui applications; with a few exceptions where there are more than enough GUI alternatives.
Drivers might be more problematic. As might which GUI you can run...

Can you post the specs of the box onto here so that we can see whether Ubuntu will most likely run properly? As it is, if it is running Windows 95, I'd imagine it's an older computer and might not run GNOME. However, you can do a server installation and manually add a GUI such as XFCE which doesn't use as much in the way of system resources as GNOME or KDE.

I do like the easy methods when using Win products, like I double-click a tar.gz file, and bang, it opens in a nice GUI/look feel. That said, I cut my teeth on command line stuff, and know a _little_ about Linux, having recently put IPCOP on a box (had dialup for a while, and wanted 'safe' surfing).

This is more than feasible in Linux. Linux has left the realms of being only for CLI nerds ;).

If I go for the dual-boot solution, that will solve the web server issue, but I _really_ don't want to have to reboot every time I need to use the localised web server.

Looking at the applications above, I don't think that you'd have to dual-boot. There are windows apps that will allow you to do exactly the same thing. My only concerns really are for whether you 1. Like the application look and feek 2. Can transfer any existing data over (you'll need to save the MS Works files as RTF or another inter-changable format).

Other than that, it might be worth a shot. Though I don't think you'll be able to have GNOME.

Nightwind

January 11th, 2006, 12:34 AM

Hi this link might also help some folks decide which distro is right for them. It was an interesting "test" to see which distro is right for you and your hardware.
Hope this helps some one.

http://dw.com.com/redir?destUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zegeniestudios.net% 2Fldc%2F&siteId=3&oId=2100-7344-6019925&ontId=1001&lop=nl.ex

AzraelUK

January 15th, 2006, 10:42 PM

Thankyou for this brilliant topic - I've decided, Ubuntu is not for me. (I will go for MEPIS.) This should be put in the Ubuntu Wiki.

PS. I took the test that Nightwind said, and it came up with Kubuntu, SuSE, Debian and Ubuntu. I hate KDE & GNOME (XFCE all the way!) and I don't like Debian for some reason that I am not sure about. I'm a bit more than a beginner so I wouldn't go for SuSE either.

Enter

January 15th, 2006, 10:52 PM

lol i didnt take any tests and i preaty sure ubuntu is for me, I enjoy the chalenges and i do them :D

khawar

January 21st, 2006, 10:01 PM

aysiu

January 21st, 2006, 11:10 PM

It is really a nice program and I have once tried it in my friend's computer; and even tried to install it; but no luck, no luck. I'm eally tierd from winxp and really trying to download ubuntu; but internet (WLAN) is a big problem and could'nt solve it; please any advice or help?? Some wireless just doesn't happen with Linux. The support isn't there as much as it is for other hardware.

Nevertheless, it's worth trying another distro, as they each have different hardware support. For example, PCLinuxOS didn't recognize my sound or USB mouse; Ubuntu didn't immediately recognize my monitor's maximum screen resolution (I fixed that, though); but Linspire recognized absolutely everything straightaway.

Trajik

January 24th, 2006, 07:18 PM

thanks ill probly get mepis

Trajik

January 26th, 2006, 06:32 PM

sounds ok

gordebak

January 26th, 2006, 11:25 PM

Ok, I am not an "absolute" beginner. I tried some other distros before. But when I switched to Ubuntu, I saw that I am a beginner in the world of Linux without problems. I am a 2D animator, and now I have a completely free animation and music studio in my laptop computer! No paying, no pirate software... Ubuntu is not just "free", it makes free!

I just wanted to tell that, yes, Ubuntu IS for me.

aysiu

January 27th, 2006, 12:32 AM

franklee

January 27th, 2006, 11:58 PM

Trippy. I enjoyed reading the article. Really, I came from Slackware to Ubuntu with few expectations. Being an ex slack user I have command line knowledge and was prepared to install, compile and alter any code that didnt please me....when I got here and installed 5.04 I was well pleased, not to mentioned AMAZED at how simple everything was. I dont understand any ******* user bitching about Ubuntus learning curve....There is barely a noticable curve, other than in icon placement, menu layout and basic aesthetic!

Take it from me....I used to run a BSD server and THATS a learning curve.

CHeers Team....Ubuntu ROCKS.

jamoodi

January 30th, 2006, 03:43 PM

I just tried the live cd in ver 4.10.I am in the uk and connected to the internet with telewest broadband cable.The usb modem is a motorola SB 5100 surfboard.Can i connect through my isp with this modem to the internet

jamoodi

January 30th, 2006, 06:48 PM

I jsut bboted from a full install.it found my modem but mozzila can't find nothing.whats wrong?

jamoodi

January 30th, 2006, 06:52 PM

is there anybody out there?

daller

January 30th, 2006, 09:43 PM

is there anybody out there?

I assume that we aren't wireless here!!!

But ADSL right?

Please give me the output from the commands below: (In that order!)

ifconfig -a

sudo ifdown eth0

sudo ifup eth0

route

cjwworld

January 31st, 2006, 02:07 AM

Hey, thanks for that fine article. I am in full agreement. I have and still having problems but I am willing to give it a try. I know I would not be let down. I have not posted much but have several that are very helpful. I want to learn and am learning every day.

Thanks for your hard-earned time

WickedGood

February 8th, 2006, 04:09 PM

I jsut bboted from a full install.it found my modem but mozzila can't find nothing.whats wrong?

Did telewest leave an Ethernet cable, if so so use that and it should automatically find it.

504harry

February 8th, 2006, 05:45 PM

I'm grateful for the information, but wonder if this misses the point. Most folk aren't expecting Ubuntu to be Windows - they are hoping it will be better.
Operations like using a mouse, clicking etc are almost second-nature - - much like transfering from pen to pencil - - we don't expect to have to re-learn how to use it (although we expect a change in the result - you can't "rub-out" ink ).
Therefore it seems to me that for normal mass-user applications there are minimum requirements - Ubuntu appears to satisfy Keyboards, Mice, Screen and the Internet connection if connected when installing.
However, it is low on information when it comes to printing (esp from Gimp) and plug-ins for Java are just mind-bogglingly obtuse. Say ...it's not for me.....but to do so will perpetuate a strange consensus of what an OS should be.....
/
I suggest that it should be transparent - you should not even notice it's there - like writing: your thoughts are transferred to the page. The technicalities of getting refined ink into the pen reservoir, into the nib, the metal plating, width of tip - indeed most that folk notice is the furry bit on the end which collected in your pocket.
For an OS to have appeal it must not get in the way of the work at hand......then the Q ".Is Ubuntu for you?" ...will not even be a passing thought.
FWIW....Two other areas that need attention IMHO are Partitioning prior to installing and Updating (which seems to be every six months) - I should like to have a "new" OS alongside the "old one" - only then maybe I can delete all the old files.........I have a distinct un-ease with adding update files without a fall-back position.
/
Ubuntu is getting close(r).....so don't let's hear a cop-out.....of course it is for everyone .....but maybe soon.

aysiu

February 8th, 2006, 07:10 PM

I'm grateful for the information, but wonder if this misses the point. At the time I wrote the original post, there were a flood of threads where new users were basically disappointed that Ubuntu didn't meet their expectations, either because someone overhyped Ubuntu for them or they just didn't know how much work can go into installing an operating system.
Most folk aren't expecting Ubuntu to be Windows - they are hoping it will be better. Well, to be more precise, most folk expect Ubuntu to be a better Windows but still like Windows. My point is really that it's not like Windows at all. If it's better, it's better in its own way.

Operations like using a mouse, clicking etc are almost second-nature - - much like transfering from pen to pencil - - we don't expect to have to re-learn how to use it (although we expect a change in the result - you can't "rub-out" ink ).
Therefore it seems to me that for normal mass-user applications there are minimum requirements - Ubuntu appears to satisfy Keyboards, Mice, Screen and the Internet connection if connected when installing. Mouse-clicking is second-nature now that people have become used to it. It wasn't second nature in the early eighties when everyone used just keyboards. It also doesn't make sense to talk about "normal mass-user applications" and then associate that with "installing." Normal mass-users do not install operating systems, and that's the truth.

However, it is low on information when it comes to printing (esp from Gimp) and plug-ins for Java are just mind-bogglingly obtuse. I don't even know what you're talking about.

Say ...it's not for me.....but to do so will perpetuate a strange consensus of what an OS should be.....
/ Yes, the strange consensus that for an OS to be worthwhile it needs point-and-click for everything.

I suggest that it should be transparent - you should not even notice it's there - like writing: your thoughts are transferred to the page. The technicalities of getting refined ink into the pen reservoir, into the nib, the metal plating, width of tip - indeed most that folk notice is the furry bit on the end which collected in your pocket.
For an OS to have appeal it must not get in the way of the work at hand......then the Q ".Is Ubuntu for you?" ...will not even be a passing thought. Here's the difference: you're talking about what Ubuntu should be--how it might be in the future, what it should shoot for. I'm dealing with the here and now. There are real users and a real current operating system. Those new users should know whether Ubuntu is worth an effort or not.

FWIW....Two other areas that need attention IMHO are Partitioning prior to installing and Updating (which seems to be every six months) - I should like to have a "new" OS alongside the "old one" - only then maybe I can delete all the old files.........I have a distinct un-ease with adding update files without a fall-back position.
/ The fifth link of my signature walks you through that entire process with screenshots. I don't see how it gets easier than that. If you find point-and-click second-nature, use Fedora, Mepis, or PCLinuxOS--something I suggested in the original post... just because Ubuntu isn't for you it doesn't mean you can't use other Linux distributions.

Ubuntu is getting close(r).....so don't let's hear a cop-out.....of course it is for everyone .....but maybe soon. Why "of course"? I don't believe that at all. No matter how much Ubuntu improves, it'll never be "for everyone." The beauty of Linux is choice.

daacosta

February 11th, 2006, 05:16 AM

I have been using Linux for about a year and I have tried several distros on my Compaq 5000 box ranging from Xandros to Fedora Core and the fantastic Damn Small Linux... Even after having used several distros I don't consider myself a linux guru and I am at most a user with enough knowledge to hurt myself :mrgreen:

I don't know if Ubuntu is for me or not but I will relay how I started working with it (It has been a day Not a long time but still...)

I was strolling at a Borders bookstore looking for Linux porn magazines (You know: Linux Format, Linux Journal, hmmmmm! * me moaning quietly *) and spotted Linux User and Developer (Issue 56) with a nice CD with Ubuntu Breezy Badger... As you can imagine I don't buy those magazines for the articles [-( but for the CD's (I am such a perv for Linux distros) I decided to buy the magazine with the CD and to give Ubuntu a chance.

I was aware of Ubuntu's popularity from distrowatch and also about the fact that it was beating the pants of my favored distro (Fedora Core) so... What was the deal with Ubuntu?

Installation was an easy proposition and after 30 minutes my box was loaded with Ubuntu [I don't dual boot because my hard drive is not large... :-| ] I was asked few questions and the only minor stuff was configuring correctly the resolution of the screen that I fixed with ease [ System -> Preferences -> Screen Resolution... Hmmm! It asked for my root password but I didn't create any during the installation! Huh! The user has root priviledges? OK, I entered the user password and it worked... ] Frankly I was not turned on by the management of the root account in Ubuntu... I shall change the root's password for administrative tasks..

Connecting to the Internet was the next item. I did that easily as well: System -> Administration -> Networking. My modem is external but I already know the port so it was trivial entering the number of my ISP, account, etc. :mrgreen: However, the second time I had to connect to the Internet I was asked, yet again, for root's password and to reconfigure the whole thing... There is one item in the Networking program that asks for a Location. I entered the name of my ISP and now I don't have to go through the whole process of configuring the connection but... I am asked for root's password...

OK, the Internet works on my box and so I decided to use synaptic to download some programs that I like and to update the OS. :mad: Why aren't the repositories enabled by default? It escapes me so I did some search on these forums before screaming like a girl around here and found the solution right here where I was asked to check on http://www.ubuntuguide.org/ to solve some of my problems before screaming "HELP ME! HELP ME! LINUX IS TOO HARD!" around here... Good thing I read the fantastic manual before (RTFM) and remained quiet

Oh! What do I see? a some sort of update manager? Yes, that's what that is... :-? Funny, I checked all the repositories for synaptic and this thing is telling me that my Ubuntu is outdated :p Of course, I clicked on the update manager and it asked me to close synaptic. Not interested in downloading anything else for the time being, I closed synaptic and activated the update manager expecting to have to download 500 MB of patches :( Well, only around 60 MB were detected as updates needed for my box with only 64 packages... I mean, WOW! Even with my dial-up this was not a big deal so, update my box I did in about 6 hours...

System updated... Not a pain... What was next? See if I could play music on my box. Well, it did! I didn't have to tweak anything and sound juicer was already doing the job... Am I glad I can rip CD's as well!

I am not a sophisticated Linux user. I just want to see my box working properly without much pain. I was happy to see that I can play CDs (I haven't tried burning CDs) and rip music, to update my box painlessly, to install xboard and scid and make them work properly.

What will I do tomorrow with this?

* I need to add flash, java and other plugins to Firefox (Apparently synaptic can take care of this one...)
* Check if I can burn CDs
* Enable Gaim to chat [Seems easy enough...]
* Play a DVD on my box
* Install GNU EMACS [In my opinion it is unforgivable for Ubuntu to lack this...]
* See if there are any developer tools to code
* Change root's password [I can not agree with Ubuntu on this one... Sorry...]

I am not sure just yet if Ubuntu is for me but thus far it beats Fedora on a very important account from my subjective point of view: I couldn't make SCID work on Fedora... Have I been converted to Ubuntu? Not just yet but my experience has been pleasant overall...

rafucho

February 11th, 2006, 07:49 PM

aysiu

February 11th, 2006, 07:51 PM

daacosta

February 12th, 2006, 10:46 AM

I'm really impressed about Ubuntu... I just want to learn and learn... but I don't the resources to have a DSL or cable network connection, so I'll have to go nice and slow.... There's a lot on the net, and I can't download anything... Very sad about it, but I'll have to wait, thanks for everything, I got my CD's and loving to learn about linux....
chao!
Greeetings from Colombia,

Rafa

Vea pues... :mrgreen: [Yo soy paisa Rafa...]

Following up with my installation notes I can say that getting java and flash plugins to work on my box was easy. I just tweaked a little the repositories in synaptic to include multiverse (whatever that is...) and lo and behold the plugins were found (the jre version is outdated but I can live with it... and no, I am not planing on installing the latest by hand...)

I had problems burning CDs using nautilius so... I installed k3b :-D I know, it is not a pretty and consistent solution but it works for me and k3b is just ultraslid (I haven't tried gnome's burner...) I have also started ripping music for my music library so that I can listen jazz while I am working on my computer... I also installed GNU Emacs on my box...

What's next? I need to learn how to write simple scripts and save them properly for administrative tasks that I like to perform routinely... My box is just cool and you all should envy me :rolleyes:

Other things I did:

1. Made desktop icons available [Trash, home folder and computer.]
2. Added a force quit button and a terminal at the toolbar... I am still undecided about adding the networking one... Added a couple of games by using the applications menu editor... I also had to fetch some cool icons for those games but that was easy...

I guess my box is completely set up...

noko

February 12th, 2006, 04:19 PM

So far I am impressed with Ubuntu, at work we had a number of old machines, PII and a few PIII's that the company gave away. So we configured or tried to fixed some of the Win95/98 problems which always asked for this disk and what not. Getting fed up with the lack of support nowdays (it seems) with an older OS and not worth paying the bucks for a newer version of Windows to install on these old machines. If we did, I think we would be sadly disspointed in the performance. Anyways we ended up with a Ubuntu disk set, Live and Install. What was funny was the Live disk was automatically running the sound cards, finding ethernet cards while Windows we didn't have the device drivers. Anyways we just started wiping off the old MS OS's and installing Ubuntu which gave a more up to date modern interface packed full of usable programs. What could be easier :). Then we gave away and split up the machines to many of the workers, all 100% software legit.

Since I had virtually a whole machine in my drawels at home I decided to rebuild her and now I have Ubuntu on a second machine. Too new to really have problems I guess, more later. Good thread.

daacosta

February 13th, 2006, 06:17 AM

But you know what else is good about Ubuntu? That it is a good platform to learn Debian! :mrgreen:

Did anybody else had problems with nautilus for burning CDs? Why that cheesy serpentine program in the distro? [-( Is a total piece of crap!

greateastern

February 13th, 2006, 09:27 AM

Having tried Hedgehog live CD I thought Ubuntu might be for me - exceot that it can't cope with my mouse (does it have something against Microsoft?). However, when I tried the Install version it wouldn't let me see let alone partition my primary hard drive (is that because it is SATA?) and then when I downloaded Badger and tried to install that the process just stopped. Since I didn't get a reply to my question in installation forum I'm guessing Ubuntu ain't for me:(

Cheers anyway,

Andy

fredricsolstad

February 13th, 2006, 08:58 PM

Yup.. it's for me.. I can do all the things I want to do in it, and then some.

WhoDoYouBunTu

February 13th, 2006, 10:53 PM

shannonss

February 20th, 2006, 12:03 AM

In light of a recent thread by a user who felt misled by Linux zealots (http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=62866), I thought it appropriate to create a thread to avoid misleading potential users. I'm telling it straight here.

I'm talking to you, potential user. You've used Windows almost all your life. You think you know a little bit about computers. Maybe you know a lot... about Windows computers. Thought you'd give the most popular distro on DistroWatch (http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major) a chance, eh? Well, let's see if Ubuntu's the right choice for you.

Hardware
First of all, keep in mind that any OS will have its hardware limitations. People have endless arguments about why Linux doesn't support absolutely everything. It does come close, but there are some gaps. I know that wireless can be a toughie. I've heard Lexmark printers are almost a no-go. I'd say in the vast majority of cases, you'd be surprised at how much Ubuntu does recognize without any configuring, but you may end up with too low a screen resolution or something.

General distro rule of thumb: if the distro doesn't recognize more than two of your hardware pieces (say, the internet, sound, and screen resolution), you've got the wrong distro. Don't fight it. You can if you want to, but it'll be frustrating. Just get a new distro. Libranet was a pain in my *** when I tried to install it--no internet, weird screen resolution... it wouldn't even recognize my mouse. I tried Ubuntu and only my screen resolution was off. I tried Mepis, and it recognized everything.

Software
There are many Linux equivalents for Windows software, but not for everything. Some Windows programs can be run in Linux with some helper applications, but some programs are just hopeless. Find out. Ask questions. If you think you have some Windows-only programs with no Linux substitutes, pop a question into a forum, "I use Macromedia Shockwave. Is there a way to get this working in Linux?" Don't expect too much (Linux can't run everything Windows has), but don't expect too little either (Linux often has more variety, and some programs are even better in Linux), especially if you have money for Cedega or Crossover Office.

Interface
Can you copy and paste instructions? (http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=59334) I mean literally copy... and paste? You can't? You hate the command line? You'd never want to even touch the command line once? You don't have any frends who are willing to install Ubuntu for you? Okay. If you answered no, no, yes, yes, and yes to those questions, then Ubuntu is not for you. You're probably better off with Mepis or Linspire.

If, however, you embrace the command-line just for setting up Ubuntu you'll realize it's easy to copy and paste stuff that people tell you to type in, and that once you've got things set up, you can graphical user interface most of the regular programs (email, internet, etc.).

Free Price
Does the lack of having to pay for something (software, OS, or even shipping) appeal to you? Maybe Ubuntu is for you. A lot of other Linux distros will be free but have a more up-to-date edition you pay for, or some subscription that gives you a little more. Ubuntu is free, free, free--no money for anything. Of course, if you want to donate and you have the money, go for it.

Free Software
The software is also not proprietary. In practical terms that means you don't have to enter an activation code or limit how many computers you can install the software on. And if you're a programmer, you can even modify the code. However, you should realize that a lot of what you consider "basic" may, in fact, be proprietary. If you want Java support and MP3 support and DVD codecs right away, and you're not willing to copy and paste some simple commands to get them up and running, Ubuntu is not for you. Blag and Mepis have some pretty good out-of-the-box proprietary formats support.

Community
Ubuntu's community is amazing. We even put up with trolls and Linux-haters. You'll find the vast majority of users here are knowledgeable, supportive, responsive, and patient. There are a lot of HowTo's as well and some good links (http://www.ubuntuguide.org).

Not Windows
Do you want an OS that's Windows without the spyware? Linux isn't for you. Linux is not Windows (http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm). Linux can perform tasks that Windows can perform and even more, but it is not Windows. If you can't come with an open mind to Linux, then don't come at all. It's kind of like going from Windows to Mac. There's a learning curve. If you don't have time to learn, just cough up some money for anti-virus and learn more about securing your Windows computer. I've done it. It's not that hard.

I know this generally sounds like a downer. I say use Mepis. I say use Windows. I say something may not work, or you may have to do a lot of copying and pasting to get something working. I just want to warn you. I don't want you to come in with weird expectations about Ubuntu. Please don't twist what's basically a marketing slogan ("Linux for Human Beings") to mean that just about anyone can actually install Ubuntu on any computer and not have to learn anything to get it working. You can't even say that about Windows. If you want to complain about the first thing that goes wrong, don't even bother, because I know you'll complain even if nothing goes wrong. You have to have a positive attitude.

However, if you can get past all that and say, "Yes, I do want a free OS. I don't mind copying and pasting a few commands in the beginning. I want something stable and a little bit different. I don't mind learning things and being part of a supportive and fun community," then dive in! The water is nice. Ubuntu can be a wonderful experience. I used Windows for twenty years, Mac for six years, and Linux for four months (tried more than twelve distros), and here I am using Ubuntu.

P.S. - try it out
You don't have to reformat your hard drive to give Ubuntu a try. There's a live CD that won't affect your Windows installation (From the Ubuntu CD case: Note that a Live CD is much slower than the fully installed Ubuntu system, but allows you to test Ubuntu without affecting your existing software). You can also set up a dual-boot whereby you can choose whether to boot into Windows or Ubuntu.
Thank you for the reality check! I have worked with windows for as long as I can remember, except for a brief period that I used it at work about 10 years ago.
I wished then that I had enough computer knowledge to make the switch.

Well I have and I am only having one problem w/ using my wireless card but I have other ways of connecting so until I figure that one out I am still good.
Thanxs for the words of reality.
Shannon

wallacek

February 20th, 2006, 02:46 AM

Hi all,
I have experience with Unix and Linux (red hat) at work, but would like to install a dual-boot option on my new home system. I have a disk copy of Ubuntu, i'm just now formatting my new hard drive.

I don't know *squat* about this; completely learning as I go along.

What I want-
a system capable of doing everything I do at home with XP Pro, yet with the freedom and flexibility of Linux. I'm not much of a MS fan, to tell the truth.

I need all the usual; web access through my wireless G and/or ethernet card/cablemodem, SSH tunnel to work and back, Star Office or openoffice complete utility. I regularly run fairly heavy numbercrunching programs and 3D modeling programs, my new system's running an AMD 64, 250 GB Seagate HD, within a few months will be running raid 0 on another 250 GB hd. I *do* have a lexmark printer, which apparently may or will be a compatability issue, but I can work around that; my laptop runs XP only and I can wireless print from that, or from XP on the desktop system or whatever.

questions:
how much partition space do I allocate to each OS?
How to I prompt the system to invite me to select which OS i want to use? I'm not the only user on the home box, but i am the only one who'll be using Linux.

any other advice etc. is totally welcome.

For the record, i'm more hardware savvy than software savvy, which is probably obvious from my questions; as a mechanical engineer, I generally just let software 'do its thing' and tweak my hardware, but I am interested in this move to Linux.

thanks
k wallace

aysiu

February 20th, 2006, 03:24 AM

Wireless and Lexmark... hm. It may be tough for you. It may not--who knows?

I'd start by trying out the live CD first to see how well Ubuntu detects your hardware. Of course, it sounds as if you already started installing. A wonderful dual boot guide is the one Herman wrote (the fifth link of my signature).

aurifex

March 10th, 2006, 12:28 AM

Very well written. I first tried linux back in 99', with a RedHat distro. I remember what a rude awakening it was for me.

ruhani

March 10th, 2006, 08:59 AM

can any one tell me about Ubuntu, and Ubuntu features?

Mique444

March 11th, 2006, 03:13 PM

ruhani, give this faq a try: http://help.ubuntu.com/starterguide/C/faqguide-all.html

Mique444

March 11th, 2006, 03:20 PM

I believe that those of us who wish to learn the Linux OS are better off using Ubuntu. The main requisite being you need to build it up a bit in order for things to fit the way you would like them to be. You will not know what you want unless you research things a bit. Albeit, this is just my opinion. Some users see this as a not so bright idea, I'm sure. However, to each his/her own. \\:D/

3rdalbum

March 13th, 2006, 08:33 AM

Yes, Ubuntu is for me. Because I would consider myself an upper-intermediate user, I figured out how to use the terminal. Now, anything I can't do by pointing-and-clicking, I can do through typing commands. Archaic, but acceptable.

TRY A LIVE CD FIRST. If things don't work in that, they probably won't work in the installed version. I had a good experience with hardware compatibility because I'm using a Mac and all the hardware is pretty much standard.

dermotti

March 13th, 2006, 08:47 AM

Hell no ... :) ... honestly, linux sucks, but i've messed around with a bunch of distros and found that ubuntu probably has the best support community and is a pretty good product, but at the end of the day, it's linux, and it sucks ... i've spent quite a few hours trying to do something that windows does intuitively, i.e. use 2 monitors. i have a laptop, and when i plug in a monitor, windows asks me if i want to span or clone. linux just sits there like a dumbass and does nothing, and then u start messing around with xorg.conf, and after multiple times of replacing your xorg.conf with the backup, VOILA, still nothing. lol.

so i'm taking my self back to my fully configured, fully skinned (which would make any linux user drool), fully functional windows partition and wiping off the linSUx partitions :)

Maybe Linux sucks for what you use a computer for. For a HTPC person or a gamer, ill agree Linux is not up to par. Its a pain in the *** to configure.

But Lets see your Windows XP or Windows 2003 webserver come anywhere CLOSE to the performance of my webserver.

I can setup a webserver in 3 hours with the Ubuntu CD that will blow almost any windows box away.

Perfect Storm

March 13th, 2006, 09:05 AM

Dermotti, just ignore the troll. It's not worth it.

Smirre

March 15th, 2006, 02:39 PM

I never thought much of Linux up until i found distros such as Ubuntu. I just want to relax and use my computer, not get into a lot of hassle installing software and hardware. That's why I stuck with winXP.

But in the end, now that Vista is around the corner with all the "goodies" such as DRM and whatnot, I realize I don't really want to use M$ products any longer. Well, I realize I still have to use XP since I like to play games, but for everything else, why not go Linux? So I'm still a n00b to the whole Linux scene, but that doesn't mean I'm unable to learn how to use it, of course. I got Ubuntu up and running on another rig for starts, I'll move it over to my main rig as I learn more about Linux. So far I got it set up to play movies and other multimedia stuff, seems to work fine. All in all, Ubuntu is making my transition at least a bit easier.

Edit: Just read the forum a bit more, an Automatix seems like what I'm looking for. Great stuff. :)

Danny Boy

March 16th, 2006, 09:54 PM

Newbie to the forums and any flavor of Linux. The original post made me download the live CD verison just to play around with it for now. I'm pretty tired of the Windows dance (format and reinstall on a consistant basis). I originally learned PCs with DOS so while I haven't used command line parameters in a long time, I'm sure that will be some help.

There will definetly be some Windows based programs I'll miss, but not enough to stay with Windows. :p I already use open office so that's not a problem, I have a few questions but I'll search through the FAQ and forums to see if I can find answers if not I'll post a new thread.

Luckily my sister lent me her laptop, so I'll be able to get on here if I completely mess up my desktop. :)

Soon to be happy computer user,

Dan\\:D/

ubuntupadwan

March 19th, 2006, 06:36 PM

I took an intro class to unix a few years ago and did not like it much. I dabbled with redhat and it was ok but I was not able to get it to be functional for me, too much of a time commitment. I liked Ubuntu immediately. After working with it for a month or so I find it frustrating because I could not get my Palmone Treo to work with it. I had to go back to my XP machine in order to install useful software onto the Palm. It was functional, but if I did not go back to my old machine a good deal of the software I wanted to use, still would be unusable. Don’t get me wrong. I am highly interested in migrating over to Ubuntu and using it exclusively. But it almost seemed like Palm required you to have either a Mac or Windows OS. I do not see any Linux support offered by Palm. How do you get that to change? Especial since so many companies only cater to Windows or Mac.

ububaba

March 26th, 2006, 10:04 PM

Yeah, I was overstating the case a bit. I try to help out as much as I can, but I get really peeved when people feel entitled to help as if they're paying for it. The Ubuntu Forums gives pretty good support, but it's all a volunteer effort, so people should appreciate what they get. No one has a right to complain about the help people offer in their free time. No one.
I would say this is partly due to the culture differences and also the command
of English, which is not the mother tongues of most people of the world. On the
other hand as they say it takes all sorts. Personally, I find people really helpful.
Thanks and keep up the good work.:p :) :D:mrgreen:

Leif

March 27th, 2006, 12:47 AM

silvagroup

March 27th, 2006, 01:52 AM

Ubuntu is awesome. I had been trying as you recommended different distros for about 5 years. Finally got around to Ubuntu and there went windows as my desktop system.
I still run windows for those 2 programs which I can not find a linux native program. There will be those, but I run windows in Ubuntu, and you can never tell you are not in native windows. Using win4lin pro has freed me from dual booting !!!! Even running as an emulator windows performs the same. There are some very minor glitches, but nothing that could not be worked out in a few emails. Wine has also come along way and I run some windows programs under that.
There really is not any reason to not switch to Linux anymore.

hatstand

March 27th, 2006, 05:33 AM

I just hated windows. After about 3 months it was so slow that it took 2 minutes (not seconds) to open word. Then there is the whole secirity patch update and daily virus update that uses all the computer's resources for 5 minutes when you boot up.

I switched to Mandrake with KDE but didn't feel very supported and didn't like rpms. It was probably just because of the swift change from XP (I didn't keep a partition: I have an Xbox for games). Then I tried Kubuntu but didn't really like the one click wonder of Konqueror and KDE never recognised my usb memory disk and wouldn't connect to my workplace via SSH, so I "downsized" to Ubuntu and Gnome.

Couldn't be happier. It does everything and it does it in a way that I am beginning to understand. It can "just do it" like Windows (with Easyubuntu or Automatix) but is far more versatile and responsive to change, and far more geared to specific solutions.

The main benefit has been these forums. I find it hard to believe that people are so helpful. SUCH a change from Windows and MUCH better than Mandrake.

You are all either incredibly rich or unemployed (or maybe, just maybe, kind) to give so much of your time to helping us GUI-dependent newbies.

John_the_linux_newbie

March 30th, 2006, 06:49 PM

Hi Folks,

I'm an old guy. In the beginning of my computer life I used a Mac (Apple had the Japanese Language Kit before Windows supported Japanese input on an English OS); then I switched to Windows because Apple was charging $100.00 a pop for the language kit and Microsoft began to bundle the IME with Windows (Free).
Recently I've been poking around with Linux. I've read several posts here about Linux in general and Ubuntu specifically.

The reasons I like Ubuntu:
1.It works
2.With the help of the Wiki enabling Japanese input was a snap (it does require pasting code into the terminal though)
3.Installing software is usually easy with the Synaptic Package Manager
4.Every time I've had a question I have been able to find the answer in either the Wiki or in the Forum.
5.No one has flamed me for asking a question that the “average” young buck would never need to ask – Not being flamed and receiving CLEAR answers are priceless.
6.I think of Linux (Ubuntu) as a puzzle – one that we are all trying to solve. That makes the problems a bit more fun :-)
7.It's Free
8.There is a sense of community.

Scot Johnson

March 31st, 2006, 05:49 AM

Hi all,

Just installed Ubuntu 5.10 on my Gateway laptop tonight. I must say I'm impressed! Everything was configured out of the box (to include my Intel Pro wireless card) except sound. I think I can probably get it working after searching through the forums. I've been so busy installing packages that I haven't had a chance to poke around documentation too much yet.

Love synaptic! I think I'm really going to enjoy using this distro. So, yes, Ubuntu's for me. Hat tip to the developers.

frio

April 3rd, 2006, 07:10 PM

I would agree with this assessment. I am also new to Linux, as are many of those that have posted in this thread. I have tried a couple different distributions a couple of times before but that was a couple of years ago. Needless to say, in the past I did not find that it was a viable alternative. Now that I have spent a few weeks with a dual boot Win/Ubuntu setup, I may have been converted. Granted, it does help to have some general computer skills/knowledge and I would agree with others that it is a must to have an open mind and not have unreasonable expectations. Linux is NOT windows, and it should not be. If it were, I would not be looking for an alternative.

To those running and contributing to this community, GREAT JOB! It is the biggest (maybe only) reason I am able to get things working when trouble arises (WPA_Supplicant for 1). Next up... Remote Desktop Connections (VNC).

r0am

April 5th, 2006, 10:42 AM

Hi

Just wanted to say thanks to all who are developing this and other FREE alternative operating systems. I'm completely new to Ubuntu and Linux but my am I impressed.

I've had very little prob configuring my hardware, install was quick (quicker than another non-linux OS i wouldn't like to mention) and the end result is sexy, smooth and most importantly imo, its actually easy to get help if you need it.

Cheers to Linux community! I'm a convert! Now, must go and install Wolf:ET :D

take_one

April 5th, 2006, 12:04 PM

i feel like i need to encourage people to use ubuntu, so this is my contribution.

i am newbie, have linux (debian before) for quite sometimes, but never configured it my self. since my windows went death, i had to install linux and windows again (i sorta stuck with damn windows - my study "requires" me to use windows). this time my "system admin" installed kubuntu for me. about a few month ago, i don't have my linux admin anymore, so i gotta do it my self. guess what, i fixed K3B problem, installed java for konqueror and firefox and found out way to set my root password.

it's not diffucult, you just have to be patient, read carefully and complain less :)) - trust me, if i can do it then everybody else can...

ctrlaltdel

April 8th, 2006, 02:32 AM

thatz a gr8 articl 4 beginners....one of my frndz intimidated me reg the usage if UBUNTU....but after readin dis ..i feel i can work on it....Thnx 2 the author.....

HairyDave

April 11th, 2006, 10:04 AM

I have had Ubuntu installed for a couple of months now. The main reason for the install was just out of intrigue and curiosity. After two months of fault finding I now have a fully functional (for my needs anyway!) distro on my laptop.
I started with Fedora Core and found that alot of my hardware was not working, mainly sound and modem. I perservered with it for a while and tried numerous config changes but was getting more and more frustrated. I decided to try a different distro and as I had just recieved the Linux Bible through the mail, which had the ISO on, I decided to give Ubuntu a try.
The first thing I noticed is that the sound was working straight after the install. I still had problems with the modem but thanks to the friendly community of Ubuntu forums I managed to sort it out. I don't think that I would have had that amount of patience had it not been for the Ubuntu forums.

I am now completely satified with my install and the fact that the learning curve is still on the way up.

If you like computing, and feeling part of a community rather than a consumer then I think that Ubuntu is definately the way ahead as long as you don't mind getting your hands a little dirty!

Two thumbs up guys! :KS

Biff Baker

April 15th, 2006, 06:35 PM

Read about Ubuntu in Micro Mart a few weeks ago. Went to the web site and requested a CD. Received it in about a week. Loaded it and the only input from myself was the encryption key for my wireless. Up and running in about an hour.
Now a week later I am running Skype. and aMSN. The only problem I had was trying to run a DVD where I was told I needed an encoder. My brother sorted that in about 2 minutes (he has been using Linux for about 4 years)
He could never convert me but now I am converted as it's easier than windows to load and use.
Looking forward to posting more questions !!!

SomeoneWhoIsntMe

April 15th, 2006, 07:19 PM

It's my favorite distro. It's easy, but not neutered. Having so many packages is great, and the support in these forums is incredible.

2cute4u

April 15th, 2006, 08:31 PM

aysiu

April 15th, 2006, 08:36 PM

Well how about talking to me!!!! I've never used windows, and I'm sick of seeing windows as the point of reference. How about writing an "is ubuntu for you" article that doesn't make the assumtion "linux newbie= windows user" The vast majority of new Ubuntu users are ex-Windows users, and they're whom I'm addressing.

That's also why I introduced this thread by saying it's appropriate to create in light of a recent other thread--the first post of which begins (emphasis added): "I am suffering from winxp withdraw right now. I had some spare time during my summer vacation and thought I'd like to dive into Linux, deciding to skip dual-boot entirely. All I've ever used has been windows since 3.1." So, it's actually not an assumption at all.

When I see a barrage of ex-Debian users who feel misled by Ubuntu zealots, maybe I'll write an "Is Ubuntu for You?" for ex-Debian users, too. In the meantime, if you feel so strongly about it, write your own article.

Rasymas

April 17th, 2006, 07:32 AM

Gday,

I may sound like an ignorant but I don't know where to search for solution... So here it is:

I have dual OS pc.. XP and UBUNTU.. after my damn windows got 'broken' I've replaced them with fresh ones.. But now I lost an option, where I can choose Linux to load up instead of XP.. I can't load my UBUNTU anymore.. And I have no idea what to do.. If you know a solution, please let me know

Thanks in advance

ps. Happy Easter ;)

nmvr2600

April 17th, 2006, 10:50 AM

I like ubuntu.

aysiu

April 17th, 2006, 04:45 PM

I have dual OS pc.. XP and UBUNTU.. after my damn windows got 'broken' I've replaced them with fresh ones.. But now I lost an option, where I can choose Linux to load up instead of XP.. I can't load my UBUNTU anymore.. And I have no idea what to do.. If you know a solution, please let me know This link (http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=24113) should help. If you have further questions, please start a new thread.

mdsmedia

April 18th, 2006, 02:07 AM

Well how about talking to me!!!! I've never used windows, and I'm sick of seeing windows as the point of reference. How about writing an "is ubuntu for you" article that doesn't make the assumtion "linux newbie= windows user"Although this thread is aimed at Windows or ex-Windows users, for the reasons Aysiu explained in the opening post, if you read much of the preceding 19 pages you will find plenty of posts from people who've used other versions of Linux, and various other combinations as well.

The reason for the post by Aysiu was because ex-Windows or Windows users often seem to be looking for a "Linux equivalent to Windows", a replacement for Windows, or something similar. That is the purpose of this thread.

As far as whether Ubuntu is for you, if you never used Windows, have you used other Linux distributions? Are you a beginner?

I'm brand new(ish) to Linux and Ubuntu is the first distribution I tried. I booted the Live-CD and loved it. I have seen absolutely no reason to change. The learning curve is still quite steep, and I really almost hope it stays that way.

I don't want an OS that's so simple it takes all the decision making away from me, or more to the point dictates to me how it will do my thinking for me.

I'm an unashamed Linux fan, and an unashamed Ubuntu fan. I dual-boot with XP for a couple of programs I need Windows for, and when I learn how to VM I'll probably load Windows in a VM on Linux. Either way, Ubuntu has taken over most of the duties formerly "performed" by XP and I have definitely no regrets.

Danny Boy

April 18th, 2006, 05:11 AM

I posted in this thread some pages back. Since then I've went totally back to Windows, then totally back to Ubuntu, now I'm back to dual boot.

For me the only places where Ubuntu falls short are:

Internet speed. IPv6 should be disabled by default, there aren't many using it. Even with IPv6 disabled the internet isn't as responsive as with Windows.

Installing programs isn't simple, automatix makes it really easy but for programs other than what Automatix offers it's confusing the first couple of times especially with .rpm packages.

It would be nice if Gdesklets was installed by default just for the eyecandy factor.

After I learned how to theme Ubuntu and get gdesklets, windows looks so freaking ugly! Whenever I switch back I cannot stand how it looks and if I want to change the look of XP as easily as I can with Ubuntu I gotta pay for another program.

Olderman

April 18th, 2006, 09:01 PM

Well said. Hope to get Ubuntu working. Thanks

acrophile

April 19th, 2006, 03:19 AM

Hey aysiu,

I'm a Linux virgin who's been toying with idea for a long time. I've begun using freeware (OpenOffice, GIMP, etc.) on Windows and have loved it. My decision to switch is a principled one. Nonetheless, I am scared I'll mess things up because I know very little.

Your article was really helpful, well-written, honest and kind. It's the first one I read and it has encouraged me to pick up the gauntlet.

Thanks.

aysiu

April 19th, 2006, 03:30 AM

I'm a Linux virgin who's been toying with idea for a long time. I've begun using freeware (OpenOffice, GIMP, etc.) on Windows and have loved it. My decision to switch is a principled one. You're already ahead of where I was this time last year. I wasn't even using OpenOffice and GIMP for Windows. I was using Firefox, though. And, I was pretty much a Linux virgin, too.
Nonetheless, I am scared I'll mess things up because I know very little. That's a good attitude to have. Few things pain me than to see enthusiastic new users try to do an installation or dual boot before educating themselves.

I would highly recommend using a live CD for a while (at least two weeks--seriously). Yes, it'll run more slowly than a regular Ubuntu install, but it will give you a good sense of what hardware issues you'll encounter (if any) and how to deal with them.

It'll also make you familiar with the Gnome or KDE interfaces (and maybe even the command-line) so that by the time you actually get around to installing Ubuntu, you can deal with installation and configuration problems and not have to worry about interface ones. Does that make sense?

Your article was really helpful, well-written, honest and kind. It's the first one I read and it has encouraged me to pick up the gauntlet. Awesome. It actually was intended to scare people off, but I'm glad it had the opposite effect on you.

Some further reading:
http://ubuntu.xgn.com.br/ubuntu_user_guide.pdf

mdsmedia

April 19th, 2006, 04:03 AM

And, I was pretty much a Linux version [since edited to virgin LOL], too.Good to know you've ported yourself to Linux, aysiu ;)

Now you've taken the wind out of my joke lol.

aysiu

April 19th, 2006, 04:10 AM

Good to know you've ported yourself to Linux, aysiu ;) You know you've been posting too long when...

Thanks for keeping me accountable!

nsmith

April 20th, 2006, 10:19 PM

One thing that I have noticed (being a beginner at Ubuntu) is that at the beginning stage it is almost critical to have internet access. The initial configuration can be a hassle and without access to internet it is very time consuming and a difficult process. This is one huge difference that I have noticed with ubuntu and windows operating systems. Windows is so convenient that the majority of the initial configuration is done by cds. And if you dont have the cd then your neighbor does. For example windows codecs or acroba reader or winzip. I understand that these applications are easy to come by with ubuntu but they still require internet access unless your neighbor happens to have ubuntu or a Linux system

aysiu

April 20th, 2006, 10:43 PM

One thing that I have noticed (being a beginner at Ubuntu) is that at the beginning stage it is almost critical to have internet access. I've modified the first post accordingly.

airtonix

April 21st, 2006, 01:14 PM

it's just that I'm pissed by the fact that the ones who NEED to read this simply refuse to :mad:
kahping

bit like those southern baptists who wont read anything that is black listed by the vatican.....none of this "lets check this **** for ourselves."...no no no its all about labotomy.

You cannot help these biological entities. and thats all they are, humans are different from neanderthals because of our ability to create false memories, imagination. when you cease to investigate what your frontal lobe preposes to your subcnocious.....you forfiet your dutie to the great spirit thus voiding your warranty.

lol

lzprst

April 21st, 2006, 02:02 PM

This probably doesnt belong anywhere and its probably been done a couple of hundred times already, but I need to let off some steam.

Things that I wish Ubuntu would do that windows does.

1. Upon install, completely mess up all other OS'es I have installed requiring a complete reinstall of everything.
2. Spend at least 10 times longer to install and update.
3. Install stuff (on the default install) that I dont want\need.
4. Start programs on startup that I dont want to run.
5. Hide things from me so I cant clean things up properly.
6. Require a stepthrough wizard to connect to the internet suggesting I use my nonexistant dialup connection.
7. Require a restart whenever any update is installed.
8. Delete things on other harddrives when I perform systems cleanup.
9. Cost a few hundred/thousand $/£/€.

There. Anyone got some sarcasm? I think I just ran out.

Rasymas

April 21st, 2006, 03:45 PM

This link (http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=24113) should help. If you have further questions, please start a new thread.

Thank you Aysiu I knew you would help me ;) Thanks a lot.. Most of these tips seems useless to me, but I found one, which restored Grub.. After restoring that, I set Ubuntu to load up, but it got broked or smht like that.. I've reinstalled Ubuntu, lost some stuff though, but that's nothing compared to what just happened, the fresh installaion and hdd partitioning allowed me properly install Nvidia video drivers :) I' so happy, no damn errors ;) I've installed windows later, lost ubuntu from grub, then used that tip, everything works ;)

Thanks again ;)

kenws

April 21st, 2006, 05:24 PM

bit like those southern baptists who wont read anything that is black listed by the vatican.....none of this "lets check this **** for ourselves."...no no no its all about labotomy.

You cannot help these biological entities. and thats all they are, humans are different from neanderthals because of our ability to create false memories, imagination. when you cease to investigate what your frontal lobe preposes to your subcnocious.....you forfiet your dutie to the great spirit thus voiding your warranty.

lol
ROTFLMAO, I'm not new to linux but I'm intrigued by the Mad Penguin review of Ubuntu Linux 6.06. I bought Ubunto 5.10 AMD 64 bit full install and waiting until I read through this forum before I install. I'm one of the look before you leap type.
I'm doing the install on a Biostar TForce 6100, Sempron 64 3100+, 1GB Corsair Twinx 3200LL, BFG 7300 256MB, 80 GB HD, and DVDR+/CDRW. I've already found a few answers reading the postings and will go look for more. I use Suse 10 now and have used Mepis, PCLos, Redhat, and Mandrake. I'm retired and have the time.

Thanks to all!

last_one

April 22nd, 2006, 05:45 AM

Ive tried several linux os programs, and I have found ubuntu to be the best (not neccessarily the easiest to install). The install applications button/software allows me to quickly search for dependencies instead of aimlessly looking through 5 cd's of programs just to find the one.

I think I'm going to like ubuntu.

Gregory Alan

April 23rd, 2006, 02:15 PM

I love your Kitty!

PerryNZ

April 25th, 2006, 04:45 AM

What a great thread, with some diverse views! The points
I noted were the small point size (unkind to ageing eyes) and
the productivity vs Operating System tweaking desire. Lest
we forget, Billy G copied Apple's Steve J with the
popularising of the GUI. I use the ******* run command or
drop out to a DOS window, every so often. But, candidly,
that's like using a bicycle: only for short hops or when the
car's not available.

It's not just a matter of this, that or t'other flavour, or distro,
or 'brand' of Linux, it's a matter of productivity. There's
always a 'learning curve' lapse in productivity when there's
change. So folks need to see significant productivity
improvements ahead. Not solely to justify the losses while
learning, but to achieve more, quicker, in future.

Whatever way it's considered, using a PC isn't quite the
flick and go as is plug and play. There's quite a lot of effort
involved, no matter the OS. It's not just the getting started,
but all those little add-ons, adjustments, personal
preferences and so on, that are part of the program /
applications tuning that happens. Like auto-log-in-details for
checking in at the bank's site.

After a year or two, most PC users will have settled down
and have their PC doing what they want, as well as they and
the beast will allow. There will be the things that get done
hourly, daily, weekly, etc. Someone grumbled that they
wanted to spend time on these things, not tweaking their
OS. Someone listed their programs of choice. That's what
I'd expect, because that's what they use the PC for. The OS,
the PC and the software are the three wheels of the trike on
which the user gets around and gets things done.

With the big Six-O rapidly approaching, I have less time
and even less patience for change for the sake of change,
including software. Fear is what cripples my desire to move
away from the bad things I see on the horizon, through the
******* of my house. I recall Billy saying he wanted no
desktop PCs in the future. We'd all have terminals
connected to his mainframe in the sky – for an annual fee –
and he'd make it easy for us to do what he thought we
wanted (or ought) to do.

So, instead of taking the plunge, I pushed another into the
pool. Three networked PCs in the study: 2 x W2kP (one
with Ubuntu Live CD) 1 x Xandros. Guess who got the
dedicated Linux PC? My wife. She's fairly new to
computing, so the learning curve was going to be much the
same, either way. I help out when she's stuck, so I learn
from her, without compromising my own productivity.

Until I can scan pix & OCR docs readily under Linux, I'm
stuck. I run OO2, but don't use it much, yet. Same with
firefox. I avoid any MS web programs, so use Eudora and
Opera. MS and auto-updates seems an unholy alliance.
Linux seems to have the potential to blow away the clouds
on the ******* horizon. But, unless forced to, sooner than
I'm ready, until I can have greater certainty about post-
change productivity, fear is the inhibiting factor.

Even though I started with CP/M+ on an 8-bit, 4Hz Amstrad
with mono green screen and no GUI!:-({|=

DummieBoy

April 25th, 2006, 04:31 PM

Nice post !!!

Deviant.

April 27th, 2006, 12:57 AM

I like Subway sandwiches with chicken fillets, loads of veggies, and South West sauce, but it was hard switching to healthy subway from being a Burger King/Pie/curry/Maccas addict for so long. If I'd never taken that brave step through the doors of the Subway restaurant, and risked laying down my life by eating something I didn't know and trust, I never would have had the amazing experience I had that wonderful day.
It was like finding the woman of your dreams when you're about to give up on life. If I was religious, this would have been a miracle to me.

Then I switched from IE to Firefox, and that was another good lifestyle change that was scary to make, but benefitted me greatly and left me with no regrets. Firefox helped me lose weight, quit smoking, reduce my fat intake and it even cleans my bathroom every week (or maybe that was my girlfriend...).

Now I'm about to make a change to Ubuntu.
I haven't tried the Live CD yet, will do it tonight, but either way I'm going for it. You never learn anything without trying something new.
I don't think it will be compatible with my games, which are my #2 reason for having a computer (pron is #1), but I'm sure the answer is here somewhere and being such a highly developed individual of advanced and superior searching skills, I'll find out by myself (and ask if some kind of intelligence force-field prevents me from accessing results myself).

Nice leading post. I cut and pasted it elswhere with a link to the homepage, in hopes of converting others to our religion.

may the force be with you master.

cvmostert

April 28th, 2006, 05:54 PM

ubuntu is for me... !

Danny Boy

April 28th, 2006, 08:03 PM

Ubuntu is definetly for me now, I formatted and partitioned to reinstall Windows. I spent an hour waiting for windows to "setup" only to be told my activation key has been used to many times and to call customer service. I went through the whole process. punching in a 20 + digit installation ID only to be transfered to representive and told I have to over $100 for new a key. It's the same exact computer, I bought the full verison of XP pro a while back, and now they want me to pay to install it again. I don't care how many times I've reinstalled Windows it's my computer, I'm not installing on seperate machines. I wouldn't be reinstalling all the time if Windows wasn't so vunerable in the first place! :evil:

This is why I love Ubuntu and the openness of it. There are no activation keys, no body here at Ubuntu is worried about how many times you install or how many computers you install the same disc on. Heck you guys even encourage passing around the same disc. 8)

Luckily I'm computer literate enough to know how to install Ubuntu and use the basics. Plus this forum is unbelivablely helpful! One day, I'll be one the "old timers" who can answer everyone's questions. :mrgreen:

acrophile

April 29th, 2006, 01:14 AM

I would highly recommend using a live CD for a while (at least two weeks--seriously).

Thanks for the tip, mate. I've been fiddling about with Ubuntu installed of the OpenCD. I'm having no trouble transitioning to the new interface. The command line is a different kettle of fish, though.

I just saw that you'd replied to my initial reply almost immediately. I wansn't being rude or ungracious. It's just that I'm new to online user groups and fora and as such am unfamiliar with etiquette and technique.

Thanks again,
Acrophile.

Giga

April 30th, 2006, 04:40 AM

When a friend of mine (experienced Linux user) told me about Ubuntu..
one of the first things i read was this thread.
after i read also Linux is not Windows link (inside the thread)

after read it all.. i decide to go start in Linux, but much more councious (sorry bad english :P) than before.

Very well written and thanks for the clear explanations.
A must read , specially for those who want to get rid of Windows because they are tired of crashes and bugs.

And answering the thread: Yes, definitly Ubunto is for me :D

Thanks

jdusablon

April 30th, 2006, 08:17 AM

I just bought a new DVD rW. If K9Copy works with the new hardware, I'm 100% linux. I only ever boot into Winblows because of DVD Shrink.

Krikey. Talk about a killler app.

J

Kea

May 2nd, 2006, 12:56 AM

aysiu

May 2nd, 2006, 01:32 AM

If Linux is trying to become more widely excepted to the general public then they have to get the setup of basic components graphical. Surely you must have meant:
If Ubuntu is trying to become more widely excepted to the ex-Windows power users, then they have to get the setup of basic components graphical. SuSE, Linspire, and another of other Linux distros alreayd have graphical setup where Ubuntu is lacking.

And "the general public" doesn't set those things up in Windows, either. They usually ask a friend or relative who is more "computer-savvy" to do it for them. The Geek Squad (http://geeksquad.com/) exists (and gets used) for a reason.

By the way, if you look at Ubuntu's progress from Warty to Hoary to Breezy to Dapper, you can see that most of the "improvements" have been making graphical and point-and-click what was before text-only. Ubuntu developers aren't just twiddling their thumbs, you know.

openmind

May 2nd, 2006, 02:07 AM

I'm sure the answer to the OP is, when you really think about it, a personal one to each one of us. If there are 500 replies to this post then there should be 500 separate answers.

For me, Ubuntu was my first real dive into The Linux world, (I'd dabbled with Knoppix live CD, that was about it). I took to it fairly easily, I like to investigate my problems, and find solutions, I like to learn new stuff. For over a year Ubuntu was it for me.

Now I feel like I can comfortably head out into the big 'ole Linux world with relative confidence. So Ubuntu was for me a stepping stone from Windows to Linux. I wonder how many other folk that is true for? I would guess quite a few. I'm now a Linux man through and through, I'm convinced!;)

That's mainly thanks to Ubuntu.

ckonrad

May 3rd, 2006, 01:09 AM

yeah i would like to learn it but its going to take some time, i posted a thread on where to begin i feel like i am from another planet, lol.

Edward The Bonobo

May 3rd, 2006, 11:14 AM

Damn! If only someone had warned me about the Lexmark printer! Ah well...the dual boot remains. After 5 months of pain and frustration, I'm a convert. The useful, friendly community is a massive plus.

mbeach

May 3rd, 2006, 03:42 PM

Not too long ago when I first got a copy of Doom and was trying set it up for multiplayer in my dorm (so it was a little while ago), I recall a tremendous amount of command line stuff, and having to learn about interupts, dma channels and all sorts of good stuff (On a young Windows OS). I considered that fun, and I consider learning more about Linux and Ubuntu fun as well. If a fella just wanted to play Doom for the sake of playing a game, I'd suggest that fella just buy a game console.

I sort of feel that if you are *afraid* of computers and have your computer friend help you with pulling your second Dell/Gateway out of its new box, then perhaps Ubuntu is absolutely for you. What not might be for you is Video chats, and watching DVD's on your computer. I've setup 2 families with Ubuntu (they just wanted email, some im, and 'internet') and I haven't had a problem since. I ssh in every once in a while to make sure updates are being applied, but haven't had any serious problems.

My parents on the other hand are afraid of change, but call or email on a near daily basis to ask if they can say yes or no to "allow for this session/allow aways/no" for the various pop up blockers, spyware, and firewall software that came preinstalled. Perhaps Windows is their excuse for keeping in touch.

Your article (post 1) is well written and appreciated - good job.

Littleweseth

May 6th, 2006, 03:14 PM

Every time aysiu writes up a spiel, it reaffirms my belief there's some goodness left in the world.

/clap

Giga

May 6th, 2006, 09:35 PM

From time to time, i see people claiming about games in Linux.
Well, i already heard this from a experienced user who told me his Windows instalation has nothing , except games.

Ubuntu fits great as a desktop system for me.. after almost a month using it.. i just dont miss a single software that i use in Windows.
(really, no one).

What, i think would be a great advance, first, is the full support for some devices..like SATA II hds.
To NTFS write-support for SATA.. i just learn from here, few steps.... very simple.

I sent an email to Epox asking why they dont support Linux drivers (the guys told me they never support drivers for Linux before)

Is that so dificult to make a driver for a SATA 2 controller?
Why this companies dont make it? Are they payed to do just for Windows? :P

YOu see. look at Nvidia.. they always support drivers for Linux (one of the few companies who do that?) , and their productcs is for games.. like video cards.. and Nforce 4 SLI chipsets.
its kinda a paradox, isnt it? Why they support Video card drivers for for Linux.. if Linux itself is not full ready for games?? Who is supposed to make those drivers? Ubuntu development team or manufacturers?

Thx

Dark Tranquility

May 6th, 2006, 10:15 PM

I have Fedora Core 5 and it works just fine for me! why should I switch to Ubuntu? :rolleyes:

salttalk

May 8th, 2006, 05:12 PM

Hi. I'm a newbie and I know almost nothing about computers.

In the 80's, I was a computer programmer for a year. Then I became a tech writer for a few years. Yet, during the past 15 years or so, it's been amazing how much I have managed carefully to forget, and how far I have fallen behind the annoying advances in technology.

(OK, I think computer-industry years are something like double "dog" years, almost 14 per human year. So about 15 human years outside the industry would be nearly 210 computer-industry years.)

Anyway, quite a few months ago I received a free used computer from a friend in my church, to replace my even older computer. However, his computer had a Dutch Windows operating system. And I only speak English.

Thus, I either had to learn Dutch real quick, or get a new operating system. Since money was no object (there was not a single object in my whole house which could be called "money"), I decided to try Ubuntu Linux (one of the free OSs recommended by a techy friend).

At first, I was a little reluctant to try Linux, because of the juicy UNIX horror stories which battle-hardened techy soldiers used to embellish upon for their personal glory, back in the 80's, and due to my total ignorance of it. (I always felt inferior to those guys who could play around with UNIX.)

But I had to get that computer working, one way or another. Our family relies heavily on computers, because three out of four of us have neurological disabilities. (Computers are a real God-send to disabled souls, since they make communication and education much easier -- keyboarding uses two cognitive functions of the brain, while handwriting uses six.) Therefore, in desperation, I tried Ubuntu.

Actually, my apprehension was not entirely in vain. Sometimes I have spent days trying to get sound, or something else, to work on this Linux system. But I could have made the same things run in half an hour on Windows. After some months, I still can't get some things to run. Alas, my old scanner sadly sits idly by, on the table beside me, poor lonely thing. (I never used it much anyway!)

Still, with the help of this forum, and through the many other help files available (along with dear, sweet, gorgeous, lovable "Automatix," whom I may now call "my precious") I have been able to get Ubuntu to function very well, to do almost all my work as a writer (free Christian materials, educational and persuasive non-fiction). Of course, I must admit, to my shame, that I use my sons' Windows computers to do a few things -- but hardly ever.

Most of all, I love the attitude of Linux. Just imagine the hundreds of thousands of free man-power hours that went into a system like this! Literally thousands of people must have cooperated to produce this beautiful and functional system, along with the extensive support for this system. And the benefits are enormous for those who need free systems (like the disabled, or Christian workers without much of a budget).

Allow me to add this comment too: this system is almost a perfect example of the true biblical principles of cooperation in operation (although it would probably urk most of the money-grubbing false preachers on TV -- about whom I could grumble for hours, but will spare you my lengthy, severely negative diatribes).

Fortunately, I won't get too religious on you.

Nevertheless, apart from all my ramblings, I would just like to say a big THANK YOU to all who have worked so hard on this system and forum. Permit me to even say, "God bless you." Your efforts are very much appreciated!!! You have helped many people.

Greg.

nudnik

May 9th, 2006, 03:33 PM

Regarding SATA support; my drive is allegedly SATA II and it works better with Ubuntu by far than it does with Windows. There is such a contrast between the two OS when it comes to SATA in fact, that I suspect Windows XP does not adequetly support SATA under certain hardware configurations. Hopefully this will be corrected with the release of Vista, as there are certain things for which I continue to use Windows, such as music and video playback.

To date, all of my tests show that IDE support is about the same.

Nvidia driver support is much better under Windows as is audio quality if one is using HD audio. Security and data integrity are far superior with Ubuntu, however, making it indisposable.

Bachstelze

May 12th, 2006, 06:52 PM

@aysiu > May I translate this into French to post of some forum ? Mentioning your name and website of course :)

aysiu

May 12th, 2006, 06:54 PM

@aysiu > May I translate this into French to post of some forum ? Mentioning your name and website of course :) Please do!

EdThaSlayer

May 12th, 2006, 07:55 PM

Nice! Thanks for all the information that you put so much hard work in...

RAV TUX

May 13th, 2006, 02:21 AM

You're probably better off with Mepis or Linspire.

Blag and Mepis have some pretty good out-of-the-box proprietary formats support.

I know this generally sounds like a downer. I say use Mepis.

Nice intro. but I have too strongly disagree with the Mepis plug, I found Mepis is NOT a good distro for newbies.

I have tried many distros and just tried Mepis the splash screens while pretty are not what a newbie needs.

Mepis may be good for an intermediate user...but I have burned many iso images of distros and I as a newbie put every Linux Distro through an acid test.

The first is ease of navigation of the distro website, the second is ease of loading OS without stumbling blocks. The third of course is ease of use if the distro makes it that far.

Thus far Mepis has failed on both of the first two acid test. Ease of navigation: NOT easy; then loaded OS: (again while I had high hopes) NOT easy.

The solution is probably easy but I am not that inspired to use it now and have already moved on to the next distro "Fedora Core 5"

For newbies like myself I would first and foremost suggest Ubuntu and if you need help post for help here in the forum.

Now if like the premise of post #1, would be to suggest an easier alternative I would have to support a couple that I found great ease and success with:

1. Yoper...not just one of the easiest but also one of the most refined, elegant and intelligent distros. loading and partitioning is smooth, easy, and again intelligent.(KDE)
http://www.yoper.com/

2. PC-BSD...one of the quickest of all OS builds to install, smooth and uneventful. The KDE environment is knock your socks off sexy and fun and the downloads of software easy and simple from their website.
http://www.pcbsd.org/

3. Morphix/Gnome(combined heavy GUI 0.5pre4)...while this is still only good for the live CD. It is a wonderful and easy distro in development, the above two are great if you want KDE, this is a beautiful distro for Gnome. Again this is only a live CD(you can install but it is still too new). I say this is good for a Linux newbie who may have a EM64T computer because most are hard to get to run on advanced hardware including Ubuntu.
http://www.morphix.org/

4. Dreamlinux Studio Edition...another Morphix based live CD, excellent if you are into multimedia, music, video production. Simply awesome.
http://www.dreamlinux.com.br/english/index.html

Now my Ubuntu story, around last February 2005 my computer died. A friend gave me an old Windows 98SE, old Compaq. Her nephew had loaded Kazaa without a firewall for music. When I got it it had over 11,000 viruses on it. It would literally crash every 2 minutes. I managed to clean it up and get it running for about 20 minutes. Then our pet bunny chewed through the mouse cord and it wouldn't recognize the new USB mouse. Then it stopped recognizing my Internet connection.

So I had an old computer that would crash every 20 minutes, NO mouse, and NO Internet connection. needless to say I had, had it with windows. So I begin to research Linux. My first choice was SUSE, until I found out about Ubuntu. The initial reviews were a little scary because it was billed as being more technical but with more customization. The free with free shipping was a motivator as was the Ubuntu philosophy. So I ordered 100 CD's: 60 for PC, 20 for 64bit, and 20 for Apple. I figured if I was getting a free OS the least I could do is distribute for Ubuntu.

So I finally got the first delivery in of the H.Hedgehog...I put the CD in restarted the computer, nothing. Then I read the directions, completely reboot, so I disconnected the power and powered back up. It started, how exciting! It recognized the mouse and the Internet connection (DSL) and it was lightening fast! Ubuntu hasn't crashed yet! I got a new shipment of 100 Breezy Badgers, and I am now using Dapper Beta, since I just recently learned how to burn iso images. I happily distribute Ubuntu to friends, family, business associates, even customers(I am not in the computer industry), I even got my friend who happens to be my boss to load Ubuntu as a dual boot on his Fujitsu convertible Tablet.

My story is a success for Ubuntu and in contrast to the downers you may hear, very positive. While everyone has different stories based on their hardware or experience. Remember my technical computer experience was none and my hardware crap when I started and I had success.

Since then I bought an Intel EM64T dual-core with all the latest sound card and everything else...the problem is I can't get Ubuntu to load on it. Not even the live CD. I have had plenty of help here but no luck. I will continue to try. I look forward to the official new release.
:mrgreen:

To Aysiu great work overall on your hard work and I completely enjoy your inspiration and tack fullness.

.

Phion

May 19th, 2006, 08:58 AM

I've got some minor Linux experience (game servers/MUD shells/etc), built a few computers, but my core experience is normally gaming. I know people DO play games on Linux, but I don't require the level of power over my OS that Linux offers. I take decent care of my Windows-based system (Firewall/Virus Scan/Secure Web Browser), and started to wonder if I was ready to try out an alternative like Linux. I'd been curious about Linux for a while now, but this thread (and its subsequent links) have lead me to the decision that while I might still try a dual-boot to tinker with, it's probably best for me not to switch entirely.

In a sea of Linux Zealots and people who hate Microsoft for whatever reasons, I'm incredibly greatful that this community has resources like this to prime potential newcomers for headaches and benefits they stand to gain.

FeestBijtje

May 19th, 2006, 09:59 AM

Ubuntu is defenly for me ive tried over 20 diffrent distro's and every time when i am getting my time wasted on windows XP i dream about using ubuntu with msn messenger with webcam support and there is its called AMSN and "easycam2" works stable and perfect on an verry old webcam and after just 2 hours of thinking and brain crushing they all work. It just costs some time but its defenly worth it ive read this article and gave me crazy feelings about ubuntu i like it and i use it with love and passion for my computer ;)

FuzzyFiz

May 19th, 2006, 04:41 PM

I have a French friend in my department. I was always seeing him doing some strange but nice things with ubuntu,enlightenment and so on. I started to ask some questions. After all my Windows crushed twice in two weeks :mad: . Know I start using breezy and try to get familiar. I can say that it's great, no limit about customization. Definitly faster without more expenses.
I am just keeping my windows for Autocad and some that kind of programs other than that I am quıte hapy and peaceful with my ubuntu ;)

M@dMerC

May 21st, 2006, 05:58 PM

Hi,
I have just started installing Ubuntu tonite and i have to say that i am very impressed already and its still installing as I type. What has impressed me so much is the fact that when i was asked if i wanted to go online and check for updates i clicked yes and i was amazed to find that Ubuntu was actually downloading updates. Now this may not seem very amazing except that my ADSL internet connection is actually running straight from my Windows XP machine so Ubuntu had already found my network adapter and found its self through my hub and worked out that the strange machine at the other end was a windows machine that was connected to the internet and proceeded to use it as an internet gateway and it did all this with absolutely no help from me. Now i am new to linux but i have tried a few distros before and havnt even been able make it see the internet let alone have it do it without any of my help so i really do think this is the distro for me and once i have this months credit card bill payed off i will be sending a donation in the Ubuntu direction:P thankyou all so much for createing such a wonderful linux distro and putting up with this rant lol (sorry but it is 3am almost) anyway im off to bed while Ubuntu downloads its updates.

sanderella

May 21st, 2006, 10:07 PM

I just want to say thanks to all the Ubuntu community for the amazing work they have done in creating this os. It works! and it's fairly easy for an oldie like me.
I have set up 2 computers now, one running Windows, this one running Ubuntu, both working through a router at the same time on the internet. Isn't computer science wonderful? :)

When I was an undergraduate I had to do a course in Logic. I discovered I was one of those people who can't understand logic, although I scraped through the exam with a bare pass. It seems to me that computer programming is like logic, very clever, but mostly above my head. So I'm just using the os interface as-is, and finding out what it can do. I'm determined to get my head around it, and I do admire all you folk that can develop it.

Thanks for all your help.

lordharsha

May 22nd, 2006, 06:20 AM

I might not be online most of the time thru ubuntu. The post says that ubuntu is not the distro of choice in this case. Can anyone recommend any other distro?

aysiu

May 22nd, 2006, 06:24 AM

I might not be online most of the time thru ubuntu. The post says that ubuntu is not the distro of choice in this case. Can anyone recommend any other distro? I'd recommend Fedora, Mandriva, or Debian. They all have add-on CDs that are easily downloadable and burnable in Windows.

RAV TUX

May 24th, 2006, 01:40 PM

I might not be online most of the time thru ubuntu. The post says that ubuntu is not the distro of choice in this case. Can anyone recommend any other distro?

Yoper
http://www.yoper.com/

http://elevagemo.free.fr/emoticones/animaux/animo21.gif

Wasabi99

May 24th, 2006, 07:44 PM

....having tried Mandrake in the past.....and shamefully giving up after forgetting my root password on several occasions, I stumbled across Ubuntu just recently........setting it up has been less of a nightmare than I feared, but I realise that I have a hell of a way to go before I fully come to grips with it!
.....so a huge thankyou to the developers of this fine distro.....and I'll be in touch the next time I screw up!!!!!.....which will probably be in the VERY near future!!!

sanderella

May 24th, 2006, 09:26 PM

I forgot to mention: please visit my blog at www.menorot.com/blog.htm.
I'm still designing the Ultimate Tux Sweater, you can read about it.:)

teia

May 24th, 2006, 10:31 PM

Yes, Ubuntu IS for me!

One week ago my windows computer crashed and burned AGAIN!!! I went bananas and the little hair I had left is now gone for ever. But then I came to think of Linux and a friend of mine told me about this Ubuntu distro.

I went for it.

45 minutes later I had the Ubuntu system up and running for the first time. The first five minutes i sat there thinking something was wrong. Nothing was happening. I thought, is it finished?? Did I do something wrong? Did I miss something?
But no, the installation was complete and I didn't even have to install the service pack? Then the fun started. I started looking for my hardware...

Screen - check
Three drives - check
Screen - check
DVD - check
Soundcard - check
Graphics - check
Network - check
Keyboard - check
Mouse - check
Beer - check:-D

Is this really true? YES!!! I know it's crazy but it is actually true. Everything worked, and still do!!!

All the software I need are found on the dvd or internet, my computer seems to have doubled the power and I feel really satisfied. My day with the computer is changed totally and I never knew it could be like this.
No viruses
No spyware
No Ok, Ok, Ok, Ok........
No nag about updates
No stupid dog asking if you need help
No blue screens
No BILL GATES](*,)
And last but sure as hell not least NO anger over feeling cheated by the american bosses with their blue sutes.

Well I guess i've been lucky with my hardware and setup, but I have to say THANK YOU to all of you people out there busting you're butts to make this system work. You've done it, and you've done it good!!:mrgreen:

Teia

RAV TUX

May 25th, 2006, 05:53 AM

I forgot to mention: please visit my blog at www.menorot.com/blog.htm (http://www.menorot.com/blog.htm).
I'm still designing the Ultimate Tux Sweater, you can read about it.:)

Awesome blog! Mazel Tov !

http://elevagemo.free.fr/emoticones/animaux/animo21.gif

sanderella

May 25th, 2006, 05:17 PM

Toda, yozef.:)

bigkahoona

May 26th, 2006, 11:21 AM

I am one of the "tough cases", having worked (and still am!) as a Windows Administrator and having used Windows since 3.11, so everything *nixy pretty much gave me a hard time when I first started, but I knew that before starting and so I didn't let it get me down.
The only advantage when starting to use any Linux Distro after having excessively used Windows for 15 years is that you aren't really afraid of breaking anything as you've seen a lot of things broken many times before. ;)

So anyways, I installed SuSe 9.2 last year and still have it installed as a secondary OS sitting next to Windows XP on one of my notebooks.

I have now installed Dapper Drake Beta 2 on another notebook and I must say I am thoroughly impressed! I couldn't believe it when even my PCMCIA WLAN card was recognized and worked on install without additional driver installation or workarounds. Try that in Windows! Ok, I bought it with Linux support in mind (went for an Atheros chipset), but still.
I am now upgrading this notebook's memory, because it's going to get a Windows XP install - but as a Virtual Machine in Ubuntu only. :-D

After having looked at Linux a few years back and then again recently, I must say the dev community has come a long way to where we are now with regards to desktop deployment. The amount of hardware that works "out-of-the-box" is truly impressive.

I think the analogy of learning a new language to getting used to Linux after using Windows for a long time is a really good one.
That's why I decided that my son (6 yo.), who has just gotten his first computer, will grow up "bilingual". I have installed Edubuntu as the main OS and a bare XP system (without programs, just sound/graphics drivers and the mandatory F-Secure AV), in case he wants to play games. That way he learns about both Linux and Windows and can later decide for himself what he favors (I am willing to place a bet on Linux, actually).

Personally, I think SuSe is good (I am not a big fan of .RPMs), but Ubuntu just ROCKS HARD!

At work I am forced to sysadmin Windows systems, at home it's become only a secondary OS.
Thanks to everyone dedicating their time to develop and maintain the Linux Kernel and to those who gave us Ubuntu!

Ubuntu is *definitely* for me.

*PS: The wife's been pestering me for a while now: "So, when are you going to install this Linux on my Notebook??"
This weekend, Darling, I promise! :-D