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Topic: linux ubuntu.... what do you think (Page 1 of 2) Pages that link to <a href="https://ozoneasylum.com/backlink?for=29217" title="Pages that link to Topic: linux ubuntu.... what do you think (Page 1 of 2)" rel="nofollow" >Topic: linux ubuntu.... what do you think <span class="small">(Page 1 of 2)</span>\

 
jive
Paranoid (IV) Inmate

From: Greenville, SC, USA
Insane since: Jan 2002

posted posted 05-17-2007 00:54

I just installed ubuntu throught the wubi installer (very impressed. very easy install, sets up everything including dual boot for you) And so far, I am
extremely impressed with it. Very nice gui, stable, clean and easy to use. Have you tried this out yet? What do you think?

reisio
Paranoid (IV) Inmate

From: Florida
Insane since: Mar 2005

posted posted 05-17-2007 01:09

It's Debian with more bloat. The GUI is GNOME, and it has incredibly little to do with Ubuntu except that Ubuntu redistributes it (often with a brown or orange theme and many pictures of nipples).

That said, if you're using Windows or Mac OS less, you've made a great step.

jive
Paranoid (IV) Inmate

From: Greenville, SC, USA
Insane since: Jan 2002

posted posted 05-17-2007 02:57

I think wubi is just the installer... am I correct?

Blaise
Paranoid (IV) Inmate

From: London
Insane since: Jun 2003

posted posted 05-17-2007 11:20

If you've installed it and it works without any problems then congratulations, Ubuntu have really made a lot of headway for the Linux community into the Desktop computer market as Red Hat did before them.

They still have a long way to go though as hardware support isn't quite there, of course some will argue that is down to the Hardware manufactureres not the OS's.

I've tride out a few desktop Linux distro's and the Ubuntu family are definitely my favourite in terms of ease of install/use and the features they come with.

Give it another 3-5 years and I bet Linux will have hit the nail on the head.

Tyberius Prime
Maniac (V) Mad Scientist with Finglongers

From: Germany
Insane since: Sep 2001

posted posted 05-17-2007 11:38

Now... tell me one thing: Does it jump when I say hop?
I've been having that problem with all windowses and mac os x as well,
that often, they turn into a sluggish state when something is working heavily in the background - but
not that heavily that I shouldn't be able to work in the foreground. Especially, if I have a VM running at 100%
(two cpus in the machine though).
Nevertheless response time to human is way more important than 'important calculation' in a background process...

Now, all the linux boxes I've used where basically sshed to without a gui... they never felt sluggish , but it's also
a quite different level of user interface... how about the linux desktops?

So long,

->Tyberius Prime

White Hawk
Maniac (V) Inmate

From: zero divided.
Insane since: May 2004

posted posted 05-17-2007 14:08

Sorry to butt-in, but would anyone recommend this as a good first-timer's intro to Linux?

................
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Skaarjj
Maniac (V) Mad Scientist

From: :morF
Insane since: May 2000

posted posted 05-17-2007 15:04

Yep. There's a few others that are equally as good, but Ubuntu definitely rates up there with them. Where I work, we use Ubuntu Dapper server edition as the recommended server OS that we support (we will, of course, support any distro of Linux they choose, but we prefer Ubuntu or Debian).


Justice 4 Pat Richard

DL-44
Lunatic (VI) Inmate

From: under the bed
Insane since: Feb 2000

posted posted 05-17-2007 19:03

As a linux first-timer myself, I found Ubuntu to be very well put together, and easy to handle...for the most part.

My biggest gripe is the lack of a real device manager. There is an program that is called a device manager. It falls miserably short of the name...
Last I checked, a full blown manager was on the to-do list, but as a low-priority.

My next biggest gripe is the poor font rendering (at least on the laptop).

If those things worked out, I may be set to switch to Ubuntu full time on my lap-top.

CPrompt
Maniac (V) Inmate

From: there...no..there.....
Insane since: May 2001

posted posted 05-17-2007 21:51

I've been running (k)Ubuntu on my home PC for a while now. Love it. Upgrading from one version to the next is simple as it gets IMHO.
I went with Kubuntu because KDE seems to fit me better.

There are some performance things you can do to speed up Ubuntu that seem to work pretty well. Turning off IPV6 and the such.

quote:

DL-44 said:

My next biggest gripe is the poor font rendering (at least on the laptop).



I had that problem even on my PC. I installed the ms font package (I'll have to dig up that link on it) and it seemed to fix a lot of the issues I was having. Namely, running Photoshop through WINE.

@jive , have you checked out Amarok? That's a pretty slick audio player.

Later,

C:\

jive
Paranoid (IV) Inmate

From: Greenville, SC, USA
Insane since: Jan 2002

posted posted 05-19-2007 09:19

No, not yet. But I have run into several great programs. Overall, I like it. The Wubi install was smooth, and I like the Gnome interface so far. I will try Kubuntu soon to try out KDE...

I do miss using my dual monitors however...

CPrompt
Maniac (V) Inmate

From: there...no..there.....
Insane since: May 2001

posted posted 05-19-2007 13:19
quote:

jive said:

I do miss using my dual monitors however...




Ubuntu supports dual monitors. You can also install the KDE window manager under Ubuntu and switch back and forth.

Later,

C:\

jive
Paranoid (IV) Inmate

From: Greenville, SC, USA
Insane since: Jan 2002

posted posted 05-20-2007 03:15

How do I enable my dual monitors? Oh would love to try the KDE window manager...

kuckus
Paranoid (IV) Mad Librarian

From: Glieberlermany
Insane since: Dec 2001

posted posted 05-20-2007 14:36

jive, if you open up Synaptic and install the "kubuntu-desktop" package, you should be good to go. There's a "sessions" switch at lower left of the logon screen that lets you choose whether to use KDE or Gnome..

This post is being written on an ubuntu installation without any "K"s on it, though

The dual head support depends a lot on your graphics card. I've been using ATI cards mainly and couldn't get it to work properly as yet
But I have to admit I didn't try very hard.
Did you try a search @ http://ubuntuforums.org/ already?

WebShaman
Lunatic (VI) Mad Scientist

From: Happy Hunting Grounds...
Insane since: Mar 2001

posted posted 05-20-2007 23:09

I find Ubuntu to be fine - as a linux n00b, it is not bad (ok, so I played around with Suse - so sue me )

Ubuntu is for me the first real "challenge" from linux to M$. It moves things from the expert level, to the n00b level.

And that is where the battle is being waged. See Firefox for details.

The only thing still missing, is the ability to easily use Windows applications and games in Linux.

I think that would break M$ hold on the OS market right there, just like Firefox did.

As DL has pointed out, however, there are still things that really need to be addressed by Linux installations, before I believe it will be truly "n00b friendly".

I am really waiting for that day to roll along. I sincerely hope it happens before WinXP gets dropped. I have absolutely no interest in Windows Vista.

WebShaman | The keenest sorrow (and greatest truth) is to recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities.
- Sophocles

jive
Paranoid (IV) Inmate

From: Greenville, SC, USA
Insane since: Jan 2002

posted posted 05-20-2007 23:38

I Just installed the kde desktop... a lot of eye candy, but I think I am partial to gnome. All the desktop sounds are kind of annoying. @ WebShaman - Agreed. There is much to be hammered out in linux. I think you're right. it is primarily applications. People generally use their machines for certain specific purposes. They get used to what they know, and many times are not hearing anything else. - they don't have the time or interest to relearn alternative applications. They just want to do what they have always done and that's it. I run into alot of these people.

My wife was finally motivated to use a computer when she realized that she could text message here family in the Phillipines regularly through yahoo text messanger (built into ym). Unfortunately, there is no current build on linux for that application. Nor for picasa (which she also uses...).

So even though I have ubuntu installed on her computer and she won't touch it save to switch back to windows. I think there real key here is better application support. Although this is much to do with the app developer then the os developer. So I guess convincing software devs to code cross platform will be the deal breaker...

DL-44
Lunatic (VI) Inmate

From: under the bed
Insane since: Feb 2000

posted posted 05-21-2007 03:22

GAIM (standard on Ubuntu...) supports a variety of IM clients - don't recall if yahoo isone of them, but surely something can be worked out there if need be (having the family use another client - I know that's not always the easiest, just saying, it is an option... )

poi
Paranoid (IV) Inmate

From: Norway
Insane since: Jun 2002

posted posted 05-21-2007 03:27

There must be multiple IM clients like Miranda on Linux. Can Skype do SMS ?
As for Picasa, doesn't a Yahoo! photo or Flickr or similar account do the trick ?



(Edited by poi on 05-21-2007 03:28)

reisio
Paranoid (IV) Inmate

From: Florida
Insane since: Mar 2005

posted posted 05-21-2007 18:30
quote:
DL-44 said:

GAIM


Pidgin now.

quote:
poi said:

There must be multiple IM clients like Miranda on Linux.


http://www.compareim.com/
http://ekiga.org/

kuckus
Paranoid (IV) Mad Librarian

From: Glieberlermany
Insane since: Dec 2001

posted posted 05-21-2007 20:05

http://picasa.google.com/linux/

CPrompt
Maniac (V) Inmate

From: there...no..there.....
Insane since: May 2001

posted posted 05-22-2007 03:23
quote:

poi said:

There must be multiple IM clients like Miranda on Linux.



http://kopete.kde.org/ is installed by default on Kubuntu.

Later,

C:\

WebShaman
Lunatic (VI) Mad Scientist

From: Happy Hunting Grounds...
Insane since: Mar 2001

posted posted 05-22-2007 14:38

Nice list!

You see, this is what I mean. I know that there is alot of support inside of the linux community to convert/adapt applications from windows to linux - I know this.

The problem is that the "n00b" does not, nor does he really know where to go to find it - and to be blunt, one needs to factor in the "lazy" part of it, as well.

Firefox made it easy to find and install plug-ins. Something along these lines would be good with Ubuntu, IMHO.

WebShaman | The keenest sorrow (and greatest truth) is to recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities.
- Sophocles

jive
Paranoid (IV) Inmate

From: Greenville, SC, USA
Insane since: Jan 2002

posted posted 05-23-2007 02:24

actually I discovered that there is a great repository of software available for ubunto, browsing through the package manager. I also just installed beryl and was impressed. @kukus - thanks for the great link to picasa. I installed pidgin but no sms support, and that is what my wife uses. I don't see support for yahoo sms on kopete either...

Blaise
Paranoid (IV) Inmate

From: London
Insane since: Jun 2003

posted posted 05-23-2007 14:56

You're forgetting that Windows nor the Mac offer any form of software comparison or repository solution, and that if it wasn't for years of learning and conditioning you'd be just as much a fish out of water with those OS's.

With regards to a noob not being able to find any software comparison information I'm afraid that can only be lazy, not only are there countless websites but also every Linux distro forum has a deluge of threads that offer alternative software.

That's the key to Linux, don't be lazy, it's very rewarding!

CPrompt
Maniac (V) Inmate

From: there...no..there.....
Insane since: May 2001

posted posted 05-23-2007 19:11
quote:

jive said:

I don't see support for yahoo sms on kopete either...




gonna play stupid here...what is Yahoo SMS?

Later,

C:\

jive
Paranoid (IV) Inmate

From: Greenville, SC, USA
Insane since: Jan 2002

posted posted 05-23-2007 22:01

Essentially, the ability to send an sms through yahoo messenger, you get to it clicking on the phone icon... I was gonna migrate my wifes comp, completely to ubuntu and see if she can grasp it. But missing the core apps that she uses would break the deal...

CPrompt
Maniac (V) Inmate

From: there...no..there.....
Insane since: May 2001

posted posted 05-24-2007 14:48
quote:

jive said:

But missing the core apps that she uses would break the deal...




bummer. There used to be a plugin for sms under GAIM but since it's move to being Pidgin, it looks like that is defunct now.

Could just send emails for SMS.

Later,

C:\

jive
Paranoid (IV) Inmate

From: Greenville, SC, USA
Insane since: Jan 2002

posted posted 05-24-2007 17:52

I think this would be typical at many un-tech savy computer users... I think this will be Linux's biggest hurdle.... Hopefully that plugin for gaim will roll into pidgin.

WebShaman
Lunatic (VI) Mad Scientist

From: Happy Hunting Grounds...
Insane since: Mar 2001

posted posted 05-24-2007 23:28
quote:
You're forgetting that Windows nor the Mac offer any form of software comparison or repository solution, and that if it wasn't for years of learning and conditioning you'd be just as much a fish out of water with those OS's.

With regards to a noob not being able to find any software comparison information I'm afraid that can only be lazy, not only are there countless websites but also every Linux distro forum has a deluge of threads that offer alternative software.

That's the key to Linux, don't be lazy, it's very rewarding!



Yes, of course. So, instead of swimming against the current and attempting to re-train people, go with the current and provide that which people know in a package that beats that which they are currently using.

This is how FF has eroded the almost monopoly that IE had for so many years.

I think that Ubuntu is moving linux nearer to this - it is incorporating many of the "learned ways" of M$ Windows into it - just put the disk in, click when told to, and it installs. Spoon-fed pampering.

WebShaman | The keenest sorrow (and greatest truth) is to recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities.
- Sophocles

jive
Paranoid (IV) Inmate

From: Greenville, SC, USA
Insane since: Jan 2002

posted posted 05-25-2007 15:49

@Blaise: For tech enthusiasts, advice to not be lazy and perusing forums for answers and software recommendations is great,
if not enjoyable. But for the every day non - techie, who are just trying to get their work done or don't have time to
swim in the deep end of the pool... not so sure if this is gonna create wide spread adoption...

At any event, I would like to see a greater support for linux from software developers all around... I think that day is soon, but well see.

DL-44
Lunatic (VI) Inmate

From: under the bed
Insane since: Feb 2000

posted posted 05-25-2007 20:00

Bottom line is that software for the average user (and I don't mean "stupid fat and lazy" I mean 'average'), software really needs to be point and click. Using a computer for the vast array of reasons people use then, in the vast array of professional fields in which they work, should not require that the person also be an expert in computer science

If any form of Linux hopes to actually achieve success, then it will need to make a giant leap in some areas.

There will always be a niche for software made by and for the true blue computer geek...

jive
Paranoid (IV) Inmate

From: Greenville, SC, USA
Insane since: Jan 2002

posted posted 05-26-2007 03:22

@DL-44, my point exactly. Has anyone gotten duel monitors to work yet?

CPrompt
Maniac (V) Inmate

From: there...no..there.....
Insane since: May 2001

posted posted 05-27-2007 17:12
quote:

jive said:

@DL-44, my point exactly. Has anyone gotten duel monitors to work yet?



what video card are you using? nVidia? ATI?

Might have to do some xorg.conf editing but that's easy enough

Later,

C:\

jive
Paranoid (IV) Inmate

From: Greenville, SC, USA
Insane since: Jan 2002

posted posted 05-29-2007 05:06

@cprompt:

I'm using a ATI Radeon 9600 series card...

reisio
Paranoid (IV) Inmate

From: Florida
Insane since: Mar 2005

posted posted 05-29-2007 06:11

dual

Blaise
Paranoid (IV) Inmate

From: London
Insane since: Jun 2003

posted posted 05-29-2007 10:44

I honestly don't believe that Linux is ready for your every day non-techy user and it won't be for another 3-5 years.

The problem is that Linux still isn't straight forward enough for averagely techy people, you shouldn't be having trouble setting up dual monitor support and I shouldn't have any trouble getting any form of web browser to run without crashing, but we do.

When issues like this are sorted out (probably mostly to do with hardware, so I appreciate this isn't always to do with the distro devs), and averagely-techy users can run Linux with ease, then we're really cooking.

reisio
Paranoid (IV) Inmate

From: Florida
Insane since: Mar 2005

posted posted 05-29-2007 17:55

It's been ready. The only issue is that if you have friends that only use Windows and stupid Windows software, they'll be saying 'hey try this' and if it doesn't work in Wine, it will be tedious to do so.

CPrompt
Maniac (V) Inmate

From: there...no..there.....
Insane since: May 2001

posted posted 05-30-2007 01:01

jive : see if this might help
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=221174

seems these guys went through some lengthy process to test it. Unfortunately I don't have dual monitors so I can't really test it myself. I was asking what video card because some cards have proprietary drivers that kind of muck things up.

quote:

reisio said:

It's been ready. ...




I couldn't agree more. Think about how long Windows has been around. People are used to it just like walking. If people would just sit down and give it a go, they would be more apt to use it. They see that it's a bit different and bam...they get rid of it. Or, like reisio said, you have some windows program and it won't run under Wine and they give up.

My dad needed MS Office. I gave him OpenOffice. He hates it. It's not MS Office. Works the same, it's just named different I guess. Dunno, some people are set in their ways.

I know that sometimes there are some "tweaks" involved. But for the most part, it runs just fine out of the box. For the Windows program that you use, there is a free Linux something-or-another out there that works just the same.

enough of my soapbox. Dinner time.

Later,

C:\

jive
Paranoid (IV) Inmate

From: Greenville, SC, USA
Insane since: Jan 2002

posted posted 05-30-2007 02:42

Thanks C, I will try this out. I saw the linux driver for my card on the website... I'll give that a shot as well.

CPrompt
Maniac (V) Inmate

From: there...no..there.....
Insane since: May 2001

posted posted 05-30-2007 02:45

certainly get the most recent driver for the card. I can't see anything about it on my computer but is there something under the dual monitor part on Ubuntu that asks what kind of format to use? Like TwinView, MergedFB and BigDesktop?

i don't see any of that on my computer.

Later,

C:\

WebShaman
Lunatic (VI) Mad Scientist

From: Happy Hunting Grounds...
Insane since: Mar 2001

posted posted 05-30-2007 11:35

I *love* OpenOffice.

WebShaman | The keenest sorrow (and greatest truth) is to recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities.
- Sophocles

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