Linux / Ubuntu

[mtf80123]

Need some advise please.

Since Mr. Ballmer of Microshit said he would move operations overseas if his taxes are increased, I have seriously sought out to dump all my MS crap and dip my toes in the Ubuntu waters.

I have not installed it yet, but did run the Live version to test it out first and see if it would work on my machine. Turns out everything works fine. Wireless, printer, everything except I know you cannot run iTunes on it.

Before I install it, are there any Ubuntu users on this board? And, have you had any particular experiences you would like to share before I install it?

[RoyGBiv]

1. There are several ...

I'm sure they'll be along shortly.

I don't currently use that particular distro, but I have in the past.

[mtf80123]

2. Outstanding....

looking forward to hearing from them.

[pokerfan]

3. Hi there

I installed Ubuntu a couple of months ago. While I kept Vista as a second boot, I have been running Linux almost exclusively. I was already using Firefox, OpenOffice and GMail so it really wasn't that big of a transition. Plus I like knowing that I am responsible for my system and that if need be I could reinstall everything from scratch and be up and running again in less than an hour.

If you are using Firefox, you can use the FEBE extension to bring your profile over: bookmarks, extensions, history, settings, passwords, etc.

I recommend downloading a copy of Keir Thomas' pocket guide: http://www.ubuntupocketguide.com/download_main.html. I've read a bunch of Linux books in the last couple of months and I think it's the best.

You may already be aware that most distros come with much more than just the Linux kernal. Ubuntu comes with a bunch of applications. I've already mentioned OpenOffice and Firefox but there's also Pidgin (IM), Transmission (bit torrent), and GIMP (image editor), movie and music players and more. Software repositories make tens of thousands of additional applications available via just a few clicks.

All in all, it's been an extremely positive experience. Let me know if you have any questions.

[mtf80123]

4. Thank you Pokerfan!!!

You have convinced me. Luckily I have a Mac too so I can use that for iTunes.

I will install Ubuntu tonight and let you know how it goes!

Thank you!

[mtf80123]

5. I DID IT!!! Microsoft Free baby!!!!!!

Ubuntu works PERFECTLY!!!!!

[pokerfan]

6. Congratulations!

You are free at last!

[RoyGBiv]

7. Welcome to the Dark Side

We have cookies.

[SKKY]

8. I tunes doesn't work on Linux, but there are other options...

...I use Amarok 1.4 for my ipods. Or, if you want, you can install VirtualBox (Free), install a virtual Windows machine, then run iTunes. Welcome to Linux! I've been using Linux for several years (Red Hat 5.2 was my first) and haven't really looked back since. I run Ubuntu now. Here are some of the "major" things I do, and the Open Source programs I use for it.

Video conversion (I.E. for my iPod)- Handbrake
Multimedia Player - VLC
Mail Client - Thunderbird
Office stuff - Open Office
Video Editing - Cinelerra
Photo Editing - Gimp
Bittorrent - Transmission
Virtualization - VirtualBox
Network Diagrams - Dia
Streaming Audio - Real Player for Linux

[hunter]

10. My little iPod Nano hasn't seen iTunes since my kids gave it to me.

I buy all my music from the artists or from those distributors who send a very significant portion of their proceeds back to the artists. Occasionally I'll pick up conventional commercial music in the used CD bins at thrift stores, but I wouldn't otherwise buy it. In general I believe the music industry filling the racks at Wal-Mart and Target represents the dark side of the force.

My own computer runs Debian. Ubuntu is derived from that. Needless to say, I think it was a brilliant decision to base Ubuntu on Debian, and the cross polination between the two has been very benificial to the evolution of both.

I was looking at your application choices and I was thinking about how much my own use of the internet has changed; most especially, I don't use regular email any more, and haven't even bothered to set up an email client like Thunderbird on my own computer for years now. All my email is http now, and I can access it from any computer with internet access.

The Gimp is a fantastic tool once you get the hang of it. Sometimes Photoshop feels like you are touring San Francisco driving a motor home -- you start thinking maybe it wasn't such a good idea to bring a kitchen, a bedroom, and a bathroom along for the ride.

[pokerfan]

9. Big list (15 pages) of Linux software alternatives to Windows applications

http://www.linuxappfinder.com/alternatives

[BabbaTam]

11. first time Ubuntu user

Hi there newbie,
 I'm one too and I've tried straight Debian, Ubuntu, and
Fedora (RedHat). My interest is bringing legacy (old) hardware
back to life with more efficient operating systems. (not to
mention free) I use Fedora on my trailer's old P3 (I use it
for a jukebox) because on that particular computer Ubuntu
wouldn't shut the computer down automatically and Fedora
would. On some of my other computers Ubuntu will shut it down
automatically, so that's what I use on them.I like the world
wide use of Ubuntu and its mission. The only thing I would
suggest is when you are prompted to upgrade your OS with
updates from the internet, do it then! If you don't, someday
you will do it and the list of stuff that needs to be updated
will be very long and take forever to implement. Happy
computing fellow penguinista!

[comtec]

12. For any software that you MUST have, I would suggest emulators

There is a 1GB "hard drive image" for Sun xVM VirtualBox bouncing around the torrents that is perfect.
The "hard drive" is '10 GB' (actually the file is 1 but VM's use expanding drive images as to use as little actual hard drive space)
It is basically a fully installed version of XP that is auth'd and working and everything - just don't try to update it.

It works great for running Windows only programs that don't really work with WINE (and WINE-DOORS) which you can install straight from "add programs" under the first menu in Ubuntu.

I like WINE for as much as I can get to work because it means i don't have to open up the emulator.

I also like Cedega for Active X (games) dependent programs. it's a pay-to-play program so not for everyone.

Also there is crossover which is another windows emu that is more geared towards using MS office (WHY?) on linux.

anyway welcome :)

[madokie]

13. My only real need for micro$haft is so I can run AutoCad

If you can help me out on what I need to be able to run autocad on my machine with linux I will always be indebted to you, or as my mom would have said I'll dance at your wedding.:-)

[comtec]

14. Which version Autocad are you running?

The general advice I seem to see is to run (install) it with WINE.

Here are some links to this subject on the Ubuntu Forums.
I can give you my IM details (message me) if you like and I can try to help walk you through installation :)

http://ubuntu-virginia.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=893931
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=148488
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=141735

[RoyGBiv]

15. Have you done this?

I ask because I've tried running AutoCad through an emulator before, and it didn't work well. It's too memory and graphical subsystem intensive.

Emulators have been improving, though, including wine, so I was just wondering if you've personally seen it in operation under wine.

[comtec]

16. Not yet

that's why i need to know what version you have. I was going to DL it, and see what brute force I need to get it working.
I have Cedega and Wine (with the add on doors) and I was going to see which (if) it worked better in :)

but Until I know (and I'm at work) I posted those links :)

I am really surprised AutoCAD hasn't come out with a linux version yet (still)

[RoyGBiv]

17. That was madokie ...

I just barged in to ask grill for information. :)

I don't actually use AutoCAD. It's just been one of the sticking points with Linux adoption, so I've tried to keep track of it.

[struggle4progress]

18. I've installed Ubuntu on three machines: an Acer netbook, a very old Dell Dimension XPS, and

an Intel Mac

The Acer had come preloaded with Vista, which I ditched. Switching to Ubuntu has lost the internal microphone (a known problem, and apparently fixable, but it's a PITA to figure out exactly what's wrong there). The fan runs in the current Ubuntu version but programs to let me see temperatures aren't reporting the sensors correctly. All in all, I'm happy with the Acer with Ubuntu: it does everything I currently need it to do, and does it well

The Dell had been gathering dust for eight years and had Windows 98 on it. I did everything in the wrong order: I installed Ubuntu in place of Windows, then substantially upgraded the memory, then flashed the BIOS to a newer version, then discovered the hard drive had gone over to the dark side and replaced it with a refurb and reinstalled Ubuntu, then put in a new battery. The dial-up Winmodem, of course, is not supported in Ubuntu. I'll spare you the sordid tale of my stupidity in attempting to access the internet for updates, since it had a mind-numbingly simple solution: plug a USB broadband card into the ancient USB port, click the appropriate icon in the desktop menu bar, punch the broadband radio button there, and enjoy! The machine is about as lively as a frozen mastodon, but it works

Putting Ubuntu as a third OS on my Mac (the others are OSX and Vista) was a comedy of errors: it took neophyte me three days to find the right mix of advice from different websites, and at one point I screwed up a critical bootsector and completely lost access to my DVD R/W drive. I installed using rEFIt, and the poor Mac thinks the Ubuntu drive is hosting Windows, but it boots fine and works -- and I think it handles my broadband more neatly that OSX does

Bottom line: First, be sure that software for your critical needs is available and will run under Ubuntu. If you're not sure, and still have plenty of space on your harddrive, you can install Ubuntu without removing Windows: the installer will repartition the disk, and you can play around with Ubuntu without losing Windows; later, if you're really happy with Ubuntu, you can reinstall using the whole disk. Second -- and this may be especially important if you have an older machine or if you bought your machine preloaded with Windows -- there may be some Windows-dependent hardware (like a Winmodem): for example, you may need to double-check that your ethernet port works under Ubuntu.

I think Ubuntu is a great OS; there's a bit of a learning curve, and it may be longer than you like, but it's not that steep