My Ubuntu Experience

[LuckyTaxi]

I'm a huge open source fan. I develop using the LAMP stack and some of my servers at work run Freebsd and Debian. I sold my Mac because it was awfully slow and wanted to pick up the new Intel chip based ones but I need to save money for it. In the meantime, I found a decent laptop at work (P4-2.0Ghz w/ 1gb of RAM) and installed Ubuntu on it. I was really surprised how it was able to find almost every piece of hardware. Unfortunately this laptop didnt have onboard wifi so I found a used Linksys card. I had to install some apps via apt-get of course and got it to work in under 15 minutes.

The last time I tried linux on a workstation was when Fedora 7 was out. I hated it. Between the poor package management and the horrible font rendering in Mozilla, I quickly formatted my laptop and threw Win XP on it. I love my Win XP laptop, but I miss having a local LAMP stack at my disposal. With this Ubuntu setup, I was very surprised to see that most of my beloved website had its font rendered wonderfully. Heck, even Flash installed quickly and easily and i was able to view youtube videos! My only complaint is with the Suspend/Hibernation feature. It doesnt work but maybe thats because I have to install or modify something. Until Linux is noob proof I dont think I would recommend it to a new PC user. I can't imagine one of my coworkers installing Ubuntu and having to install supplemental wifi apps to get their wifi working.

In conclusion, I am in love with this new setup. I just have to play with it some more and see what else I can do with it. This is my first time running Ubuntu but I'm sure I'll pick it up quickly. I tried for 2 yrs to get Freebsd w/ Gnome running but the hardware I've used just wouldnt work w/o major modification. With Ubuntu, it just worked out of the box.

 

[Cl1ckm3]

i had a horrible ubuntu "gutsy gibbon" experience.

i found it confusing and the whole command line thing just to install something was retarded. either way i hated it but glad your enjoying it.
i just dont find it something that most pc users would want to try to learn.

 

[LuckyTaxi]

Originally posted by: Cl1ckm3
i had a horrible ubuntu "gutsy gibbon" experience.

i found it confusing and the whole command line thing just to install something was retarded. either way i hated it but glad your enjoying it.
i just dont find it something that most pc users would want to try to learn.

Agreed with the latter part of your comments but once you "master" some of the commands, it's just as easy or easier than clicking on buttons in a GUI. My only gripe is having to tweak alot of the things we all take for granted. I'm trying to figure out how to get the back button on my wireless mouse to work. Other than that, everything else works fine. I recall spending hours trying to get my audio to work. Those were the days!

 

[Nothinman]

I can't imagine one of my coworkers installing Ubuntu and having to install supplemental wifi apps to get their wifi working.

That's funny because I'm constantly having to help Windows users get their notebooks on our work wifi, if they had Linux or OS X notebooks it would be a lot less of a burden on me.

i found it confusing and the whole command line thing just to install something was retarded.

The UI is pretty much a Windows/OS X hybrid and most operations are extremely simple. If you can use Windows I can't believe that you can't use Ubuntu. And you don't have to resort to the cli to install virtually anything anymore, synaptic can install all of the same packages as apt.

i just dont find it something that most pc users would want to try to learn.

Most PC users have no clue what they're using, they'll use whatever you drop in front of them and show them.

 

[toadeater]

Try some other distros if you didn't like Ubuntu. Most of them run as live CDs these days, so there's no need to install anything. Quick way to find out if it'll work with your hardware or not.

http://distrowatch.com/

 

[RWIndiana]

Kubuntu, Mepis, Sidux . . . they are all getting nice.

 

[Bateluer]

I like Ubuntu myself. I just wish hardware manufacturers, specifically, GPU companies, would write better linux drivers for their products. I'd also like to see more games with native linux clients as well.

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: toadeater
Try some other distros if you didn't like Ubuntu. Most of them run as live CDs these days, so there's no need to install anything. Quick way to find out if it'll work with your hardware or not.

http://distrowatch.com/

That's the site

Definitely try other distros.

 

[Chosonman]

I had Ubuntu on my laptop on the release before dapper drake. Everything was cool but there was very little driver support especially for my wireless connection. I'm sure they've improved by now.

 

[Hyperblaze]

Originally posted by: Cl1ckm3
i had a horrible ubuntu "gutsy gibbon" experience.

i found it confusing and the whole command line thing just to install something was retarded. either way i hated it but glad your enjoying it.
i just dont find it something that most pc users would want to try to learn.

The command line is probably the most powerful tool in any operating system.

Sure there are gui apps to do the same thing which can be done with a click on a button, but I'd rathar not have to use 10 different apps to do 10 different things when I can just use one.

Sides...knowledge is power. If you don't care about knowledge, then so be it.

I've saved countless money by fixing things myself, and a GUI is not always available (which is why I keep old practices up and never get lazy)

 

[KeypoX]

Originally posted by: Cl1ckm3
i had a horrible ubuntu "gutsy gibbon" experience.

i found it confusing and the whole command line thing just to install something was retarded. either way i hated it but glad your enjoying it.
i just dont find it something that most pc users would want to try to learn.

I agree its def not ready for the masses. I guess if it was preconfigured it would be ok. But then you would still have compatibility issues. If you only needed to browse the internet i guess you would be ok. And there is alot of fun stuff you can do. But i have tried the dual boot on my laptop. It was ok but in the end i need microsoft apps (office) but of OO was up to par i may have stuck with it. O and if the bat life and wifi worked a little bitter.

 

[kamper]

Originally posted by: Bateluer
I like Ubuntu myself. I just wish hardware manufacturers, specifically, GPU companies, would write better linux drivers for their products. I'd also like to see more games with native linux clients as well.

Not drivers, specs. Binary and poorly documented source drivers suck for everyone involved.

 

[toadeater]

Originally posted by: kamper
Not drivers, specs. Binary and poorly documented source drivers suck for everyone involved.

Vista has practically as many driver problems as Linux has. Maybe this will finally force hardware manufacturers to be a little bit more cooperative. What are they hiding in their drivers anyway? Why not give away the source code?

 

[Nothinman]

Vista has practically as many driver problems as Linux has.

I'd say more, every time I've had to install Windows I've wasted more time finding and installing drivers than anything else.

What are they hiding in their drivers anyway? Why not give away the source code?

They likely don't own all of the code in their drivers.

 

[rasczak]

Originally posted by: Cl1ckm3
i had a horrible ubuntu "gutsy gibbon" experience.

i found it confusing and the whole command line thing just to install something was retarded. either way i hated it but glad your enjoying it.
i just dont find it something that most pc users would want to try to learn.

I <3 apt-get.

I find ubuntu very refreshing. aside from the gaming experience (which is coming along, gotta love wine + cs ) i have had a great experience with it. I found it troublesome of course, having to find the documentation for finding repositories, getting the correct codecs for watching movies, flashplayer plugins, audio codecs, but it was a great learning experience for me. i recently just reformatted and reinstalled ubuntu and look forward to getting those setup again. i found that the ubuntu community is top notch at getting you help when you need it. Ubuntu Forums

I hope you'll give it another shot. this coming from a guy with terrible cli skills, was so stubborn he only wanted "windows with gui" machines and nothing else.

i love having the ability to determine what goes on your machine and what doesn't.

/cheers!
joe

 

[Cl1ckm3]

The UI is pretty much a Windows/OS X hybrid and most operations are extremely simple. If you can use Windows I can't believe that you can't use Ubuntu. And you don't have to resort to the cli to install virtually anything anymore, synaptic can install all of the same packages as apt.

thats because your likely already knowledgeable about linux and windows, to a point where you think everyone else is retarded in this area.

you cant believe? obviously your not a noob going from one OS to a completely different one.
but pretend your a noob and go to distrowatch.org and tell me if you really think any of that stuff on that site would make a lick of sense to anyone who's used to using windows on their HP or something.
just finding a distro is confusing to alot of people
installing a distro can be confusing to alot of people.....man, you've just been an enthusiast for too long, you talk like some over zelous geek squad personnel.

you mention people will use whatever you plop infront of them and show them.
whos showing them?
whos plopping it in front of them? dells 1% sold statistic of ubuntu oem computers?
if your not there to show them then your not proving anything. obviously anyone can learn anything if they CHOOSE to learn.
but IF, linux was so similar to windows then how come OEM's arent preinstalling it on every PC?
how come people are spending hundres for windows if its exact clone...as you apparantly think it is....is free?
Linux has to be setup, preinstalled and ready to go with everything working from get go....but thats the problem i'm reffering to and the reason why Linux pretty much sucks imo. what good is an OS if its not ready.

windows on theother hand is ready. almost everything has a simple help and support link. it literally tells you the basics. if Ubuntu had such links, i missed it entirely cause i saw no help...heck i couldnt figure out why a paint prog is called Gimp..what a stupid name

to sum it up: put windows and Linux in front of a noob....which one will the learn the fastest?

 

[Nothinman]

thats because your likely already knowledgeable about linux and windows, to a point where you think everyone else is retarded in this area.

You used the word retarded, not me.

you cant believe?

Ok sorry, I find it hard to believe.

but pretend your a noob and go to distrowatch.org and tell me if you really think any of that stuff on that site would make a lick of sense to anyone who's used to using windows on their HP or something.

Nice strawman, nowhere in your OP did you mention distrowatch or installing the distro at all. I was merely talking about the UI after it's installed, whether you did the installation or not is orthogonal.

but IF, linux was so similar to windows then how come OEM's arent preinstalling it on every PC?

Because they get Windows virtually for free in their OEM deals and it's what people expect. But that's changing, Dell and WalMart have both started offering Linux desktops.

how come people are spending hundres for windows if its exact clone...as you apparantly think it is....is free?

The only people spending hundreds for a Windows license are idiots and people buying Windows Server. Everyone else is getting an OEM license either with their box or with some cheap piece of hardware.

windows on theother hand is ready. almost everything has a simple help and support link.

Now that's one of the funniest things I've ever read. The last time I installed XP on this machine right here I spent probably two hours finding and installing drivers because it doesn't support any hardware out of the box and I had to use a second box to do it because it didn't have drivers for my NIC. It was anything but simple.

heck i couldnt figure out why a paint prog is called Gimp..what a stupid name

And I can't figure out why MS Paint is so gimped, it's practically useless.

to sum it up: put windows and Linux in front of a noob....which one will the learn the fastest?

Depends on the person. If they have no previous experience with either system then it's a coin toss.

 

[Snapster]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

And I can't figure out why MS Paint is so gimped, it's practically useless.

Sadly if the likes of Paint.net on a default Windows install, and just watch how many companies scream about abuse of monopoly. Microsoft just don't bother anyone in some cases because they know it'll just cause them more hassle than it's worth.

Re: Ubuntu, I've been trying to install it on an old rig at work. Sadly I don't get very far at the moment due to a lovely ATI graphics card issue and haven't had time to read up and learn about editing the xorg.conf etc.

 

[Nothinman]

Sadly if the likes of Paint.net on a default Windows install, and just watch how many companies scream about abuse of monopoly. Microsoft just don't bother anyone in some cases because they know it'll just cause them more hassle than it's worth.

They wouldn't scream monopoly as long as it's optional. If IE was a separate app that could be fully removed I doubt anyone would have complained, well I'm sure someone would have but it wouldn't have had nearly the effect.

 

[accguy9009]

Snapster, I had the same issue on an older machine trying to deal with xorg.conf using a PCI ATI 9250. I never could get it working on Ubuntu or Mint. Mandriva 2008 and PCLinux2007 which are very similiar were both able to handle it and I like Mandriva 2008 very much.

 

[Brazen]

It takes me about 2 hours going from bare-metal to having Ubuntu installed, fully-updated, customized and my favorite software installed.

To get Windows XP installed, find drivers, get all updates from Windows Updates, customize it and install an equivalent set of software takes about 10 hours.

Just saying. I use them both depending on the situation.

 

[Magumi]

Linux is getting better, but it has still far to go before it becomes a viable choice as a mainstream desktop operating system. It needs to be able to set up itself and download and install all drivers without user intervention, it needs to offer out-of-the-box compatibility with Windows applications (games including). It also needs to do all those things that Windows do well, and do them more intuitively and faster, with added convenience and comfort.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: Chosonman
I had Ubuntu on my laptop on the release before dapper drake. Everything was cool but there was very little driver support especially for my wireless connection. I'm sure they've improved by now.

I am excited about the next release of Ubuntu (8.04: Hardy Heron), I hear it finally fixes the lack of sound with my Toshiba Notebook (P105 line).

Update: Installed the alpha version on my notebook and it fixed the sound problem:thumbsup:

 

[Nothinman]

It needs to be able to set up itself and download and install all drivers without user intervention,

It already does this a thousand times better than Windows.

it needs to offer out-of-the-box compatibility with Windows applications (games including).

No, it needs developers to port their apps to Linux. Relying on WINE won't help anyone in the long term.

 

[imported_dingdong]

ubuntu is actually slower than windows. and because of the poor driver support, you are not getting the most from your hardware, what is the point of using such thing?

I tried on vmware, it was a pain in the ass