Sunday, January 13, 2013

What was your opinion when you upgraded from XP to Ubuntu?

Q. I am wondering what you think of Ubuntu when you upgraded from the outdated and insecure XP.

I used Ubuntu, and find it is far more complete and more secure then anything ever seen from Microsoft.

You can actually use it without no security software because everyone targets Windows.

I will never go back to Windows. (Note: This is from a person who said a few months back that "Linux is for script kiddies" or "Linux is only used to inflate your computer ego".

A. I really wasn't impressed when I installed Ubuntu 7.04 from a CD. I was happy with the 25 minutes installation time, but then had loads of stupid problems - firstly I couldn't connect to wireless internet, and then I had problems trying to mount things, and found that I had to manually edit text files to set some things up....

What else - well the first thing that started to change my mind is that whilst editing one text file, I restarted and had no desktop - it wouldn't load at all, and I decided to try something. I'd set up an alias already 'sudo apt-get install' is just 'install' on my system.

I typed 'install gnome-desktop'

And it did. Wow. Then with Ubuntu 8.10 most of the issues were ironed out - just eight months later!!! Hard drives just appear and I could just format to NTFS if I wanted to, great - good for USB's.

I still have XP - but gradually I used it less, and less, and less - and now it's only for Windows games - I disabled the networking. Ubuntu works perfectly straight from a fresh install of Jaunty 9.04 - Printer, Wifie, Monitor - everything is perfect from the start.

Summary - I wasn't impressed when I first tried Ubuntu, it's too different and seems harder.

Now, however, I laugh at the amount of time I took to install XP last year, because Ubuntu installs in 25 minutes - including drivers for most stuff (nVidia is a 5 minutes download, and I have .deb installers for my printer).

I also have XP in a virtualbox for anyting that refuses to run on ubuntu and has no decent replacement (i.e. ACDSee Pro2 for moving pictures from Camera to Computer because it has a couple of killer lighting adjustment tools).

I never missed Photoshop, it is too hard and complicated - and I learned to do ten times as much stuff in GIMP in just 6 months using it (than with 3 years working with Photoshop)

Then, of course, sekurity - forgot even how to spell that. Why do you need to worry about security with your computer? just make a strong password and it's finished right? Surely nobody would ship an operating system that is Insecure by default!!!

But I can tell you, if you get interested in something like 'conky' you'll start getting really interested to edit a text file and make it your own (google search for 'crunchbang' and 'conky' and find a really cool forum for it.

Mac is for inflating ego - Mac is the BMW (based on freeBSD actually, but with layers on top that aren't open) and priced like a Benz - it's over priced and fine for poseurs everywhere.

I actually like the Mac 'globalmenu' concept, so I found out how to install it on Ubuntu - nice way to save on vertical screenspace.

Join the party, go to linuxoutlaws.com and sign up for their very funny podcast (they do a really cool 'microwatch' section every week)>

You'll love it, it's a real blast :P

BTW - never use 'Automatix' but DO use 'Ubuntu Tweak'

Could I build a Linux system on my old Pentium 1 PC?
Q. It's been sitting around in my basement for years, but I think it still works. Just the OS (Win95) is corrupt so it won't boot. I have been interested in Linux for a while, but couldn't risk a primary PC to play around. I just thought of using my old Pentium PC.

If I recall, I can boot in a DOS Safe mode. How would I get started?

A. Okay!!!
Yes.
Now... Modern Linux.. Your Ubuntus and your Mints and Fedoras and such.. they are also going to be too much for that p1 to swallow.

Guess at specs here but lets shoot low.

you have 3 gig hdd, 128 megs ram, clock speed 166 mhz. MMX processor.

I'd try CrunchBang, (#!) or DSL, or Feather.
http://crunchbanglinux.org/
http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/
http://featherlinux.berlios.de/

The installs on those are going to be a bit harder than a modern distro on a modern computre, but the benefit is, (besides a working computer) by the time you get it all set up, you'll actually have a pretty good idea of how to drive.

HP Pavilion DV6000 Wifi not working with Crunchbang Linux?
Q. Just installed crunchbang on my hp pavilion dv6000 and wifi is not working but ethernet is. What packages do i need to download?

A. I think you need the b43-fwcutter package.




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