Linux on a PC

[iamowen]

I didn't get much symnpathy on the Ubuntu forum when I said that there should be an install program that just worked. I told them that if they wanted it to be more than a playground for geeks then they needed to realise that command line processing went out with DOS 14/15 years ago, and that programs should just install with a click of the mouse.

Having said that though programs that are in the repositaries install just fine. Ubuntu 9.10 which I have loaded up would seem to be a bit of a leap forward in usability and works well and with a good graphical interface. I have a wired connection though so I don't have your wireless problems.

I'll continue to play around with it but I think I will devote more of my spare time to Joomla than Ubuntu. I think that will be more productive.

I find linux is great, everything works faster, but you need a computer that is at least 12 months old to get decent hardware support. Also if you like your windows programs they do not run on it, so at first it is a bit of a struggle to learn new software quirks and how to install them as well. It is a pity that a lot of good software suplliers do not write linux programmes ! That is the biggest drawback with it. I am afraid to have to confess that if you have windows first that linux is hard, better to start with linux and then windows will be like kindergarden in comparison. I still have a red hat linux distribution that I use to manipulate data on a hard drive with, it is awsome and must be ancient by now ! Have fun with it, you will learn most by using it. If you like bible software, bibleworks works fine on it, also programs that use pdf are eisily usable. Again have fun, there is a lot of programs that are free out there and plenty of information and help files in the documentation that comes with it. If you get stuck, experiment, that's the way we learn.

[paul]

I have used Ubuntu and loads of other 'flavours' of linux for years and whilst in no way an expert I have been through the pain you describe!

I still cannot compile etc from the command line. However, Ubuntu does have an easy installer, you just have to look for the .DEB file, download that, click on it and it should install easy peasy!!

I am around if you need any more help with stuff. I think it is worth sticking with Linux. It is slowly losing its 'Geek' status and there is some fantastic software. 99% of the programs I used to run on Windows I have found quality open source replacements for.

Our house has been a windows free zone for three years now !!

[iamowen]

I have used Ubuntu and loads of other 'flavours' of linux for years and whilst in no way an expert I have been through the pain you describe!

I still cannot compile etc from the command line. However, Ubuntu does have an easy installer, you just have to look for the .DEB file, download that, click on it and it should install easy peasy!!

I am around if you need any more help with stuff. I think it is worth sticking with Linux. It is slowly losing its 'Geek' status and there is some fantastic software. 99% of the programs I used to run on Windows I have found quality open source replacements for.

Our house has been a windows free zone for three years now !!

WTG

[Steveg]

Steve,

A co-worker of mine gave me her Dell laptop to work on it for her. She had been running XP for the last 4 years and never renewed her anti-virus software. Anyway, surprise surprise, it crashed. She was on the verge of tossing it when I asked her to let me take a look at it.

The CD drive was trashed and she had no recovery media. I just installed Linux mint using a usb flash drive and it is now up and running.

Excellent.

From what I have seen the main programs one would need are excellent - Office, Firefox, and so on. It's when you get to the more specialised utilities that it gets a bit iffy.

I'm playing with Joomla (under Windows) at the moment but I will go back to Ubuntu later. I've also had a quick look at Drupal but it does look more complicated and will take a lot of learning. I think I'll see how far I can get with Joomla.

[Steveg]

An update on this topic for anyone interested.

I played around with Ubuntu but the big problem for me is that there aren't enough utilities available. Yes, it's got the main programs - browser, email, word/excel/powerpoint clones. But what makes Windows work for me is the wealth of free utilities to do things. They just aren't there with Ububtu, or the ones that are there are poor.

After a while Windows crashed irretrievably. I keep my data in a seperate partition, as is Ubuntu, so I just had to rebuild Windows. Then I had to get grub back to dual boot. The guys on the Ubuntu forum were very helpful and now it's all up and running again, with the default boot into Windows.

I might play a bit more with Ubuntu, but it's the little useful utilities that I would miss by switching across to it.

I have considered changing my laptop to just Ubuntu. It's an old one and I use it sometimes when lounging on the sofa instead in front of my desktop. But to keep the files I use on both in sync I use a useful program called FreeFileSync (syncronising via a memory stick). There just nothing decent under Ubuntu. FreeFileSync is Open Source and there is a .tar.gz file for Ubuntu but what good is that? If I can't just load and go then it's useless as farv as I'm concerned. As long as there is this gap then Ubuntu will just be for geeks who like playing around with such files.

[gibby]

Yeah, I have not found much use for Linux either. I run Adobe's Creative Suite so I need Windows. And, my Android phone is basically a Linux computer, so I get my geek fix there. I have rooted my Android phone, installed a Custom ROM and overclocking kernel and can execute commands via a terminal. I used to have my laptop a dual boot, but I found myself never really booting into Linux, so I no longer have it configured this way.

[heweeps]

I use Ubuntu and while I was dual booting with XP and then Win 7 I have been to microsoft free since September. I am not totally free of Windows as I use Wine to run a few Windows only programs such as E_Sword and theWord but I have been able to replace all my paid for software programs with free Linux programs. Unlike microsoft the Ubuntu people never tell me what I have to run, they make suggestions but never penalize me for not following their suggestions. Whew, I tell you it is a relief. I enjoy learning so any problems I have had with Ubuntu have taught me something new.

The help that is available on the Ubuntu forums is extremely knowledgeable and free and there are guys there that will hang right in with you. I have seen instances where a guy helping someone has cleaned off his hard drive and reloaded with what the helpee is running in order to be of better assistance.

I like Ubuntu but there are many Linux faces that can be tried.

keith