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Dude, go with (k)Ubuntu by thecampbeln · 2006-05-31 17:57 · Score: 1 · on OpenSUSE 10.1 Review: "Versatile but Uneven"

If you're looking at taking the Linux plunge (especially when coming from Win2k/XP), do yourself a favour and install Ubuntu (then add in the KDE packages so you can run in KDE sessions - KDE approximately equals Windows-esque-ish-ness, Gnome approximately equals Mac-esque-ish-ness and Gnome is the default in Ubuntu).

If you'd like to get a feel for Linux before installing, try out Mepis (which I'm pretty sure is a LiveCD) or Knoppix (which is not very polished, but does give you a KDE desktop to play with - but Ubuntu is leagues better eye-candy/usability wise).

There is Kubuntu, but it doesn't have Gnome at all, which will eventually cause you problems. You can install Kubuntu then Gnome (which is what I did), but I'd suggest Ubuntu + KDE (as I had to fiddle to get all the necessary parts of Gnome installed under Kubuntu). Then run Automatrix and you've got a fully functional system ready to go.

I started out with SuSE 9.3 (a buddy of mine at work installed it for me). Then within a few weeks 10.0 was out and we did a fresh install. SuSE took a bit of hand holding to get "up and running" (decess for DVDs, mp3 decoding, etc - PackMan is your friend). After playing around in SuSE for a few months (including getting VMware running, then attempting unsuccessfully to install Xandros and Linspire, but successfully getting Win2k running), I got my wife a new laptop (same model as mine with SuSE) and decided to try Kubuntu out.

Frankly for new Linux converts, (k)Ubuntu rocks. The weird issues I have on my SuSE laptop's Synaptic touchpad do not occur under (k)Ubuntu, and it correctly recognized the widescreen monitor (SuSE didn't). Updating is a breeze - just last night I updated her system... 10% of her packages needed to be updated (1500-ish IIRC) and it took a grand total of 25-30 minutes including a kernel update!

I was about to go from SuSE 10.0 to (k)Ubuntu when 10.1 was released a few weeks ago. So I though what the hell and did an update. 10.1 is nice, but it's got some MAJOR issues - the autoupdate, well doesn't, my ATI Drivers no-go-no-mo, Azureus and eventually kTorrent stopped working despite repeated program reinstalls... Basically 10.1 is not for you (or me).

I'll be installing (k)Ubuntu on my laptop this weekend.

I've gotta say, after a bit of a teething process (a good 4-6 weeks of Google searches to get "simple" shit to work, like my ATI drivers, VMware, etc) I'm sooo very much more happy under (k)Ubuntu (even under SuSE 10.0, which is good, just more fiddly)! That 25-30 minute update I mentioned above was while I was surfing the web with 15-20 tabs open in Firefox with the system being responsive the entire time. You just don't get that under Windows!

Good luck on the migration! And if you need help, I'll toss as much your way as I can (being a 4 month old Linux n00b myself).

Re:VMWare Server Beta, RAID install... by pato101 · 2006-05-29 04:52 · Score: 2, Informative · on New Enterprise-Level Ubuntu Due This Week

I'm also going to set up a 32 bit Dapper VM for those few progs that don't compile or run well on the 64 bit platform.

Creating a 32 bit chroot might be an easier choice for those apps, and I guess it will give you better performance. I'm pretty happy with it; and I started width warty and upgraded both main 64bit and 32bit chroot to breezy with little trouble. Furthermore, if you have same nvidia drivers installed on both, you will have 32bit accelerated 3D apps in your 64bit desktop.

Last minute bug reports by wysiwia · 2006-05-29 01:29 · Score: 4, Informative · on New Enterprise-Level Ubuntu Due This Week

I happen to test around several boot problems the last few weeks I've summarized just here

http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=10623 67#post1062367

Since these boot problems are quite difficult and probably mean a no go for anybody not a though expert I really hope they were fixed before release. It probably means another delay for a few days but think it's worth.

O. Wyss

Research! by zanglang · 2006-05-18 14:58 · Score: 2, Interesting · on Advice for Linux on a Laptop?

It would be a good idea to list down the brands and make of the laptops you're interested in buying. Don't worry about compatibility at the moment, deciding on how your future laptop would look like comes first.

Afterwards you might want to visit Ubuntu's forums and run a search on them to check out how current users of those laptops are faring with Ubuntu at the moment. There's usually quite a bunch of threads discussing the graphic drivers to use, how much of the system is working perfectly etc.

And check out the wiki as well!
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/?action=fullsearch&context =180&value=laptop&titlesearch=Titles

Re:would Sun put all their weight behind apt-get? by mypalmike · 2006-05-17 07:30 · Score: 1 · on Sun Puts its Weight Behind Ubuntu Linux

Does this mean that Sun is endorsing the Debian package management system over RPM-based approaches?

Ubuntu appears to be considering using the SMART package manager in future releases.

http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=16255 0

Ogg players... by mengel · 2006-05-15 09:50 · Score: 1 · on Can Ordinary PC Users Ditch Windows for Linux?

My iRiver plays OGG-encoded files just fine, thanks. It's one of the reasons I bought it. They have several players that do OGG.

There's a whole ubuntu forums thread on this topic...

And yet you do troll by phorm · 2006-05-15 03:33 · Score: 2, Insightful · on Can Ordinary PC Users Ditch Windows for Linux?

The whole point of debian-based distros such as Ubuntu are the package-management features. Yes, the link you've showed would allow firefox to run faster (due to whatever differences between the globally compiled version that would be distro-included vs the source one)... but it's by no means necessary to get firefox. If you want the speed of a self-compiled verson then windows wouldn't likely help you either...

Ubuntu: Run synaptic. Reload lists. Search for firefox. Check off. Click apply. Done.

Windows: Find package website (in this case mozilla.com). Surf links. Download firefox from link. Figure out where you just saved the installed (I've seen many users choke at this, strangely). Run installer. Click next a bunch of times. Done

So really, with Ubuntu you're either just as easy, or even a bit easier. If you're using KDE (or I assume gnome) then the program will be on your menus after install. Of course, Ubuntu also comes with a fairly recent version of firefox anyways... so depending on how old your install discs were it might do you just fine anyhow.

And yet, here's the first link off google. And the second comment:

Any particular reason you want to use version 1.05? If not, then you can get the latest using synaptic.

My second link took me here, which doesn't mention firefox (probably because it's already installed) but does mention install instructions for a schwackload of other common software. It does use apt-get instead of the synaptic GUI, but the steps are simple enough.

Demonstrating one of the hardest ways to install software on linux as an example that it is "too hard" doesn't make you informative, it makes you a troll.

Re:I have to comment on this.. by s31523 · 2006-05-08 02:42 · Score: 1 · on What Can Mandriva Linux 2006 Mean for Home Users?

I will let you know how the latest Network Manager runs. Here is a decent thread on WPA for Ubuntu. I have the IPW2200 and I did not need to rebuild the latest drivers and what not...

I am a bit dumbfounded on why Wi-Fi and WPA is so unmanageable, but I am hoping the latest Network Manager "just works".

Re:buggy by NynexNinja · 2006-04-21 15:44 · Score: 1 · on Previewing Dapper And Edgy

These are pretty common video chipsets put out many years ago by intel. Drivers have been available for many years. The forums specify that its a known issue, with a stated fix, but its not put in the mainline tree for some reason...
According to http://www.ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-13 594.html , its been known for over a year.

The bottom line is this stuff should just work, and it doesn't. Dell laptops are pretty standard and common. Its just not a good answer to say "oh its broken, go here to fix it"... Its a major bug and should be fixed, put in the mainline tree where it belongs.

Re:heheh by Danzigism · 2006-04-19 11:54 · Score: 2, Interesting · on Planning Dapper +1, The Edgy Eft

A person on Ubuntu Forums, as reported from my dear friend that runs Debians.org, posted up this link for AMD64 users.. He got it working flawlessy.. http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=13165 9

Re:An Unfortunate Reality by mjt+AG · 2006-04-19 08:17 · Score: 1 · on Linux Snobs, The Real Barriers to Entry

A great community for new Linux users is Ubuntu. Just ask a question in the n00b section and somebody will be happy to answer. Just remember to do a search first prior to asking, and to read any posts that says "Read this before posting" before posting a question. Even pm'ing someone would be ok.

Re:An Unfortunate Reality by mjt+AG · 2006-04-19 08:17 · Score: 1 · on Linux Snobs, The Real Barriers to Entry

A great community for new Linux users is Ubuntu. Just ask a question in the n00b section and somebody will be happy to answer. Just remember to do a search first prior to asking, and to read any posts that says "Read this before posting" before posting a question. Even pm'ing someone would be ok.

Re:An Unfortunate Reality by x_codingmonkey_x · 2006-04-19 04:49 · Score: 1 · on Linux Snobs, The Real Barriers to Entry

Hmm I'm not sure. My experience has been _completely_ different. I started using Linux (SuSE) two years ago and hit several snags. I've always had a pleasant experience on linuxquestions.org. Furthermore, when I switched to Ubuntu 8 month ago, I had more problems with it, but the ubuntu forums have been even more helpful than linuxquestions.org with people responding quickly and having all the information that you need. The worst thing that has happened to me on these forums was people not answering my questions, at which point I would either post somewhere else or do more searching online.

RTFM by wysiwia · 2006-04-19 04:18 · Score: 1 · on Linux Snobs, The Real Barriers to Entry

It is not snobbish and snubbish to tell someone to RTFM. It is snobbish and snubbish to tell someone to RTFM without telling where to RTFM.

And why isn't this RTFM directly installed on the system itself? I just played around a little with the new Ubuntu system and tried to figure out how to burn a CD. Because I couldn't find out how I accessed the help. Sure enough there isn't the slightest hint, worse there isn't any info on how to get further assistance. Fine, let's go to the Ubuntu website into the documentation. I can tell you I couldn't find anything nor locate a help feature nor any hint on how to proceed further. A newbie would at least here give up but I went to the forums where a got all the answers (http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=9244 55#post924455) which I should have gotten from the help on the system.

IMO it's essential for Linux that the help on the system gets into a usable state.

O. Wyss

It's not as bad as all that. by rantingkitten · 2006-04-19 03:18 · Score: 1 · on Linux Snobs, The Real Barriers to Entry

Coincidentally, just before seeing this story, I was looking for some advice on a wireless problem I was having with Ubuntu. I found this thread on the Ubuntu forums.

Give it a quick glance and you'll see that the user is a complete newbie, but he's asking nicely. The responses are polite, encouraging, informative. When the user asks for clarification he is provided with it (and not in the form of "here's some links, go read" -- they're making a genuine effort to explain it to him on his level; even if they get carried away sometimes it looked like the guy was learning). It's a bunch of people who, for no gain of their own, are doing their best to help this guy out,

I didn't go out of my way to find this example to disprove the article. I found it when I was looking for help (though that particular article had nothing to do with my problem).

Maybe it is distro wars in a sense. Someone a few posts back was griping about arrogant Gentoo users. Gentoo is largely populated by those types who want to compile every little thing for "maximum optimization" and performance and squeezing every bit of use out of every spare cycle. Ubuntu is largely populated by those types who want a user-friendly GUI on top of an OS that Just Works right out of the box, and nevermind if it's precompiled binaries or optimally compiled for your machine.

I know which group I'd rather go to with questions.

Ubuntu is Linux n00b Friendly by aquatone282 · 2006-04-19 02:50 · Score: 1 · on Linux Snobs, The Real Barriers to Entry

I found the Ubuntu Absolute Beginner Talk forum friendly and helpful

Ubuntu Forums by spin2cool · 2006-04-19 02:36 · Score: 1 · on Linux Snobs, The Real Barriers to Entry

One of the resaons that Ubuntu is so popular is that there is a large community of people willing to help on the Ubuntu Forums. From noobs to people setting up clusters, someone will be willing to help you. It's one of the distro's greatest strengths. http://ubuntuforums.org/

Re:But is it fixed? by dockingman · 2006-04-18 06:26 · Score: 1 · on Looking Forward, Ubuntu Linux 6.06

I found some issues with the upgrading of the packages in Ubuntu/Kubuntu, but after I've started to use Automatix http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=80295 everything got solved!

Re:Ubuntu's There by glarbl_blarbl · 2006-04-17 17:52 · Score: 1 · on Looking Forward, Ubuntu Linux 6.06

Automatix takes the pain out of installing a lot of those non-free goodies: Sun's Java, many video codecs, etc.

http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=13840 5&highlight=automatix

Its a legal issue by bunbuntheminilop · 2006-04-17 15:58 · Score: 1 · on Looking Forward, Ubuntu Linux 6.06

The following is quoted from here

Below is the reason why Ubuntu lacks media support for closed codecs "out of the box."

A single example will be used- MP3's.

The group that holds the patent on MP3's demands that for each player with MP3 support a 75 cent fee must be paid:

http://www.mp3licensing.com/royalty/index.html

It might not seem like a lot, but when the distro is free then even such a small fee is too much. The only other option is to pay a large one time fee that could otherwise pay a developer to work on Ubuntu for a whole year! So it costs money to distribute software that pays MP3s.

If Ubuntu ignored this, it could be sued in nations like the U.S. where this patent is valid. Either Ubuntu would have to pay up or the developers could never set foot in a country with such patent laws ever again (not reasonable). So because it costs money, Ubuntu has no MP3 support.

Now take this situation, and multiply it times every type of restricted software out there (that isn't a free like OGG) and you see what the situation is. So in order to spend money on developers, not laywers, Ubuntu has to avoid touching these codecs. Even an easier way to install them such as "click here to install" would make Ubuntu an accessory to a crime in many nations.

This is why its important to support open codecs and standards. But Ubuntu can't provide restricted software, or make it any easier because of the law.

Re:slmodem by towsonu2003 · 2006-04-12 03:55 · Score: 1 · on Nice Performance Tuning For UNIX

How much does a good old-fashioned external serial-port modem cost these days?

I think this. And others seem not to disagree with me much.

Re:slmodem by towsonu2003 · 2006-04-12 03:55 · Score: 1 · on Nice Performance Tuning For UNIX

How much does a good old-fashioned external serial-port modem cost these days?

I think this. And others seem not to disagree with me much.

Great... by Anonymous Coward · 2006-03-29 09:13 · Score: 0 · on Beginning Ubuntu Linux

Another distro that won't have working sound on a Thinkpad 600e.

Here's an example of what I'm talking about. http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=14828 1&highlight=600e

Poor guy, he explains fully what he did - and a user simply says to do the exact thing he already stated did NOT work. Great support.

Why can a dead OS like BEOS find the soundcard and just work(TM), but not linux?

Damn so hard! by jc87 · 2006-03-29 08:16 · Score: 0 · on Beginning Ubuntu Linux

A )Print/Read thisWiki(wiki.ubuntu)

B) Download the .ISO from the site

C) Install

D) Add the necessary repositories to your sources.list,
install/configure all the stuff you need , search tutorials about this
subjectshere
(ubuntuforums)

E) Put some nice themes/windows borders/icons at your Gnome (see Gnome Look) ,
the default art at Ubuntu sucks!

F) After a while help give back to the community , write
howtos , donate money , help other noobs , tell people how Gnu/Linux is
great , ...

G ) Bash M$ at /. (they deserve it)

H) World domination

The last two ARE NOT
optional.

Re:Using Ubuntu by MAXOMENOS · 2006-03-29 07:47 · Score: 2, Interesting · on Beginning Ubuntu Linux

I was also very impressed with Kubuntu until it started freezing on me randomly, and in ways from which I could not recover without rebooting. Based on my reading in the forums it looks like the problem isn't resolved yet (sorry, can't find the thread now), and so I switched back (somewhat reluctantly) to Fedora Core. Hopefully they'll iron out more of the bugs in Kubuntu in the next couple of releases. I really like that Kubuntu does everything I would ever want in a Linux distribution, but I should never ever have to reboot my Linux box to recover from a freeze.

Ubuntu is Open by kangpeh · 2006-03-29 07:07 · Score: 1, Flamebait · on Beginning Ubuntu Linux

I really have a discrepency with the fact that an author is attempting to profit off sales of an Ubuntu book. That is why there is an Ubuntu Forum, Ubuntu Wikipedia, and Ubuntu tutorials. In fact, Ubuntu isn't just great because it features a 6 month release cycle, a large community of contributing users, but more importantly, because its community has users who are willing to share and help you get your Ubuntu system running. You don't need to waste money on an Ubuntu book. Just head on over to IRC.FreeNode.Net and come to the Ubuntu IRC Channel, or visit the Ubuntu Forums at www.ubuntuforums.org and you can find lots of tutorials, HOW-TO's, and so forth. There are even in-depth tutorials on the installation of XGL and the compiz composite manager. I hope this helps save you guys some money. Now, if you really are "hell-bent" on purchasing an Ubuntu book, then, of course, some people do like to have paper in hand. However, if you are ready to join the new millenium, save paper, save trees, and get FREE community supported information, that is more than plenty to get an Ubuntu system up and running, then just look on the web.

Oh? You want a book? by irimi_00 · 2006-03-29 06:45 · Score: 2, Interesting · on Beginning Ubuntu Linux

This book is great and if you can't install Unbuntu yourself; go and buy the book. But here is what I did:

I wanted to migrate away from Windows.
I am sorta tech savvy - I know the different parts of a computer, I can trouble shoot some basic problems, and I can type "getting your printer to work in ubuntu' into google.

My point is, instead of paying 40 dollars for a book, here is what you do:

1.Go download the Ubuntu ISO
http://mirror.mcs.anl.gov/pub/ubuntu-iso/CDs/5.10/ ubuntu-5.10-install-i386.iso

2.Go get some burning software, I had to download a few free ones off downloads.com to find that actually worked burning isos as they claimed to, but you probably have some installed, I'm sure.
http://www.download.com/Click-N-Burn-CD-DVD/3000-2 646_4-10461707.html?tag=lst-0-5
http://www.download.com/3120-20_4-0-2-0.html?qt=bu rning&author=&titlename=&desc=&li=49&os=&swlink=&g filetype=
I installed slackware a few years ago and my friend spent like 5 hours helping me configure it to get everything to work and it still gave me problems.
It was a pain, or else one of us just overcomplicated it.

Once Ubuntu was installed... it just worked wonderfully. I sometimes forget I'm not using windows and any non GPL software. The install went like this: insert CD, boot off cd, go through install process, Ubuntu won't start up, switch to boot of IDE-0 in bios - Everything is perfect

I also installed automatix, and Auto Packages
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=13840 5
http://autopackage.org/docs/howto-install/index.ht ml

I don't like computers particularly, I'm not a poweruser or a nerd, and I don't really game. Ubuntu provides me near full functionality for what I need - more than windows ever did.

CentOS provides other options too, but why use Windows if you don't have to?
I feel like such a subversive.
So do what works for you.