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Ubuntu 9.04 For the Windows Power User
crazipper writes "Know a Windows power user who is (honestly) good with technology, but hasn't yet warmed to Linux? Tom's Hardware just posted a guide to installing and using Ubuntu 9.04, written specifically for the MS crowd (in other words, it talks about file systems, mount points, app installation, etc). Hopefully, by the end, your 'friend' will realize just how easy Ubuntu can be to use and start down a long path of exploration with a new operating system."
is my b****
first post anyway
I skimmed over the key parts and think its a good article.
However i think there are some mistakes regarding his recommended setup: :P
10-30GB if your going to install lots of applications seams excessive, i fit my system in 4 and I'd be amazed if you could end up with >10GB for desktop programs perhaps 10-15GB would have been a better recommendation?
Swap should never be more than 1GB unless you plan on hibernating in which case 75% should be enough
(1473M with 951 swap hibernates fine), does anybody really use 4GB swap?
Also why would you use GNOME on ubuntu, KDE3 on debian forever!!!!!!!!
IranAir Flight 655 never forget!
Know a Windows power user
Please stop! The cognitive dissonance entailed within that phrase makes my brain hurt.
I actually know plenty of "Windows Power Users" who can probably run circles around me patching broken registries, applying service packs and otherwise working around Windows peculiarities. But when it comes to doing Actual Work, if Gates/Ballmer didn't build them a cute little GUI, it obviously isn't worth doing, or even possible to do.
I've spent a couple of decades working around brain-damaged engineers who thought that the end product of our department was a PowerPoint presentation. Let the staff in Russia actually do the analysis and CAD work.
Have gnu, will travel.
Except that Windows offers much more to choose from. Including many of the same Open Source projects Linux zealots seem to think they have excursive access to.
Indeed, sometimes the quality of Linux software isn't up to snuff with Windows. Even programs that have Linux ports aren't up to the same level. For example, the Skype version of Linux is far outdated, and Firefox is much slower on Linux. Some of that is due to technical reasons, some if it is simply the lack of motivation on the part of the developers. Either way, Linux means less choice and fewer features when you actually look at ALL the options.
"When you see a unixer brainwashed beyond saving, kick him out of the door." - Xah Lee
They will have problems where ever they go. If you really want them please take them. When they rename the RC files and reboot, don't bother sending them back to us; maybe they can be in the next I'm a Mac commercial. (Note: I and several coworkers stood by and watched a supposed "expert" do this once. We let him because he worked for another company and was being a prick.)
So now you know one of the basic rules of practical computing, if it's not broken, don't try to fix it....
I also wonder who those "people" are, and why I should care about them?
I definitely use my computer for my OS. Because my OS (which includes the GNU apps, and many others) has a million parts, that I can put together like Lego bricks, and make out of it, whatever I need. Like a stack of notes, that I can access to keyboard commands. Or a network-controlled tool to arm StreamRipper, which integrates with AmaroK, so you can say "keep this" after you heard a song, without recording everything. Try that in windows, without programming your own app onto OS-level APIs.
Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
Exactly. If they are actually good at tech and pay any attention to it at all, they don't have a reason to switch.
Not to mention Linux is still not quite ready for the desktop. Flame away, I just migrated back to Vista, and I'm happy now. At least I will be, when I finally set up Eclipse with MinGW.
P.S. The X log told me direct rendering is not supported with the intel driver. After hours of frustration, and seeing Vista doing just fine, taking about 3 mouse clicks.
So last weekend, I buy/build a new computer. My intentions are to use this as a Media PC for my basement. XBMC is awesome, and runs on Windows. Great, let's get some practce using Windows.
Installation of Windows is a strange thing. Not so easy as I've heard, very slow. (It's not a good thing either). Windows boots up slow, and the video card can't even output on the HDMI port! I had to wait until the next day to go on my work PC and download the network card drivers onto a USB stick.
Day 2
Cool, time to start installing apps. This is going to be running XBMC, so let's install. Apparently you can't simply use the package manager. Okay a little different than Ubuntu, but sounds kinda fun. Sure. I go to xbmc.org click download, then choose windows.
So I learn about third party software, malware, virus scanners and lots about porn and penis enlargements while searching for windows software. So far, so good.
I follow the instructions and learn to decipher kidspeak and weed out spam while searching for support in windows forums.
I double click on the icon to install the xbmc core. Everything goes great. A new entry is added to the "start menu" and all! It doesn't launch. Apparently I need to install .net framework. I then need to update Windows Update to MS update. I then have to call microsoft to make sure I have the Windows Genuine Advantage. Then, windows service pack 3 finally begins to install.
Day 3
I finally get xbmc core to launch.
Cool, let's get some skins, from another thrird party source. I guess I selected something wrong, because the computer will not boot. A friend says I probably got a virus. From the third party source site.
Day 5
Windows reinstalled. Got new Kaspsersky Virus scanner.
Day 6.
Kaspsersky is worse than the viruses; the PC is too slow to be usable. Uninstall Kaspersky.
Finally have a working computer with xbmc.
Here are my thoughts on Windows:
1) Installation blows.
2) Adding third party software is a MAJOR PAIN IN THE ASS!!! Following instrustions meant for a noob, I screwed it up 3/5 times. I swear I can follow instructions. I earn a living as an electronics engineer.
3) Why do windows programs close themselves? I think they are crashing. No one will ever know why because most of the software is closed source.
4) Step 3 gave me an error, so naturally, I copied it to the clipboard. I click on okay and the PC reboots. My error, that WAS in the clipboard is now gone... Awesome.
5) Not having key signing for software packages is a pain in the ass & comlpicated due to the amount of viruses out there. Third party software sources for windows cannot be trusted.
Overall, I think that Windows is pretty cool, and I can't wait to learn more. However, given the issues that I came across, this is still not ready for the masses. Software installation is too convoluted and hard. I want to click to download from my trusted software repository, then click to install. Programs should not terminate computer with no warning. Installs that will make your computer unusable should come with a warning.
I don't want to sound like Windows is a POS, because that is not the case. I am impressed with a number of aspects, but there are sill a number of usability issues, IMO.