read the code and you will see this is driven by a registry key - and you can even change it in option-under the hood-general- uncheck 'help google...'
For the ATI, they released a new driver few days ago... From what i seen it's a better release than before, but i didn't test it myself (i got NVIDIA cards)
But don't worry, Ubuntu comes by default with OSS implementation of ATI drivers who should be "OK" for non-3d... then when you got more confidence, you can give a shot to installing the "closed-sources" driver.
As a professional software developer, you will really enjoy the freedom to see source of kernel/applications... This is far easier than to use Softice to understand why Windows XP just did a blue screen...(I still remember I got problem with 2k and ended patching the kernel32 to avoid VS97 to be unstable with my old 3dfx drivers... MS support really didn't like it...when I posted a question "Why this not documented WINDOWS function do not check length parameter of arguments nor handle the raised exception correctly, this end the system crashing ring 0 ? , a short hex edit and I can successfully continue to work...Should be the OS crash only when there is a really critical problem ?")
Note: The dev-tools are pretty different from the one on windows, especially since the idea is "with source, it should be "easy" to install... But as soon as you get used to them, you will be happy as a fish in water
Since Ubuntu is based on a Debian, it will still be possible to learn quite a lot on it, When you really want to learn more, then you should start to think about installing a more geek distribution, like a Gentoo (this is a Ikea-alike distribution)... Not that simple, install is just a command prompt but the community is really nice and always ready to help...(You could give a try to a LFS, but IMHO, maintaining it is a real pain...you can see a Linux From Scratch as a ikea thing where you get a basic "Construction Guide" and 2 or 3 trees for the wood)
Last but not least:You can actually upgrade a Debian to an ubuntu, but the contrary is, as far as I know not possible. The best thing to do is simply to create the/home on a separate partition, so when you want to "upgrade", you will keep your personal documents...but not config or install software
Sadly, most distributions don't allows you to change from a debian base to a redhat base like you can do with Windows (when you want to upgrade from 2000 to XP... even if working 50% of the time...all i know about it is you end with a system who will need to be reinstalled soon)... Ugrade is fine as long that you stay on the same distrib.
The main explanation of it is even if the kernel is the same, the architecture used for init scripts / directory mapping and package managment are differents...
I think I can understand your fear quite well, and honestly, the story you hear are not just legend... but in my young years, i succefully detroyed DOS 3, OS/2 and Windows many times aswell... And actually it's that who teach me how to use them well... (especially re-installing the 42 floppies of an OS/2 2.0...)
Linux is not that different, if you start to mess config files, there is a moment where you can run in problems... especially if you try to get the latest fancy options... and you will, everyone actually like the freedom it offers and will try/learn how it works...
Anyway, things are now pretty advance compared to my first linux install in 95... most distro now offers you the tools to manage graphically your configuration...
And as usual, doing a backup before doing manual changes always allows you to "go back"... It sound stupid but terribly true... especially when new to the system.
Why Ubuntu, even with your knowledge: That's an hard question, since it's will always be like comparing cars, you have facts and you have personnal preferences...
Ubuntu is not aim specifically at "newbie", just at people who want some ease of use (the reason of "For Human Beings") and contains by default a limited set of programs and drivers knows to "Just Works"(tm)... Their politic has limitations, but they just want to avoid as much as possible the end user getting hurt by mistake... (Actually, the base installations don't contains packages not fully tested - this is limitative,later you can get community managed packages but for begining, i think limitation allows user to get use to a new system)
The community is friendly and active: That's a important point, you will find interesting informations and helps on forums by dedicated people...for free
System Installation is pretty simple: a username - a partition (just take attention at begin, it will propose by default to use the complete hard-disk, just ask the installer let you choose where to install (windows do the same...;) ) - name machine/network settings and that's all
Manage: They provide a really easy package management: Select what and that all
Update: You get a nice icon on the taskbar when updates are ready: click and that's done...
Since i do not like to be "only good points", here comes some con's:
Some usefull applications are not in the default repository... this needs you to add them and then install...
Dependancies: This usually works right, but can becomes huge problems when starting to install packages from non ubuntu repositories
No compile: It's a con for me, but a good things to avoid people messing around with kernels config and ending unable to boot
Must be other, but i don't think of them yet..
Take care of propriate driver (especially ATI ones...), you can get a non working X cause of them and their "own" way to install themself...
It's linux;-)
(With a flag of the GNU floating behind, music starts)
To finish this pretty long post, i really think you should make the step, even if you have to ghost your system before for ease of mind... Linux can offers you something Microsoft cannot, freedom..Freedom to learn, to use, to copy and to offer to others...
IMHO, i guess the easy thing to do is just give a shot to a livecd.
For new user, i still think the best distribution to start with is Ubuntu Linux (http://www.ubuntulinux.org/), especially because they offer you a LiveCD who will behave exactly like an installed system (btw, it will be way slower since it has no access to your hard drive... just memory and cd)
Using this, you can "try before you get it for free", see how your system behaves.
Then, when you feel more comfortable, you can try the real thing...
For this, if you feel a little bit afraid, a good idea can be to google for the nearest Linux User Groups and ask them for help...
There, you should find real people, able to explain some "not like windows" aspect of the installation / usage... for free and with devotion..
eg: Most of people don't have a clue on how the file system works on windows... but the one who knows have usually difficulty to understand the *n*x way... its just another view of thing... Always nice to be introduced to something by someone rather by try-errors thing.
By the way, this is my point of view, I do not say Ubuntu is the best, just it can offer you a nice and introduction to freedom
Slashdot Mirror
read the code and you will see this is driven by a registry key - and you can even change it in option-under the hood-general- uncheck 'help google...'
This was a joke...
Everyone knows how to secure windows machines: Security thru no electricity(TM)
...I just visited the Beijing offices and they were just like ours in the Redmond...
/ ...
Jail for anyone speaking about freedom or human rights ? http://web.amnesty.org/report2004/chn-summary-eng
For the ATI, they released a new driver few days ago... From what i seen it's a better release than before, but i didn't test it myself (i got NVIDIA cards)
/home on a separate partition, so when you want to "upgrade", you will keep your personal documents...but not config or install software ... Ugrade is fine as long that you stay on the same distrib.
But don't worry, Ubuntu comes by default with OSS implementation of ATI drivers who should be "OK" for non-3d... then when you got more confidence, you can give a shot to installing the "closed-sources" driver.
As a professional software developer, you will really enjoy the freedom to see source of kernel/applications... This is far easier than to use Softice to understand why Windows XP just did a blue screen...(I still remember I got problem with 2k and ended patching the kernel32 to avoid VS97 to be unstable with my old 3dfx drivers... MS support really didn't like it...when I posted a question "Why this not documented WINDOWS function do not check length parameter of arguments nor handle the raised exception correctly, this end the system crashing ring 0 ? , a short hex edit and I can successfully continue to work...Should be the OS crash only when there is a really critical problem ?")
Note: The dev-tools are pretty different from the one on windows, especially since the idea is "with source, it should be "easy" to install... But as soon as you get used to them, you will be happy as a fish in water
Since Ubuntu is based on a Debian, it will still be possible to learn quite a lot on it, When you really want to learn more, then you should start to think about installing a more geek distribution, like a Gentoo (this is a Ikea-alike distribution)... Not that simple, install is just a command prompt but the community is really nice and always ready to help...(You could give a try to a LFS, but IMHO, maintaining it is a real pain...you can see a Linux From Scratch as a ikea thing where you get a basic "Construction Guide" and 2 or 3 trees for the wood)
Last but not least:You can actually upgrade a Debian to an ubuntu, but the contrary is, as far as I know not possible. The best thing to do is simply to create the
Sadly, most distributions don't allows you to change from a debian base to a redhat base like you can do with Windows (when you want to upgrade from 2000 to XP... even if working 50% of the time...all i know about it is you end with a system who will need to be reinstalled soon)
The main explanation of it is even if the kernel is the same, the architecture used for init scripts / directory mapping and package managment are differents...
Linux is not that different, if you start to mess config files, there is a moment where you can run in problems... especially if you try to get the latest fancy options... and you will, everyone actually like the freedom it offers and will try/learn how it works...
Anyway, things are now pretty advance compared to my first linux install in 95... most distro now offers you the tools to manage graphically your configuration...
And as usual, doing a backup before doing manual changes always allows you to "go back"... It sound stupid but terribly true... especially when new to the system.
Why Ubuntu, even with your knowledge:
That's an hard question, since it's will always be like comparing cars, you have facts and you have personnal preferences...
- Ubuntu is not aim specifically at "newbie", just at people who want some ease of use (the reason of "For Human Beings") and contains by default a limited set of programs and drivers knows to "Just Works"(tm)
... Their politic has limitations, but they just want to avoid as much as possible the end user getting hurt by mistake... (Actually, the base installations don't contains packages not fully tested - this is limitative,later you can get community managed packages but for begining, i think limitation allows user to get use to a new system)
- The community is friendly and active: That's a important point, you will find interesting informations and helps on forums by dedicated people...for free
- System Installation is pretty simple: a username - a partition (just take attention at begin, it will propose by default to use the complete hard-disk, just ask the installer let you choose where to install (windows do the same...
;) ) - name machine/network settings and that's all
- Manage: They provide a really easy package management: Select what and that all
- Update: You get a nice icon on the taskbar when updates are ready: click and that's done...
Since i do not like to be "only good points", here comes some con's:- Some usefull applications are not in the default repository... this needs you to add them and then install...
- Dependancies: This usually works right, but can becomes huge problems when starting to install packages from non ubuntu repositories
- No compile: It's a con for me, but a good things to avoid people messing around with kernels config and ending unable to boot
- Must be other, but i don't think of them yet..
- Take care of propriate driver (especially ATI ones...), you can get a non working X cause of them and their "own" way to install themself...
- It's linux
;-)
(With a flag of the GNU floating behind, music starts)To finish this pretty long post, i really think you should make the step, even if you have to ghost your system before for ease of mind... Linux can offers you something Microsoft cannot, freedom..Freedom to learn, to use, to copy and to offer to others...
I fully agree...Using a Mac made him sexy too... http://img365.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sexybillg atesmac5uk.jpg
IMHO, i guess the easy thing to do is just give a shot to a livecd.
For new user, i still think the best distribution to start with is Ubuntu Linux (http://www.ubuntulinux.org/), especially because they offer you a LiveCD who will behave exactly like an installed system (btw, it will be way slower since it has no access to your hard drive... just memory and cd)
Using this, you can "try before you get it for free", see how your system behaves.
Then, when you feel more comfortable, you can try the real thing...
For this, if you feel a little bit afraid, a good idea can be to google for the nearest Linux User Groups and ask them for help...
There, you should find real people, able to explain some "not like windows" aspect of the installation / usage... for free and with devotion..
eg: Most of people don't have a clue on how the file system works on windows... but the one who knows have usually difficulty to understand the *n*x way... its just another view of thing... Always nice to be introduced to something by someone rather by try-errors thing.
By the way, this is my point of view, I do not say Ubuntu is the best, just it can offer you a nice and introduction to freedom
Hope it helps
Hopefully you didn't try a gentoo...