Ubuntu

[Xavier]

As I am growing increasingly tired of having to deal with Windows in all its vestiges. I am currently downloading the ISO image for the Ubuntu LiveCD. (I also have the full install being shipped to me.)

I'm going to try to record my experiences here.

As a general introduction, I've used Mandrake in the past. I've also had an intro course in Linux, so I have some background in the OS. I will mainly be looking at issues of usability and feature parity.

IOW, Can Unbuntu replace my Windows installation?

[$cirisme]

I guess it really depends. My biggest problem was wireless. Getting it up and running was no sweat (especially in Ubuntu) but if you want to change it or search for wireless networks, it is a major pain. KWifiManager solves some of these issues, but it's still pretty far from acceptable if you switch wireless access points at all.

This has been the major problem I've encountered over all Linux distributions.

I also dislike how stripped down the Linux subsystem is in Ubuntu. GCC doesn't even come installed, so you can't really compile anything. You can install it off CD, but it was a much bigger pain than it had to be.

(but since Ubuntu is for non-tech users, this isn't a huge deal for their market)

[Xavier]

I guess it really depends. My biggest problem was wireless. Getting it up and running was no sweat (especially in Ubuntu) but if you want to change it or search for wireless networks, it is a major pain. KWifiManager solves some of these issues, but it's still pretty far from acceptable if you switch wireless access points at all.

This is not what I wanted to hear... I typically roam between about 3 to 4 different wireless profiles in a single day... Bummer.

(School (formerly ETSU, now Clemson), Work (not anymore), Home, Wesley, and Downtown Clemson for those who care.)

We'll see how much of a problem that becomes.

I also dislike how stripped down the Linux subsystem is in Ubuntu. GCC doesn't even come installed, so you can't really compile anything. You can install it off CD, but it was a much bigger pain than it had to be.

(but since Ubuntu is for non-tech users, this isn't a huge deal for their market)

This, I don't have a big problem with... Especially since I'm just going to be doing this on LiveCD for the moment. I don't mind jumping through a couple of hoops if the UI experience is as good as most people suggest.

[$cirisme]

This is not what I wanted to hear... I typically roam between about 3 to 4 different wireless profiles in a single day... Bummer.

(School (formerly ETSU, now Clemson), Work (not anymore), Home, Wesley, and Downtown Clemson for those who care.)

We'll see how much of a problem that becomes.

You can switch networks through the command line, but that leaves a lot to be desired. AFAICT, (maybe they've updated this) there's no way to search for wireless networks in Ubuntu. You have to know what wireless network you want before you can know it's there. KWifiManager can search for wireless networks, but (a) it's never actually worked on my laptop (may be a hw thing, though windows worked fine) (b) I've never had any luck using KWifiManager to actually switch networks and (c) my experiences with KWifiManger come from Debian, not Ubuntu. Ubuntu doesn't even come with an utility like KWifiManager that I could find, though with some playing around you can probably install KWifiManager even though it's a KDE program.

Wireless supposedly a top priority for Ubuntu's new release, but last time I checked into it, I did not see any progress.

Good luck. I've more or less given up on wireless in Linux for the time being. (I still use it on my laptop at home which works fine, but forget switching)

[Xavier]

Well, I'm not reporting from Ubuntu running Firefox 1.0.7 ().

The mouse tracks REALLY fast and that's annoying.

This is about all I can stand to do for tonight. I've got class at 8am in the morning.

[Xavier]

Mouse tracking was easy to fix.

I noticed that the Network panel supported Location Profiles. If it works, that will be sufficent for my needs. (I currently use IBM's location profile product anyway.)

The only thing that really annoyed me was that it reset my system clock to UTC. If I wanted my system clock at UTC, I would have asked for it to be at UTC. Thank you VERY much...

[studyhound]

[Losvedir]

I'd have to say of the few different Linux distros I've tried, I like Ubuntu the best. It's a snap to set up, and Synaptic is great for getting pretty much anything you could possibly need. It's also really easy to keep up to date.

I'd have to agree with cir, though, about the wireless. I have Ubuntu on my powerbook, and OS X just blows it out of the water with the ease of finding and switching wireless networks.

That said, I didn't try KWifiManager so that may help. Or maybe Kismet? I know KisMAC does that sort of thing fairly well, but I haven't tried the Linux version.

Oh, and Redhat running Enlightenment 17 comes in a close second in favorite Linux setup. Not at all an option for your standard working desktop, imho, but it's so fast, and so pretty, and so just plain cool, that I have to give it a nod.

[ice_eagle]

Mouse tracking was easy to fix.
The only thing that really annoyed me was that it reset my system clock to UTC. If I wanted my system clock at UTC, I would have asked for it to be at UTC. Thank you VERY much...

I think the installation dialog on Ubuntu asks how you want to set up the system clock. My clock is set to Central time, and has been for quite some time.

It seems really odd that a live CD would tamper with the system time. Oh, well.

[Xavier]

It was late, so that may very well be true. I do remember setting the time zone, but I don't remember if that was before or after.

[$cirisme]

I'd have to say of the few different Linux distros I've tried, I like Ubuntu the best. It's a snap to set up, and Synaptic is great for getting pretty much anything you could possibly need. It's also really easy to keep up to date.

I'd have to agree with cir, though, about the wireless. I have Ubuntu on my powerbook, and OS X just blows it out of the water with the ease of finding and switching wireless networks.

That said, I didn't try KWifiManager so that may help. Or maybe Kismet? I know KisMAC does that sort of thing fairly well, but I haven't tried the Linux version.

Oh, and Redhat running Enlightenment 17 comes in a close second in favorite Linux setup. Not at all an option for your standard working desktop, imho, but it's so fast, and so pretty, and so just plain cool, that I have to give it a nod.

I love Enlightenment... especially the elegance of their multiple desktops. (I'm easily amused)


Sadly, it's nowhere near being a good replacement for me.

[ih8censorship]

im actually downloading Kubuntu as we speak. Ive messed around with a lot of linux distros, and i can say that what you see on a live cd isnt nessicarily what you will see when you install it to your hard disk. If you just want a live cd that does like everything, try Knoppix. I havn't gotten any Linux distro installed on my old pc to my liking, but Kubuntu sure sounds good. (Im mainly getting Kubuntu instead of Ubuntu because i know what KDE is like allready) but i guess other than that their exactly the same OS.

[Sheepdog]

i hate to say it, but you are bound to run into some uses for Windows and software thereof that there is no (stable?) equivalent in the Linux world. unless you are a rare case, you will have to keep Windows around in some form. you won't be married to it, but you won't be rid of it either.

that said, a Linux system is definitely a good way to go. it's more work to configure (argh, i'll never grow fond of fiddling with config files... give me a GUI configuration utility any day), but well more than worth it if you have the free time.

if you want a window manager that sticks more to what you are used to in Windows, i'd suggest KDE. i fiddled with Enlightenment, but never could get used it.