I've been trialing Ubuntu Linux on my laptop for about a month now. So here's my conclusion. Ubuntu is an example of a Linux distribution that tries to be as easy as possible for the average user to install, use and add "approved" software to make it more functional. So for a computer user who just has basic needs - get on the Internet, surf the web, check up on their MSN / AOL / ICQ buddies, create a few documents etc., this operating system will work just fine. It's when you want to add Linux software to the thing that isn't part of the already blessed online Ubuntu repositories that you'll run into some grief. I tried upgrading the included version of Firefox (1.0.7) to the latest version (1.5.1) and had to jump through a half dozen hoops to make it happen. Tailoring Linux is not for the faint of heart. But I am impressed with how well Ubuntu detected my hardware on my HP laptop. Also, the software that comes with Ubuntu is more than enough for most people. If you are thinking of giving any flavour (distribution) of Linux a try, Google is your bud. So are friendly Linux blogs like the New Linux User Blog . It was thanks to links provided by Jon and Co. that I was able to upgrade Firefox to 1.5 in Ubuntu. Is Linux easy as pie? No, but neither was Windows the first time you tried it either. But it is free. And considering what you get for zero dollars, I'm not giving up on Ubuntu just yet.Mmmmm..............pie
4 comments:
Try http://ubuntu.wordpress.com for more interesting and sometimes immediately useful posts.
The trouble with blogging-network blogs like the new linux user blog is that often the author is under contract to update the blog "n" times a day/week and this leads to trashy posts where you learn nothing new, really.
Woooooo............. Jon, I do believe you just got slammed. Your serve...
Is the author of that blog a friend of yours? I should be more careful with my words, then. I am sorry - didn't mean to slam Jon :)
I'm having to agree with you Karl. Linux is not quite ready for prime time. Maybe I need to bring a case of wine into work for Jon, so that he'll help me figure out how to get OpenOffice working on my Mepis distribution. Yes, it came with the original install! @#$%#$%^!
I've got my dual-boot up & running now, for those times I need to upload to Flikr, run Picassa to keep my pics organized, download podcasts for iPod, or run my Garmin map software for my GPS. Until Linux reaches critical mass, and they're not there yet, I still need to boot Windows once in a while.
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