Should I run Ubuntu?

[TheEvilCheese]

So, I have decided that windows is just getting annoying.
I recently came across this open source Linux based OS which looks... Brilliant!
So, could anyone who has/had Ubuntu running tell me their opinions on it.

I currently have a Dell XPS 420 running Vista *sigh* so what do you think I should do?

 

[Radeonx]

If you don't like Windows, then use the Linux one.
I see no problem with it.

 

[TheEvilCheese]

I have a friend who uses it. Apparently it's incredibly difficult to install but you can get PC games running on it and it's incredibly customizable. I'm serious about the install though, it takes about 14 hours or something ridiculous and you have to make decisions about what to install so you can't just leave it there.

Thanks for that.
The first *informed* awnser.
The install isn't a problem as im not in a rush. I'm considering installing it on my old laptop to try it out first.

 

[TheEvilCheese]

Do a barrel roll.

I...
Hate...
You...

 

[cleverlymadeup]

it's pretty easy to install from what i know, i don't use ubuntu and never will, i use archlinux as it's much better.

most of the stuff is automated now, which is good but just read what it's saying and the rest of the help you need can be found on the internet via google

 

[cleverlymadeup]

Thanks for that.
The first *informed* awnser.
The install isn't a problem as im not in a rush. I'm considering installing it on my old laptop to try it out first.

hate to say it but it's not a very informed answer, there are probly 2 people on here, besides staff, that can give you a well informed answer for linux, i'm one of them and RAK is the other

 

[Claude Rains]

I used a lot of Linux distros when I first started out, and if anything, Ubuntu was the easiest to install as there were fewer options while installing than other distros, as cleverlymadeup it's pretty much all automated.

 

[Chipperz]

My mate swears by it. He's used it for years, and he knows his way around a computer. He's played with all the options and knows it better than any sane human should.

It took him twenty minutes to work out how to customise it so it made a box. This was something he had been raving at me for ages about. All I came away with was the impression that it looks pointlessly hard to use.

 

[Gruthar]

So, I have decided that windows is just getting annoying.
I recently came across this open source Linux based OS which looks... Brilliant!
So, could anyone who has/had Ubuntu running tell me their opinions on it.

I currently have a Dell XPS 420 running Vista *sigh* so what do you think I should do?

It depends on what you use your computer for. If you use your laptop for gaming, you may want to reconsider Linux. For everything else, Ubuntu is one of the most user-friendly distributions, as that's pretty much what it was designed to be. It'll probably be the easiest to set up out-of-the-box. It's the distro we recommend/install at work to people who are Linux-curious.

 

[Alex_P]

1. Download a ISO from here [http://www.ubuntu.com/]. You'll probably want the 64-bit desktop version unless your machine is rather old. If you have an Atom-based netbook, there is always the "Netbook Remix".
2. Burn it to an CD-R.
3. Boot from the LiveCD you just made.
4. Select the "Try it" option. This'll start the OS from the CD without installing anything and give you a basic environment to play with.
5. Fuck around for a few minutes to see if you like the environment.
Then you can decide whether you want to install it or not.

If you choose to install it, the first thing you will want to get are video card drivers (there is a pop-up the first time you start the OS that guides you through this process) and the "Ubuntu restricted extras" package, which will enable Flash and some other stuff.

-- Alex

 

[dh04000]

????????? 14 hours? Are you high? I just installed Ubuntu from a usb drive onto my netbook in less than 25 minutes. The most "difficult" part of the install was deciding my user name and password and time zone. Oh, and I had to hit the enter button like 5 times. Took all the brain power I had to accomplish, obviously.

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Installing-Ubuntu-9-10-126370.shtml

Here's a decent guide for the newest Ubuntu, its even has pictures. (If you have any problems/questions, use Google, its your friend!)

You might get so addicted to Ubuntu that you spend 14+ hours customizing it though. Its that fun! And thats a good thing!

 

[Lukeje]

If you're unsure, burn the disc image and then run it as a "live cd". I use it, and think it's awesome (am learning shell programming to get the most out of it at the moment). The install is simple; it walks you through everything step by step. The only problems are that everything that comes with it is open source; e.g. you can't run mp3s or DVD-movies out of the box as they use non open-source encoders. Thus it requires a bit of effort to get everything the way you want it. Though the fact that you can get everything exactly as you want it is what separates it from Windows where you are constrained to just selecting options. Note that Linux distributions only give you as much as you put in; i.e. if you're not going to be studying shell commands and unlocking the full power of the terminal then you may be better off just sticking with Windows.

 

[Claude Rains]

Also, if you don't fancy committing to anything just yet but want to go through the install process just to see what it's like, you can always download the ISO and use it in a virtual desktop like VirtualBox or something like that.

 

[TheEvilCheese]

Thanks for the responses, I didn't think it would take that long to install and im burning a CD with the software now.

Planning to try out on my Laptop tomorrow whan I have an hour or two to mess around with the settings and stuff.

Oh and, Two new users? Welcome to the Escapist, enjoy your stay.

 

[More Fun To Compute]

I didn't find it hard to install, in fact it is quicker and easier than the last Windows XP install I did. In general it is fairly easy to use.

 

[bodyklok]

Do a barrel roll.

3/10
It's comments like this that make /b/ suck now.

OT: It should be fine... just watch out for it OK, everything being free is great and all, but if that OS fucks up due to a virus, or just because, don't expect much help restoring it.

The major flaw in Linux is Linux its self; you have to be careful with this software because you really can't trust it all the time.

And of course, there's the whole issue with the application of the OS. As others have said, don't expect to run much on it. But Ubuntu should be fine for every day web browsing and light work, Just be careful.

Oh, and if you're having massive trouble with Vista, just look up how to turn off all the annoying features, it'll speed up loads.

 

[axia777]

You can always do a dual boot just to make sure you like Ubuntu. I would do that first and then make a decision.

 

[Dioxide20]

I have Ubuntu on my other, older computer, and it runs as if it is new. It took about 10 minutes to install, and is pretty cool... for the first few days. That's when I tried to do things that I can easily do on Windows that I can't figure out heads or tails of in Ubuntu. For instance, putting a shortcut on the desktop is more complicated in Ubuntu, its not as easy as drag and drop.

Also, installing programs is a little different. I tried to install the latest version of Firefox, but it said something like waiting for the distributors to update it themselves.

But on the positive side, Ubuntu has tons of free programs you can download that are all nicely organized in a sort of App store. There is everything from office programs to games and educational utilities.

I'm sure that if you get used to how everything works in Ubuntu, it's probably an awesome OS.

 

[dh04000]

1. Download a ISO from here [http://www.ubuntu.com/]. You'll probably want the 64-bit desktop version unless your machine is rather old. If you have an Atom-based netbook, there is always the "Netbook Remix".
2. Burn it to an CD-R.
3. Boot from the LiveCD you just made.


-- Alex

You miss wrote this. Just can't just burn the iso files as a data-cd/dvd. Its must be burnt as an iso disc. That requires a program that can do this. Ubuntu has one built in, but I don't think Vista does(I'm still on XP). Google for a free (malware free too) iso burner. There's millions of them out there. Then burn to a disc and install.


Or burn(figuratively) the file to a 1GB or bigger usb drive using the program unetbootin (http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/)

Change your computer bios settings to boot from usb and you can install from the usb drive.


OR use Wubi (http://wubi-installer.org/) to install ubuntu within windows. If you don't like it, use windows add/remove to remove it. No harddrive repartitioning required.




Here you go. Three ways to install Ubuntu. I suggest Wubi for a begginer.

Have fun!