Should I run Ubuntu?

[Kilo24]

Speaking from a recent Ubuntu installation here (a few months ago,) I haven't found it to be worth the change. It's user friendly and is probably inherently better than Windows, but I prefer having compatibility with all my programs (especially games, and I do miss Chrome) and not have to learn the quirks of a new OS.

I haven't found it, or the standard applications that come with it to be significantly more stable than Windows and its spawn. I haven't been able to get my microphone working in Ubuntu (and the audio settings crashed multiple times when tweaking them), and Open Office and Firefox have given me more problems than Wordpad or Chrome have.

The price tag would be a good reason to stick to Ubuntu, but if you're a PC gamer who wants to be able to play the latest games, Wine won't cut it and you'll need to dual boot. I'd minorly favor sticking with Windows, myself.

 

[chase211]

Its nice, its well designed, its lightweight and cheap. Its also very hard to get used to, not user friendly (until you learn it) and not at all intuitive. If your willing to invest the time to get to know the software, I would so go for it and dive in. If your just looking for a lightweight, less buggy more user friendly OS I would say invest in windows 7.

 

[G-Dragon]

i installed ubuntu on my laptop a while back, its neat to have and fun to play with but installing anything is kinda a hassle. if you really hate windows then go ahead, but your not gaining much by having it

 

[ZSF]

if you're a PC gamer who wants to be able to play the latest games

PEOPLE STILL MAKE GAMES WORTH PLAYING?! WHERE?!

 

[DazZ.]

How much space does it need?

I have a spare 80gb HDD and I would like some Linux experience, would Ubuntu work fine via USB with 80gb? Just for messing about getting things to run etc?
I'm buying a new HD for Windows 7 soon, if I like it I might whack a small Linux partition on it as well.

Also any links where I could find these questions out for myself instead of asking Escapists?

 

[MiodekPL]

At first install You'll probably need two computers - one for installing, and the second one for googling the instructions It's hard to install the first time, but very rewarding. Really - my brother had UBuntu, and it was quite incredible. Not too good for games though.

 

[Danny Ocean]

Also if you want to put something in an image you do this:

Like so:

Your image is broken so it won't work.

Perhaps this image can help him figure it out:

And you put the url in the middle.

 

[Liberuno]

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.

Speaking from personal experience, the install is very easy. The process has come a long way in the last few years. The part that is still a bit tricky I find is that if you need any libraries to support fringe needs.

For example, if you are developing applications in a very specific language you may find that IDE support is not always great. Their is a program called WINE that can let you run windows programs; it is hit and miss though (it seems to hit more than miss in the last little while).

I had trouble on Ubuntu doing my taxes last year; the program and the government websites wouldnt recognize the OS through WINE and didnt let me file my taxes. That is what pushed me to switch back.

Kind of off topic, there is a great strategy game that started in Linux (you can get it on windows now), its called Battle For Wesnoth. I encourage everyone to check it out.

 

[TheBXRabbit]

I run Ubuntu on my PC, it had a few nitpicky issues when I first loaded it, but now works absolutely fine. The only issue I have is that a lot of programs aren't able to run on Linux, but for web browsing, email, word processing, etc, it all works fine.

 

[TK421]

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

I wish it to be on the record that vista is not an accurate representation of windows. Please do not judge windows untill you have tried windows 7. Thank you.

 

[TheSeventhLoneWolf]

Do a barrel roll.

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

Jarate! *Hands over Jarate to Zippybogidou* - For your nemesis.

On topic. If you think it's great, i don't see any reason why you shouldn't use it.

 

[sirdanrhodes]

Delete System 32.

Kidding, I use Ubuntu, the only problem, the CPU over heats, the fan shuts off.

 

[Enizer]

if you're a PC gamer who wants to be able to play the latest games

PEOPLE STILL MAKE GAMES WORTH PLAYING?! WHERE?!

check the indie section on steam, small independent developers, sometimes down to less then 10 people

if you like strange and/or original ideas and designs that's the place to look

 

[Filtertip]

The only reason im still running and upgrading windows is because of games.

If you really looking at installing ubuntu take a look at linux mint. its built off ubuntu and it more "home pc" ready out of the box. flash other web based video players are installed by default, DVD work strght away "hav'nt tested that for my self yet though" and the software manager "basicly a free app store" is user ratings, comments and normaly a image to help when your looking for software.


If you find something missing in linx that you need sudo commands are your friend.

 

[lovefist233]

first off, a live CD isnt a fantastic taster as the OS will run at the speed of a drunk snail through treacle

secondly, Ubuntu is fast becoming a stupid religion like firefox, try Fedora instead, its just as easy to use but you dont feel like a retard or a fanboy

thirdly, games + linux = bad, dual boot with windows if you want to play the latest games, some will run under wine or cedega but most wont (and get windows 7, its way better than vista)

these points have doubtless been made but i feel that i must spread my anti-Ubuntu message wherever possible

http://fedoraproject.org KDE)

http://www.fedorafaq.org <- all you need to know to make it do stuff like play MP3s or install windows fonts

 

[Gitsnik]

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

And the kernel programming side of me is the 3rd, just in case you want to pull numbers out of the air again

Preparing for gaming on ubuntu is going to be more difficult than you are used to on Windows, which I would consider the only reason not to use it. I'm more a Debian fan myself (or a BSD actually, but for Linux sake), but Ubuntu has a relatively well fleshed out set of features, stability is alright and the forums are fairly consistent.

I think... why not? You can dual boot them, so give it a shot.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

Ubuntu is one of Linux's better interfaces, the Linux PCs at my uni run on Gnome and it's rubbish.

ummm hate to inform you but the Ubuntu interface as you call it IS GNOME, the default for Ubuntu's X11 is GNOME

I'm more a Debian fan myself (or a BSD actually, but for Linux sake), but Ubuntu has a relatively well fleshed out set of features, stability is alright and the forums are fairly consistent.

i hate debian, well more particularly the people who make it and mostly because they mess with the code base and have no clue what they are doing. there's also a few other issues such as them not doing a correct job of making kde packages

 

[Gitsnik]

I'm more a Debian fan myself (or a BSD actually, but for Linux sake), but Ubuntu has a relatively well fleshed out set of features, stability is alright and the forums are fairly consistent.

i hate debian, well more particularly the people who make it and mostly because they mess with the code base and have no clue what they are doing. there's also a few other issues such as them not doing a correct job of making kde packages

I use it exclusively for servers - Debian was like OpenBSD - a good, solid, reliable release cycle with low security flaws and good stability, so I can't comment either way on things like KDE packages - nor on anything new. I don't like the bleeding edge, there lies the way of pain. Now I just use OpenBSD or FreeBSD for firewalls and servers respectively.

The only concession I have to Ubuntu is the Penetration Testing distro that uses it, and even then I'm fighting to keep my slax in use but, sadly, things are getting away from me.

 

[Snowalker]

Do a barrel roll.

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

I...

*plays coy*

Love...

Jews..