For years there has been a lot of hype about Linux, the “free” operating system first developed by Linus Torvalds. With every new distribution, the chorus became louder that Linux was ready for the masses.
But it wasn’t. There was absolutely no way I would recommend any distribution that I tried, and I tried almost all of them, to a non-techie. Just too much “stuff” to do manually.
Until now. Ubuntu Linux rocks. You can safely tell your friends to install the latest distro, nicknamed “Hardy Heron”, version 8.04. And they will thank you. No more paying for Windows or Apple’s OS/X. Have older hardware? Switch to Ubuntu and you’ll think you have a new computer. New hardware? Work at warp speed.
LST contributor Hamous has been a long-time user of Linux, one of the few, the brave, the technically able. Now, everyone can be as smart as Hammie!
All you do is download and install. You’ll have the latest version of Firefox for browsing, the GIMP for your awesome Photoshops (heh), a photo manager, YouTubes, streaming audio, Open Office 2.4 (a worthy competitor of MS Office) and so many games you won’t have time to blog. Plus, thousands more FREE open source programs at your disposal. And you can feel free to ask Hamous any question you desire.
Awesome.
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Can it be easily installed as a virtual machine? How would the performance compare? If I were to switch, does it have the capability to have a virtual mchine of Windows (so Excel, etc. will still run)?
Haven’t used a virtual machine, I reboot back and forth. 99% of users will not need to run Excel as a VM, OO is very capable.
Will OO eat Excel workbooks?
2 Big
You run both operating systems on one hard drive?
BJ, you didn’t tell everybody they have to live in Hammie Valley in order for this to really work. Let’s face it, only in Hammieworld would they name a computer operating system after a cartoon strip character and the last I heard tech support is run by some guy named Winnie.
#5 texpat
I thought Winnie was one of O’Bama’s advisors.
Better get yourself a bada$$ display adapter…
LOL, when I link to Hamous’ website, I see an entry about spandex. The bad kind of spandex that nobody wants to see…
Yep, OO will open Excel workbooks from Office 2007.
tqs, I dual boot (actually quad boot) from the same hard drive using a boot manager. But that is auto installed, no need to worry.
tp, I hear the Pooh is quite the techno phobe.
Linux rules! I use it at work and for tinkering; but have to admit I have a Macbook at home as well. I’m also a RHCT.
jimb, not sure what you mean. I installed it on an ancient adapter and three different onboard adapters, not a problem. Actually, the resolutions are awesome and comparable to my Vista driver.
If you want Ubuntu’s full display features and “prettiest” UI, you have to basically have a Vista-ready display adapter.
I can assure you that Ubuntu works just fine on a very much non-Vista ready display adapter. Heck, even WinXP had problems on this box.
I know it does, but you don’t get the fancy display features like the “cube”, etc…
“Beryl”. That’s what it is called…
Try this on anything less than state-of-the-art…
It looks like that requires KDE. Is that correct? I’m using Gnome but am very willing to install it.
Obviously, higher graphics loads need higher graphics hardware. What is your point?
What’s KDE & Gnome?
Just that Ubuntu can be as demanding as anything out there. And while it is the best so far at “friendliness”, I still wouldn’t inflict Ubuntu on, say, my wife and kids (well, maybe one of my kids, but I tease her a lot about following in her dad’s nerdy footsteps - she’s the one who edits HTML by hand to customize her myspace and she does it for others too)…
I think that Beryl does require KDE, and a really nice display adapter.
Those are two of the interfaces you can choose. There are many more but the base distribution comes with Gnome or you can choose Kbuntu for KDE. Just think of them as different flavors of “Windows” for simplicity.
It looks like “Beryl” is eyecandy for either.
#18 - Welcome to the world of Linux acronyms and the associated spaghetti bowl of choices inherent in the open-source universe.
Gnome and KDE are both desktop environments, roughly comparable in function (from a 10000 foot level) to the Windows GUI.
KDE stands for K Desktop Environment
Gnome stnads for Gnu Network Object Model Environment
As long as we’re at it, Gnu is a rather “recursive” acronym, standing for “Gnu’s not Unix”
And that’s just the beginning. Bash, RPM, Anaconda, YAST, the list goes on…
Anything can be demanding but having run them all, side by side as you have done, I think that Ubuntu is less demanding on the same hardware. You?
Except OS/X. I still haven’t gotten it to run on a generic PC although I’ve tried. Many times. But I have gotten Vista to run on my Mac.
I’ve run the fancy graphics (cube, etc.) on a reasonably high end, but older, PC with Fedora 9 & Gnome but was unhappy with the performance. Did look pretty cool, though.
Fedora 9 kind of irritated me for a number of reasons - mainly more problems out of the box than previous releases. In fact, I wonder why they did alot of things (mainly using a beta X Server). Sounds like Ubuntu got their act together now!
Try it out, wyatt. It’s a single CD, live distro.
And I’m supposed to switch to Linux Mugabe for what reason?
It’ll get me what?
World Peace?
A True Conservative in the White House?
A Conservative Lt. Governor?
A secret liaison with Micheal Douglas’ wife?
#19 jimb,
Honestly, let your wife give this one a shot. I’m sitting here streaming KSEV, checking my work email, have the Gimp up on another desktop with a floating hamous head, have OO open with three docs and two spreadsheets with embedded graphs, etc.
And printing on an ancient DeskJet 820.
#26 If it gets me that last one, I’ll do it!
So, how can I [safely] get a new partition on my 2nd hard drive for me to use it on?
Never tried OS/X on anything but a Mac. I do agree, with the exception of possibly Beryl, that Ubuntu or other flavors of Linux demand less hardware than Windows, particularly Vista.
My one caveat is that if Windows confuses you very much, I’d definitely not jump into Linux unless you want to eventually want to get stuck using VI to edit /etc/rc5.d or grub.conf (Grand Unified Boot Loader, for the curious)
#26
Nah, it’ll just save you a few bucks and a couple of years having to upgrade to the latest hardware. If you’re happy with your current setup, who cares?
LOL, the only time I’ve used vi to edit grub lately is on the freaking CentOS internet machine that I still haven’t mastered. Running a server is not easy. IMO.
Cajun, just download it and burn it to CD. Then reboot and use it. If you like it, you can install it on your hard drive, the install will do everything automatically. It will be slower from the CD but still usable and let you know if you want to install it.
Obviously, as with any OS install, back up whatever you really, really couldn’t afford to lose.
#25 bj
Can it be downloaded, or do you have to order the CD?
Well, I guess 32 answers that.
By the way - GIMP = “GNU Image Manipulation Program”
This has little interest to us Mac users. All my brilliance would be dimmed had I penned from a Windows world.
jimb, I have Beryl working now. It’s a kick! Dragging windows around is hilarious! Wish I knew how to capture a screen movie.
Beryl is actually superior to Windows Aero, in my opinion…
Wow, how cool is this? When you switch to another window, the previous one becomes translucent and you can see what is under it!
But it also leverages the Linux ability to create multiple graphical terminals on one instance of the OS. Hence the cube…
Aero does the translucent trick, too. Beryl just pulls it off slicker…
Really? I need to check my settings in Vista.
Go to youtube and look at the Aero Vs. Beryl video…
For Vista (assuming you have an up-to-date video driver):
To Enable or disable this effect:
1. Right-Click on a blank area of desktop
2. Select Personalize from the context menu
3. Click Window Color and Appearance Option
4. Here you can check if you want to Enable Transparency or not.
5. You can also disable the whole aero glass theme from here. Just click the Open classic appearance properties for more color options link.
6. Select a non-Aero theme and click OK.
The windows on Beryl/Ubuntu are acting like the sidebar - I haven’t seen that on my open windows in Vista. But I need to check.
I can see right through windows that aren’t the focus. Cool.
Yuk. I just did that but the only transparency I have is on the window title bar, looks very strange.
Oh, forgot to mention I rebooted into Vista.
Same hardware, so it should be a valid comparison.
That isn’t at all the same effect I had in Linux.
All these comments sound Greek to me. You can tell I am not a pocket protector geek.
How about when you alt-tab the windows? Do they flip to the side sort of like a rolodex? They should be entirely translucent at that point, I think.
Anyway, I told ya that Beryl was prettier…
49 - LOL, I’ve never owned a pocket protector in my life!
uh.. I still have a pocket protector — Not that there’s anything wrong with that…
I’m downloading Ubuntu now.
#8 Jimb
Thank you for at least seeing my article. Now, if only the women with the 500″ hip measurement would read it…
They do flip (once) but they aren’t translucent, except for the title bar and borders.
And emme, I’ve never owned a pocket protector either!
I used to program mainframe, so I’m hoping that this wouldn’t be too daunting. However, I just got Baby Dell and I’m afraid of shocking her too much.
Loading Linus on my XP computer - would it be partitioned (could I switch back and forth) or would it replace?
I want to jump in, but I’m so scawed. I JUST backed up my files…
/putting toe in water
Geeks
Better be careful or EPJ will sue you! He invented linux.
If any of y’all are interested download and burn the live cd like bigjolly suggested. Pop it in, reboot from the cd, and give it a test drive. I’ve been using Ubuntu Linux for about four years (and linux for about ten). This version of Ubuntu is as easy as an operating system can get, more stable than any Windows, and virus free.
I’m burning the CD. How does Ubuntu compare to Knoppix?
Much more functional than Knoppix. I tried that a couple of years ago. At that time it had horrible hardware recognition. Actually, over the years, I’ve probably tried almost every Linux distribution you can download for free and Ubuntu has been the most stable. Up until Ubuntu I had settled on Redhat/Fedora. This is far superior.
Way more functional than Knoppix.
bob42, you have to give us a report.
Hamous’ favorite t-shirts:
http://www.lushtshirts.co.uk/images/products/not-a-geek.jpg
http://www.devicepedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/geek-girl.jpg
Hamous’ tattoo…
Re the second link, I’m working on it.
LOL, so you can read her shirt?
You dawg, you…
#62 Heh, heh. That’s a pretty cool tattoo. As far as the t-shirt goes, remember, we’ve been reading sarge’s comments for a few years.
bigjolly, so since Friday is a holiday is tonight “date night”?
Dunno how others network or connect to the net. I use this Linux distro on a dedicated server. Just set it up once and leave it alone. It handles net connections and printer sharing between Linux and Windows connected printers.
http://www.smeserver.org/
Open Office is available in Windows format, too. No problems sharing files between the two operating systems. I don’t know how well it works with MSOffice, don’t use any of that.
The KDE suite is very nice. KOffice is a full suite and easy to use, the desktop wall papers available from the net at the click of a mouse are really cool, the file management system is easy to use, etc. Just a guess, if this Ubuntu system is free then the paid for version must really rock. I use Mandriva, the biggest difference between the free and bought versions are the extra software packages. You can hunt those down yourself but the full package is cheap and saves a lot of time.
What I have not found is a Linux CAD program. I only use 2D wiring diagrams, any tips are appreciated.
But will World of Warcraft run on it?
Oh, and KDE has digiKam. Connects to and downloads pictures from digital cameras. I use a Kodak easy share camera for jobsite photos, and Linux to view them.
#69, don’t know, but Empire Internet version does not, so far as I have tried. Windows still has some use.
gto - Yeah, you’re SOL when it comes to CAD. There have been several projects started but they seem to wither on the vine.
http://www.tech-edv.co.at/lunix/CADlinks.html
It sounded so exciting, I can now “get with it, I must read on”, but it only took ’till comment #2….
and on and on thru comment 73. Guess I don’t even qualify as a non-techie.
Burn the damn CD and reboot….
Will a Bic lighter burn a CD properly or must it be a Zippo? Cowboy boots or my Redwings?
Must be a Zippo. Bic lighters are only 2X. And it requires Redwings, steel toe.
Ok, I ran Ubuntu from CD for awhile, then (after completing a full system backup) installed it. The install took under 20 minutes and I was impressed that it was smart enough to create the swap partition on the second physical disk.
After installation, it downloaded and installed 210 updates, with no intervention, which took another 20 minutes.
I didn’t care for the default screen theme and background, but changing them was intuitive. I like the elastic effects when moving windows but noticed that if I move one too much off the edge of the screen, it starts shaking (this could be an issue with the video driver, or another one of those darn flashbacks I get from time to time.)
I hot plugged a USB external SATA drive, and without any dialogs or fanfare, it appeared in the “computer” window.
The wireless network configuration was very straightforward and SAMBA was easy enough to set up for my network attached printer. It didn’t autodetect the drivers but did have the right ones for my venerable Lexmark 4039.
I’ll continue to play with it from time to time. So far it seems to be a sturdy and secure platform.
Excellent report. Although GJT probably ran and got his copy of the Lion King when he read about SAMBA.
I encountered one slightly tense moment when booting back to XP and GRUB displayed errors instead of the boot menu. Fortunately it was just a little confused by the presence of the USB attached external drive.
Back on XP now, and all is fine.
For those interested in the Cube, it is no longer called Beryl. It is called Compiz and to turn on the cube, you need to install the settings manager.
Just go to System, Administration, Synaptic Package Manager, then search for Compiz. Click on the “compiz settings manager” package, then Apply. After it is installed, go to System, Preferences, Advanced Desktop Systems and enable the Cube and Rotating Cube. Turn off Desk Wall.
Also, increase the number of virtual desktops to 4. Then, press Ctrl-Alt and hold down the left mouse button - move it around and Bam! - rotating Cube!
How to set up Compiz Fusion 0.7.4
You can use Ubuntu in one of 3 ways:
1. LiveCD:
You can download something called a disc image from
http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download
and burn a CD from it. Once you select the location from which you download and press the big Start Download button you will reach a page which presents information about the download. These include links to where you can get help with creating a CD from the disc image file:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BurningIsoHowto
A LiveCD allows you to use an operating system that run from your CD without installation. In the case of Ubuntu, you can also install the operating system from within the LiveCD.
Anything you do while using running the LiveCD is temporary, except for modifying the partitions on your hard drive and installing Ubuntu on your hard drive.
2. Wubi:
Wubi is an installer that installs Ubuntu inside Windows, in the same way that any program is installed in Windows. It also allows you to uninstall Ubuntu just like any other Windows program. The latest version of Ubuntu, 8.04 (that stands for April 2008) and all later versions of Ubuntu come with Wubi in the LiveCD, so if you successfully wrote the disc image to CD, all you have to do is insert the CD while in Windows and follow instructions, which should be short, simple, and easy.
You can also download Wubi from here:
http://wubi-installer.org/
Which is the official web site of the Wubi project.
3. Install Ubuntu directly to the hard drive. This has the advantage of much better performance than the other 2 options, non-volatility (in comparison to the LiveCD, where everything is temporary), and no dependence on another operating system (in comparison with Wubi).
This can be done using the straightforward 7 simple steps installer on the LiveCD. A Wubi installation can be turned into a regular installation.
The Cube isn’t Beryl, The Cube is one of Beryl’s many features. Beryl merged with Compiz, and is no longer actively developed. If you want Beryl’s features, use Compiz with the expansion pack called Compiz-Fusion, which gives you almost all of Beryl’s features, but a lot more beautiful and polished, and also might include some new features. Ubuntu 8.04 comes with Compiz and Compiz-Fusion installed by default, and enabled by default when the hardware supports it. To change the level of fanciness of the effects, use the Visual Effects tab in the Appearance Preferences dialog which can be found in System -> Preferences in the main menu which by default in the top-left corner of a typical desktop. You can also find this dialog when right-clicking on the desktop and selecting Change Desktop Background.
To install an advanced configuration panel for Compiz, go to Applications -> Add/Remove Applications and in the search box type Compiz. Check the checkbox near the Advanced Desktop Effects Settings (ccsm) entry in the list of results. click the Apply button in the buttom-right corner of the window. Click Apply in the window that opens and lists the changes that will be made. The program will be downloaded and installed automatically on your system without need for further intervention on your part.
When Advanced Desktop Effects Settings is installed on your system, you can find it in the main menu at System -> Preferences -> Advanced Desktop Effects Settings.
As to the problem with windows not snapping properly to each other, that may result from the Wobbly Windows effect being turned on, which has some problems dealing with snapping windows while they wobble. You can disable the Wobbly Windows effect, or any other Compiz or Compiz-Fusion effect, by removing the check mark from the checkbox in Advanced Desktop Effects Settings.