My experiences with Ubuntu

[Skink]

I'm not sure how much interest anyone has in getting away from Windows and moving to open source, but I'm having a great time with it. I've got an extra computer, it's an athlon 2400, 512 ram, with a nvidia 6600GT, and a Sound blaster live. The latest version of Ubuntu couldn't be easier to install, you just turn on the computer, put the cd in the drive, and it boots into a desktop. You then just double click the install icon, it asks you 6 easy questions, like time zone and user name and password, and it installs. It boots up much faster than windows, and is way more secure. By default Ubuntu only contains open source software, so it won't play mp3's or most video out of the box. Also, it only uses generic video card drivers. There are tons of good resources on how to get your new system up and running how you want, but I found the easiest way to get all the stuff I wanted was to uses a program called automatix. It installs your nvidia drivers, audio and video codecs, and has a ton of other programs to choose from.

On the gaming front, there are a few native games that work great - ut2k4, medal of honor, quake, and basically anything based on the quake engine. If you want to play windows games, you still might be in luck. Linux has WINE, which stands for Wine Is Not A Emulator. I'm currently subscribing to a program on a monthly basis($5 per month) called cedega (http://www.transgaming.com/products_linux.php), that adds a very useful frontend to wine and will allow you to install and play many games. So far, I've gotten starcraft(broodwars) and BF2 to install, patch and play. It's not perfect, for example PunkBuster support isn't very good and you'll most likely get kicked from PB enabled servers (which is all of them as far as I can tell).

I can also play dvd's, rip and compress dvd's, burn cd's, log into msn, run teamspeak, run firefox and thunderbird, and it also has several really good medai players. It comes with open office as well.

I've been playing with Xgl and compiz, which adds cool effects like the glass interface for Vista. It's still not quite ready for primetime, but it's wicked cool.

Basically, linux has come a long ways in the last couple of years. Yes, you still need to go to the console to do alot of things, but for most day to day operations, it works just like windows.

If anyone is interested, I can post links and more info on how I got my setup up and running, or if anyone else is running ubuntu dapper, I'd love to hear what you think of it, and any tips or tricks you might have. Here is the best site (http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Dapper) I've found that shows you how to basically set up anything you want in ubuntu dapper.

[ED]

Nice post.. I have a brand new computer I put together a couple months ago and never got around to installing an OS on it yet. I'll give this a shot :)

[Classic[COWA]]

Nice post.. I have a brand new computer I put together a couple months ago and never got around to installing an OS on it yet.

Obviously you don't have any use for it. I'll take it.

[ED]

']Obviously you don't have any use for it. I'll take it.

I found a use for it now :)

[Midpipps]

Ubuntu is slick and if you like a more windowsy feel try kubuntu I have been running it since 4.06 I think and it has worked flawlessly have 2 servers running on it a ts and vent.

Good media player is vlc, once you learn gaim and the irc stuff on it it is really slick to. If you want a fun game get pingus or armegetron they are both really fun, if you like programming bots try droid battles it is a fun assembly language game. All free by the way.

I have ran it on my laptop too and all worked well except wireless and that took some time but finally got it to work.

If you want to make a media center you can do mythTV but be ready for some time installing and finding drivers and stuff it has a nice 10 foot interface but getting it to work correctly takes a little working and searching of ubuntu forums.

Talk about bringing back a dead post:cool:

[Skink]

Finally someone shows some interest! I actually re-installed ubuntu on my laptop after screwing up my install trying to get compiz/beryl working. Install couldn't be easier, and this time I used ndiswrapper to get my wireless working, and it couldn't of been easier. All the extra keys work, like volume, and the built in wireless light works too! I dual boot win xp and ubuntu, and using this guide (http://www.advicesource.org/ubuntu/Run_Existing_Windows_Instalation_On_Ubuntu_With_Vm ware_player.html) I'm able to use vmplayer and access my winxp session from within ubuntu. The only downside was that I had to call up Microsoft and get a new activation number because the genuine advantage crap thinks it was installed on a new computer because when you run the os in vmare, it uses it's own bios to boot. I was also able to sync up to my dell axim pocket pc using another guide (http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=30936). It's not quite as easy as doing it in windows, but once it's set up, it's just a matter of typing in 2 commands to connect, and one command to disconnect. I'm not sure if I can install programs on it that way, I haven't had a chance to try that out.

It will be interesting to see how this upcoming agreement (http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070208-8801.html) between Linspire and Canonical works out. Ubuntu will be gaining the cnr warehouse, which will hopefully make it easier to install new software, and purchase commercial programs. It would be great to see game makers sell their games to linux users thru this like Valve does with steam.

This should be an interesting year for Linux. With many users becoming fed up with the constraints that Bill Gates and Co. are forcing on the users, and with Linux rapidly maturing on the desktop, I think we'll see more and more users trying out alternative Operating systems and making the switch to either linux or Apple.

[Midpipps]

The problem is the only way you are going to see game makers really push the linux platform is if somehow linux is able to integrate dx9 and 10 which is doubtful since it is a microsoft program and we know how much microsoft loves itself. Or if opengl becomes a easier transfer for writing crossover codes for both dx10 and opengl which even there is iffy because companies know most people have no clue what linux is or how to opreate it.

Although on the other side many people each day are trying it and loving it it just depends on how much you actually want to learn.

[Von_Burgenstein]

Vista has pretty much put me over the edge in terms of Microsoft OSes. I'll probably be moving to a linux distro of some sort in the next year or so (whenever i get/have the time to install and learn a decent one). I've toyed around with Ubuntu in the past on spare hard drives and generally liked what I saw, although I wish there was more compatibility with some programs I generally like to use (i.e. Trillian, Winamp, etc -- i even like Outlook more than Thunderbird personally, but oh well).

If anyone has some good recommendations on something other then Ubuntu, I'd love to hear them.

[Skink]

We were talking about this ealier, and like you said, there is no trillian, but pidgin works very well, you can log on using aim, yahoo, gtalk, icq, msn, and many more. No voice or video yet, but give them time. Evolution is the default email program, which includes a calendar, to do list, memos, tasks, etc... You can also have it download your gmail calendar and add those events in too. XMMS is comparible to the older versions of winamp, like 2.0, before the video support. Amarok is a killer jukebox app.

I'm running the Gutsy beta release of Ubuntu right now, and I'm loving it, besides a few little bugs that need to be worked out. The desktop effects rival anything that Vista has, and new effects are being added all the time, and they work on a much lower end pc than vista requires. My testing rig is a amd 4000+ single core athlon with 1 gig of generic ram, and built in video, lan and sound.

Those of you who'd like to tru linux should check out wubi (http://https://wiki.ubuntu.com/install.exe/Prototype) - it's an installer for ubuntu that you can run in windows, without messing up your windows install.

[Edward]

GAIM came preinstalled as a package on Fiesty for me, and if not it's at least easily installable as a package from the universe group. Most standard windows apps like trillian, winamp, media player, etc, can be replaced by linux apps that are just as good or better. One thing I have been seriously disappointed with, though, is the fact that all the video editing programs I've tried have been, well, pretty terrible. They're either really difficult/confusing to use or simply don't work well.

[Von_Burgenstein]

GAIM came preinstalled as a package on Fiesty for me, and if not it's at least easily installable as a package from the universe group. Most standard windows apps like trillian, winamp, media player, etc, can be replaced by linux apps that are just as good or better. One thing I have been seriously disappointed with, though, is the fact that all the video editing programs I've tried have been, well, pretty terrible. They're either really difficult/confusing to use or simply don't work well.


See, I paid for Trillian about 3 years ago (which pretty much lasts forever), and I really am a fan of it, so I'd like to continue using it. I've used Ubuntu in the past, and I really didn't like Evolution (or thunderbird) as much as I like outlook (which is probably the only microsoft product i don't hate).

[Skink]

Actually, GAIM is now know as pidgin. I'm not sure what the deal is, but there's been more than a few applications for linux and windows that have been re-named lately. Gaim=pidgin, democracy is now Pidgin, and a few others i'm sure. Usually, there is an equal or better program in linux to the windows equivalent, but you may have to make some changes on what you expect, or how it works. Open office is great, but you may have some issues importing some office files, just depending on the editings. The email programs are killer, but there is no linux program that will interact with MS exchange.

Using open source does take a bit of adjustment, but as long as your willing, you'll probably find a program that works just as well, but differently than in windows.

However, there are a few exceptions. There is no quickbooks equal, and video editing leaves much to be desired, as well as gaming. And a big problem for me is the proprietary software that we sell at work for Husqvarna sewing machines that only runs on xp, with no support for mac or linux. In fact, our customers who own older versions of the software are SOL if they buy a new computer with vista - it won't run on their computers, they have to spend hundreds of dollars to upgrade to the newest software. And the company doesn't plan on upgrading the old software to run on xp.

However, for most of the usual tasks, linux far surpasses windows in ease of use. Build your own pc, with a cd or dvd burner, and install xp, and you are limited on what you can burn. In linux, you get a free cd/dvd programs, that you can burn iso's, copy cd's, rip cd's, burn data or video, etc... all for free.

I have run into a problem with the ubuntu beta, after the latest updates, I can no longer boot into a graphical mode. Previously, if you made video changes, and could not boot into the graphical interface, you got a command prompt to fix your problems. Now they have an interface called bulletproofx, that alllows you to fix video problems with a graphical interface if you can't get into your desktop. However, everything I've tried doesn't work. My guess is, the desktop effects I've enabled are interfering with the xserver. Hopefully, I can figure out how to file a bug report at get it working. Just remember, I'm running a beta version, and problems are to be expected.

Anyone who has questions should feel free to ask me, I'm happy to share what I know. Granted this is not the idea place to talk about linux, seeing that we are a website geared towards gaming, but after the dissatisfaction I'm seeing with vista, and how much I enjoy ubuntu, I'd like to help anyone who cares to try it out.

[curtagain]

Hmm, Recently I've had some time away from the job and am looking at getting my A+ cert . It will be good for me to get aquainted with Linux ,OSX,and earlier versions of Windows. Linux looks cool cause it's free! Thanks for all the info in this post!

[Classic[COWA]]

I tried Ubuntu (haven't actually given up yet), on my old desktop. The purpose of the desktop is basically a server which I use for hosting movies and tvshows that I play through my Xbox, backup files, etc. I've basically decided to stick to Windows for the overall reason that I just can't get linux to do the seemingly little, but very important things I want it to:
Samba shares don't work correctly on NTFS drive (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/samba/+bug/175689)
Suspend/sleep doesn't work
VNC seems slower than Windows Remote Desktop
maybe one more thing

[Skink]

I have to agree with Classic about the suspend and sleep issues, they seem to be an issue that hasn't been resolved yet. I've been playing with the beta of the next version of ubuntu, 8.04, and there have been some really cool things added. A biggie is that dual monitor support is much better. They've also changed the way the system handles audio. But the biggest feature that I find useful for windows users thinking of trying it out is the wubi installer. It allows you to install ubuntu right from windows, and then dual boot between your operating systems. Decide you don't want Ubuntu installed anymore? Simply boot into windows, go to add/remove programs, and delete it! You don't have to re-partition your hard drive, or run from the live cd.

However, I have no issues with sharing files on the network. And even better, it's a simple matter of a few clicks to enable a VNC type client and control your linux box remotely, or even install vnc software on windows machines and control them. I found it easiest to connect to the Ubuntu share using the IP address of the machine, for example 192.168.1.2 than going thru the places menu. That's one issue I hope they make work better in the future, or easier to configure.

Otherwise, I use Ubuntu on 2 laptops and a desktop, plus my gaming rig dual boots xp/ubuntu 8.04, and I use them on a daily basis, and I couldn't be happier.

[Classic[COWA]]

You reminded me of one of the other things: VNC. It seems to me that VNC is less responsive/slower than Remote Desktop on the same hardware and network. I also added a link to the NTFS/Samba bug report.

[Paragon[COWA]]

I tried Redhat and a few others back when I started college. It was set up as dual boot on a seperate partition. I never really used it much because I was used to windows and always seemed to use that.

Once you get what you need to set up, you can easily play MP3 from a windows directory.

I was thinking of getting back into it the other day since I have a spare motherboard lying around with dual CPU. and 512.. but the lack of room in here may have it put on this computer at next format.. will ahve to dual boot it again.

[Suicidemedic]

I love linux... I have tried the following distros

Red Hat
Fedora(based on red hat)
Suse
Slax
Backtrack2(slaxed based)(great for hacking)
Ubuntu
Kubuntu
mandrake


I would say that out of these that fedora or Kubuntu is my favy......just a few days till the new Ubuntu/Kubuntu

[Skink]

You must be a fan of KDE. Personally, I'm a big fan of Gnome, but I can use either. Once they get the bugs and kinks ironed out of KDE 4.0 I'll give it a try. I just installed G OS on a low end pentium, a p500 with 256 meg of ram, and it runs pretty good. It's based on Ubuntu, but it uses a different windows manager more optimized for low end machines.

[bizzaro]

hey skink, i just installed 8.04 today. Getting proper widescreen resolution wiht my nvidia 6600 was the major issue. After that everything runs smooth, besides css and vent :D
steam launches and runs mediocrely and the game wont launch at all.
everything else seems to be working fine, do you use cadega for steam? i kind dont dig having to pay for a program like that, but eh..

[Skink]

I don't game in Ubuntu now. I have installed a few games in the past, like UT2003 using the linux installer, and a few other native linux games. I did get Starcraft to run in steam, as well as Battlefield 1942, but they didn't run as well as they did in windows. Of course, I was using older hardware. I may see about getting a more modern video card to see how things run when 8.04 comes out. Anyone got a fairly new Nvidia card they want to sell? PCI express only please.

Also, I seem to recall reading some posts about how to get CS and steam to work. Check google and the ubuntu forums. If I find those posts, I'll link to them from here.