Ubuntu (and Linux OS's in general)

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  • Hooe
    Hall Of Fame
    • Aug 2002
    • 21554

    #1

    Ubuntu (and Linux OS's in general)

    At the suggestion of a friend, I'm going to try and set up my computer to run Ubuntu to try it out (on a second hard drive). I'm a complete n00b when it comes to Linux though, so my questions are this:

    -what are the main advantages of Ubuntu, or any Linux OS, over Windows (other than security)?
    -where can I find good software for Ubuntu? In particular I'm interested in an iTunes-esque program, and I'm also well-aware of OpenOffice, but what exactly is out there?
    -anything in particular I should know about Ubuntu? Advice? Tips? Tricks? Warnings?

    Thanks in advance.
  • Chief Illinimac
    Gimme the Oscar, Friendo.
    • Dec 2004
    • 2365

    #2
    Re: Ubuntu (and Linux OS's in general)

    If you want everything you do on the computer to be harder, go for it. That's my advice after trying it when I was still a CS major.
    Listen to some of my covers:
    http://profile.ultimate-guitar.com/chiefillinimac/

    Currently:
    Asilos Magdalena by The Mars Volta
    LOST Theme
    The Rain Song by Led Zeppelin
    Rage Against the Machine Acoustic Medley

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    • The GIGGAS
      Timbers - Jags - Hokies
      • Mar 2003
      • 28474

      #3
      Re: Ubuntu (and Linux OS's in general)

      It's not harder, you just have to know what you're doing, or trust the GUI to do it for you.

      You'll be able to get software using apt-get on command line, and Synaptic on the GUI side, so don't worry about downloading software from like Firefox.

      Windows runs on a registry which can drag your computer down. Linux doesn't have a registry, so it doesn't get bogged down easily.

      http://ubuntuforums.org/ is a great forum to learn about stuff, and to go get help. Here's the official website: http://www.ubuntu.com/

      Instead of Ubuntu (which uses GNOME as its window manager), I would get Kubuntu, because I like how KDE looks in comparison. But that's up to you.
      Rose City 'Til I Die
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      • mudtiger
        MVP
        • Jul 2002
        • 3223

        #4
        Re: Ubuntu (and Linux OS's in general)

        The latest versions of Ubuntu are pretty good...if everything goes right in the install. If you have problems and want to fix them, you'll have to deal with hand editing long text files where any syntax error can stop the OS from loading.

        If everything goes right, it's a nice OS.

        Main advantages over MS? Free. Able to customize lots of small details. Lots of quality free software. You'll be able to impress geeks by telling them all the 'nix command line stuff you know.

        Where can you find software for it? There's a program in the OS that lists available software and downloads it for you. Other stuff not listed? You download it off the web or through FTP...though you may struggle to install it sometimes because you may have to compile the program yourself.

        Advice? Try it out first with an ubuntu live cd where the OS loads off a cd/dvd and you don't have to install anything. It should give you a taste of what it's like.

        itunes esque? Amarok is the best music playing software out there. I don't think it has a a wide selection of music to download/buy, but it blows everything else away in usability IMHO.

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        • Chief Illinimac
          Gimme the Oscar, Friendo.
          • Dec 2004
          • 2365

          #5
          Re: Ubuntu (and Linux OS's in general)

          Originally posted by The GIGGAS
          It's not harder, you just have to know what you're doing, or trust the GUI to do it for you.
          Isn't that pretty much the definition of "harder" - that it has a higher learning curve? If you didn't have to know anything it'd be easy, so hence it is harder to use than Windows. If you're a CS guy, I'm sure you know what you're doing and it doesn't seem hard, but it's definitely a harder OS to use to the general population. You have to use a command line much more often, and in my opinion that is much harder to learn than "point and click."

          Linux is good for tech nerds who like that sort of thing, but Windows and Macs are far easier to use.
          Listen to some of my covers:
          http://profile.ultimate-guitar.com/chiefillinimac/

          Currently:
          Asilos Magdalena by The Mars Volta
          LOST Theme
          The Rain Song by Led Zeppelin
          Rage Against the Machine Acoustic Medley

          Comment

          • The GIGGAS
            Timbers - Jags - Hokies
            • Mar 2003
            • 28474

            #6
            Re: Ubuntu (and Linux OS's in general)

            Originally posted by Chief Illinimac
            Isn't that pretty much the definition of "harder" - that it has a higher learning curve? If you didn't have to know anything it'd be easy, so hence it is harder to use than Windows. If you're a CS guy, I'm sure you know what you're doing and it doesn't seem hard, but it's definitely a harder OS to use to the general population. You have to use a command line much more often, and in my opinion that is much harder to learn than "point and click."

            Linux is good for tech nerds who like that sort of thing, but Windows and Macs are far easier to use.
            Most of the stuff you can do with command line you can do with the GUIs given... at least from what I've seen.
            Rose City 'Til I Die
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            • Chief Illinimac
              Gimme the Oscar, Friendo.
              • Dec 2004
              • 2365

              #7
              Re: Ubuntu (and Linux OS's in general)

              Originally posted by The GIGGAS
              Most of the stuff you can do with command line you can do with the GUIs given... at least from what I've seen.
              I'm sure a lot has changed since I used it 5 years ago.
              Listen to some of my covers:
              http://profile.ultimate-guitar.com/chiefillinimac/

              Currently:
              Asilos Magdalena by The Mars Volta
              LOST Theme
              The Rain Song by Led Zeppelin
              Rage Against the Machine Acoustic Medley

              Comment

              • Tomba
                TOMBA IS ONLINE
                • Sep 2006
                • 8908

                #8
                Re: Ubuntu (and Linux OS's in general)

                It ain't bad,but it's a bit different too
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                • BlackJack
                  Rookie
                  • Aug 2006
                  • 107

                  #9
                  Re: Ubuntu (and Linux OS's in general)

                  advantages- it doesnt use as much resources to run, so its faster, and its open source so anyone can develop programs for it

                  Just make sure all your hardware is compatible with it

                  for example your soundcard
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                  • mgoblue
                    Go Wings!
                    • Jul 2002
                    • 25477

                    #10
                    Re: Ubuntu (and Linux OS's in general)

                    My co-worker uses Ubuntu and really likes it. Personally, I always need a Windows box around, because the world really does revolve around that. I often have little issues with things working on my Mac, especially because a ton of websites require IE for things (online web courses, online web conferencing are two I've noticed through work). I do my taxes using Turbo Tax, and they import all my past years automatically. Lots of things in Windows are annoying and bad, but it's got so much software for it, it's the default OS.

                    Linux does tons of things awesome, I just don't have the time or patience to spend on it. I work with computers all day, I've learned that when I get home from work I don't want to sit around and build a linux kernel. Have fun with it though! I've installed it a few times but once it was up I never tinkered cause I wanted to do other things with my free time that were actually fun to me. Enjoy!
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                    • nyisles16
                      All Star
                      • Apr 2003
                      • 8317

                      #11
                      Re: Ubuntu (and Linux OS's in general)

                      I tried it on occasion.. the issue I had with it is that it would go to a "blank white screen" sometimes..

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                      • The GIGGAS
                        Timbers - Jags - Hokies
                        • Mar 2003
                        • 28474

                        #12
                        Re: Ubuntu (and Linux OS's in general)

                        Originally posted by mgoblue
                        My co-worker uses Ubuntu and really likes it. Personally, I always need a Windows box around, because the world really does revolve around that. I often have little issues with things working on my Mac, especially because a ton of websites require IE for things (online web courses, online web conferencing are two I've noticed through work). I do my taxes using Turbo Tax, and they import all my past years automatically. Lots of things in Windows are annoying and bad, but it's got so much software for it, it's the default OS.

                        Linux does tons of things awesome, I just don't have the time or patience to spend on it. I work with computers all day, I've learned that when I get home from work I don't want to sit around and build a linux kernel. Have fun with it though! I've installed it a few times but once it was up I never tinkered cause I wanted to do other things with my free time that were actually fun to me. Enjoy!
                        You can have a partition with Windows on it when you install Ubuntu.

                        If you're like me, though, that got annoying.
                        Rose City 'Til I Die
                        Duuuuuuuvvvvaaaaaaaal
                        Hokie Hokie Hokie Hy

                        Member: OS Uni Snob Assoc.
                        OS OT Post Champ '11

                        Twitter: @TheGIGGAS_OS
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                        • ThaGenecyst
                          MVP
                          • Sep 2004
                          • 4404

                          #13
                          Re: Ubuntu (and Linux OS's in general)

                          I'm dual booting XP and Ubuntu 8.04 and find myself in Ubuntu alot more than Windows...


                          I currently have compiz and screenlets installed... there's this widget i'm looking for where at the bottom it shows all your currently opened windows... I want it as it would remove the need for me to have a pane at the bottom of the screen... anyone know the name of it? The screenlet has a default one called Window List but it's small and I can't really do anyting with it lol
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