Posted: 4/28/2007 4:05:55 PM EDT
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This is the most painless Linux install I've encountered yet. I haven't tried a LiveCD of anything in at least 3 years, and Ubuntu impressed me enough to proceed with the install. It's still just a basic install at this point, but here's what I'm pleased about the most: - Painless GUI install. All I had to figure out was what partition I wanted to set it up on. Dual-boot with Windows set up automatically. - Slick settings import program to bring over mail and browser settings. Nearly grandma-proof. - Instant detection of hardware, including video and audio, without grief. I still have plenty of work to go. My printer was detected (HP OfficeJet 4215), but I still need to set up the scan and fax functions. I need to set up one of the various IE/Wine hacks for some of the IE-only job related sites my wife needs. SMB file and printer sharing, digital camera recognition, GimpShop to make photo editing more user friendly, and other things are still to come. I'm at least encouraged enough by this to see that those next steps are worth the effort. Now does anyone know a quick and easy way to make BF42 work? 
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Holy Crap! I already have IE working under Ubuntu! I used IEs4Linux, and had it working with just a couple of terminal commands. Even some very ActiveX-heavy stuff worked without issue. I didn't even have to work at getting the scanner going... it was recognized automatically by Xsane. GimpShop is usable, but it'll take me a while to get used to the interface. This is kinda fun... not like my last experience with RedHat a few years ago that made me want to deep-fry my face. |
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I'm running Ubuntu on my new system. Working good for me. I got a friend to help me install Beryl on it... video demo it has some annoying music so just turn down your speakers when you watch the video. The beryl site has SUCKY instructions on how to install it... get a friend who knows how to work Linux to help if you decide you want it. |
| I kinda liked it too. I'm getting ready to use it as my server OS here at the house. I still prefer Windows for my desktop OS but I now use Ubuntu in VMWare on the work laptop when I need to use Linux for something. My experience with RedHat / Fedora / whatever they call it now has never been very good. |
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What all these Linux distros need is a true mouse click away drive "explorer" feature that will access all drives, including Windows NTSF drives. Sharing files between Windows and Linux on a dual boot machine is too important to be left to complicated 1980's era command lines. 
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It's there. Writing to NTFS partitions can be a little buggy, but it can be done. |
Last night I started up Ubuntu for the first time in a month and looked for updates. It found major updates and said it would take 48 minutes to update. Three hours later it finally finished They did it !!! Version 7.04 is a major improvement. Click on Computer - File Browser and it see's all the drives, including the NTFS drives. They are a click away. I have easy access to my music and videos now  This is the first MAJOR breakthrough I've seen in Linux in years. 
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Surfing with Ubuntu now... Was using SuSe as my other partition, but I'll try this for awhile. I can always go back. That's what I like about Linux vs. Windoze... Tried going back to IE6, but no joy. Damned automatic updates! They take a bug and call it a feature!
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Ubuntu is probably one of the easiest Linux distro's I've ever worked with (as in less command line, more GUI). In fact, it's gotten so popular that DELL (yes, DELL) announced on Monday this week that they were going to offer Ubuntu on all of their new computers in the coming weeks  This could really be a sea change in the way Linux is perceived by the mainstream public.
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I really don't want to start a OS Jihad thread, but I don't think so. For 99% of the pc-using public, Windows meets the criteria of 'good enough'. I think Linux will continue to make measured progress with Servers, mission-specific systems, tech pioneers, tweakers, and of course to be the primary alternative for Windoze-haters and the Bill-Gates-Is-The-AntiChrist crowd, but _right now_, there is simply no compelling reason for the mainstream public to jump to that platform. Remember, the mainstream people don't want 'cutting edge'... they want something that works reasonably well, and is compatible with any software they see on tv or in stores. For the non-technically inclined, running the same OS software as all their friends also is seen as a benefit, as they can get lots of 'help' if they get stuck. I think Linux's biggest opportunity to make a significant public shift is if Microsoft makes a major MicroChannel-style blunder with licensing... if MS makes it too intrusive or annoying (like say, going to a yearly subscription model, making people pay every year for their OS), that would be a big incentive for people to start looking elsewhere. The current Windows OS licensing is a little annoying, but basically, once its done, you dont think about it again, and its soon forgotten. One other possibility -- if the mythical "$99 laptop" ever truly becomes generally available (available as in -- "you can buy it at WalMart"), that would almost certainly require some sort of open source 'freely distributable' OS to make that retail price point, and a flavor of Linux would be a likely pick. I think that market would explode, and plant Linux in the "big leagues" in the public eye almost overnight. |