UBUNTU? Any good?

spud17

Until a couple of days ago I was dual booting Mint (cousin of Ubuntu) and XP, but the latest release of Mint never really worked properly and eventually froze.

I had to turn off with the power switch and found the whole Mint kernel had disappeared from the start menu.

I've not been near Ubuntu for about 18mths, so downloaded the latest, installed and am very impressed.
It updated immediately to Firefox 3.5.6, compared to Mint which refused to accept anything beyond about 3.0.0.
It found printers no problem, the only thing I can't comment on is the wireless, don't have it.

Taffybiker

bat999 wrote: »

@ Taffybiker
I use VLC to play DVDs with Ubuntu.
I followed the guide here to install libdvdcss:-
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats/PlayingDVDs

It was just two commands:-

sudo apt-get install libdvdread4

and

sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/install-css.sh

Many thanks bat999, but installing libdvdcss was one of the first things I tried, along with VLC. It can play most other formats, just not DVD. That being said, I still like Ubuntu since it has no other issues. Everything else works just fine, including cross platform network printing.

BikerEd

Go download VirtualBox from https://www.virtualbox.org and install on your laptop. Then go and get the Ubuntu Netbook edition which is a superb version of the distribution for running on lower powered laptops and netbooks. You can then install the Ubuntu within virtualbox while still running XP and have a really good play before you decide to bite the bullet and install as the main OS. It's a shame you don't have the original XP media because you could then install VirtualBox on Ubuntu and a virtual copy of XP within that for those odd programs that still need Windows.

robredz

If you approach Ubuntu with an open mind, and are prepared to learn to do some things in a different, but mostly no more difficult way you should be Ok The latest incarnation Karmic has a software centre option on the applications menu, this installs selections automatically, and once there are ready for use. MS Office can be made to work using the WINE compatibility layer as can other windows apps and many games. Just remember that as Linux is a UNIX alike the system is case sensitive as in folder "Documents" exists alongside "documents" so you have to remember this when creating a new folder whereas Windows doesn't care.

stuartk

Hi There

Have a look at Wubi - This will let you install Ubuntu alongside your Windows installations hassle free and without damaging your Windows partitions.

If you dont like it, simply uninstall via Control Panel

Regards

olly300

John_Gray wrote: »

Whatever people say about Windows, it's usually possible, fairly readily, to get hardware driver support for almost anything that's on the market. With Ubuntu it seems to be a matter of luck...

It is not a matter of luck it depends on whether the device vendor thinks it commercially worth it to get someone to write a linux driver. So do there as others don't.

With older hardware you can google to find out if it's Linux compatible with new products you can research before you buy them.

[Deleted User]

Sparhawke wrote: »

Ubuntu is one of the best known of all the Linux kernels and the most supported.

FYI Linux is the kernel, Ubuntu is the distribution.

Esqui

I use Ubuntu Netbook remix on my Dell Mini, it's by far the best netbook OS for me, as it's got all the features I need. I've seen better looking OSs, but UNR has all I need.

On my bigger laptop, I use Sabayon. Not really for the Linux beginner. OpenSUSE now

Sublime_2

I've tried wubi on my current machine, and I had no problems with drivers whatsoever. I've also installed the full Ubuntu on an old PC.

In both instances I had no trouble connecting to the internet, or with drivers whatsoever. Its worth giving it a go.

DCFC79

Ubuntu is a good OS to try out, i havent used it for ages but i found good to use, i hadnt really done much in terms of installing programs or drivers,