Ubuntu as a free Windows alternative

chunter

..and absolutely no downside to Ubuntu?

I haven't used it for a couple of years but I found file sharing on a Windows network a nightmare. Seemed to be multiple owners for different /files folders.
I also found drivers to be a problem. I had a graphics driver that messed around sporadically. Same with an old laser printer.

But by far the worst was the frequency to which you needed to consult the internet to find a command line to solve a quite trivial problem.

Gave up on it eventually.

But did keep the excellent Thunderbird on!

Lum

It's improved a lot lately, though they did have that fiasco with the nVidia drivers not so long ago, where due to infighting they ended up pushing out an update that broke things for nVidia users, but it's not like a bad update is a problem unique to Linux, as it happens to Windows from time to time as well.

bod1467

Linux doesn't easily handle the Nvidia Optimus technology when used with Intel-based motherboards (with HD3000 or HD4000 onboard graphics). In Windows it is very slick ... in Linux you have to launch an application via Terminal (or a shortcut) which includes an optirun call.

(That's my experience anyway. It may have been resolved/improved in the last 4 months or so).

Mobeer

My experience of Ubuntu\Lubuntu has been that if it works it's fine, but trying to get support and advise can be a real pain. There is plenty of advice online, but it often relates to unclear version numbers, or requires considerable knowledge to actually make use of (which if I had, I would not be asking).

My netbook still runs Lubuntu as it has limited hardware, but my desktops are all Windows now.

debitcardmayhem

I used to use Ubuntu regularly,but for a newbie then Zorin, Mint or Puppy are also fine and you could try all of them from USB/DVD. My current favourite is Fedora (Red Hat based) since their version had USB 3.0 support that worked with my workhorse laptop.
As for the previous poster's comments about advice , well, it's true some Linux forums are very unfriendly whereas this forum has a much more open and friendly user base well done us :beer:

andrewjf

bod1467 wrote: »

Linux doesn't easily handle the Nvidia Optimus technology when used with Intel-based motherboards

Tell me about it
I can't utilise the full 3D capability of this laptop's graphics card, but that's not really a problem as I don't need to play games or anything graphically intensive. That's what my PS3 is for

andrewjf

chunter wrote: »

..and absolutely no downside to Ubuntu?

No, it's all good

But by far the worst was the frequency to which you needed to consult the internet to find a command line to solve a quite trivial problem.

Gave up on it eventually.

But did keep the excellent Thunderbird on!

To be fair it's improved a hell of a lot. Linux used to be the domain of total computer geeks. Last year I went back to Linux (Ubuntu) after a long absence, and was completely amazed at the ease of use and polished implementation, from installation, which worked out all disc partitions and low level stuff like that, to the intuitive GUI.
Software package installation is a doddle using the software centre.
Yes the command line can be quite intimidating, but then all operating systems have a more technical side when you get under the hood. Windows does its best, but still can't handhold the user through everything.

pedrothefish

+1 for Zorin there is also a software program called "wine" that can be used with some windows based software but I havent used it.

WhiteChristmas

bod1467 wrote: »

Linux doesn't easily handle the Nvidia Optimus technology when used with Intel-based motherboards (with HD3000 or HD4000 onboard graphics). In Windows it is very slick ... in Linux you have to launch an application via Terminal (or a shortcut) which includes an optirun call.

That one post should be quite enough to put off all but the most adventurous casual users. The one big plus Windows has over Linux is that Joe Public never has to look under the bonnet if he doesn't want to.

Lum

To be fair, Optimus is an niche technology and frequently a giant PITA on Windows too, needing manual configuring to get it to work with new games or obscure games.

It is really only used on gaming laptops, so something that most posters here are unlikely to have.