Anybody using or used ubuntu OS (linux)

Simon_B_2

Am considering trying it out my needs are these if anyone's had experience with it please let me know

MSN - Amsn can cope with this and video calls I believe?
Some kind of office program - openoffice has always been good to me
Email and browsing - Firefox and Thunderbird
I also use the DVD writer, wireless function on my laptop, memory stick, ipod and digi cam.

If anyone knows much about this I'd appreciate it ta :money:

juno

I use Xubuntu, which is the special version for people with really good computers (ie I have 128mb ram).

I personally prefer using GAIM for msn, and you can also sign into the other messenger things (ie AOL or Yahoo messenger) all at the same time using the one application.

Ipods are icky, but then I hate them and don't get on with itunes in windows anyway! You can't use itunes, you have to get something else which I think may be called "gtkpod" or similar, but I currently can't check as I'm in windows atm.

My memory card reader works easier and better in Linux than windows, and setting up a printer was so simple. In windows, it took me about half an hour to make the printer work!

GaryS

I use Ubuntu linux (with KDE desktop) on my laptop with no problems.

I have openoffice, firefox and some email software running fine. It also works well with my wireless pcmcia card.

Can play videos and music, although cannot remember the apps used as I am away from the laptop at the moment.

bat999

Hi
I'm using Ubuntu.
There are several freeware CD/DVD writing software apps available.
The one I use is K3b.
It's excellent.
And there are quite a few media players to choose from. Such as VLC, and also XMMS player (which is a dead ringer for Winamp).
:cool:
edit. I don't have an ipod, but this is what it says about gtkpod:-

manage songs and playlists on an Apple iPod
gtkpod is a platform independent GUI for Apple's iPod using GTK2. It
allows you to upload songs and playlists to your iPod. It supports ID3
tag editing, multiple charsets for ID3 tags, detects duplicate songs,
allows offline modification of the database with later synchronisation,
and more.

JustCharlie

I tried out ubuntu using wiki. its a really good application that allows the install of ubuntu much like another program in windows. no need for partitions, cd etc.

However the truth is i just didnt like ubuntu. if price was no option and all os were free i would still go with windows.

I think its just down to the fact that for an average joe like myself windows is bread and butter of my everyday work. anthing i want to do i already know as second nature. Alternatively, with linux for every task and had to spend an hour and a half browsing message boards and downloading drivers.

Besides, all the cool stuff on linux i have for my xp: dock bars, opensource warez even a beryl style cube!

maybe your not like me, maybe you do have the patients of a saint, hours of idol time, and the mentality of a child using a computer for the first time. in that case go for it and have fun. however if your not, don't even go there!

Leave it for the "1337"s kekeke

Simon_B_2

Thanks for all the input, I've pretty much finished downloading it so will stick it on over the weekend at some point if it is an pain then i'll go back to windows if its a joy then, I'll stick.

I've found that firefox, openoffice etc have been really good and this was the other one that was recommended to me though as you say its not the OS that i'm used to day to day so will have to see.

I take it you can run a dual boot with windows xp and ubuntu on the same computer and just get rid of unbuntu if it is a problem?

juno

I'm dual booting windows 2000 and Xubuntu. You can either do it by partitioning your harddrive and installing each OS on a different partition, or I have 2 harddrives. And if you don't like it you can just get rid of it. But after about 3 days I couldn't imagine going back to windows permanently.

You don't have to be some kind of uber-geek to use it; you just have to not be scared of enw things. And I would advise backing up everyhting important beforehand so you don't lose anything.

Skint1

I no longer duel boot switched over to Ubuntu 1 year ago. I have 2 Hdds both running Feisty Fawn 7.10. Windows has nothing I want it takes a bit of learning but its well worth it. I still consider myself a newbie to Linux but I get a lot of help from the Ubuntu forums I have always got the help/answers I wanted and never been made to feel dumb for asking.

http://ubuntuforums.org/