Ubuntu

Elin

I'm thinking about putting Ubuntu on my my old laptop just, for the hell of it. Is there anything I should consider before going forward? I don't really use this laptop anymore except for a little web surfing or word processing. I can download it, right?

japan

Yes, you can download it. It's free (as in speech) software.

The installation CD is a LiveCD, which means that you can boot up into an Ubuntu desktop without installing anything, though it works more slowly. If you do install, it'll even preserve your Windows partition and set up dual-booting for you if you want.

Dalboz

Expect to spend some time downloading updates, similar a new installation of Windows, only this will be for a lot more than the base operating system. Familiarize yourself with the way Ubuntu/Linux does things, as well as directory structure and syntax. It will make your life easier. Also, when I put it on my laptop, I had a problem with the screen flashing black periodically, which seemed to be a known issue when I looked it up. That was about a year ago, so I don't know if they've fixed it.

I would like to use Ubuntu again, but I went back to Windows because I just have some much stuff for it, I wasn't sure how well certain things would work even with Wine, and some stuff wouldn't work at all, like iTunes.

Drake

As friendly a distro as Ubuntu is, you'll need to use the console eventually. I'm of the opinion that the sooner you start with the command line the better. So it's a good idea to have some Linux/Unix references around. The handiest one I've got is the Linux Phrasebook.

MichaelLC

I'm posting from Ubuntu right now! Got Firefox, OpenOffice, using its mail program Evolution, and playing music with Rythmbox.

It's really seamless for about 95-98% of basic PC tasks, and for the remainder, complete shits on you, your walls, and gets some on the ceiling for good measure.

For example, Firefox 3.5 is not currently available for Ubuntu using the regular download manager. Mozilla has a Linux version, but since it hasn't been approved or whatever, you can't get it unless you want to try one of the 50 different command line solutions posted.

HAKdragon

MichaelLC wrote: »

I'm posting from Ubuntu right now! Got Firefox, OpenOffice, using its mail program Evolution, and playing music with Rythmbox.

It's really seamless for about 95-98% of basic PC tasks, and for the remainder, complete shits on you, your walls, and gets some on the ceiling for good measure.

For example, Firefox 3.5 is not currently available for Ubuntu using the regular download manager. Mozilla has a Linux version, but since it hasn't been approved or whatever, you can't get it unless you want to try one of the 50 different command line solutions posted.

Firefox 3.5 is in the repos, at least in 9.04, but it doesn't install it by default. Have a look in Synaptic.

underdonk

Yes, you should consider Fedora: http://www.fedoraproject.org/.

If you insist on Ubuntu, check that your hardware is supported: http://www.ubuntuhcl.org/.

Doc

laptop power use in Ubuntu blooooows. Also, if you have a secondary monitor that you only want to use sometimes, expect that to be a hassle as well. Plus I've had issues getting the machine to wake up after closing the lid. This is all on a Macbook Pro.

underdonk

Doc wrote: »

laptop power use in Ubuntu blooooows. Also, if you have a secondary monitor that you only want to use sometimes, expect that to be a hassle as well. Plus I've had issues getting the machine to wake up after closing the lid. This is all on a Macbook Pro.

Obviously it's because of your proprietary Mac hardware!

Oh. Yeah.

theSquid

The iPod works well with Amarok, Rhythmbox or Gtkpod, but you need to install the libgpod library (easy peasy once you get the hang of the package manager). Firefox 3.5 isn't all that hard to get even in Ubuntu, and there's even a Chromium that has been developed with an Ubuntu repo if you want to give that a shot. OpenOffice.org <-> Microsoft Office, Pidgin <-> MSN Messenger/Trillian/whatever, etc.

The problem is essentially that due to licensing issues, some simple stuff like playing DVDs (as in Firefly DVD set, not file DVDs) isn't enabled on the default install, even though you can get the files for free with a few simple steps.

Linux has a tonne of resources for getting information - manuals, online documentation etc. Don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions in the Linux Thread in the Moe's Technology Tavern subforum here at PA - or failing that, the Ubuntu Forums are gigantic and full of extremely friendly people. In fact, most of your questions about Ubuntu and basic Linux things will have already been answered, and will show up in a straight Google search, the answer being, surprise surprise, a thread in Ubuntu Forums.

Once you get more comfortable, you can take advice from the Arch Linux wiki and Gentoo Linux wikis. Those distros function differently to Ubuntu though, and you'd need to know where the differences are, and what Ubuntu/Debian's equivalent is.

Elin

I really use the laptop once every month or so to web surf or write a paper. I just want to play with a linux system and I heard Unbutu was the easiest learning curve. I figured if I don't care about losing anything on it, and I don't, I might as well wipe it and play around. I have my gaming laptop, and my husbands desktop. This is just my 3 year old POS that I use when I'm going to be in public or know that I'm leaving it in the car.

Artreus

You might want to check out the linux thread in moe's tech tavern. It has lots of info that might help.

Nostregar

Consider Xubuntu. It's an Ubuntu variant designed for lower-performing machines such as older PCs and laptops. I'm posting from Xubuntu at this very moment and I absolutely adore it since I use this computer for basically the same stuff you said and it's great. Take a look at it.

Lilithium

Ubuntu is definitely worth your time. The command line stuff isn't really as bad as it sometimes sounds. You'll be able to download programs and what not from Ubuntu's servers without hassle, but the fun is in the command line. Trust us.

Visti

It is nowhere near as scary as some people make it out to be. Even looking at the Linux thread, the first thing you see are a bunch of commands. You wouldn't even really need to bother with those, if you don't want to.

Just jump in. It's free. Ubuntu is an excellent first choice, depending on what hardware you have available, of course. If it's really outdated, there might be some slimmer alternatives available that'll suit you better.

Also: Consider Crunchbang ! It's basically Ubuntu with a lot of things already taken care of and a more lightweight set of applications. Excellent hardware support, lots of people can help you with stuff, because it's basically Ubuntu and it looks and feels great. I'm using it right now.

seasleepy

Google and Ubuntu Forums are definitely your friend if you get stuck on something. However, let me give you a real-world example and some tips following from it: You want to burn a CD, so you go to the googles and type in burn cd linux, ....and yipes!

1) Keep in mind while google searching or perusing forums, things can change rather rapidly in Linux-world. That advice from a year ago may be woefully out of date at this point, and a lot of the information online may be even older than that. You definitely don't need to go to the command line to burn a CD nowadays!

2) When you look for something, if every solution makes you go "There's got to be an easier way to do that!".... there probably is. You've just got to figure out how to find it.

3) Ancient information may often work, it just won't be the best or easiest way to do something. For instance, all that command-line CD burning info? Still works. But you do have other options as well.

So definitely do some searching online when you have questions or problems, but also definitely don't be afraid to ask for help.