Comments on: Four weeks with Ubuntu Linux on the desktop. Part 2: Down the rabbit hole.

By: flagrantdisregard » Blog Archive » A year with Linux on the desktop

flagrantdisregard » Blog Archive » A year with Linux on the desktop — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:13:13 +0000

[...] I wrote about the surprises of that switch (both happy and vexing) in a four-part series (part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4) in [...]

By: Kussh Singh

Kussh Singh — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 10:48:49 +0000

I have used linux for some time now –maybe since 2004. Had access to unix in college and then had tried redhat suselinux etc afterwards but really switched to linux after i came across ubuntu –i think I have tried badger, dapper and now edgy (since almost dec 2004). But have found kanotix better and much much faster. Had tried puppy knoppix and damn small linux too but I find kanotix to be the best yet. Been using kanotix since jan 2007 and ubuntu doesn’t even come close to it in speed and features. Maybe now I need to try the other flavors and see which are similar or better than even kanotix.

By: Mattwho

Mattwho — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 19:32:36 +0000

I eagerly await the next segment as you have pushed me over the edge and I am now dual booting XP and ubuntu. I don’t have the pleasure of using my home computer as much as my office computer as you do so it will take me much longer to discover the pros and cons.

Thanks for all the great articles!

By: JayMonster

JayMonster — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 16:34:41 +0000

Nothing here really surprised me, except for your comment about the bootup/login/wait sequence.

When XP came out, it was touted as “faster Boot Times” but as you note, it really isn’t… it is just more of the loading occurs AFTER login instead of before. Most of the “PC” type magazines also agreed how “wonderful” this “faster” loading was, and I thought I was the only person that saw that this was actually counter-productive.

I have to admit though, I have also not been a big fan of the “Live CD” either as their performance can be a bit lackluster. What I did on my system is use Microsoft Virtual PC (formerly Connectix) which is now free to create a virtual machine and install into that.

I look forward to hearing how the rest of the test goes. I haven’t sold myself on any particular flavor of Linux as of yet.

By: Liam McDermott

Liam McDermott — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:32:46 +0000

What version of Ubuntu are you using? It seemed to Dapper; if so, you're going to love Feisty when it comes out. Earlier a reader recommended Automatix, please refrain from using it as it can horribly break your system when you try to upgrade. EasyUbuntu covers all the needed Automatix functionality, but is far more civilized! Welcome to the GNU/Linux community! :)

By: Mikkel

Mikkel — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:03:18 +0000

The problem with the Linux and Windows passwords is that they use different encryption to store the passwords. And the encryption is one way – in other words, there is no easy way to get the plain text password from the encrypted version. Once you have Windows file sharing (SAMBA) installed, the passwords should stay in synce.

Mikkel

By: Griffin3

Griffin3 — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 14:32:10 +0000

The newer version (feisty 7.04) also installs the nvidia and ati drivers by default, which would knock another item off of your checklist.

Depending on what sort of work you do, you may find some programming really requires Windows. I have had smashing good luck running Win2000 in a virtualizer called “Parallels” on my otherwise Ubuntu desktop (Authorware programming, ugh). The product is $50, but works smashingly well, is supporting most USB devices now, bridging networking, and having a shared folder so you can send your work back and forth using sane, secure linux tools. Just my 2c,

Glenn

By: liquidat

liquidat — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 22:19:32 +0000

About the dual monitor stuff of your system:
X.Org 7.3 will put an end to such problems: it will be able to easy configure displays at runtime (hotplug) without the need to edit any config files or to restart X.
This will be due to massive improvements and enhancements of RandR version 1.2 which will be released together with X.Org 7.3

However, the question will be if the graphic drivers will support it – I don’t really know if the proprietary ATI or Nvidia drivers will support that feature, but the free drivers included in X.Org will support it.

By: Shooting the Kids (Chris)

Shooting the Kids (Chris) — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 20:06:31 +0000

I hope you picked up Automatix to fill in the extras you need after an Edgy install. Also – you’re absolutely right that passwords between Samba (Windows file sharing) and the main system should be sync’d to begin with. What’s the point of “enabling” sharing if you know it’s not going to work?

About my Wacom tablet – I’m using Feisty at the moment and loving it, but I notice that if I’m drawing and drag out of the window GIMP closes off without an error. Really weird behavior. Are you seeing the same thing with Edgy?

By: Dino

Dino — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 15:41:47 +0000

You are slowly pushing me in the Linux direction, at least for my backup PC. Photoshop is too important to me to give up. I had tried Linux 5 years ago, and couldn’t get network drivers, so it lasted one night. It may be time to try again. Thanks for posting this play-by-play. If I make the shift, I am sure your trials will help alleviate mine.