Linux for human beings

Posted by maca on May 11, 2006 Leave a comment (13) Go to comments

I’ve decided to give Linux a lash. I’m a Windows guy, I like point and click, nice and simple, no messing around with command lines or anything. I’ve been following the case of Linspire recently because it looks like one of the best Linux options for Windows users and although it’s not free it is certainly affordable (there’s a Mother’s Day special if you’re quick). The good news is that Linspire will have a free version soon called Freespire, “a community-driven, Linux-based operating system that combines the best that free, open source software has to offer … but also provides users the choice of including proprietary codecs, drivers and applications as they see fit.” Sounds good.
Anyway today I got hold of a Live CD version (i.e. it runs from the CD and doesn’t need to be installed) of Ubuntu Linux, had a chance to prick around with it for half an hour and just like Creative Bits I am quite impressed. It is, as they claim, Linux for human beings!
It has a nice user interface, seems easy to use and (like most Linux distros) comes packaged with a number of programs (which you can run directly from the Live CD) such as Firefox, Gimp and Open Office. Oh yeah, and it’s free. If you’re curious about Linux I highly recommend trying it out.

• Ubuntu homepage
• Screenshots
• Download

Update: I found one mini-app in Ubuntu, a wee fish when clicked it displays a random message. First one which came up was the following:

What’s the difference between an Irish wedding and an Irish wake?
One less drunk

Bastards.

Internet, Technology
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13 Comments.

  1. Mick May 12, 2006 at 6:44 am

    I’m a long time Debian user, at the moment I’ve Debian on me desktop and Ubuntu on my laptop (using Dapper the soon to be released new version). And it’s a very impressive Linux distro. And thinks like suspend to ram & suspend to disk work!

    Also, have a look at Deskbar: http://www.gnomejournal.org/article/41/deskbar-a-bar-for-your-desk a useful tool for searching your files, e-mail, pics and so on.

  2. Ciarán May 13, 2006 at 8:21 pm

    I’ve been using Ubuntu on my laptop for a few months now (Breezy, the current stable version) and am mightily happy. I don’t know much about IT, beyond being able to google the forums to see who has done what about any issue I want to resolve (or create), but that’s enough to let me have fun without – as I did frequently with Windows – breaking the OS.

    And most of all, I’m experiencing no slowing down of the OS over time as I did with XP. If anything, it’s getting faster as it moves towards Dapper.

  3. NiHao May 14, 2006 at 10:26 am

    Do people honestly still use command line programmes? I thought those went out with Mosaic back in the mid-1990s. I guess I’m not the best one to ask though, since Windows has never bothered me and I quite like that it comes loaded onto computers already.

  4. maca May 15, 2006 at 2:40 pm

    Mick
    How do you find program availability? i.e. are most Windows programs available in Linux (or at least good alternatives?)

    Ciarán
    I’ve never been too happy with XP, there’s always some sort of problem and it has slowed down a bit like you experienced. I’ll need to keep for the missus plus some of my fav programs are Windows only but i’m impressed enough with Ubuntu that i’ll def install it in future.

    Ni hao NiHao
    I’d say the installation of some of these Linux distros is no harder than Windows.

  5. Gerry O'Sullivan May 15, 2006 at 11:35 pm

    Maca

    Time to come in from the cold! Intel Macs can run Windows, so you can get the benefit of a superior OS and still run your Windows programs on the same machine.

    (Shit. Forgot the compulsory maths. :-) )

  6. maca May 15, 2006 at 11:49 pm

    Isn’t that an iMortal Sin though, running windows on a Mac? Surely you’ll go to iHell for such a thing? :)

  7. Gerry O'Sullivan May 16, 2006 at 12:12 am

    Didn’t you know? You can now download plenary indulgences from iTunes. :-)

    (Fuck! Forgot to do me sums again.)

  8. maca May 16, 2006 at 8:56 am

    LOL

    The maths giving you a headache?

  9. Gerry O'Sullivan May 16, 2006 at 12:03 pm

    Yeah. The last one had “Add 8+9″ and I only have 10 fingers.

  10. maca May 16, 2006 at 12:20 pm

    hasn’t de missus got hands, can’t see help too? :)

  11. Mick May 19, 2006 at 2:13 am

    Maca have a look at http://ubuntuguide.org/

    I find most apps I need (or Linux versions) are available. The main place Linux is missing is games (but same with Mac’s or at least the PPC ones.).

  12. maca May 19, 2006 at 9:13 am

    Thanks Mick. Looks like they’ve everything covered there.

    Btw, you could have just responded “RTFM” (Read the fucking manual) :)

  13. Mick May 25, 2006 at 8:12 am

    Have a look at these:

    http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=33183

    http://ubuntu.wordpress.com

    Now, RTFM you namby pamby nancy boy! ;P

    Enjoy the tae, tayto, & sausages while home.