Posted By :- Jyothi M John
Hey Guys – I am writing a post after a long time. This time I got my hands on Ubuntu Linux.
Ubuntu Linux is the Best Desktop Solution from linux that I have ever seen. You can download Ubuntu Linux from www.ubuntu.com . Installation is very smooth – it boot into a live desktop before you start installation – from which you can check out most of the installed S/W. Even after you have started the Installation, it asks you very few questions – the keyboard type – region – how do you want to partition the hard drive – and finally users and password. The installation almost took an hour.
All the hardware is automatically recognized. But if you want to use the advanced functionality of some of the hardware for which proper linux drivers were not released – you will have to enable restricted drivers. I will come to that later, but first the features that it comes loaded with – Open office Suit -for all your office documents, Firefox – Web Browsing, Evolution – email, Gimp – graphics editing, some games, and a few other standard programs. It comes integrated with Samba – and picks up any windows network in jiffy.
You should not have any problems again with your peripherals like printers and smart phones and cameras, if Ubuntu does not have a driver on it, it will try and search and download by itself. Only if you are using some very rare kind of hardware, is that you will run into trouble.
There is an interesting part in add remove programs under preferences – Restricted download and community maintained download. A lot of current applications and drivers that we use under Windows are copyrighted material. Like for example the DVD – decoding codect or the MP3 codect or some of the drivers for Nvidia Graphics. Since none of the copyright holders are willing give their stuff away for free – somebody sat and decompiled the windows version and wrote a new one for Linux. Once you enable the Restricted and community download – all this is available for automatic download and install.
And if you know how to play around with the configuration files – you can get a lot of other things to work – Like you can download WINE and install – which will allow you to run most of the standard windows programs on Linux (MS Office, Corel Draw, Adobe Photoshop, NFS), Get your multichannel sound working…
Try it out and leave me your comments…
Good post jyothi.. but a few spelling mistakes thought
I am planning to install ubuntu in my laptop…. So do u mean to say that nvidia graphics driver and MP3 codec can be installed just like “Automatic updates” in windows??? I want that . thats y..
Comment by shoban — April 3, 2008 @ 2:10 pm
Yep!!!
Under add remove software, there is an options button – click it. On the first tab of the new window – enable restricted downloads and Community maintained downloads. Press OK. Your software list will be updated. Now under search – type “VLC” (for vlc media player) and select all programs. Click Search – VLC will come up on the list. Tick it and click on update. If you are only looking for something to play MP3, instead of VLC type XMMS (Linux equivalent of winamp). Install it…
There is a lot more you can do. Try out:
http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Gutsy
Gives you a lot of tips and tricks and How to’s…
Comment by JMJ — April 3, 2008 @ 3:24 pm
By the way if you are a dummy when it comes to Linux – search for “Ubuntu Linux for Dummies” under google – you will find a lot of help…
Comment by JMJ — April 3, 2008 @ 3:26 pm
thanks… not a newbie!! have used fedora and knoppix before.. but it was some 1/2 years back
Comment by shoban — April 3, 2008 @ 4:12 pm
Don’t get me wrong, I love Ubuntu. Matter of fact I would pick Ubuntu over any other distro for a server install or for someone with a little more familiarity with Linux desktop use. However, IMHO, the absolute best hassle-free, no-fuss General Purpose desktop distros are SimplyMEPIS and PCLinuxOS, in that order. All the linuxy goodness you mentioned about auto-configuring hardware and such, as well as the extras that make all the difference for desktop use and web browsing. If you think Ubuntu is good, give one of these a try and you will be in awe, even if you are a complete n00b to Linux!
Comment by G David Lewis — April 3, 2008 @ 8:05 pm
Well – I have implemented Linux on servers, and was not very impressed with desktop usability.
Only Recently has Linix – (I have tried Knoppix and Ubuntu) become a lot more better on the desktop side.
I sure will try SimplyMEPIS and PCLinuxOS and post it here – Projects for the coming weeks…
Comment by JMJ — April 7, 2008 @ 4:24 pm
@shoban:
A pretty good guide about installing software in Ubuntu:
http://www.monkeyblog.org/ubuntu/installing/
It’s for Ubuntu 6.06 (that’s June 2006), and since then 3 more versions came out, but it should still be rather relevant.
If you want to install a whole host of stuff that isn’t included by default for legal reasons, go to Applications -> Add / Remove Applications and search for “ubuntu restricted extras” (I think that’s the exact name). Install it, and everything but commercial DVDs should work (maybe commercial DVDs too. I’m not sure).
Comment by yman — April 10, 2008 @ 7:06 am