Tips for the Ubuntu Linux Distribution you recieved...
Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2014 11:23 pm
I heard you you complaining about the windows install in some of your videos, and thought "Hey - why doesn't he try out Linux?"
Glad that someone sent you a disc - but as an ubuntu/linux user for a number of years, I have some tips to help you with the install, especially since it will be on a laptop.
First off, as a former IT guy, I'm sure you are well aware that linux is an open source project - a community run by enthusiasts to make the product better with input from users and experience. What this means is that when you go looking for help with any issue you may have, instead of someone being paid a small wage to give you non-helpful answers - what you will find is that their forums are made up of people who actually enjoy what they are doing, and offer their services for free. This alone is worth the learning curve involved in getting started.
As a laptop user, I think you will find linux lasts much longer on a battery charge, due to the fact that it doesn't run a million background programs like "windoze", and dosn't need things like a constant antivirus/antispyware program running 24/7.
Aside from that, the vast majority of the software you can use for free is astounding. For example, there are multiple video editing suites you can download as FULL versions with the only cost to you being the time it takes to learn the ropes, which can be difficult sometimes, but well worth the monetary cost of nothing....
Also keep in mind that Ubuntu is just a flavor of a "type" of linux called Debian. There are many other debian based distros out there, that may suit your needs better than standard ubuntu. Personally, I am not a huge fan of their new-ish user interface compared to older versions - but that can be changed, or like I said, you can try anther distro. You may look in to Ubuntu Studio, Linux Mint, or Lubuntu as alternatives to the "unity app menu."
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All that aside, I wanted to give you a tip or two about the install, should you choose to do it. These are things I experienced myself, and had to spend hours fixing or re-installing. I hate to see new linux users get discouraged at first due to the learning curve, because I feel they do not know what they are missing, so maybe this will help you out.
What you received is likely a "live cd/dvd." You can boot your laptop into it and try it first. This is a great feature, but it tends to run slowly since it is all being run from your dvd drive.
This was a big one for me... If/when you choose to install - do yourself a HUGE favor and plug the laptop directly into the modem via ethernet cable. There are a ton of different drivers/etc for wireless cards, graphics on laptops and linux sometimes does not recognize them without first connecting to the internet...But if you can't connect to the internet because you don't have the drivers, how can you download the right drivers? Circular logic... Just keep the LAN cable plugged into the modem and let linux download all updates while installing, bypassing the need for the wireless card. Once finished you may have to still get the OS to search for drivers, but it is pretty good about doing so once everything is installed.
You might consider dual-booting with windows... This means you install linux on half of your hard drive, and windows occupies the other half. When you boot the computer, it will ask you which OS you want to run, which is convenient. The graphical interface installer is pretty straightforward, and lets you make the partitions easily by sliding the mouse. Otherwise, you can install over the whole hard drive, making Ubuntu the only OS on your machine. Even in this state, you can run a windows "virtual machine" very easily and do whatever is needed in windows while still in ubuntu.
Also keep in mind that most everything is open to customization. For example, the newer ubuntu ditros model their window style after the apple/mac style, meaning the close/minimize/maximize is on the opposite side of the window. Just know that little things like this can be changed easily with the help of the forums and a google search.
In all, I think you will have a good time with it - but you will need to spend some precious time learning the ins and outs. But if you have done any real IT work which you say you have - you should be good.
If you have any questions I would be glad to help.
Glad that someone sent you a disc - but as an ubuntu/linux user for a number of years, I have some tips to help you with the install, especially since it will be on a laptop.
First off, as a former IT guy, I'm sure you are well aware that linux is an open source project - a community run by enthusiasts to make the product better with input from users and experience. What this means is that when you go looking for help with any issue you may have, instead of someone being paid a small wage to give you non-helpful answers - what you will find is that their forums are made up of people who actually enjoy what they are doing, and offer their services for free. This alone is worth the learning curve involved in getting started.
As a laptop user, I think you will find linux lasts much longer on a battery charge, due to the fact that it doesn't run a million background programs like "windoze", and dosn't need things like a constant antivirus/antispyware program running 24/7.
Aside from that, the vast majority of the software you can use for free is astounding. For example, there are multiple video editing suites you can download as FULL versions with the only cost to you being the time it takes to learn the ropes, which can be difficult sometimes, but well worth the monetary cost of nothing....
Also keep in mind that Ubuntu is just a flavor of a "type" of linux called Debian. There are many other debian based distros out there, that may suit your needs better than standard ubuntu. Personally, I am not a huge fan of their new-ish user interface compared to older versions - but that can be changed, or like I said, you can try anther distro. You may look in to Ubuntu Studio, Linux Mint, or Lubuntu as alternatives to the "unity app menu."
-----
All that aside, I wanted to give you a tip or two about the install, should you choose to do it. These are things I experienced myself, and had to spend hours fixing or re-installing. I hate to see new linux users get discouraged at first due to the learning curve, because I feel they do not know what they are missing, so maybe this will help you out.
What you received is likely a "live cd/dvd." You can boot your laptop into it and try it first. This is a great feature, but it tends to run slowly since it is all being run from your dvd drive.
This was a big one for me... If/when you choose to install - do yourself a HUGE favor and plug the laptop directly into the modem via ethernet cable. There are a ton of different drivers/etc for wireless cards, graphics on laptops and linux sometimes does not recognize them without first connecting to the internet...But if you can't connect to the internet because you don't have the drivers, how can you download the right drivers? Circular logic... Just keep the LAN cable plugged into the modem and let linux download all updates while installing, bypassing the need for the wireless card. Once finished you may have to still get the OS to search for drivers, but it is pretty good about doing so once everything is installed.
You might consider dual-booting with windows... This means you install linux on half of your hard drive, and windows occupies the other half. When you boot the computer, it will ask you which OS you want to run, which is convenient. The graphical interface installer is pretty straightforward, and lets you make the partitions easily by sliding the mouse. Otherwise, you can install over the whole hard drive, making Ubuntu the only OS on your machine. Even in this state, you can run a windows "virtual machine" very easily and do whatever is needed in windows while still in ubuntu.
Also keep in mind that most everything is open to customization. For example, the newer ubuntu ditros model their window style after the apple/mac style, meaning the close/minimize/maximize is on the opposite side of the window. Just know that little things like this can be changed easily with the help of the forums and a google search.
In all, I think you will have a good time with it - but you will need to spend some precious time learning the ins and outs. But if you have done any real IT work which you say you have - you should be good.
If you have any questions I would be glad to help.