Ubuntu Linux
Somewhere along the way, many years ago I started using various distros of Linux.
I’ve used Slackware, Redhat (several versions), CentOS, and recently started using Ubuntu 8.04.
My old laptop is a Compaq Presario 2170US and has been through a couple of hard drives, the original being a 40 gig drive that finally bit the dust after being used for XP, then XP professional and massive online gaming on the MMORPG Dark Ages of Camelot. (Wife and I moved on to World of Warcraft a couple of years back though and I built better computers than the laptop for that).
A few weeks back my laptop’s hd (which was now an 80 gig drive) died a violent, heat-related death and I replaced it with a nice, new 160 gig drive a few days ago. I installed CentOS 4.3 and had several issues trying to get wireless to work - and since I want to be able to sit on the deck this summer and browse the internet and read, I wanted to get the wireless components working with little or no effort.
I started searching and found several folks saying how Ubuntu would fill the bill, and sure enough, after downloading version 8.04 last Thursday, I’m up and running. In fact, wireless works like a champ, and I can switch back and forth on the wire to the router, or run wireless without reboots, or much other than check-marking a setting for the network. It’s awesome.
The one problem I found is that when I’m at the desk I can’t use the external monitor, but think I might have found a couple of solutions I’ll try soon enough. There are some issues with putting the right information in the /etc/xorg.conf file - and I need to do a bit more research to see if there is an “easy way” through a GUI and hopefully by this weekend I ought to be able to switch from the lap top’s screen to the big 19″ wide screen display I use for my Linux boxes.
So far, Ubuntu has been a breeze to use, configure and load new software. Last night, I loaded WINE as easily as if I inserted a CD into a windows machine. (I hate to compare things in Linux to Windows, but it’s not very difficult to load Windows software, whereas, unless you’re a real computer geek with some serious background in playing with OSes, you’re not going to take the average Windows user and hand him or her a Linux based machine and say “Go for it!” without some serious headaches on their part). On the other hand, Windows IS the “standard” in the Computer World and around the Planet at the moment. Besides, I might have a reason or two to use some Windows Applications.
I’m hoping that we can change that view of operating systems, and proprietary software, drives and operating systems some day. This will only serve to make things easier in the future and eventually force a more competitive atmosphere in the gaming industry to ensure that games like World of Warcraft will EASILY run under any Linux OS without major Geek-Head-Tweaking that is currently required.
The ONLY reason I keep a windows machine around is for playing online games - something I suppose a half-century-old man ought NOT be doing in his spare time, but hey, you know, I EARNED my gray hair and I deserve to live in whatever fantasy world I chose! All I can say to game manufacturers is “You folks REALLY need to wake up and smell the coffee - and the free money — if you can start making things work under Linux!”
Hey, here’s a quick video from Walt Mossberg, Wall Street Journal’s Science and Technology Journal… he’s not happy with Ubuntu - and this was done in Sep 2007. As he says, though, Linux still isn’t quite ready for main stream, non-technical users. Those with a bit more computer background and savvy though are certainly pretty happy. Especially if all you’re really doing is browsing the internet, listening to music and sending/receiving emails. So listen to him, and check out linux if you’re a mind too…
For anyone that would like to download the version I’m using go to this link.
