DenDen Posted May 3, 2010 Posted May 3, 2010 Hi gang, Just wondering if anyone else is using Ubuntu 10 here. (Running 64-bit version here!) I've been using it for a couple days now, and I'm REALLY impressed with it. It's the first time I've seen a Linux distro run so smooth, and with minimal install effort. And for the first time, I feel that it COULD replace windows for some people. I've used Linux on and off since 1993, and it's come a LONG way. What do you think? Questions or comments about the OS? Talk to me!
Wes Posted May 3, 2010 Posted May 3, 2010 Does it get rid of the weird packages system for installing a program? I have a little Acer nettop that runs 9.10 for the sole purpose of being a torrent computer. I get so aggravated everytime I need to update the torrent program to the latest version, it's so ridiculously confusing and weird, especially in contrast to how simple the same process is on OSX and Windows.
DenDen Posted May 3, 2010 Author Posted May 3, 2010 It's has it's own software installer, just pick a program from their server and click install. It's just too easy, in my opinion. I believe the updater also watches all installed software as well. Very well done, and totally beats windows in that department! EDIT: I totally misread your question. The answer would be yes. But the process is quite automated.
DenDen Posted May 3, 2010 Author Posted May 3, 2010 here's a shot of the installer, in case it's been different in the past for you... Ubuntu 10 software installer
Wes Posted May 3, 2010 Posted May 3, 2010 I'd rather there just be a method for you to download a file similar to a DMG or EXE from a website than run through an installer. Since the programs for Linux are mostly open source, the updates for some of the programs seem to get fragmented, and I'm forced to go into the terminal and add sources to the list or whatever. For example, the torrent program I use (Transmission) had a bug fix update that changed it from 1.9.1 to 1.9.2 recently. Many of the torrent site blacklisted 1.9.1, as the bug was affecting their trackers, so updating to 1.9.2 was necessary to use the program. On Transmission's website, there were easy download links for OSX and Windows, and the software would have been installed and usable in 30 seconds. For Ubuntu, there was distribution source from packages.ubuntu.com that I had to add through the terminal before I could download it through the installer. It was really confusing and I would consider myself pretty knowledgeable with more "advanced" operating system stuff. I couldn't even imagine a basic user being able to comprehend how to do that sort of stuff, which is why I think Linux will always be a techie/geek OS as opposed to a regular person OS like Windows. I do find 9.10 to be very stable and workable for the minimal amount of stuff I do through the box, but I would not want to use it to do every day stuff.
DenDen Posted May 3, 2010 Author Posted May 3, 2010 I do find 9.10 to be very stable and workable for the minimal amount of stuff I do through the box, but I would not want to use it to do every day stuff. I'm not an "everyday" user yet, I still have things like music production and video software that's only available on Win/Mac. But I love everything else on it. In your case, you're doing a pretty nerdy thing, so it would be expected to have to get "technical" with an issue. And I'd say we are advanced enough to handle it. I do like running a local apache/PHP/MySQL and testing out scripts on the fly, but I expect problems like you explained. Ubuntu is made for "easy use" for a general audience. We far surpass that title, and we tend to download software that's beyond the norm. If someone just does web, email, office, gaming, photos, simple video, and music, (which is most people out there,) I feel Ubuntu is a great and much safer/faster/better alternative to Windows.
AJClarke0912 Posted May 3, 2010 Posted May 3, 2010 I trialed Ubuntu 10 (Karmic Koala?) earlier this year on Parallels and LOVED it. I'm thinking of getting Virtual Box for the Mac and getting Ubuntu back on there permanently. You just can't be wobbly windows that burn with fire when they close and the Beryll Cube...just way too epic. It's like Windows with Mac features inside (like Ubuntu's versions of Exposé and Spaces) that combine the best of two worlds. Seriously awesome operating system.
DenDen Posted May 4, 2010 Author Posted May 4, 2010 I currently run a dual boot with Windows 7. Ubuntu is on a USB hard drive, and it's still amazingly fast. I like having both, but wish I could just drop 7.
KevinM Posted May 4, 2010 Posted May 4, 2010 I absolutely love Ubuntu (and Linux in general) but my old HP hardware does not like to play friendly with the lastest versions. And windows 7 has thoroughly impressed me, so I've left the Ubuntu tribe for now.
Oreos Posted May 4, 2010 Posted May 4, 2010 Nah, I'm not into pokemon. You don't even know what Ubuntu is, do you?
KevinM Posted May 4, 2010 Posted May 4, 2010 ^You don't even know what XKCD is, do you? Well I'll tell you. An occasionally funny, but highly overrated web comic that panders to nerds. I am a nerd, but I don't appreciate pandering over actual humour.
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