I've Got It And got It intalled

[Deleted member 1258]

My Ubuntu disc finally got here this week. I am now running dual boot XP pro and Ubuntu. Disc arrived Monday, reformatted my hard drive and reinstalled windows that day, It wasen't running well and appeared to have something nasty. Wednesday I installed Ubuntu. This morning I ironed out a few minor problems, did some setting up annd downloading, now I have a new toy to play with, explore, and learn. Seems a lot more frendly than the last incarnation of Linux I tried to use many years ago. Might even ditch the windows once I have got used to it.

 

[Mr Pig]

Very interested in this so I'll be keen to hear how you get on.

How did you get on with drivers etc? Did you have to manually hunt them down?

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Very interested in this so I'll be keen to hear how you get on.

How did you get on with drivers etc? Did you have to manually hunt them down?

Graphical install very windows like. I haven't had to go looking for drivers yet. I have had to look for some programs I needed, and apart from my unfamiliarity with Ubuntu I haven't fallen over anything yet, its some of the third party programs can be awkward, impressed so far.

 

[Mr Pig]

I assume the computer runs faster?

Drivers were my main concern. Although there are lots of bits of software you might have problems getting, like mobile phone software etc.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Drivers were my main concern. Although there are lots of bits of software you might have problems getting, like mobile phone software etc.[/quote]

Most of the software supplied with things like MP3 players, cameras and phones are windows based. In Ubuntu we are relying on Linux software not the manufacturers. I have already had my digital camera conected and had no problems downloading the pictures. But I have not tried my MP3 player,one of these http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Portable-Media-Player-Black/dp/B0012YPMOC/ref=tag_stp_st_edpp_url,
I haven't tried my phone yet either but I have seen a bluetooth icon on the system so that might be ok as well.

 

[Mr Pig]

You can usually get things like phones and printers to work without the manufacturer's software but it's often only in a limited way. I can get pictures off my phone but I couldn't update the phone's software, move address books or anything like that. To be honest I think it might be worth it is the computer runs faster and less likely to catch viruses. My worry is that you go to all the trouble of getting Linux to work and then, a year down the line, you find some application or other that you really need to use that you can't run.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

You can usually get things like phones and printers to work without the manufacturer's software but it's often only in a limited way. I can get pictures off my phone but I couldn't update the phone's software, move address books or anything like that. To be honest I think it might be worth it is the computer runs faster and less likely to catch viruses. My worry is that you go to all the trouble of getting Linux to work and then, a year down the line, you find some application or other that you really need to use that you can't run.

Every thing I use except my printer works fine. I have connected phone, scanner, MP3 player and printer and all except the printer work ok. The printer is a cannon i250 thats about 5 years old so I am not to bothered about it. I will look for drivers on the internet and perhaps, once we are back on full time, I will treat myself to a new printer. I am running dual boot windows and Ubuntu so finding something that doesen't work isn't a major problem, and with the amount of information on the internet I should be able to find the work around if it exists, but I will wait till I feel certain I can do all I want before loosing windows.

 

[Ghost Donkey]

The only problem I had was the wireless drivers for my laptop. In the end one of the pen source experts at work got it working for me. It was a bit too much for me as a linux novice. Printer will work on the USB (it was plugged in when I installed ubuntu.

 

[barq]

Dual booting is a good way to ease yourself in. I did that for a while, but eventually made the switch. Now on the rare occasions I need Windows I'll start up XP in a virtual machine. I used the free of charge but not open source, if you note the distinction, version of VirtualBox (it has slightly better features like USB support than the Open Source Edition - OSE).

Most hardware can be made to work with linux, the question is how easily. The search facility on the ubuntu forums is a wonderful source of advice. I would sign up and search for your printer there.

Good luck.

 

[Mr Pig]

Yet more conflicts with Vista and Kaspersky this time! :0( Apparently Vista can fight with the new version of Mcafee as well.

Remain much of interest on this thread...

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Gradually Learning and finding my way round Ubuntu. The only thing that had eluded me so far is my printer, I have tried several thing suggested on the Ubuntu forum but I don't seem to be able to get the computer and the printer to talk to each other. Its increasingly looking like a new printer is on the list of thing to buy when I am back on full time. Apart from that and some minor problems with some of the Documents imported from windows not displaying properly, or opening with the wrong application, and some file asociation issues, I am gradualy sorting these out, its turning out to be very good. The free guide from here http://www.ubuntupocketguide.com/download.html has proved to be very helpful.

 

[Mr Pig]

..its turning out to be very good.

In what way? Obviously the whole point of not using Windows is that there is some advantage to doing so. In what ways is Ubuntu better than Windows? Do you think you still need anti-virus with it and if so, which ones work?

 

[Deleted member 1258]

In what way? Obviously the whole point of not using Windows is that there is some advantage to doing so. In what ways is Ubuntu better than Windows? Do you think you still need anti-virus with it and if so, which ones work?

The advantage is that I am not on windows. I don't look on it as a substitute for windows, its not. Its an alternative operating system in its own right, Its another way of doing my computing. I am running neither firewall or antivirus. I will be happier when I have the firewall running, buts thats just me and my mistrust of the internet. I don't feel as paranoid about security as I did on Windows. The whole system runs smooth and trouble free, To quote an advert what it says on the tin it does. If I am struggling with something its usually my lack of experience not the application I am using.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Cracked it! Got It! I managed to install the drivers and now have a working printer.

 

[Mr Pig]

Nice one.