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In serious Vista doubt? Try Ubuntu instead!
Those of us who won't be rushing out to grab a copy of Windows Vista at 12:01 am like a bunch of drooling Pavlovian dogs being led to the dinner bell still have a few options. Not the least of which is sticking with Windows XP for the time being, as several tech experts have recommended.What about those of us who've had it up to here with Windows XP but also aren't ready to spend tons of cash on a Vista capable PC, what are we to do? Here's a thought; take a second look at Linux and, specifically, Ubuntu.
Once just the stable and solid workhorse of quietly humming server rooms, Linux has made some incredible strides in recent years as a desktop operating system for the masses. Ubuntu, the pet project and entrepreneurial venture of tech millionaire Mark Shuttleworth is constantly pushing the envelope, making Linux an easier choice for end users the world over.
I've put together a short list of tips and resources for the non-conformists out there who'd rather swim upstream than be carried down-river by the latest from Redmond. What's the point? If you're ready for Linux, Linux is ready for you.
Ubuntu.com - The official source of Ubuntu Linux. Chock full of documentation, resources and a popular help forum, Ubuntu.com is the first stop on your new desktop computing adventure. If you're a little trepidatious about dropping Windows for Ubuntu and you're comfortable burning a CD, check out the Ubuntu Live CD, which lets you boot Ubuntu up, play around and even get some work done, all without changing a thing about your existing Windows install.
Automatix - The very first thing you'll install after Ubuntu is up and running, Automatix is a useful downloader/package installer for just about everything you could ever need in Ubuntu that isn't included in the install CD. Automatix makes it easy to install things like video codecs, Google Earth, Open Office, and much more. Really, it's far too much to list. As the Automatix team motto says, "Download, Install, Enjoy."
Crossover Linux - Many people find that they'd love to switch to Linux full time but, due to a piece of software they need for school or work that requires Windows, they just can't. Crossover Office is a well supported commercial application which allows you to run most Windows software under Linux. Crossover has just recently added support for several Windows games (including Halflife 2 and and World of Warcraft), making it that much more of a hot ticket for those who are looking to make the switch and leave Windows behind altogether. Crossover will set you back $39.95 for the Standard Version and $69.95 for the Pro version with extended features and upgraded support. It's well worth the few dollars if a Windows application or two are keeping you from waving goodbye in earnest to those guys in Redmond.
Comments
21
Subscribe to commentsDannyJan 29th 2007 2:31PM
will the wireless, ethernet, firewire of my pcg-srx87 works perfectly with ubuntu this time?
visit :
http://geocities.com/vaiowallpaper/
Gardiner WestboundJan 29th 2007 1:38PM
Great post! The more I learn about Windows Vista the less appealing it becomes. From the inevitable "not ready for prime time" bugs Microsoft builds into all its programs, the draconian "call home" user surveillance system, and now the crippling effects when playing DVDs.
I have been experimenting with Ubuntu and found it competent and hospitable. I know about Automatix but never installed it. If, as you say, Crossover will run most Windows software under Linux I'll make the change to Linux permanent.
ESKJan 29th 2007 5:26PM
I have been trying to play around with Ubuntu and the interface is fantastic, i really like it, however, I can't for the life of me figure out how to get the internets to work. I'm sure it's something ridiculous like I need a different driver for my wireless card, but I'm lost.
glaciaJan 29th 2007 1:43PM
"a bunch of drooling Pavlovian dogs being led to the dinner bell"
"Ubuntu.com is the first stop on your new desktop computing adventure."
Wow, biased much? You'd get a heck of a lot more traction if you didn't start out insulting the very people you're trying to convince. I like Linux also but you're sounding like a Mac ad. Ease up on the obvious hatred you feel for the readers and maybe they'll read what you write.
Gardiner WestboundJan 29th 2007 1:47PM
The Ubuntu web forums are fantastic. If the answer isn't already there, the members will quickly step up to the plate with a solution for your particular issue. Go here:
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?s=2763b367cf95a9272a3b78a758e26e79&f=136
Mike CJan 29th 2007 2:18PM
ESK, your best bet for getting wireless to work is probably ndiswrapper with the Windows drivers for your wireless card.
ToddJan 29th 2007 2:15PM
Oh YES! And just when I thought the download squad had all completely gone to the Dark Side, this post saves you!
Ubuntu is wonderful. I have helped two people switch from Windows XP to Ubuntu and they couldn't be happier.
Joćo AlmeidaJan 29th 2007 4:11PM
Wine is also a fine option if you need to run Windows programs in linux
AlexJan 29th 2007 3:45PM
I have, over the weekend, downloaded and installed Vista Business edition through my school's MSDNAA. I have tried Ubuntu in the past as well so I'm in both camps.
I realize how uncool it is to speak in public about your interest in Microsoft products but here goes anyways.
Vista is actually quite great. I've used all the Windows editions since the beginning and so far I'm most pleased with the way Vista works. Sure it uses nearly twice as much ram idle as XP does but that's because it is beautiful. I tried to switch off the theme and go classic only to realize how bad gray looks. It has a lot of neat features (that may or may not be Mac, Linux inspired) that make it a good experience.
Anyways I don't want to make this too long but seriously, don't scoff at stuff you haven't tried. I'm yet to experience a bug and don't get me started on how easy the install process was (all it does is unpacks itself, wow!).
~J~Jan 29th 2007 3:59PM
And here we go again, Microsoft release a top-notch piece of software and yet again the people that haven't used it seem obliged to don the fashionable statement of "it's rubbish, go mac or linux".
Well sorry, it just won't wash with this one and many others. I want a PC to be simple to use, have everything I need a click away, a comprehensive array or programs that does everything I need and has a multitude of drivers that are compatible with the hardware I purchase.
I really don't want to spend several hundred pounds of a piece of hardware and have to wait several months/years for the software to be wrote which as soon as it's released, there's a new version on the horizon.
I categorically do NOT expect to have to install SVN tools, ensure I've SU'd into the $\etc\root and made sure I've PWD'd before I install and then compile using a GNU only compatible compiler and then look for drivers.
Vista, and Microsoft products, just 'work'. Yes there are bugs, yes there are flaws, but having used Ubuntu for 2 years as a development platform for work, having used a Mac for 3d work, I've ALWAYS gone back to a Windows OS because of it's convenience, ease of use and common-sense approach.
So keep your Leopard, keep your kernal 2.42 rev 2.3a/2 I'm happy with my Vista, have been since beta and haven't looked back once. I doubt I will.
SchwinnJan 29th 2007 5:11PM
I will admit, Ubuntu is excellent, and I am loving Linux more and more each day. However, as some people have posted above, it's certanly not an "easy" OS to use. For example, this whole ndiswrapper for the wireless card is a test of someones patience. I have to give credit to MS for that - Windows is certainly very easy to use - just plug it in, and mostly, it just works... mostly.
Of course, when it doesn't work, then Windows shows its true colors and becomes relatively useless for troubleshooting. I have a business where I work on customers' computers for issues on Windows, and often enough, the problems are just so confusing that there is no way to troubleshoot them at all. So far, my limited troubleshooting in Linux has been utterly pleasant. Again, not easy in any sense of the word, but at least there are LOG FILES to work with!
Of course, with the aformentioned business, I will need to get onto Vista at some point. Frankly, I think XP is fine the way it is, and I don't expect anything "revolutionary" with Vista. I expect to continue to have to deal with viruses and spyware, so Vista gets me nothing new from that aspect. In fact, that aspect alone is why I have already switched a few customers to Ubuntu. Granted, I set it all up for them, but guess what - it just WORKS. And when it does, man is it nice.
Andrew FongJan 29th 2007 5:28PM
Second that ~J~. I have Ubuntu and XP both loaded on my PC, but I find myself using XP much more than Ubuntu.
That said, if something really bugs you about XP, Ubuntu's certainly not a bad choice. It's leaps and bounds ahead of preivous distros in terms of usability. It may not look as nice as OS X or Vista, but it gets the job done without murdering your integrated graphics. And the package manager is amazing -- makes me wish OS X and Vista had that going.
The only major problem I've had with Ubuntu is with battery life on laptops. Every laptop I've installed Ubuntu on, both Powerbooks and x86 seem lose battery life almost twice as fast.
fcsJan 29th 2007 6:49PM
Sorry to stop the ~J~ lovefest, but I couldn't disagree more! I'm a network admin and I use/admin Ubuntu, Redhat, Solaris, Windows XP, and Windows 2003 Server. What does my laptop run 99% of the time? Ubuntu Edgy 6.10. What does my desktop at home run 99% of the time? Ubuntu Edgy 6.10. My job requires that I support Linux, Solaris, and Windows, but I always go back to Linux to get things done. Both Windows and Linux have their place & I use whatever fits best. VMWare also gets me around issues where I have to use Windows.
kobewanJan 30th 2007 7:53AM
I actually made the switch to Ubuntu about three months ago, because of Vista. I would rather not sacrifice my computer's speed and usability for a better looking interface, I would prefer not to have my hard disk automatically indexed all the time, I hate the DRM and I've had enough of the spyware and viruses. Linux is definitely not for everybody, but I am very satisfied with it after three months of use.
In response to ~J~: Actually, my Ubuntu install went faaaar better than my XP install done at the same time. I have no experience with Vista, since I have no inclination to pay $400 just to try it. However, I set up dual boot on my X41 with XP and Ubuntu, and I have yet to install a driver under Ubuntu (even my wireless card was picked up automagically). On the other hand, I had to install almost all the XP drivers manually from IBM's website. I would definitely NOT recommend clean installing XP for an inexperienced user, Ubuntu was much simpler. And it gets bonus points for actually letting me use my computer and browse the internet while it was installing.
As for everything just 'working' on Windows XP, I vehemently disagree. The final straw that made me switch was installing the free version of Microsoft Visual Studio. It went and copied ALL the executable files in my Program Files folder to C:\Program Files\Common Files\C_\Program Files\Common Files\C_\Program Files\ and then replaced the originals with 16kb blank files. This is the third time my Windows install got corrupted from Microsoft products..the last time was when I got permanently blue screened from installing SP2.
There are definitely many people who need to use Windows, but I think that Ubuntu will work just as well for the average computer user.
SchwinnJan 30th 2007 8:52AM
Andrew Fong: I'll admit, my install of Ubuntu on my HP laptop is similarly power-hungry. It seems that the built-in linux power saving features don't work that well. I had good luck with extending battery life by using a Gnome plugin that automatically de-clocked the CPU for lower load. The heat is certainly lower, so I imagine the battery life is longer... though I can't say that I have tested it.
ESK: Ubuntu Forums will help you get Ndiswrapper to work with your wireless card. I had to do the same on my Ubuntu laptop. Just search for ndiswrapper and you will find your instructions.
DiRTJan 30th 2007 6:25PM
Too bad Ubuntu has horrible hardware support.
My PC passes the Vista upgrade adviser, but the Live CD won't load. SLAX is better anyway.
FrodeJan 31st 2007 12:13PM
Ubuntu 6.10 actually *is* pretty good. Once in a while I download a couple of popular distributions and try them out. Until 6.10 I couldn't use Linux, too much stress trying to config stuff, although I know my commandline I have no time for that.
This time all I had to do was to find a tweak for my 1400x1050 panel resolution on the Ubuntu forums and I was good to go; USB support, sound, wireless and even the special laptop keys for volume and brightness worked. Downloaded VLC with a couple of clicks in the integrated Synaptic package manager and media support was in. I'm still using it on the secondary laptop, never thought I would. Looks great as well.
Geoffrey TransomFeb 3rd 2007 2:58AM
Hi there.
As a fellow who considers himself moderately tech-savvy, the thing which has kept me from moving away from the awful buggy rubbish that comes out of Redmond, is hardware support.
The simplest example is, to my mind, one of the mst important: beeing able to get stuff out of the internets tubes.
Where I am in France, we cannot get ADSL and so I have a unidirectional satellite setup for internet access. As it stands, the reverse (upload) leg has to be handled by a separate PC (on a WiFi network) because of a conflict between the dial-up ISPs MANDATORY firmware (Orange) and the controller for the satellite PCI card. And that's under XP...
The firmware for the card itself would of course be another issue - whether I could get hold of a linux-based driver for it.
All of that being as it is, I have still decided to have a crack at installing the 'Ubuntu Live', although to be convinced of its efficacy I would really like to see it working on all PCs on my home network at the same time.
And of course if it doesn't work perfectly I will blame this site and will come back and whinge louder than the Australian Cricket Board whinged when their boy Bradman got worked out by Jardine. (How's that for an obscure cultural reference?)
Cheers,
GT
France
JRFeb 5th 2007 3:43AM
I purchased a Sony VGN-FE880E, and it came with Vista. When it booted (nothing loaded), it took more than 800Mb of memory (out of 2GB). I couldn't trim it down past 650Mb... so I deleted it in favor of XP.
Intel's OEM drivers did a good job, but other venders had features that were lost because there exists no available driver: Sound, built-in camera, modem. It took 4 hours hunting for drivers just to get online with XP. Sony support will only support Vista.
Ubuntu was online in less than 10 minutes, with drivers for almost everything. I'm in love with linux again.
In my opinion: Microsoft Vista has gotten too fat to be useful. Sky high hardware requirements sting when I've paid good money for cutting-edge technology and my applications seem to be suffering.
I also don't want to use Internet Explorer, or MSN search, or MSN messanger, or any of that other garbage that's become fused into the Windows Distro.
I hope Vista works out better for some of you. If not, try Ubuntu... just put in the CD and boot up. It may amaze you before you've even had the opportunity to install it.
rrdFeb 12th 2007 9:24PM
Yeah, I'm installing ubuntu 6.10 right now... its good, but the drivers suck, (can't get my graphics card to work!) tried everything, switching to fedora...