Vista is coming out. I’ve been able to avoid XP up to now, running 2K at home and work. Since Microsoft is coming out with IE 7, it looks like I’ll have to leave 2K behind at work and shoot up to Vista. The question is, at home, should I go Ubuntu?
For home use, I’m beginning to take a serious look at Ubuntu. I change hardware configurations all the time, and really don’t want to waste my time proving to Microsoft that I’m not a pirate. I’ve done a little remote SSH on Linux servers, so have a touch of experience with the Linux command prompt. On the other hand, I design web sites and play games at home.
For my personal site, I could care less if IE users can’t access it. However, I can’t be quite so cavalier when it comes to client sites. My hope is that browser emulation sites will quickly include IE 7. Another alternative is WINE, which I’ve yet to research.
My intent is to post my experiences with taking the Linux plunge. Maybe it’ll help others who are considering the switch. Maybe not. We’ll see.
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For me the break came when my antivirus software demanded $20 to keep protecting me against viruses, even though I had already paid for the product once. I installed Linux the same day, and I haven’t had to worry about viruses, trojans, spyware since.
Advice: for now, stick with Ubuntu 6.06.
Whoa,now, that was a convincing video! This is going to take some time to do, but I’ll be starting the research tonight (this morning). I’ve got a case on order, and the rest of the components I need to put together a 64-bit AMD (Socket 754) box.
One of the components I bought was a hard-drive switch that allows one box to run three OSes on three separate hard drives. Assuming the switch works reliably (I’m a little bit skeptical, since it’s no longer being manufactured), I’ll be able to run Ubunto on one, Win2K on the second, and — should new games require it — Vista on the third.
I don’t expect hardware to be an issue, since I’m using graphics cards, etc. that have been around for at least a year. Software, I’ll research. Open Office and GIMP to start. Firefox with the Web Developer plugin, of course. Since I hand-code sites, all I need is a text editor with syntax highlighting. Plusses (sp?) would be project management, code snippets and (my memory ain’t what it used to be) coding references.
I’ve been working with PHP and mySQL, but I’ll have to train myself in a language or two that has Linux compilers. This could be fun!
Ubuntu or Kubuntu are both great, easy to install and use. For example, I bought a couple of D-Link DWL-G122 USB WiFi adapters from TigerDirect and they work fine automatically with Kubuntu. They are unusable for me with XP as they crash any computer in my house (have 3) with heavy traffic. You might also want to try openSuSE (opensuse.org) 10.1.
My suggestion for new Linux users is to buy an inexpensive second hard drive and make a dual-boot system. This way you can still go back to your legacy O/S if you run into a brick wall while learning Linux. This is particularly easy to do with SuSE as it prompts you through the configuration during the install. Having a dual-boot system also facilitates recovering from major Windows crashes or viruses, as you can still access your files even if Windows won’t boot.
I haven’t tried making a dual-boot system with (K)Ubuntu; if people are interested, post replies and I’ll do it and post the results.
I personally like Ubunto/linux, but I have 2 things to consider. 1. the microsoft compatible programs I have to use, 2. I still haven’t figured out(maybe I should read) the file system. Otherwise I like it.
I can attest to the fact that Ubuntu is an easy-to-install Linux distro that is really nice for beginning users. You can elect to run the operating system as a “Live CD” – which allows you to run it “on top of” Windows, and not make any changes at all to any existing Windows setup. Test all you want, (it’s a little slower because of the CD-based operation), and will allow you to “get your feet wet” without altering your system in any way.
If you decide to install it, there’s a complete partitioning system on the CD, allowing you to install it side-by-side with your Windows, and with the option to choose either Windows or Linux on boot-up. You can also take the plunge, and completely wipe Windows off your system.
The download is free, and support – via UbuntuForums.org – is great! Friendly community, excellent support, and a very, very nice GUI to learn and eventually love. I have no doubt you’ll be happy with Ubuntu!
Now, for your Web design, there are LOTS of DreamWeaver-like tools that are FREE to download and use: Nvu, Bluefish, and Quanta, to name a few I’m experimenting with. Plus, OpenOffice.org will give you completely free Open Source “Office” equivalents. There are also thousands of great ancillary programs for specific uses that you can search out and try. There’s a whole world waiting for you to explore – and it starts with Ubuntu.
Take the plunge!
The responses to my last post are exceptionally encouraging. I should have my system together this weekend or next. In the meantime, I’ve ordered the 6.06 CD on Mr. Bertran’s suggestion (and a t-shirt to help support the folks at Ubuntu and spread the word), and a copy of Ubuntu Hacks by Jonathan Oxer, Kyle Rankin, Bill Childers. I hope I can give a review on it in the near future. I’ve also started exploring here and there. I came across an interesting blog on security. It wasn’t exactly a flame war, but there were certainly some hot embers amongst the ashes. The Following quote, in particular, got me to thinking:
Blog Quote:
“…the “easy install” versions of linux like ubuntu, suse, knoppix etc are all LOADED with holes if you installed them with the default options….”
My only thought is that hackers enjoy attacking Microsoft a lot more than Linux. Be that as it may….
Security is not a major concern on my home computer. That being said, it’s a secret desire of mine that Linux (Ubuntu or some other) flourishes on the home and business desktop. Yes, I’m becoming more and more anti-Microsoft as time passes, but that really isn’t the point. I think that a practical result of some true competition for the Gates family might be a more consumer- and industry-responsive (responsible?) company. For Linux to thrive, business computers would need to be secure. One of my Ubuntu sub-projects will be to work on the security of my home box; not because I’m worried about identity theft (you want my credit cards and bank account, you can have them), but rather because I’m toying with the idea of switching to a Linux-based LAN at work. The LAN only has 20 or so nodes, and seems like an ideal environment to start networking research. Since they use Quickbooks, there would be some thorny issues to resolve, and I’d likely begin in a mixed-OS environment. (A possible alternative to Quickbooks: SQL Ledger.)
A quick search resulted in a good-looking work in progress at Ubuntuguide.org. The section on security can be read here. Ubuntu.com also has a security section, listing known vulnerabilities and fixes as well as providing an Ubuntu-related security mailing list.
My case should have arrived at work. The CD is going to take awhile to arrive. If I get the system built and functioning before that, I can download the latest Ubuntu from their site. In the meantime, I’d love to hear Mr. Bertran elaborate on why he suggests I stick with 6.06. Onward and upward.
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