Ubuntu

[bacteria]

It took a long time to get familiar with Windows, while I want to embrace Ubuntu, i'm a bit unsteady about having to learn things from ground up again! Thought I might install the OS onto a laptop I have unused at the moment, so when I get time, can try and learn a few things, then jump in to install from scratch on my main computer.

I presume Ubuntu can read data and files saved onto an external flash card, SD card and also enternal hard disk; or doesn't it like to? (I have lots of photos and pics, etc).

What's the best on-line manual or similar I can access, to learn what's what on Ubuntu, and how to use/access the facilities? I've only ever used Windows (3.11 > XP) and DOS

[Hatta]

Noiseredux, for a while it was hard to find wifi hardware with Linux native drivers. They made a wrapper that went around windows drivers to work around it, but it was flaky. When your hardware is supported with a driver in the kernel it works very well. I'm not sure what the status is these days as I haven't bought wifi hardware in a couple years.

Bacteria, yes, Linux handles flash media just fine. I don't know what's specifically best for Ubuntu, but I got started with the help of the Linux Documentation Project. They have a page full of guides aimed at a wide range of skill sets. These will be applicable to any Linux distro you care to run. The Rute user's tutorial is also quite good.

There may be a Ubuntu specific guide that shows you all the fancy GUI stuff first, I don't know. I'm a proponent of starting from fundamentals.

[Niode]

Hatta hit the nail on the head. Immerse yourself in the CLI and run a GUI-less server. Once you get used to administrating that, using Ubuntu will be child's play. I struggled with linux for ages until I immersed myself in the CLI and got a few reference books on pure Linux (IE not distro focused as they tend to focus on the quirks of the desktop manager and how each distro does things, which is NOT what you want to focus on when learning Linux).

Learning a UNIX based operating system at the fundamental level will make you a much more competent PC user as a whole. Once you learnt Linux at the CLI level you've learnt them all and you will learn how to do adapt to ANY distro instantly.

Hands down the most useful thing you can learn is how X works. Learn how to fix problems with X and you're laughing.

[lisalover1]

Here's a good guide I found for people just starting out on Ubuntu: http://www.linuxtopia.org/online_books/ ... index.html

Honestly, one of the coolest things about Linux is a little program called Compiz. It is a graphical special effects program for your desktop, and when you tweak it how you want, you can get some pretty mind-blowing results: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5baDknt6 ... re=related

Another cool feature is the Ubuntu Software Center. It's a very simple and easy program built into Ubuntu that lets you look through lists of applications and games, and all you need to do is select which ones you want, and it will automatically download and install them for you. It's a very useful and elegant program that makes getting new software for Linux extremely easy and safe. The best thing about Linux is that you can find variants or direct ports of most of the programs you normally use, but they're free. Instead of Photoshop, give GIMP a try. Instead of Internet Explorer, use Firefox [but really, who the hell still uses IE? ], or instead of Microsoft Office, there is OpenOffice. All of these programs are free, with no restrictions. You can use it however you like, for as long as you like. You can even edit the code of the program itself, if you were so inclined! Of course, if you absolutely NEED to use a Windows-only program [or game, as is more likely the case], there is always WINE, which is a program that lets you run Windows programs. The compatibility isn't perfect, but it gets the job done. Also, there actually is antivirus software for Linux, and it's free, too. Just wanted to let you know.

Here's some programs that I recommend to get you started:

NTFS Configuration Tool: Essential if you're Dual-Booting Linux. This program lets you access the Windows portion of your hard drive [all your files in Windows] while in Linux. Very useful, otherwise, you would have to copy everything over.

OpenArena: Fun and mod-friendly Quake 3 Arena clone, with plenty of maps and extras.

Xmoto: 2D motorcycle game with a level editor and access to thousands of levels. Very challenging and addictive. I could play this game for days on end.

Amarok: A powerful and feature-heavy music player that makes iTunes look like Windows Media Player 1. It also allows syncing or drag-and-dropping to your iPod or PMP.

Stellarium: This one's not for any practical purpose, it's just neat. It lets you look at stars and planets in the sky in real-time from multiple locations across the world. Very fun, and quite relaxing.

Extreme Tux Racer: A cool racing game featuring Tux the Penguin, the Linux mascot. You really have to try this, it's a blast, especially when you build up some speed.

Ubuntu Restricted Extras: Ignore the name, it means nothing. This package installs the Flash, Java, etc. plugins for you, so you don't have to install them individually.

PiTiVi: Since you mentioned that you want a good video editing program to replace Windows Movie Maker, I thought I should include this. It's a great video editor, is easy to use, yet has a lot of features.

[Ziggy]

Ubuntu is very Windows-like as far as appearance goes. You shouldn't find it too hard to find what you're looking for easily. What I would be concerned with is setting it up. It installs easy enough, but every time I've installed it I had to get some things to work. Whether it be graphics, NIC, etc. From my experiences with it, it isn't as easy to get drivers working as it is in XP. That part is very much NOT like Windows.

I actually have Ubuntu dual booted with 7 on my main PC right now, though I haven't used it much, mainly because I couldn't get the damn video drivers to play nice.

edit: I actually just restarted and booted into Ubuntu for the first time in a while, and it booted with out an error message about the video! Weird. Maybe now I'll finally play around with it more.

Any ways, did no one mention the Live CD? You can download Ubuntu and burn the image to a disc, then insert the disc in your optical drive and restart. When you boot to the disc, you'll be given the option to use Live CD which will actually load up Ubuntu (with out installing) so you can mess around in it and see if you like it.

[Dakinggamer87]

Ubuntu is an amazing OS and I would recommend using it as a dual-boot or as an image CD to test it out and see how it works out. As others have mentioned it is fun learning Linux with it's open source flexibility and CLI.

[jinn]

Personally I use Fedora, my wife uses Ubuntu and Linux Mint and we are teaching our 3 year old to use edubuntu.
My system has triple boot: Win 7, Snow Leo and Fedora
I would recommend using Ubuntu or Linux Mint

There are various tuts on youtube on how to use and maximize Ubuntu.

[bacteria]

Thanks for the replies.

I don't want to get under the covers of the OS or to get into programming, i'm not interested in that, an OS is just that, an OS that allows your programs to run properly in my view. The graphical effects in the YouTube video are very impressive and I may well install that app at some point.

I like to keep things simple, there are lots of references in this thread to things like X, CCL and other things, that I have no idea what they refer to or what they are about or if I need to know.

I only want to install an OS and use it, and i'm assuming that it will work ok via my broadband provider, VirginMedia (I use cable) like my Windows XP computers; ie plug and go.

Is there a link showing in easy terms what each distribution of the OS is good for what applications so I can choose the best one for me?

Also, any risk of malware, trojans etc from loading websites or links, like in Windows?

[lisalover1]

Compiz is installed by default in Ubuntu, you just have to choose which effects you want in the settings. Also, I can tell from all that you have said that Ubuntu seems like the best choice. Here's my personal interpretation of the attributes of each distribution:

Ubuntu: "I want something simple, easy, and with a lot of support."

Fedora: "I'm a bit more knowlegable than your average computer user, so I'm comfortable with a bit more control."

Debian: "I need a high-security, rock-solid powerhouse to run on my server. Don't worry; I know my way around a computer."

Knoppix: "I'm not ready to install Linux, but I want to give it a try, anyway."

Gentoo: "I'm a pompous asshole who has to be better than you at everything."

[fastbilly1]

Niode - any books you would suggest for getting use to X?

Knoppix: "I'm not ready to install Linux, but I want to give it a try, anyway."

More like, I buggered up my Windows install beyond recognition but I need it fixed not replaced.