Said to hell with it. Installing Ubuntu 7.10

[Quakindude]

In the process of updating Ubuntu after doing the initial install to a second HDD I have. While I'm on the kids computer testing out Acronis 11, I decided to install a Linux distro on my main rig. Wish me luck. I haven't messed with Linux in a long friggin time.

[Quakindude]

Well, I'm up and running with Internet access. All told, 25 minutes from start to Internet. Damn that's fast as hell!

However, everything is lagging a bit. I'm sure there's drivers I need to install for the chipset, video card, etc. Once I figure it out, I'll post back again.

[Quakindude]

Now that the video driver is installed, a process that Ubuntu made extremely simple actually, all the lagging is gone. I'm beyond impressed. Linux has growed up considerably from the first time I tried using it!

So far, I've played a couple of videos, but I'm not able to play any Windows WMV formats. I'll hunt around till I find something.

One thing of particular note, when the updating process was going on right after the initial install, I noticed my network adapter has a considerably faster through put than with Windows.

[OcciferFriendly]

I last installed Ubuntu 6.10 - my experience was much like yours, it was smooth and easy. Only hiccup was figuring out it didn't like my ultra old CDRW drive.

Really the only issue I had with Ubuntu was when I attempted to create a crontab. Nothing I ever did worked, even after cutting and pasting code that other folks did for me!

Honestly, if I ever found a decent way to play games under Linux ( I haven't tried Wine or Cedega yet) I'd switch over in a heartbeat. As it is I think I'll eventually dual boot at a minimum.

[screwballl]

welcome back to the linux arena... things have gone a great distance in the past few years, enjoy!!

[Quakindude]

After playing around with Linux all day, I can say without a doubt I'll be keeping it on here. As a matter of fact, I'll be loading it on the kids computer here shortly and dual booting both computers.

For gaming, I'll definitely have my Windows system. But for everyday tasks and Internet surfing, I'll be running Ubuntu from now on.

The thing is, if you have the slightest ability (like me....very slight) for working on computers and researching issues on the Internet, Linux is so very well documented that it's a snap to use Ubuntu. I feel like it's just been a natural progression to switch over. I wish I could completely switch over; there's a certain level of intense freedom when no "Activation Key" has to be entered after your done. There's no "30 days left to activate" reminders.

After installing Ubuntu, Ubuntu goes through an update process. From what I've seen, this update process is the OS automatically going onto the Internet and downloading and installing all the drivers your motherboard needs to run. Among other updates of course. So far, the only things I don't have drivers for are my Logitech G15 gaming keyboard and my MX Revolution mouse. But I'm researching those right now, so maybe there's drivers out there I just haven't found yet.

Anywho....anyone have any cool little apps for Linux that I should try out? A good video player recommendation would be appreciated.

[Quakindude]

BTW, how do I stop a USB drive in Ubuntu? Right click the icon and choose "unmount"?

[tiredoldman]

Thats about right "Q" and after that ,just remove it from the slot.

[JazzyJake]

VLC

I run kubuntu, so I have Kaffiene which is (imho) the best video player in exsistence, but even still VLC is great to have for some finicky files that don't want to play.

Also, Konquerer, the default browser in Kubuntu supports a wicked nice Xine media-streaming codec that will run anything I've tried to stream so far, from internet radio, WMV's, everything.

IF you're not afraid to venture further, i would suggest KDE's kubuntu upgrade, if you're perfectly fine, just snag VLC through the package manager and you'll be good to go

P.S. MAKE SURE you unmount the USB devices!
ubuntu/kubuntu are no where NEAR as forgiving as windows as far as not messing up files you had been working on, just a heads up.

[Quakindude]

Originally Posted by JazzyJake

VLC

I run kubuntu, so I have Kaffiene which is (imho) the best video player in exsistence, but even still VLC is great to have for some finicky files that don't want to play.

Also, Konquerer, the default browser in Kubuntu supports a wicked nice Xine media-streaming codec that will run anything I've tried to stream so far, from internet radio, WMV's, everything.

IF you're not afraid to venture further, i would suggest KDE's kubuntu upgrade, if you're perfectly fine, just snag VLC through the package manager and you'll be good to go

P.S. MAKE SURE you unmount the USB devices!
ubuntu/kubuntu are no where NEAR as forgiving as windows as far as not messing up files you had been working on, just a heads up.

Thanks for that heads up! I developed good USB habits with Win95. Used to bork a lot of files if you didn't properly stop the drive. Of course, back then a 16Mb geek stick was a luxury I could hardly afford!

When you say Kubuntu upgrade, is it a whole new install process or a package I download and install in Ubuntu?

I haven't found the package manager yet, but I'll keep exploring.