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Trash Talk - Ubuntu Linux - Linux for Dummies

Mine GO BOOM - Tue Sep 28, 2004 4:27 pm
Post subject: Ubuntu Linux - Linux for Dummies

What is Ubuntu Linux?

Well, its based on Debian. And its almost idiot-proof on setting up with a new system. So far, almost everyone agrees that it is very basic to setup. There are very few technically questions asked, and in normal system, you shouldn't get any. The few questions are pretty much where you live (for time zone), your name (for username creation), and if you'd like to have your system update itself upon first boot.

The installation is written in basic English in which most users who can read will be able to understand. It comes default with a bunch of useful programs, and has a nicely done installation manager in which you can easily search for new programs, and depencies are handed for you.

Best part about it? For those of you who lack good internet connections, or too lazy to learn how to burn an ISO, you can order free CDs of Ubuntu. Free. As in no shipping costs to you.

Solo Ace - Tue Sep 28, 2004 4:31 pm
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So this is like some Windows-Like Linux?

CypherJF - Tue Sep 28, 2004 4:38 pm
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If I had a spare machine layin around...

Solo Ace - Tue Sep 28, 2004 4:43 pm
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Mine GO BOOM - Tue Sep 28, 2004 8:01 pm
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Solo Ace wrote:

So this is like some Windows-Like Linux?

No. Its specifically Linux flavored. Uses default Gnome. I would give a bit more info, but it decided that it doesn't want to work under Virtual PC at all.

Recommending this for those that want to give ASSS a try with Linux, and don't know what Linux distro to try.

SuSE - Wed Sep 29, 2004 1:49 pm
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Solo Ace wrote:

So this is like some Windows-Like Linux?

It's the same as any other Linux distro, it just comes with a lot of stuff in its inital package to make it easier for newbies.

SuSE - Wed Sep 29, 2004 1:54 pm
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ahhh, somehow the colors on that site are refreshing when compared to the popular white and grays of so many websites these days

Muskrat - Mon Nov 29, 2004 11:43 pm
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Just installed this on a partition, quite nice and easy enough for me, so I'd say they did pretty well in user-friendlyness.

D1st0rt - Tue Nov 30, 2004 2:20 am
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I have a box running on this also, it IS very user friendly. I think the only difference in speed is because its on an 800mHz machine while I'm used to windows on a 2.4 gHz one

SuSE - Tue Nov 30, 2004 3:07 am
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Are you guys talking about the installer?

...I only ask because I hate it when people refer to whatever desktop environment they're using as the distro they installed.

Like if you take a look at Novell's Linux site, all the features they list of "their" distro (with the exception of the package manager) are free and open source programs like Evolution, Firefox and Gnome.

So, if you're not talking about the installer, you're probably not really talking about the distro so much as Gnome.

Dr Brain - Tue Nov 30, 2004 7:07 am
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Psst, SuSE, shut up; you're making a fool of yourself again.

SuSE - Tue Nov 30, 2004 7:15 am
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how so? (again?)

Dr Brain - Tue Nov 30, 2004 9:06 am
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Just because the components are free and open source does NOT mean that the distro hasn't modified or enhanced them. You'd be amazed how much default settings can change the entire Linux experience. Mandrake and SuSE (the distro, not you) both come with very nice config panels for changing everything.

The distro means a lot to non-advanced Linux people. Advanced Linux people just make their own distros.

Mine GO BOOM - Tue Nov 30, 2004 1:03 pm
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SuSE wrote:

Are you guys talking about the installer?

I am talking about the installer. A big problem with most distros isn't that it isn't user friendly during its normal every-day usage, its that its sometimes very hard for users to install the OS in the first place.

If I gave almost any of my friends a FreeBSD or Gentoo CD, they'd have no clue at anything to do, even following the manual. With SuSE and Fedora, its got too much junk in it already that they are lost and don't really do anything advanced on it at all. If I asked them to install the newest version of Firefox or to keep their system patched, they'd be stuck dead in their tracks even after I showed them how to do it a couple of times. Synaptic, the Ubuntu package manager, is very user friendly for installing programs.

After that, everything else is other features that are universal, such as KDE vs Gnome for the main window manager, etc. But the critical parts that Ubuntu does very well on are the OS installer and the package manager.

Solo Ace - Tue Nov 30, 2004 1:39 pm
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I'm sorry if I'm saying things which were said in this thread before, but...

The Gentoo installation requires people to read the installation manual, which makes the user learn more about what he's actually doing.
It's boring and it takes time but eventually I (and I think there are a bunch of others who did the same) learned where settings are located on the system and how to change them using the commandline, and a lot more of the usual Linux stuff.

For people who have no idea how they should use Linux, I think it's good to learn about it by trying to install that stuff.

When I started with Linux distros using automated graphical installers, I had no idea how to use the commandline, so I think for newbies it'd be good to get some experience with an installation like Gentoo's.

FreeBSD's installer is a little easier (I thought it it's a pain), but well, I just think people should learn about their OS a little first before using it.

CypherJF - Tue Nov 30, 2004 3:40 pm
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last friday night, I installed Fedora the first time. I told it to install the typical components or w/e. Then realized, there were a few things I wanted to change, ie: not using gnome but KDE, etc. But I didn't think it was that harsh.

The only thing I would have found confusing, was partioning. So the 2nd time around, I just told it to handle it automatically; and wallah.

SuSE - Tue Nov 30, 2004 5:38 pm
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Dr Brain wrote:

omfg config files omfg it's like learning how to build a fucking helicopter that runs on crisco...listen to yourself

I would not be amazed.

Dr Brain wrote:

The distro means a lot to non-advanced Linux people. Advanced Linux people just make their own distros.

...are you under the impression I said otherwise?

Dr Brain - Tue Nov 30, 2004 7:40 pm
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SuSE wrote:

...are you under the impression I said otherwise?

Yes:

SuSE wrote:

So, if you're not talking about the installer, you're probably not really talking about the distro so much as Gnome.

Muskrat - Tue Nov 30, 2004 9:06 pm
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Yes, I was referring to the installation as being user-friendly.

SuSE - Tue Nov 30, 2004 11:50 pm
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Dr Brain wrote:

Yes

You lost me again, doc.

If someone has a distro...any distro and it's working well and they're using Gnome and saying "ooh, gosh, nice, it's so easy to do this and that" while they're pointing and clickign, _that_ easy of use is most likely primarily Gnome's.

I realize they _could_ be talking about how well X item works to do X task through just a commandline, but this is after all a thread on Ubuntu Linux.

Mine GO BOOM - Wed Dec 01, 2004 1:29 pm
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[quote="SuSEIf someone has a distro...any distro and it's working well and they're using Gnome and saying "ooh, gosh, nice, it's so easy to do this and that" while they're pointing and clickign, _that_ easy of use is most likely primarily Gnome's.[/quote]
Install the damn OS before bitching about it. You'll notice real quick that the OS installer is very user friendly, which is Ubuntu's work. Then, try installing new programs through their package manager, as see how nicely it fits that program into Gnome's menus and such, which are always keep very well organized by Ubuntu's helpers.

Also, the theme they have setup by default for Gnome is much prettier than most other distro's default theme, thus it looks friendly. Thats a choice by Ubuntu team, not the Gnome team.

Finally, using _ around words isn't needed when you can format the font.

Dr Brain - Wed Dec 01, 2004 2:13 pm
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Mine GO BOOM wrote:

Finally, using _ around words isn't needed when you can format the font.

For the record, the rest of us at least occasionally play a game where formatting is not avalible. Habits die hard.

D1st0rt - Wed Dec 01, 2004 3:04 pm
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what's even easier is if you're using the live cd (although the performance is excruciatingly horrid)

SuSE - Wed Dec 01, 2004 5:16 pm
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Mine GO BOOM wrote:

Install the damn OS before bitching about it.

...what the fuck. I'm not bitching about the OS.

I mean, do you guys like only reply to my posts after getting your cocks bitten or something? Chill the fuck out and don't assume. This is TEXT; read.