View Full Version : My personal experience with Ubuntu 8.04
After been using Windows for years, I must say even after SP1 and upgrading my system. I was incredibly disappointed at the unreliability found in the Windows kernel. Thats why I decided to use Linux out again, I have tried it many times before but I never stuck with it long enough to use it to replace Windows.
:snoozer_likelinux_man:
I have always preferred Debian based distros' (apt-get anyone) and I was familiar with Ubuntu, thus I took the plunge and decided to install Ubuntu 8.04 (the normal 32 bit version, as I expected to have less hassles with it than the 64bit version.)
Main things I noticed were, with installation one can use the option of Wubi. Which basically installs Ubuntu as a regular piece of software in Windows. The problem with this however is that, due to the fact its just a file it will be prone to fragmentation and access times would be decreased. However if it is a persons first time using Linux/Ubuntu, I would highly recommend it.
Knowing all of this I decided to rather format my PC and install with the traditional method. Installation was easy, took about 15mins (if even that) when my PC restarted I was welcomed by Ubuntu login window.
First thing I did though was enable restricted drivers so that I could use my nvidia card to its full potential. Edited the xconfig file, so that it would display the correct resolution. That was done easily by installing the nvida settings application. (Although I quickly found out it had to be run through the sudo command)
Second thing, I wanted to do was duplicate the audio from my front speakers to the back. Well what a challenge it was, it took me a total of 3 days before I was able to do it.
I also decided to theme my Gnome system as I personally do not like the default theme setup. There are fantastic themes available at Gnome Looks. Also enabled desktop effects which surprisingly did not slow down my system as much as Vista's.
I know there are alternatives to using MS Word (I have tried both Abi-Word and Open Office in the past) but I really wanted MS Word and MS Excel installed on my machine. I installed Wine and managed to get MS Word 2000 and MS Excel running perfectly. They might be the old versions but they suit me down to the ground with accomplishing my tasks.
Something I always loved about Open Suse 10.3 was the use of Gnome Slab Menu, I find it very professional looking. I installed it and replaced the regular Ubuntu menu, it makes a huge difference. Makes the startmenu concept very efficient and easy to use.
Followed by that, I installed Amarok (that is such a fantastic player) although if you have a large music collection, it is better to use a mysql database as it does not slow Amarok down. Took me a while to figure out a mysql but once sorted out. Amarok runs like a dream.
Then installed usual stuff, Google Search, Google Earth and of cause Picas; not to forget Amsn, Skype. These applications I feel gives the system a feel of completness. One thing I could not get over, my Firefox Beta 5 browser would not stop crashing. Eventually I decided to install latest version of Flock Browser and it works like a dream.
I think that Linux and Ubuntu are progressing to a point where it is becoming an alternative to Windows. There is so much more you can do. However you need time and patience. However when its all setup, the feeling is rewarding.
I would switch to Ubuntu in a heartbeat if I could still use Indesign (CS3)... I installed Ubuntu (dual boot) last week for the first time, and there's so much I love about it. Terminal, for example, rocks!
I would switch to Ubuntu in a heartbeat if I could still use Indesign (CS3)... I installed Ubuntu (dual boot) last week for the first time, and there's so much I love about it. Terminal, for example, rocks!
There is probably a way to install Indesign in linux however I am sure it is a tricky process
ghoti
03-05-2008, 01:09 PM
I would switch to Ubuntu in a heartbeat if I could still use Indesign (CS3)... I installed Ubuntu (dual boot) last week for the first time, and there's so much I love about it. Terminal, for example, rocks!
If you have 2GB + of RAM.. run it in a virtual emulator like virtualbox.
If you have 2GB + of RAM.. run it in a virtual emulator like virtualbox.
Wow -- looks v. interesting. Will give it a go.
...but clearly, given the numerous complaints, UBUNTU is not close yet. I sometimes get the feeling the general public are beta testers or this stuff hasn't been tested even twice by the developers. Releases are far too frequent and buggy and this may just be counterproductive. People will try it, find it doesn't work within hours of installing it, tinker for a bit and then never return to Linux.
That is true and I agree. If we are honest is any software ready at its first release?
HavocXphere
03-05-2008, 01:52 PM
...but clearly, given the numerous complaints, UBUNTU is not close yet. I sometimes get the feeling the general public are beta testers or this stuff hasn't been tested even twice by the developers. Releases are far too frequent and buggy and this may just be counterproductive. People will try it, find it doesn't work within hours of installing it, tinker for a bit and then never return to Linux.
Thats the price of the bleeding edge + free combo.
Thats the price of the bleeding edge + free combo.
You know guys considering 8.04 is on the bleeding edge it works very well, and not too many problems with it
milomak
03-05-2008, 04:52 PM
if you want stability install Debian Etch and leave it on stable repos. You are unlikely to feel like a better tester than.
If you happen to like Debian and want to feel like a beta tester, then change the repos from stable to sid.
if you want stability install Debian Etch and leave it on stable repos. You are unlikely to feel like a better tester than.
If you happen to like Debian and want to feel like a beta tester, then change the repos from stable to sid.
Thing is, Debian Etch on stable repo's is really old software. No thank you I'll stick with Ubuntu 8.04:D
milomak
03-05-2008, 05:23 PM
That's the thing, you can't have the best of both worlds. I run my etch box in testing and as far as I can tell the software versions are never too far behind. Solid as an ox as well in testing.
That's the thing, you can't have the best of both worlds. I run my etch box in testing and as far as I can tell the software versions are never too far behind. Solid as an ox as well in testing.
I am guessing you prefer pure Debian then?
milomak
03-05-2008, 05:35 PM
I do. I run Debian Etch (in Testing) and Sidux 64-bit. Sidux is an interesting experience to say the least.
ramonthomas
03-05-2008, 09:07 PM
Thanks for the awesome review of Ubuntu 8.04 because I am now ready to upgrade. I wonder what the specific improvements are from 7.10 to this version?
milomak
04-05-2008, 12:39 AM
Whats Sidux like?
I enjoy it. It is basically the unstable repos of Debian. And by unstable they mean exactly that. Each apt-get dist-upgrade is filled with suspense. You especially have to be carefully of what packages are removed as sometimes when you update dependencies for installed packages might not exist. So those are turfed. I loaded up one day 9after not having taken great care to see what was removed) to see that Thunderbird (or Ice Dove in the case of Debian) was no longer on my system.
Things like that. But I went in knowing these types of things happen. Which is when I become thankful for my Do3 account and its local allocation. Otherwise I certainly wouldn't run it. I updated every week at least and updates are typically north of 300MB.
I enjoy it. It is basically the unstable repos of Debian. And by unstable they mean exactly that. Each apt-get dist-upgrade is filled with suspense. You especially have to be carefully of what packages are removed as sometimes when you update dependencies for installed packages might not exist. So those are turfed. I loaded up one day 9after not having taken great care to see what was removed) to see that Thunderbird (or Ice Dove in the case of Debian) was no longer on my system.
Things like that. But I went in knowing these types of things happen. Which is when I become thankful for my Do3 account and its local allocation. Otherwise I certainly wouldn't run it. I updated every week at least and updates are typically north of 300MB.
Wow it sounds like a great system, especially is you want to live on the bleeding edge. However don't you find your system unstable most of the time?:eek:
.Froot.
04-05-2008, 11:20 AM
Wow it sounds like a great system, especially is you want to live on the bleeding edge. However don't you find your system unstable most of the time?:eek:
I also use the newest versions of applications and software. Problems occasionally occur, but they are few and far between. I don't think I have had any crashes since upgrading to Hardy. Only the odd one where Amarok doesn't open when I open it and I have to kill it and reopen it (this actually happened in XP with Firefox).
milomak
04-05-2008, 02:08 PM
Wow it sounds like a great system, especially is you want to live on the bleeding edge. However don't you find your system unstable most of the time?:eek:
As long as you are meticulous when you dist-upgrades, it is actually pretty rock solid. The only real issue (with it being a 64-bit system) is getting Java to run. I had got it running previously but the last dist-upgrade must have killed it. That's why I asked for that icedtea-java in the other thread. I used what is not recommended by running ubuntu debs in debian (and the opposite is also not recommended btw).
I installed the latest Virtual Box 1.6 and got the USB support working. I now mainly use my Ubuntu and fire up my virtual xp for using Office 2007.
chiskop
05-05-2008, 05:50 AM
@texo, just to second what w1z4rd suggested. I run Photoshop cs3 in a virtualbox VM. Couldn't notice a difference between running it straight under windows or in the VM. :)
jaarik
05-05-2008, 10:39 AM
VirtualBox is the way to go. Works like a charm here :)
Well since I wanted to use all my 4GB RAM and not use the 64bit kernel (due to software problems) I installed the Server Kernel, which I must say works pretty well. Had problems with the nvidia drivers but sorted all that.
System feels much faster and I can use all my RAM
milomak
06-05-2008, 12:20 PM
Does ubuntu not have PAE kernels?
Does ubuntu not have PAE kernels?
Well the normal (generic kernel) does not, unless you want to compile your own kernel. If you want PAE then you have to use the server kernel.
native
06-05-2008, 12:56 PM
I tried to run Microsoft Virtual PC to load Hardy Heron to no avail
It keeps giving me the error "An unrecoverable processor error has being encountered, the virtual Machine will reset now"
I have a dell Latitude D620 with 1G RAM running windoze Vista, i've allocated 512MB of RAM to the Virtual box but still get the same error
Tried using the following tutorial (http://arcanecode.wordpress.com/2008/04/24/installing-ubuntu-804-under-microsoft-virtual-pc-2007/)but still failed
Any idea?
greggpb
06-05-2008, 01:04 PM
I tried to run Microsoft Virtual PC to load Hardy Heron to no avail
It keeps giving me the error "An unrecoverable processor error has being encountered, the virtual Machine will reset now"
I have a dell Latitude D620 with 1G RAM running windoze Vista, i've allocated 512MB of RAM to the Virtual box but still get the same error
Tried using the following tutorial but still failed
Any idea?
why not wubi ?
I tried to run Microsoft Virtual PC to load Hardy Heron to no avail
It keeps giving me the error "An unrecoverable processor error has being encountered, the virtual Machine will reset now"
I have a dell Latitude D620 with 1G RAM running windoze Vista, i've allocated 512MB of RAM to the Virtual box but still get the same error
Tried using the following tutorial (http://arcanecode.wordpress.com/2008/04/24/installing-ubuntu-804-under-microsoft-virtual-pc-2007/)but still failed
Any idea?
I don't want to be a Virtual PC basher but, Virtual PC sucks when it comes to running any other OS other than MS Windows. My best advice would be to download and use this
http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads
It is also free and has more features than Virtual PC
native
06-05-2008, 01:07 PM
I don't want to be a Virtual PC basher but, Virtual PC sucks when it comes to running any other OS other than MS Windows. My best advice would be to download and use this
http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads
It is also free and has more features than Virtual PC
Will try it and give feedback
native
06-05-2008, 01:39 PM
Which one do i download?
I'm looking at running Ubuntu 8.0.4 inside the Virtualbox
Which one do i download?
I'm looking at running Ubuntu 8.0.4 inside the Virtualbox
Download the normal edition, not the OSE one. However you should know that their is no 3d support in Virtualbox. Therefore Ubuntu will not be able to run its fancy effects.
If you need help, PM me, I am on MSN
native
06-05-2008, 03:41 PM
thanx to Linoman
I'm currently running ubuntu 8.0.4 inside Vista through virtualbox,
but my mouse is trapped evnthough i can still see other applications outside the box
chiskop
06-05-2008, 03:48 PM
Press <Right Crtl> to move between guest and host.
thanx to Linoman
I'm currently running ubuntu 8.0.4 inside Vista through virtualbox,
but my mouse is trapped evnthough i can still see other applications outside the box
When in the virtual machine, press the right "ctrl" key on your keyboard to release it. Remember to install guest additions
@chiskop we both posted at the exact same time
chiskop
06-05-2008, 03:51 PM
@chiskop we both posted at the exact same time
Obviously not, otherwise my post wouldn't be above yours. :D
Obviously not, otherwise my post wouldn't be above yours. :D
You got lucky this time:D, random question I know. How much experience do you have getting certian games to run under linux?
chiskop
06-05-2008, 04:18 PM
You got lucky this time:D, random question I know. How much experience do you have getting certian games to run under linux?
None. Hope that helps. :D
None. Hope that helps. :D
Don't make me come over there:p
milomak
06-05-2008, 04:49 PM
You got lucky this time:D, random question I know. How much experience do you have getting certian games to run under linux?
what games?
what games?
Half Life 1, Counter Strike 1.6, Half Life 2 and Counter Strike Source... While I am at it even Prey
Amida
06-05-2008, 05:07 PM
This is a bit of topic but I installed 7.10 about a month ago and one thing bothering me is the network manager (nm-applet).
I find it very unstable because I work with routers a lot and I keep changing IP addresses. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't.
Does any know a workaround for this?
This is a bit of topic but I installed 7.10 about a month ago and one thing bothering me is the network manager (nm-applet).
I find it very unstable because I work with routers a lot and I keep changing IP addresses. Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't.
Does any know a workaround for this?
*This poor topic has been derailed so many times, even by me:D*
Anyway, have you tried adding all the latest updates to your system?
Amida
06-05-2008, 05:19 PM
Yes I try the update manager before 8.04 was released.
What is the best way to change network config manually?
I did google it but found different ways of doing it.
Might not be a best but this should help you out
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=684495
Amida
06-05-2008, 05:28 PM
Thanks I'll do some reading up