Migrating to Ubuntu - Advice?

[digitool]

Hi.

I've been a windows user for years now, yet I am curious about other OS's and I am currently contemplating migrating to Ubuntu 11.04.

Is there anyway to make a dual boot? I know peeps use Wubi but I have heard stories...
Other than that, are there any tips and tricks I should know about?
Or should everyone just jump into the deep end and learn as one goes along via forums and IRC?

K thnx bai

 

[Lupus]

Yes you can even install from windows with 11.04

Sent from my U20i using MyBroadband Android App

 

[ponder]

Other than that, are there any tips and tricks I should know about?

Linux is NOT Windows, don't expect it to be. Things work differently and you have to disassociate your mind from what you know and how things work and adopt a new approach.

Check out Linux Mint.

 

[RSkeens]

Dual booting would be the way to go, especially if you are a first time user. You should install and learn as you go along.

 

[digitool]

Well, that's the entire premise for the migration but thanks for the heads up.

 

[digitool]

Dual booting would be the way to go

As for the Dual booting, do I just sommer boot from the CD and then it tkaes care of itself?

 

[stricken]

If you just want to take it for a spin... download VirtualBox for Windows... and boot Ubuntu / Mint / Fedora up inside...

 

[hawker]

Just know that it's not windows, and things will work a bit differently.

Once you have gotten past that, Linux is awesome

Happy 'nixing!

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

My viewpoint is that you need to be a certain type of user to enjoy Linux. If you a person who loves to tinker about with different configurations and system settings then you most likely will enjoy Linux, but if you expect everything to just work immediately out of the box you probably better off sticking with something you know. I am not saying that that Windows is better than Linux (for me its quite the opposite), it's just the fact that many hardware vendors don't release propitiatory drivers for their products and mainstream software developers don't write many applications to run natively on Linux.

Another group of users that Linux can be well suited for are people that have never used computers before, so they haven't been Windows brainwashed. My mother recently received a laptop for a gift and I thought it would be best to install Linux on the machine as she only uses it for Facebook, mail and Skype/chatting, etc. This way I know the chances of her getting viruses/malware/spyware on the system is practically nil and it makes it extremely simple for me to provide remote support.

But, I agree with the advice given above. Try it out on Virtual box first, if you see that this is something you would like then do a dual boot as you may still want Windows for gaming and some specific Windows-only apps.

 

[oldhat]

Dual booting is a good option when starting out with Linux. Next step is to browse here:

http://www.linuxalt.com/

Best of luck...

 

[Salazzar]

If you just want to take it for a spin... download VirtualBox for Windows... and boot Ubuntu / Mint / Fedora up inside...

That's is the way to go. I use Virtual Box and run Multiple Version of Linux (Fedora, Ubuntu, Dream) and even Mac OSX Leopard.
It is great for learning other systems will still runing windows.

 

[Bismuth]

Dual-boot or run VirtualBox, as recommended, to get a taster of the system before going completely over. I started with Ubuntu in WUBI, but that just annoyed me, so started dual-booting, eventually made me go over completely, but that is a personal choice. Was running XP in Vbox for awhile, but lost the .vdi when I was playing with partitions, and haven't bothered reinstalling it.

If you are trying Ubuntu, I would recommend bookmarking Ubuntu Forums, there is a wealth of useful information there for the newcomer, and it's where I've found 95% of my fixes for any issues I've had with Ubuntu(the other 5% was Google, lol).

Bought my printer after fully migrating to Ubuntu, before I made the purchase, started at linuxprinting.org as I wanted a printer that worked with little or not effort in Linux, decided on HP due to the fact that there are already drivers included with Ubuntu, found the printer that was within my budget and have never looked back.

Running Ubuntu, or your distro of choice, in a dual-boot or Vbox setup will let you test that all your hardware is compatible, or if not, you can see what fixes are required to get it working, if any. Then you must decide if it's worth it. Had no issues with HP Printers(as already mentioned), Nvidia, Razer (mouse), Cell C (& Vodacom) USB dongles and Microsoft Keyboard and Headsets ( ). Had to hack around a bit to get full 5.1 out of a Soundblaster Audigy 2, but it's working nicely now!. Apparently there is better support for ATI now, but I can't testify to that fact as I've never installed Linux on a system with an ATI GPU. Not sure how good support is for onboard graphics and sound either, same reason as mentioned for ATI.

That's been my experience so far, and as others have mentioned, you will need to change your mindset a bit as well, as Linux is indeed not Windows, it is a whole other OS, not just a piece of s/w.

B

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

Not sure how good support is for onboard graphics and sound either, same reason as mentioned for ATI.

Support for Intel onboard graphics has been top notch for a while now (think there were some issues pre-karmic). Same for onboard audio you find on most integrated mobo's. Never had any trouble with either of these.

 

[Ockie]

I would suggest you start with Linux Mint. Comes with all your media capabilities out of the box...so you wont have to fiddle with repo's and installing libs (not the mod) etc.....you can basically just install and start to enjoy. I have Nvidia graphics on my laptop (GeForce 8200M G/PCI/SSE2 ) and Linux Mint and Ubuntu have always picked this up (after enabling restricted repo's) and installed the driver (needs to have internet connection for this)

I am now using Fedora and loving Gnome 3....but I think give Linux Mint a try first to get used to the idea of Linux and how it does things.

I remember when I discovered Linux....sometimes I wanted to tear my highlights out.....but then you google things...copy some code you found on the net into terminal and watch it run and install stuff. It is super cool.

Have fun.

 

[AfricanTech]

I would suggest you start with Linux Mint. Comes with all your media capabilities out of the box...so you wont have to fiddle with repo's and installing libs (not the mod) etc.....you can basically just install and start to enjoy. I have Nvidia graphics on my laptop (GeForce 8200M G/PCI/SSE2 ) and Linux Mint and Ubuntu have always picked this up (after enabling restricted repo's) and installed the driver (needs to have internet connection for this)

I am now using Fedora and loving Gnome 3....but I think give Linux Mint a try first to get used to the idea of Linux and how it does things.

I remember when I discovered Linux....sometimes I wanted to tear my highlights out.....but then you google things...copy some code you found on the net into terminal and watch it run and install stuff. It is super cool.

Have fun.

+1 on the suggestion to try mint first - it makes for a relatively soft landing in the linux world.

 

[milomak]

also expect that people will expect you have done some homework when you run into a problem.

that is, you have searched google. you have attempted solutions for similar problems. and when you ask a question you show what those efforts came up with.

the reason is that you need to remember unless you buy one of the licences of the supported distributions, you are asking help from people who do not get paid for helping you.

and it adds to what linux is about - empowering you. by researching how to solve a problem makes you more aware of how elements of your whole system (hardware and software) interact.

 

[Ockie]

also expect that people will expect you have done some homework when you run into a problem.
.

You are scaring him!!! lol

At least with Linux Mint there should be minimal problems...unless he has got very funny hardware perhaps. For me Linux Mint has always been install and play.

 

[MyWorld]

also expect that people will expect you have done some homework when you run into a problem.

that is, you have searched google. you have attempted solutions for similar problems. and when you ask a question you show what those efforts came up with.

the reason is that you need to remember unless you buy one of the licences of the supported distributions, you are asking help from people who do not get paid for helping you.

and it adds to what linux is about - empowering you. by researching how to solve a problem makes you more aware of how elements of your whole system (hardware and software) interact.

This is indispensable advice and often grossly neglected by new and inexperienced and casual users in Linux.

Most of the answers provided will come from Google, even the answers you receive here will most probably come from someone taking the time to do a proper Google search on your behalf. So do them the courtesy of searching for the solution first. If you do get and answer and do not know how to implement it, link to the solution and ask for help, it will safe a lot of time and make people want to help you since you are also putting in the effort.

On that note, I would also recommend Linux Mint, so far it has performed stellar for me on a netbook.

 

[Bobbin]

As a fairly inexperienced Linux user myself I still run into the odd usability problem. Like creating a file then having no permissions to edit the file later. Or not getting my 5.1 sound to work properly (this was a while ago and things are probably different). And trying to play games on WINE can be frustrating as hell

But do what Linux was meant to do and you are sure to find a winner. I currently use it on an old laptop for my little private web design projects.

Learn your command line first - ie how to navigate in the terminal window. Then learn your basic commands like sudo touch or sudo gedit etc... understanding the basic command line really saves you headache later.

 

[MyWorld]

And trying to play games on WINE can be frustrating as hell

Just use PlayOnLinux and winetricks, do not bother with anything else.

I used to configure every game myself and then discovered that it is miles easier just using the right tool for the job.