So, how is Ubuntu 10.10, a.k.a. Maverick Meerkat?

[DrJohnZoidberg]

Can you download themes to make it look like windows 7 in terms of feel and look?

If you really want to, there is a theme pack (http://gnome-look.org/content/show.php/Win2-7+Pack?content=113264)

Think its a bit of a mission to get it to look like it should if you new to linux though.

 

[kingrob]

Hooray!!! Don't know what the devs at Ubuntu did, but my Ati card feels a bit more responsive in Ubuntu 10.10!

And it looks gorgeous with the new Ubuntu font. Love it.

 

[Hemps]

As a first time linux user I am very impressed - it takes a while to get used to it though, if you run a home pc I'd recommend it in a heartbeat, but connecting my ubuntu workstation to our network has been frustrating.

Many apps we use just will not work on linux, I have managed to get most working which is nice.
If you are a startup bussiness with no licenses this software must be a dream come true.
I downloaded a Win7 theme for ubuntu that cahnged the entire interface to look idetical to Win7 and that has helped hundred's for a begginer.

Thinking about a dual boot with windows 7 as present.

 

[ponder]

Thinking about a dual boot with windows 7 as present.

Run Win7 in a VM, this way you can also run all your Win apps at the same time on the same desktop, Virtualbox seamless mode won't even require you to have the Win desktop showing in order to run the apps. Only restrictions you will have is with apps (like games) requiring heavy 3D support.

 

[Hemps]

My machine only has 2gb of ram, will a virtual box not slow things down a bit?

 

[ponder]

My machine only has 2gb of ram, will a virtual box not slow things down a bit?

Yes. But you can decided how much ram to allocate to a VM. You can also go in to control panel and optimise it for best performance seeing you are not going to see effects etc if you run in seemless mode anyway. What are your PC specs?

Why not buy another stick of ram, they're pretty cheap?

 

[Hemps]

Dual core
2gb ddr2 800
Windows 7
500gb drive

I have now installed them via dual boot, will give ubuntu a thorough trial and then try the virtual box idea when I get more ram.
For the moment I'm just interested in expanding my linux knowledge.
I still enjoy Win 7.

 

[Hemps]

I'm actually getting annoyed with ubunutu especially in a network environment with Windows servers and desktops, it is painful sometimes getting it to print to my print box, connect to a server share at speed , map shares fstab is (read only) so I cannot edit it to create permanent shares (Win 7 is much faster) and a couple other things.

Now found out I cant import .pst files into evolution, I have to install some other program called "thunderbird" and then do it from there.
Installed a network printer , try to access settings and they are completely different, suppose I need another program from that.
My ubuntu system runs the same speed as Windows 7.

What impresses me most about Ubuntu is the software you get, plenty of stuff in a nice easy to find software center.

 

[ponder]

Hmm, not impressed so far.

Installed Chromium but it does not launch/work. -Fixed, caused by libmoon silverlight clone plugin which is flagged as unstable
Installed nVidia drivers but now my splash & logout screens are stuffed.
Sound is way to soft so I will check out alsamixier a bit later on. -Fixed, played around with alsamixer & sound preferences, gave me a chance to listen to Bonnie Tyler's Holding out for a here

Fixing things you did not manually install/configure is a biatch imho, god I love Arch for it's simplicity.

Edit: ocleroux I will get to Handbrake in a moment or two.

 

[Hemps]

It's difficult not to dump it and go back to Win 7 - curiosity keeps me going, but everything is a struggle.
I have been using Windows since dos, so finding my way around Linux is a mission.
I'm sure on a Linux only network it will work like a dream.

I also feel there are too many programs (add-ons) out there in Linux world that are utter rubbish.
I mean how many mp3 programs do you need?
Installed thunderbird but now it freezes..........

 

[ponder]

It's difficult not to dump it and go back to Win 7 - curiosity keeps me going, but everything is a struggle.
I have been using Windows since dos, so finding my way around Linux is a mission.

Ubuntu is not my distro of choice, I prefer Arch but I can't see myself going back to windows.
Been using linux since 2004 so I'm comfortable with it, Win/OSX gets me frustrated at times.

 

[Ockie]

Hmm, not impressed so far.

Installed Chromium but it does not launch/work.
Installed nVidia drivers but now my splash & logout screens are stuffed.
Sound is way to soft so I will check out alsamixier a bit later on.

Fixing things you did not manually install/configure is a biatch imho, god I love Arch for it's simplicity.

Edit: ocleroux I will get to Handbrake in a moment or two.

Yay! *claps and cheers! do it do it do it!*

 

[ponder]

Yay! *claps and cheers! do it do it do it!*

Handbrake is installed. I just figured out I can't read DVD's for some odd reason *sigh*

Edit: Fixed that with sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/install-css.sh

Ubuntu is fscking retarded. One would assume that installing ubuntu-restricted-extras will pull in all the required schit but NOOOOOOOO. So many things (VB non-free for example) requires you to add extra repos, everything seem to require a extra fscking repo. I'm getting royally cheesed off here.

Edit2:
I installed handbrake following the above guide I posted and I ripped the first 5 chapters of The Right Stuff to MKV and it worked just fine.

 

[Hemps]

what's the difference between Ubuntu and linuxmint - I'm not enjoying ubuntu too much but am keen to get into linux, should I try linuxmint?

 

[VonPickle]

what's the difference between Ubuntu and linuxmint - I'm not enjoying ubuntu too much but am keen to get into linux, should I try linuxmint?

Mint is Ubuntu made easy, it has all the media codecs and whatnot installed and a more "Windows Like" look to it. I do like the Mint Control Panel thingy too.

Fire up a live CD and give it a go

 

[ponder]

what's the difference between Ubuntu and linuxmint - I'm not enjoying ubuntu too much but am keen to get into linux, should I try linuxmint?

Mint is better, more polished and comes with all the restricted stuff installed by default. Maybe wait for the newer release based on Ubuntu 10.10 if it's not out yet.

 

[Hemps]

downloading linuxmint now

 

[ponder]

downloading linuxmint now

That's the older version based on Ubuntu 10.04. They also have Mint Debian version but I'm not sure I would recommend it to you.

 

[Hemps]

Tried downloading the latest linuxmint based on 10.10 but is way to slow from IS server - any idea where i can get it locally?

 

[MickZA]

Tried downloading the latest linuxmint based on 10.10 but is way to slow from IS server - any idea where i can get it locally?

Possibly here ftp://ftp.leg.uct.ac.za/pub/linux/linuxmint/