Ubuntu- my 2c

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PaddyTM

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Seeing as I switched to Ubuntu after reading everything on this forum, here is my feedback.

I'm not a power user (to put it mildly), and a lot of the people on this site who recommend a linux based OS seem to have a IT background. I, on the other hand, am closed to a functional retard.

1) Set up is a breeze. The only real difficulty are the drivers, but I can live with it. Especially since I had only 1 driver problem, as compared to quite a few with MS.

2) Getting media to play- yes it is a small hassle, but getting all the correct codecs for windows was hardly a breeze.

3) Getting software- this is a tricky one; not yet comfortable using the terminal, but absolutely love the package manager.
Windows was generally a bit hit or miss for me in terms of finding the right software, installing it, hoping that it was right and that it didn't mess up my system. Now I can see what is highly rated software, and get it from the community itself, knowing that the source it reliable.

3) Obviously the virus/ malware issue is great.

4) The online support for me is very comprehensive.

Negatives:

1) Wifi management under Ubuntu is not great. It may be the network manager, or the fact that it is a Broadcom card, but where I struggle on Ubuntu, on Vista I dont.

2) The whole terminal aspect. Yes you need to adjust, but if the aim is attract market share, the average user is always going to be uncomfortable after switching from a more streamlined OS to a text based interface where none of the commands make sense.

Saying this, would it be possible to sticky a list of common commands and a brief explanation in the linux sub forum? I know its on the net, but a lot of people are going to start their searches on mybb first.

2c done
 
Thanks for the feedback! Good to see someone else jumping in. Hopefully this will encourage more to take the dive. Yes would be nice to see a stickied thread for us novices. I save all my commonly used terminal commands in my Gmail. Can share them with people if they want. I'll post some of them here when I get the chance.
 
PaddyTM said:
2) The whole terminal aspect. Yes you need to adjust, but if the aim is attract market share, the average user is always going to be uncomfortable after switching from a more streamlined OS to a text based interface where none of the commands make sense.
Click to expand...

If you don't mind answering, what did you need to do in the terminal?
 
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras to get all the codecs in one command. Should be in the gui as well.

Try the command:

sudo iwconfig wlan0

For your wireless problem, let me know what it says. Do you know which broadcom card you have?
 
Last edited:
Trying to set up a network, trying to check status of some hardware etc.

Getting a laptops restricted driver enabled (broadcom) required a bit of time (no wifi=no package manager).

Installing a few pieces of software that were downloaded in compressed form (hadn't added the repo's, but hey, now i know)

Not much time, and i've since found other ways of doing some of it using the GUI, but a bit of time none the less.
 
w1z4rd said:
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras to get all the codecs in one command. Should be in the gui as well.

Try the command:

sudo iwconfig wlan0

For your wireless problem, let me know what it says. Do you know which broadcom card you have?
Click to expand...

All fixed now; the problem with apt-get and package manager is that for them to work you need to be online first (same problem with any OS where you need to download a driver). So I had to download b43 and the driver and run them from the terminal. Lets hope I remember because I need to do it again on a similar system later this week.

Current problem is the network manager. Ubuntu sometimes can't find it, so I switch to Vista (dual boot), and no problem. As I say, I don't know if the problem is the driver or the manager itself. Have played with "wifi radar", maybe I'll get a better result.
 
Well I just wanted to let you know that if you using Ubuntu on a server or computer and you go online. You can be hacked within a few seconds. I work for an SSL company and Ubuntu is a big no-no.
 
Please explain what makes Ubuntu vulnerable? Is it only Ubuntu or all the distros as well?
 
DBoy_25 said:
Well I just wanted to let you know that if you using Ubuntu on a server or computer and you go online. You can be hacked within a few seconds. I work for an SSL company and Ubuntu is a big no-no.
Click to expand...

lol :D Care to elaborate on this? How does the hack happen?
 
PaddyTM said:
Seeing as I switched to Ubuntu after reading everything on this forum, here is my feedback.

I'm not a power user (to put it mildly), and a lot of the people on this site who recommend a linux based OS seem to have a IT background. I, on the other hand, am closed to a functional retard.

1) Set up is a breeze. The only real difficulty are the drivers, but I can live with it. Especially since I had only 1 driver problem, as compared to quite a few with MS.

2) Getting media to play- yes it is a small hassle, but getting all the correct codecs for windows was hardly a breeze.

3) Getting software- this is a tricky one; not yet comfortable using the terminal, but absolutely love the package manager.
Windows was generally a bit hit or miss for me in terms of finding the right software, installing it, hoping that it was right and that it didn't mess up my system. Now I can see what is highly rated software, and get it from the community itself, knowing that the source it reliable.

3) Obviously the virus/ malware issue is great.

4) The online support for me is very comprehensive.

Negatives:

1) Wifi management under Ubuntu is not great. It may be the network manager, or the fact that it is a Broadcom card, but where I struggle on Ubuntu, on Vista I dont.

2) The whole terminal aspect. Yes you need to adjust, but if the aim is attract market share, the average user is always going to be uncomfortable after switching from a more streamlined OS to a text based interface where none of the commands make sense.

Saying this, would it be possible to sticky a list of common commands and a brief explanation in the linux sub forum? I know its on the net, but a lot of people are going to start their searches on mybb first.

2c done
Click to expand...

Oh yes, can't forget to say congrats to you. Another one comes to the dark side:p
 
DBoy_25 said:
Well I just wanted to let you know that if you using Ubuntu on a server or computer and you go online. You can be hacked within a few seconds. I work for an SSL company and Ubuntu is a big no-no.
Click to expand...

Please elaborate? Which service is the vulnarability in and how is it exploitable? What level of access can be attained from this exploit?

Also, what is a SSL company?
 
:) Thanks; I've got to say people have been very cool, and I'd be amiss if i didn't give big ups to Chiskop, who first helped me.
 
DBoy_25 said:
Well I just wanted to let you know that if you using Ubuntu on a server or computer and you go online. You can be hacked within a few seconds. I work for an SSL company and Ubuntu is a big no-no.
Click to expand...

Please substantiate!
 
He can't exactly say something like that and not elaborate. Looking at his post count it doesn't look like he is a regular, or he just browses and doesn't post. We might be in for a long wait:(
 
:( - AFAIK Linux is pretty secure, I mean they had that hacking competition and a laptop running Ubuntu Linux was the only one that was not breached after the 3days.

+Ubuntu has iptables running by default.
+Linux in general is more secure, because only the /home is free editable changeable. The rest of the file system is protected unless you run as root.
 
Methinks we have someone who knows not whereof he speaketh.

The IT guys at his office probly told him that to get rid of him.
 
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