Home > Technobuddy > Archives > 2007 > February > 28 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USUbuntu - a friendly intro to Linux
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Russell Oaks is an IT professional who has been a guest moderator here before. Feel free to leave questions or comments for him. And, if you’d like to try your hand at the controls as a guest moderator for a day or two, just send me an e-mail at bhusted@ajc.com and tell me briefly about a topic you’d like to take on. Also tell me a bit about yourself. If there’s enough interest out there I’ll try to use a guest moderator once or twice a month. -Bill Husted
Ubuntu is a Linux Operating System that has won more accolades and appreciation from the IT world than any other platform.
It has a user base that is growing faster than any other desktop Linux distribution on the market today, and there is good reason for it. Ubuntu is very user friendly and has a very attractive, intuitive interface that doesn’t take a rocket scientist’s knowledge level to get up and running.
I’ve found that most Linux desktop distributions are easy to use, but the latest version of Ubuntu, also known as Dapper Drake 6.06, is by far the easiest. There are both Mac (PPC) and Intel (i386) versions available for download as disk images that you can place in your CD drive and boot into.
That’s the quickest way to find out if your system is compatible, without damaging or losing any information. If you choose to go ahead with the installation, you double-click on the “Install Ubuntu” icon on your desktop and follow the simple instructions. You’ll have a few opportunities to change your mind if you want to back out of the installation.
One of the biggest advantages to Ubuntu is in fact, its overall popularity. This popularity makes searching for almost anything related to Ubuntu very easy. Whether you are searching for problem resolution or have a “can I run my iPod on Ubuntu” type of issue, you’ll find plenty of information from others who have had similar issues and questions. Ubuntu comes standard with the Gnome Desktop and Gnome applications, but you can add any of your favorite K-based programs at will.
There are other releases that can also be reviewed here. You’ll find Kubuntu, the KDE Desktop-based system, Edubuntu, which has more educational applications and is free for any educational institution, and Xubuntu, which uses the very lightweight XFCE desktop, which is good for performance gains and runs well on low-end and/or older computers.
Here’s the kicker - it’s free, and if you use this website to get yourself started you’ll have a Linux desktop environment that will outperform Vista, Windows or Mac installed on the same system.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Special Guests
Comments
By Jim Farley
March 10, 2007 2:19 AM | Link to this
Hi to both of you!
This is a test sending, as I’ve tried this in the past, only to be told that the format was incorrect! Wasted an hour typing a good comment for nothing…
Will send the follow-up if this works.
Thanks, Jim
By Jim Farley
March 10, 2007 3:56 AM | Link to this
Excellent! The Ether-gods have smiled upon me! Hope it lasts until I can finish this post:
Hello, again!
Many thanks for all the knowledge and wisdom that you continually share with those of us who are either just beginning the journey into computing, or who are just unaware of some of its many wonders. Bill, on a personal note, I’m glad you found renewed vigor to do what you do; I hadn’t yet gotten my first PC when I read your article about needing to rekindle the magic of computers, and was afraid of losing not just a valuable source of useful, sometimes humorous insights, but also a “friend”. You see, I always knew that I’d finally give in and join the 21st century (as my 75 year old father put it!) and get a computer. So I had been following your column closely for a while, clipping and saving things I thought might be useful. Still do! Enhanced all the more by the internet, and the chance to check out the blogs and the forums you provide for people like Russell. I’ll email you some day about my journey so far-the lost post I mentioned above was my first attempt at expressing my gratitude in more detail, so I’d best save it for another time.
One of my other mentors has been Gizmo Richards through his wonderful newsletters and unbelievable website, and when he was discussing safe ways to not only protect your system, but to also surf in a secure environment, he singled out Ubunto. It was part of the overall topic of “virtual” computing and, at first, I had no idea what he was talking about. Some time later I came upon the discussion again and decided to check out the Linux link he had provided for obtaining the Ubunto CDs. I ordered them (5!), never for a minute believing that they’d actually be free and shipped at no cost as well! What a refreshing surprise when it proved to be true and no one has badgered me in any way. I can see why it’s becoming so popular, and I haven’t even used it yet! Partly because I’ve been experiencing some problems with my elderly PC (inherited from some kind friends), and partly due to the fear of trying something so new to me and messing too much with the status quo.
I’m still very much a beginner at this, even if I’ve become much more knowledgeable than most of my family and friends. So few people know anything about Ubunto, and those that do seem to have such strong feelings against Linux, that I’ve been unable to learn much on how to go about using it, if only for safe surfing. Is this another of those things that just need to be explored on my own? Now that my PC is finally stable, I’m anxious to see what this is all about, but wonder how much doing so might tax my system. Any insights, direction, and/or words of encouragement would be immensely appreciated…
Jim