New User - just got Ubuntu 12.04.... wow i love it

Check our new Geekzone Price Comparison web site for electronics prices in New Zealand.

Forums › Linux › New User - just got Ubuntu 12.04.... wow i love it

skyhigh

44 posts

Geek

Topic # 105740 9-Jul-2012 22:04
Wow I am really impressed with Ubuntu 12.04. All my hardware was recognised and installed automatically including printer. Much better than Windows can do and it is oh so fast. Internet pages change before I even release the mouse button. I am running Google Chrome beta for Linux... great and highly recommended! I have also installed Wine which runs any Windows software. Immediately installed Photoshop... excellent! WHY WOULD ANYONE EVER USE WINDOWS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am very new to Linux, used to use Unix about 20 years ago. Linux has come a long way since it started. Can anyone tell me about versions... they seem to up to the next one so quickly. Do you update to the next version regularly and is it easy (like an upgrade?) or does it mean starting from scratch and re-installing the whole OS?

1 | 2

539 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

Reply # 653214 9-Jul-2012 22:07
A good way to ensure your settings/files/desktop are maintained between upgrades is to store your /home folder in a separate partition, and ensure it isn't formatted during the upgrade. https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Partitioning/Home/Moving

skyhigh

44 posts

Geek

Reply # 653220 9-Jul-2012 22:15
Thanks I will remember that. I would probably save the home directory to ext HDD just before upgrading. CHeers

sidefx

1054 posts

Uber Geek

Reply # 653233 9-Jul-2012 22:21
Yeah, Ubuntu is pretty good. Great on older hardware especially; I have it running on an old laptop and my HTPC and both fly. I tried the HTPC with both Windows XP and Windows 8 before trying XBMCbuntu and the Ubuntu version is far far smoother. And my remote even works better! I was sure I would have endless issues with drivers and getting it configured but everything just worked out of the box. In terms of releases I've been through a few ubuntu upgrades in the past, though not recently. IIRC sometimes everything just works, sometimes it doesn't. Usually their forums have enough info to recover from any issues you might encounter. I think generally if you haven't tinkered too much everything will just keep working through an upgrade without any problems. The reason they seem to release so many versions is because they do :) I think they aim for a new release every 6 months. In my limited experience they hit them like clockwork. In general each release is supported for 2 years I think, so you'll want upgrade at least every 2nd or 3rd release. Then every 2 years they release a version called LTS (Long Term Support) which they are now supporting for something like 5 years. 12.04 is just such a release.

gzt

3196 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

Reply # 653499 10-Jul-2012 13:04
I've been through a few upgrades and do not recall any problems. Some users choose to do a clean install instead of upgrade. Doing a clean install means you get all the default features and configuration of the new OS. An upgrade will tend to respect a lot of existing settings and configuration which means using the o/s can be a different experience and configuration to the clean install. Just something to be aware of. and.. Skyhigh: All my hardware was recognised and installed automatically including printer. Just remember to google for compatibility before you buy any new hardware ; )

gzt

3196 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

Reply # 653508 10-Jul-2012 13:18
Even better than the real thing!

ubergeeknz

777 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

Orcon

Subscriber

Reply # 653509 10-Jul-2012 13:23
skyhigh:WHY WOULD ANYONE EVER USE WINDOWS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Haha, just give it a few weeks :)

mattwnz

4241 posts

Uber Geek

Reply # 653514 10-Jul-2012 13:36
skyhigh: WHY WOULD ANYONE EVER USE WINDOWS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!? Mainly because of software compatibility. A lot of software doesn't run on it. I love ubuntu too, however after it did an auto update, something went wrong with it and ended up having to reinstall it, so I dont' find it as a relibable in terms of updates. Perhaps it is just my computer. I find it very similar to apple OSX in how it works and appearance.

Gilco2

692 posts

Ultimate Geek

Subscriber

Reply # 653519 10-Jul-2012 14:01
skyhigh: WHY WOULD ANYONE EVER USE WINDOWS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have ubuntu and love it but also have Windows. Try connecting your ics android phone or ics android tablet like the asus transformer and copy movies or ebooks over to it from linux. Tivo desktop doesnt work with linux. Dont know about now but Itunes never used to work with linux for those with ipads. Samsung kies never worked either Just a few reasons for windows still HTPC AMD A4-5300 cpu, Gigabyte ga2fa75m-d3h motherboard, , 4GB DDR3 ram, onboard graphics. Hauppuage HVR 3300 tuner, Antec 2480B case, Windows 7 home premium 64 bit using media center

mattRSK

804 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

Reply # 653532 10-Jul-2012 14:26
ubergeeknz: skyhigh:WHY WOULD ANYONE EVER USE WINDOWS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Haha, just give it a few weeks :) Yeah I was going to say the same thing. You start to realize how easy youhad it on windows after a while.

farcus

574 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 653540 10-Jul-2012 14:39
I have a dual boot Opensuse and Win7 computer. I don't think I have booted into windows in over six months - and even when I did it was only t use skype because the linux skype client was a bit flaky. Admittedly, when I first started using Opensuse about five ears ago I would probably boot into Windows several times a week -but as you get to know more and more you require windows less and less. btw - I have absolutely no problems with linux and android phone compatibility (as someone mentioned earlier)

Gilco2

692 posts

Ultimate Geek

Subscriber

Reply # 653545 10-Jul-2012 14:50
farcus: btw - I have absolutely no problems with linux and android phone compatibility (as someone mentioned earlier) I cant connect my transformer to linux. Wont read with mtp settings when I select ptp I can transfer photos over. On my Galaxy Nexus and Samasung Galaxy s3 when I have MTP it will show folders but cant access. On PTP I can transfer photos. Checking on google and XDA it is a problem with linux. On android phone with gingerbread etc it isnt a problem only those with ICS since they only have MTP and PTP and did away with the use as USB storage setting HTPC AMD A4-5300 cpu, Gigabyte ga2fa75m-d3h motherboard, , 4GB DDR3 ram, onboard graphics. Hauppuage HVR 3300 tuner, Antec 2480B case, Windows 7 home premium 64 bit using media center

farcus

574 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 653599 10-Jul-2012 15:45
yes, I use gingerbread and usb mode. edit: btw. As I understand it, it is possible to enable usb connection mode in ICS

Gilco2

692 posts

Ultimate Geek

Subscriber

Reply # 653609 10-Jul-2012 16:01
farcus: yes, I use gingerbread and usb mode. edit: btw. As I understand it, it is possible to enable usb connection mode in ICS I wish I could but havent found anywhere that it can be done. Only MTP and PTP. On XDA 1 guy has a partial fix which while it works, it isnt perfect yet and still working on it. It also invloves installing FUSE etc and a lot of terminal commands. Will do that if I get that desperate HTPC AMD A4-5300 cpu, Gigabyte ga2fa75m-d3h motherboard, , 4GB DDR3 ram, onboard graphics. Hauppuage HVR 3300 tuner, Antec 2480B case, Windows 7 home premium 64 bit using media center

Klipspringer

1277 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

Reply # 653645 10-Jul-2012 16:51
skyhigh: WHY WOULD ANYONE EVER USE WINDOWS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Because it not compatible with missus 1.0. That’s why I run a separate PC for the family. Kids come home with homework etc ... Ubuntu does not cut it. Don't get me wrong I love Linux, particularly Ubuntu. I use it daily. Offense can never be given, only taken ...

alexx

398 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 653663 10-Jul-2012 17:29
skyhigh: WHY WOULD ANYONE EVER USE WINDOWS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GAMES. That would be the #1 reason. My son had his laptop stolen (perhaps more accurately he 'lost' it) and I told him he could use an old laptop I had with Debian Linux on it. No problem, he very quickly figured out how to do what he needed and was able to do his homework on it. Open Office (now LibreOffice) would let him do what MS Office had previously done, he found an iTunes replacement that would work with his iPod and got me to install a couple of other programs he needed. So when he came to purchase his own pc again, he ordered the parts he needed and installed.... Windows. Why? GAMES. There are a lot more games available for Windows and there is a lot more focus on 3D video game performance on the Windows platform. #include <standard.disclaimer>

1 | 2