I have a workstation PC running XP & Ubuntu (with several virtual machines), a HTPC running Ubuntu, a laptop running Ubuntu, and a netbook running Windows 7. I like them all for their own purpose.



Personally I don't really think Linux will get a lot more market penetration unless a lot changes, so if you want to try it there's no use waiting much longer. You can also burn a live CD or put it on a USB stick and just boot to it to see how well it works before installing it.

 

Yeah, I keep a copy of Ubuntu on a memory stick on my keychain in case I need to recover a friend's computer, or let a friend try Ubuntu, or boot a computer without a hard disk. It's the entire operating system on a 4gig memory stick.



You can get instructions here in the download link on how to make a USB bootable disk. http://www.ubuntu.com/

 

^ what he said. Ubuntu is installed on a separate hard drive in a dual-boot system on my PC. It is t3h fail for a n00b. I compare it to my work camera vs. my wife's camera. The camera I use at work has 32 external controls. My wife's has 13. Guess which is easiest for a neophyte to pick up and use . . . and which gives the user most control over the exposure.



Examples of a new user meeting the OS for the first time:



Updating the OS after initial install:



Windows: start, windows update, enter, click, click, enjoy

Ubuntu: ??? . . . oh look there's Firefox! search, find, muddle . . . muddle . . . oh, here, here, here, and . . .that's it! Command line . . . enter string found on internet, enter password. enter string found on internet, enter password, enjoy



Changing the theme:



Windows: Right-click, click, select, click, enjoy.

Ubuntu 11.04.32.343.d9op239iopj.30293840: muddle . . . muddle . . . oh maybe . . . no . . . muddle . . . oh, here it is! Select! Install! uh . . . install? Where? F if I know. . . oh well, back to Windows where Firefox remembers my HA password to tell DTN I was right.

 

1. Just wait for it. The update manager comes up when it's ready. Then click install. It's a one-click operation.

or

2. you can click the "update during install" checkbox while youre installing and it will update before first boot.

or

3. you can click the "update manager" in the apps drawer.

or

4. go to the termainal and type "sudo apt-get update&&sudo apt-get upgrade"





For installing new software, click the Ubuntu software center and you have access to just about everything except development software and un-repositoried software.



1. right-click the desktop for the background and other options

or

2. select appearance from the app drawer

or

3. use ubuntu software center for other looks



You can click "remember" when Firefox pops up the password dialog. It will then remember your password.



Try it again without your prior misconceptions and you'll see that it's been designed to increase efficiency over the way windows works. You've got to realize that it's not Windows and it's actually been designed well, not traditionally like Windows.

 

Dude I can run the camera at work also. My wife & kids don't know the difference between ls and dir, and THAT's why it's still not ready. You have to dumb-down an OS WAY more than this to get the average luser to be willing to go for it.

 

Why were you even in the terminal? You don't need to go there for any common task. The only time I'm in there is testing/development.



What about camera? Every messenger with video chat is integrated into empathy. Video chat is a core component of Ubuntu.

 

WTH video chat? You got me confused with someone who does chat at all, much less with video!



I'm going to be spending some quality time in the terminal because every time I have an idea for something I would want to do in *nix the howto starts out "sudo . . . " or some such.

 

Hey guy, quit it with the middle finger. That's very rude and inappropriate. Also, I'm kinda pissed right now because my copywrite was violated on AndBuntu http://andbuntu.googlecode.com



Then why would you "run the camera at work also."? What camera are you talking about?



Stop typing *nix in google search. Type "Ubuntu" You're getting UNIX results. Did you notice that "Linux" does not even have "NIX" in it?



Anything that an "average" user would want to do in Ubuntu is done via GUI. Just as on Mac OSX (which is more Unix based then any Linux OS), you don't need the terminal. Most Mac OSX users have no clue how to use the terminal. However, the OSX terminal is capable of fully running the computer. Linux users tend to use it more, but again it's not required in Ubuntu. "sudo apt-get" can be replaced by "Ubuntu software center". "ls", "l", "dir" and all of that can be replaced by "files and folders".



It's easier to copy and paste 2 lines of termial stuff from a website then it is to have a 5 page DIY guide. The only operating system that does not use the terminal is Windows. Because of this, you have to have pictures to do anything. On Linux it's more efficient... for example, here's a post I made on how to configure a Logitech MXRevolution mouse: http://ubuntuforums....91&postcount=21 That single post configures an unsupported 16 button mouse, sets up a keyboard with tons of media buttons, configures dual monitors, and adds a control panel which allows the user to customize every aspect of the desktop environment (compiz-config). Under windows, that would be a 30+ page guide with pictures and zip files to tweak every setting required and reproduce what I did there.



That's not something most users do though... If you're using "sudo" that means "I'm performing an administrative action". Be careful with sudo. It's not something to be taken lightly. Linux does not have viruses because we have sudo.



What were you trying to do with the sudo command? Maybe I can help you out? I'm really good with Ubuntu, in fact, I brought it to Android with my AndBuntu project.

 

LOL sorry everybody I forgot DTN is the SME. Nevermind mang I got it, it's just a PITA to get a fresh OS going again from scratch for the second time in 4 months.



edit: acronym bomb!



I laughed out loud sorry everybody I forgot DrivingTibNaked is the subject matter expert. Nevermind mang I got it, it's just a pain in the booty to get a fresh operating system going again from scratch for the second time in four months.

 

99.999% sure I'm going to keep what I ended up with for the time being. I had an XP license laying about unused and used it . . . it works.



I also spent some quality time in Ubuntu. It's come a very long way, but XP is easier for now. Call it a cop-out, but it runs.