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Information on Ubuntu.
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I would like to know more about this system from users past & present. Are Epson printers, TomTom, & such like still usable? I have looked at the website and it all looks interesting and vertually free, but what do others think about it. For & against points would be nice to hear from all who are interested in my quest for info on this subject. Just because it is free is not of interest so much as its usability, practicality, and of course security.
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Suppose as I run it on several computers (and have administered several linux servers) I better answer this then :)
To address the two items that you mentioned, pretty much all Epson printers will work with ubuntu (though I admit the initial printer setup can be a little tricker than windows) and also the tomtom will work as a usb storage device so you can still update the maps, but the tomtom software will not work.
it's faster than windows (I run it on 3 computers at the moment the slowest one is a celeron 1.3ghz and it's still faster than windows on most modern stuff, it's free, and it's more secure. there is a huge range of free software available that will run on it so although windows software won't normally run there is normally a free alternative available.
The disadvantages are that it is all a little bit different to windows so it may take you a little time to find certain things and there are some things that will not work with Linux and obviously most games are written for windows so if your a gamer it's probably not for you.
One point that I will make you aware of though, until the latest release (9.04) most software packages for ubuntu where available for download as RPM packages, in 9.04 they have dropped the support for RPM's and now you have to use DEB packages, this means that at the moment if you find software listed as being for ubuntu there is a good chance it will be a RPM still so won't easily install, this problem will no doubt rectify itself soon as the packages are updated.
All in all though I love it and will probably never go back to using windows on my home computers unless there is a major change in the current situation and microsoft start writing usable and non bloated software!
Why not just give it a go though, you can either run it straight from the CD, install it as dual boot with windows (or even with a tiny amount more playing about
To address the two items that you mentioned, pretty much all Epson printers will work with ubuntu (though I admit the initial printer setup can be a little tricker than windows) and also the tomtom will work as a usb storage device so you can still update the maps, but the tomtom software will not work.
it's faster than windows (I run it on 3 computers at the moment the slowest one is a celeron 1.3ghz and it's still faster than windows on most modern stuff, it's free, and it's more secure. there is a huge range of free software available that will run on it so although windows software won't normally run there is normally a free alternative available.
The disadvantages are that it is all a little bit different to windows so it may take you a little time to find certain things and there are some things that will not work with Linux and obviously most games are written for windows so if your a gamer it's probably not for you.
One point that I will make you aware of though, until the latest release (9.04) most software packages for ubuntu where available for download as RPM packages, in 9.04 they have dropped the support for RPM's and now you have to use DEB packages, this means that at the moment if you find software listed as being for ubuntu there is a good chance it will be a RPM still so won't easily install, this problem will no doubt rectify itself soon as the packages are updated.
All in all though I love it and will probably never go back to using windows on my home computers unless there is a major change in the current situation and microsoft start writing usable and non bloated software!
Why not just give it a go though, you can either run it straight from the CD, install it as dual boot with windows (or even with a tiny amount more playing about
i run it from http://wubi-installer.org/
Although WUBI is another great way to experience linux if you do use it you should keep in mind that you are still actually running windows and then running linux in a "window" so you will not see the speed benefits of linux (in this situation it can only run as fast as the windows it is running under)
RPM's and DEB's are just two different package types that software comes in on linux, I won't go into the history behind them, but the long and short, it's two different ways to do the same thing which is to install software. As I said though, it will only be an issue for a short time during the transition period, it just means at the moment you have to pay a little more attention and can't just assume that because a bit of software says this is the ubuntu version it actually will be. (but the debian versions will work fine)
RPM's and DEB's are just two different package types that software comes in on linux, I won't go into the history behind them, but the long and short, it's two different ways to do the same thing which is to install software. As I said though, it will only be an issue for a short time during the transition period, it just means at the moment you have to pay a little more attention and can't just assume that because a bit of software says this is the ubuntu version it actually will be. (but the debian versions will work fine)
I'm going to clear some things up, because people new to the world of Linux (and Ubuntu in particular) can easily get confused, this being the fault of the community surrounding these things.
Many years ago, back when computers were still used only by universities and governments, if you bought a new printer, you'd also be able to get the source code for it, and see how it worked. So if some graduates at MIT had an issue with a printer, they had the technical knowledge to find the issue in the code and fix it. They could then send this fix back to the manufacturer of the printer, and everyone was happy. You had the freedom to see and change this source code, to make your printer work the way you wanted it to.
In 1984 some guy realised that software wasn't like that any more (Windows, Mac OS X, Photoshop, etc.). It runs on your machine, but you can't change the way it functions, even if you wanted it to. It's like having a car with the bonnet welded in, so that if you have an issue with the engine, you have to report it to the original manufacturer and no-one else.
This guy started this movement called 'free software', to bring back this ability, to control your own machines. This is a confusing word though, because it doesn't mean free as in price, it means free as in freedom.
Linux (though some call it GNU/Linux) is an operating system, like Windows or Mac OS X. It happens to be free software, in that you can read about how it works and change it, if you like.
To make the system more functional, you naturally combine the operating system, Linux, with other software, like photo management stuff, web browsers, email clients. If you pile a load of stuff together like this, you create what's called a distribution.
Many years ago, back when computers were still used only by universities and governments, if you bought a new printer, you'd also be able to get the source code for it, and see how it worked. So if some graduates at MIT had an issue with a printer, they had the technical knowledge to find the issue in the code and fix it. They could then send this fix back to the manufacturer of the printer, and everyone was happy. You had the freedom to see and change this source code, to make your printer work the way you wanted it to.
In 1984 some guy realised that software wasn't like that any more (Windows, Mac OS X, Photoshop, etc.). It runs on your machine, but you can't change the way it functions, even if you wanted it to. It's like having a car with the bonnet welded in, so that if you have an issue with the engine, you have to report it to the original manufacturer and no-one else.
This guy started this movement called 'free software', to bring back this ability, to control your own machines. This is a confusing word though, because it doesn't mean free as in price, it means free as in freedom.
Linux (though some call it GNU/Linux) is an operating system, like Windows or Mac OS X. It happens to be free software, in that you can read about how it works and change it, if you like.
To make the system more functional, you naturally combine the operating system, Linux, with other software, like photo management stuff, web browsers, email clients. If you pile a load of stuff together like this, you create what's called a distribution.
Ubuntu is one such distribution of Linux. It's very popular as it's designed to be easy to use. As such, it's what I and many others recommend people new to Linux to try first.
When reading though this stuff, you'll see many mentions of 'free software'. This is because to some, this is very important. Linux is not:
1) A free (cost) replacement of Windows
2) Capable of everything Windows is
3) 'Better' than Windows
Linux is different. It works in many similar ways to Windows, for example it still has a keyboard and mouse interface, you can still have windows on screen to drag about, and you can run a lot of software that also is available on Windows, like OpenOffice and Firefox.
I would recommend you try Ubuntu out. You can download it from their website (choose the standard desktop i386 CD), and burn it to a CD. The file you download is a CD image, so most CD burning software (like Nero) will have an option to 'burn image' or something like that.
Once you have made your Ubuntu CD, you can then keep it in the CD drive, and restart. When you boot your machine up again, Ubuntu will start from the CD. It won't affect your Windows install on your hard drive in any way. You can play about with it, connect devices you have and see if they work, and then when you're done, restart, and without the CD in the machine (it'll prompt you to take out the CD when you restart), you'll be back in Windows and the computer will be none the wiser.
When reading though this stuff, you'll see many mentions of 'free software'. This is because to some, this is very important. Linux is not:
1) A free (cost) replacement of Windows
2) Capable of everything Windows is
3) 'Better' than Windows
Linux is different. It works in many similar ways to Windows, for example it still has a keyboard and mouse interface, you can still have windows on screen to drag about, and you can run a lot of software that also is available on Windows, like OpenOffice and Firefox.
I would recommend you try Ubuntu out. You can download it from their website (choose the standard desktop i386 CD), and burn it to a CD. The file you download is a CD image, so most CD burning software (like Nero) will have an option to 'burn image' or something like that.
Once you have made your Ubuntu CD, you can then keep it in the CD drive, and restart. When you boot your machine up again, Ubuntu will start from the CD. It won't affect your Windows install on your hard drive in any way. You can play about with it, connect devices you have and see if they work, and then when you're done, restart, and without the CD in the machine (it'll prompt you to take out the CD when you restart), you'll be back in Windows and the computer will be none the wiser.
Now to answer some of your specific questions:
Epson printers and the like are compabile, yes. It uses the same printing system that Mac OS X uses, so usually you can just choose your printer from a list (it'll find it if connected to your machine), and print as usual. Sometimes the drivers for Linux aren't quite as complete as for Windows, so there may be one feature that you can do in Windows, but not Linux. But usually you won't find this. They're getting better all the time, too.
TomTom: I'm not sure. I know that TomTom Home only has official installers for Windows and Mac OS X (Linux's major issue is that it's not massively supported commercially, yet).
Usability, security, etc.: it's just as good as Windows, and usually many times better. It works differently to Windows, so just as if you were to get a Mac from being a Windows user, you'll find some small hiccups for the first few weeks of using it.
Another note is that there are some great forums dedicated to Ubuntu, at
http://www.ubuntuforums.org
I'd ask you questions there too, as you'll get more knowledgeable replies about specific things like TomTom support. (An interesting note is that the software tthat runs inside your TomTom itself is actually based on Linux.)
Epson printers and the like are compabile, yes. It uses the same printing system that Mac OS X uses, so usually you can just choose your printer from a list (it'll find it if connected to your machine), and print as usual. Sometimes the drivers for Linux aren't quite as complete as for Windows, so there may be one feature that you can do in Windows, but not Linux. But usually you won't find this. They're getting better all the time, too.
TomTom: I'm not sure. I know that TomTom Home only has official installers for Windows and Mac OS X (Linux's major issue is that it's not massively supported commercially, yet).
Usability, security, etc.: it's just as good as Windows, and usually many times better. It works differently to Windows, so just as if you were to get a Mac from being a Windows user, you'll find some small hiccups for the first few weeks of using it.
Another note is that there are some great forums dedicated to Ubuntu, at
http://www.ubuntuforums.org
I'd ask you questions there too, as you'll get more knowledgeable replies about specific things like TomTom support. (An interesting note is that the software tthat runs inside your TomTom itself is actually based on Linux.)
this is very important. Linux is not:
1) A free (cost) replacement of Windows
2) Capable of everything Windows is
3) 'Better' than Windows
this type of misconception it's how vista got it's bad name (as well as deserving it)
people just didn't understand the differences.
I haven't played with linux or unix for far too many years - and now would have to start from scratch.
the fact is - it's a windows world.
but however "unrealistic" it is to run on a day to day basis at home - it's got a significant market commercially ... and using it is the foundation of understanding how the bits (or bytes) fit together (as is dos)
if it's done right - It's a geeky system - but the geeks are also making it a windows style system to make it more accessable
I'm not sure that this accessibility is wholly a good thing - for me the whole point is that you have to use it - not just press buttons.
1) A free (cost) replacement of Windows
2) Capable of everything Windows is
3) 'Better' than Windows
this type of misconception it's how vista got it's bad name (as well as deserving it)
people just didn't understand the differences.
I haven't played with linux or unix for far too many years - and now would have to start from scratch.
the fact is - it's a windows world.
but however "unrealistic" it is to run on a day to day basis at home - it's got a significant market commercially ... and using it is the foundation of understanding how the bits (or bytes) fit together (as is dos)
if it's done right - It's a geeky system - but the geeks are also making it a windows style system to make it more accessable
I'm not sure that this accessibility is wholly a good thing - for me the whole point is that you have to use it - not just press buttons.
Many thanks to all concerned, I have come to the conclusion that this was a worthwhile exercise, and I have come to another conclusion rightly or wrongly that at this time it would be a little too taxing for this old brain. It is my intention at a future date to buy a second hand laptop and put LINUX or is it UBUNTU or RPM or DEB or WUBI, or whatever. All joking apart it remains an interest to me, but for a later date. My present set up with XP serves my purpose well for now. I also have 'Iolo System Mechanic Pro, and at �10 +/- per year I find it serves me well. Once again thanks to all
put it in a virtual PC - runs in XP (I've used them for years)
you won't see the speed - but you'll get to see what the fuss is
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.asp x?********=04D26402-3199-48A3-AFA2-2DC0B40A73B 6&displaylang=en
you won't see the speed - but you'll get to see what the fuss is
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.asp x?********=04D26402-3199-48A3-AFA2-2DC0B40A73B 6&displaylang=en
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