Yes Ubuntu is free but...

Viabobed · 09-10-2006, 10:24 PM

If im looking to install an OS and I have an Xp Pro Sp2 CD, and I could download Ubuntu.

Now for a computer-literate person such as I. Why would I install Ubuntu over XP SP2? Ive never had a prob with viruses and spyware on my comp. I hardly have ever gotten error screens, and my Xp boots up in 12Secs or less

What about all of my precious programs that i payed for?

What about when I want to send a file compatible for my windows friends?

I just needed some help with this subject, the Ubuntu forums seemed kinda biased.

Thanks

**kodi** · 09-10-2006, 11:06 PM

Why not dual boot?

Viabobed · 09-10-2006, 11:34 PM

I do have a practically empty second HD to Dual Boot..

and i was about to.. because i do want to try it out

But then is Ubuntu the best linux for, "Humans"?
Thats the other issue

I dont know which version I should get

**Bartender** · 09-11-2006, 01:17 AM

People who run Fedora will tell you it's the best. Others running Mandrake will say it's the only one. Same for Mepis. You might even find someone saying Linspire's it.
All I know is Ubuntu's getting a lot of good press, and has been the most downloaded distro recently. I'm playing with Ubuntu, and like it, but don't have previous Linux experience to compare to. Dapper's a big improvement over Breezy, and I imagine the improvements will just keep coming.
Tell you what, the community behind the distro is very important when you need answers, and the Ubuntu Forums are a super place to go for help.
EDIT: Go to the forums and do some searching for dual-boot...aysiu and Herman have both done good write-ups.

yustr · 09-11-2006, 07:31 AM

Your question seems to be more philosophical than technical. I mean, technically there's no reason to switch when your XP is working so well? That said, history does not always extrapolate to the future but you must be doing something right and I would expect your experience running XP will continue to be good.

Ubuntu (or any other Linux distribution) serves another purpose besides just being an operating system for a computer; it is part of a movement to wrestle some degree of autonomy from the MS’s and Apples of the world.

MS Vista is a good illustration of my point. PC sales are tanking big time. OEM manufacturers are looking for something that will make all of us rush out and plunk down our $ for the latest and greatest. But XP is actually pretty good (as you can attest) so just another incremental improvement may not be enough. Along comes Vista and its requirement for more and better processors, RAM, video cards (?), etc. and off to the store we trot, like the good sheep that we are: Bah Bah. Don’t think for a second that MS and the OEM’s didn’t consider this in the development.

Linux doesn’t work that way. Sure there are commercial resellers but for the most part the tweeking and improvement is done by enthusiasts; who do it because they want to. There is no profit motive and therefore there is no marketing department to dictate colors, no legal department ruling from on-high, no stockholders pushing to get the release out before its ready, etc.

Also, consider what you get when you load XP or I’d wager Vista; only the components you want or many many that you don’t? And, I use the GIMP photo editor – came with my Ubuntu; I don’t have to buy Photoshop ($$$).

So if you’re happy with XP and don’t have a philosophical reason then stick with it. On the other hand, if you think that a community sharing knowledge is worthwhile, then perhaps Linux is right for you.

Or you can be cheap like me and when it came time to build a new PC, I didn’t want to shell out $300 for XP.

Viabobed · 09-11-2006, 01:38 PM

My question does seem philosophical doesn't it?

Well it is true that Microsoft and Apple is robbing us blind. Thats why linux is true to the users.

Vista, pfft Dirrect 10 compatible video cards cost $400+ and the processors needed to run it cost around the same or more. There is no real reason to upgrade unless if you want a cosmtically stunning interface.

Can I build my own GUI for linux?
and what kind of codding does Linux use? C++ , Visual Basic?

Cause now Im determined to get Linux Ubuntu. It is distributed by a strong figure in Africa with lots of $$$ power. So I have a feeling that Ubuntu is going to be a strong force.

GIMP as good as photoshop? Wow thats great.

**Spatcher** · 09-11-2006, 07:41 PM

I have to agree with Bartender: people say their first distro choices are the best. In my case that would be Fedora Core 3. I loved it

but I no longer use it (I upgraded to 5, then went and tried Ubuntu). Now I use Ubuntu ONLY BECAUSE it takes about as much to work as XP does, and I am lazy.

This being said I have to disagree with yustr on this:

Quote:

it is part of a movement to wrestle some degree of autonomy from the MS’s and Apples of the world.

I use it for the sheer brilliance of the OS. It is something totally different from M$; you can do so much in it, and for free. I love it, but I won't give up M$.

I'm sure you can build your own GUI, but Linux isn't all about the GUI (plus there are a lot out there, more than for Win anyways).

You can use multiple languages in Linux, you just have to download all of the stuff to use the languages, but coding the kernel is done (don't quote me here) in bash/shell scripting. I've never done it, but it is the equivalent of the type of language you use to make batch files in M$.

Viabobed · 09-11-2006, 09:54 PM

Im still trying to figure out which Distro to get lol..

Im going to download Ubuntu..

But I am still going to listen to you guys with the distros that you say are best
and probably d/l em as well. Proabably burn them all to disc.

Viabobed · 09-11-2006, 10:15 PM

Geez Kubuntu looks better.. BUt I could switch around interface on Ubuntu right?

**Spatcher** · 09-12-2006, 05:09 AM

From my exp you can't install KDE on Ubuntu (it uses Gnome). Kubuntu uses KDE, which is why you can't install KDE on Ubuntu - they are both the same, they just use different GUIs.

jflan · 09-12-2006, 08:14 PM

Download the Kubunto Live CD or order them free at Shipit.
I think that KDE is sort of Windows-refugee friendly and a good place to start experimenting with Linux.
Booting to a *live CD* allows you to test drive the OS from an optical drive without having to install it.
Bear in mind that things will run a little slower in the live CD mode as compared to a normal installation.

Very easy to set up dual-boot with the K/Ubunto CD while leaving your Windows installation intact. (Before starting, back up anything you can't afford to lose, to be safe)

batty_professor · 09-12-2006, 08:17 PM

I downloaded and installed Ubuntu on a system some months ago. If I remember right, KDE can be downloaded from the available Ubuntu packages and installed after the fact. It's not a bad system, but me being a Mandrake/Mandriva user for a few years it was too foreign to me to comfortably navigate. Ubuntu and Xandros (which I also brushed against more recently) are both trying to be very "windowsy". They attempt to emulate the windows 98 system so newbies may find it more familiar in it's feel. All fine and good for the newbies I guess, but I like the flexibility of the Mandrake/Mandriva "Configure My System" interface much better than the convoluted interfaces found in the other systems. The nuts-n-bolts stuff is just too hard for me to find in Ubuntu and Xandros. I am currently running Fedora FC-5 on this machine. I am determined to at least become familiar with it. One thing I have always found easy with Mandrake is to browse a second hard drive, no matter what system is on it. I was never able, or maybe just couldn't find the way on the other distro's. Xandros:
http://www.xandros.com/products/home...formation.html
The following mirror has Mandrake/Mandriva available. You can go up the directory tree and find almost any distro. The speed is usually pretty good too! ftp://ftp.gtlib.cc.gatech.edu/pub/ma.../official/iso/

Viabobed · 09-13-2006, 05:39 AM

I allready have a Ubuntu live Cd and im getting Fedora Core 5 now as well..

But Fedora Core 5 doesnt have a LiveCD interface does it? So ill have to install that OS to try it.

Yes, I was reading on the Ubuntu forums that i coulod switch the interface scheme programs. I could install XCE, KDE, GNOME, and i forget which others on an Ubuntu, Kubuntu system if im not mistaken.

I don't kno anything about Fedora Core 5 except that its more of an entertainment based platform and im burning it on a DVD due to its size. LOL

**Spatcher** · 09-13-2006, 02:09 PM

No FC5 is not an entertainment based platform. If you say this then Ubuntu is teh noob platform.

From my exp Fedora is a very powerful (MUCH more so than Ubuntu) and challenging OS; it makes for a good server and workstation (for programmers).

Ubuntu is the Windows of the Linux world IMHO.

Viabobed · 09-13-2006, 10:48 PM

Oh ok I get it now..

Thanks alot..

go Linux Woot..

Ricemeal · 09-14-2006, 02:23 AM

If you can't dual boot it or feared of lossing precious files the use live cd

**Cellus** · 09-14-2006, 02:11 PM

KDE can infact be installed onto Ubuntu. All you need to do is run your Package Manager and install either kde-base + extras, or kubuntu-desktop. You can switch between GNOME and KDE at the logon screen (I personally prefer KDE).

Keep in mind, Kubuntu is Ubuntu with the only difference being it uses KDE instead of GNOME.

Fedora Core has one advantage I really like about is the fact it uses SELinux, however I found (at least in my older experience with FC2) that it's slightly unstable.

Viabobed · 09-14-2006, 10:12 PM

Im going to try to make a Live CD out of the DVD Image I got for
FedoraCore 6 Test 2 using that program called: Kadischi

Now does Kadichi run on windows?

Fedora Core unstable.. well I guess im going to be expecting that since I do have a Test version.. meaning theres lots of bugs to be fixed

but maybe i wont run into them since im a noob.. and im going to do noob things on FC6 Test 2

I stopped using Ubuntu until i get the live CD of Fedora Core 6 running

I found this:

http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Kadisc...edirect=LiveCD

09-10-2006, 10:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
Viabobed Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 85 OS: Windows Xp Sp3	Yes Ubuntu is free but... If im looking to install an OS and I have an Xp Pro Sp2 CD, and I could download Ubuntu. Now for a computer-literate person such as I. Why would I install Ubuntu over XP SP2? Ive never had a prob with viruses and spyware on my comp. I hardly have ever gotten error screens, and my Xp boots up in 12Secs or less What about all of my precious programs that i payed for? What about when I want to send a file compatible for my windows friends? I just needed some help with this subject, the Ubuntu forums seemed kinda biased. Thanks

09-10-2006, 11:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
kodi Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 6,715 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate 64 and 32bit My System	Why not dual boot? __________________ Brian

09-11-2006, 01:17 AM	#4 (permalink)
Bartender Mentally divergent Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA, USA Posts: 1,178 OS: W2K, Ubuntu 8.04	People who run Fedora will tell you it's the best. Others running Mandrake will say it's the only one. Same for Mepis. You might even find someone saying Linspire's it. All I know is Ubuntu's getting a lot of good press, and has been the most downloaded distro recently. I'm playing with Ubuntu, and like it, but don't have previous Linux experience to compare to. Dapper's a big improvement over Breezy, and I imagine the improvements will just keep coming. Tell you what, the community behind the distro is very important when you need answers, and the Ubuntu Forums are a super place to go for help. EDIT: Go to the forums and do some searching for dual-boot...aysiu and Herman have both done good write-ups. Last edited by Bartender : 09-11-2006 at 01:18 AM.

09-11-2006, 07:31 AM	#5 (permalink)
yustr Asst. Manager, The Conversation Pit Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Connecticut shore Posts: 4,994 OS: XP Pro My System	Your question seems to be more philosophical than technical. I mean, technically there's no reason to switch when your XP is working so well? That said, history does not always extrapolate to the future but you must be doing something right and I would expect your experience running XP will continue to be good. Ubuntu (or any other Linux distribution) serves another purpose besides just being an operating system for a computer; it is part of a movement to wrestle some degree of autonomy from the MS’s and Apples of the world. MS Vista is a good illustration of my point. PC sales are tanking big time. OEM manufacturers are looking for something that will make all of us rush out and plunk down our $ for the latest and greatest. But XP is actually pretty good (as you can attest) so just another incremental improvement may not be enough. Along comes Vista and its requirement for more and better processors, RAM, video cards (?), etc. and off to the store we trot, like the good sheep that we are: Bah Bah. Don’t think for a second that MS and the OEM’s didn’t consider this in the development. Linux doesn’t work that way. Sure there are commercial resellers but for the most part the tweeking and improvement is done by enthusiasts; who do it because they want to. There is no profit motive and therefore there is no marketing department to dictate colors, no legal department ruling from on-high, no stockholders pushing to get the release out before its ready, etc. Also, consider what you get when you load XP or I’d wager Vista; only the components you want or many many that you don’t? And, I use the GIMP photo editor – came with my Ubuntu; I don’t have to buy Photoshop ($$$). So if you’re happy with XP and don’t have a philosophical reason then stick with it. On the other hand, if you think that a community sharing knowledge is worthwhile, then perhaps Linux is right for you. Or you can be cheap like me and when it came time to build a new PC, I didn’t want to shell out $300 for XP. __________________ I didn't mean to say it. But I meant what I said. J. McMurtry In Vino Veritas

09-12-2006, 05:09 AM	#10 (permalink)
Spatcher Henry Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,467 OS: XP Home SP2 My System	From my exp you can't install KDE on Ubuntu (it uses Gnome). Kubuntu uses KDE, which is why you can't install KDE on Ubuntu - they are both the same, they just use different GUIs. __________________ JohnThePilot: Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon (a nation without a language is a nation without a heart) John Butler Trio: Go take a step outside, see what's shakin' in the real world - Good Excuse Paul Kelly: Just add a dollop of tomato sauce for sweetness and that extra tang - How to Make Gravy

09-10-2006, 11:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
Viabobed Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 85 OS: Windows Xp Sp3	I do have a practically empty second HD to Dual Boot.. and i was about to.. because i do want to try it out But then is Ubuntu the best linux for, "Humans"? Thats the other issue I dont know which version I should get

09-11-2006, 01:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
Viabobed Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 85 OS: Windows Xp Sp3	My question does seem philosophical doesn't it? Well it is true that Microsoft and Apple is robbing us blind. Thats why linux is true to the users. Vista, pfft Dirrect 10 compatible video cards cost $400+ and the processors needed to run it cost around the same or more. There is no real reason to upgrade unless if you want a cosmtically stunning interface. Can I build my own GUI for linux? and what kind of codding does Linux use? C++ , Visual Basic? Cause now Im determined to get Linux Ubuntu. It is distributed by a strong figure in Africa with lots of $$$ power. So I have a feeling that Ubuntu is going to be a strong force. GIMP as good as photoshop? Wow thats great.

09-11-2006, 09:54 PM	#8 (permalink)
Viabobed Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 85 OS: Windows Xp Sp3	Im still trying to figure out which Distro to get lol.. Im going to download Ubuntu.. But I am still going to listen to you guys with the distros that you say are best and probably d/l em as well. Proabably burn them all to disc.

09-11-2006, 10:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
Viabobed Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 85 OS: Windows Xp Sp3	Geez Kubuntu looks better.. BUt I could switch around interface on Ubuntu right?

09-12-2006, 08:14 PM	#11 (permalink)
jflan Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 935 OS: XP/Puppy 2.14	Download the Kubunto Live CD or order them free at Shipit. I think that KDE is sort of Windows-refugee friendly and a good place to start experimenting with Linux. Booting to a live CD allows you to test drive the OS from an optical drive without having to install it. Bear in mind that things will run a little slower in the live CD mode as compared to a normal installation. Very easy to set up dual-boot with the K/Ubunto CD while leaving your Windows installation intact. (Before starting, back up anything you can't afford to lose, to be safe)

09-12-2006, 08:17 PM	#12 (permalink)
batty_professor Asst. Manager, Alternative Computing Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hooterville Il 45 mi. east of St. Louis mo Posts: 2,609 OS: Fedora Core 5 for now	I downloaded and installed Ubuntu on a system some months ago. If I remember right, KDE can be downloaded from the available Ubuntu packages and installed after the fact. It's not a bad system, but me being a Mandrake/Mandriva user for a few years it was too foreign to me to comfortably navigate. Ubuntu and Xandros (which I also brushed against more recently) are both trying to be very "windowsy". They attempt to emulate the windows 98 system so newbies may find it more familiar in it's feel. All fine and good for the newbies I guess, but I like the flexibility of the Mandrake/Mandriva "Configure My System" interface much better than the convoluted interfaces found in the other systems. The nuts-n-bolts stuff is just too hard for me to find in Ubuntu and Xandros. I am currently running Fedora FC-5 on this machine. I am determined to at least become familiar with it. One thing I have always found easy with Mandrake is to browse a second hard drive, no matter what system is on it. I was never able, or maybe just couldn't find the way on the other distro's. Xandros: http://www.xandros.com/products/home...formation.html The following mirror has Mandrake/Mandriva available. You can go up the directory tree and find almost any distro. The speed is usually pretty good too! ftp://ftp.gtlib.cc.gatech.edu/pub/ma.../official/iso/ __________________ It's better to know me and not need me than to need me and not know me. B. While users are never under any obligation, if you feel the urge please feel free to visit our donation page. Every little bit helps. And we thank you for your support. Microsoft free Registered Linux user 397458

09-13-2006, 05:39 AM	#13 (permalink)
Viabobed Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 85 OS: Windows Xp Sp3	I allready have a Ubuntu live Cd and im getting Fedora Core 5 now as well.. But Fedora Core 5 doesnt have a LiveCD interface does it? So ill have to install that OS to try it. Yes, I was reading on the Ubuntu forums that i coulod switch the interface scheme programs. I could install XCE, KDE, GNOME, and i forget which others on an Ubuntu, Kubuntu system if im not mistaken. I don't kno anything about Fedora Core 5 except that its more of an entertainment based platform and im burning it on a DVD due to its size. LOL

09-13-2006, 02:09 PM	#14 (permalink)
Spatcher Henry Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 3,467 OS: XP Home SP2 My System	No FC5 is not an entertainment based platform. If you say this then Ubuntu is teh noob platform. From my exp Fedora is a very powerful (MUCH more so than Ubuntu) and challenging OS; it makes for a good server and workstation (for programmers). Ubuntu is the Windows of the Linux world IMHO. __________________ JohnThePilot: Cenedl heb iaith, cenedl heb galon (a nation without a language is a nation without a heart) John Butler Trio: Go take a step outside, see what's shakin' in the real world - Good Excuse Paul Kelly: Just add a dollop of tomato sauce for sweetness and that extra tang - How to Make Gravy

09-13-2006, 10:48 PM	#15 (permalink)
Viabobed Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 85 OS: Windows Xp Sp3	Oh ok I get it now.. Thanks alot.. go Linux Woot..

09-14-2006, 02:23 AM	#16 (permalink)
Ricemeal Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 1 OS: Win XP	Use live CD If you can't dual boot it or feared of lossing precious files the use live cd

09-14-2006, 02:11 PM	#17 (permalink)
Cellus Moderator Networking Team Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,633 OS: Windows Vista Business SP1, Windows XP Professional SP3 My System	KDE can infact be installed onto Ubuntu. All you need to do is run your Package Manager and install either kde-base + extras, or kubuntu-desktop. You can switch between GNOME and KDE at the logon screen (I personally prefer KDE). Keep in mind, Kubuntu is Ubuntu with the only difference being it uses KDE instead of GNOME. Fedora Core has one advantage I really like about is the fact it uses SELinux, however I found (at least in my older experience with FC2) that it's slightly unstable. __________________ TSF Networking Team HijackThis 5 Step Process Donate!

09-14-2006, 10:12 PM	#18 (permalink)
Viabobed Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 85 OS: Windows Xp Sp3	Im going to try to make a Live CD out of the DVD Image I got for FedoraCore 6 Test 2 using that program called: Kadischi Now does Kadichi run on windows? Fedora Core unstable.. well I guess im going to be expecting that since I do have a Test version.. meaning theres lots of bugs to be fixed but maybe i wont run into them since im a noob.. and im going to do noob things on FC6 Test 2 I stopped using Ubuntu until i get the live CD of Fedora Core 6 running I found this: http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Kadisc...edirect=LiveCD

09-15-2006, 12:11 PM	#19 (permalink)
Bartender Mentally divergent Join Date: Jun 2005 Location