Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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49 of 51 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Impressions from a absolute beginner, May 25, 2007
Well, it's been two days since I installed Ubuntu (7.04) on my Desktop,
and I must say I'm amazed.Ubuntu is too good to be true, yet it is true!
I was so familiar with XP and I couldn't think of an operating system
actually different.
Although I didn't have the slightest experience in any other operating
system different than Windows XP, I managed to completely understand how
it works (and I'm not a PC geek or something).I had some problems to play
DVDs, but with a little search on the internet, I found everything I wanted.
Also, Ubuntu saw at once every peripheral I had connected to my computer
(it even saw my M-Audio 2496 sound card that XP couldn't without installing
some drivers!), that is the Printer, the scanner, a USB stick and a external HD.
As for the performance:
I have installed a hundred packages including DVD/CD/Music players/rippers/etc,
Torrent stuff, OFFICE, PDF/PS viewers, Image Editors and others...and the total
space used (incl. Ubuntu) is something like 3 GB! As for the CPU usage, having a bunch
of applications open, it never went morre than 41-42%.
I must also say that I have Windows XP installed on the same computer,and there seems to be no problem
at all.Also, with a small application that is offered for download (Ntfs configuration
tool) you can write to any other disc on your system, incl the one that Windows are installed
on, without the slightest danger/problem (in the old days, linux could only read other discs/partitions
in Ntfs format).
So in conclusion:
-Forget about linux not mounting external devices, USB sticks, printers,etc.
-Forget about Spyware,Virouses,Trojans,malware,Adware etc (and forget about active anti-virouses/anti-spyware
applications running in background, eating CPU power and prompt for Updates every two days).
-I installed Ubuntu in about 20-25 minues without any help: there was just some
answering in questions and pressing the button "forward".
-It took me two days to completely understand how it works and to solve some minor
problems I had with Video Playback.
-Every time I had a problem/question, I put the related question in google. Everytime there was
plenty of others asking the exact question in forums (and plenty of others answering those questions!).
I didn't even have to sign up on a forum or something.
-You need some patience, though.Those two days I was searching things, well, they were almost
literally 2 days (many hours everyday)! But I was completely alone and it was the very first time I was using Linux
I'm sure that in case one has a friend that has minor experience with Ubuntu,
he will then need just a couple of hours to get familiar with it...
-The main thing I was afraid of, was the lack of software.But after I installed Ubuntu I found out
that there are SO MANY applications for everything (except if one needs a very special thing, for
example a professional tool for a specific job...but even then it's very difficult not
to find an eqivalent).Also, this software was available from a list in Ubuntu's menu,
and the installation (+downloading) was done only by checking a box.And everything is
free and legal.
-The start menu (actually the 'equivalent' of start menu of Windows, cause it is not the same at all)
is fantastic.Every program is so handy that I barely have 3 icons on my desctop.
-The only reason I still have Windows is because I use Cubase SX a lot (this is a program
for music recording/production), and it is only found for Windows and Mac.Although there is a (free)
equivalent for Linux, I doubt if the quality is the same and anyway, I'm too familiar with Cubase
to seat and learn something different.That is: if it wasn't for one single program, maybe I wouldn't
have windows at all..
-There is a huge disavantage with Ubuntu if you don't have a high speed (=not dial up) internet connection.
It's difficult to find updates or programs you need to install.But if you have, that's a huge avantage:
you install only the exact packages you need (forget about the trash left from installing/uninstalling
programs in windows) and you get updates and UPGRADES with just a click. When I say "upgrades":
if after a couple of months, Ubuntu comes in a new version, (not just the updates, I mean
like: windows98 -> windows XP -> Windows Vista upgrade) you DO NOT have to install the whole
operating system. You just have to click the button and leave your internet connection do the rest.
Though, I have listened that online upgrade IMMEDIATELY when a new version is out is not recommended and
has caused problems. It's better to wait a month or so until every bug is fixed.
So, in conclusion.The sun is shinning, the birds are singing and my computer has an operating system, with
everything I need on (office, applications, etc) which works GREAT and I haven't paid a cent). I believe that
after the 7.04 release of Ubuntu, the only reason people still prefer Windows XP and Vista (this monster which needs
1GB Ram for breakfast) is because they just DON'T KNOW about Ubuntu.
EDIT (23/06/07): A month after using Ubuntu, I met several difficulties. I wouldn't remove a star from my rating and I still think that this is one of the best Operating Systems around, but I have to admit that it is not always such a piece of cake for everyone. Ok, it is built and supposed to be extremely easy but -practically- you have to spend some time to deal with problems. Sometime after I wrote my review, I did met problems (including system unstability after a proper update...) and I spent a lot of hours in linux forums (yes,I did register in a couple of them). So, in conclusion (again!):
-I still think it is a great OS. I still have it on my PC. I still think the whole idea behind it is superb and everything I say in my original review, except:
-Unfortunately, it is not a piece of cake for everyone and much time have to be spent on this.I believe that Linux "fans" tend to see solving their problems with linux as a hobby! I found myself in the same condition at some point. So, if you have time, you should defenitely try this. If you don't or if dealing with computers is not your cup of tea, maybe you should wait for summer or your next vacation!
-I really think that Ubuntu is on the right way. I talked with people that used older editions and I realised that they progress in exponential rate.
Maybe soon enough my mum will also be able to deal with it!
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45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simply the best., May 13, 2007
I have been using Ubuntu since the original Warty Warthog release. Since then, I have seen Ubuntu evolve from a simple port of Debian Linux to the powerhouse it is today.
Ubuntu is amazing. I have the current Feisty Fawn release on my laptop and desktop. Everything works great on there, from my modems to my video to my audio and even to my desktop's TV tuner card.
Adding extra software is as easy as opening your internet connection and opening the Synaptic Package Manager. Need Amarok? Just search for it in Synaptic and install it with basically a few mouse clicks.
Want to chat with your friends? You can with Gaim, which comes with Ubuntu. Gaim allows you to access your AIM, Yahoo! Messenger, MSN Messenger, and even IRC accounts at the same time. Yes, you can chat on multiple accounts at the same time with one program!
Want to play a game? Ubuntu comes with a multitude of games, including Solitaire and even chess. And adding more games is as easy as using Synaptic. In addition, you can install Transgaming Cedega and play Windows-based hit games, such as Warcraft, without booting into Windows or needing a Windows product key.
There is so much you can do on Ubuntu that it would practically take me forever to tell you. But I have been using Linux-based OSes for the past 3 years, and Linux has gotten so great that it is definitely a SERIOUS rival to Windows. Want more proof? Dell recently announced that they will sell some desktops and laptops with Ubuntu pre-installed.
Ubuntu also has a great online community. Have a question about something in Ubuntu? Just go to the Ubuntu Forums and ask away.
I have used them all. Red Hat. Xandros. Linspire. Suse. Mepis. Windows. Mac OS X. But in terms of bang for your buck, Ubuntu stands above the rest. Ubuntu is simply the best.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Serious Contention for Best OS, July 17, 2007
I have been using Linux for about a year now, and have some good ones, and some bad ones. I've used Xandros, Red Hat, Suse, Fedora Core, Linspire, and Ubuntu Dapper. I have to give it to Feisty Fawn, though, of all of the distros I've come across, this one is the closest to being right that there is. All of Mark Shuttleworth's hard work is coming to fruition, and it shows, as Ubuntu 7.04 has recently surpassed Mac OSX as #2 in browser hits, meaning the number of OSes that are using the internet. For those of you fearing the switch to a free (as in beer and speech) operating system, know that there are many before you who have jumped ship without looking back. A few things to mention:
First, the install is easy. A few click, a very straightforward interface that anyone can understand, and you're on your way. You can easily choose between dual-booting (that is, having 2 operating systems, a la XP and Ubuntu), or having only Ubuntu.
Second, Ubuntu comes with most of the programs any basic home user is going to need. Open Office . org is an Office alternative that saves files that can be used on MS Office, Excel, etc. Firefox is the single best web-browser available for safety (use this on Windows, too, if you aren't already). Evolution mail is straight forward, and takes the place of Outlook very well. It's interface is similar to Ourlook or Thunderbird, or Apple's Mail.app. It comes with a dictionary, excellent advanced text editor (think notepad, but better), scientific calculator... for your high school student's Trig... yay!, not to mention a plethora of games, plus a skype client.
Third, as mentioned in other posts, the lack of a constantly monitoring anti-spyware and anti-virus program makes the computer snappier.
Lastly, most of your hardware is going to work right out of the box. Much easier than having to find drivers online. Updates to both your operating system and the items that you install are as easy as a click and a password.
Now, I am not saying that it's perfect. Shockwave doesn't work under it out of the box. It can be made to do so with some cleaver uses of Wine, however. Most Windows programs can be ported in this manner. It takes some patience to deal with, but, spend a few days with it, and make it the way you like it, and you're going to find that Ubuntu is a strong Operating system. The work, by the way, is worth it. It's free to download from their website... and free beats 139 dollars anyday.
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