Want to make the move to Linux for good...advice?

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BoysNightOut

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I downloaded and installed Ubuntu a while back on my 2nd HD in my tower for testing. I liked it a lot, it seemed pretty cool and fairly easy to learn and transition too from Linux.

I've got some questions though. I'm worried about losing functionality if I just all of a sudden start using Ubuntu as my primary OS without XP on my tower. I'd like to attempt the move to straight Linux usage at this point.

Only thing is, I'm worried I may not be able to get internet or some stuff like that and lose some stuff I really need to have available. When I tested it, it seemed to have some issues I couldn't figure out, as in how to like get software re-installed, and the wireless adapter connected to the internet etc.

Should it be as easy as PnP as Win XP is? Or do you have to run command lines to get stuff installed. I never really installed anything, just mostly messed around with the interface and what not to see how it felt. I did really like what I saw though.

I have a 2nd HD with a lot of media files on it and I want to be able to still access them and all that great stuff as well. So hopefully Ubuntu wil be an easy switch.

Does anyone have any advice before I attempt to make the move over to Ubuntu? I hear Ubuntu is one of the most common and easy to use "Windows-Like" distro. I also have a few copies of other distros as well including OpenSUSE and some others. Should I try one of those instead perhaps?

I'm going into network engineering and it seems Linux is a good choice for us networking guys and gals at the office, we use XP, Mac OS X and Red Hat all at the same time lol. I currently am running a Red Hat machine in my cube as well, but haven't used it too much as I'm so familiar with XP I automatically run to it to perform daily tasks. I figure if I move to Linux solely at home perhaps it will force me to really get into it. I also am putting Xebian on two xboxes I have here to become mini linux servers and stuff just for fun, so figure it would be best if I'm running a more similar OS than a cross-platform XP -> Linux home network.

Thanks for any tips guys/gals.
 
=( anyone?

**** xboxes, almost got both working, but need a pre-5659 image for dashboard version to continue final stages...bah humbug...nobody has it =(
 
I recently installed ubuntu 7.04 on my comp. I like it, and I think it's nice, but I wouldn't use it as my primary OS because, for one thing, it can't run a lot of things that Windows can unless you buy a third-party program like Win4Lin. And also I'm not used to the command-line interface that you have to use for installing programs.

Also my friend had major problems getting Ubuntu to work with his Wifi card.

On the other hand, Beryl is freaking awesome.
 
Beryl is the built-in program in Ubuntu correct? What exactly does it do?


DOes anyone know of a good OS that will support most similar to WIndows XP Professional? As in USB devices etc. or installing 3rd party softwares?
 
Beryl is the built-in program in Ubuntu correct? What exactly does it do?
I think that's an extremely stripped down version of Compiz, which is very similar to Beryl. It's for 3D effects and eyecandy. You could look for a video of Beryl on the internet, but you really just have to try it out for yourself.
 
Unfortunately I haven't seen a Linux distro with the same kind of out of the box functionality as Windows (legal issues among other things). I have heard that Sabayon, SimplyMEPIS, and Linux Mint all come with fairly good out of the box functionality, but I haven't tried any of them yet.

Beryl: It is essentially a very graphical window manager. You can check out their website for more info. Beryl-project.org
Last I heard Beryl and Compiz are reuniting.
 
Oh gotcha, sounds cool. I guess I might just go for it here and throw on Ubuntu for good and see if I can get it to work lol. I have a laptop to go on to see if I can work it out as I go luckily. We'll see what happens. Hopefully my next post on here will be about how I got it working and obviously my internet works on Ubuntu!
 
I think that's an extremely stripped down version of Compiz, which is very similar to Beryl. It's for 3D effects and eyecandy. You could look for a video of Beryl on the internet, but you really just have to try it out for yourself.

Actually, Compiz is Ubuntu's built-in desktop effects engine. Beryl is third-party software that you must install on your own. Compiz is actually Beryl's stripped-down counterpart. Whereas Compiz is very unstable and offers only two options for customization, Beryl's wealth of configuration options could leave you tweaking for hours if you're that kind of person, and I've found it to be more stable than Compiz on my Dell. In my opinion, Beryl is better than even Mac OS X's effects.

Here's a guide to help you install it if you want, it's in step number six of PC World's Ubuntu post-install tips. PC World - Seven Post-Install Tips for Ubuntu 7.04
 
I don't remember exactly how long ago I did it, but my primary computer runs Ubuntu and only Ubuntu. (My wfie's computer runs Vista & I have to use Win2k at work, but beyond that I'm 100% Linux)

My advice:

1) Get familiar with the command line. 99% of what you do through the GUI you can do through the command line faster and more reliably. Doesn't mean you should ditch the GUI. Buts its nice to be able to open a terminal window to run updates rather than going through Synaptic or something like that.

2) Get really good at Google Searches. 99% of the problems you will run into will have been experienced by someone else first. And the great part is that there is almost always a solution somehwere online. (Which will more than likely require you to open a terminal window and... [see #1])

3) Be patient. Its going ot take time. But you are going to get used to it. Always remember there are lots of people out there who are very willing to help you get through any issues that come up. Be nice to them and they'll be nice to you.
 
for distros this is my list:

Kubuntu
Kubuntu - The KDE Desktop


Mandriva
Mandriva One - Mandriva Linux


PCLinuxOS .92
FTP archive directory /pub/metalab/distributions/texstar/pclinuxos/live-cd/english/preview/
ftp://ftp.nluug.nl/pub/metalab/distributions/texstar/pclinuxos/live-cd/english/preview/

This is the distro I use and recommend, Why because it works right out of the box. No need to configure Everything, everything just works. It also comes as a 1 CD install that is a live CD that you can install later if you wish.

Mephis
MEPIS | discover the possibilities...


Blag
blag linux and gnu downloads

as for some bedtime reading try these links:

Linux Networking:

http://www.lesbell.com.au/Home.nsf/0/7220a...0b?OpenDocument

Sharing files between Windows and Linux
Sharing Files between Linux and Windows Partitions

Linux reviews
Linux Today - Linux News On Internet Time.

Linux online bible (needs firefox)
http://rute.2038bug.com/index.html.gz

Linux Distribution Links
Linux Online - List of distributions
Linux Links - The Linux Portal: Distributions
distromania.com


Linux distribution chooser
http://eedok.voidofmind.com/linux/chooser.html
zegenie Studios Linux Distribution Chooser


using knoppix to rescue files
Computer First Aid Using Knoppix

Linux Tutorials: Introduction to Linux, Hands on guide
http://www.tldp.org/LDP/intro-linux/html/index.html

Ultimate guide for beginners
The Ultimate Guide On Linux For Beginners

The beginners Linux guide
Linux.ie :: The Beginners Linux Guide

Linux Laptops
Linux on Laptops
TuxMobil: Linux With Laptops, Notebooks, PDAs and Mobile Cell Phones

Windows V Linux a comparison
Comparison of Windows and Linux - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux vs Windows (a comparison)

Installing Mempis
Install Mepis With Custom Partitions
Dual Boot with Windows and Clear off existing drive

Installing GRUB to USB
GRUB tips and tricks

Dual boot Ubuntu 6.10 +XP
Ubufied - Ubuntu Blog

Installing Kubuntu 6.10 +XP
Ubufied - Ubuntu Blog

Installing Edubuntu 6.10 + XP
Ubufied - Ubuntu Blog

Installing Xubuntu and XP
Ubufied - Ubuntu Blog

Gnome Vs KDE
GNOME vs. KDE

Linux Survival
Linux Survival :: Where learning Linux is easy

This is a really good hands on site for learning comand-line if you want to Learn Linux this is stop number 1

Learn Linux
Learn Linux - On Line Classmates

useful List of Linux websites:
http://www.techist.com/showthread.php?threadid=64151

Equivalents to windows software:
http://www.techist.com/showthread.php?threadid=44555

Ubuntu: https://shipit.ubuntu.com/
Kubuntu (*buntu with KDE): ShipIt.https://shipit.kubuntu.org/
Edubuntu (education Version): https://shipit.edubuntu.org/

and of course Xubuntu (Xfce desktop Environment), which doesn't have have Shipit as yet but I'm sure will become availible soon
Xubuntu Home Page | Xubuntu.org


Linux Partitioning:
http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Partition/index.html

Linux Newbie FAQ
Linux Newbie FAQ - LQWiki

Linux & USB
Boot and run Linux from a USB flash memory stick | Pen Drive Linux

dual boot Vista

and ubuntu
How to dual-boot Vista with Linux (Vista installed first) | APC Magazine


How to dual-boot Vista with Linux (Linux is already installed) | APC Magazine

The definitive dual-booting guide: Linux, Vista and XP step-by-step | APC Magazine

A Vista vs. Linux Matchup - Part 2: Dual-booting Vista and Linux

hope this Helps,

Jake
 
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