Ubuntu 7.04

Microsoft hasn't gotten off to the best start with Vista. It's slow, it's annoying, and sometimes, it's downright confusing. Linux has been around for ages but has played David to Bill Gates' Goliath for longer than we can remember. We're not predicting that Ubuntu will change that relationship, but it may be the alternative you've been looking for. Because Linux has always been a bit of a mystery to most people, we want to take this opportunity to answer the myriad questions you might have about this promising OS while sharing what we like about it and what we don't.

 

Q: Can I try Ubuntu without erasing Windows?
A: Yes, you can boot most Linux operating systems, including Ubuntu, directly from your notebook's optical drive without changing any of the contents of your hard drive. First, you'll need to download a copy of Ubuntu from the download page at Ubuntu.com and burn it to a CD. Then pop the disc into your laptop and restart. Your system should prompt you to start Ubuntu Linux. If not, you may have to change your computer's boot order. To do so: At startup, press F12 and select your optical drive to boot first. Now you should be using Ubuntu. 

 

Q: Is Ubuntu much different from Windows?
A: To the user, not much. You still have a desktop, toolbar, and quick-launch icons just as you do in Windows. The Toolbar is at the top (you can drag it down if you wish). On the left are your Applications, Places, and System menus. We found this arrangement to be much more intuitive than Windows' Start menu. All your applications are categorized into five sections: Accessories, Games, Graphics, Internet, Office, and Sound & Video. The Add/Remove menu allows you to add or remove programs and will even help you search for more of them. Some popular programs like Google Earth, MSN Messenger, and VLC player have their own Linux-compatible versions, but others like Beryl, a 3D desktop tool, are specific to Linux.
 
The Places menu is similar to My Computer and provides access to all your drives' content, as well as to locations on your network. The System menu is similar to Windows' Control Panel, albeit with more advanced options that may look foreign. For instance, Network Tools offers a feature called Traceroute for tracking packets on the Internet, Ping for querying a Web address, and WHOIS, a directory for domain names. If you're an average Windows user, you won't have much use for these tools. 

 

Q: How about networking and Web surfing?  Do I need to pray to Linus Torvalds to get these things to work?
A: No! You still have networking and other icons like battery life and the date in the toolbar, just like Windows. Simply click on the icon and you should see a list of available networks. Select the one you want to connect to and then enter a passphrase if required. We were easily able to connect to encrypted Wi-Fi networks without a hitch. Ubuntu comes preloaded with the Firefox browser, so surfing the Web feels exactly like it does on Windows.

 

Q: What kind of software will I get with Ubuntu Linux?
A: All of the software applications preloaded on Ubuntu are open source and free of charge. In addition to Firefox for Web browsing, Ubuntu includes GAIM for instant messaging, Evolution for e-mail, and even an included VoIP client called Ekiga Softphone.
 
Most important, you'll never have to buy another copy of Microsoft Office since Ubuntu comes loaded with OpenOffice, an open-source productivity suite that allows you to create, view, and edit doc files, spreadsheets, and presentations. And Microsoft Office formats, such as .doc and .rtf, are fully compatible with Openoffice, so you can share your files with others. Most of these programs are similar enough to their Microsoft counterparts that many users will hardly notice. OpenOffice's word processor, for example, offers an interface very similar to Microsoft Word's. 

 

Q: Can I still use my Windows programs on Ubuntu?
A: Unfortunately, many of the programs you've come to know and love on Windows won't work in a Linux environment. Adobe Photoshop, for example, is incompatible, as is Zonealarm, Spybot: Search and Destroy, and Quicktime. You can still use programs written for Linux that will accomplish most, if not all, of the tasks proprietary software does, most of which are listed in the Add/Remove menu of the Applications button. We found most of what we needed to replace our favorite Windows programs here, including an FTP client, music players, disc-burning software, and HPLIP Toolbox for managing print jobs. Installing programs from this menu involved a few simple clicks.
 
What we like about the the Add/Remove menu is that it virtually eliminates the need to search the Internet for programs you may want to download. Simply type in what you're looking for-Web browser, 3D desktop, instant messaging, etc., and Linux will try to find a program to match it and then let you install it with a few simple clicks. We were able install Beryl, gFTP, and HPLIP without any trouble.
 
On the other hand, some Linux programs not found within the Add/Remove menu have to be executed via the Command line in the Terminal, which is located in the applications menu. We had to use this tool to install Google Earth. After downloading the Google Earth bin file to our home directory/usr/LAPTOP, we opened the terminal and typed "sh GoogleEarthLinux.bin". This may be jarring to a Windows user who shuns the MS-DOS prompt.
 
Q: Will all of my peripherals work with Linux?
A: We had good results using Ubuntu with our array of peripherals: the Archos 604 Wi-Fi, a Corsair 1GB USB Flash drive, Motorola RAZR V3xx phone, Logitech MX Air Wireless Mouse/pointer, Sony PSP, and HP Photosmart R937 camera were all recognized without a problem. Ubuntu even prompted us to import pictures from our camera and launched Ubuntu's Music Player for the PSP. Both HP's and Kodak's bundled image software is incompatible with Ubuntu, however, and we were unable to sync the contacts from our RAZR. If you're really serious about making the switch to Ubuntu, consult your peripheral manufacturer's Web site to check for Linux compatibility.

 

Q: I clicked something and everything on my desktop disappeared! What do I do?
A: Relax, that's just Ubuntu's multiple desktop feature. It allows you to have more than one desktop running at the same time to avoid clutter. You can also customize each desktop for all your needs. For instance, you can have one desktop with all of your productivity applications at the ready, one for all your media tools, one for gaming, and so on. You can also enable 3D desktop effects where work spaces will rotate in a virtual cube. 

 

Q: Is Ubuntu more stable than Windows?
A: On our tests we found Ubuntu to be quite stable. Bootup times were comparable with Windows XP, faster than Vista, but slower than Mac OS X. The best news is that Ubuntu isn't a target for viruses, so in that way, it's more secure, even if you're running a dual boot with Windows on another partition.

Q: What is this filesystem folder? And where is the C: drive?
A: Linux' file system works with volume drive names instead of letters. So your Windows Vista partition will most likely be called WinVista, and Ubuntu will be installed on a partition called File System. You can still access your Windows partition from Ubuntu to get to your documents.

 

Q: What about multimedia?  Can I still play music and movies?  What about burning DVDs?
A: Yes, you can do all these things, but you may need to get some codecs before you're able to play your CDs and DVDs. We tried playing both a DVD and a CD, but neither would work without some updates. We used the included Rhythmbox music player and Totem Movie Player, both of which prompted us to download the appropriate codecs for playing our media. Windows users may be unfamiliar with a media app that doesn't support CDs and DVDs natively, but it's no different than grabbing an update for Windows Media Player. 

 

Q: I'm still hesitant to completely erase Windows. How easy is Ubuntu to install, and can I keep my Windows OS along with Ubuntu?
A: Yes. Simply boot Ubuntu from the CD drive if you haven't already. There should be an install icon on the desktop. Click it, and Ubuntu will guide you through an easy seven-step wizard to install Ubuntu Linux on your hard drive. This took about 15 minutes on our Averatec notebook. Simply install Ubuntu on an unused partition (Ubuntu should select one for you automatically). If you already have Windows installed on another partition, your PC will prompt you at startup and ask which OS you would like to boot from. 

 

Q: How can I be sure that Ubuntu Linux is for me?
A: If you're a novice or advanced user who doesn't much care what program you use for work and play so long as it gets the job done--and if you like free open-source software--then Ubuntu could be right for you. Also, if you recently purchased a new notebook, but Vista is just too sluggish for you, Ubuntu might provide a nice change of pace. However, if you're a hardcore Windows user who loathes the idea of learning any new programs and you don't mind paying for proprietary software, then you'll probably be happy sticking with Windows.  


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