From Windows to Ubuntu Linux
I use Linux a lot - for programming mostly.
It’s capable of everything else too though.
I’ve been using Mandriva Linux (previously known as Mandrake) for a few years now. A pity, the thing just has not been getting better.
I always wonder, “Why are there so many different types/brands of linux?” (called distro’s, short for distributions).
Most people use Windows (XP). It’s a fact. Developers, office workers, you name it, they all use Microsoft Windows.
It’s not easy for them to exactly try something else.
Well, try this: Ubuntu Linux
How?
Go to the Ubuntu site and you can get a free copy to install (or test) on your computer for free.
They will send it to you free of charge too.
shipit.ubuntu.com
* If you are someone who likes to explore or play around with your computer, then this is a great way to start learning linux, etc.
* Scared of the black screen command line? Don’t worry, with the new Linux desktops out, you won’t even have to see one.
Comon, let’s stop using a hundred different (distrowatch.org) linux distributions, and start focusing on making one great and popular, Ubuntu!
Microsoft has a Windows fits all. Why can’t there be a free Operating System (OS) like that?
Ubuntu is free. Windows is not. Just by the way.
UPDATE: Even easier to try Ubuntu:
- Use a virtual machine - A program that runs a whole computer in a window. So you are in Windows, but you can switch to a window where Ubuntu is running and it thinks it’s its own computer. (Make it full screen, and you won’t even know it’s just a program in Windows.) Try VMWare or Virtual PC, both Free VM’s
- Wubi, Install Ubuntu the easy way - No need to change your hard drive partitions either, install Ubuntu in windows as a program (into a folder). Then when you reboot, it’s an option to boot into Ubuntu. Here: wubi-installer.org
There’s plenty of help for Ubuntu users on the internet. And it’s really easy to get help should you want to find out how to do something!
Dominique Said,
September 30, 2007 @ 5:40 pm
OK!
The brick wall for me has always been that we’re HIGHLY dependant on Windows, no matter what. Ubuntu has been the only *nix OS that’s actually impressed me, mostly because the developers don’t take a screw-microsoft stance when creating and enhancing Ubuntu, rather, they have tended to embrace some of the features ad things that Windows users are familiar with, the simplicity of it all.
So ye I played with Ubuntu quite alot, but always needed to get back to windows to do my everyday things.
Dunno where the hell I’ve been, coz I never heard of Wubi until I read your post, and I like what I’m seeing. I’m a VMware addict, but virtualisation tends to kill the host if you’re not running around with a notebook slash ‘mini-beast’. I’ve never been much of a dual-boot fan, nor partitioning…(not in themanual sense anyways, we tend to break things quite easily in those areas)
I’ll take a look at Wubi, and who knows, maybe I’ll have Ubuntu running again soon
Thanks mate, very informative indeed.
rabi Said,
November 2, 2007 @ 6:46 pm
id lyk 2 no hw 2 create a second partition n make a dual boot. im running windows xp media centre edition and i hav sum programs instaled. i dnt wana loose da windows OS or any of da programs bt i wana run ubuntu 2 on da same P.C. i wana hav da same programs i instaled in xp 2 without havin 2 re instal dem again 4 ubuntu. iz dat possible ?
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Hay, try this:
# Wubi, Install Ubuntu the easy way - No need to change your hard drive partitions either, install Ubuntu in windows as a program (into a folder). Then when you reboot, it’s an option to boot into Ubuntu. No need for changing partition, but you’ll still have dual-boot system!
Here: wubi-installer.org
Try it!
You can run most of your windows programs from linux if you have something called “wine” installed in Linux Ubuntu!
Re@PeR Said,
March 9, 2008 @ 9:54 pm
I’m a Gentoo fan, Ubuntu doesn’t do it for me, but then again, Linux is all about choice, if you’re not happy with a distro, you have dozens of other to choose from or build your own if you have the time and money. (where time = money)