A Month of Linux
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Taking the plunge
For the longest time, I have been playing with various Linux distros by using LiveCD and never really sitting down and forcing myself to actually use Linux on an extended time. When a power supply failed on one computer I decided to take it pass the test drive. With a spare 20 gig hardrive, I decided just to unplug Windows and literally plug in Ubuntu version of Linux. No big deal since the other drives weren't even connected to the system so switching back was a simple matter.
Even reinstalling a familar system is daunting. Switching to a new OS even made by the same company intimidating. Ubuntu is not only a complete change in OS but interface. More Apple OS X than Windows. Not to menation not every program I use has a direct Linux port. I'm not just learning a whole new OS but everything at once.
Still I'm going with this cold turkey approach or I will never change over. I will be logging here my diary of the change over. Both good and ill.
Michael Eh? 19:46, 21 September 2007 (EDT)
Passed the 24 hour mark
Well it's been over 24 hours with Ubuntu and I haven't kicked in the side of the case of the PC it's running ... a good sign. I hate the torrent programs but the one I like is not available for Linux. :( Even if I go back to Windows, I'll be replacing Eudora with Thunderbird. While some programs I use don't have linux versions. Those linux programs have Windows and Mac versions.
A real gem is videoLAN at www.videolan.org is good example of cross platform program. It plays more types of videos than I have and renders videos fairly nice. No need to go looking for codecs. It has them built into the install. However some video types don't play on other players though videoLAN is installed.
I forgot to mention the linux club starting up here in London. Their website is www.fclug.org.
Michael Eh? 01:41, 22 September 2007 (EDT)
End of Azureus
I got really fed up with Azureus and once the current batch were downloaded, I deleted it. I'm trying Ubuntu's built-in torrent program in it's place. It's running a tab bit faster without the Java overhead tying down the CPU like Azureus does. For anime lovers, torrenting seems to be a way of life. I was reluctant to torrent but that is the way things are.
I'm not really impressed with Ubuntu as 48 hours ago. As with anything new, you start fidning the little things that are a little annoying. Meanwhile there are other things pressing and time will tell wheither this version of Ubuntu stays.
Michael Eh? 21:53, 22 September 2007 (EDT)
Days pass by
Nothing much to say about but getting the hang of the file system and and how Ubuntu handles USB flash drives. Very Mac OS like. I have been busy working and putting out fires with other people's computers wheither it is to reinstall Windows on a friend's PC or lending another friend a USB sound card to see if he can use it to plug an ordinary mic into his Mac.
The built-in torrent program has it's limits of only one file per time.
Of course, I could have switch over my friend's computer to Linux but they depend on a few programs like MS messenger to keep in contact with their girls in university. Not to mention it's hard to recommend something you yourself don't use.
Michael Eh? 23:27, 24 September 2007 (EDT)
Settling In
I'm settling in more and more with Ubuntu. One qwirk I found is the standard games loaded are all in one. Meaning you can't delete those you don't like without losing them all.
I started today with hardware switchover. Change power supply with a quietier one and switch CDrw with an old 2 times DVDrw. I then went through to download video editing and DVD authoring software. Not really going to edit with this machine but a chance to see if it's worth converting the other computer which I have such software to see how it would work. Something to test this weekend.
Michael Eh? 23:16, 27 September 2007 (EDT)
Spreading the Lawn
Or in this case, Feisty Lawn or Ubuntu 7.04. A friend came over and saw that I was running Linux and asked for a copy of the distro. He, himself, is recovering from a failing hard drive and is considering the change.
Another friend upon hearing my trials of Linux decided to take an extra computer and might try it as well. They're only concern is MSN Messenger isn't support in Linux. I checked the installable packages and it looks like there is a MSN Messenger clone. Something I think they will be interested in trying. After several problems with XP, they're in mood for a change.
Michael Eh? 17:04, 1 October 2007 (EDT)