I have been a linux user for many years ( early days of redhat). I tried many distributions from Redhat, Fedora, Suse, Mandrake and simple things used to frustrate me. On one hand i would hear the linux experts go gaga over the next coolest version of linux. On the other hand me a not so advanced user would go through the repeated dejections of having tried installing Linux struggling with it and giving up.
I believe in a system where things should just work like magic. I would not have to grep this and man that to get some basic functionality.
I tried to use Linux mostly for my blog that was hosted on my server, a code repository using CVS and then tools like apache webserver. SO as you see i am a pretty primitive linux user.
Here is my linux litmus test. At a bare minimum can i do these
- Connect to my windows box running next to it . Not that i had a need but i had heard that it was cool
- Set up updates like the windows update and install any software with ease
- Just getting the install to recognize the monitor. ( Startx syndrome)
- Can I connect a digital camera and copy pictures
- Burn Cd’s
Till date i have had very less success in doing all of the above in the same linux distro,
Then i heard of dell installing Ubuntu from Atul and figured if Dell would use it, it must be good. And boy was i right.
UBUNTU SIMPLY ROCKS:)
I wanted the GNome desktop along with the server. And so i burnt a iso image of the server and within 15 minutes I was up and running. A month ago i had tried to install XP on the same server, but XP refused to determine my network card and kept looking for some drives which i could never figure out. And then i had to call a number to get a authorization code for Windows. Nothing of that sort in the uBuntU world.
One more command
sudo app-get install ubuntu-desktop and an hour later i was fully functional.
It has been one surprise after another.
Here are my litmus test results
1) Right after install i went to Places – Network and lo I was in the windows world. No samba and stuff . May it does behind the scenes but i did not have to worry
2) There is a little tool called Synaptic Package Manager. Make it your true friend. Everything under the sun is under that for installing software. Updates are shown on the computer by itself. Just click and install. I installed eclipse , mysql and skype with no issues.
3) Monitor – No issues period.
4)As soon as i connected my digital camera , a window popped up and i could import pictures with ease. Although i am yet to figure out how to browse to my camera folder and just copy what i want like i can i windows explorer.
5) Burning CDs – no problem and so was playing a movie file.
Try it , you wont be dissapointed.
IT just works – MaGic.
