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Saturday, June 2, 2007 As many of you will be aware I have a bit of a leaning towards Linux.  Click logo to go to site.
Microsoft do not thrill me with the way they do things.
For the last 2 years I have run a Linux system as well as a Windows one, Ubuntu is the OS of my choice and I have run all versions since 5.04
Today I did the online upgrade to version 7.04, on my supposed 8mb broadband [most it does on a BT line is 4.2 if no one else is online] this took a total of 78 mins including down load and installation.
The new version is installed and all of my previous folders and files are preserved, no information is lost in the upgrade.
How much is a copy of VISTA? Where do you back up all of your previous files, how long to re-install all of the programs you use, how much to update all of your programs so they will work on the new wonder platform?
Talking of program's, all of them are free, using the built in application manager you can search for and install any program you require, when installed
all programs are placed in to the start menu in the correct category ie. Office, Internet, Graphics etc
Ubuntu is also free and so are all of the drivers ,Video card,sound card,network card and all chip set drivers are installed with the operating system.
Office suite, Graphics editors and viewers, CD - DVD burners and media players all come as standard.
The best thing for me is the fact that I do not have to install countless Firewall and virus application's to keep the idiots out, nor do I have to
waste hours turning off process that do nothing but decrease the performance of my machine.
Don't get me wrong it's not perfect but is Windows?
I will keep you updated with the new version as I use it.
P.S This site is hosted on a Linux server.
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Monday June 4th.
!st thing I noticed was that the inbuilt driver library has grown, we now have drivers for my Pixma 4000 , then I decided to play some music, in previous versions it has always been possible to play Ogg Vobis but to play MP3s you need a non free codec and finding the file was not always simple.
Everything in Ubuntu is free so some video and audio codecs are not installed as standard, most of them are available from the repositries and it may be legal to install them in some places, so you have to be responsible for the installation .
In this version when asked to play a non supported format up pops a window which asks if you wish to install the codec, then it downloads and installs it. (If you agree) This is a big improvement, stick in a DVD and without any fuss at all, good steady replay, in previous versions without a specific graphics driver I have always suffered jerky graphics, not this time.
The general appearance seems to be a little sharper and a touch more windows like, anybody coming to use it for the first time will find it simpler to follow.
One thing thing that is nice is the way it configures network connections, needing no input from me and now shows an icon on the desktop.
Up to now no problems and a pleasant experience.
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Tuesday June 19th
My good mate Dale gave me his old scanner, a Canon Lide 30, this is just the job because they are bus powered via USB and even though basic they do scan well ( I have a Canon 5200f, docs,slides, negs etc on my windows machine ) so on to Feisty it will go.
Plug in, open Xsane, which is the ready installed scanner front end, a box opens and says "searching for scanner" 10 secs later scanner front end appears on desk top ( clever this ubuntu ) .
Insert old photo in to scanner and press scan, program says scanning , bingo it works, so why is the scan blank?
Thinks, I must have done something wrong, try again, BLANK, 3rd try, watch and listen this time, funny it says its scanning but no light and no noise, BLANK.
Bloody Dale stiched me " you can have this one I am going to buy a new one, it works OK ", it does, does it, hang on lets try it through Windows, plug in to lap top , download driver ( because I said "don't look for the driver Dale Linux has it built in") and install it.
Bin-bloody-go it works!!
So why no go on Feisty, I know Lide's work on ubuntu because I used one on a previous version, 5.10 I think.
Time to ask if anybody else has had this problem, quick question on the Wicki and I find out everyone with a Lide has the same problem, they worked on earlier version's but not this one, it is a well reported bug and is being worked on, 10 mins searching to see if there is a way around and I find an answer , open terminal--apt get install------------------ press ok and away we go.
Open Xsane and tell it to scan, what do we get??? a proper scan, it works fine.
It appears that for some reason it does not load the driver when it finds the scanner attached to the USB (USB suspend or something) so for now when you want to scan, before you open the scanner program , you run a command in a terminal and it loads straight away, only takes a few seconds so I can live with it for the amount of times I need a scanner.
When the bug is fixed an update will be issued.
So I have found my first problem with the latest release, the only good thing is that with the amount of support available on the net, most things can be sorted quickly at no cost, so it still beats Window's.
I will keep you posted.
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Sunday June 24 --2007
Automatix2 is the latest version of the application installer Automatix, with this installed it is a simple matter of selecting the application required and sitting back, the installation will be automatic unless you are asked to agree to something, all programs will appear under the correct heading in the application's menu. This link will download the Automatix 2 self installer. It really does make life simple.
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Wednesday July 04--2007
Made the decision to install Feisty as a dual boot system on to the lap top, XP home is already on the 80gig drive, so Ubuntu is going to have to install on the remaining free space.
Never tried this before but every time I have installed Ubuntu when you get to the disk partition stage, one of the options is to format the free space and let it set up the partition to install, so off we go.
Let it go and after a couple of min's it says "2 partitions set at 37.------gig each" install on to the empty one, OK get on with it.
XP and all of the rest of the windows installation is taking up 16.4 gig leaving about 20 gig empty on the other 1/2 of the drive.
The Ubuntu installer goes through the normal screens where you set your language and key board type etc, then sits there with the bar growing as the files are set up, 95% done, then I get a change, the progress screen tells me it is now configuring the Grub files ( Grub and Lilo are types of Linux application boot files ) carry on as normal from now on, reboot and remove installation disk.
Machine reboots, post screen comes and goes, Then a new boot screen asks which OS would you like to boot in to, choose Ubuntu and away we go, I then take 1/2 an hour to config as usual then re boot in to XP.
Works a treat, only had 1 problem, my wireless router is WPA enabled , Ubuntu supports WEP so the password won't work, all it needs is the router resetting to WEP and a 10 fig password entering, this done and bingo of we go.
Both OS work a treat off the same hard drive and when you get all the updates done on Ubuntu, you can install Automatix2, on it is an application that mounts NTFS disks on to the Ubuntu desk top in a read / write config.
With this done you can read / write all of your Windows Photo's and documents from Linux, works a treat.
All the lap top bits are loaded automatically, Battery manager,FN key controls, volume and screen brightness, all of the stuff you require, it is a painless operation and I must say it seems to run really well.
Will let you know how it goes at a later date.
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Wednesday 25th July
3 weeks and no problems.
Nothing to report, still working fine
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New Installation
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NEW Installation from CD
This is not the same as a Windows install.
Insert the CD, at the 1st screen install as standard (this is more than likely the 1st option) it will now continue to load a LIVE version of the OS.
When loaded on the desktop you will find an option to install, click this unless you just want to look at the live version, which is now fully active.
The full installation will now start, you will be asked for your location, choose UK and click to move on ( if nothing happens click on the blank screen and then click to move on) it will then ask what type of key board are you using, if you are using a standard key board choose the 1st option, if not make your choice.
Somewhere in this sequence it will ask for a user name and password, you will need these to access it when you reboot later.
The next screen will ask where to install and how you wish to format the drive, if you already have an OS installed on the HD choose , empty space, if the drive is blank choose complete, on the next option allow it to default format the disc (Linux needs the disc partitioned in its own way, unlike windows which installs to one partition) it will set up the root partition and the swap file, then continue to install.
About 15 mins later it will be done, shut down, remove the disc and reboot, the log on screen will appear, log on and off you go.
System-Preferences-Screen Resolution will be the first thing you need to do.
If you imagine " System" is the same as control panel in Windows you should be able to find most things.
Applications replaces Programs but puts everything into categories .
Places replaces My Documents and My computer, so Places-Home folder takes you to where you put--My pictures--My Music--My Documents--My Videos--etc.
Bottom right of the desk top you will find the Wastebasket and next to that 2 or 4 squares, these are your desk tops, right click to find preferences to change them, Desk tops allow you to run Virtual extra computers and switch between them at any time.
System--Admin--Log on window--lets you set automatic log in if you don't wish to log in every time you start up.
New Programs!!!!!! System--Admin--Synaptic Package Manager--a log on box will appear, enter password (you will get this box every time you want to make system changes) click on Search tell it what type of application you are after and search, recommended apps will have the Ubuntu logo next to them, these are guaranteed to work, the ones without probably will, right click your choice and mark, click apply and when completed your new app will be in the app's menu in the correct category.
Right click the desktop to change the back ground.
System--Preferences--Screen Saver.
The rest I am sure you can find, not complicated just a little bit different, if you are really stuck click on the life ring on the top task bar and a superb help file will appear.
That's it, give it a go for your self , if you require a copy of Feisty Fawn 7.04 you can download it from the ubuntu site ( link at top of page) or contact me and I will let you have a copy.... (Legally)
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