Ubuntu or Altnernative

[Solaris]

Hello,

I've been thinking about switching to Ubuntu, but not sure how hard it would be or whether it's worthwhile.

May main reason is I ****ing hate Vista, it's the stupiest worst OP I have ever used. ctrl+alt+delete takes you to that ****ing big blue screen. Every time you want to do something it's "you will need admin powers. OK" "Are you sure you wish to do this. OK" etc. Absolutely infuriates me.

Plus I think my wireless network drivers are ****ed or something I don't know, every now and then I just lose internet for a while. I'm very angry at microsoft, I don't use any of their products but Vista and want to say good riddance to it.

Now, what are my options, I used to be quite tech savy but I suppose I'm a bit of a N00b these days. Also, can I use my ipod with Ubuntu, spotify, bittorent? Can it even play video files? If this is not the case, I will be very sad. I'm not really sure how operating systems are different but I've just had enough.

Should I make the swap? Also, I'm on a HP laptop, will I have to get special wireless drivers, will it be a MASSIVE hassel and make me break down and cry?

Regards

$01@£1$

 

[pvtbones]

I used ubuntu for a brief while before trying out Kubuntu which is basically ubuntu with a facelift. only reason I stopped is they didn't play nice with my laptop.

 

[xcellerate]

you can turn off UAC and I'm pretty sure 7 does the ctrl+del+alt blue screen also. The wireless issues are most likely settings on your router.

I have ubuntu installed on a laptop and if you have problems with vista you definitely don't want to install any form of linux. Just install XP or 7 and be happy.

The file system is different, installing programs is different and then there's even multiple ways to install programs, you have to deal with root access which can be even more of a hassle than admin rights because now you have to start 'explorer' menus with nautilus or use terminal commands to delete root files/folders.

It's just very different and if you want to play with it you can download ubuntu and boot from the disk and run the OS off the CD (I think it's called like Ubuntu Live, it'll ask you on the first window that pops up in the installer), you won't be able to save anything but you'll be able to experience the OS without formatting anything.

 

[Solaris]

Hmm, maybe I'll just wait for a google computer then.

 

[MorganFreeman911]

Get windows 7, get a few registry hacks to change the task manager, and be happy.

 

[VirusType2]

Hmm, maybe I'll just wait for a google computer then.

Google Chrome OS is designed to work exclusively with web applications. A web browser and a media player will be the only applications on the device. I don't think you'll be able to work from the HDD, but from a cloud instead (outside server) and file streaming. No unzip utility, etc.

 

[PvtRyan]

Why the hell are you pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del all the time then? If you need the Task Manager, just hit Ctrl+Shift+Esc.

And it's not Vista's fault that programs require administrator rights for bullshit reasons. UAC is completely correct to prompt you, because a program is requesting permission to make any and all modifications to your system. Ubuntu is the same, and it would be wrong if it wasn't, except that for historical reasons, it has less programs that think they need administrator rights than Windows. That said, UAC hugely helped developers kick that nasty habit and I rarely see an unjustified UAC prompt.

As for Linux distributions, also check out Linux Mint, a nice and fresh distro, based on Ubuntu. But I never feel a need to boot it though.

 

[Dax]

Uh yeah, it doesn't sound like Ubuntu would be your kind of solution. Really, UAC isn't that much of a hassle. In any case, like many have mentioned here, Windows 7 would be worth getting.

 

[63]

Windows 7.

Linux has no place as a primary OS.

 

[Ren.182]

You can turn off UAC in your control panel.

It could be your router that causing your networking problems, or reinstall your drivers, not that hard or time consuming.

I tried to use ubuntu a few years back and it was really confusing. You'll need patience to learn to use it. I'd recommend Win7.

 

[Acepilotf14]

You should get Gentoo.

 

[Solaris]

Why the hell are you pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del all the time then? If you need the Task Manager, just hit Ctrl+Shift+Esc.

And it's not Vista's fault that programs require administrator rights for bullshit reasons. UAC is completely correct to prompt you, because a program is requesting permission to make any and all modifications to your system. Ubuntu is the same, and it would be wrong if it wasn't, except that for historical reasons, it has less programs that think they need administrator rights than Windows. That said, UAC hugely helped developers kick that nasty habit and I rarely see an unjustified UAC prompt.

As for Linux distributions, also check out Linux Mint, a nice and fresh distro, based on Ubuntu. But I never feel a need to boot it though.

What do you mean? It never did this in XP or previous versions. Everytime I try and run an exe for the first time it's all "are you sure you want to run this exe, it could be a virus" and then "You need admin to run this exe".

And crt+alt+delete is how you get task manager, I'm not changing my ways becuase vista ballsed it up. Also the networking is a pile of shit too.

I just hate hate hate it.

 

[VirusType2]

Ctrl Shift Esc is to open task manager.

Ctrl Alt Del is to recover a frozen computer.. with a little luck. It will also open the task manager in XP (if not in BSOD)

 

[arch5]

You should get Gentoo.

Gentoo Linux is the only OS that can fix any technological situation whatsoever.

 

[xcellerate]

I agree with you about the networking, I hate not being able to right click and "manage network connections." Now you have to go to network, network and sharing center, *analyze*, manage network connections. It also pisses me off you can't just DO anything anymore, oh you want to repair your network connection? Sorry WE HAVE TO ****ING DIAGNOSIS IT FIRST AND NO YOU CAN'T ****ING SKIP IT.

 

[bodhi]

download the iso and bootable usb tool and have a go with it.

i gave it a go and like it, but it really is for pc enthusiasts only, if you dont have time to learn all its subtleties as you will just end up frustrating yourself.

in the end i stopped using it as for some reason it would turn my laptop exhaust fan on 70-100% of maximum speed all the time, and i dont want to wear out the bearings. i thought it was because of a remote desktop process running at 100% in the background but killing it didnt improve the situation

 

[ricera10]

I think the easiest way to try Ubuntu would be to download the wubi installer and run that. It automatically downloads the correct iso, installs Ubuntu in a file on your exisiting partitions (so you don't have to mess with them), and even adds an entry to the Windows boot menu. If you don't want it anymore, then you can remove it through Add/Remove Programs.

But, linux can be retardedly frustrating. The biggest issue is that pretty much everything in Windows can be done in the GUI, but some of the simplest things in Windows have to be done through the command line by default in Linux. I'm convinced that a tolerance for Linux is directly correlated to how many commands you know for the command line. Unless you want to invest a lot of time into the world of open source software, Windows 7 is a much better choice, no matter what other people say.

 

[Dr.Demento]

Neither. Use Sun Microsystem's Solaris instead!

 

[Viperidae]

No no, use AmigaOS.

 

[Kyorisu]

Arch or Gentoo. The latter if you enjoy pain.

Windows 7.

Linux has no place as a primary OS.

Go back to whatever hole your crawled out of. No place, Ha go tell that to the millions of people running linux based systems. Didn't you know that 20xx is the year of linux on the desktop?