Category: Ubuntu

Ubuntu 8.10: The Fastest-Most-Just-Worksiest Version Yet!

I installed (upgraded to be exact) the Beta of Ubuntu 8.10 and it’s by far faster and “just works.”

Yeah!  My video in Skype (still waiting for Skype to get serious about Linux, or find an alternative) now works (so I can see that my cam is not showing my head) 🙂  Also working without extra effort: NVidia drivers and Broadband Wireless.

More updates when I have a little more time.  If you have played around with it and find it better (or worse) than a previous version post away… oh and the new “DarkRoom” theme is McAwesome!

The New Microsoft Seinfeld Ad

I imagine when the news that Microsoft first signed Jerry Seinfeld for 10 Million dollars to push Vista, that Steve Jobs and Co. at Mac had this “oh, this can’t be good” feeling in theirlower intestinal regions.  Well the ad is out.. and it is just bizarre.

Ad-man-super-genius, Roy Williams, has often said, “know what to leave out.”  But in this case It’s almost like an admission that Vista does suck.

That wind ablowin’ is a collective sigh of releif from Mac.

Cup of Ubuntu anyone?

Top 4 Alternatives to Ubuntu Linux

If you stop by here often or get my feed, it is probably no secret, I like Ubuntu.  One of the great things about Linux is that it comes in other flavors and even people using the same distribution (“distro”) as you may have loaded a theme or customized it (see my last post) so that it look very little like your own.

If Ubuntu is not your thing, that’s fine.  But don’t give up on Linux because of one experience with one distro.  E-Linux.it has some (4) good Ubuntu alternatives they like along with the pros and cons they saw.

Ubuntu Linux really is a good choice for most computer users.

I had just said this very thing to a guy not 2 hours ago.  Ubuntu is perfect for the average person online today.

For example, in a desktop environment in which users just need a simple Web interface, basic word processing and a spreadsheet, an open source package like Ubuntu running Open Office would be perfect. These users don’t need the bells and whistles of a Microsoft Office.

At the other end of the scale, for a SME that is growing and has constantly changing needs – it may need to implement CRM or workflow management and be able to build this up over time or adapt it to enable changes in the business strategy – then open source is absolutely the way to go. Open source allows for rapid change, customisation and greater flexibility.

ITWeb :SMEs must consider open source.

Linux grows UK PC market share | IT PRO

From across the pond:

Linux reaching a record 2.8 per cent share last month [in the UK] pointed to an increasing appetite for OS alternatives, much like other research has found. Wanna read the full story?

Keep in mind this is up from .1 percent in early 2007.

The main reasons (besides Vista frustration) are Ubuntu has made it easier for people to get started in Linux and it sure helps Dell is pre-loading Ubuntu on some machines.

If you are frustrated with Vista, or just want to give this Linux thing a try, don’t be afraid. You may have to learn a couple new things (like burning an iso image to a CD) but there are some great guides online that make it easy.  Heck, you can even Skype me and I’ll help you if I can.  The biggest question most people have is “can i go back if I don’t like it.”  Absolutely.  Ubuntu (and nearly ever version of Linux) has a “Live CD” where you can put a CD in the drive, reboot and it bypasses (but doesn’t touch) your operating system with Ubuntu running completely from the disk and your memory.  Keep in mind this is much slower than how it will actually run.  But it is a great way to get a peak at it and see if it will work well with your hardware. When you are done, log out, remove the disk, reboot and you are back in Vista (burp – I just threw up in my mouth a little typing that).