Ubuntu For Netbooks

[ericinboston]

Ubuntu, a Linux Operating System, has been around for awhile and arguably the most user friendly Linux OS for the Linux newbie.

Here is a direct link to all the Netbooks that their Ubuntu Netbook Remix edition has been tested with:

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupp...hines/Netbooks

Very nice of those Ubuntu folks to create such a webpage.

I am not a Linux guru by any means, but if you have a successful backup of your Netbook (see my other post here about how to back up your computer) then you might wanna try Ubuntu just to see how much faster it is than Windows...and how surprisingly similar it is to Windows (especially if you are just surfing, doing online stuff, opening PDF docs, and/or running the SAME software you normally run on Windows). It comes pre-loaded with FireFox, a ton of apps/games, and even OpenOffice (MS Office competitor) which is sweet. My installation, brand new with all the updates, is about 5gigs. Personally I find Linux much faster than Windows (yes, on the same machine) and Firefox is blazingly faster than IE or even FF on Windows.

-Eric

[cokids]

Thanks for this Eric,

How much time did it take to install and begin using this easily? I note that it runs on my netbook w/ few problems, but don't wish to spend a lot of time downloading or configuring it!

Beth

[ericinboston]

Originally Posted by cokids

Thanks for this Eric,

How much time did it take to install and begin using this easily? I note that it runs on my netbook w/ few problems, but don't wish to spend a lot of time downloading or configuring it!

Beth

Hi...it took me about 15-25 mins to download it, burn it to a cd, then about 15 mins installing it...literally.

Realistically you probably wouldn't need to add any software if you are just using it on your netbook (since netbooks are lightweight and mainly for surfing) since it installs a browser and a bunch of things already.

Give it a whirl...like I said, I'm pretty much a Linux beginner...and as someone who is simply playing around with Linux, I haven't had the need to install anything else. Someday I will want to...and installing things on Linux is a bit trickier than Windows since Linux handles security a little different than Windows.

Someday when the Linux programmers figure out that the average Joe just wants to download a file and double click it to install it then Linux will grow in popularity. Until that day, Linux will continue to just putter along at 4% Marketshare.

-Eric

[netkid]

I have Ubuntu on my eeepc but I rarely use it. Windows 7 won me over completely to even bother with dependencies and packages and what not. I liked it though when I played around with it. Very easy to customize, very easy to install and in fact you can run it from a usb or even as an app inside xp I believe.

By the way how do I uninstall Ubuntu?

[ericinboston]

Originally Posted by netkid

By the way how do I uninstall Ubuntu?

As far as I know there is no uninstallation process...remember, it is an operating system.

Likely you will just plop in the cdrom of the OS you wish to install, and during its Installation process you can format the drive where Ubuntu sits before installing the new OS.

[netkid]

I am guessing I'll just format everything when I get my official copy of windows 7. I'm not sure everything is supported yet on my campus so its a good idea to keep xp as a backup. My old school refused to support windows 7, so I had to boot xp to log on to the wireless.

[ThisIsNot]

As previously stated, you can either reformat your hard drive (OS storage device) or delete the partition that it is installed on. That is why I have never installed Ubuntu or YellowDog Linux on my PS3 as the hard drive has to be erased. It is just too much trouble to backup my game saves, downloaded games, downloaded game-addons, etc.

[netjunkie]

This Ubuntu OS thread would be good for the Linux OS section to make it easier to find. We found it though.

Linux is a good hobby and can keep you busy. It's good to have a Linux guru in your networking group if you want to use it. The guru can help you get around in Linux especially with driver issues and getting software not on the original install. FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) is spread by Microsoft about Linux as you can see in this recent online article. Ubuntu, or any Linux version, will not put Microsoft out of business because so many schools, websites and businesses require MS for access to their systems.

Any OS must have a file system (the format of the hard drive) and drivers (the software that actually runs the hardware). Since *all* OSes need that, none of the OSes are a problem, even Ubuntu Linux - as long as you can live with the Linux format (there are several) and have the drivers for your hardware (some hardware does not have a driver). You have to dual boot because MS and Linux leave each other alone. It's kind of like Apple and MS file systems and drivers/apps.

Ubuntu Linux can read the Windows NTFS file system but not write to it without problems. Ubuntu Linux has the drivers for my Asus 901 and 1000HE so it runs well. I put Ubuntu on a 4GB series 6 SD card and boot from it. I can then read the NTFS files to copy them to a flash drive. That's kind of handy if my Windows OS won't boot and I need to get data off the drive.

Ubuntu has a number of apps like a browser, word processor, and puzzle/card games. Just make sure you get the drivers for the wifi module, ethernet, DVD and other gear in your computer or attached to your computer like cameras and scanners. That's why there is a list of computers that have been found compatible with Linux. There is the same kind of list for computers compatible with Apple. If you are on the list, you will have fewer problems. If you're not on the list, Linux will keep you busy.

[fewt]

Originally Posted by ericinboston

Ubuntu, a Linux Operating System, has been around for awhile and arguably the most user friendly Linux OS for the Linux newbie.

Here is a direct link to all the Netbooks that their Ubuntu Netbook Remix edition has been tested with:

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardwareSupp...hines/Netbooks

Very nice of those Ubuntu folks to create such a webpage.

I am not a Linux guru by any means, but if you have a successful backup of your Netbook (see my other post here about how to back up your computer) then you might wanna try Ubuntu just to see how much faster it is than Windows...and how surprisingly similar it is to Windows (especially if you are just surfing, doing online stuff, opening PDF docs, and/or running the SAME software you normally run on Windows). It comes pre-loaded with FireFox, a ton of apps/games, and even OpenOffice (MS Office competitor) which is sweet. My installation, brand new with all the updates, is about 5gigs. Personally I find Linux much faster than Windows (yes, on the same machine) and Firefox is blazingly faster than IE or even FF on Windows.

-Eric

If you do decide to install Ubuntu, grab a copy of my utilities package. It enables all the features Windows XP users enjoy.

Upgrade to kernel 2.6.30, and get better Intel drivers:

Eeebuntu • View topic - HOW TO SOLVE SLOW VIDEO AND GET BETTER/NEWER DRIVERS

[netjunkie]

Lots of writings about your interest in Linux. I ran MEPIS Linux on an IBM desktop for over a year with two shut downs when I left for vacation otherwise it ran non stop 24/7 without problems. I've loaded Easy Peasy Linux on a SD card for my netbooks and it runs fine. If you are interested in Linux there are forums populated with help staff that deal with the specific version you want to run.

Windows/Linux: 10 differences (contrasts) here here here

Windows/Linux: more comments here here here here

OS Architecture: here

Why Linux: here