Linux. Going to take a serious look at it.

[stovebolts]

Hi Jack

HP supports most of their hardware in Linux including servers, desktops, workstations, laptops, printers and yes, many all in one print devices. Actually, HP has a very large Linux base and their preferred flavor just happens to be KUbuntu.

So, if your serious about going with Linux, and you don't want to hunt down drivers etc, stick with HP hardware. :yes

 

[Photosmith]

On the topic of linux, I finally got around to doing an install on a spare hard drive for my "main" computer. This was kind of exciting for me since it was my first 64-bit OS install. I had a few small hiccups getting Ubuntu 8.04 installed and configured correctly, but once beyond that I was quite happy with it. Ultimately I still have too much Windows-only software and hardware to give up Windows just yet, but this still gives me encouragement.

Given the fact that you need a 64-bit OS to see more than 3gb of RAM, and the fact that Vista 64-bit edition and Office are going for over $300 together, it could be a nice cost savings to switch over to linux in the future if I can find replacements for everything that I have that runs on Windows. Then again, it sounds like at least some of it will run under WINE on linux anyway. Hooray for saving money on software!

 

[Dunamite]

I am a Linux user and help on several Linux forums and blog on it. I have used it almost exclusively for ten years. I have extensive experience with most distros, but use Ubuntu as my main distro. I can also do Windows, but choose not to

I have Ubuntu installed on my desktop computer (Kubuntu 8.10, 64-bit and 9.04, 64-bit) and on my eeePC (eeeBuntu, based on Ubuntu 8.10, 32-bit). I also have about 12 other distros installed in various partitions and on SD cards. I have ever bit of eye candy and every possible desktop environment installed. Linux is m sandbox.

If I can help just ask.

 

[Lewis]

I used for a while, there was only one thing that I did not like about it. And that was, it would not let me reinstall Windows. I had to do some special stuff to get XP back. But otherwise than that, I loved Unbuntu.

 

[Vic C.]

One way to do it is to use two partitions, or two drives. Install Windows first, then install Linux. Linux will probably want to use it's boot manager and should recognize the Windows partition and add it to the boot list.

I "broke" my boot manager when I upgraded my PC at work from 2000 Pro to XP Pro. Instead of manually configuring the Linux boot manager to see the XP drive, I just decided to use the boot up option in my BIOS. :D I now pick from a list of drives to boot from.

 

[Lewis]

Yo Vic I have 2 partition programs I thought about it but never made a move to do it. I was going to dual boot Vista with XP, because I really like Vista, but I uninstalled it because a lot of vendors have not upgraded their software for Vista. I would love to dual boot Linux and Vista. I'll tell you this though, I am not going to let my Vista software go to waste. And I need to send away for the latest Unbuntu, because mine is to old.

 

[Vic C.]

If you have a fast internet, you can download it. There is a Christian version available out there somewhere too.

I haven't embraced Vista yet and probably won't, being there is a new Windows coming out in the near future. I do like my Ubuntu though.

 

[Lewis]

A Christian version? Wow now that is good new, I have to find that. Hey Vic have you let go of Windows 2000 yet?

 

[Vic C.]

Reluctantly, yes, though there is one or two features I miss that aren't in XP Pro. I miss the audio/video preview in folders that allowed you to play a a multimedia file without opening any applications.

 

[PrimeRoot]

A Plug For UBUNTU

Great idea to try Ubuntu.
I'm running the current
long term support version, 8.04.

Im using 384MB of RAM just fine on a 1GHz Athlon processor.

When I stopped smoking drugs 23 years ago I said

"I should give this to someone so it wont go to waste",

now I feel the same way about Windows:

Dont worry; reward someones brain cells:
Hurl Windows and Wine in the dumpster.

Supporting non-Windows will lead to
less proprietary monopolization
and very healthy competition.

Supporting open-source invites peer review,
which brings light to a dark trade, IMO.

I believe funneling so much to Microsoft
has really damaged the health of the net.

Having so many people hanging
on the security and certainty of one product,
with each having so much vested in that success,
is VERY UNBIBLICAL.

For example,
the $9 billion spent on fixing
Y2K was a massive
"all yer eggs in one basket"
kick in the global groin,
that was so needless. Peace.

For Ubuntu 8.04,
this Amazon Link MIGHT
provide kickback to support the host
of this forum. (?)

Its Free to download,
couple bucks if u buy a copy,
its open source.
It ran first install, without a hitch.

Updates are regular and seamless, no problems thus far.

WAY easier than installing Windows,
and no annoying "prove you are the owner" guff
AFTER you've given Microsoft an arm and leg.

Ubuntu also seems to have TONS
of excellent applications written for it.

• Like, I never had to install PERL.
  It was just here waiting like a faithful old friend.[/*:28io437n]
  
• I downloaded TrueCrypt and that runs grandly also.[/*:28io437n]
  
• Firefox written for Ubuntu seems to be
  minorly glitchy,
  in terms of some of the drag/drop features,
  some basic edit functions,
  (are they exploring mouse gestures?)
  and character coding anomalies ...
  but nothing that causes death.[/*:28io437n]
  
• Opera seems to run also, even if
  Im still leery that they are in bed with
  Lucent, but I only use it off-line.[/*:28io437n]
  
• Im not in love with any open-source firewalls yet.[/*:28io437n]

But alas, Im considering Fedora,
the open source proving ground for Red Hat...

because something... bugs me about Canonical.

Cheers Ya'll.

 

[Vic C.]

Good post, Root. One thing though:

WAY easier than installing Windows, and no annoying "prove you are the owner" guff AFTER you've given Microsoft an arm and leg.

Microsoft and most other vendors actually still own their software after you pay for it. You buy the license to use it according to their Terms. :gah

As for linux firewalls, try Watchdog. It is for KDE but runs fine in GNOME.

 

[Photosmith]

A Christian version? Wow now that is good new, I have to find that. Hey Vic have you let go of Windows 2000 yet?

I didn't see anybody else post the link, here it is: Ubuntu CE (Christian Edition)

http://ubuntuce.com/

Ubuntu Christian Edition is a free, open source operating system geared towards Christians. It is based on the popular Ubuntu Linux. Ubuntu is a complete Linux-based operating system, freely available with both community and professional support. The goal of Ubuntu Christian Edition is to bring the power and security of Ubuntu to Christians. Ubuntu Christian Edition is suitable for both desktop and server use. The current Ubuntu Christian Edition release supports PC (Intel x86). Ubuntu Christian Edition includes more than 16,000 pieces of software, but the core desktop installation fits on a single CD. Ubuntu Christian Edition covers every standard desktop application from word processing and spreadsheet applications to web server software and programming tools.

Along with the standard Ubuntu applications, Ubuntu Christian Edition includes the best available Christian software. The latest release contains GnomeSword, BibleMemorizer, BibleTime, and much more.

Ubuntu Christian Edition also includes fully integrated web content parental controls powered by Dansguardian. A graphical tool to adjust the filter settings has also been developed specifically for Ubuntu Christian Edition. These features are truly what sets Ubuntu Christian Edition apart.

 

[Dunamite]

If you have a fast internet, you can download it. There is a Christian version available out there somewhere too.

I haven't embraced Vista yet and probably won't, being there is a new Windows coming out in the near future. I do like my Ubuntu though.

There are two: Ubuntu CE and Ichtux.

Ichtux is available in the Ubuntu repositories and it adds Bible reading programmes and Christian themes, cursors, smileys and wallpapers to standard Ubuntu.

The UbuntuCE is not from Ubuntu. It has some things not found in Ichtux such as social networking and safe web browsing software with parental controls (Dansguardian). The latest version only goes as far as Ubuntu 8.04, Hardy Heron. I don't know if it will support the latest ones, 8.10 or 9.04 (which comes out in a month). It is hard for a small distro to keep up with Ubuntu's aggressive 6 month release cycle.

Both include Gnomesword, Bibletime and Biblememorizer.

I am running 8.10 64-bit now with all possible desktops plus Compiz. I prefer KDE 4.2, but am using GNOME 2.24 at the moment. Change is good. I have 9.04 installed on another partition and really like it, particularly ext4 which is fast.

I do not use any anti-virus protection and haven't for nearly ten years. Never had a virus in Linux. Or trojan or malware. I am not saying it can't happen but there are few Linux viruses in existence and most would not stand a chance unless you do something stupid such as log in as root which Ubuntu does not even allow. Ubuntu out of the box is pretty much hack proof. It has won a 3 day competition against Vista and OS/X where hackers tried to crack it. OS/X fell on the first day and Vista on the second. Ubuntu has not been cracked in three years of trying.

I have never had to defragment a Linux box and I have used it heavily using all possible file systems and there are many. In all of the years that I have used it, you can count on one hand the number of times that Linux has crashed on me and I run lots of experimental distros. I have had programmes that crash but seldom the OS. You can usually get out of them with a simple hot key or at worst run xkill. Sometimes you need to do a Ctrl-Alt-backspace which shuts down X. You can log back in without re-booting.

Linux is good, but it isn't for everybody. If Windows works for you then use it. If you want something more secure and don't game then Linux may be just the ticket.

 

[PrimeRoot]

"FREE" Linux

Microsoft and most other vendors actually still own their software after you pay for it. You buy the license to use it according to their Terms.

Good point Vic. I guess I meant proving licence ownership.

Perhaps part of the relief with "freeware" has its communist planks holding it up: It sometimes SEEMS like everything including money is free these days: too easy to forget that someone bust a gut providing these things, even if they let us use it without cost. ( like this forum )

As for linux firewalls, try Watchdog...

I found "Watchdog / Gaurd dog".
http://simonzone.com/software/

Thanks.
- P.R.

 

[Vic C.]

LOL, I actually meant to post "Guard Dog" not Watchdog.

 

[Timothy]

I honestly would just install Ubuntu and download the other apps manually, you'll have a better update ability with them and won't have to wait for the overall package to be updated which tends to take longer. Plus the "christian"versions just add/change some annoying things that drive me nuts. I actually wiped my drive and reinstalled ubuntu standard after trying the christan versions.

Aside from that, no need to divide the community for linux more then it is. Its better to go out into the world then separate ourselves from it. I

 

[stovebolts]

I actually installed Ubuntu 9 at home with Firefox bundled as the standard browser on the kid's computers and they love it! They are both very surprised and happy how much quicker pages load from their favorite sites. Now they fight over how gets to go on the Ubuntu box and neither want to go on the Vista box :D

Last time I played with Ubuntu, it was version 8. I'm liking version 9 much better as it seemed to have automated many more software installs. For example, Firefox automatically updated the before I even opened it for the first time and Flash Player was much easier to install as well.