I wanted to create a short list of sites to visit for new Linux users. I have been using Ubuntu for a few years now and I still visit some of these sites (especially when new versions come out and I have to fix some bugs).

1. http://www.linux.org/lessons/beginner/toc.html is a very detailed site to help with many of the problems people have when they are new to Linux. The twenty lessons offer info from partitioning to the ‘grep command’ to even X-Window Configuration.

2. http://www.linuxrsp.ru/win-lin-soft/table-eng.html shows a great comparison chart of Windows programs and the Linux equivalent. Simply look for the program you would usually use in Windows and see the available Linux programs that does the same (or similar) thing(s).

3. http://ubuntuforums.org/ – this is the main forum site for Ubuntu users. If you use another distro then their particular forum site will be useful to you. Simply google your distro and the word forums. The Ubuntu forums have helped solve many of my little problems. Forums also give you the opportunity to ask for help with your particular problem (provided you can’t find that problem anywhere else in the forums).

4. http://tuxradar.com/content/linux-tips-every-geek-should-know – this site simply lists a bunch of tips ‘every geek should know’. Take a read through and you will learn something new, even if you’re an experienced Linux user. If you’re new to Linux, I would recommend you stick to the ‘Easy’ difficulty tips on this site.

I decided to come up with a poll in the hope to provoke some comments. I want your opinions!

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I’ll start:

I am an Ubuntu user. I have used Mandriva and OpenSUSE before but decided on Ubuntu in the end. The biggest thing I like is the community. I can find out how to do anything because there is such a big community of users. I managed to get things done a lot faster as an Ubuntu beginner than I managed with either Mandriva or OpenSUSE before.

I would have to say Ubuntu is a great beginner Linux distro. The ’safe’ choice. It’s also nice because I know it’s going to work for me day in and day out. If you are someone who loves to delve into the mysteries of computer systems then you will probably find another distro more appealing, but for now I will be sticking with Ubuntu.

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I will also say that I am a GNOME user. I tried KDE first and disliked it so much that GNOME was such a breath of fresh air. I have not used any other environment I’m sorry to say, but may be willing to try if you persuade me in the comments.

By now most of you probably know that the newest version of the Ubuntu has been released. Ubuntu Hardy Heron 8.04 was released about a week ago. This is the second Long Term Support (LTS) version of Ubuntu. The LTS desktop versions are supported for 3 years and the server edition for 5 years.

I have installed Hardy on my laptop (HP dv2000t) and have had few problems so far. From what I can tell Hardy seems to be a step in the right direction. For me, the jump to Hardy came from Feisty (7.04) via a fresh install. I tried Guty (7.10) but had several problems on both my latop and desktop. However, I know several people who had no problems at all. I will be upgrading my desktop in a few days and I hope the transition goes as well as it did with my laptop.

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For those of you who don’t know whats new in Hardy Heron, let me give you a quick overview. For more information, check out the Ubuntu Features page.

To start off, Wubi is now on the installation CD, so you can install it without having to download it separately. Wubi is a way to install Ubuntu from Windows. Wubi is great for people who want to try Ubuntu but are afraid of messing up their Windows installation in the process. If you try Ubuntu via Wubi and don’t like it, all you have to do is uninstall it in Windows and you’re done.

There are updated versions of all your favorite software including Gnome, OpenOffice, Firefox, Thunderbird, Pidgin, etc. There is also a new bit torrent client named Transmission which is installed by default. If you are Mac user, you are probably already familiar with Transmission. There is also a new VNC viewer installed.

For the next several Linux Friday’s I will be covering how to setup and use Ubuntu Hardy Heron. These posts will include using everything from installing Ubuntu using a Wubi, to checking your system temperatures using lmsensors. So be sure to check back for our newest Linux Friday posts. Check out the WLMTips Extras section in the sidebar to be sure you don’t miss a single post.

For some more information on the newest version of Ubuntu, visit Linux Format: Hands on with Ubuntu 8.04.

To get your copy of the Ubuntu live CD, visit the download page.

When I tell people I use Ubuntu as my operating system, usually the first thing they ask is, “What is Ubuntu?”. This is often followed by, “Why would you use Ubuntu instead of Windows?” and “Isn’t Linux only for experts?”. Today I want to answer these questions and explain the benefit of using Ubuntu or any other Linux distribution for that matter. This is similar to a recent post Which Operating System Is Right For You.

First off, Ubuntu is a Linux distribution. Think of this as a version or flavor of Linux. However, Ubuntu and Linux are not the same, there is more to Linux than Ubuntu. Linux is the core that Ubuntu runs on. This is the same for all Linux distributions.

Why would I want to switch from Windows to Ubuntu (or Linux in general)?

It’s FREE! – Who doesn’t like free? Why would you want to go out and spend a few hundred dollars to purchase the newest version of Windows when you can download Ubuntu, and nearly all Linux distributions for free? Now, I know for some of you Windows was pre-installed when you bought your new computer. This doesn’t mean you can’t use both Windows and Linux. Some of you are probably worried about using something that is free because that must mean that it isn’t any good. After all, if something were so good, why wouldn’t somebody be making money off of it? Truth be known, there is no “owner” or “CEO” of Linux. This brings me to my next point.

It’s open source- What does it even mean to be open source. This is one of the main reasons Linux is free. Open source means that the “source” code is available for anyone to download and examine. This is the main benefit Linux has over Windows. Microsoft does not allow anyone other than the MS developers to see its code so these developers are the only ones who can fix any errors or threats. If there is something wrong with part of the Linux operating system, there are thousands of people who are able to take a look at the Linux source code and fix it. This relates to problems being fixed faster.

It’s easy to install and setup- Ubuntu, and most Linux distributions, install in the same amount of time as Windows, if not faster. In the old days, the only way to install Linux was by the command line. Nowadays, most distributions come with a graphical installation. In fact, most of the time these are easier to use than the one that comes with Windows. Once installed, chances are you are already up and running. Unlike Windows, with Ubuntu common hardware is supported by default. Therefore, you wont need to waste time trying to find your drivers CD or going to each site and downloading the correct driver for your system.

It’s “faster”- One of my biggest complaints about Windows is that even after your computer boots and you log-in, you still have to wait for all the programs to start in the background. This can take up to couple minutes and becomes a real pain every time you turn on your computer. With Ubuntu you don’t have to worry about startup programs. Seconds after you log in, you are ready to go. The other thing I have noticed about Windows is over time it becomes slower and slower no matter what performance tweaks you perform. It seems like every year or so I have to reinstall Windows in order to restore its “speed.” If you use Linux you wont have to worry about this. Linux is much more efficient which allows it to always run as if it were just installed.

It’s easy to update- Are you tired of Windows and all your other programs constantly reminding you that they are out of date? Well with Linux you wont have to worry about that. Since most of your programs are installed through the operating system, it will automatically update those individual programs for you. This way you always have the most up to date version. Another one of my annoyances with Windows is that after I install, uninstall, or update anything, I am always prompted to restart my computer. With Linux you only have to restart your computer if the update is a critical system update. Therefore, you can install and uninstall just about any program without having to stop what you are doing and restart your computer.

It runs on older hardware- Are you tired of having upgrade your system with each new release of Windows. Well with Linux you can say goodbye to not meeting the minimum system requirements. In fact, there distributions that are specifically designed to run on really old hardware, aka pre-Pentium 1 hardware. In other words, no matter what kind of computer you have, there is a Linux distribution for you!

It’s secure- The Windows system you are currently using is susceptible to all kinds of security threats including viruses, spyware, and malware. Now I know if you have a good anti-virus and anti-spyware program you probably don’t have to deal with this on a regular basis. But don’t you hate it when it is time to scan your computer and it takes several hours and causes your computer to be slower than usual? After a while it becomes a hassle to keep your security programs up to date. With Ubuntu, or any Linux distribution, you don’t need to worry yourself with viruses because they are few and far between. If you want to play it safe there are some good programs you can install to make sure your Linux operating system stays virus free. Since Linux is open source, if there is a virus released, thousands of Linux users are working on the problem before you even know. Once a fix is created, everyone using Linux is prompted to update and the flaw is fixed.

It’s customizable – Yeah I know that Windows is “customizable” too, but if you want to be able to completely customize every single aspect of your operating system, you should look into Linux. With distributions such as Ubuntu each user can make the operating system look and feel just the way they want it to. In fact there are a few different versions of Ubuntu to choose from, depending on how you want it to look like. There is Kubuntu, Xubuntu, and a few others which were designed for special needs. Now with programs like beryl and compiz-fusion becoming easier and easier to install and configure, there is no reason why you can’t WOW your Vista friends with cool effects. To get an idea what I’m talking about, check this out.

Free applications – With distributions like Ubuntu you have A LOT of software available to you from the start. The first place I go to when looking for software is the “Synaptic Package Manager.” For those of you new to Ubuntu, it is located under “System” and then under “Administration.” All of the software found here is completely free and installation is literally just a click away. This sure beats having to compile the software from souce. Those of you who have had to do this know what I’m talking about. Of course there are plenty of third party programs that are not available in the Package Manager. Who ever said Linux doesn’t support enough software?

Support – Last but certainly not least is the amount of support that is available for Linux. Distributions such as Gentoo and Ubuntu are very well documented. One of the things I love the most about Ubuntu is the huge community of users. Anytime I can’t figure out how to do something in Ubuntu, the first place I look is the Ubuntu forums. This is where I have gained the majority of my knowledge about Ubuntu.

What if I’m afraid I will mess up my computer while trying Linux?

This is probably one of the coolest things about Linux, it is completely risk free. Before you install Linux, you can run it from a Live-CD. This allows you to book from a disc and test out the operating system without changing your computer one bit. There is also a project called Wubi. This allows you to download and install Ubuntu all while running Windows. Wubi actually installs Ubuntu in a folder in Windows. Wubi guides you in the installation of Ubuntu without altering Windows. This is a great way for someone who wants to try Linux and see how it performs on their machine. Everything runs the same way with the Wubi, the only difference is that it’s installed in a folder in Windows instead of a separate hard drive partition. If you don’t like Ubuntu, all you have to do is uninstall it like you would any other program in Windows.

What makes Ubuntu better than other distributions?

Currently Ubuntu is one of the most popular (if not the most popular) Linux distribution. Of course this is merely a personal preference. I have tried other distributions and have liked each of them. However, to me none of them can compare to Ubuntu. With Ubuntu everything just seems to work like it is supposed to. For me, Ubuntu ranks #1 because of its ease of use, hardware support, program packages and support forums.

What if I don’t like Ubuntu? What are some other distributions I should try?

Here are two online distribution choosers that will help you narrow down the choices based on your preferences.

Linux Distribution Chooser

What Linux Distro Should You Try?

Some of my other personal favorites include:

• Linux Mint (based on Ubuntu but has some extras installed by default)
• PCLinuxOS
• OpenSUSE
• Mandriva

So if after all of my rambling you still aren’t convinced to at least give Linux a try, check out these links for some more information.

7 reasons why you should consider Ubuntu

Have you tried Ubuntu yet?

10 reasons you need to download Ubuntu right now

13 reasons Linux should be on your desktop

As usual, these are just my opinions and I would like to hear from you guys. What is your favorite distribution and why? Even if its Windows, let us know which version and why?

Images were taken from the following places respectively:

http://www.madman2k.net/images/69/ubuntu-liberated.png

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beryl_(window_manager)

http://stemp.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/logocompizfusion.png

http://hughsung.com/images/wubi.jpg

If you are a Windows user and know someone who owns a Mac, you have probably heard the phrase ‘anything your computer can do, my Mac can do better’ . Obviously your friend is going to be partial to Mac since he owns one, but have you ever thought about which operating system is better for you? Everyone has different wants, needs, and uses when it comes to their operating system. Some people want an operating system that they are already accustomed to and familiar with because they are afraid to learn something new. Others want one that just works. They don’t want to worry about the blue screen of death, or viruses or any of that nonsense.

Below are some good and bad aspects of each operating system. Use these along with the links at the bottom of the post to decide what is right for you.

Windows:
Discover Windows Vista.

• Pros

1. Most popular operating system- software and hardware is geared towards computers running Windows. This means that almost all hardware will have drivers and support for Windows.
2. Games – Most games are written to run on Windows. If you are a gamer this is probably the operating system for you.

• Cons

1. Viruses/Spy-ware – numbers released in 2005 stated there were approximately 103,000 viruses that could potentially infect your computer; and you don’t want that.
2. Doesn’t run well on older hardware – I realize that as time goes on hardware will need to be upgraded. However, a good computer which currently runs Windows XP might not meet the minimum hardware requirements much less the recommended requirements to run Windows Vista.
3. Pricey – No matter which version of Windows you decide to buy, it is expensive (compared to Linux)!

Mac OS X:
Reasons to run Mac OS X.

• Pros

1. Great for media production – If you enjoy doing any kind of multimedia work (pictures, movies, podcasts, etc) this is probably the operating system for you. Not only does Mac have incredible programs like the iLife and iWork suites and Final Cut Pro, but it also has versions of Microsoft Office, and the Adobe suite designed to run on a Mac.
2. Can also run Windows – The new Mac computers have the ability to run Windows and Mac, as well as Linux. This gives you the most flexibility and the best of all three worlds. If you happen to have software that only runs in Windows, you can run Windows on your Mac.
3. Secure – While Mac OS X is not completely immune from viruses (yes there are a few), it is much more secure than Windows.
4. It just works! – If you are looking for an operating system that you don’t have to constantly fight with to get it to do what you want, keep Mac OS X in mind.

• Cons

1. Only designed for Apple hardware – Mac OS X is only designed to run on computers made by Apple, without having to do extensive hacking and breaking of copyright laws.
2. Not as many programs – Mac has less programs than Windows, including games. This is mostly because Windows is the most used OS.
3. Pricey – While each new version of Mac OS X is not that expensive, having to buy the new version every year can get expensive. Mac OS X is relatively inexpensive compared to Windows.

Linux:
Ubuntu Features

I realize there are a LOT of different distributions (flavors) of Linux, but I will focus on Ubuntu since it is one of the most popular distros. However, if you would like to see which distribution fits you best check out the following links:

Linux Distribution Chooser
What Linux distribution should you try?

• Pros

1. Open Source – This means that it is FREE and that the code is available for download. So if you are a developer, or just someone who wants to see what makes their OS tick, Linux is the way to go.
2. Secure – Linux is similar to Mac OS X in that there are a handful of viruses that can potentially inject a Linux computer, but this isn’t a drop in the bucket compared to Windows.
3. Customizable – There are an infinite number of plug-ins, programs, and widgets available for Linux. One of my favorites is Beryl which is now known as Compiz-Fusion. If you don’t believe me, just search Youtube
   for ‘beryl’ or ‘compiz-fusion.’
4. Runs on all platforms – Linux is designed to run on all kinds of computers. Both PC’s and Mac’s can run Linux. Using programs like Wine, you can run many Windows programs on Linux. There are also versions of Linux specially designed to run on old computers. For example, it is common to turn an old computer into a server (using Linux) where you store files.

• Cons

1. Can be difficult at times – Linux does require a little more knowhow than Windows or Mac. Whether or not Linux is difficult or not is dependent on which distribution you choose to install. The average computer user should have no problem using a distro like Ubuntu. Just because something is different, doesn’t mean that is it hard to use. Besides, who doesn’t want a challenge?
2. Few games – There are far fewer games that run on Linux than on Windows. However, look at the comment about Wine for running games in Linux.
3. Multiple monitor support – Using two monitors in Windows and Mac is usually pretty easy to setup. Some of the time it is more difficult in Linux. However, there are many tutorials on how to do this, and it is easy once you get the hang of it. Setting up multiple monitors is really dependent on what kind of video card you have (ie. if you have a cheap on board video card it will be harder to set up, if not impossible).

Here is a popular video that has aired on TV and is widely available on YouTube.

There isn’t an operating system that fits everyone. That being said, I would recommend doing a little research and playing around with each OS to find which works the best for you. And the best part is you don’t have to pick just one. You can always dual boot. In fact Mac can triple boot (Mac OS X, Windows, Linux). Look out for a later blog on how to dual boot the PC you already own!

Personally, I use Linux (Ubuntu) on my desktop and laptop. I have found that it is much more stable than Windows, and I like that I don’t have to worry about scanning for viruses, spy-ware, and other harmful files. It is nice to be able to enjoy using my computer. I still have Windows installed to play a few games (America’s Army, Trackmania, etc) and just in case there is something that I have to have Windows for (opening an MS Office 2008 file). Don’t just take my word for it, or anyone else’s for that matter. Do some research and find out which operating system suits you best.

Keep in mind that not all companies use Windows. In fact more and more are moving away from Windows, so familiarizing yourself with more than one operating system could only help you.

For more information, check out these links.

• What is the best operating system and why?
• A comparison of Linux and Windows
• Alternative to Microsoft Windows
• Why Linux is better