Ubuntu Linux Help

After switching to a Linux based system (Ubuntu in this case), I thought there were a lot of options (applications like Amarok or commands like apt-get) unavailable to Windows users. In many respects it was an eye opener and I wanted my friends to at least try switching. Here’s what people contemplating a switch need to know.

Some people will think you and Linux are too technical and difficult. Some people might thing it a funny. But, keep in mind that many people are resistant to change. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think it’s that much of a change, really. It’s just that people often have preconceptions and many are easily swayed by the much of the media into believing that anything other that purchased proprietary software is either too difficult to use, install or configure. To be rather blunt, that is totally false and misleading.

Realistically, do expect a learning curve (but it’s not too difficult) in terms of where to click or where to look on your desktop. There will also be many new things you can enjoy and do with your computer. And you are still able to use your Windows based applications if you wish. (I’ll blog about how to use your Windows application software (on Ubuntu) in another post).

The first thing I noticed was how helpful the Open Source community is. When I did not know how to do something or had a question, all I had to do was Google it and get quality answers. Some of my bookmarked resources are:

Ubuntu Forums - ubuntuforums.org
Answers to just about anything. If you need help, chances are someone has already found a solution. Lots of step-by-step solutions and help.

Linux Forums - linuxforums.org/forum/ubuntu-help
The posts can get a little technical for some of us, so I’d suggest a little more experience in the “lingo” first.

Ubuntu Guide - ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu_Feisty
Literally a “How to” for just about anything!

My productivity improved greatly. I found that linux made more efficient use of my hardware and the system seemed to run faster. You will also find out that there are a slew of great software packages that are easy to install and use. You may find that the transition to your new system is a lot easier that you had imagined – At least that’s what I realized.

I found I spent less money, than when I was using Windows. Ubuntu is free to obtain and install (See how to get a copy here: How to Install the Perfect Ubuntu Based Computer – Introduction).

I never have to reboot! Well, more accurately, reboots are rare. After updating, upgrading or installing software I can keep working right away without a reboot. Also (because of the increased stability) I can better use suspend and hibernate features. This is great when working on a project and you want to continue were you left off at a later time. (Unfortunately with Windows, I did have trouble with this).

Drivers might be a problem. Sometimes a vendor won’t ship a driver for their hardware, a current common issue I read about ATI video cards not working as expected. Currently however Ubuntu has better hardware support out of the box than the other two mainstream Os’s (Windows and OSx), primarily because of incredible community support! (And the ATI video card driver issues are being solved as I write).

For those of you who are experiencing ATI driver issues, here’s a good resource: “Ubuntu ATI proprietary display driver installation through APT”

Don’t spend hours searching for a solution, fix or tweak. I found it’s much faster and effective to log into a forum and ask. I wish I had realized this from the start, it would have saved me a lot of time. I think that’s one of the most important things I learned. How to find information and when to ask.

This work by James House is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.