Ubuntu Linux Help

… in my opinion.

When talking to non Linux users, the number one thing I seem to hear (at least where I live) is the difficulty for them to set up their wireless connections. While I appreciate that the initiated are able to work with their configurations, even create powerful war-driving systems. I concede that the average Windows (XP et al) user perceives the lack of a good graphical network management interface as a deterrent to using Ubuntu, (and other distributions?).

A case in point, one of my friends works downtown (Toronto) and lives in the suburbs. Using XP, he was able to freely roam and connect to various hot-spots. About a year and a half ago, he tried Ubuntu and found the experience frustrating. When at home, things were cool and he had no problem connecting to his wireless router and surf the web. However, when he went to work, I’d invariably get a phone call asking me to talk him through the same, identical wireless setup for the 9, 000, 000′th time! If any of you are like me, I generally can fix something faster when I can see it, and very slowly when I cannot. Worse still is when the individual is trying to explain what he is looking at when he doesn’t even know! Often, I’d eventually hear an exasperated plea saying “Can’t it be like all the other Windows guys? All they have to do is boot-up and they are connected. They are joking about me”. Frustrating for him and me. Sound familiar to anyone?

There is one solution moving in this direction: “NetworkManager” and it’s for Gnome. From their site:

“Networking on Linux right now is painful for the mobile desktop user, especially in comparison to other operating systems. A laptop user should never need to use the command line or configuration files to manage their network; it should “Just Work” as automatically as possible and intrude as little as possible into the user’s workflow. NetworkManager attempts to make networking invisible. When moving into areas you’ve been before, NetworkManager automatically connects to the last network the user chose to connect to. Likewise, when back at the desk, NetworkManager will switch to the faster, more reliable wired network connection.” Read more details here: http://www.gnome.org/projects/NetworkManager/

Needless to say, I wish I had know this back then. However, perhaps it’s time to re-introduce Ubuntu to a couple people. If you are looking for great resources to see which wireless network card is compatible with Ubuntu, all the links are in this article: http://ubuntulinuxhelp.com/how-to-setup-a-wireless-ubuntu-router/

In my opinion, this is one aspect of Ubuntu that should be improved.

Enjoy!

Update: Also see this great resource from the Ubuntu Community documentation: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WifiDocs/NetworkManager also I’ve been sent this link, which shows newer users some tools to use: http://www.ubuntugeek.com/ubuntu-network-troubleshooting-tips.html