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Hard Lessons Learned-Ubuntu/Xandros Linux

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by mattie289404 2 views

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When I saw that Dell was selling laptops with Ubuntu on them I thought I would give it a try. Now I am working on my Linux+ certification because it fits well with my A+/Networking+ and I'm hoping it will open some more doors. BUT, I was not always this enthusiastic. First experience with Ubuntu was grief. Couldn't get my wireless to work with it and the Ubuntu forums are jam packed with problems so its hard to get a good answer especially if you have no experience on the Linux command line. To make a long story short: If you want wireless don't waste your time downloading Ubuntu or OpenSuse. However, I was determined and when I downloaded Fedora, voila! Picked everything up and works like a charm. Then, I bought a computer from System76. They make only "Ubuntu software" computers and that one also is working like a champ. So, two things, download an ISO image, use Fedora if you want wireless. Buy a computer, use System76 for laptop with Ubuntu and if you want a neat little netbook Amazon.com has the ASUS EEE Netbook for around $400 with Xandros (another LINUX) Pre-installed and it works wonderful..so I am officially off the Windows but wanted to pass my bumps on so you can make an informed decision.

5 replies

by tony hopkinson

Fedora, didn't.. All depends on the kit, the probe software and the installer.

Off the shelf, pre configured worked, hardly a surprise it it?

Why do you think windows comes pre-installed, so it looks like it just works....

by mattie289404

I know but Linux distributors are not helping themselves by adding a Live/Install CD to a reference book then it doesn't work. That why so many people get frustrated. They hear its free, so they try it and not working..I know free doesn't mean Free, it just means free open source code not free disk.

by tony hopkinson

That's like saying you should go in a car shop pick up the nearest oil filter and it should fit your engine. Or every oil filter should come with a universal connection to any engine.

It's the expectation that's at fault, not the 'manufacturers'.

I don't expect windows to just work if I go put some hardare combo together and do a fresh install.

I do expect that if I buy a pre-installed OS on an off the shelf piece of kit, that it works. That's what I'm paying for.

No appliance user, should do an install. Live CDs, were a way of finding if it was a goer on your set up (and if you liked it), without rendering what ever you have now unusable.

Look at Vista on netbooks, or budget buy laptops....
Nothing to do with open/ closed source from a technical point of view.

by santeewelding

That's it:

"I don't expect windows to just work if I put some hardware combo together and do a fresh install."

That explains what I've been doing all along.

And the nightmares.

by dhcdbd

Never had a problem with wireless in any distribution I have ever used. Ubuntu, Debian, Slackware. Sometimes I have had to install the b43-fwcutter wrapper (now b43), but I have never had a problem with wireless.

I have had problems getting the onboard microphone working with different programs. The Ubuntu forums are not always the best sources of information; sometimes you need to look at other distributions and try the suggestions there.

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