Ubuntu

Some time back, many of the users of the Sunder Junkies web site including GP, D-Day and I had some discussions concerning Linux. It is a fact that several of the players have a Linux install somewhere, if it's on a second drive, and older machine, a back-up machine or whatever, there are those of you that have a Linux Box. I would like to spend a little time today to discuss Ubuntu.

Ubuntu is a self sustained Linux organization that is brought to us by one man. His idea is that an OS should be free and user friendly. Ubuntu is sponsored by a UK Company called Canonical Ltd and is owned by Mark Shuttleworth. Here is the Wiki description “Ubuntu (pronounced /uːˈbuːntuː/[3] oo-BOON-too),[4] is a computer operating system based on Debian GNU/Linux. It is distributed as free software. Ubuntu's goals include providing an up-to-date, stable operating system for the average user, with a strong focus on usability and ease-of-installation. Ubuntu has been selected by readers of desktoplinux.com as the most popular Linux distribution for the desktop, claiming approximately 30% of their desktop installations in both 2006 and 2007.”

I have a Ubuntu installation on my Gaming machine that I use for emails and web surfing and just generally trying to learn some about Linux. I use Ubuntu 8.10 (Intreped), but I think the latest version is 9.04 (Jaunty Jackalope). I am not real sure where they get the code names, but I admit some are interesting. I had tried the 9.04 version, but I have a high end sound card installed and it requires proprietary drivers to operate within Linux. I have the drivers for Linus, installed them with little or no trouble, but they simply would not work. They worked fine in 8.10. I had the option of using the onboard sound from my motherboard (which is very nice) and using the sound card in Windows, but that would require me to move plugs around every time I booted into one or the other OS and it sort of defeated the purpose of having the expensive sound card in the first place so I decided to go back to version 8.10 and I am happy with that edition (s0 far).

The Ubuntu installation looks and feels a lot like a Windows install for those of you that have wanted to try Ubuntu (or another Linux distribution). There may be some of you that think that they do not know how to operate Linux and wouldnt know what to do with it if they installed it. To that I say, what do you do with Windows? Can you use a mouse and click on Icons? Can you navigate a drop down menu and select the program you want to use? If you can do these things, then you can use Ubuntu.

Ubuntu comes packed with many (if not all) of the things you might want (for the average user and many for the advanced users). Firefox is the default browser and it comes already installed. I do not think that you can use Internet Explorer (I could be wrong), but there are other browsers already installed (or available for install) that look and operate similar to IE. Microsoft Office? Well, no, but Ubuntu comes with Open Office pre-installed and ready for use. It includes a database program, a spreadsheet program, a presentation program and a word processor (I used it to write this article). Outlook? Again, I dont think you can use it, but Ubuntu comes with a program called Evolution that has all (or most of) the goodies that Outlook does. You can set up rules, it has a junk mail/spam filter, a calendar, a contacts list, a memo list (stick pads like post its) and a things to do list that can be prioritized. Outlook Express or Windows Mail user? How about Mozilla's Thunderbird? Very powerful, yet simple to install and use. Just ad a couple of plug-ins for it and it also rivals Outlook, but easier to use.

Let's review, most users use their PC to get on the internet and Ubuntu lets you do that. Many if not all users like to get their personal email and Ubuntu can do that. Some folks use spreadsheets and Word Processing or databases for personal use or homework or bringing work home to do, Ubuntu gives you all those tools (and for the most part with few exceptions, Open Office can and will open MS Office documents or spreadsheets and allow you to save them in that format). So what else? Oh yeah, some folks like to listen to music or download music or “rip” music. Hmm, yeah, Ubuntu can do that too and they have some very nice tools pre-installed that let you do that (even in MP3 (shudder) format). For those of you that like to chat or “instant message”, Ubuntu comes with a program installed that allows you to log into most of the on-line clients like Yahoo Messenger or Windows Messenger or AOL Instant messenger.

What I am missing? Oh yeah, gaming. Ok, maybe you got me here. I cant play Mercs on Ubuntu. I can play many games that are available on the internet and Ubuntu comes with some interesting games with MANY, MANY MORE available to download and play for free including many multi-player games. There is a program called Wine that can be downloaded and installed (for free) that allows you to play SOME Windows games in a Linux installation. I have tried it for some things and it is very easy to do, but sadly Mercs is not one of those things.

Let me put something out there for everyone to understand. I am not a programmer. I do not write code, read code or even understand code. I am a PC user that digs a little deeper into how things work so I understand what is wrong “if” there is a problem and I can (most of the time) work my way out of it, but I am not a programmer. For the most part, I am Joe User like many other people out there.

That being said, I wanted to try Linux and I read about the many different versions available and I decided on Ubuntu. I downloaded the program and copied it to a CD so I could install it. Ubuntu allows you to run it without installation so you can get a feel for how it works. It also installs a dual boot option if you have a Windows Machine running that you want to install Linux on and it works great, very simple. The hardest part about the entire install is deciding how much hard drive space to give to Ubuntu IF you only have one hard drive (HINT: 40 gigs is PLENTY). This is a real simple process and Ubuntu has a utility that comes up during the installation to help guide you through the process.

Ubuntu also has a notification if there are updates to ANY program you installed (assuming you added the repository for “special” programs, but more on that in a bit). You can manually check, but you get a notification that there are updates available to you. A simple click or two and you are downloading and installing updates to keep you safe and secure and running smoothly.

Ubuntu (most Linux installs) use what they call repositories to store all the programs and updates. This is all online. You can add or delete a program simply by selecting it from a list of “stuff” available to you. Click the program on the list and click the install button and moment later (depending on your connection speed) that program is downloaded, installed and ready for you to use. There are MANY programs out there that you can use. If you are looking for a specific program and it is not in the Ubuntu repositories, then you can go to their web site and download a Linux version of it (in most cases) and you can add the repository to your list so that you will get a notification of any updates.

Many of you have heard of this “command line” and “you have to use scripts to do certain things” statement. Well, there is a command line and little windows called terminals that allow you to sue commands and scripts, but you dont have to for most of the everyday things that you use your PC for. Ubuntu is simple to use, safe, stable and actually pretty cool and fun.

This brings me to the next segment of my post today. To get Ubuntu (or most any other Linux installation) you have to either download it, get it from a computer geek magazine or even buy it at a local store like Best Buy (Red Hat for example). The downloads are free and so is the OS (with some exceptions) such as Ubuntu but here is the issue. To download, create a CD for installation and finally install it, you must already have a PC. IF you ALREADY have a PC, you probably already have an OS such as some form of Windows. IF you already have Windows (and you like it and it lets you do what you want to do) then why would you be interested in a free Operating System? Other than to be a geek like me and try it out and learn about it, you dont need it, or that is how I see it.

Think about it. You (most likely) have a version of Windows that you use most of the time and you know how to use it and you are comfortable with it even if you just read the news online or read your joke emails. So why do you care if you COULD have a FREE Operating System? You ALREADY have one. Why do you NEED another one?

Ok, well heres the deal. Assuming companies (like Dell and yes they do offer this) would build computers and install Ubuntu on them, the cost of the machine drops considerably. Horse stuff you say? Well lets look at it.

Most computers for home users consist of the following items
A motherboard. This device CAN have a audio chip (and now days they actually sound VERY good with 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound capabilities) and a video chip in lieu of a video card. For our example, this User Friendly Computer will have a motherboard with both sound and video on-board.
A hard drive.
An Optical drive. Now days most are DVD Burners that can play DVDs and CDs as well as burn both.
A power supply.
A processor with heat sink.
Some Memory (we will go with 2gigs for this model)
A fan or two.
A chassis. To put everything in.
A keyboard.
A mouse.
A monitor. Most do not come with a monitor, but you do NEED one.
Windows (XP or Vista) pre-installed. The OS.
Now because Dell builds literally millions, but we will say thousands, of these they get special pricing on all the components. They even get a deal from Microsoft on the cost of the OS that comes installed on your PC. If you and I were to build one, our price would be a little more expensive.

Lets look at that using US pricing from a well respected Computer store such as NewEgg.com or TigerDirect.com.
Motherboard – I went with an AMD motherboard of average ability (not top of the line, but certainly will use the latest chips and memory) ASUS M3A78 = 80$ (round up)
Hard drive – I selected a SATA drive (WD or Seagate, both were reasonable) 320gig with a 16gig cache OEM model (usually cheaper than retail, but they dont come in the pretty boxes) – 50$ (CHEAP!!)
Power Supply – for this machine, you dont need a big, honkin, electricity draining, power supply, 350 to 400 watts is plenty and gives you power to expand upon later in life. I selected a nice, name brand model with a BIG fan, Coolmax 400watt with a 120mm fan – 28$
Processor – We used an AMF motherboard so you have to use an AMD processor. I selected an AMD Athlon II X2 250 Dual Core (3.00ghz, 2mb cache, 2000Mhz) in a retail box that includes the proper heatsink – 95$
Memory – I try to always use good, quality, name brand memory. This avoids nagging trouble in the future. Its usually a bit more expensive, but worth it in the long run. I selected Crucial Ballistix PC8500 DDR2 – 36$ (this is 2 1gig strips, or 2gig total)
Fans – cooling is very important – 2 80mm noiseless fans Ultras – 15$ ea or 30$
Chassis – something simple, yet allows plenty of air flow and room for expansion. I selected a Thermaltake M9 with a 120mm fan on the rear and front access for USB ports, sound and firewire. 70$
Keyboard and Mouse – I LIKE nice keyboards that are soft touch and dont make lots of noise when you push the keys, but for our example here, just a simple keyboard and scroll mouse combo. Logitech 350 USB keyboard with an 800dpi optical USB mouse. Combo price – 25$
Monitor – Monitors are very import and they need to be easy on the eyes as well as fast (for gaming). I selected a Sceptre 19” Widescreen LCD with 5ms response and a 10000 to 1 contrast ratio. Not the best but very nice – 110$.
Optical Drive – DVD burner (22x, RW 8x) sata with Lightscribe from LG – 30$
The OS – Vista Home Prem 64 bit – 110$

Total – 634$. This is a decent machine but it DOES NOT have a separate Video Card or audio card. It will do some games, but not many. If we remove the OS, the price drops to about 524$ or 525$. If you go to Dell.com and look at their similar machine, the price is about 480$ with the OS pre-installed (Windows Vista Home Prem. Version, 64 bit.) and it has an Intel Dual Core instead of an AMD. Another 40$ gets you the 19” monitor instead of a 17”. raising our Dell price to 525$. If you order a machine from Dell with no OS, the price drops another 100$ or roughly 425$.

If you had Ubuntu on a disc and you bought the stuff to build a PC, or had someone like Dell build you one with no OS, you save roughly the cost of the OS or somewhere around 100$. IF you didnt have a PC and you wanted to build you own, you would need to go to the library or a friends house to order the parts, but you still may NOT have the OS (unless your friend lets you use his or her burner and copy the OS to Disc.)

Wait!!! How about this? Remember when AOL used to send you those damned old CDs to try to get you to sign up for their service? (I used mine as christmas ornaments) What if Canonical did that with Ubuntu? They could send out millions of discs for people to install their OS. This could work. You wouldnt need to download it or burn it to disc, and you wouldnt need to bug your friends or neighbors. Just use that junk mail they sent you and install it on your PC. The numbers of users would certainly go way up. I also think that the number of people who kept it installed, or used it as a primary OS would also increase. Hmmm, I see a major suggestion coming here....

In the meantime folks, if you havent tried Linux because you were afraid or you thought it was too hard to use, maybe you should think again. If I can do it, you can. If you can use Windows, you can use Ubuntu. Its as hard as you make it. Its as easy as you make it. Why not give it a try, especially if you have and older PC sitting around collecting dust and not being used.