Hey Guys decided to update one of my computers and put unbuntu on there, have a few questions, as havent used linux in a few years now (last time it was a old version of redhat about 5 years ago) anyone have any recommendations on software to use? am especially interested in the following mp3/music player media/dvd player basic graphics editing program office suite email/interent (im assuming firefox/thunderbird would be ok) torrent client cd/dvd burning software ftp prog a replacement for my epson cd printing program any recommendations on what to use? cheers DD
OS - Probably Ubuntu, maybe Kubuntu. MP3 - Amarok or Rhythmbox DVD player - VLC Graphics - The GIMP Office - OpenOffice Email - Yup, or Evolution Mail in Gnome, and Konquerer Web Browser in KDE Torrent - Most distros have one now, or there's Azereus FTP - Don't know CD Printing - Nero maybe?
thanks for the info, now all ive got to do is figure out how to install it on a separate partition on my hdd have had a look around and most of the programs i currently use on xp have native linux versions, so im going to use it out for a while, and maybe migrate over to it completly if it works out well enough
well im currently typing this off a install of ubuntu 7.0.4, so far its not too bad, apart from that i cant change my screen resolution to anything higher than 1024x788, which is annoying as im using a 21" crt and normally have my screen at either 1600x1200 or 1280x1024, so everything looks HUGE! am reading up on it at the moment, but its a bit confusing as there are several different radeon drivers to use, and im not sure if any of them will help me change my screen res!
get the driver most nearest to the card in your machine. You shouldn't have any issues after that. Also, if you don't like the Gnome layout, try kubuntu which uses the KDE interface Mandriva also seemed to have some really good hardware support without the need for additional drivers too. ......Wait, isn't 7.10 out yet?
Is it the 10th month yet? And go to System - Restricted drivers to enable (on my system at least) the nVidia video driver. Enable, reboot, enjoy.
If you're using ubuntu with gnome: mp3/music player - exaile media/dvd player - totem-xine or vlc basic graphics editing program - gimp office suite - openoffice torrent client - azureus cd/dvd burning software - k3b ftp prog - gftp If you're using ubuntu with kde (kubuntu): mp3/music player - amaroK media/dvd player - kmplayer basic graphics editing program - krita office suite - koffice torrent client - ktorrent cd/dvd burning software - k3b ftp prog - konqueror Of course you can mix the kde/gnome apps as you like
cheers for the info guys, ill think ill stick with xp for now, have ubuntu on a spare hdd at the momemt, so ill have a mess around again at some point, but by the looks of it changing the screen res is going to be more hassle that its worth
Once you get it sorted Ubuntu is a dream. Im slowly fully migrating over to it on all my machines. There are still a few sticking points such as permissions for writing to external drives and a decent torrent [that i like]. Windows has become so bloated recently that its time to go.
that the main reason for me switching over, as i hardly use my pc for gaming now, so i thought linux would be the next step, as i already use open office, firefox, thunderbird, vlc and gimp so am familiar with those already ideally id like to fully move to ubuntu or another linux variant, and i could always keep windows on a seperarte drive for gaming, i think once i get the hang of it, then ill definatley completle move over to it, but for the moment with getting it working with my gfx card im going to have to stick to windows,
I had some problems with my integrated GeForce 6100 with an earlier distribution (5.something), but it looks great now. I'd just try a few different drivers if I were you, because I'd have to say that you'd probably be pretty happy with it once it's up and running. The only thing I can't get working with Ubuntu is my audio. Apparently I'm not the only one with the issue and hopefully it's something that will be sorted out soon.
well ive tried out kubuntu, works fine with my gfx card, now just trying to figure out how to install my printer on it and get it to recognise my external HDD, but looking good so far!
mp3/music player: Amarok media/dvd player: VLC (note: you will still need libcss to play dvds) basic graphics editing program: GIMP (included in most distros now including Ubuntu) office suite: OpenOffice (if you find it too much, Abiword is very good for simple word processing) email/internet: (im assuming firefox/thunderbird would be ok): Correct. Firebox is the default browser in most distros apart from a few KDE-centric ones. Thunderbird also works (and is miles ahead of Evolution/kmail) torrent client: I use Azureus cd/dvd burning software: K3b ftp prog: I use gFTP, but a lot of people don't like it. a replacement for my epson cd printing program: I have no idea. I suggest you ask at the Ubuntu forums, very helpful people. As for your external HDD, you might need to mount that manually. Ubuntu still needs a bit of work in that area unfortunately and often doesn't automount properly. Also, NTFS is read only without extra software.
