I switched to Ubuntu

Why? and How?

Litrik De Roy

www.litrik.com
www.norio.be
@litrik

Old hardware

• November 2006
• Bought 2 new laptops (Windows)
• Moved 5 year old Aldi PC to garage
• Installed Ubuntu server
• File server (samba)
• Server audio (mt-daapd)
• X10 home automation (heyu)
• Subversion server

Windows Annoyances

• Updating software
• Non-native UI
• Scripting
• New laptop = Vista
• Let's try something else...

Wubi

• Installs Ubuntu 'in' Windows
• No need to change partitions
• http://wubi-installer.org/

Hardware

• Worked
• Video card
• Wireless
• Media keys
• Webcam
• Dell XPS LEDs
• Brother network printer/scanner
• Very comfortable feeling

Existing software: available

• Firefox
• OpenOffice.org
• Eclipse
• Pidgin
• FileZilla
• VLC
• GIMP

Existing software: unknown

• Cisco VPN client
• 5250 terminal emulation
• Windows media player
• Google Picasa
• Google Earth
• Internet Explorer

Existing software: replacements

• Cisco VPN client -> vpnc
• 5250 terminal emulation -> tn5250
• Windows media player -> Rhythmbox
• Google Picasa -> Google Picasa (Wine)
• Google Earth -> Google Earth (Wine)
• Internet Explorer 6 -> ies4linux (Wine)
• Internet Explorer 7 -> Inside VirtualBox

The switch

• Deleted Wubi installation
• Deleted most Windows software
• Resized Windows partition
• Installed Ubuntu Desktop from CD

Ubuntu: What I like

• Packaging: automatic updates of all software
• Dual screen support: Windows/dialogs always open on correct screen
• Real shell scripting

Ubuntu: What I don't like

• Still need Wine and VirtualBox
• Suspend/hibernate shaky
• Dual screen support: changing resolutions = reboot
• Still need to edit configuration files
• After major upgrade, something is broken
• Hardware: no "Works with Ubuntu/Linux"

Conclusion

• Glad I made the switch
• I'm free
• Not all good news