Think Different

That's what the Mac people said some time ago, and that is a really true statement regarding Operating Systems and one of the first things to take into account when you are entering into an unexplored territory.

This past Saturday I installed Ubuntu Linux in my computer and had a very good impression of it. At first I had a lot of trouble installing the wireless driver, attempting first to make work an open source driver I ended locking it up to the system and being unable to remove it to put the right one, so by being am ignorant on the issue I took the easy path and reinstalled the system.

Beforehand I must say I've been a Windows user pretty much my entire life and been a little far from Linux so far, due mainly because of my past job experiences. Nevertheless I truly think that you must really commit to following the rules also regarding software and that's quite an issue in a region where over 50% of the software isn't legal. Though I have all of my software legal (except one or two games, they're really expensive) I know for a fact lot of people don't have legal software and don't mind not having it, and as part of my training as a computers consultant focusing on the little user I should really get to try Open Source alternative for those people who can't afford proprietary software.

Once this issue was sorted out and the correct drivers got installed I started Experimenting

with the system, first getting the so acclaimed Compiz visual effects to work (they're really cool by the way), later putting the system a little bit more like I'm used to (Have a confession to make, love the menu bar on the bottom and the desk as clean as possible, Windows Style).

So far I've had really good impressions. among those are:

• Compiz: really cool effects. Have to keep on browsing all it's options.
• Less processor use, thus less computer overheating (I have an HP Tablet PC and they suck with the heating issue.
• More responsiveness: I have a 2.1 Ghz processor, I'm limiting it to only 5252 Mhz and having the same response, even better considering the computer isn't overheating.
• Loads of software, free, ready to use and really easy to install. Even easier than the windows software (when using Ubuntu Software Center or debian packages, so far what I've been told is that installing without one of these installers can be a real pain in the ass.

And some issues:

• Initially the problem with the wireless driver (hate being on cables nowadays)
• A little bit of confusion with all of the Compiz functions. (A brief side description of the functions would be great)
• Lacking to address the issue with the other peripherals (tablet, fingerprint, etc)
• Ubuntu restricted Extras. Thanks to Zack Whittaker experiments and the readers comments on my second install that was one of the first thing I installed. This should be default in the installation (and leave the Purist Open Source crap behind, both propietary and Open Source can co-exist).

On overall effect I really enjoyed the Linux experience and it gives me the chance to keep using the files stored in my Windows partition, so the most likely thing is that I'll keep using the system at least for a week having an intense use. Though I don't commit not to get to Windows from time to time I'll be using Linux most of the time, and I guess I'll be having a good experience. On the other hand I'm starting semester right now and will attempt to keep using Linux as most as I can. It's good for my personal experience and good for my computer (less overheating).

On a final note, thanks for Zack Whittaker for doing the experiment and giving me the push to start doing this experiment and loads of thanks to his readers for giving me the chance to receive third-hand experience advise.

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On a separate note for those techies who wonder what's my computer's configuration:

• HP Pavilion tx2500 Tablet PC
• AMD Turion x2 64 2.1 Ghz dual core processor
• 3 Gb RAM
• 250 GB hard drive, 60 Gb dedicated to Linux, 190 to Windows.
• Ati Radeon 3200 HD graphics card, using ATI/AMD propietary FGLRX graphics driver
• Wacom active passive integrated Tablet (not working the passive part yet)
• Digital persona integrated fingerprint reader
• Multi-card reader (not tested yet, though it appears to be detected by the system)
• Multimedia Buttons (working most of them to my amazement)
• Multimedia infrared control (not working)
• Iomega 1 TB driver (mounts and dismounts perefectly)
• Broadcom Wireless card using Broadcom STA Driver
• Installed OSs: Windows 7 Ultimate x64 and Ubuntu 9.10 x64