Fed up of windows. Going to install Ubuntu

Robert1986 · 2 Apr 2010 at 18:35

and I've been reading up on Ubuntu and it sounds really good. I'll still keep windows 7 on another HDD for gaming but will use Ubuntu as my main OS.

question:

I have been using windows for the past 12 years, what main difference(s) should I expect when using Ubuntu?

My main pc uses these days is just browsing the web and the odd game here and there.

Bhamid · 2 Apr 2010 at 19:16

You install software through the repositories rather than with .exe files you download off the web.

deadite66 · 2 Apr 2010 at 20:23

i'd try ubuntu in something like vmware first see if all the software you need is available.

manic111 · 2 Apr 2010 at 20:42

I'm not sure that there is that much you need to know - Ubuntu has come on so far recently, the latest version is excellent and very easy to use. The key thing is to remember that you don't want to go looking for programs online but to use the repos. Aside from that, I'd recommend just diving in

drak3 · 2 Apr 2010 at 21:00

Ubuntu has the Ubuntu Software Center from which you can install/remove any software you might need/think of.

It is like a software shop, free of course. You search for what you need and you click. Download/installation/setup is automatic. Can also remove it if you want etc.

The only "problem" is that you don't get the very latest as the stuff that goes in the center is checked/packaged etc. But it is stable/checked software you need anyway.

Pretty much that' it. In case you need windows stuff, you can get Wine from the Ubuntu Software Center and install the windows app via the .exe as you are used to (chances are it will work OK, but sometimes it won't. For example Office 2007 works fine..)

Ubuntu is VERY good, especially the new 10.04 (currently beta) I am on with the new themes and visuals.

PS: nVidia graphics driver support is excellent, not much for ATi though. ATi promised to catch up with 10.4 Cats .. time will tell.

Randomface74 · 3 Apr 2010 at 00:19

you'll come across a lot of things you can't do very easily, and then you'll be back on windows.

deadite66 · 3 Apr 2010 at 00:30

got really peed off with ubuntu today, tried to install it on this new pc for the first time and keep getting DRDY sata drive errors, just can't insatll it on this machine. :/