[Cloud9...68]

It seems that I started my discussion about my pleasure with Google Chrome, which meandered to, among other things, a brief discussion about Ubuntu, one of Linux's operating systems, in the wrong category. So, with Rhudeboy having piqued my interest in Ubuntu, I decided to start a new thread about it, here in Non Porsche 968 Related Discussions.

I read through Wikipedia's description of it, but it left me with several questions:

1. Does Ubuntu replace Windows as your computer's operating system, or does it somehow run in parallel with it? If it replaces it, do you actually have to uninstall Windows (I'm guessing no)?

2. If you keep both operating systems on the computer, it seems that it could bog the system down quite a bit, and yet Rhudeboy said the computer operates much faster once Ubuntu is installed. How can this be?

3. If the two operating systems somehow run in parallel, can software which isn't available for Ubuntu (I'm thinking Magic Jack and possibly Quicken as two primary examples) run on Windows? Not being able to use Quicken or Magic Jack would be a deal breaker for me.

4. Ubuntu needs a minimum of 512 megs of ram, and a 1 GHz processor. My computer has (please don't laugh) exactly 512 MB of RAM (although it has a 1.4 GHz Anthlon processor). Does the fact that my system has the bare minimum required RAM make using Ubuntu a bad idea?

Thanks in advance. Oh, and another quick plug for Google Chrome - it has a built-in spell-checker! Woo-hoo! OK, I really do need to get out more...

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[Monstrous4Banger]

Hi cloud, Ive been a Linux user for about 6 years, starting with slackware 8, iirc, its been a minute. Ubuntu is quite nice, and polished for the enduser. To me, there are two schools of thought to a linux noob [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img] . A. dive in head first into a more advanced flavor like slackware, or gentoo B. start with something more polished and configured out of the box, with easy to use packages, like ubuntu. Ubuntu is nice because it uses debian repositories, which is pretty robust, and apt-get is pretty easy to use. There are advantages to both schools of thought. Linux is actually a great way to utilize an outdated computer.

Il try to answer your questions as best i can.

Q:1. Does Ubuntu replace Windows as your computer's operating system, or does it somehow run in parallel with it? If it replaces it, do you actually have to uninstall Windows (I'm guessing no)?
A: There are 3 options really. 1: wipe your windows partition, and go full linux 2: setup 2 seperate partitions on your HD, and dual boot linux, and windows, 3: use those 2 partitions and run them simultaneously, with a virtual machine like VMware. With VMware, you could run linux, and whichever desktop environment you choose, and use windows as a peripheral....just click on the icon, and run win in its own window on your desktop.

Q:2. If you keep both operating systems on the computer, it seems that it could bog the system down quite a bit, and yet Rhudeboy said the computer operates much faster once Ubuntu is installed. How can this be?
A: Well, running both at the same time in something like a virtual machine would require more memory. Dual booting(2 installed only one runs at a time) one OS at a time, wouldnt require any more memory, the other OS that isnt running would just be data taking up space on your HD. Ubuntu is faster, because it is more efficient, and more stable than windows. In other words it requires less memory than windows, therefore makes the most out of what memory you have, thats why it runs faster with less. Kinda like power to weight in a car. 100hp is a lot in a car that weighs 1000 lbs.

Q:3. If the two operating systems somehow run in parallel, can software which isn't available for Ubuntu (I'm thinking Magic Jack and possibly Quicken as two primary examples) run on Windows? Not being able to use Quicken or Magic Jack would be a deal breaker for me.
A: Yes. if you run a virtual machine, you could run windows, and most all programs, and apps on your linux desktop, or just boot into win(dual boot) when you want to use win only software. Otherwise youll need a memory upgrade to run both at the same time. If memory upgrade is not
an option, try running a really lightweight desktop environment like xfce, their are quite a few options for lightweight DE's. They wont be as pretty, and have all the bells and whistles, but they are fast, and lightweight, requiring less memory.

Q:4. Ubuntu needs a minimum of 512 megs of ram, and a 1 GHz processor. My computer has (please don't laugh) exactly 512 MB of RAM (although it has a 1.4 GHz Anthlon processor). Does the fact that my system has the bare minimum required RAM make using Ubuntu a bad idea?
A: You should be fine. Again like I said in A:3, you can run a lightweight DE like xfce if your system is slower, the great thing about linux, is there is nothing you cant do if you have the skills. You want it lightweight to run on little memory, then configure, and install to your preference. Ubuntu will run on very, very little memory, if your not scared of a command line interface.

This is a good read for people looking to run ubuntu with lightweight requirements.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installat...owMemorySystems

These flavors of ubuntu might interest you. fluxbuntu, lubuntu, xubuntu, kubuntu(pretty and polished, but more memory requirements), they are basically ubuntu with different desktop environments. There are many choices really.

Hope this helps.

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[Cloud9...68]

Thanks for the quick and very detailed response. As I think about it, though, I don't see how Linux would be a good option for me, primarily because for my Magic Jack VOIP to work, I need to have my computer, and Windows, running 24/7. The main things I use this computer for are surfing the web, which Google Chrome does a great job with, balancing my checkbook on Quicken, and tracking key pieces of information like my stock trades and my cars' maintenance records. That's really about it - no photos (I'm allergic to cameras [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img] ), iTunes (I'm one of maybe four people on the planet who doesn't own an MP3 player), or serious documents of any kind. Now, if Google Chrome runs even faster with Ubuntu (which I don't see how it could be the case), I might be convinced to try it, but given my circumstances, I don't seem like a great candidate for Ubuntu, other than the fact that I have an old machine that I'd like to keep alive as long as possible.

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[rhudeboye]

'Cloud9...68' iTunes (I'm one of maybe four people on the planet who doesn't own an MP3 player

[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

Looks like M4Bang answered the question quite well. I'm all ways a bit sadden when people opt out of Linux because of the great Windows monopoly. Many wont go Mac for the same reason. Really is a shame that a better product, which happens to be free, cant over take the MS giant. Perhaps someday...

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[Cloud9...68]

I would consider it if my Magic Jack voip could run with it, but as I said, this is a dealbreaker, because there's no way I'm going back to the confiscatory pricing the phone companies want for a land line, which we seldom use.

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[Monstrous4Banger]

Looks like it is doable in a few ways. Run a virtual machine, use WINE, or another SIP client that uses your user/pass. Kind of like trillian if youve ever used it. Looks like it just uses the SIP protocol. Other SIP clients could work. Looks like a native driver is still in the works.

"Magic jack uses the standard SIP protocol. You just have to figure out the user name and password that they give you and then put that into to the client and then you can make calls.

http://magicjackhacks.blogspot.com/2...-sip-info.html

Software sip clients:

http://www.google.com/search?source=...=Google+Search

I use kphone on linux.

Or you can get a hardware sip client, an ATA (analog telephone adaptor), that you can plug any standard phone into: This one goes for $30 http://www.grandstream.com/ht286.html

Google voice is supposed to do the same but be free: http://www.google.com/voice/about

I haven't tried either one though."



http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/li...ic-jack-724272/
http://www.magicjacksupport.com/i-finally-...inux-t6952.html
http://www.magicjacksupport.com/using-magi...-linux-f15.html

Linux is kinda like owning a 968, or any old car. Half the fun is tinkering on it. I do prefer it to windows, for several reasons. Its not for everyone tho. Ubuntu, is kind of the exception.

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[rhudeboye]

Was doing a bit of reading as Im really enjoying Kunbutu and wanted to share this point.

"However, if you've got an older computer that is starting to feel sluggish but you either don't want to or can't afford to buy a new computer, give Ubuntu a go. You'll get an up-to-date operating system running quite smoothly on your out-of-date computer'

We all have that old PC lying in the basement. If you have the time and like learning new things. You got t=nothing to loose. I'm doing this more so for the kids. I want them to understand the PC world outside of MS

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/...windows7-review

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[Monstrous4Banger]

Yeah teach em linux early, introduce em to cisco operating systems early, theyll be making bank by high school. LOL No need for you to shell out for college. If they want to go into IT, the cost of certification tests will be nothing in comparison. They should ace the certs, if theyve been learning since they were toddlers, wont be foreign or new to them later in life. Definitely a one up. Backbone is mostly cisco, and unix/linux. Not many people know those OS's compared to regular end users, thats why they get paid a lot. Associate certs arent even that hard really. Engineer certs are quite involved, but if youve already got a solid foundation, wont be hard to build on. I think cisco engineers make 6 figures +. You can take prep tests for free. Cisco associate, with some thing like a linux+, 40-60k. Although even people with certs have a hard time finding a position in this economy. Still plenty out there tho, might have to be willing to relocate tho.

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