Trouble with Ubuntu

[tweetiepooh]

Linux format mag has a review of tiny Linux's this month. Some of these are really tiny indeed.

[xpod]

Originally Posted by Matty_

It`s an issue with that particular card that seems to be causing it, that seems the consensus after a lot of googleing and reading posts. Shame the mother board only has PCI slots as i`ve got spare AGP cards. Still this might just give the excuse i`ve been waiting for to upgrade my own mother board/GFX

I`m not one of these that want`s the latest and greatest, i think most of it just marketing blah blah and doesn`t make much difference (if your not a pc gamer)

Cheers for the info, i`ll take a look at LXDE, certainly liked what i saw compared to when i last tried it several years ago, seems more polished/finished!

S3 gfx are as good a reason as any to upgrade i suppose, regardless of OS.

I`m not fussed about the latest and greatest myself as it would just be complete overkill for starters, besides a total waste of money.
I am thinking about sacking my trusty old laptop here in place of a new one although i certainly wont spend any more than about £5-600 on one.....if that.

Good luck either way.

[admars]

Linux format mag has a review of tiny Linux's this month. Some of these are really tiny indeed.

I played with Slitaz for a while on my laptop, it's an amazing distro, flies like the wind, but probably not the best who want Linux to just work for them like MS Windows does. Requires a bit of thought and reading, looking forward to trying Slitaz 3 soon.

I tried lubuntu at the weekend on my PII 450, it was really disappointing, very slow, jerky mouse when browsing even after install.

however just read:
Linux Mint 8 “Helena” LXDE RC1 released!
http://www.linuxmint.com/blog/?p=1325
so that's currently downloading now to try

s3 cards were never great were they? I'm lucky the PII450 has an old Diamond Viper 550, Nvidia Riva TNT, which when I bought the PC was a brilliant card Still does the job for websurfing etc, not much good for games though. Actually the reason I knew it was time to buy a new PC, was when that one struggled to show trailers for new games!

[dave6x]

I'm running Ubuntu 9.10 dual booting with Win2000Pro SP4 on a 9 year old PC (AMD Athlon 1.33Ghz, 768MB RAM, GeForce FX5200).

Generally Ubuntu 9.10 is running satisfactorily although for most tasks Win2000Pro runs faster and smoother. I have also had graphics issues with one or 2 sites giving Java errors however having followed all the guidance from the forums I can't resolve them!!!

Installing software from the Ubuntu Software Center is simple but installing from any other source is unfortunately rather cumbersome and was not very straightforward for a newbie!

Ubuntu picked up most of the hardware OK, and Plug and Play works for most USB items, however there are no Linux drivers available for my HP 4850 scanner (I understand this is an HP failing!). I am finding it very frustrating that despite all my efforts I cannot get my USB MIDI adaptor to work, which is rather unfortunate as this old PC was relegated to my music room and is supposed to at the centre of my music projects!!!

[xpod]

Originally Posted by admars

I played with Slitaz for a while on my laptop, it's an amazing distro, flies like the wind, but probably not the best who want Linux to just work for them like MS Windows does. Requires a bit of thought and reading, looking forward to trying Slitaz 3 soon.

I tried lubuntu at the weekend on my PII 450, it was really disappointing, very slow, jerky mouse when browsing even after install.

however just read:
Linux Mint 8 “Helena” LXDE RC1 released!
http://www.linuxmint.com/blog/?p=1325
so that's currently downloading now to try

s3 cards were never great were they? I'm lucky the PII450 has an old Diamond Viper 550, Nvidia Riva TNT, which when I bought the PC was a brilliant card Still does the job for websurfing etc, not much good for games though. Actually the reason I knew it was time to buy a new PC, was when that one struggled to show trailers for new games!

I dont think i`d even bother trying any of the *buntu variants on that old thing.

Originally Posted by dave6x

I'm running Ubuntu 9.10 dual booting with Win2000Pro SP4 on a 9 year old PC (AMD Athlon 1.33Ghz, 768MB RAM, GeForce FX5200).

Generally Ubuntu 9.10 is running satisfactorily although for most tasks Win2000Pro runs faster and smoother. I have also had graphics issues with one or 2 sites giving Java errors however having followed all the guidance from the forums I can't resolve them!!!

Installing software from the Ubuntu Software Center is simple but installing from any other source is unfortunately rather cumbersome and was not very straightforward for a newbie!

Ubuntu picked up most of the hardware OK, and Plug and Play works for most USB items, however there are no Linux drivers available for my HP 4850 scanner (I understand this is an HP failing!). I am finding it very frustrating that despite all my efforts I cannot get my USB MIDI adaptor to work, which is rather unfortunate as this old PC was relegated to my music room and is supposed to at the centre of my music projects!!!

You`re comparing a modern OS with one which is now ten years old so i wouldn`t be too surprised about the older one running faster on your older hardware there.
Software installation is as simple as it comes in my opinion though, even for a complete novice.
For your java issue, if you haven`t already then make sure the sun-java6-bin, sun-java6-jre & sun-java6-plugin are all installed.....which you`ll find in synaptic of course.
The restricted extras package should also cover them for you though.

[dave6x]

Originally Posted by xpod

You`re comparing a modern OS with one which is now ten years old so i wouldn`t be too surprised about the older one running faster on your older hardware there.
Software installation is as simple as it comes in my opinion though, even for a complete novice.
For your java issue, if you haven`t already then make sure the sun-java6-bin, sun-java6-jre & sun-java6-plugin are all installed.....which you`ll find in synaptic of course.
The restricted extras package should also cover them for you though.

Xpod, Thanks for the comments, my posting was really about my experience of Ubuntu 9.10 on an old PC rather than any criticism of it!

And I agree that probably if I were to install it on my Main family desktop PC it would fly (AMD Athlon 5200B 2.7GHz, 3GB RAM). I'm well aware that many of the problems people have had with Vista resulted from installing on inadequate hardware and the same is true of Ubuntu, my main PC triple boots XP Pro, Vista Business and Windows 7 RC, Vista has given me no problems at all in this environment.

Although a relative newbie to Ubuntu I have played with Xubuntu and DamSmallLinux on an old laptop, and many years ago ran a 40 terminal business and data-gathering system under Xenix. I'm willing to delve into the forums for advice and assistance and have done all the things you suggested and more but am still having difficulties.

And here lies the problem with Linux distros. I am reasonably competent with computing hardware and software but there seems to be an attitude amongst experienced Linux users that if you can't make something work you must be a complete numpty, I know many computer professionals who have given up on Linux distros for this reason. It is unfortunate that although there are some very helpful people in the forums there is also a large and vociferous Geek fraternity that throws their hands up at yet another "stupid newbie" and says so in print!!!!

I shall persevere and master it, but many will just give up go back to Windows!

[ronald146m]

Originally Posted by dave6x

...but there seems to be an attitude amongst experienced Linux users that if you can't make something work you must be a complete numpty, I know many computer professionals who have given up on Linux distros for this reason. It is unfortunate that although there are some very helpful people in the forums there is also a large and vociferous Geek fraternity that throws their hands up at yet another "stupid newbie" and says so in print!!!!

When you ask questions on any forum, sometimes you get helpful advice from genuine people.
Other times you just seem to come across a set of dick-heads.
It's the luck of the draw.

[xpod]

Originally Posted by dave6x

Xpod, Thanks for the comments, my posting was really about my experience of Ubuntu 9.10 on an old PC rather than any criticism of it!

No worries dave6x, nothing wrong with sharing our experiences, no matter whether they`re good or bad.

And I agree that probably if I were to install it on my Main family desktop PC it would fly (AMD Athlon 5200B 2.7GHz, 3GB RAM). I'm well aware that many of the problems people have had with Vista resulted from installing on inadequate hardware and the same is true of Ubuntu, my main PC triple boots XP Pro, Vista Business and Windows 7 RC, Vista has given me no problems at all in this environment.

Many people never even had to install Vista on inadequate hardware. The manufacturers did it for them with those "Vista Capable" things they were selling by the bucket load. I found it quite strange that there were so many new machines being shipped with Vista that were really no better spec wise than the old thing i was using myself at the time. People are never too amused when they see their old machines running far better than the new ones they`ve bought..

Although a relative newbie to Ubuntu I have played with Xubuntu and DamSmallLinux on an old laptop, and many years ago ran a 40 terminal business and data-gathering system under Xenix. I'm willing to delve into the forums for advice and assistance and have done all the things you suggested and more but am still having difficulties.

Well, you probably know a damn sight more than me dave6x as i`m a relative newbie to computers full stop and not just Ubuntu/Linux. It was four years ago this month in fact that i was forced to step out of the dark ages and sit down at my first computer and it was four months after that that i first Stumbled across the Ubuntu site ......and i`ve been stumbling my way about with Linux ever since.

And here lies the problem with Linux distros. I am reasonably competent with computing hardware and software but there seems to be an attitude amongst experienced Linux users that if you can't make something work you must be a complete numpty, I know many computer professionals who have given up on Linux distros for this reason. It is unfortunate that although there are some very helpful people in the forums there is also a large and vociferous Geek fraternity that throws their hands up at yet another "stupid newbie" and says so in print!!!!

That kind of attitude can be found on any forum covering any subject unfortunately but it`s never really bothered me, not when directed at me personally anyway. In fact, it would just make me all the more determined....plus, i do like a laugh.
I`ve also seen the professionals do all the right things but still end up with some idiot telling them to go read some man pages but on the flip side of the coin i`ve also seen many professionals, self proclaimed experts & power users do nothing but whine after only a couple of hours, when they`ve just spent the previous 15+ years giving that alternative OS all the time & patience under the sun.....
Some also find it too hard to go from being the power user who knows absolutely everything about their OS of choice to someone who is once again a complete noob, who now feels like they know nothing at all.

The way i see it, mostly, is that there is no such thing as a stupid question....only stupid responses.

I shall persevere and master it, but many will just give up go back to Windows!

Good luck to you, i`m still a bit confused about what goes where though.