Preparing myself for Linux and Vista

Posted by Martin in Linux, Operating Systems, Windows  Tags: , , , , ,

12

Dec



Today I’m going to write about my master plan to install Ubuntu Linux and Windows Vista on my system to have them at my disposal next to my current Windows XP installation. I personally try to make the switch to Linux because I’m fed up with all the restrictions that Microsoft build (on pressure I assume) into Windows Vista. Nevertheless more than 99% of all my readers use Windows XP and I will continue writing articles for XP and Vista.

I don’t advise the switch to Vista but many will do it anyway, that’s why I will be installing Vista to be able to write articles about Vista as well. I know that some readers would love to switch to Linux as well, probably for the same reasons I’m making the switch. I hope that many find the courage for this step and my articles about switching to Linux hopefully show them that switching is indeed easy.

I decided to install Ubuntu on a new external hard drive that I will purchase. This has some advantages: First, I do not need to partition the hard drives that are already installed on my computer which means I don’t have to fear that I will be loosing data in the process. A minor disadvantage is that there will be no default bootloader that gives me the choice of the operating system, I probably have to switch information in bios to start the operating system I want.

Having said that I compiled a list of applications that I need to find and install in Ubuntu to be able to work with it. Please note that this list is not complete, I tried to add only essential applications. If you know such a tool exists in Linux let me know, would be glad if some of you could help me get it going.

  • FTP Client
  • True Crypt
  • Browser (Firefox)
  • Email Client (Thunderbird)
  • Word Processing (Open Office)
  • Image Processing (GIMP)
  • Video Player like VLC
  • Music Player like Winamp
  • Binary News Reader like Newzbin
  • Bittorrent Client (like Bitcomet)

I will also have to do some research if some programs I use on a daily basis like Skype, Teamspeak and Rivatuner can be run.

I’m pretty sure that I will find equivalent tools and I have decided to install Ubuntu without searching for them. I will do that once Ubuntu is up and running.

If you have something that you would like to add let me know. Are you also considering switching to Linux and need a certain tool ? Maybe we can figure it out together.


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8 Users Commented In This Post

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Devdatta Akhawe says:

Try mplayer on Linux … much more easy , fast and actually plays everything!

True Crypt requires a very new kernel… I dont know about ubuntu but most distros dont come prebundled with it.

Music Player : if you want something like winAmp then XMMS but try Amarok its really really good. First music player whose collection interface actually is intutive.

Email client : I would recommend KMail … thunderbird just didn’t work well for me. IF you think abt it , firefox is also a shitty browser , a memory hog, the only reason to use it being the large number of extensions. (which aren’t much there for Thunderbird).

Don’t go through the pain of findin a Download Manager for Linux … use DownThemAll plugin for Firefox.

Also are you switchin to Kubuntu or the standard Ubuntu? I would recommend Kubuntu … cos I feel KDE is much more widespread than Gnome , and future development in KDE (Qt) will be high whereas GTK and Mono are a mess. My 2 cents … finally upto you though.

Also remember to get ntfs-3g , its really usefull. And also keep a FAT32 partition handy while installing , it will save you on a lot of pain.

Best of Luck … I switched to Linux and WinXP a few months back. Though I would install Vista when it goes gold, but never felt the need. :D

Devdatta Akhawe says:

Most of the other standard apps come prebundled .. with KDE/Gnome.

Again … I will strongly urge KDE.. cos I am also using it so we could figure stuff out together :D ;)

Devdatta Akhawe says:

Install into the external HDD. GRUB/LILO will be installed on it .. configure it so that it can go to Windows on your other primary HDD. Then change your BIOS settings to always boot to external HDD. The idea you are thinkin is good though,.. thats what I also did during my first Linux install.

Sorry, no edit option in your comments :(

jenStar says:

i used to have ubuntu!
great OS but i didn’t know how to connect to the internet so i’ve change my mind and now i’m using xp as my Os

i dont know how to configure it….

anyway i have a lot of ubuntu cd as i request for it…

i also introduce it to my college friends….
they love it….

adrift says:

I started off with Kubuntu, but felt that for a first time user the support i needed wasn’t really there. I’m currently running Ubuntu on a dual boot, and the support through online forums and whatnot is great. I also recommend installing Nicotine which is the Linux version of SoulSeek. I’m not recommending it so much for music p2p stuff (though i love it for that too), but for the Nicotine chat room. I’m sure there’s plenty of Linux based chat rooms in IRC, but i’ve always hated using IRC so Nicotine’s chat is a great alternative for me to hook up with folks running Ubuntu when i have a question i can’t seem to figure out on my own.

Samer Nakfour says:

Skype has a Linux-compatible version :) - Teamspeak too!

redtux says:

Cant agree with mplayer over vlc - vlc just rocks AND plays everything AND can be used on windows and Linux.

BTW KDE/Gnome are about equal, personnally much prefer gnome.

Bruce T says:

Hi
Like me you will try many of the Linux concotions out there but will finally decide that windows is not so bad after all , i feel everyone should be forced to try a linux distro before using windows and then they will appreciate windows more, (even with windows glitches). So good luck and enjoy many long hours of reading forums and changing from one distro to the other.

Ps. I will wait for you here back here on windows

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