Posts tagged: ubuntu

Why Your Next PC Might Not Be Running OS X or Windows (or, More Ubuntu Linux Love From the Underground)

July 5, 2010, by 5 comments

Proving once again that writers are never above peeking into the next stall, Writer/BoingBoing co-editor Cory Doctorow recently published a geeky introspective about the software/hardware tools he uses, and I hope his sizable audience takes note.

Doctorow showers Ubuntu Linux with abject fanboy love, and frankly, I had to agree.

Ubuntu Just Works. I recently had cause to install Windows XP on an old ThinkPad and found that it was about a hundred times more complicated than getting Ubuntu running. When I transitioned to Ubuntu from the MacOS, I had a week or two’s worth of disorientation, similar to what happened after we renovated the kitchen and changed where we kept everything. Then the OS just disappeared, and it has stayed disappeared, breaking in ways that are neither more severe nor more frequent than any other OS I’ve ever used.

Two years ago I ran an Ubuntu Linux “trial” installation on an ailing PC notebook. I’ve never looked back.

All three of my machines run Ubuntu, and my business is now entirely Linux powered.

And doing just fine.

Doctorow neatly parrots what I tell those willing to listen: The operating system just disappears.

Work happens. And then disappears down the pipe with a minimum of wasted (and irritating) clicks.

That wasn’t the case with Windows Vista – the operating system that was so burdened by fluff, maddening dialog boxes and a mother-in-law interface it essentially drove me from the platform after years of… well… tolerating it.

Productivity Really Is The New Black

Remodeling my career – from a writer of mostly print projects to an online copywriter (and now online marketing consultant) – has pushed me into tools which do their job, but otherwise stay the hell out of the way.

It’s a recurring theme among my little pack of writer friends; simpler (and faster and easier and directer) is fast becoming the new black.

That’s why this is being written in a programmer’s editor (a tarted-up version of the very simple Gedit), stored in a text file (where any other editor can reach it), and why I rarely touch a “real” word processor any more.

I could rave on about Ubuntu and its collection of open source applications which have streamlined my workflow (actually improving my productivity in the process), but the larger picture intrudes.

As the cloud grows, its apps become increasingly powerful at aggregating content – especially disparate kinds of content.

What’s left is the relatively simple job of creating that content, which may happen faster on Linux than on a smothering Windows platform (the Mac seems to have an edge in video creation).

Keep writing (and paring away the useless bits), Tom Chandler

The Ubuntu Project #5: Does Ubuntu Linux Stay, or Go?

August 21, 2008, by 33 comments

When I started my “Is Linux Ready for Word Workers?” series, I thought I’d squeeze a pair of posts from my Ubuntu Linux installation, erase it, and dive right back into Windows Vista.

So much for expectations.

Ubuntu.com

No, I didn’t much like Vista (I’m not alone: a recent Infoworld survey suggests a startling 35% of its readers (corporate IT types) ‘de-upgraded’ their current model PCs from Vista to Windows XP).

I found Vista cloying and cluttered – a tarted-up version of XP that demanded more RAM and CPU power to run acceptably, yet managed to get in my way more than even XP.

My overall impression of Vista was of an operating system collapsing under its own weight.

But Linux was too hard, right? Too arcane? Too hard to install?

Not exactly.

Four long posts later – and despite one rough patch involving an internal modem and some media player issues – I’ve been running my business atop Ubuntu Linux for more than 60 days.

The bottom line? Ubuntu Linux is fast. It’s reliable. The interface is clean (if not a little spare). And plenty of Open Source software is freely available.

Simply put, I like it.

Is Ubuntu Linux better than XP or Vista?

That’s impossible to say; your preferences will depend on your definition of “better.”

If you live and breathe Microsoft Word – or use any of the other “industry standard” software packages – then Linux could print money and it wouldn’t be “better.”

To those of us living on a steady diet of OpenOffice, text editors, image editors, podcasts, a browser and a few utilities, it’s a compelling option.

In truth, the decision to use an open source system like Ubuntu Linux is more a philosophical question than a “logical” one.

More software is available for Windows, and it’s a safer choice.

On the other hand, no Linux operating system will ever download – largely without your knowledge – a “validator” designed to check and see if your OS is pirated.

There’s also a question of flexibility.

Don’t like your current flavor of Linux? Want to try a stripped version on an old laptop?

Feel free.

(See? That philosophical thing again.)

Real World Questions – and Answers

I think Ubuntu Linux is simply more productive (for me).

Is it better than XP? Being as Microsoft is no longer developing Windows XP (or selling licenses), then yes – it is.

Is it better than Vista?

That depends. Vista is smoother than XP. It’s also far more cluttered and dense than Linux.

A lot of the animosity directed at Vista came because users tried to upgrade XP machines. And ran into problems, often with hardware drivers.

Not surprisingly, those same issues dog Linux.

When manufacturers ship a PC with Vista or Linux already installed, those issues simply disappear. But there, of course, lies the hell of it.

Very few manufacturers ship computers with Linux installed (Dell will, but only a few models). So almost every Linux installation goes on unknown hardware.

If more manufacturers offered Linux as an option – and passed along the savings – much of the Linux reputation for difficulty would simply fade away.

And yes – market share would almost certainly grow beyond the current 2%-3% (desktops – Linux server market share is an order of magnitude higher).

The Good. And the Bad.

Here’s a story with a happy ending: I was going to re-format the hard drive on my old XP-based desktop, then give it away (I never liked that machine under XP).

On a whim, I installed Ubuntu instead of XP (again, without a hitch).

Surprise.

It runs faster. More reliably. And avoids all the machine’s formerly-quirky hardware issues.

No twice-a-day re-boots needed. No slowdowns after I opened and closed a bunch of applications. No browser lockups. No disappearing CD drives.

Suddenly, it’s a brand-new desktop.

Are all endings in Ubuntu Linux this happy?

Sadly, no. It suffers some video issues. Install it from the CD, and you need to download a special library to play commercial DVDs, and its streaming video performance can be spotty.

Drivers for a lot of hardware aren’t available for Linux, though I haven’t had any real problems.

More importantly, all those issues would go away on a PC shipped with Linux installed, and they weren’t too hard to solve anyway (though I got the impression the Linux world wants to pretend they don’t exist).

My final word?

Ubuntu Linux is everything Linux is supposed to be – except really, really hard to install or use.

The basic interface is simple, and anyone with Mac or Windows experience would find their way around pretty quickly.

It runs into trouble with some video and audio formats, and suffers from a dearth of software choices in odd areas (contact management is a little thin, as is the choice of blog editors).

That said, it also runs like a pickup truck, updates automatically (nicer than Windows), and features a “package” management system that makes installing and uninstalling software a far easier job than in XP or Vista.

It’s running on all three of my PCs (Vista is still bootable on my laptop), and I have no plans to remove it.

Test-flying Ubuntu is easy; it even installs as software within your Windows system (dual-boot), and uninstalls quickly if you don’t like it.

My clients couldn’t care less what’s running on my end. And – dare I suggest it – Microsoft Vista’s huge stumble out of the gate has given computer users a great, big, resource-hogging reason to look at alternatives.

One of them is the Mac (most are surprised to learn OSX is built atop Linux Unix). I haven’t touched on it because it’s tied to specific hardware, though Mac and Linux users might represent opposite ends of the non-Windows-using universe.

Still, the Mac is gaining market share at Microsoft’s expense, and – given my very positive experience with Ubuntu Linux – believe we could see the same thing occur on the PC side of the fence.

Can I squeeze another post out Ubuntu Linux? Maybe.

I’m developing some new work habits – and how writers get words on paper has always fascinated me – so look for a “What Linux has done to my writing process” post in a couple weeks.

Keep writing, Tom Chandler

The Ubuntu Project #4: Trouble In Paradise

July 12, 2008, by 5 comments

So far, my Ubuntu Linux experience has been amazingly trouble free. Installation was easy. DVDs are playing.

And – most importantly – the work is getting done.

I even like the new software. But lately, I’ve grounded on some shoals.

Deal breakers? Not yet. But not encouraging either. What’s going wrong?

Few Blog Editor Choices
I’ve lamented the lack of powerful Linux blog editors before (most won’t even upload images for you). I’m using Scribefire, the recent versions of which have suffered image-related bugs.

End of the world? Not exactly.

Scribefire will get it together, or a more powerful editor will be written, but until then, the lack of choices is daunting.

USB Microphone Issues
Despite a little tinkering, I can’t get my m-audio USB microphone setup to work. That means – until I figure it out (if I figure it out) – no podcasts.

Modem Nightmare
This is fast becoming a big issue. Next week I’m heading to a remote part of Maine, and dialup is my only connection option. I need it.

Sadly, Ubuntu doesn’t configure built-in modems at installation. And despite mucking around for an hour, Ubuntu doesn’t want to recognize my laptop’s built-in modem.

I downloaded and ran a modem detection tool. Watched it fail. Re-booted in Vista, and discovered I’ve got the dreaded Conexant modem.

I then pored through pages of documents. And was even sent to a page on Dell’s Web site that no longer exists.

And I still can’t get Linux to recognize the thing.

I’m frustrated, so I’m stopping for now.

I was planning to use Linux through my vacation. But may have to end the Ubuntu Project early.

Which is a shame. I like the clean interface, zippy response, and all the other cool little tools.

Stay tuned. There’s more Ubuntu to come.

Keep writing, Tom Chandler.

The Ubuntu Project #3: An Update From the Road

July 5, 2008, by 4 comments

I’m on a two-week fly fishing trip in Montana, and in the Interest of seeing Ubuntu Linux perform on the road, I brought my work laptop with me.


Not many posts? I’ve been spending my time here.

The results have been instructive, if not always thrilling.

First, let’s talk wi-fi access.

While Ubuntu glommed onto my home wi-fi network without a hitch, it didn’t want to connect to my friend’s wi-fi, even after entering the correct WEP key.

Making it all the more galling was Vista’s facility; I re-booted in Vista, entered the exact same WEP key – and basked in the glow of an instant connection.

This wasn’t looking good.

After 30 minutes of mucking around, I discovered the solution. Well, “a” solution.

Entering the WEP key into an alternative pop-up choice in the Ubuntu wireless menu solved the problem (I used the “WEP Passkey Hexadecimal” choice).

But why?

Ubuntu was no help. But OK, lesson learned. Try stuff until it works.

It’s not a ringing endorsement of the OS, but it is one strategy for success.

Now That We’re Connected, Let’s Work.

My non-blog writing projects have gone swimmingly. Ubuntu’s fast boot times have made road use a joy.

In addition, my blogging workflow has been excellent. I wrote my longer Trout Underground posts in OpenOffice (excellent).

Pasted the text into the Scribefire Firefox-based blog editor (easy).

Downloaded the photos from my digital card reader (easier than Windows), and edited them with Gimp image editing software (again, a winner – fast and powerful).

Then I added the photographs to the article (annoying; Scribefire would only add the image code half the time), and fired the article.

Which is when things got weird again.

Only one of the images (of eight) appeared on my article. And even weirder, replacing the first image in the WordPress editor solved the problem for all the photos.

While Scribefire is a nice product, it’s really strongest when doing quick cut & paste jobs from online sources. And it seems to suffer from odd bugs.

And while the photo failure shouldn’t be laid at the feet of Ubuntu, it’s clear the lack of a killer Linux blog editor still hampers my Ubuntu test – enough that I may look at running a Windows blog editor under Ubuntu’s Windows emulator (Wine).

But not until I’m back from my vacation.

Keep writing, Tom Chandler.

The Ubuntu Project Post#2: The Copywriter's Software Dilemma

June 26, 2008, by 16 comments

I’m a week into my Linux test flight, and Ubuntu is working largely as advertised.

It seems its reputation as a hard-to-use/hard to install OS is outdated – at least for Ubuntu. (For an amusing look at Bill Gates’ take on Windows XP usability, go here).

Ubuntu news header

Over the last few days, I created and shipped a pair of estimates, a couple pieces of copy, a marketing plan, a press release and an invoice (all created in OpenOffice and saved in MS Word format).

Though I asked, I received zero negative feedback from clients about un-openable or malformed documents.

I’m testing a couple twitter clients (Twitterfox & gTwitter), and handling my IM traffic with Pidgin. My blog images are editing nicely in Gimp (a fast open source image editor), and OpenOffice works just like it did when I used it on Windows.

I also edited a pair of landing pages in KompoZer – a WYSIWYG html editor (I use Namo Web Editor in Windows).

I’m less taken with Evolution – the Linux equivalent to Outlook – and may start searching for a calendar/contact manager to pair with Thunderbird.

In short, it’s largely business as usual, only a bit faster. In fact, I’m struck by how easy the transition has been, and how little disruption I’ve experienced.

But then, I already use a lot of open source software. And there have been a few difficulties.

My USB microphone (M-Audio “Podcast Factory”) isn’t playing nice with Ubuntu and Audacity (open source audio editor). It was plug-and-play on Vista (XP required the installation of a truly annoying driver), but I have yet to crack the code on Ubuntu, and don’t have time to invest more than a few minutes.

And my laptop’s display brightness control is far too coarse (no steps between fully bright and too dim).

Finally, I encountered a very, very strange ftp issue, where I couldn’t get files to appear on my server using Filezilla on Linux, yet the exact same settings produced the correct results when using Filezilla on Vista (I’ll troubleshoot this one a bit more).

I like the cleanliness of the Ubuntu interface. And enjoy not having to re-boot the computer after a few hours of intensive program switching (like I did in Windows).

Yes, I’m still pining for a better blog editor. And have yet to find a simple, GUI text editor with realtime character/word/line count stats.

But it’s clear that I could run my business in Linux. But do I want to? And would other writers?

I see three key barriers limiting Linux adoption by rank & file “word workers.”

  • Software availability
  • Compatibility with client systems
  • The “Windows Tax” (PCs arrive with Windows installed, so why switch?)

We’ll look at the second two in subsequent posts; right now, let’s deal with the software question.

Software Availability

Linux fans claim technical superiority for the operating system – a hollow claim if you can’t run the software needed to do your job.

For example, at the right hand of many copywriters lies Microsoft Word – the clear corporate standard and the word processor of choice for many copywriters.

Clearly, if you absolutely must use MS Word, then there’s no reason to run Linux; Word simply isn’t available.

For many copywriters, the story begins and ends right there (though a few will use Word on a Mac).

Still, change is a constant, and the writing world isn’t nearly as MS Word-focused as it has been. In fact, plenty of writers are using anything but MS Word — and without ill effects on their business. Why?

  • We’re seeing a growing emphasis on unformatted copy for online use (any text editor can deliver a .txt or .rtf file)
  • Modern word processors are far better at saving files in MS Word format
  • A powerful, open source alternative to MS Office has emerged (OpenOffice)
  • Hosted office suites have arrived (Google Docs, Zoho, etc)
  • The latest version of MS Word uses a radically different interface, and not everybody’s happy about that
  • Our writing efforts are fragmenting across our desktops (blog editors, twitter & IM clients, email, etc)

I bailed on Word a couple years ago when yet another upgrade arrived – one that actually made the software less useful to me.

I tried OpenOffice, it worked well, I was happy, and I never looked back. I haven’t suffered for the decision.

If I wrote long, technical documents for a corporate client who demanded MS Word compatibility, I don’t know if I’d be similarly happy.

And of course, word processors are only part of the deal.

Clearly, we’re doing more with Web browsers and Java apps every day, but plenty of Windows-only software exists (much of it vertical market), and while I’ve found a serviceable replacement in every “main” category for my Windows software, it’s clear that won’t be true for everyone.

Hardcore Quicken users might find a home in GnuCash, but others won’t. Other problem areas include games, hobby software, some online clients… the list of potential problem software is long.

Linux partisans are quick to point out that Wine offers you the ability to run some Windows programs on the Linux OS, and they’re right – to a point.

The real question is this: why would anyone switch to Linux if it meant running a critical piece of software in emulation?

My time in Linux assures me it’s possible (simple, actually) to run a writing business on Linux. The lack of viruses, the automatic (and daily updates), the low cost, the performance, the stability, the support, and the total absence of Microsoft looking over your shoulder (anyone enjoy downloading the Windows Software Validation tool?) are pluses.

But the absence of some software is a minus. How much of a minus?

That depends wholly on your perspective. Newer writers – with less time and data invested in legacy software – should find it a lot easier.

I’ll delve into the other barriers to Linux adoption — and a few reasons why you should consider Linux — in an upcoming post. Right now, I’m packing for two weeks of fly fishing in Montana, where I’ll be writing and filing blog reports from my Linux-equipped laptop.

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The Ubuntu Project: Is Linux Right For Word Workers?

June 22, 2008, by 65 comments

Linux for the word worker?My six year-old HP laptop has never failed me. But lately, it has been making me wait.

It’s running Windows XP, and even after a clean install – once its 512K MB of RAM was burdened with service packs, security updates, anti-viral software and a modern browser – it becomes the Little Laptop That Can’t.

At least not quickly.

It’s not the end of the world; I run my company on a fast new laptop. But I keep the HP upstairs, so I can surf and check email without heading downstairs to my office.

Was I screwed? Time to shell out for another laptop?

Maybe. But when you’ve got nothing to lose, you’ve got nothing to lose by trying something new. I went looking for a faster alternative. And found it.

The Linux Story

Linux is an operating system that runs many of the servers on the Web (this blog’s server runs Linux).

Linux is also available for the desktop, yet it’s rarely found on the information worker’s PC (desktop market share has grown to just over 2%).

A free version of the age-old Unix operating system, Linux is considered an operating system for techies, scientists and cranks. It’s fast and powerful, but often labeled “user unfriendly.”

Yet recently I’ve heard the rumblings. The newer versions are “friendlier.” Easier to install. Cuddly even.

True? Or false?

I’m no propeller head. But I am a good test subject. I’m a marketer, copywriter and online guy. And I don’t mind tinkering (a little).

In short, I use a PC the same way most online-savvy folks use PCs. And here I sat with a slow laptop; a perfect test bed for a Linux installation.

The Ubuntu Effect

Among all the Linux distributions, Ubuntu has been called the friendliest, easiest-to-install Linux distribution. That made it my starting point.

Which is when I experienced my first Linux Surprise.

Ubuntu isn’t one system; it’s many of them.

Several flavors are available, including a server version, an education version (Edubuntu), two “standard” desktop versions (Ubuntu & Kubuntu), an interesting studio version for multimedia types (Ubuntu Studio), a mobile version, and yes – a small footprint version for slower PCs (Xubuntu).

Bingo.

Installation was straightforward; I downloaded an Xubuntu CD image, burned a CD, and rebooted from the Xubuntu CD.

Expecting a painful confrontation with an extraterrestrial installation process, I was pleasantly surprised. Instead of indecipherable choices, I faced four installation options:

  • Install the Linux operating system over the old system (reformatting your drive and destroying all your old data)
  • Install Ubuntu in its own partition (it divides your hard drive into separate virtual disks; you decide which operating system boots at startup)
  • Install it on on your Windows disk (maintains all your Windows data and system; Linux runs a little slower)
  • Run it from the CD (quite slow, but you can test-drive the system without altering one byte on your Windows disk)

Because I didn’t care about maintaining my old Windows XP installation, I went with option #1.

And gritted my teeth.

This was where it was going to get messy.

This was where I was going to meet the Linux Monster head on.

This was… done already?

Installation went smoothly. Very smoothly.

The only holdup? The wireless card didn’t work, so I had to plug my laptop directly into my router. It connected immediately, and automatically downloaded the driver software for my wireless card.

Done. Finished.

Ready to compute.

In other words, installation was easy. Damned easy.

In 40 minutes, I was looking at the Xubuntu desktop, complete with open source (free) word processor (Abiword), spreadsheet (Gnumeric), Pidgin all-in-one IM software, and plenty other goodies.

Still, I’m a fan of OpenOffice (an open source, MS Windows Office equivalent), and installing it was a snap.

I simply ran the Package Manager, which automatically downloaded and installed software for me.

Fast. Simple. Easy.

What was I afraid of again?

With a little configuring (the browser had to download some non-open source plugins to run flash), my old laptop was once again a useful Web surfing tool.

It isn’t blazingly fast, but it is faster than when running XP, and Xubuntu handled my laptop’s limited memory far better.

The interface is clean and simple. Upgrades and updates are automatic. And yes, there was much rejoicing at the Underground.

The End of the Story?

Not quite. Running (and yes, enjoying) the streamlined version of Ubuntu forced me to ask the question: would I prefer the full-featured desktop version of Ubuntu to the copy of Windows Vista running on my business laptop?

I’ll be blunt. I don’t much like Windows Vista. It makes my fast new laptop run like my old slow desktop. In fact, it feels like little more than a slow, tarted-up version of Windows XP – and many of the interface “improvements” leave me scratching my head.

It doesn’t feel like an upgrade worth waiting years for. And I have zero interest in moving to the latest version of MS Office. In fact, my daily software set is already largely open source.

Wtih that in mind, was Ubuntu a faster, updated-more-often, better-designed choice for my everyday work computer? Was it possible to find out in a relatively painless fashion?

The Ubuntu Project: 30 Days of Linux

Turns out it was. I installed the full-blown glossy version of Ubuntu in a partition on my new Dell Inspiron laptop (total: two hours).

Most the software I wanted was already in place, but I quickly downloaded the few bits that weren’t (the big list looks like: OpenOffice, Firefox, Thunderbird, Evolution, Audacity, Kompozer, Scribus, Gimp, gTwitter).


Ubuntu running all the usual suspects: OpenOffice, Firefox, gTwitter, IM manager…

Some are simply Linux versions of the software I already use. Others (like HTML editor Kompozer) replace commercial Windows products.

Meanwhile, Vista – and all my old software – reclines on my hard drive, ready to boot if needed.

Like Morgan Spurlock of “30 days” fame, I’m going to live with Ubuntu Linux for the next month.

If I like it, I switch. If I don’t, Vista stays.

First Impressions

Ubuntu is faster than Vista. Not by a factor of several times, but noticeably faster.

The interface is (to my eye) cleaner. And I’m already using mostly open source software, which means I barely notice the switch.

There have been glitches.

Playing a standard commercial DVD wasn’t possible without messing with indecipherable command lines. It’s an easy fix, but it’s clumsy. And while there’s a lot of open source software available, Linux currently lacks a killer blog editor.

I loved Windows LiveWriter on Vista, but have been relegated to using the oddly designed ScribeFire (Firefox-based Java app) for blogging. (Don’t Linux people blog?)

I already miss some of the peripheral software available in Windows. Like the Twhirl Twitter editor and the Q10 “dark screen” text editor.

And moving contact data from my Windows PIM (Time & Chaos) and into Evolution (the open source equivalent of Outlook) has been a surprisingly painful experience.

Outside of the few glitches, I’ve enjoyed an easy move. And with Web-based software becoming more common, the application barriers to moving to Linux are going to come down (in most cases, they already have).

Of course, larger questions of availability, scalability, compatibility and even philosophy are at work here, and I’ll get into those during my month-long Ubuntu test.

Until then, keep writing.

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