Gimme the Tux!
Ξ November 13th, 2007 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Computers, Linux, Ubuntu |
Over the years I’ve played around with Linux off and on with varying degrees of success. It’s most definitely not for the faint of heart. You either like to tinker with your operating system, or you don’t. Linux offers alot of powerful tools and applications at some of the best prices around – FREE – but you also need to un-learn your Windows User bad habits.
That being said, this past weekend I started an overhaul of my home ‘Geek Crib’ and decided to take an old box I had lying around and give Ubuntu a try. I originally was a huge Mandrake fan – even though it was French, and our cat Mandi is even named after it (how’s that for Geek credentials?) – which is now know as Mandriva. I then became a huge fan of SuSE Linux which I used up until about a year ago as my Linux distribution of choice. However, I had kept hearing how great Ubuntu was and how easy it was to set up. Yeah, I’ve heard that one before when it comes to Linux and remember the nightmares getting CUPS to print and SMB to work properly on my home network. So, how did Ubuntu compare? AMAZINGLY SIMPLE. And I mean it. It was easier to setup than a Windows XP box. I literally stuck the CD in the drive, booted up, created a user account, set the system time/date, Network name and voila.. a completely working Ubuntu Linux box. Browsing on my home network? No problem – worked from the start. Internet browsing? Firefox loaded and ready to go. Printing? I selected a network printer – it auto detected my HP Laser printer on the network – I selected the driver and I printed a test page. It was THAT easy! So yes, color me impressed!
I’ll be putting up some new photos of my re-configured room in the near future when I’m finished. I still have some items I’m working on but hopefully in the next week or two. I purchased a new Lane Leather Executive Chair from Staples over the weekend on clearance for only $149.00. It’s very comfortable and a nice replacement for my severely worn out chair which was starting to get uncomfortable from the ’sag’.
