I'm back to Linux after abandoning it in its Suse form a few years ago.
Unfortunately I've forgotten 90% of what I learned about Linux back
then, so here I go again!
Finally managed to get 6.0.6.1 installed onto my Vaio and a Dell, both
newish laptops. The LIVE CD stalled at mounting the file system, but a
slow reburn of the alternative CD seemed to work. Put Ubuntu on the
final 10GB partition on the disks, both have WinXP Pro on their C drive.
Both times I ended up with one EXT3 Linux partition and one SWAP Linux
partition, whereas I would have preferred 3 Linux partitions: swap, home
and system.
In addition, there are numerous other problems, although I have had an
attitudinal change that makes them seem like *fun* rather than infuriating.
It is important that people realize that Linux offers you the chance to
tinker with configuration, learn a lot of new stuff, feel achievement as
you conquer problems, and all for free! It's actually good deal, and I
do not say that sarcastically.
On my Vaio, many problems, irritations and gotchas, or, as I now call
them, /opportunities/ -
* Could not browse my NTFS volumes until I messed around (added entries)
in "fstab" or some similarly named file
* I'm struggling to come to terms with my inability to make folders as
an ordinary user while using the file browsing facility in Ubuntu. In
Suse you could quickly pop into admin mode and do this from within the
file browser ... is there a way in ubuntu or must I open a console
window and start typing commands? In fact, how can I quickly become an
admin while in the GUI? (Softball question for ya!)
* Headset's microphone does not work with Skype test call or the default
sound recorder utility in Ubuntu. I'm going to have to play with ALSA
and OSS and something else (actual sound card). There seems also to be
some confusion between my headphones and the USB speakers, with sounds
routed inappropriately ....
* "Skype for Linux" does not seem to have video abilities (in fact, my
webcam light glows all the time but I seem to have no way to address it
or use it). Is Skype for Linux so far behind?
* The default-installed music player chokes on MP3 files, which I found
amazing. Must install Amarok, I think.
* On shutdown, the machine hangs with the built-in laptop speakers
making occasional spitting sounds. Hard crash needing power button.
* Where can I get all the M$ fonts? I remember getting Arial etc on my
Suse install, probably illegally
* Truecrypt has a horrible non-GUI implementation on Linux. Sigh. Was
able to mount and map small volumes, but it gave me a weird error when I
tried to mount a large NTFS-formatted volume
On the Dell, so far -
* wireless networking did not work until I installed Network Manager and
could use it for the WPA-PSK/TKIP encrypted router protocol I use.
Normal Ubuntu networking is lame in comparison to Network Manager, it seems.
to be continued...
If they are anything like Adobe, probably.
Linux