Ubuntu 9.04 - Critical Mass for Linux?

It's been an eventful 2009 on the operating systems front here in the Strelecki technology labs.

My experiences with Windows 7 initially seemed less than stellar when compared to the venerable XP Pro, but I've spent the past month and a half using the 64-bit version of XP and while it does work well, XP X64 seems to lack the visual "punch" that you get with Windows 7. I like X64 because it supports all the RAM (6GB) installed in this Core i7 system, something the X86/32-bit version can't match, but there remains nagging incompatibility issues and the occasional app or driver that complains about the 64-bit platform. I dunno if that's "growing pains" or not, but it IS a pain to be kept from doing what it is I want to do, in the manner I see fit to do it.

I will spend additional time with Windows 7, because it looks to be what Vista SHOULD have been, and offers many UI tweaks and mods that grow on you over time, like those window animations and translucent window title bars. But as I've said, that's sizzle, not steak, and I must resist the urge to go down that road only because it's prettier than what I'm used to. I'm trying to find the legitimate good in the new platform, like better performance or greater stability, but that will be a very high bar to meet, and I don't relish the prospect of spending more hours learning the ins and outs of another user interface revision cycle.

This week, the RC for Ubuntu 9.04 was released, and I knew that the final version was right around the corner, but I decided that I'd take it for a spin on my Core2Duo Acer laptop to see what I could see. I downloaded the CD image and burned it to disk, then booted from it, and was soon greeted by a familiar Ubuntu desktop. That's when I began experimenting, to see how far I could go with this new build in as little time as possible.

The laptop is connected here via wireless network using an encrypted link which requires a password. Ubuntu showed me the several WLANs within range and I selected my access point and was prompted for my password. Within a few seconds I was connected and browsing the web using Firefox. I installed a few stalwart extensions (NoScript and AdBlock Plus, among others) and cruised the web for a few minutes. Pages loaded snappily, downloads were VERY fast, almost faster than with Windows XP, and I encountered no impediments, no unexpected problems, just a working Internet connection within a couple of minutes of booting the Ubuntu live CD.

It's times like this I wish Microsoft had released a live CD for XP - just boot up and go. Yes I know about Ben Burrows' fine Ultimate BootCD for Windows, and I use it regularly to create my own rescue and recovery disks, but I'm talking about the Windows equivalent of the Ubuntu live CD experience, something you can download, burn and boot with to get working fast without a learning curve and a lotta software to install.

Since I had the Internet working, the next step was to see what LAN connectivity was like. I was able to browse my local network, attach to a shared folder and access the files inside it. I copied several files from the Ubuntu laptop to the Strelecki server just as though I was using Windows. Transparent, working flawlessly, and again, very fast data transfers.

It was a piece of cake to attach to a shared HP printer and print a test page, and my previous experience working with Ubuntu helped me get setup quickly. The share method is Windows SMB, selected from a list of more than a half dozen choices, and perhaps the less experienced might have an issue but I was able to get connected and printing in less than five minutes. I think that is wonderful, to say the least, especially knowing my past difficulties getting ANY Linux distro to print over a network, let alone a wireless network.

Next up I tried to play a video file I downloaded from the web, and the default player was complaining that it needed a codec, asked me if I wanted to search for it and download it (which I did want to do), but then popped up an error that it was not found. OK, detective time. I cruised over to Google and searched for my problem and found directions for adding additional repositories (online sources) to my Ubuntu desktop, then used the default package manager (software installation program) to look for VLC, a freeware, open source media player that has all those pesky codecs built-in.

The install of VLC went quickly and without a problem, and in a very few minutes I was viewing that same video file that had stymied me earlier. It feels really good when you can discover a way to work around the problems you encounter, and in many years of troubleshooting Windows problems for myself and others, I've discovered that not only is Google your friend, it's also your all-knowing, all-powerful friend when it comes time to answering your questions about an error message, system condition, or other anomaly you will likely encounter on your technological travels.

So, I'm booted from a live CD, no install on my hard drive required, browsing the web with a secure browser, using LAN shared folders and printer, and watching videos. I had to stop for a minute and revel at the speed and ease of getting this new Ubuntu 9.04 (9 for 2009, 04 for April) up and running on my wireless laptop. It could NOT have been any easier. And did I say that the high performance video drivers were installed by default, giving me desktop UI effects every bit as snazzy as those offered by XP? And that the sound worked great, right from the get-go? Yup. That, too.

My next phase of testing Ubuntu will revolve around running Windows in a VM using VirtualBox from Sun, as well as running Windows apps natively on the Ubuntu desktop using Wine. I need to see Flash video working so YouTube is an available option. I'll look for a firewall, though I'm convinced that its necessity is orders of magnitude reduced, compared to Windows, as is the need and availability of antivirus, anti-spyware and anti-Trojan protection. I need to be able to open and edit my office documents, as well as create new ones that my Microsoft-using contacts can use. I will need a Linux that supports X64 hardware and uses all that RAM, not just the first 3GB or so that 32-bit Windows can see. And at some point, I would like to be able to create my own customized Ubuntu installation media, geared for supporting computers the way I use them, with all the apps and support already built-in, the same way I use Nuhi's great nLite program to develop customized, updated, driver-packed Windows installation CDs and DVDs.

The main reason I have yet to embrace Linux for full time use is that I can still do more with Windows. I know HOW to do new things, and I can find a universe of support when I have issues, so whatever the challenge I can continue moving ahead using XP. Ubuntu is a new OS, a new environment, a new model for how we can use our computers and greatly reduce or eliminate the vast bulk of the cost we pay for our software. Yes, there is a learning curve, and yes, it IS worth it on many levels. I like the fact that it's another New Frontier to explore, one free of the control and legal hassles I've endured for all these past years. Nobody at Ubuntu forces customers to validate and authenticate their ownership, or marks their machines as "non-genuine" if they don't meet some Orwellian specification. Nobody at Ubuntu treats their valued users as criminals. What a refreshing approach!

If you're a techie I strongly recommend you take a good look at Ubuntu 9.04, and see all the goodness it has waiting for you. If you're not so much a techie, the good news is that this one looks like it's simpler to setup and Make Go than anything that's come before. The live CD means you won't disturb anything on your Windows hard drive, and the point and click UI will be familiar and open to your exploration. Don't be afraid. This Ubuntu is unlike anything you may have looked at before. I believe it may be the critical mass for more general Linux adoption. It is for this Windows user!

Excelsior, webheads!