Part 1
OK, since Canonical says and I quote, "Linux for human beings" I decided that I would attempt to install (a clean install) and use only Ubuntu.
Besides I just had my yearly check up with my doctor and it was confirmed that I am definitely human based on that positive confirmation I decided to give it a try. Now I'm ready to begin. Let's GO!
(I have to pause here to mention my husband, Pete Graner, works for Canonical and I am NOT, repeat NOT asking him for help. All I asked him for was the Installation CD. According to all the literature I have read about this version of Linux I should not have to ask anyway.)
Let me also give you a little background about me: I am just your average housewife, home maker, mom, volunteer, etc. I normally use a MacBook Air or a Mac Powerbook G4. I just plug things in and they work and I must say I love using a Mac.
My husband Pete used to work for Red Hat, Inc., and I tried several times to learn to install and use their versions of Linux and always ended up going back to my Mac. Every time Pete went on travel something would "break" and I could not print or get onto the Internet, the big problem for me was I didn't know how to fix it and Pete would be in meetings and I would have to go somewhere else to complete what I had to finish. I would get frustrated and felt like I needed the RHCE course just to use the Red Hat version of Linux much less understand it.
(Side note...I loved the cool stuff that Red Hat was/is doing in Open Source Community but the average mom like me just couldn't figure it out. I am NOT and idiot! I am a decorated Army Veteran, I teach Religious Education Classes, and I take courses in Theology through the University of Dayton, and I could NOT figure it out without help.)
I find myself grabbing a Dell Inspiron 6400 and Installing Ubuntu. There were 7 steps to Installing it. Steps 4 and 7 I did not understand but I went the default settings and it has worked out great.
My goals for tonight were to Install Ubuntu Linux (Done), Connect to the Internet (Done), Connect to my Dell 3110 CN Color Laser Printer wirelessly (Done). After that I wanted to be able to get to my Website (Done), get to FaceBook, I am an addict (Done), access my classes at Dayton (Done), and write my Blog (Done).
It took less than 2 hours to get all the stuff listed above done.I really thought it would take a few days. I am pleasantly surprised to say the least. I am very happy that I was able to do this myself and NOT have Pete help me at all. I was able to stick to my initial position of NOT having him help me. :)
In short I want to be able to do all the stuff I can do on my Mac on the Dell using Ubuntu. I have an couple of essays that are due for my class so tomorrow I will try the Open Office Suite, I'll let you know how it progresses.
Jono Bacon: Social From The Start
22 minutes ago
15 comments:
Good for you! Even if you finally see that Linux is not what you want and that you still prefer Mac over Linux for daily use, this will be a great experience for you. You will learn a lot of things. And by writting about your experience you help people to improve Linux.
Amber, just follow your mind and don't listen your husband!
Opensource is making a great job for the community, but if you feel good using OSX, it's fine :D
Besides, the best opensource software (Firefox, Openoffice, GIMP?) are for Mac too! of curse the software like MS Office, iWork and iTunes are better ;)
Great experiment! Be sure to write about all annoyances and faults. As it's free software, there's a good chance they could be actually fixed :-)
Any resemblance to my reality is pure coincidence. While I was reading I thought you were talking about me. I'll let you know once I also achieve my goals. Thanks, you inspire people like me to don't give up.
When / if you get to use any IRC, don't forget to check the #ubuntu-women channel.
Awesome.
In my household, i'm the Unix geek. My wife, who has a Master of Divinity (compared to my BS) will use my Linux machine if she has to, but with instructions on how to do specific tasks. Her machine isn't a Mac. It's Windows. I don't run Windows unless my employer makes me. Even then, i'll slip in a Knoppix disk or even do a full Linux install. They can slam it when i leave.
So i get to do phone support for an OS i don't use, and much more frequently than if it were a Mac. There is nothing, as near as i can tell, worse than phone support with your spouse. My side of the conversation goes like this... Don't get ahead of me... OK, what did you type? ... All right, we're going to start over again - really, i can't see what's on your screen, so you'll just have to wait for me...
She got a cell phone - one i've never seen before, and wanted to know how to do something. I walked her through it. Never mind that i don't use a cell myself... And failure is not an option.
great you enjoyed it!
I have never used a MAC. Does a MAC update any of the programs that are installed (Firefox, Open Office etc...)
This is one of the more important features that I see using Ubuntu. Its also hard to beat the price!
Just a few questions for you concerning how you've handled updates in the past.
In your previous linux attempts who was responsible for applying updates? you or your husband?
And what was the policy they used for choosing when to apply updates? Were they applied as soon as they were available? Time-based, like every week? Or was it sporadically...say right before you husband left town.
Was there an effort to only apply security related updates or were all available updates applied?
Do you plan to follow the same update policy this time or will you be making changes in how you approach applying updates?
On your Mac, what is the policy you use to apply updates? Do you apply all updates on your mac as soon as they are available or sporadically?
-jef
Great read. As a long time Linux user/admin who has struggled with how to introduce friends and family to the OS I always find this type of story interesting and informative. I sometime loose sight of the difficulties and tials other have to go through in trying to use Linux to support their work flow.
Can't wait to hear how it works out for you and good luck.
Jef,
Again find myself answering Jef, (if the rest of you will be patient I promise I will comment/answer you as well)
Q: In your previous linux attempts who was responsible for applying updates? you or your husband?
A: It was both of us depending on which computer and who happened to be using it at the time.
Q: And what was the policy they used for choosing when to apply updates? Were they applied as soon as they were available? Time-based, like every week? Or was it sporadically...say right before you husband left town.
A: They we applied as soon as they were available, they were never a last minute walking out the door hope it works for you type of update.
Q:Was there an effort to only apply security related updates or were all available updates applied?
A:All updates were applied.
Q: Do you plan to follow the same update policy this time or will you be making changes in how you approach applying updates?
A: I plan on applying any updates as they become available
Q:On your Mac, what is the policy you use to apply updates? Do you apply all updates on your mac as soon as they are available or sporadically?
A: I apply the updates soon as they are available.
With the way you worded all these questions are you a lawyer in your spare time. :)
I don't understand all the questions about updates. I am new to all this and like I said in my 1st posting I am NOT relying on my husband and his expertise. I welcome help and encouragement, so I am beginning to be confused by your questions.
To Everyone that is encouraging me - Thank you. I will continue to Blog my honest experiences with Ubuntu. (The Good, The Bad, or the Ugly). It really means a lot.
So far the only issue that I have encountered that was a negative one was when I suspended my machine and when it resumed my panel did not look the same. I don't know enough about it to file a bug report. I don't think I can just say, "it didn't look and work the same, so I had to log out the log back in then it worked fine." Not sure that is technical enough but what would I know. Plus I need to get online and figure out how to file one.
D Anderson
Q:I have never used a MAC. Does a MAC update any of the programs that are installed (Firefox, Open Office etc...)
A: No, it only updates the Mac software (from what I can tell.) With Firefox, Micosoft, Neo office they seem to install their own updaters (if that's a word) and I get get notifications, but I don't think it is part of the original Mac/apple update stuff. I could be wrong as I am no expert. If some else knows how this works better than me and can explain it better please do.
MagicFab,
When / if you get to use any IRC, don't forget to check the #ubuntu-women channel.
I figured it out..talked to some women tonight..got some great advice, and signed up for the Ubuntu Women Mailing list. I feel like I'm on a roll. Thanks for the advice. Much appreciated. :)
Just came here through a link from an Ubuntu newsletter.
I can't speak for Jef, but based on the questions he's asking, here's where he may be heading.
A patch is usually issued to either fix a bug in the software or to improve its functionality. In either case, sometimes an effect of applying a patch causes a change that the user notices, either for good or for bad. "Bad" can be because the patch broke something or causes user confusion. At this point, the user calls for help. If it's a problem with the patch, then yet another patch is sometimes created that fixes a previous patch. In these cases, it would have been better to wait to apply the first patch so that others could discover problems (i.e., "be a guinea pig") first.
On the other hand, if a patch fixes some important security problem, it's better to apply it right away.
Because of these conflicting requirements, there is an ongoing debate as how to deal with patches, both as individuals and also as organizational policy in larger companies. My belief is that no matter what you do, you WILL have problems sooner or later. Usually prescience is required to know whether or not to apply any particular patch. :-)
All this boils down to is that patches can sometimes cause problems, and it's a good idea to have someone around you can ask questions of if you need to, or for blogs/forums/wikis to accumulate information related to a patch. As you gain experience yourself, you will need assistance less and less often.
BTW, this applies to ANY operating system, not just Linux. Each one has its own idiosyncrasies.
Sorry, Jef, if I'm putting words in your mouth.
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