All Linux and Open Source Articles
Ubuntu Report Card (2009)
For the last 12 months, I have used Ubuntu as my primary OS. I remain a very happy convert, but I worry that Ubuntu is being unevenly developed. Certain areas have seen great improvements over the last 12 months while other areas have languished or been largely ignored. To that end, the purpose of this article is not to whine or rant, but to bring some perspective to the evolution (or lack thereof) that Ubuntu has experienced between versions 8.04 and 9.04. I write this article in an attempt to help – because as has been pointed out elsewhere, Linux is reaching a point where it needs less zealots and more (loving!) critics…
Ubuntu: One Year Later
Hard to believe, but it’s been almost a year since my first Ubuntu-themed article appeared on this site. Last October I made the decision to try Ubuntu 8.04. This was the end result of a number of factors, including months of trying to squeeze every drop of life out of XP. Eventually the futility of [...]
10 Things I Don’t Miss About Windows XP
Six months ago I moved from XP to Ubuntu, and I can honestly say that my relationship with my PC has never been better. To celebrate six months of freedom, here is my top ten list of “reasons I’m glad I switched from XP to Ubuntu.”
The Only Feature Ubuntu 10.04 Needs
Why am I talking about Ubuntu 10.04 when the 9.10 release (Karmic Koala) is still months away? I’ve picked 10.04 because there’s still time for us, as an Ubuntu community, to have some say on what happens to it. The feature set for 9.10 has been mostly laid out, but 10.04 is still an open slate – and I think two significant things need to happen between 9.10 and 10.04 if Ubuntu wants to stay relevant on the desktop.
Linux vs. Windows Hardware Support: The Truth
If you’ve heard of Linux, you’ve probably also heard the following comment (or something like it): Linux won’t be ready for mainstream use until it “just works.” Or maybe: I wanted to like Linux, but after installing it my (insert hardware) and (insert hardware) didn’t work. Some are even so elegant as to say it [...]
Desktop Linux + Portable Hard Drive + PS3 = HD-DVR
This weekend I finally took the time to get MythTV running on my HP Media Center PC (under Ubuntu Linux). For those who don’t know, MythTV is a free Linux application which turns a computer with the necessary hardware into a network streaming digital video recorder, a digital multimedia home entertainment system, or home theater PC. MythTV is quite the application. Honestly, it’s a bit daunting at first – there are a TON of options/features, much more than are probably necessary. (But you know Linux – someone somewhere has probably made use of every one of those obscure settings…) Despite this, the community documentation for getting MythTV up and running with my TV card was exceptional…
Spread the Ubuntu love
In the spirit of Christmas, here are some free images you can use to promote Ubuntu! Send them to everyone you know (including those who have no idea what Ubuntu even is…).
The best Ubuntu 8.10 install guide
There are many Ubuntu install guides available online, most of them falling somewhere between mediocre and okay – but this one is *great*. Detailed instructions are included for users looking to switch from Windows, and this guide covers more than just the install process itself – it also includes information on configuring stubborn drivers, enabling codecs, and making sure Flash works. Highly recommended.
5 stars for this Ubuntu/Linux commentor
As a recent Ubuntu convert, I’ve spent the last couple weeks scanning the web for quality Linux-friendly blogs. A number have turned up, but one is so good that it deserves special attention. iTWire is a great tech commentary site out of Australia. One section in particular – The Linux Distillery, by David M Williams [...]
Proof that Ubuntu 8.10 outperforms Vista
In a recent series of Geekbench tests, Ubuntu scored almost 20% higher (18.6% to be precise) than Vista on identical hardware. The Geekbench test is especially noteworthy because it is designed for cross-platform comparisons, it tests both hardware and software performance, and every test can be run in both single and multi-threaded modes. A glance at the official tests involved reveals other interesting metrics, depending on your application usage: convolution filters (common in Photoshop/GIMP), data compression, fractals (recursive algorithms), STREAM, and more.
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