My Move From Windows 8.1 Pro With Media Centre To Ubuntu 13.10 (Part 4)

In this part I'll sum up my feelings after using Ubuntu13.10 & Linux full time for the last three days. I'll sum up what I think are Ubuntu 13.10's major selling points and what I feel should be worked on to make Ubuntu a vaible alternative to Windows, & what makes for a tough decision for someone wanting to switch to Linux.

Ubuntu 13.10's major selling points

Ubuntu 13.10 & linux in general's main selling point is, it's cheap as it only costs the price of a Blank DVD and Internet connection, It's also easy to setup with all Hardware being detected and setup during Installation, the only Linux Distribution that needs a bit of work to get fully working is OpenSuse with its oddity of having to different ways of handling the Wireless Card. There are loads of software applications both free & paid, Windows game developers are starting to bring out their catalogue of games on Linux. Ubuntu 13.10 has got a very intuitive and user friendly UI that makes it ideal for anyone who is new to Computers or Linux and it's far more productive than Windows 8.1's UI.

What needs to be changed in Ubuntu

The Hibernate feature used in Laptops and Netbooks to suspend & shutdown then resume from where you left off, needs to be fixed as in the last release it was broken & needed to be manually setup by getting help from the Ubuntu Forums on how to set it up & in this latest release it still needs to be manually setup, but it's still partially broken as it will only Hibernate when the battery is low & there doesn't seem to be a way to setup Hibernate to  work when the Laptop or Netbook lid is closed.  This needs to be fixed in the next version, but I highly doubt if it will get fixed as the developers probably don't even know that it's broken or just don't care that it's broken.

What makes it tough for anyone looking to switch to Linux from Windows

The one thing that makes it tough for anyone looking to switch to Linux from Windows is that there are a mass of different Linux Distributions.

Here is a list of the ones that I can think of off the top of my head:

• Debian


• Ubuntu and its derivatives KUbuntu, LUbuntu, XUbuntu, EdUbuntu, Linux Mint & Pear OS.


• Red Hat Enterprise Linux & its derivatives Fedora Core & Cent OS.


• Openuse.


• Slakware Linux.


• BSD Unix derivatives Open BSD, Free BSD & Net BSD.


• The more Technically involved but highly customizable, built from Source Code Gentoo Linux.

Then there are the different Desktop Environments:

• K Desktop Environment (KDE).


• Gnome Desktop Environment.


• Unity Desktop Environment (Used by Ubuntu).


• Enlightenment Desktop Environment ( a lightweight Desktop Environment).


• Xfce (another lightweight Desktop Environment).


• Cinnamon Desktop Environment (Used by Linux Mint).


• A heavily modded to look like Mac OSX Gnome Desktop Environment (used by Pear OS).

With all these different Linux Distributions & Desktop Environments there is no wonder that Linux is finding it hard to break out of the Niche market and make it into wat is a viable alternative to Windows & even Mac OSX when in windows there is only the Modern UI/Classic Desktop & in Mac OSX there is only the Mac Desktop that makes Mac OSX a true viable alternative to Windows if you can afford the price of Mac Hardware & with the dozens of OEM's that pre Install Windows onto Laptop/Desktop & Netbook Hardware with a varying price range to suit everyone. The only slightly Linux based system that is currently a viable alternative to Windows & Mac OSX being the Chromebook range running Google's Chrome OS as they are really cheap compared to Windows & even Mac Laptops & Netbooks.

Roland

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My Move From Windows 8.1 Pro With Media Centre To Ubuntu 13.10 (Part 3)

In this third part I'll summarize the strengths & weaknesses of Linux over Windows & how Linux could get more public exposure.

Strengths Of Linux Over Windows

• It's Free and the only financial outlay is the price of your Internet Connection & the price of a Blank DVD, where as Windows you've got to pay £100's for a DVD Boxset.


• There is a wide selection of Distributions ranging from easy to setup to compiling and Installing from Source Code as well as lightweight Distributions that can run perfectly fine on ageing Hardware as well as on new Hardware, where as with Windows you need Hardware from at least 2-3 years ago or newer for it to run well.


• Linux has a wide range of Desktop Environments ranging from lightweight up to feature rich Desktop Environments, where as Windows only has the Metro UI Modern UI/Classic Desktop.


• With Linux you can build a fully functional & feature rich Single Server or Multi Server Network without having to pay £1000's, where as with Windows you have to spend £1000's putting it out of the reach of someone wanting to create & host their own website & email without having to resort to using pirated versions of the Windows Server OS & other Server side software.


• Linux isn't full of Viruses or Malware as it's still a Niche operating system, and it would mean that Virus developers would have to package the virus up into two different formats 1 a .rpm that is used by OpenSuse & Fedora Linux to name to Distributions & a .deb that is used by Debian Linux & Ubuntu & it's many variants meaning that if Linux does become main stream one day it would still be hit and miss how many people would be affected due to it being hard to know exactly what version of Linux a particular user is using, where as Windows uses the .exe format for software meaning that 100% of Windows users are likely to be hit by a particular virus.

Weaknesses Of Linux Over Windows

• Linux doesn't have the same OEM support as Windows due to Microsoft giving OEM's an incentive to pre-install Windows on their Hardware meaning that Linux is a Niche market for OEM's with only one US based Online OEM making Linux systems that come with Ubuntu pre-installed, the downside of this is that since there is only System 76 making Linux Systems their prices are higher than those of the other OEM's that make Windows only Systems, & for anyone located outside of North America the cost of shipping and import duty makes them not as attractive as they first seem, which in turn pushes people towards buying a Windows Machine instead.


• Only die hard Linux users buy a Windows Machine and wipe Windows & Install Linux, meaning that the vast majority of people buying a new Computer will leave Windows on.


• Linux doesn't have as many games that serious gamers play compared to Windows, even though Valve are trying to change things for the good by making a Linux version of their Steam Client, but there are still few main stream games available for Linux with mainly Independent Developers producing Linux compatible Games.


• The choice of different Distributions & Desktops is vast, which makes the choice a bit overwhelming for new users, this is where Windows shines as there is only Windows 8.1 Pro with the Modern UI/Classic Desktop combination.


• Linux compatible software isn't readily available in shops, meaning that you need to use your Distributions Software manager or Software store, or search online to install free & paid software, where as Windows software is readily available in shops, from the Windows store and by searching online.

How Linux could get more public exposure

Linux could get more public exposure by having paid software that runs on Linux readily available in shops along with Distribution developers producing DVD Boxsets of their Distributions with Documentation & User Manuals for new users with a cost of about £50-£60, this in turn would make Linux look like a serious alternative to Windows and would possibly entice OEM's away from Windows to Linux or entice them to make a Linux line along with a Windows line.

Roland

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My Move From Windows 8.1 Pro With Media Centre To Ubuntu 13.10 (Part 2)

In this second part I'll detail my System spec and explain why Ubuntu 13.10 is better than Windows 8.1 Pro

System Spec

My System is a 15.6" Toshiba C660-15R Laptop that I've had since about 2010, over they years I've upgraded from the stock 2GB of RAM, 250GB HDD & Realtek 802.11b/g/n Wireless Adaptor to 4GB of RAM, 1TB Toshiba HDD and Intel Centrino Advanced N + WiMax Wireless Adaptor that is capable of operating on both the 2.4GHZ & 5.0GHZ Wireless Bands (Wireless Router or Wireless Access Point Capable of Both the 2.4GHZ & 5.0GHZ Wireless Bands required).

Why Ubuntu 13.10 is better than Windows 8.1 Pro

Windows 8.1 Pro can run on my Laptop just fine but it can be sluggish at times and Setup from fresh is pretty long winded with requiring most of the useful software like Office & fully featured Email Clients needing Installing after initiall setup, then all Hardware needs to have Device Drivers individually Installed and a re-boot required after every Driver has been Installed.

Another major annoyance is that Windows requires Activating over the Internet, meaning that if anything goes wrong and you have to do more than a set amount of Fresh Installs in a set amount of time that isn't published as far as I'm aware by Microsoft then you are out of look and will be unable to Activate your copy of Windows (This doesn't affect anyone whose Laptop or Desktop machine came with Windows Pre-Installed) and it will become un-usable after 30 days, leaving you with ether having to download an Activator that will make Windows think it's been Activated or do what I did in March & switch to Linux.

Ubuntu 13.10 runs lightning fast on my Laptop and a Fresh Install is quicker than that of Windows 8.1 Pro and no Device Drivers need to be Installed and Office Software comes Pre-Installed in the form of Libre Office 4.1 and a fully featured Email client in the form of Mozilla Thunderbird 24.1, this greatly speeds up initial setup as you can do everything from wite a letter, an email and browse the Internet as soon as you login. You can then brows the Ubuntu Software Centre for any free or paid application that you then require.

A plus for Ubuntu 13.10 and any other Linux distribution out there is that a license is free and you are free to Install on as many Computers as you like, the only cost involved in running Ubuntu 13.10 or any other Linux distribution is the cost of your Internet Subscription to download the ubuntu.iso and the price of a blank DVD compared to the £100's for a Windows 8.1 Pro License & DVD Pack.

Another plus for Ubuntu is that you can try the latest release from early build's all the way up to final release without having to do a fresh Install all the time (I wouldn't recommend using the development builds as it can be a bit troublesome to someone new to Linux, and the Ubuntu Forums Members aren't always going to know what your problem is due to the vast amounts of different system configurations from specific configurations between different OEM's to a custom build from an OEM like DELL through to a custom home built Desktop, even the systems made and sold by Ubuntu OEM System 76 might not work correctly with the Development builds of Ubuntu due to the bleeding edge software that is used, and as it's a Development build 1 update could quite easily knockout a perfectly working system if there is a small bug or even an incompatibility with another feature. Also to use the Development Build it requires being confident using the Command line to configure text files to make software updates from the Development Branch of the Ubuntu Servers available to you, and sometimes you can go days without getting any updates then get a ton in a couple of hours to days).

Roland

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My Move From Windows 8.1Pro With Media Centre To Ubuntu 13.10 (Part 1)

In this new series I'll be documenting my move away from Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Centre to Ubuntu Linux 13.10.

In th is first part I'll explain some of the reasons for my move away from Windows 8.1 Pro to Ubuntu Linux 13.10 & why I decided to go with Ubuntu 13.10.

Why I decided to go with Ubuntu 13.10

I decided to go with Ubuntu 13.10 as I'd already got the 64 Bit Ubuntu 13.10 DVD image on my HDD along with DVD image of Pear OS 8 that is a Mac OSX themed version of Ubuntu.  So after I burned both images to DVD's I booted up my trusty Toshiba Satellite C660-15R Laptop that I've had since 2010 with the freshly burned Pear OS 8 DVD in the DVD Drive and booted into Live mode and gave Pear OS 8 a quick look, but despite it looking very much like Mac OSX the icons don't look anything like the ones that Apple use in OSX as the Developers of Pear OS decided to use an iOS styled icon set, & the Windows buttons are too small compared to the OSX ones.

I then re-booted to the Live Ubuntu 13.10 session with the Ubuntu 13.10 DVD and preferred the more slick & polished look of Ubuntu compared to that of Pear OS 8, and since I've used Ubuntu on & off since about late 2009 to mid 2010 I felt at home with the style of Ubuntu, I've also been an on and off Linux user since about 2006/7 and used to love using Suse Linux then OpenSuse, but once the default Desktop Environment in OpenSuse KDE added the Plasma Desktop (Widgets) and made them unable to be switched off fully& then the way that there was 2 different Network Managers making it hard for new users or users returning to OpenSuse from a different Distro virtually impossible to get online. Also the Ubuntu Forums are very well laid out and the users are very knowledgeable and friendly compared to the poorly laid out but equally as  knowledgeable and friendly OpenSuse Forums.

 The reasons for my move away from Windows 8.1 Pro to Ubuntu Linux 13.10

I decided to move away from Windows 8.1 Pro to Ubuntu 13.10 due to an annoyance that seems to have popped up with the inability burn Audio CD's from both iTunes & Windows Media Player, which is annoying when I want to burn Audio CD's to play in the car, also the Metro UI Modern UI has made Windows Bloated and Annoying to use at times, especially when you want to do something quick.

Roland

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Spam Comments What's The Point?

Are the people behind the Spam Blog Comments that are just full of random words strung together that make no sense and full of random links stupid? Do they actually think that Blog Authors are actually going to approve these useless Comments that are

A) Don't make any sense and are full of Links.
B) Mostly off topic to the Post that they have commented on.

I can't decide if Spam Comments are by other Bloggers that haven't got as big of a following as the Blog that they Spam in hope of

A) Getting Spammed Blog down ranked by search engines due to Spam Comments.

B) Idiots that have nothing better to do with their time than leave Spam Comments on Blogs.

or Bots that just trawl the Net Spamming every single Blog there is.

But I thank god that I decided to use wordpress.com when I started Blogging as the Akismet Spam filter built into WordPress does a pretty good job of filtering out Spam Comments even though the odd one or two Spam Comments slip through the filter and every now and again I get the occasional off topic Comment.

But that still doesn't answer my question about What's the point of Spam Comments as all Spam Comments do is waste the time of Blog Authors who have to go through the Comments and delete all Spam, and that takes time away from them producing great content that people actually want to read, and it's a waste of Spam Commenter's time as none of the Spam Comments are actually going to get Approved by Blog Authors.

Rant Over

Roland

Microsoft LifeChat LX-2000 Review

 

Like the Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000 the Microsoft LifeChat LX-2000 is a combined Headset & Microphone, the only difference between the LX-3000 & the LX-2000 is that the LX-2000 is mainly a headset to use with a Laptop,  as it features a behind the head style headband and the Headset folds up and fits in an included case, like the LX-3000 the LX-2000 also sports an in-line remote, but it's a little more basic compared to the LX-3000 and the LX-2000 sports a pair of 3.5mm plugs that go into the soundcard Headphone & Microphone ports so it's not as neat a solution as the LX-3000 that uses a USB Port for connection, but for a headset that is more suited to a Laptop or Netbook it does save a USB Port that are rare on portable devices.

Roland

Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000 Review

This is my first review post in a while, and I've decided to do a review of the Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000 Headset & Microphone.  While this headset isn't a top of the range headset it's ideal for use as a gaming headset with or without the use of the Microphone, for listening to music while  working, watching movies, YouTube videos or DVD's, Video chatting using Google Hangouts or Skype and for voice recognition Dictation.

The Headset connects to a PC or Laptop via a standard USB cable and has an in-line remote has a volume Up and Volume Down button, a Microphone Mute Button and a Call button for Windows Live Messenger, but as far as I can see it doesn't seem to work with the Windows 8 version of Skype or any other  Windows 8 Voice Messaging app, it may work with Desktop  versions of Skype etc. but it still should work with Skype etc. without the use of the Call Button.

I purchased the Headset for use while Gaming or watching YouTube videos instead of using the ear-buds that came with my phone.

Roland