A Reader Asks About Linux
Well what do you know? There *are* people who do read my random ramblings (apart from my wife and my 3 friend, that makes my total readership reach a staggering FIVE!). Well back to my post. Jhay asked me this question in the comment box of my previous post:
So my plan is to have my machine configured for a dual-boot system so that i can use Linux while the rest of my family can still use XP.
Can you share me some advice?
My concern is mainly about my hardware compatibilities with Ubuntu Linux.
As you said, it appears that I may have to really search the net for the appropriate drivers for my hardware in case they do not jive with Linux.
Congratulations on your decision to at least partially get out of the deathgrip of Windows. Re-reading your question, I just realized that you may have a higher chance of success in installing Ubuntu Linux on your box as a dual-boot system since I'm pretty sure that it is not a brand new computer. As I have mentioned in the previous post's comment box, I had *some* driver problems when I first attempted to install Ubuntu on a brand new IBM Netvista computer because the Ubuntu distro I used didn't have video drivers for it. When I installed that same Ubuntu installer on a relatively older computer (but still a very much capable Pentium 4 with 256 MB of RAM), it went on smoothly and it had drivers for everything in the system (including the NIC/LAN Card, video card and modem). Having gone through a couple of familiarization seminars on Linux, I was able to set it up to connect to my office LAN and I was even able to install (DNS service) on it.
Ubuntu became rather popular last year because it is one of the few Linux distro that made installation very easy and straightforward. I was able to do my install with minimal intervention and and as I've said, connection to a network (either a LAN or to the internet) can easily be done using its GUI (Graphical User Interface).
However, if this will be your first foray into Linux, I suggest that you familiarize yourself first with Ubuntu by using its Live CD first. Try it out and see if you can really make the switch. This way, you'll get to "practice" configuring the system and see if it works with your computer before actually messing up with your hard drive with the actual installation.
Good luck on your switch and I hope it will be as good for you as it was for me.
And oh, to the other readers of this blog: Happy Valentines!
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1 comment:
thanks sir bernie,
finally some real answers to my questions. I visited a lot of other sites where I asked the same question.
You sir, by far has been the quickest to answer, god bless you.
My machine is a three-year-old pc w/ a Pentium 4 chip, it's quite a dinosaur really compared to my newer machines but since this is old, i decided to use this in my quest to liberate my pc's from Windows' screwed up patches and updates-kuno.
Yes, this is my first foray into linux, quite familiar with it thanks to Mac OS X (read: no start button).
I've already tried the live CD and it convinced me to go for the dual-boot install, in case I do need the Windows XP again.
Just a few questions sir, can I use the live CD to connect to the internet? I'm using a dial-up modem for this test. I'm sure if I would be able to make the connection then my modem is truly Linux-compatible.
I'd keep in touch and really, thank you sir.
Cheers and a Happy Valentine's day to your family.
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