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I’ve been using it for a while now and am getting quite used to it……but…..there’s always a but. Setting up third party software is still more onerous than it was with Windows, but I’m still going for it.

Story so far.

Installed AMD64 version
Fiddled about and found that loads of the applications don’t seem to work. Got annoyed and binned it.

Installed 32bit version
Much less fiddling around. Much happier. Even the missus started using it without having to ask me questions….where’s this? or what the hell is that? are now things of the past (well almost). Even got Picassa (Linux version)…hurrah

Nova S Plus satellite card not recognised but not really surprised. I ‘ve had a quick look about but not found anything concise (note to self…have a rant about Linux HowTo’s and how absurdly verbose they seem to be, why say it in 10 words when 4000 will do!). Have taken the last resort and posted a ‘help me’ on the Ubuntu forums, shame really but I’m not getting anywhere with this one fast.

To Do List
1. Install Google Earth
2. Install MythTV and get it to recognise my MCE remote
3. Tidy up the OS, remove the programs I’m just not going to use and keep the system clean.
4. Buy a better monitor
5. Leave it alone for a while by which time the next version will probably be ready for installation

Were you surprised?

There are so many different reports on how to install this distro so I won’t go through the details but suffice to say they are all true. It’s a piece of cake, even for a new user.

So the install is done and everything is updated and the offie based stuff is in and working ok, as is automatix and a few other small radio programs I wanted. But I didn’t get a chance to do the main one ‘Myth TV’. I think this is going to take a while and I want to hve plenty of time to do this kind of thing so I don’t get interrupted with a ‘can you just do this’ from ‘er indoors.

One thing I have to say is that I do like the terminal and the fact that once you do an apt-get install it goes away and does it all for you. This is what it should be like, not more searching around the interweb for an application followed by a click here to register then download and then installing it manually. ‘apt-get install’ is now my favourite thing that does something for you, now how’s that for an accolade. Now I wonder if an apt-get cut the grass works!

All in all I can’t say anything bad about Ubuntu. Having forst dipped my toe into the Linux world with Mandrake 7,8 & 9 and a few others I found this is by far the most user friendly and simplified distribution an I think I’ll be giving it more that just a simple look, this is a probable contender for complete windows removal, not because I’m anti Bill, I don’t subscribe to the ‘Windows was made by the devil incarnate’ fantasies but a change is as good as a rest and if I can run HRD under linux then I think I’ll be a very happy bunny.

Having piddled about for a number of weeks with the 64 bit edition of Ubuntu I think I’m going to take the plug and install the 32 bit version on the main computer at home on the internal disk. I am always full of hope that this will be the distribution that suits me but I can’t help think that my favourite application (Ham radio Deluxe) will never run under wine and I’m going to be stuck with a PeeCee that doesn’t do what I want it to.

I’ve moved email and with the ever useful Hubdog and everything else onto my trusty Dell x50v so I shan’t have to rely on Windows for a while, but just to be on the safe side I’m going to keep hold of the Windows Media Centre edition drive so I can put it back if I end up pulling (the rest of) my hair out.

So whats the plan

Ubuntu
MythTV
Open Office
Wine
Ham Radio Deluxe

I think that will do for the weekend. After all it is the last few stages of the Tour de France