Can Linux (in this case Ubuntu) be installed on a machine, use all of the Ram, have better graphics and be able to do everything you require without any major hangups or having to jump to the console to perform black magic? I shall go through how it has worked out so far on a Laptop running 64Bit version and used on everything that I do to see how to copes.
Compiz
One of the strongest selling points of Linux is probably Compiz with the Cube / Cylinder / Sphere 3D mode allowing you to spin around and impress your friends but it has a better use then that, something Mac users are used to and thats Multiple desktops which are easy to get to. In my case I mainly use CTRL + ALT + Arrow Keys to jump around the screens or just rotate the mouse on the desktop – this allows me to work a lot faster and better. The other thing I use a lot is Zoom, Windows Key plus Mouse Wheel and its Zooms with ease.
64Bit Issues
I struggled with Flash and Air – both from Adobe to get working as it should, this mainly meant trying to stream and installing Air Apps. To this day I cannot get a box up to start streaming, had I installed the 32bit I am sure it would work fine but I need 64bit due to 4GIG Ram. I had issues were on loading a page with flash – Firefox would crash, solved this now though.
General Use
Any Application can be found just by Add/Remove or Package Manager and the handy thing is, updates get ALL the programs on your machine. I need a program to rip DVD to movies, presented with a list to choose from, save for Screen shot and so forth. I can play all my Video files, the background changes every 15 mins, I can burn DVD’s, chat on XChat, browse the web etc. The only thing I cannot do at this time is Stream due t othe flash problem.
Has it come a long way?
I have learned a lot about how to control linux which I am guessing makes it easier for me and as I do not play games on this laptop then personally, Ubuntu is great. I mainly love it for the multiple desktops but also the fact I can jump into the terminal and do whatever I need, such as mess with bots and so forth.
