David Russell

10 Comments

1. john chandler

   2006-08-31 1230hrs

   

   Hmm...I installed kubuntu a few weeks ago to play with it, but it doesn’t automatically boot into KDE. Are you enough of a fanboy to tell me how to get into KDE? :)
   -----

2. David

   2006-08-31 1251hrs

   

   Word up, John.

   You might’ve downloaded the server edition of Kubuntu 6.06 rather than the desktop. If, however, you are sure you have the desktop edition you can try running a few of these commands from the boot prompt.

   This command launches the desktop (like Explorer.exe in Win). This should most likely get you going:

   sudo startx

   If that doesn’t work, you might try editing the desktop configuration files:

   sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

   If you don’t have luck there, or have error, you might have the server edition, but you can install desktop to that edition directly (net connx needed)--this command I got from another article, wasn’t sure of the Kubuntu syntax:

   sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop

   And this command is handy for rebooting the desktop from the CLI:

   sudo /etc/init.d/kdm restart

   I’ve use Kubuntu a bit, but I like the apps that are bundled with the Gnome version better. And I’m actually very used to the Gnome interface---I might even prefer it to KDE now.

   Also, I’ve never said I’m a CLI guru, so if the above code snippets aren’t correct, my apologies in advance. A Google search might help beyond this. The Ubuntu forums are probably even better.

3. Dolan

   2006-08-31 1425hrs

   

   David, it may be time for intervention. :-)

4. David

   2006-08-31 1509hrs

   

   Dolan: Do you know of a 12-step program or something?

5. Scott Howard

   2006-08-31 1645hrs

   

   I have been using Ubuntu for about 10 months now and I just love it. Its really nice to be able to have a new OS without it costing anything. I have found the starter guide to be very beneficial. http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Dapper

6. Dolan

   2006-09-01 2359hrs

   

   12-Step Program:

   Step 1 - Install Windows XP
   Step 2 - Reboot
   Step 3-12 Repeat Step 2

   I am having this ASIO problem right now that is driving me crazy.  Hence the sarcasm.

7. Scott Howard

   2006-09-03 0855hrs

   

   THought you might like to see this post about Ubuntu CE http://www.dipnoi.org/archives/category/technology/

8. Dustin

   2006-09-08 1105hrs

   

   For someone still living off of Windows ME, how different would the switch be?  Also, what are the ramifications of still using Windows based programs?

9. David

   2006-09-12 0311hrs

   

   Dustin: Please, if you do anything, at least get out of Win ME. An “upgrade” to Win 2000 would be far better than ME.

   With Ubuntu, you could have some luck getting native Windows applications to run using Wine. Or you could try another Linux distro, Xandros, which features CrossOver, an application that installs many popular Windows apps onto Linux. It even writes to Windows partitions, which is particularly nice. (IOW you could develop a graphic in Photoshop on Xandros, save it to the Windows partition and open in Windows Photoshop. Goofy example, but you see the power.)

   Now let me give you the more typical Linux community response to your question. :) Why would you really need to run any Windows apps when there are plenty of excellent open-source alternatives made for Linux? This question simply means you can do a lot with Linux and its native applications---many of them are worth checking out. But I will say, I still have Windows boxes running for this very reason. There are several Linux apps that simply do not cut it for me. And there are several Windows apps that are simply superb, but limited to Win machines only. So, I’m probably not an official Linux fan then---but I’m having fun with both operating systems, so who cares? :)

   HTH.

10. Paul

    2007-01-20 1515hrs

    

    Hey David

    That’s quite cool you got 40 Ubuntu discs and I hope an equal number of stickers.  There nothing wrong with Ubuntu.  I mean I’ve installed ubuntu on two computers, an old 1.0 mg desktop and my dell inspiron 1000 laptop.  Just because I got an ubuntu t shirt and ubuntu button doesn’t mean I can’t give it all up and return to windows.  I mean I can at any time I want.  Because after all, I like having to do virus scans and the blue screen of death looks so pretty.  And isn’t it a whole lot of fun having to reboot your windows computer just because the whole thing froze while you’re working on something important and irreplaceable.

    None of those things happen in Linux.

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