Ubuntu 9.04 desktop

**GroundZero3** · May 23rd, 2009, 11:17 AM

Its been a while since ive loaded up a Linux desktop environment. Im more familiar with the older ubuntu headless versions for my VPN/proxy/music server. However I installed a copy of Ubunutu Desktop 9.04 on my main machine and I must say im fairly impressed. I had to turn off the advance pretty features with the menus and what not because its an older machine. The only drivers (and ubuntu notified me) I had to download was the Gfroce mobility drivers. I dont have wireless on this laptop, im hoping to pick up a usb wireless card here in a few days to test it out.

My biggest pet peeve with linux as a desktop was it always took a while to get everything up and running the way I liked it. Pretty much a few clicks and its ready to go and its not complicated once you get a general idea of where all the applications are in the menus.

If you are bored or looking for something different to try out, give it a try!

**EXreaction** · May 23rd, 2009, 11:58 AM

I was going to try it on my laptop, but then I read the release notes and they talked about issues with Intel graphics...

**GroundZero3** · May 23rd, 2009, 12:00 PM

What kind of issues are they having with the intel graphics? I had to load a third party driver for my video card that wasnt supported by the ubuntu community. Well I didnt have too, because it was working but it was recommended

**glendalf81** · May 23rd, 2009, 12:08 PM

i have to agree, ubuntu 9.04 is pretty cool but i had to go back to windows as there was no support for my gpu or my phones pc suite which i use alot otherwise i would probably be running it now.

and as you say GZ fairly easy to get used to and the desktop effects are pretty cool also

**EXreaction** · May 23rd, 2009, 12:15 PM

Well, there was talk about crashes, performance issues, etc.

**Rootstonian** · May 24th, 2009, 08:31 AM

GZ, that's the version I've installed on my laptop (32 bit) and now, on my Quad core (64 bit) that I was talking about in the Win RC1 thread. Not one problem here at all. And, IMHO, I still think it blows away any Windows product on the market given the price point.

I've even got a CISCO VPN client running on the 64-bit version. Installing a printer and sharing required NO CD either on the main pc or the client which was really nice for a change. I love the multiple desktop feature. I have no problems with Remote Desktop into work computers. I can see Windows network shares.

I've yet to install the fancy, smancy desktop feature as I really don't care for that eye candy; just give me a pc that runs. And these Ubuntu boxes boot to desktop in about 30 seconds and then stop...no 5 minutes of hard drive trashing afterwards

**GroundZero3** · May 24th, 2009, 09:13 AM

Yeah pretty much everything I want it to do works, does viewing videos in firefox lag a lot for you? I think its a video card driver issue, ill look into it today

**Rootstonian** · May 24th, 2009, 09:38 AM

Haven't tried that yet, or if I did, I don't remember it lagging. Nope, just went to youtube and played a couple...no problems there. Haven't played a dvd or tried to stream anything from my windows server yet...

I must say i'm impressed to have switched over 2 machines..especially my main quad core, 4 gigger with 2x320 drives. I took the RAID off, so I'm trying to figure out what to do with the other 320 gig (I didn't set it up to dual boot; if i'm going to go for it, i'm going all the way

)

**GroundZero3** · May 24th, 2009, 09:39 AM

Streaming videos over the network work just fine, I remember having this problem back in the day with linux in general.

**Rootstonian** · May 24th, 2009, 09:43 AM

Uninstall that 3rd party driver???

**Rootstonian** · May 24th, 2009, 10:31 AM

Hell, I can't even get Totem to work on a DVD even when I install the "codecs". Not a show stopper for me and I'm sure I/we can get something to work

On the linux subject, any idea how to RD into a Windows box?

I'm going back to college and I wanted Linux for programming. Using JAVA and Eclipse (both are free of course) and very, very slick environments. And Linux gives me the free C++ compiler to use; I can write code in Notepad if I want or get Bloodshed for free if I want a fancy IDE. I've got 32-bit and 64-bit environments to play around in if I want to mess around with some sick data structures using massive amounts of memory.

**GroundZero3** · May 24th, 2009, 10:35 AM

Remote desktop?

If you go into applications, internet, terminals services client should be what you are looking for. If its not installed search for terminals services client in the add/remove

**Rootstonian** · May 24th, 2009, 10:40 AM

Oh, it's there. I can RD into work machines when I hit the VPN; it just won't connect to a Windows pc.

**GroundZero3** · May 24th, 2009, 10:42 AM

Does the remote machine have RDP enabled?

**Rootstonian** · May 24th, 2009, 10:50 AM

Yes, of course

dude

I got it...had to change the setting from RD setting from super duper secure to medium secure on the vista machine...and then it goes away in 30 seconds..oh well. Not the end of the world since the Win machine is 2 feet away from me and I can play DVD's on it! LOL

**KarmaKiller** · May 24th, 2009, 01:59 PM

So did any of you guys get compiz working?

**GroundZero3** · May 24th, 2009, 05:15 PM

I have a lower end laptop and the eye candy doesnt do anything for me. Ill stick to the regular virtual desktops.

Messing around with Wine and Steam right now.

**SeanC** · May 24th, 2009, 09:47 PM

Compiz works out of the box usually if it detects that your video card supports it.

Should be under preferences menu: CompizConfig Settings Manager.

You might have to turn on the eye candy feature. Preferences menu, Appearance. Visual Effects tab. Set it to normal or extra. Clicking Preferences button, opens the CompizConfig Settings Manager.

I don't use it on my box but I left the menus there if I ever decide to.

**KarmaKiller** · May 24th, 2009, 10:11 PM

Yeah I actually got it working today. It's really easy actually. There is a great youtube video that shows the process.

Over all, I still like it. I've been a fan of ubuntu for awhile now. But I've lately been using ubuntu studio.

**Rootstonian** · May 28th, 2009, 08:41 PM

Installed it all, played with it for about an hour. Yeah, for me, like heated leather seats in a car. Don't need it

Been about 2 weeks with 32-bit and 64-bit Ubuntu on laptop and main rig...ZERO problems. Everything works; even 64-bit CISCO VPN into work..yeah buddy, I'm liking that!

I can say this on a Linux thread....it's really painful to go back and use a Windows box; it just doesn't feel as "tight"