Ubuntu 9.04 desktop

**GroundZero3** · May 23rd, 2009, 12:17 PM

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, 12:58 PM

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, 01:00 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, 01:08 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, 01:15 PM

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

Rootstonian · May 24th, 2009, 09:31 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, 10:13 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, 10:38 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, 10:39 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, 10:43 AM

Uninstall that 3rd party driver???