I am thinking of trying Ubuntu myself... Not really sure if it is user friendly, but I've heard its alright.
Scott

It's pretty good but as with any Linux it doesn't have the windows "fire and forget" installations of drivers and programs. Yes many programs can be installed very easily using Ubuntu's built in package management, but when it comes to things like the ATI graphics driver it gets much more complex.

My thought is, I can see what I can do with it, and go from there.. If I don't end up liking it, I can just revert back to windows. I am gonna try it on my desktop first...
Scott

You can find Ubuntu + a great dual boot step by step HERE

Thats awesome! Thanks! I plan on using Ubuntu in dual boot with XP. I am downloading it now on my laptop, will burn it to disc, and install it on my desktop.
Scott

Just remember to defragment Windows before resizing the partiton,

if that is what you planning on doing.

Will do. Thanks!
Scott

I'd advise you to partition the drive manually, after defragging, allowing it to automatically use the free space can use up too much of the free space on your windows partition. Use manual partitioning during setup and resize the windows partition to give yourself about 20 - 30 GB of free space. Use most of that for the main ext3 partition and allocate a swap partition double the size of your system RAM. Don't go for anything more complicated, such as separate partitions for /usr or /home as yet.

Sounds good.. I am waiting for this ISO file of Ubuntu to download, so I can burn it to disc... Its only 39% complete.. slower than molases.. probably be at least another hour before its done.
Scot

did you know some pc magazines have a copy of ubuntu on its cover dvd.. i dunno of a publication in your country.

if you have the time, you could also order a cd from the ubuntu site for free (https://shipit.ubuntu.com/) but it can take 6-10 weeks, so you might want to download it anyway.. Also, when I look at the ship cd option it already says ubuntu 7.04. It is STILL BETA. that is, it'll go final in a few weeks and it's already quite stable, so it shouldn't be a problem, but you might want to wait a while before its final, or just go download and download the updates

I've started using ubuntu a few weeks ago. For me, it supports my WLAN much better than windows did/does.


edit: what the hell am I saying. If the shipping takes six weeks, and you'd update ubuntu, it'll already be final.

Well, I downloaded Ubuntu, but something didn't download right. When I boot from the disc, it won't fully load up and start, when using the "run from live cd" option, and it also won't install on the hard drive. It starts to, then just stops altogether. I might have to just order Ubuntu, even if I have to pay a few bucks for it, I don't mind, as long as I Know its gonna work. I have a copy of freespire on the way to me now as well, just to try it out on one of my laptops... Any comments on that OS?
Scott

You did burn the ISO file as an ISO file and not a normal data disc ?

I will try it again, but I am fairly certain that I burned it as an ISO file... I will check it out.
Scott

Just to make it even more clear.. You have to use the "burn image" or "burn ISO image" functionality of your CD burning software. Dragging and dropping the .iso file into a new compilation is not going to work.

I'm liking Ubuntu myself at the moment. Very good operating system. Currently using it as a server

I will make sure I do that.. I just gotta find another CD thats blank LOL... I don't think I did that last time. I know there is a spot where it says burn ISO image to disc.
Thanks guys.
Scott