UBUNTU - The Linux operating system that is changing the World

The Linux operating system that is changing the World

I am a senior person  and in my retirement I became an Ubuntu fan. I can assure all senior persons around the World that Ubuntu is one of the best exercises for the “little gray cells” as Hercule Poirot sometimes says.
I am using Ubuntu since early 2007 and I don't think I missed trying any version between 7.04 and the present 10.10. They were all wonderful, each new one was better that the previous, which unfortunately is not the case with other well known operating systems. I also tried other Linux operating systems, but I think Ubuntu is by far the best.
My first experience was a dual boot in an old Pentium IV computer, side by side with Windows 98 - 2nd edition and now I have Ubuntu installed in three personal computers always in dual boot. I even tried a triple boot and all went fine.
My latest baby is a dual boot of ArtistX which is an Ubuntu 9.10 version, in dual boot with with Debian Lenny. Debian is the mother of many Linux operating systems, including Ubuntu, but it has some unique features, especially when we have to deal with an old computer. This dual boot system is installed in my very old Pentium IV computer which now has a partially broken hard disk. All is fine and working properly.

In this article here, I wish to talk about Ubuntu 10.10, the Computer that I am using now daily, which has some wonderful features but also some minor problems. It is now just over a month since I started using Ubuntu 10.10 almost exclusively and I do have some experiences to share. Most of them are good, but here and there, there are some minor annoyances which I am sure will be fixed soon by the wonderful community that is religiously backing Ubuntu's efforts. Ubuntu is an African word and is an ethic or humanist philosophy focusing on people's allegiances and relations with each other. The word has its origin in the Bantu languages of southern Africa. Ubuntu is seen as a classical African concept.

My experiences listed below with a preceding one word, or short sentence description, where applicable:

1. Good: Installing Ubuntu 10.10 from the live CD  is one of the best experiences I had so far. This will tell much, since I have installed and used at least 6 varieties of Ubuntu and another 6 of other Linux operating systems.
2. Fast: Ubuntu 10.10 is one of the fastest systems: in the installation, startup, closing and switching from program to program.
3. Price: All is FREE under Ubuntu, lately there is a section where you can buy some music etc but it is certainly non commercial. No pressure or questions. Almost all programs used in other operating systems are available for FREE under Ubuntu and many times they perform even better than those in other operating systems. You can easily install 2 or 3 programs under Ubuntu , all performing the same task, until you decide which one works best for you. Sometimes you may be tempted to use one for a certain job and another one for a similar but slightly different job and no one will ask you any money or ask you to delete anything.

As with all operating systems there is always problems. With Ubuntu it is always minor and even if there is no direct solution, there is always an alternative avenue to reach your goals. So here are some problems or simply strange things that happen and at times useful:

1. Learning: There is certainly a learning process and some time is required. There is also a basic requirement: Your computer must be able to start from the CD or DVD slot. Check you Bios, it will be clear from there if this is possible. Once you confirm that, go to the Ubuntu site http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download and download an iso image of a live CD operating system that suits your system. Burn the iso image to a CD or DVD (do not burn it as text, burn as an image – most burning programs have that option). Insert it in your CD or DVD slot and restart the computer. If all goes fine, soon you will see a live operating system that is not using any part of your hard-disk, just a bit of RAM and the CD/DVD you inserted. It takes a bit longer to start from a live CD but it is the best way to learn about the product. If you like it ask for help, either here or in any of the many sites that provide step by step installation instructions. Keep in mind that depending of the version, installation instructions maybe different. Also make sure the version you selected is in Live CD and corresponds to your computer (32 or 64 bits).
2. Pictures and Videos from my camera: Ubuntu version 10.10 is now using Shotwell Photo Manager instead of F-spot, they are both fine and I think that Shotwell is more user friendly, but they both have a problem. When I tried to download some pictures and videos from my camera, all went fine with Stotwell, but I could not find the videos. I downloaded F-spot and still was unable to see the videos. I switched to another computer with Edubuntu 10.04  and there with F-spot I was able to see and download the videos. The only difference was Edubuntu had version F-Spot 0.6.1.5 and Ubuntu 10.10 version F-Spot 0.8.0 which is probably a newer version. I almost gave up until I found a much easier solution: Opened a Computer browser, opened the camera folder(s) and from there I downloaded my videos. So for me the problem is solved, I will even go ahead and remove F-spot, since I think Shotwell is a better program.
3. This is almost funny but maybe useful: As I am working around my desktops, at times I was getting a sudden change where shorter screens of my open programs and workspaces appeared. I pressed Esc and all went fine again.  Since this was happening frequently I tried to find out what triggers it. I discovered that when I move my mouse pointer over the right bottom corner on my desktop all workspaces will be shown in reduced size in my desktop. When I moved my mouse in the left bottom corner, all open program in the active workspace where shown reduced in size (even the auxiliary pop up toolbars. Esc works fine to return to normal. When I move my mouse over the top right corner then all open programs in the open workspace  will get minimized, Esc will not bring them back, you have to click in the task bar. When I move my mouse over the top left corner, unfortunately nothing happens.  I find this feature, strange but useful, as well as fun, once you get the knack of it.
4. This problem is really unusual and it bothers me: I am using a dual language (English and Greek) in my computer, installed properly and works in all programs. Only I have two problems: (a) When the second language was installed, a small but very clear language indicator appeared in my top panel. I could switch language from this indicator or with a keyboard command. Now this indicator became too small to read, with the result to create problems, especially when I am asked to enter my password, which of course is in English. I am bypassing it by typing my password in the text editor and then copy/paste. But I am sure there is a solution somewhere. (b) Again in the language issue, it appears that language keeps changing at random, without me asking either from the panel applet or the keyboard. I thought that it was only happening when I open a program that had previously used say the Greek language, so I changed the main programs I use in to default English. But it is still happening. I am trying to find a way to make the English language as default in my computer, but no success to this point. This problem is slowly disappearing. This is another feature of Ubuntu, with time it corrects it self.

In the next pages I will add some details for the versions of Ubuntu and a sample installation of one of the latest Ubuntu shown from screencasts