Ubuntu [Archive] - QRZ Forums

n6yg

03-04-2007, 02:50 AM

Please don't tell me you gave up Ubuntu and went to Freespire simply because you could not play those crappy WMV files.

You should have done a bit of reading first. The reason Ubuntu does not include support for WMV and WMA is because they are proprietary formats. In other words Microsoft owns them. Besides you would have to be a fool to store your videos in WMV. While you might own the content Microsoft still owns the format and can prevent you or enyone else from ever viewing them again. Especially if it turns out that Microsoft has stolen IP or code and used it in the WMV format. (would not be the first time)

Since WMV is proprietary, Microsoft wants a licensing fee to use the format. Since Ubuntu is free you have not paid for that License therefore you can't use WMV. Linspire paid for a License and includes that license free with Freespire.

This in a nut shell is why proprietary format's are bad. You own the content but Microsoft still owns the format. It's kind of like Kodak claiming ownership over the photo paper your pictures where printed on. You would own the content in the picture, but Kodak still owned the paper and could take them from you anytime they felt like it. Or they could decide to charge you a fee every time you looked at your pictures. the choice is theirs because you agreed to it.

As for WMV in Ubuntu you could have easily installed the WMV codec. Ubuntu does not include this info because they don't want to be sued by Microsoft. Do a search for a program called Automatix or Automatix 2. Once you install Automatix you can then use it to automatically install the WMV codec. Automatix will also install many other high demand proprietary software packages

Never mind the search, here's the link
http://www.getautomatix.com/

"In a world without Fences and Walls who needs Windows and Gates"

ve2nsm

03-04-2007, 02:53 AM

I'm looking at the freespire website right now. It looks interesting.
I got discouraged by debian three years ago and lost any hopes to get used to linux, but this version looks interesting.

I'm no computer geek or programmer or technician but I could label myself as a "way above average user".
I need a computer to work and I have no time to fool around and to lean another system, if they could make a linux interface that would resemble and feel like windows, I would be the first to make the move, but so far, all the linux systems I saw were made by and for geeks.

I'm gonna check out this one, so far the screenshots looks a lot like a windows interface, I like it. thanks.

k5phw

03-04-2007, 02:56 AM

Ubuntu http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

KC0VWU

03-04-2007, 03:03 AM

I like .wmv files. They are easy to work with and they are good enough for my needs.

In any event, I'm new at this so I need it to be as easy to use out of the box as it can be.

K9STH

03-04-2007, 03:14 AM

IEI:

Your original comment to VWU was uncalled for, just an attempt to get something started. I definitely suggest that you offer a sincere appology.

As for the others who took the bait: Let us all stop this right now!

Glen, K9STH
One of the QRZ.com moderators

n6yg

03-04-2007, 03:42 AM

You don't need to be a computer geek to install Ubuntu,
Linux has come a long ways in the last 5 years. My 13 year old who up to 6 months ago lived with his mom and had no access whatsoever to a computer managed to install Ubuntu on his first try.

Not only did he install Ubuntu on his own computer but in the last 6 months he has installed Ubuntu on at least 15 other computers. Whats funny is once his friends see his Ubuntu laptop running Beryl's advanced 3d desktop they all want it.

Ubuntu has taken his school by storm. Last Time I talked to the Computer/Wood shop teacher he told me that at least 80 percent of the kids who have laptops at school are running Ubuntu.

So to me anybody holding a Amateur radio ticket complaining that Ubuntu's to technical should be ashamed of themselves. They have just been shown up by a 13 year old boy whose only held a Technician class Amateur radio license for about 3 weeks and has less then 6 months computer experience. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

KC9ECI

03-04-2007, 03:44 AM

What's a NCT license?

I guess I'm going to have to take a look at Ubuntu. I've heard others say good things about it.

KC0VWU

03-04-2007, 03:46 AM

It's not so much that it is too technical but it is still my first day using it It took hours to make it work because I had to mess with my BIOS to make it boot off the CD and by then I just wanted the thing to work.

Hey as long as we are still talking about this, can anyone recommend some video editing software?

KC9ECI

03-04-2007, 03:51 AM

Ubuntu looks like it's going to be a good OS to try out!

http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop

KC0VWU

03-04-2007, 03:54 AM

Quote[/b] (KC9ECI @ Mar. 02 2007,22:51)]Ubuntu looks like it's going to be a good OS to try out!

http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop
Yeah just burn it to a CD and boot the computer off it and you can try it without actually installing it.

n6yg

03-04-2007, 04:05 AM

Quote[/b] (KC9ECI @ Mar. 03 2007,20:44)]What's a NCT license?

I guess I'm going to have to take a look at Ubuntu. I've heard others say good things about it.
Thanks for bringing that oversight to my attention. I am so used to seeing NCT that I just typed it in without thinking about it. I have since corrected my original post.

I am very proud of my son for earning his ticket. While some might think the Technician class test is trivial. To a 13 year old with no experience in electronics or radio whatsoever, it required quite a bit of reading and studying. Now he is studying for his general. Unfortunately he has been put off and discouraged by the comments directed at new Generals here on QRZ. As a result I have had to block his access's to the QRZ website as I don't want him to become discouraged and give up.

n2ize

03-04-2007, 04:11 AM

Quote[/b] (KC0VWU @ Mar. 03 2007,16:31)]I figure that Vista has killed any chance that I'll continue to use Windows so after a few hours of struggling I finally got Ubuntu to run on my PC. I kind of like it so far but I think it has a bit to go before it is ready for prime time. For example, I can't get it to play .wmv files yet and I'm not seeing an easy fix for that just yet. I'm just running it off the CD for now while I get used to it but it has some promise.
wmv files are "windows media player" files. Normally the codecs to view them are not supplied with stock Linux distros but you can add them.
Look at the following native Linux players that can handle some of the wmv codecs...among many others.

xine media player (http://xinehq.de/)
mplayer (http://www.mplayerhq.hu/design7/news.html)

It is also possible to run the native Windows apps directly using WINE. One easy way to do it is via Crossover. Crossover will install a fake windows environment on your system enablling you to install a whole bunch of Windows apps from a list including "Windows media Player", "Quicktime for Windows", etc. It's about the easiest ready made front end to WINE that I have ever seen. There is a licensing fee for Crossover but you can downl;oad a free trial version to give it a test run.

Crossover (http://www.codeweavers.com/products/)

n6yg

03-04-2007, 05:16 AM

Quote[/b] (n2ize @ Mar. 03 2007,21:11)]Quote[/b] (KC0VWU @ Mar. 03 2007,16:31)]I figure that Vista has killed any chance that I'll continue to use Windows so after a few hours of struggling I finally got Ubuntu to run on my PC. I kind of like it so far but I think it has a bit to go before it is ready for prime time. For example, I can't get it to play .wmv files yet and I'm not seeing an easy fix for that just yet. I'm just running it off the CD for now while I get used to it but it has some promise.
wmv files are "windows media player" files. Normally the codecs to view them are not supplied with stock Linux distros but you can add them.
Look at the following native Linux players that can handle some of the wmv codecs...among many others.

xine media player (http://xinehq.de/)
mplayer (http://www.mplayerhq.hu/design7/news.html)

It is also possible to run the native Windows apps directly using WINE. One easy way to do it is via Crossover. Crossover will install a fake windows environment on your system enablling you to install a whole bunch of Windows apps from a list including "Windows media Player", "Quicktime for Windows", etc. It's about the easiest ready made front end to WINE that I have ever seen. There is a licensing fee for Crossover but you can downl;oad a free trial version to give it a test run.

Crossover (http://www.codeweavers.com/products/)
Or if you own an older version of Windows and have Windows only software you must use. You can Install VMware server for free. Once installed you can use your Windows installation CD and install Windows in a virtual environment. As far as I am concerned this is exactly where Windows belongs. On a Linux box hosted in a virtual environment where it can do no damage.

I would never run Windows as the host, or as the primary OS its just to dam flaky and unstable. Besides if it's in a virtual environment the Windows OS is just another file on the host system file system. If it gets a virus or spyware you just copy over a backup of the file and BAM Windows is reinstalled. VMware has made running Windows about as painless as possible.

As far as Wine is concerned it is a fine program. I have found that most Windows based Ham radio software works really well under Wine.

My entire network is Linux based, With various versions of Windows OS's served up in Virtual environment as needed.

And who says Linux won't run on the latest hardware.

My main play system:
Intel Core 2 Extreme Quad core (QX6700) CPU
4 GB Corsair DHX-XM52 Dominator Dual Channel PC9136 DDR2 Ram
ATI X-1900 video card powering two ViewSonic 22.5 inch LCD monitors
4 TB of WD SATA drives (Raid 0+1)
Thermaltake Armor case.
Networked to 9 other Linux boxes including a Networked Konica Color laser printer Via switched Gigabit lan

Software:
Host operating system: Ubuntu 64bit

Virtual environment:
Fedora Core, OpenSuse, Linspire, Mepis, Mandriva, Gentoo, Freebsd .........
Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98 and Windows 3.1

Other computers:
Dedicated IPcop firewall (Linux)
Dedicated Webserver, MySql server, and Mailserver
Wireless Hotspot server and Radius server
Various laptops and desktops for web browsing and office work.

Now if this was a Windows network. I would need to hire an asstiant and spend the better part of my day fixing problems. Thankfully it's a Linux sytem and I can pretty much forget about it and let it do its thing.

Stats
Web server, Sql server, Hotspot, Mail server, Radius server and IPcop box's have been up 24/7 365 days a year for over a year.

My play system normally runs for months at a time without reboots. The only time it gets turned off or rebooted is for hardware upgrades. Windows Will never have this kind of stability.

N6BOA

03-05-2007, 03:46 AM

Moved to a more appropriate forum.

KC0VWU

03-06-2007, 12:50 AM

Just an update... I've been using Freespire for a day or two now and I love it, I'm going to hit the not-so-local pawnshop and see if he has any computers sitting around at a good price. If not maybe I'll build one.

I've installed PuppyLinux on my kids' computer and they seem to really like that too. Their computer is ancient and Puppy was the only one that would run on it but it is a start. They are amazed at how much faster it runs than Windows 98.

So I guess for anyone reading this, go ahead and give it a try, you might just like it.

KC9ECI

03-06-2007, 03:34 AM

PuppyLinux? Hmmm...something good for my 5 year old?

KC0VWU

03-06-2007, 04:40 AM

Quote[/b] (KC9ECI @ Mar. 04 2007,22:34)]PuppyLinux? Hmmm...something good for my 5 year old?
It is very kid friendly but it is lacking some features. The only thing that really threw us was that it didn't pick up the internet connection automatically, you need to use the wizard thing on the desktop. Otherwise they were both going full blast in a matter of minutes.

W2LYS

03-07-2007, 04:48 PM

How hard is it to set it up to dual boot XP & Ubuntu?

KE5FIX

03-07-2007, 08:15 PM

The easiest way I can think of would be to add another hard drive to the PC with ubuntu on it, if you already have XP on the original hard drive and are using it. If that is not the case just format the drive with a partition the size you want for XP, then install ubuntu in the other non-formatted partition and let ubuntu format the non-formatted part of the drive. You will need a boot manger, like lilo or grub on one of the drives/partitions. I hear XP likes to be in the first partition and be the defaulted os.
Note, I have only dual booted linux with linux but, I am pretty sure about the above.

KI4MRU

03-10-2007, 05:02 PM

Quote[/b] (W2LYS @ Mar. 07 2007,12:48)]How hard is it to set it up to dual boot XP & Ubuntu?
Not very hard...I just did it last week. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif The Ubuntu installer will take care of installing the bootloader for you, so you don't have to mess with that. If you have a separate hard drive that you are prepared to dedicate entirely to Ubuntu, then the installer will easily just format it and install Ubuntu on it. If you only have one drive, and you need to add a second partition to it for Ubuntu, the installer will provide you with a graphical partition editor that you can use to add/resize partitions without losing any of the data on your drive (assuming there is enough free space). Of course, just to be safe, you should always back up critical data before repartitioning.

AC0H

03-18-2007, 09:18 PM

Quote[/b] (KI4MRU @ Mar. 10 2007,12:02)]Quote[/b] (W2LYS @ Mar. 07 2007,12:48)]How hard is it to set it up to dual boot XP & Ubuntu?
Not very hard...I just did it last week. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif The Ubuntu installer will take care of installing the boot loader for you, so you don't have to mess with that. If you have a separate hard drive that you are prepared to dedicate entirely to Ubuntu, then the installer will easily just format it and install Ubuntu on it. If you only have one drive, and you need to add a second partition to it for Ubuntu, the installer will provide you with a graphical partition editor that you can use to add/resize partitions without losing any of the data on your drive (assuming there is enough free space). Of course, just to be safe, you should always back up critical data before repartitioning.
Agreed, with the proviso that you fully understand the differences between DOS(windows) and Linux hard drive naming conventions.

For example:
You've got one 80Gig hard drive with two partitions. First partition will be windows and be named C:\ under windows and hda1 under Linux. The second partition will be D:\ in windows and hda2 in Linux. If you format hda1 in this example windows is toast.

You've got two 80G hard drives.
First one the entire drive is dedicated to windows and will be named C:\ and under Linux will be hda. The second drive under windows will be D:\ and under Linux will be hdb.

Notice the difference? Lets be careful out there.

VE3LXL

03-29-2007, 05:18 PM

I am surprised to hear that some people are going with other distributions of Linux because they find Ubuntu too hard. I've installed lots of different distributions of Linux on various computers, and I've never found one that even comes close to Ubuntu in its ease of installation and maintenance. The Ubuntu folks have reduced installation to a handful of simple steps, and their system for downloading and installing new software hides almost all the geeky complexity that you have to deal with in other distros. There are several other Linux distributions that I personally like, but Ubuntu is the one I always recommend to normal human beings (i.e., to people who, unlike me, aren't computer techie types).

ve3sre

04-28-2007, 07:00 AM

To be honest, the simplest Linux install I've ever done was Xandros...it has a graphical installer and only needed about six mouse clicks...(its actually easier than Windows XP) and I've installed Ubuntu and Kubuntu...mind you they're pretty easy too!

As for the Windows (and other proprietary) codecs, most Linux distros don't install them "out of the box" for a mix of legal and philosophical reasons.

Linspire/Freespire are able to include them "out of the box" because Linspire has the legal right to include them. As I understand, it was part of the settlement of a trademark dispute between Microsoft and Linspire. Linspire used to be known as "Lindows"...so you can see why Microsoft might not have been very happy http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

In any case, you can install proprietary codecs using the package management system of whatever distro you happen to be using. In this way you are taking whatever legal risks there are installing them instead of those who put out your favourite Linux distro. The legal problems as I understand are primarily in the U.S. because of the "DMCA" (Digital Millenium Copyright Act).

There's also a company called "Fluendo" where you can purchase and download (legally) the various proprietary codecs for use on Linux machines.

Having said that, there are a couple of other "free as in beer" Linux distros that include proprietary codecs "out of the box"...namely "Linux Mint" and "Dream Linux". Linux Mint is basically Ubuntu with a modified desktop and the proprietary codecs included. Dream Linux is based on "Morphix", comes out of Brazil and uses a really cool "slightly modified" XFCE desktop.

As for the philosophical issues, these are contained in the "GNU General Public License" (GPL) established by the "Free Software Foundation" back in the early 1990's.

The GPL gives the user "four freedoms" (I'm roughly paraphrasing)

1.) The freedom to run the software for any purpose you like

2.) The freedom to study how the software works and adapt it to your needs

3.) The freedom to copy the software so that you can help your neighbour

4.) The freedom to modify the software and release your own modified version to the public.

And of course there's a requirement that the software code be made available to you to make those freedoms meaningful.

As a computer user you don't have free access to the software code for the various proprietary codecs...and since you don't have them...and can't get them, most Linux distros don't include them...because they aren't "free" as in "freedom".

However, you will have "out of the box" support for all of the free and open source audio and video codecs like "ogg vorbis".

Mind you, Windows does not have "out of the box" support for most free and open source audio and video codecs.

Anyway, that's the "philosophical" side of things.

Most Linux users that I know, while they may not particularly like the idea of proprietary codecs, install them anyway...it's the only way you can listen to or view certain types of content. It would make life much simpler if web content providers etc. used free and open source codecs.

73

WA2DYA

05-06-2007, 10:19 PM

I didn't know there was a flavor of Linux called Ubuntu until I came here. I went over to the website, downloaded the ISO image and made the bootable CD. I'm using it on my Thinkpad X60s as I type. I am surprised how well everything is working from an 800 megabyte bootable CD! Even the WiFi adapter is working flawlessly. The included applications are also quite capable.

This op system would serve the majority of us who just send emails, surf the web and do simple word processing just fine and It doesn't cost anything. If you do Windows there's no much to learn to be able to use it. Actually, I think its better organized than Windows.

--- CHAS

ve3sre

05-17-2007, 07:59 PM

There's really not much reason for the average computer user to run Windows these days...other than to play games. And even that's gradually changing with new versions of Wine, Crossover Office and Cedega making it possible for more and more games to be played on Linux.

For hams, the major "missing" application on Linux is decent contest logging software. There really only is one right now (that I'm aware of) called "TLF" and it needs a bit of work.

k4eez

05-18-2007, 01:17 AM

Quote[/b] (WD8OQX @ Mar. 03 2007,13:57)]I tried Ubuntu on 2 machines & couldn't get it to work right for one reason or another (mostly do to hardware issues) - really didn't like it anyway...
haaaaaaaaa should have been called Windows Visa

i have ubun2 here i have installed it on my desktop along with windows, so i have a dual boot to eather O/s
its Kool i like it, i dont understand a lot of the syntex like the hdd grub, and boot loader, i mananged to update it using the synaptic mananger... it took me years to know windows back in the late 90's sence i had a p90mhz cpu and built it my self and installed the hdd and format it all.... yada yada yada

i am thinking about doing the same thing to my laptop installing ubun2u as a dual boot, but i am afrade that it wont detect all the Hardware the laptop is a dell XPS M1210 with the 256mb gfx card, Ata hdd, built in Wifi, nic, Wifi catcher
the hddis 120gb ata @7400RPM, the cpu is 2ghz and has 2gb of ram/memory. the cd ron is a dvd/R, no floppy but has the slot for a plug in flash memory card, it also has 4 usb ports and a 1394 port (firwire) again this is a new laptop
i also forgotten how to install ubun2u as a dual boot,
any help on all the above
thank you
de k4eez.

7 3

ve3sre

05-18-2007, 08:56 PM

The trickiest piece will probably be getting your wifi drivers to work "out of the box" because many wifi card manufacturers either haven't shipped Linux drivers or haven't "open sourced" their drivers so that the community can write them.

If you're lucky, your wifi card uses an Intel chipset and Intel has, as I understand, #open sourced their wifi drivers.

If not, then you'll have to use "ndiswrapper" where you basically create a "wrapper" for the Windows driver.

If you test out Ubuntu (or any other distro) in "live CD" mode, you'll be able to find out pretty quickly whether your hardware will work...or you have to "fiddle" a bit to get it working.

That's a nice thing about GNU/Linux...with most distros these days you can "try before you buy"...only with GNU/Linux...the pricetag is usually zero!

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

WA9UAA

05-30-2007, 12:12 AM

Hi All,
I have tested Ubuntu from the CD drive but couldn't figure out how to get it to find my wireless Linksys 802.11b PCI card. At least I think that is the problem; apparently, it did find the hardwired network connection, but I need wireless here. I have the 'ndiswrapper' on the windoz XP desk top but need to combine it with the O/S on the CD "I THINK". Once I can get on the net from with in Ubuntu I'll be able to answer a lot of my own questions. Any help appreciated! If there is another solution, even better.
73,
Rob WA9UAA

ve3sre

05-31-2007, 02:03 AM

ndiswrapper was included on the CD's of the older 6.06 and 6.10 versions of Ubuntu/Kubuntu/Xubuntu but apparently is not included in "Feisty Fawn" 7.04 for whatever reason.

So if you're doing a system install, you'd have to install ndiswrapper (or is it ndiswrapper-utilities ?) with the package manager (adept, synaptic or apt-get). As for integrating ndiswrapper into the "live CD" there might be someone else who could provide better help than me ;)

Until the wifi card makers open up their drivers, wifi cards are still a bit of a pain to setup on GNU/Linux.

Edited to add...you might want to try "Linux Mint 2.2". Linux Mint is basically Ubuntu at the core but with some proprietary codecs and plugins included. I believe...but not 100% sure that ndiswrapper is included on the Linux Mint disk. I think it's also included with "Simply Mepis 6.5" which is also based on the Ubuntu code base now.

kf4pjh

05-31-2007, 03:24 AM

check out www.distrowatch.com

I prefer mcnlive it has wifi drivers, plays all formats I can find, you can make a usb bootable from it, use it from disk or install it..

mcnlive..

WA7KKP

05-31-2007, 04:50 PM

Quote[/b] (KC0VWU @ Mar. 03 2007,16:31)]I figure that Vista has killed any chance that I'll continue to use Windows [edited]
It took you that many versions to figure out that Windows isn't that great?

For me, all it took was Win3.1. Having worked with a superior GUI o/s (AmigaDOS), moving on to another true multitasking environment was logical and inevitable.

Those who love Windows have never used anything else; those who hate Windows usually have used something else.

Gary WA7KKP

VO1GXG

05-31-2007, 10:56 PM

Try Gentoo it doesn't not need a full book of codes to work like all other Linux distros .

WA9UAA

06-02-2007, 06:35 PM

Hi All,
re: my above post, I finally realized that my wireless card wasn't being seen. I wound up using PClinuxOS and the computer ethernet port to the DSL box. The next big project was the HD partition. I now realize I could have used 'the back 40', about 108 Gigs available, but waxed my D: back up partition. No problem, I have the CD's . What I did have have to do was go into Windoz: Control panel> Administration. In the console tree, clicked disk management. I found the partition ,now marked 'bad' 'dirty' etc. and reformated it into an Extended Partition. Back in PClinuxOS I was able to set up my "/" ,"home" and "swap" areas. There is a web site named 'The Perfect Desktop-PClinuxOS 2007' which guided me through, with pictures no less, the searching and setup for a large number of additional helper programs. Sorry to be overenthusiastic http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif but I am very happy in how this turned out. the dual boot works well, my Windowz system is still intact. In POLinuxOS my printer-scanner, DVD and CD r/w drives work. The floppy is still out but I may not have had it configured correctly. I moved my Bookmarks by getting the system to mount my jump drive, picked them up from the windoz side, and imported them to FF on the Linux side. PHEW! I realize this may be old hat to some; but, it took a bit of work to get through this and I am very pleased with the results thus far. Now to add some radio applications.
73,
Rob WA9UAA

AC0H

06-08-2007, 02:37 AM

Quote[/b] (VO1GXG @ May 31 2007,17:56)]Try Gentoo it doesn't not need a full book of codes to work like all other Linux distros .
It's also anything BUT newby friendly.

The Gentoo project has been overrun with Uber Geeks whose absolute last priority is a stable, reproducible system. It's been that way since Daniel Robbins, the originator of the project, left or was pushed from the project.

I ran Gentoo from version 1.1 to 2005.1. That's when I decided my time was more valuable to me that to spend ridiculous amounts of it admining a system for no other reason than some pimple faced kid thought it was "kewl".

AK7V

07-10-2007, 07:17 PM

Does anyone running Ubuntu have a problem with recorded audio quality? There's some problem with Ubuntu and my laptop's audio input. Quality is of audio I record is very, very tinny. I've played with all sorts of parameters to no avail. I did not have the problem with any other distros.

How's audio input from the soundcard work in your Ubuntu setups?

WA3KYY

07-11-2007, 02:43 PM

Quote[/b] (ve3sre @ May 17 2007,15:59)]There's really not much reason for the average computer user to run Windows these days...other than to play games. # #And even that's gradually changing with new versions of Wine, Crossover Office and Cedega making it possible for more and more games to be played on Linux.

For hams, the major "missing" application on Linux is decent contest logging software. # #There really only is one right now (that I'm aware of) called "TLF" and it needs a bit of work.
Does N1MM run under any of the emulators? That and the fact that I use logger32 as my everyday logging program and three net specific programs keep me from switching to a linux flavor for the shack computer.

Elsewhere in the house I need to run Family Tree Maker to handle my huge genealogy databases and then there is Guild Wars.

If all of the above ran under a version of linux I would be happy to switch off windows. As I mentioned in another thread, I have played with linux off and on since the first command line pre-release when I had to cross complile the development tools on a Sun before I could rebuild the kernal with support for all the hardware on the system. I even at one time had a windows manager with a Win95 skin to fool the boss http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

73,
Mike WA3KYY

WA9UAA

07-11-2007, 04:56 PM

If anybody in this thread is counting, this is my third post. I am back to Ubuntu Fiesty on an old 1.3 Ghz HP. There is a fair amount of ham software in the Repositories. I will be trying the db-9 RS-232 ports because, when trying the ports through a USB adapter, they locked up and may have been damaged. These were about 5 years old though. For my main computer I will have a Linux compatible PCI card with two RS-232 ports. So the HP is just an experiment, in fooling around, I have had to reload the distro a couple of times http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif Though, thats some what expected because I got into one of the config. files and couldn't return it to it's previous incarnation. I did print it out for further reference this time. The distro does a lot of things well, there are sources out there for all the drivers and codecs most folks will need. In the shack, I mainly web surf, run radio, or word process. If I can smooth out the DVD player built into the machine I'll be set to branch out on my Linux experience with some digital photo work, playing DVDs,CDs etc.
73,
Rob WA9UAA http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

AC0H

07-12-2007, 08:01 PM

Quote[/b] (WA3KYY @ July 11 2007,09:43)]Quote[/b] (ve3sre @ May 17 2007,15:59)]There's really not much reason for the average computer user to run Windows these days...other than to play games. # #And even that's gradually changing with new versions of Wine, Crossover Office and Cedega making it possible for more and more games to be played on Linux.

For hams, the major "missing" application on Linux is decent contest logging software. # #There really only is one right now (that I'm aware of) called "TLF" and it needs a bit of work.
Does N1MM run under any of the emulators? #That and the fact that I use logger32 as my everyday logging program and three net specific programs keep me from switching to a linux flavor for the shack computer.

Elsewhere in the house I need to run Family Tree Maker to handle my huge genealogy databases and then there is Guild Wars.

If all of the above ran under a version of linux I would be happy to switch off windows. #As I mentioned in another thread, I have played with linux off and on since the first command line pre-release when I had to cross complile the development tools on a Sun before I could rebuild the kernal with support for all the hardware on the system. #I even at one time had a windows manager with a Win95 skin to fool the boss #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

73,
Mike WA3KYY
My Dad is big time into the Family Tree Maker thing.
If FTM will export it's data in GEDCOM format you can use GRAMPS (http://www.gramps-project.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page) under Linux for the geneaolgy stuff.
I'm going to be doing an Ubuntu install for him this weekend. We'll see.

ve3sre

07-13-2007, 05:24 AM

Quote[/b] ]Does N1MM run under any of the emulators? #That and the fact that I use logger32 as my everyday logging program and three net specific programs keep me from switching to a linux flavor for the shack computer.

From a quickie google it looks like a few folks have tried and failed to get it working under "WINE". # I tried to get Log-EQF to work under Wine but was unsuccessful...similar problem...could get it to install but couldn't get it to run.

I did have a look at a newer version of "TLF" which is a Linux contest logging programme developed by a ham in the Netherlands. It's in the latest Debian repositories (which means available for Ubuntu and other Debian-based distros)...and it looks like it's gradually coming along. # Right now it looks like there's only a contest log file available for CQWW...if you need a file for other contests you'll have to create one.

It looks like an interesting approach though...sort of "modular"...they're integrating it into "XDX", a Linux dxcluster programme along with some other Linux ham software. #

I guess give it a little time and we'll be able to dump Window$ for contest logging http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

k4eez

07-15-2007, 05:47 PM

Quote[/b] (n6yg @ Mar. 03 2007,14:50)]Please don't tell me you gave up Ubuntu and #went to Freespire simply because you could not play those crappy WMV files....
is there a good Mp3 player like WinAmp for Ubuntu?
if so where can i download it

W4INF

07-16-2007, 03:34 AM

Would someone please PM me with some destructions on how to get Freespire to run off CD? Id like to boot off it and try it... My daughter's laptop has Windoze Visa installed and maybe she would do better with a "simpler" OS.

I would also like to know how I can run Windoze apps in a Nix environment please? PM me any suggestions you have, and thank you very much! (I have some apps that I MUST have that are only written for Win)

Thank you kindly for any help...
Andrew

WA3KYY

07-16-2007, 06:20 PM

Quote[/b] (AC0H @ July 12 2007,16:01)]Quote[/b] (WA3KYY @ July 11 2007,09:43)]Quote[/b] (ve3sre @ May 17 2007,15:59)]There's really not much reason for the average computer user to run Windows these days...other than to play games. # #And even that's gradually changing with new versions of Wine, Crossover Office and Cedega making it possible for more and more games to be played on Linux.

For hams, the major "missing" application on Linux is decent contest logging software. # #There really only is one right now (that I'm aware of) called "TLF" and it needs a bit of work.
Does N1MM run under any of the emulators? #That and the fact that I use logger32 as my everyday logging program and three net specific programs keep me from switching to a linux flavor for the shack computer.

Elsewhere in the house I need to run Family Tree Maker to handle my huge genealogy databases and then there is Guild Wars.

If all of the above ran under a version of linux I would be happy to switch off windows. #As I mentioned in another thread, I have played with linux off and on since the first command line pre-release when I had to cross complile the development tools on a Sun before I could rebuild the kernal with support for all the hardware on the system. #I even at one time had a windows manager with a Win95 skin to fool the boss #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

73,
Mike WA3KYY
My Dad is big time into the Family Tree Maker thing.
If FTM will export it's data in GEDCOM format you can use GRAMPS (http://www.gramps-project.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page) under Linux for the geneaolgy stuff.
I'm going to be doing an Ubuntu install for him this weekend. We'll see.
GRAMPS is probably fine for a small, less than 5 generation family tree but lacks any of the research features I use constantly with FTM in my genealogy research. I have some lines that date back to the 1400s that are highly reliable and one database starting with an ancestor from 1605 that includes over 20,000 descendants. Embedded within the database are links to online documents such as Census Records image that I use to document various dates.

Other than things like Open Office, at the present state of development, the linux equivalents to much of the everyday software I run lack a lot of features that I use.

Maybe one day we will reach the point where a software installation package will recognise the underlying OS and automatically install the correct version. With portable object libraries and a common API, it should be doable. But as always, the devil is in the details.

73,
Mike WA3KYY

W4INF

07-16-2007, 10:35 PM

I booted Freespire from CD, ran beautifully, cept it didnt identify any sound card, and the WiFi didnt pick up my WAP, not even sure if it setup the WiFi right. This is on a Toshiba laptop that is less than 3 months old.

Any suggestions on this? For what it did do, it works really well with a wonderful interface.

Thanks,
Andrew

dj1yfk

07-17-2007, 12:24 AM

Quote[/b] (k4eez @ July 15 2007,18:47)]is there a good Mp3 player like WinAmp for Ubuntu?
if so where can i download it
xmms is a clone of WinAmp 2. Should be installable via the package manager. For watching videos I use mplayer.

http://www.xmms.org/about.php
http://www.mplayerhq.hu/

KD0AMG

07-25-2007, 08:54 PM

Quote[/b] (AC0H @ June 07 2007,19:37)]The Gentoo project has been overrun with Uber Geeks whose absolute last priority is a stable, reproducible system. It's been that way since Daniel Robbins, the originator of the project, left or was pushed from the project.

I ran Gentoo from version 1.1 to 2005.1. That's when I decided my time was more valuable to me that to spend ridiculous amounts of it admining a system for no other reason than some pimple faced kid thought it was "kewl".
Aside from installation, I never really had to spend much time doing admin stuff on my Gentoo installation. With portage (the main reason I went with Gentoo), adding software is a pretty smooth process. It takes some time to compile, but unless I'm installing something huge (e.g. all of the KDE packages and their dependencies), it still doesn't take terribly long. On top of that, routine updates are just a couple lines in the crontab.
I haven't really been following the Robbins thing, but it sounds like there are still some issues though. Either way, as long as I can avoid the "ricers," I'm fine.

ve3sre

07-25-2007, 10:43 PM

Quote[/b] ]I booted Freespire from CD, ran beautifully, cept it didnt identify any sound card, and the WiFi didnt pick up my WAP, not even sure if it setup the WiFi right. This is on a Toshiba laptop that is less than 3 months old.

Any suggestions on this? For what it did do, it works really well with a wonderful interface.

You'll need to find out what your soundchip is. Very often if your soundcard/soundchip doesn't work "out of the box", you can just run "alsaconf" from the command line and it'll usually find it...unless the soundchip is something "oddball"...then you'll have to do a little homework.

Wifi cards are one of those things that are still a bit of a pain to get working with Linux. If the chip maker has provided a driver, it'll either work out of the box or be fairly easy to get working. If not, you have to use "ndiswrapper" and use the Windows driver. You're sort of "fooling" the wifi driver into thinking it's running on Windows.

It's not really a Linux problem as such, it's more of a problem with the wifi card makers.

While you're testing "live CD's", you might want to have a look at "Linux Mint". It's based on Ubuntu, but a bit more up-to-date. I had a soundchip that I couldn't get working on a fairly new motherboard. I couldn't get it to work "out of the box" or with alsaconf with Kubuntu 7.04 (the KDE version of Ubuntu), but it worked beautifully with Linux Mint "Cassandra" 3.0

73

KD0AUO

07-30-2007, 11:30 AM

Another Ubuntu vote here.

Coming from Mandrake (now Mandriva), which I do all my banking and internet purchases on I dl'd Ubuntu and ran it off the CD just to try it and I think I like it better. I'm looking for something to put on my parents old computer so they can keep all their personally identifiable information off the new Dell they bought. I think Xubuntu would work fine. All they need is a web browser and a way to print purchase receipts.

I had it on the internet about 5 minutes after it finished booting. And that was with no help and never even seeing it before. I just searched through the menus and found the network setup. Helps to know how to set up your ip and DNS in windows though. As long as I can get a printer working it would be perfect for the parents spare machine...

K9FV

07-31-2007, 04:12 PM

I've been following this thread with interest - Ubuntu sounds like an OS I'd be interested in. In fact, I'm downloading as I write. The 64 bit for AMD.

My question, these emulator programs you refer to, will they run a program like AutoCad by AutoDesk? OR would I need a dual boot system for Acad?

Thanks for the info - very good thread.

ken

ve3sre

08-01-2007, 07:01 AM

Don't be surprised if you have a few glitches with the 64 bit version...every 64 bit operating system I understand can be a little buggy. My understanding is that alot of it is because the applications are still pretty much 32 bit.

You might want to stick with the 32 bit version for now.

As for running Autocad with Wine or Crossover Office on Linux I'm not sure right now...a few google articles I looked at indicated that there were some problems...but the articles were a bit older and things may have changed. You might have to dual boot for now.

Autocad is the second most "in demand" proprietary application that folks want to have ported over to Linux. Adobe Photoshop is first (although "The Gimp" is a fairly good replacement) and Dreamweaver is the third most requested application.

If those three applications ever get ported over to Linux the slow gradual move from Windows to Linux will become a stampede http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

kj3n

08-01-2007, 02:26 PM

Quote[/b] (ve3sre @ Aug. 01 2007,03:01)]Don't be surprised if you have a few glitches with the 64 bit version...every 64 bit operating system I understand can be a little buggy. # My understanding is that alot of it is because the applications are still pretty much 32 bit.

You might want to stick with the 32 bit version for now.
What he just said.

I ran into at least one very annoying issue with the 64-bit version of Mandriva (formerly Mandrake). Could not get the Flash/Shockwave plug-ins to work in Firefox. Apparently, this is a known issue as the plug-ins are still 32-bit.

K9FV

08-01-2007, 02:44 PM

Thanks for the info - I will look for a cad clone that I hope will read/write dwg files. Any suggestions?

I got my box (Asus MB, AMD dual core, 2 gig ram) together last night and booted from the CD with the 64 bit version of Ubuntu 7.0. Ran ok, but didn't pick up the onboard LAN network.

I have BellSouth DSL internet access using a Westell DSL Modem, model #C90-610030-06. Can anyone guide me on how to make that work using Ubuntu? I made it work under XP by using the install disk that came with the DSL service and wouldn't expect it to work under Linix would it?

I'm really considering switching to this system for the desktop - I can use my notebook with XP for the programs that are not ported for Linix yet- Street Atlas, programs for my Kenwood D700A, programs for VX-150, IC-2100, etc. I like those for programming large blocks of repeaters.

Thanks to all for the guidance and help,

Ken H>

ve3sre

08-05-2007, 12:30 PM

There are some CAD programmes for Linux but I can't give you any advice on whether any of them are any good or not given that I'm not a CAD user.

As for getting Linux to work with a particular brand of cable/DSL modem, I always find it much simpler just to use a router and DHCP. Routers are very cheap these days and make home networking "plug and play". You don't have to worry about fiddling with any ISP's modem setup software which in most cases is written for Windows only.

You can setup a router just using a web browser interface. Just enter 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 (or whatever other IP address your router uses...those two are the most common) and you can setup your router that way.

73

KA0SPM

08-21-2007, 02:56 AM

Ubuntu with KDE, Kubuntu Windows XP like environment. The KDE desktop can be added to Ubuntu and have Gnome or KDE. Window may be easier to install for the newbie but if you are adept at windows the Ubuntu system is an even match. To try KDE burn a Knoppix ISO and run it, Its KDE. I have both and I prefer KDE after using it awhile.

k3wrv

08-21-2007, 12:31 PM

FV-

I agree with SRE about using a router. I've got Verizon FIOS here, and using DHCP on FC-3, I was able to get on the net as soon as the tech finished connecting, much to his consternation (How'd you do that? You haven't used my win$ setup disk! We DO NOT support Linux!).

Then he went upstairs and set up my wife's ExPee box and left (leaving WIFI on, wide open, and unsecured, and leaving the router password and other logon info set to the default.

[EDIT]: I think the setup mostly consisted of setting up an email account on VZ. Just looked at the "setup disk" and it's just a copy of the router manual - no *exe files I can see, but YMMV.

de Bob

ve3sre

08-22-2007, 08:54 AM

Over the past few weeks I setup some machines using "Linux Mint" and I'm quite impressed with it. It's based on Ubuntu but much "slicker". It takes about seven mouse clicks to install it. Before installing it though you might have to turn ACPI off in your BIOS.

I was using the "Gnome" version (Cassandra 3.0) and even though I don't like Gnome all that much the Linux Mint folks have modified the Gnome desktop so that I find it quite tolerable! "Gnome for folks who don't like Gnome" http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Subsequently they released a version of "Cassandra" with the "lightweight" XFCE desktop...better for older slower machines ... let's say Pentium II's/K6II's and earlier vintage Pentium III's/K7's.

And about a week or so ago they released the latest KDE version of "Cassandra".

The kernel version of Cassandra is a bit newer than Ubuntu/Kubuntu/Xubuntu "Feisty Fawn 7.04"... and so you might find a bit better hardware support.

73