is it easy to install with only a minor amount of knowledge?
can you still run software that is windoze compatible?
is it any better than xp?
It's very easy to install
Some software will run, some will have a linux/debian version, some will work with WINE (a windows emulator for linux), some just won't work.
It's different to XP, both have pluses and minuses.
I run windows 7 because I find it more, kind of, cuddly. I find ubuntu a bit raw - which can also be a good thing though.
would I still be able to run lightroom & picasa?
I've installed it on two machines, an old desktop which dual boots with XP so we have a 'secure' pc for internet banking, and a small mini itx motherboard I use for power monitoring. Both installed fine, no problems. Even got an old wireless usb stick to work, which failed badly with XP.
Depends what you need from a PC. Seems ok for the basic stuff, plus will run on older hardware.
Latest Ubuntu out today, now even more user friendly apparently. Wireless works out of the box etc without any fiddling these days.
Last release was pretty good, my mum uses it, so it must be good.
Richmars - Any chance of more info on your power monitoring setup? I have a E-on monitor and a ethernet <-> USB adapter for it, but never got round to setting up a monitoring server.
PIcassa/lightroom will probably need some work - they may run in Wine (windows emulator) or you could run a virtual windows machine inside your linux machine, but thats a lot of faff and resources.
If you still need to run Windows programs, consider installing:
1. WINE - free, but can be awkward to configure some apps. Not a novices option to be honest.
2. Crossover Office - Makes Wine easy, and you have support. Costs a little money though.
3. Assuming you have a valid Windows licence of course, you could run some virtualisation software (VMWare Server is free, Virtual Box another option) and run Windows in a virtual machine for if/when you need it.
Other than games, there are usually open source apps available that are as good as their Windows counterparts if a little rough around the edges. I use RedHat and CentOS at home now, because I do at work.. but ubuntu is the nicest linux distro I've used.
I'd advise writing down eactly what you what the PC to do now and in the time before you next spend on an upgrade - Ubuntu might very well tick all the boxes, and I doubt you'd have many issues getting it working.
If you want *nix under the hood and a pretty gui with no messing around, buy a mac. My main home pc is a mac. It's very nice indeed.
If you have slightly less money available, consider upgrading your PC (or buying new, would probably work out cheaper for a box) for something Windows 7 capable (dual core, 4Gb of RAM plus as much hdd as you can throw at it). It really is rather good, but it won't be as fast on 'XP class' hardware.. but then ubuntu 9.10 probably wouldn't be brilliant either, it's just the way of the world.
you need wubi.
wubi installs ubuntu on a windows pc, as a program, so you can add and remove as easily as you would add any other program, however the installation process puts wubi on its own segment of the HDD, so it effectivly works as a dual boot, without the faff of having to create partitions and stuff.
it also DOESNT run IN windows, (even though it appears as a program) so windows doesnt slow it up.
its great for "giving it a go"
also, if you like it, there is an option in the wubi ubuntu, that just updates it and removes windows from the computer (i think)
ALSO if you go with wubi, you can access all the files off the computer that were already there.
If I were giving it a go I'd just use a live CD, same benefits but without altering drive contents.
would I still be able to run lightroom & picasa?
Google distribute a Linux version of Picasa3 - [url= http://picasa.google.com/linux/ ]http://picasa.google.com/linux/[/url]
Lightroom looks like it's a bit flaky under wine on ubuntu. How about [url= http://www.lightcrafts.com/lightzone/ ]LightZone[/url]
off of a discussion on the ubuntu forums via google:
LightZone is by far the best tool for the photographer who uses Linux. If you're into manipulation, use the GIMP. If you're a photographer who wants to process their RAW files in an efficient way using 16-bit software instead of 8-bit, LightZone is the way to go.It is similar to LightRoom but better IMHO (it adopts a digital version of the Zone System devised by Ansel Adams) and is purely geared to the photographer as opposed to the digital artist.
It costs over a $100 for the Windows version, but is free (but unsupported) for Linux - download www-old.lightcrafts.com/linux/ . The latest Linux version is 2.4. Version 3.0 has been released but not ported for Linux yet.
I use it in favour of The GIMP for all my work and have never looked back (see www.tedsmithphotography.com).
There is also Bibble by Bibble Labs which is equally good, but it costs. There are a few threads on this subject - do a search for 'raw files' and 'software' and several threads discussing all the Linux photography options will be displayed
printing is so last century but check if you can get drivers - i thought i'd give it a go but soon got fed up when given a choice of 2 epson printers snd a lexmark couldn't get to work with any of them - laughingly the only practical soln was dual boot to windows
linux zealots blame the printer mnfrs for not being open
read the stuff on the linux forums and you'll re alise like a good w@nk it is free and totally self indulgent not sure if will be the future though
I run Ubuntu and it takes some effort to get things working. It is a lot better out the box than it used to be. Try a live cd as it is the best way to see if you like how it feels.
Dougal,
I've got a Current Cost 128 which plugs into the PC's serial port. Then a bit of nerdness and I can check the house power useage from anywhere on the internet. Not my idea, got lots of hints [url= http://www.jibble.org/currentcost/ ]here[/url]