Is Ubuntu amazin??!?!??!?1?

Question

ive never thought of downloading a linux based operating system, but i think ubuntu looks great from the photos ive seen. i like windows 7, but im tired of windows (and the viruses). I'm planning on running ubuntu along with windows 7... If i run it using wubi, do i still get the added benefits of no viruses? Should i choose to download and install using a USB stick?

ALSO, is it possible for me to run my microsoft office software....... lol i know its not a windows operating system, but im just wondering. Is it hard to find programs that run on Ubuntu?

Answer 1

Overall a Linux based platform can perform most of the tasks equally as well as a proprietary platform using OSS including an excellent preinstalled comprehensive Office Suite called LibreOffice

http://tldp.org/LDP/intro-linux/html/chap_01.html

http://www.libreoffice.org/features/



There is really no reason to use a proprietary platform these days with the exception of High End gaming which will always be the achilles heel of Linux. Otherwise Windows is all but reduntant which is becoming increasingly evident particularly where users upgrading from XP are switching to Linux permanently



Installing Ubuntu as a dual-boot with Windows without partitioning

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Wubi



I thoroughly recommend the Linux Mint 11 which is based upon Ubuntu 11.04 Its easy to install and easy to use plus it comes with much of the software you are likely to need preinstalled



Linux Mint 11 has a feature called mint4win which is almost identical



Linux Mint 11 Download

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=83



Linux Mint 11 Release Notes/User Guide

http://linuxmint.com/rel_katya.php



You download the ISO. image of Linux Mint 11 then you need to create a Bootable LiveCD

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BurningIsoHowto



Linux Mint 11 can also be run straight from the LiveCD without touching your Hard drive





LUg.

Answer 2

If you install ubuntu via wubi and you get a virus in windows and windows has "problems" that could cause you to not be able to access ubuntu because ubuntu looks to windows like another program. You cannot get a virus in linux but you can get other malware if you do not use safe computing practices.

You can install ubuntu from the usb stick or you can even run it from the usb stick but it will run more slowly because the usb is slower than the hard drive.

You can run the microsoft office software but that is not optimal. Ubuntu has it own suite of office software and the files are compatible with microsoft office. Windows software run under wine is never as good as the native linux software, and there is a linux replacement for almost every microsoft software except the windows games.

Software is very easy to find in ubuntu. There is not need to search the web for software. Ubuntu has a software center built in with access to download thousands of programs for free, and the assurance that they are malware free.

For best result read the ubuntu instructions.

Hope this helps

Answer 3

Linux USED to be used mostly by software programmers. Today, especially with Ubuntu, Linux is made for all users now. Starting with 11.04 and on up Ubuntu has been getting more user friendly everyday. As to your question, yes you can run Microsoft Office software using wine, but it isn't necessary because it comes installed with Linux's own version of "Office".



To get applications you can use the Ubuntu Software Center, or you can download a .deb executive similar to .exe in Windows. Although that isn't required you can add PPA (Repositories) to add various software to the Ubuntu Software Center. It's similar to Cydia on the apple Ipod/Iphone/Ipad.



If you want the best out of Linux it's best to get used to the software you can run natively. If you try focusing on windows applications it may end up ugly.



Yes, Linux has little to no viruses. This is simply due to the kernel build used. If someone were to find a exploit it's fixed almost immediately, remember Linux is watched by millions of users, this is the benefit of it being open source!



If you really need to run some Windows applications on linux you can view www.winehq.org to learn more about that route.

Answer 4

Keep it simple for starters.

I started with using Ubi for just the browser (Internet tasks) until I got familiar with the rest of the file & function locations.

Takes about a week to get the basics down; then exploring the huge array of functions/flexibility of this great OS.

The time you save from no longer babysitting a Windows machine can be used to learn the Linux environment in that week.

You won't be sorry.



This site has screenshots of install options & other related threads:

http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/installing

Answer 5

lol i just started using Ubuntu today. anyway ubuntu is okay but it's a bit complicated. if your great with technology go for it. Keep in mind that ubuntu is primarily used by software programmers. i would recomend it if you just want something to play around. you could still probably get viruses. as for software. its pretty easy to get. Ubuntu has something very similar to the Mac app

store. You can also run windows programs in Ubuntu using a software called Wine, which can be found in the Ubuntu equivalant of the app store. Hope this helps :)

Answer 6

The free, web-based version of Microsoft Office runs in all flavors of LINUX. It's at

http://www.docs.com/



The full-featured Microsoft Office product runs only on Macs and PCs.