Nux Nirvana

My Ubuntu desktop

I've done it.  I have achieved nirvana.  That is, sort of.  And in the alternative operating system realm, which has the ability to generate an entirely new level of philosophizin' debate at least among you gadfly types, but that is another write up and won't be discussed here right now.  Nevertheless, I suppose one out of two ain't so shabby.  Personally, to steal a mc-frankenfoodism, I'm lovin' it!

Ubuntu and Linux Mint are currently two of the most popular Linux distros.  I've already reviewed Mint found here, so this piece will be a concise but educational comparison. (If you're looking for something more comprehensive, internet search is your friend.)

Let's begin with logistics, that is, where I've installed Linux.  I have a beater 64-bit Dell brand laptop, age indeterminate. Let's just say legacy hardware and leave it at that. It's from the business class (as opposed to consumer class) and in its day, was probably kick ass.  Now it's just, well, legacy.  It has an 80 gig HDD and a measly gig of RAM, which used to be sufficient for a 'nux distro, however, what I've seen in having evaluated both Mint & Ubuntu, is that both have developed a distinct taste for lots of memory, as in at least 2 gigs. (Windows is still the reigning RAM glutton, hands down.)

The beater also has the usual ports -four USBs (most likely 2.0), a VGA (for an external monitor), Ethernet (for a wired internet connection) and RJ45 (for a modem/old school dial-up connection). It even has a serial port. I don't think anyone under age 25 even knows what that particular port was for, actually, but it puts into perspective the approximate age of my laptop.  By the way, for you brainwashed young 'uns in the audience, there is nothing wrong with older hardware. Newer does not always equal better.  In fact, the practice of having to buy a brand new computer (to the tune of $3k or thereabouts) with each new release of Microsoft's ever craptacular OS treadmill is a steaming load of consumerism.  On the other hand, if you enjoy being molested through the wallet, and further polluting the planet with your heavy metal rubbish, then have at it.

Grub loader

My beater is now a triple boot OS.  Triple boot! What that simply means is that I've taken a used Windows 7 box (that was originally an XP box) and transformed it into what is tantamount to a geektastic sixth heaven level.  (Seventh heaven was not achieved due to the piddling one gig of RAM.) Linux Mint occupies a partition, Windows 7 another, and Ubuntu is residing on yet another partition.

Basics

While some would surmise that Ubuntu and Mint are nearly the same OS (having been based on the same kernel), I would have to agree, but only in terms of architecture.  In other terms, namely, practicality/usability.

Mint is more for those end users who like to pop the hood and take a look around.  Shake things up a bit.  Try out different tweaks/customizations and do not fear the dark. Ubuntu, on the other hand, is for those end users who simply want an operating system that works without having to attend to and/or tweak it so much if at all. Think of it as a kind of iProduct only without the ridiculous price tag and a lot less pretention.

Differences

All that being said, if you, as a Windows user, are accustomed to using say, OpenOffice, VLC player and Chrome, if you decide to install Ubuntu, then you will have to not only install all three, but also accept that LibreOffice, although nearly identical to OpenOffice, has rendered the latter the bastard, red-headed, stepchild of open source business productivity suites. (Thanks to OO having been abducted by Oracle, and, subsequent to not being able to monetize software that has been free since inception, Oracle sheepishly re-homed it like an unwanted black furred animal to Apache.) Now LibreOffice comes bundled with both Ubuntu & Mint, which isn't a bad thing, but still chaps my ass simply because OpenOffice didn't deserve being kicked and otherwise discontinued in favor of trendy buzzword titled younger siblings named LibreOffice and NeoOffice. But I digress.

Terminal in action

Whereas Mint uses Synaptic Package Manager which is for installing, removing, upgrading & downgrading, Ubuntu uses its own software center.  While both perform almost identical duties, I prefer Synaptic, which, by the by, has to be installed in Ubuntu.  You can also use Terminal for the same functions, but in Ubuntu, you will have to dig for it and then pin it to the launcher. Incidentally, Ubuntu has to be the first 'nux distro that caused consternation when I couldn't find what is largely regarded as the scary black box. But Terminal has been inexplicably hidden probably because of the revulsion it inspires particularly in Windows users.

Unity launcher

Another big distinction is that Ubuntu has embraced Unity, which is a desktop environment used for application, system and notification indicators. It should be emphasized that it requires at least 2 gigs of RAM in order for all the snazzy effects to execute expeditiously else you will spend a lot of time waiting on your system to get up off its knees.  I have to say, lack of RAM sucks the fun right OUT of the overall experience, which is another point of contention for me because Linux wasn't meant to be starved for memory. Linux has traditionally been the OS of choice for those of us without a money tree growing in the back yard. (Perhaps Ravenous RAM Beast can be the oh-so-witty moniker for the next Ubuntu/Mint upgrade?)

Updating

When Ubuntu is ready to be updated, a tile with the letter "A" appears in the Unity launcher.  (Note here that the launcher already has two other "A" tiles -one is an Amazon shortcut (inexplicably) and the other is the red suitcase for the software center.  The "A" tile I'm referring to is encircled to let you know it is an update notice. To update, all you need do is click on it to execute, type in your password and let it do its thing. You can also manually update via Terminal as well if that's your thing.

Speaking of updating, I just wanted to share that I was able to install the drivers necessary for the wifi to work without actually having to plug the Ethernet cable directly into the router to update the system.  Yes, feel free to worship my brilliance accordingly. 

Bugs

As of this writing, version 14.04 LTS has a problem with playing video files both digital as well as DVDs despite having installed the Ubuntu's Restricted Extras package, as well as having enabled the appropriate repositories.  I even grabbed libdvdcss with no resolution. (WTF, Ubuntu?) So if you plan to watch movies, you may want to reconsider.

Conclusion

In the final analysis, whichever distro you decide to use, the experience will be liberating if only because it lets you escape from having to keep supporting Bill Gates' bank account and otherwise patronizing a mainstream OS whose only purpose seems to be to advance by another notch the stock value of Microsoft on the altar of the god of the Dow.

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