Well, I finally decided to seriously try out Linux. Several things have led to this:
1) A work colleague had been playing around with Ubuntu and was enthusing about it.
2) I don't want to pay for 2 copies of Vista when it comes out. One is more than enough
3) You can't escape Linux magazines, so maybe it's startign to reach critical mass after all this time
4) There's always a temptation to try something new.
So, here I am on a working copy of Ubuntu typing this blog entry.
What's my verdict?
So far, very mixed. The OS seems good. There are a lot more apps than I imagined. However, setting some things up has been infuriatingly difficult.
Synaptic package manager - a great idea in theory, but it's easily confused. First thing I did after the install was do the updates. It's a habit when you're a windows user. Next, I try to install Samba and Swat for creating a network share. Problem is that Samba depended on a component I already had installed, but this component was a later version than the one Samba wanted. It took me two days to figure out I had to uninstall the shared component, then install Samba, which would download the correct version of the dependencies, then do another system update to discover both the dependent component and Samba had later compatible versions.
I had almost identical problems with a video driver, VMWare and Swat. It seems the Ubuntu repository isn't kept up to date with the same files offered by the Update service.
This is just a general description of the problems I've had. true, it feels satisfying when you find the answer, but it INFURIATING when a perfectly user friendly UI indicates that you should be able to do something, but then you can't.
That brings me to another subject which I'll cover in another post. "Linux Geeks are holding back Linux"
Shameless plug for a friends site I designed. I'm determined to get it into google! http://www.cedarhill.co.uk
A couple of recent customer service experiences I've had recently....
1) Nationwide Building Society (Direct)- Their online mortgage application service and subsequent phone based customer services is definately the worst customer service I have ever seen. How can a mortgage application take from March to August to complete, when there are no special circumstances at all, just NationwideBS Customer Service incompetence?
2) Nationwide Building Society (Local branch) - being a geek I'd much rather do stuff online than talk to a real person. Sad but true. However, in desperation, after an email and complaint letter got no response, I went into local (Lancaster) branch to see if they could do something to sort my mortgage out. The service was excellent. I was always phoned back (sometimes an hour late, but that can slip), and they sorted the problem within 3 days. Nationwide Direct couldn't sort it after 3 months. Well done Emma!
3) Computer Manuals - Looks like Linux is starting to reach Critical Mass. I spotted 3 separate mags devoted to Linux in WHSmiths this lunchtime. I've had a play with Ubuntu, but soon get out of my depth when trying to integrate it with Windows. I needed to take a learning shortcut, instead of the most effective, but lengthy trial and error methods that have served me well so far in life. Local Waterstones had the 7th edition of Linux for Dummies in stock. It looked to be pitched at the level I was after, but the one copy in stock looked like it had been run over by a truck (if you're gonna freeload in bookshops, at least take care of the merchandise). Amazon UK only list the 6th edition, so a quick google, and ordered it from Computer Manuals (they're the ones at every tech event I've ever been to). Saved £3, opted for Slow But Free delivery, and to my surprise, got the book the next day. Well done Computer Manuals (http://www.compman.co.uk/)