Gutsy : New Version of Ubuntu

[boskysquelch]

If you're interested, don't mind getting your hands dirty and want to learn something, then dive right in

well with diving I've managed to make yaboot invisible unless I make OS X boot from network...removing the Ethernet & throwing Installation Disk 1 at it...aaaaaand then when I find both the installs of Linux on here I only get toa reeeet old pickle!!!!

Anyways I off into town to pickup a LiveCd or three, have a better ead up and try the install on a another Macmini to see how it should be done rather than via the Live Upgrade(which I would have said NO to...)... and move from me shed back into my caravan blahblahblah...but at least found this today.. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=3566460

which wasn't there when I started.



..so there jaed!!!!

 

[jæd]

Anyways I off into town to pickup a LiveCd or three, have a better ead up and try the install on a another Macmini to see how it should be done rather than via the Live Upgrade(which I would have said NO to...)... and move from me shed back into my caravan blahblahblah...but at least found this today.. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=3566460

which wasn't there when I started.

..so there jaed!!!!

The thread was started five days ago...!

 

[jæd]

Hi,

I work for $VERY_LARGE_COMPANY and we just bought two Dell workstations for two developers. They came pre-installed with Vista... Since we are in the development group we get a bit of lee-way in what o/s we use.

I've been using Ubuntu at this company for the last two years, and its slowly crept into being used for development servers. Both developers saw Gutsy running on my workstation last week and liked it.

And now they took one look at Vista and said "Give me Gutsy..." instead...

So I installed a dual boot with the corporate flavour of Xp, but the main partition is Gutsy.

The two developers were talking later in the day.

Dev A : "So is it (Gutsy) any good"
Dev B: "Wow yes. Installing apps is so easy. You select one from the list and it takes care of it. And its so snappy. You want things, it does it *instantly*.

Just thought this testimonial should be mentioned somewhere...

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=3621493#post3621493

 

[editor]

I'm kinda tempted, but I'm pretty sure it won't work on my Toshiba Libretto which is my only 'spare' PC.

(Actually there's a solution here but it makes me head hurt: http://www.hunke.ws/2007/04/06/installing-ubuntu-edgy-610-on-the-libretto-50ct/)

 

[jayeola]

Ed,

A lazy read of that reference prompt me to so advise you to burn a live cd and try that first. If a Ubuntu live CD does work then you know that you can install it on that laptop if you have time, help or the inclination. If the live cd don't work....

 

[Jonti]

My colleague has spent this morning swearing at his laptop after upgrading to Gutsy, only to find apt-get not working, among other things

You can bork apt-get by "manually" installing stuff, instead of using Ubuntu's excellent package management system (just 'cos you're changing stuff without telling the package management system, you see). Windows does not have a package management system as standard so it's an error that people new to linux are horribly likely to make.

Obviously dunno if that's the issue here (and laptops can be tricky because they use lots of custom parts compared to pcs which are much more standardised at the hardware level). It just seemed a good time to say again: Best to always use the package manager. Never do yourself what apt-get or the GUI program management facilities can do for you.

ETA:
Oh, and dpkg is worth knowing about, to fix problems with apt-get.

 

[jæd]

I'm kinda tempted, but I'm pretty sure it won't work on my Toshiba Libretto which is my only 'spare' PC.

(Actually there's a solution here but it makes me head hurt: http://www.hunke.ws/2007/04/06/installing-ubuntu-edgy-610-on-the-libretto-50ct/)

Well... That link has instructions for installing Edgy back in April 2007... Since then we've moved two version ahead so I'm guessing that Gutsy will be much easier. But why not do as jayeola says and burn a Live CD and give it a go...?

But... reading that link says he booting from an image of a CD, rather than from an actual CD... Don't Libretto's have CD drives...? It would easier to use a USB stick to this, though...

 

[boskysquelch]

The thread was started five days ago...!

exactly.

 

[editor]

But... reading that link says he booting from an image of a CD, rather than from an actual CD... Don't Libretto's have CD drives...? It would easier to use a USB stick to this, though...

USB? CD drive? What is this strange language you speak!

Funnily enough, I did a 'look back' article on my Toshiba last week:
http://www.urban75.org/tech/toshiba-libretto-50-pc.html

 

[boskysquelch]

okay peoples...how do I get a Mac Mini PowerPC to boot from the cd?

*looked in System Prefs>Startup Disk..the cd isn't 'there".

 

[jæd]

okay peoples...how do I get a Mac Mini PowerPC to boot from the cd?

*looked in System Prefs>Startup Disk..the cd isn't 'there".

Tried pressing "C" when you boot up...?

 

[jayeola]

USB? CD drive? What is this strange language you speak!

Funnily enough, I did a 'look back' article on my Toshiba last week:
http://www.urban75.org/tech/toshiba-libretto-50-pc.html

Aye, I always use a USB stick to install any flavour of GNU/Linux on all types of boxes - laptops, servers, workstations....

Could give you a few links as I'm sure others can.

 

[jæd]

USB? CD drive? What is this strange language you speak!

Funnily enough, I did a 'look back' article on my Toshiba last week:
http://www.urban75.org/tech/toshiba-libretto-50-pc.html

TBH running Gutsy on a that would be a push anyway. If it's Windows 98 era hardware you could probably do best to stick with '98... Probably better to try Gutsy on the desktop because thats where it shines...!

 

[fractionMan]

you could try xubuntu on that older spec machine.

 

[Fez909]

you could try xubuntu on that older spec machine.

It'd pushing it even for that. Read some of the comments from this site discussing the minimum spec: link

I got Xubuntu running on a P200/64MB RAM PC, although not great. The same PC was still sorta slow without the GUI. It could probably come down to 32MB of RAM if your swap partition was big enough. You definitely wouldn't want to run Ubuntu on a 386. Minimum would be a Pentium.

 

[editor]

Gaze in awe of the Libretto's spec sheet!
Toshiba Libretto 50 specs
Key Features
Processor Pentium 75 MHz
Installed Memory 32 MB (EDO RAM)
Hard Drive 810 MB IDE
Display 6.1 in. TFT Active Matrix
Operating System Microsoft Windows 98

 

[Crispy]

hold down the option/Alt key while the mac is turning on (all through the startup chime) - you should get a menu letting you choose which disk to boot from.

 

[boskysquelch]

still can't get beyond a cli...

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

tried a Feisty disc too


*I got to the yaboot prompt via Sys Pref>Startup Disk>Network(removing ethernet cable...lost it other wise...but the two install of linux are straight to command line at in the live cds (if at all)...some jus go black screen/some jus go white...

anyways going to eat a pasty and to and fro to Straw Dogsville before I try again.

 

[Fez909]

still can't get beyond a cli...

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

tried a Feisty disc too


*I got to the yaboot prompt via Sys Pref>Startup Disk>Network(removing ethernet cable...lost it other wise...but the two install of linux are straight to command line at in the live cds (if at all)...some jus go black screen/some jus go white...

anyways going to eat a pasty and to and fro to Straw Dogsville before I try again.

The desktop CD allows you to try Ubuntu without changing your computer at all, and at your option to install it permanently later. This type of CD is what most people will want to use. You will need at least 320MB of RAM to install from this CD.

source

According to Wikipedia, the Power PC Mac Mini has only 256mb of RAM. If that's so, you'll need the alternative install CD link

 

[Jonti]

This seems to be a good time to mention that the monthly meet of linux users (in the Albert, as it happens) is due tonight, Thursday, 25 October 2007 at 9pm.

The brixton linux user group site has the full info. I plan to be there, wearing a white baseball cap. Hope to see some of you folks tonight!

 

[boskysquelch]

source

According to Wikipedia, the Power PC Mac Mini has only 256mb of RAM. If that's so, you'll need the alternative install CD link

ta Fez...yup got that understood...and had the Alternate ready also and tried that too...at least I got that to run to an Install...but I want to back up the stuff that is on the older/Gutsy/Borked Feisty/I dunno wtf... before I allow it to do proper...really is beyond describing what and where I'm doing this ...I'll be back...but not for 24 hrs or so...going back to the for a rest....

 

[boskysquelch]

went to a Local Linux user group thing this avvo...they couldn't fix it neither!!!

but at least i saved off the 8mb of essential files I needed off've it.

 

[boskysquelch]

sitting in a reinstall of Feisty now...shall I try Gutsy on the Intel then?

 

[Jonti]

There's a review at the Register (particularly about Dell laptops) ...

I can understand and forgive some of the rough around the edges bits and pieces with Ubuntu. I am, however, confused about Dell's role in all of this. How can a company of its size that's presumably moving tens of thousands of Ubuntu machines not make sure that its hardware is ready for a major upgrade? Surely, Dell could detect problems and ask Canonical politely to include the fixes.

Even with all of these complications, my Ubuntu system remains my favorite to use at the moment. It runs with a speed unmatched by Vista and has a certain muscle lost with the Jobsian puffery known as Mac OS X.

And Wired has this to say

If you've been considering making the switch from Windows or Mac, Ubuntu makes the process painless. It's ability to seamlessly import your settings, music and data from a Windows partition erases one of the most pressing barriers for new users. And once you're in, the learning curve is minimal. In fact, besides requiring a little futzing to get multimedia playback set up, Gutsy Gibbon is about as easy as Linux gets.

The next release is scheduled to be a long-term support("LTS") release, the first since 6.06. It will be supported for five years on the server and three on the desktop.

Dell willing, looks like Canonical is on course to ship a stable and secure, fully modern LTS desktop around April next year!

 

[jæd]

There's a review at the Register (particularly about Dell laptops) ...
And Wired has this to say
The next release is scheduled to be a long-term support("LTS") release, the first since 6.06. It will be supported for five years on the server and three on the desktop.

Dell willing, looks like Canonical is on course to ship a stable and secure, fully modern LTS desktop around April next year!

The Register "review" seems a bit confused.... They start off talking about Gutsy, a distribution primarily aimed at desktops, and then wander off and start talking about data centers.

Oh, and the "26 hour download" can be avoided if you use local mirrors...

 

[Jonti]

Well, you might want to xdmpc into a graphical desktop to do your admin, why not, it's hardly demanding on ram. But I think the point is, it damages the Ubuntu brand if *everything* isn't GUI on Dell laptops. And getting the brand image right is part of sorting bug #1

It's shaping up *so* nicely for the next LTS!

 

[jayeola]

Um, so no screenshots then?

 

[jæd]

Um, so no screenshots then?

Ok... I will try and do some tomorrow then...

 

[gnoriac]

As a newbie with this OS, how do I tell what version of xubuntu is loaded on my pc (which was not installed by myself)?

 

[jayeola]

cat /etc/issue... an example...

[john@shaka ~]$ cat /etc/issue
CentOS release 5 (Final)
Kernel \r on an \m