2 posts tagged “kubuntu”

Having used Kubuntu intensively over the weekend (I had a big piece of work to do), so far it seems very easy to use. I've had no problem setting up printers or anything like that. Installing software, using the built in installer, is easier than it is on Windows. I now have a wider selection of software (including games) than I do on my Windows setup!

The one gripe I have is that Kubuntu does not support MP3s. Instead, you have to use an open-source alternative called Ogg Vorbis. This is fine, apart from the fact that I have tonnes of MP3s, and an iPod Shuffle which I use to play those MP3s when out and about. The need to be able to play and record (from CDs that I have bought) MP3s is an ongoing requirement for me.

Having done a quick bit of internet searching, the solution to the MP3 playing issue was easy to solve by installing another bit of software. I can now play all my music.

Making Kubuntu rip MP3s from CDs is proving much more of a struggle, and I haven't found a solution that I have been able to implement. The solution seems to be to install Lame, but how to install and use it is not exactly clear, and the Lame website instructions are not comprehensive to the average computer user. So I'm a bit stuck on this one.

I need to be able to burn MP3s so that I can play them on my iPod, so this is something I'm going to have to resolve. Only a small selection of portable music players from unheard of companies play Ogg Vorbis files, and I don't want to ditch my iPod - I would end up spending the same amount of money on a new music player as I would upgrading to Vista, completely defeating the purpose of having Kubuntu!

This whole Kubuntu & MP3 issue seems a farce to me. According to reputable sources, Kubuntu won't play MP3s because of patent issues. Ironically then we have a situation where Microsoft, with MP3 support built in to Windows, is supportive of the established music file standard, whilst a free software company stops its users being able to use it. MP3s are something that people like, and is the alternative to music file formats containing Digital Rights Management (DRM), and there's nothing more hateful than DRM for a lot of open source supporters.

My view is that Kubuntu should resolve the MP3 issue now. Pay the licence fee for the patents or whatever, just deal with it and make MP3s a supported standard. MP3s might not fit into the free software philosophy, but be pragmatic - you're losing potential converts. Ordinary people will be put off moving from Windows to Kubuntu because of the lack of MP3 support.

Neither I nor anyone else wants to have to keep Windows just for its MP3 ripping ability.

Geeky blog post warning! If the phrase "operating system" sends you to sleep, leave this blog now before it's too late...

Windows for life!
Having been a Microsoft Windows user for over a decade, and a MS DOS user before that, until recently I thought I'd be a Windows user for life, or at least I hadn't considered moving elsewhere. In reality, I hadn't given the whole thing much thought at all. An operating system might as well be invisible most of the time; it's just a way to get to your (Microsoft) word-processor, to play some music in your (Microsoft) media player, or to check the news and mess about on your (Microsoft) web browser. Your computer comes with Windows installed so you're practically getting it free of charge (or so you think), so it's nothing to trouble yourself about. Good old Microsoft for making it so easy!

(The above is 99% true. When at university in my first year, my friend Pete got me to give Linux a go. We spent an entire day installing it from millions of floppy disks. After a few weeks I'd forgotten it was even on the computer and stopped using it entirely. The volume of alcohol and connected social high-jinks could have had something to do with that, but let's not get off the point...)

New labour, New operating system

I've installed Kubuntu, a form of Linux, on my computer. Apart from an initial hiccup caused largely by my own foolishness, setting it up was easy. I downloaded a DVD from the Kubuntu website, burned it, ran it and the DVD did the rest for me. You could even run Kubuntu straight from the DVD.

I've still got Windows running on the machine, and with Windows being "so easy", why have I gone to all the effort of installing another operating system?

Don't kill Bill
Don't get me wrong, I haven't suddenly acquired a hatred of Microsoft and everything it stands for. I have a lot of respect for what is one of the most successful businesses on the planet. A lot of skill has gone in to creating Windows, and Windows XP has not crashed on me once in all the years I've had it (the less said about previous versions crashing the better!) Despite being a very big business, Microsoft is supportive of a lot of small businesses. The selling and supporting of Microsoft software is what keeps a lot of small computer businesses going.

Whilst some have alleged Microsoft to be trying to dominate every bit of the software market (oh, hasn't the European Union been saying something like that?!), I generously view it's efforts as simply that of a good company keeping ahead of the times. When it was released, Internet Explorer blew the existing web browsers out of the water. Microsoft Office is a solid suite of software, with excellent features and help on hand to ensure you can use those features. And so on. Of course, hardcore Linux and Mac fans will disagree with almost every positive I've just said for Microsoft, but I'm speaking as an apathetic computer user.

Update overdose
One of the main things that's begin to bug me about Windows and Windows software in the last couple of years is, er, the amount of bugs. The efforts of the software vendors to deal with these bugs means that I and every other Windows user is under siege from software updates, constantly whirring away in the background and slowing things down. It's massively annoying when you're trying to use the computer and some updater thingy is pestering you to restart the computer so that it can do it's thang. Right now, the amount of these updates is just getting plain silly.

The Windows security mafia
One of the main reasons for the constant software updates is that Windows PCs are under siege from viruses, spyware, malware, and nasty little hackers. Windows now has a firewall installed, but it doesn't have a great reputation. To address all this, I've had to pay for good firewall and virus protection every year, and the cost keeps rising. And virus protection and a firewall isn't enough, because spyware and malware has to be addressed too, meaning yet more software and software updates simply to make the PC secure enough to use without some git being able to steal your credit card details.

Maybe all this firewall anti-virus anti-spyware stuff is scaremongering, I doubt it. Whatever it is, it's certainly annoying having to spend so much time and money just to be able to use a PC safely.

Hasta la Vista
Of course, Microsoft's new operating system Vista is being sold to a large extent on the back of its high security. It may be secure, but the demand on resources made by Vista in return for keeping you nice and safe is massive.

I bought my current PC a couple of years ago, and tried to make sure it's specification was high enough to keep it usable for a good number of years. Having looked at the bare minimum hardware requirements for Vista, it's obvious I would need to upgrade just to get the computer going at walking speed on that operating system.

At some point in the next few years, Microsoft will presumably stop maintaining Windows XP. I will have the choice of either running an obselete operating system or dishing out even more money to get my machine good enough for Vista, and then buy Vista as well. And then probably buy an anti-virus/firewall software every year too...

Peer power
These niggly and very geeky thoughts alone probably wouldn't have led to me taking the bold step of installing Kubuntu. As I've said, I'd rather just get on with using a computer than spend hours fiddling about with it.

However, positive comments about the ease of use of Linux from my friends Andrew and Pete, and in particular Pete's review of Kubuntu, led me to decide to give Kubuntu a go. From this post, you will know that I am a geek. However, I don't have any technical knowledge of Linux and don't intend to spend time gaining such knowledge. I just want to be able to use my computer! From the positive reviews, it sounds like Kubuntu might be up for the job.

The test of success
I am giving Kubuntu 12 months to prove itself. I'm applying a rough-and-ready 3 point test to see whether Kubuntu is up to the job.

This computer is not just used by geeky old me. My other half is definitely not a geek and needs to use it too. Whether or not Kubuntu is a success therefore mainly depends upon whether she can get to grips with it. I'm confident about that at the moment; Kubuntu's pretty easy to use so far.

Another factor is whether I still need to go into Windows to do things. I sometimes work at home and have remote access to the office, and if I lose that I am well and truly screwed - sometimes you just have to be at home to wait for that delivery, or the plumber or whatever. From what I can gather, my office's remote access is Windows based, and whilst Kubuntu does have a remote access feature I'm not sure it's going to work. Will have to give it a go...

Finally, if in the long run I spend less time maintaining Kubuntu than I have done in the past for Windows, Kubuntu will become a permanent fixture and Windows will be kicked out.

I'll write a post every now and then about my experience of using Kubuntu, and whether I ditch Windows permanently.