Linux/Ubuntu - Post Interest Here!

[ibanezmonster]

As far as I can know, what router you have shouldn't matter, since all OS-es support the same standards. I've never heard of a computer being incompatible with the router.

On the other hand, the computer might be incompatible with the wireless card on that machine. This is a driver issue, which could be a problem. Anyway to tell what wireless card you have installed?

Wireless card: Dell Wireless 1397 WLAN Mini-Card
Router: D-Link

It's a dual boot (Vista/Ubuntu) and I go online using Vista. Internet with Ubuntu does not work. Installing a driver is a solution, but I tried it and it is not doable (to put it plainly).

If your wifi card requires a proprietary driver, then yes!  Else no.  Ubuntu, actually does NOT have the best hardware support.  I find that Open Suse does (Mandriva One also does, don't know if it is still around).

So the problem is my wifi card instead of my router?

[liuzerus87]

Wireless card: Dell Wireless 1397 WLAN Mini-Card
Router: D-Link

A quick Google search shows that your wireless card is actually a Broadcom card, and that Broadcom has not released an open source driver for this card, so Ubuntu is not allowed to install it by default. Therefore, you're missing the card.

If you can get an Internet connection, though, it should be pretty easy to fix; for example, see http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1352270. Do you happen to have a spare ethernet cord that you could use to temporarily connect the machine to the internet? If not, if you have the Ubuntu cd lying around, there's also a link in that thread for installing the driver from cd.

[ibanezmonster]

A quick Google search shows that your wireless card is actually a Broadcom card, and that Broadcom has not released an open source driver for this card, so Ubuntu is not allowed to install it by default. Therefore, you're missing the card.

If you can get an Internet connection, though, it should be pretty easy to fix; for example, see http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1352270. Do you happen to have a spare ethernet cord that you could use to temporarily connect the machine to the internet? If not, if you have the Ubuntu cd lying around, there's also a link in that thread for installing the driver from cd.

Thanks, this looks very helpful.
I'll try it and let you know how it goes. 

[ibanezmonster]

Thanks, this looks very helpful.
I'll try it and let you know how it goes. 

Forgot how this even went... 

well... I have ArchLinux almost installed on my flash drive. Someone put it on there (I think he basically made some partitions), but it was getting late, so I have to look up some instructions on how to finish the process. He said getting wireless to work is a bit tricky. 

ArchLinux looks really cool, though...

[Opus106]

Forgot how this even went... 

well... I have ArchLinux almost installed on my flash drive. Someone put it on there (I think he basically made some partitions), but it was getting late, so I have to look up some instructions on how to finish the process. He said getting wireless to work is a bit tricky. 

ArchLinux looks really cool, though...

You'll probably learn your way around a Linux-based OS better by using Arch, Debian or Slackware. They are not as dumbed down as Ubuntu, say.

In other news: I recently moved to 12.04.

[DavidW]

Greg,

Arch has a very steep learning curve.  They assume that you are already familiar with how linux works, and their documentation is not that great.  Try Debian instead.  Debian is very stable (which arch is not), flexible and has a great community with fantastic documentation (again which arch does not). 

By having someone install Arch for you, you've already failed the crucial step to know if it's for you-- can you install it yourself?  If you can with ease, it's for you.  If it gives you a headache then you're not ready.  Try to install it yourself.

[Daverz]

You'll probably learn your way around a Linux-based OS better by using Arch, Debian or Slackware. They are not as dumbed down as Ubuntu, say.

Ubuntu has conveniences, it's not "dumbed down".   One can always just open a terminal window to access the command line.

What I don't like is the default user interface they push.  But it's easy enough to install Cinnamon instead.

[Opus106]

Ubuntu has conveniences, it's not "dumbed down".

I know; hence the wink. But my point stays: one is likely to learn more about the nitty-gritty by sweating over an installation that when presented with a clean and smooth desktop, ready to show you videos of singing cats.

Oh, and Greg, have you considered installing any distro in a virtual machine?

What I don't like is the default user interface they push.  But it's easy enough to install Cinnamon instead.

I'm getting used to Unity despite not liking the 'pushing'. There are things I like, such as how keyboard-friendly it has been so far. But then the app menu (accessed via mouse, not HUD) sometimes seems stupid. I also spent some time with Mint 13 (Cinnamon). A slight lack of polish in comparison, but quite usable.

[Daverz]

I know; hence the wink. But my point stays: one is likely to learn more about the nitty-gritty by sweating over an installation

Unless you're creating some kind of embedded product and need to know these details, who cares?  Leave the sweating over installation back in the 1990s where it belongs.

[ibanezmonster]

Oh, and Greg, have you considered installing any distro in a virtual machine?

Um... I guess not.
I'm not even really sure what types of virtual machines are out there- never used them.

[Opus106]

Um... I guess not.
I'm not even really sure what types of virtual machines are out there- never used them.

Basically, it's a program that lets you run one or more OSs (guests) within another (host) and with the ability to run them simultaneously. Check out VirtualBox or VMWare.

[ibanezmonster]

Basically, it's a program that lets you run one or more OSs (guests) within another (host) and with the ability to run them simultaneously. Check out VirtualBox or VMWare.

Ah, okay. Probably Windows Virtual PC would be another one of those...
I might mess around with virtual machines when I build my own computer, since I'll have more space. My laptop is destined to always be low on space, since I have so many large programs I need to keep installed on it.

[DavidW]

But my point stays: one is likely to learn more about the nitty-gritty by sweating over an installation that when presented with a clean and smooth desktop, ready to show you videos of singing cats.

On everything but Slackware installing software is easy thanks to package managers.  When you can install a complete desktop with one single command, it's not much of a sweat!

[Opus106]

Finally, Ubuntu for tablets is here.

http://www.youtube.com/v/h384z7Ph0gU

http://www.ubuntu.com/devices/tablet

http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2013/02/ubuntu-for-tablet-unveiled-by-canonical-nexus-7-download-coming-thursday

It will be interesting to see how well the phone and tablet versions take off, if ever.