Review of Ubuntu Feisty Fawn (Alpha 5) for new users
As covered previously, I review distros from an XP user's point of view because this is what I am primarily and I think it's important to evaluate exciting releases such as this one in this light. There are hundreds of people more qualified than me to explain what makes Ubuntu a good distro for Linux users but I am more interested in how these new releases make life easy for users who are used to Windows and assume Linux is just "a big headache".
Ubuntu is the poster child of usable Linux and it's looking like Feisty Fawn is only going to hammer that flag deeper into the landscape
So let's begin. The first step in the review was to obtain an Internet connection and retrieve a video file from my home network - this was done as simply as ever. Ubuntu picked up my ADSL connection in seconds and through the Synaptic Package Manager downloaded GFTP (an FTP client of choice) to connect to my home FTP server. I downloaded a video of Family Guy directly to my desktop (as per the PCLinuxOS review).
How hard was it to get a DVD-ripped video to play?
This is where Feisty was always going to gain bonus points because it's been openly discussed that codecs will be downloaded when needed. I double clicked on the Family Guy episode and it didn't play... But I was presented with the screen below:
So without issue Feisty informed me the video wouldn't play, isolated the missing codec and provided me with a couple of downloads. Within a minute the situation was resolved - the codecs were downloaded and Family Guy was playing as it would in XP.
As I said when reviewing PCLinuxOS - it's important for users moving from Windows that media playback is as simple as possible in Linux because you *expect* it to be hard. However, both PCLOS and Ubuntu have impressed me by making video playback easier than it is on a fresh install of XP. So that's a big tick for Ubuntu then.
After Ubuntu breezed through media playback, it's not shocking everything else "just worked"
Browsing the Internet, listening to MP3's, watching videos - Feisty (Alpha 5) strolled through the tasks like (as I suspect it was) built for them. The average computer user wants around this level of functionality with no fuss - and there was less fuss here than there is in XP and that's no bad thing at all.
I still find it amazing how free software can be this good
Playing with the system, downloading and installing packages, browsing the Internet and generally the whole look and feel of Ubuntu give across a well-rounded feel. It's well made and the quality shines through - of course it's open to interpretation whether you prefer KDE or Gnome but I personally think that this distro will help Ubuntu fight for it's right to remain the poster child. I feel that PCLOS will put up a good battle so Ubuntu needs to be ready.
Conclusions
Overall, I've been very impressed with how simple Ubuntu makes things. It's less "out of the box" than PCLOS because there's simply less installed to begin with - not that this is a problem of course when you can browse through Synaptic. A really good distro that I would really find difficult to not recommend to a new user. Of course, we'll see what the final release is like but it's looking promising. Ubuntu has a massive number of followers and if you can't see why from doing what I've just done - then maybe you need help (or a Mac -joke).
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Showing most recent 6 of 6 comments
uses windows says it looks really old too.”
I don’t like this unknown character because he/she looks unable to express a
clear-cut, intelligent opinion and is so shy as not to give even a pseudonym.
Looks like that character, was it count Almaviva, who faces the Cyrano
de Bergerac and says:
“Mr. Cyrano, your nose is, ah, well, too big!”
If you have nothing to say, don’t say it.
Do not start with Feisty until it is released (not testing). In fact, unless you are testing, wait until a release has been out for a while. Reporting on test versions is fine.
In fact, start with Dapper (Kubuntu 6.06.1) the Long Term Support (LTS) version for maximum (sever like) stability. Automatix ( http://getautomatix.com/ ) makes Dapper do movies and much more with check box ease.
"Google" your computers individual devices (chip-set) for ubuntu compatibility "just works" ease. Use your newest, best computer and hard drive is you have a choice. Almost EVERYTHING just works now-a-days, with (k)ubuntu. If a device is not auto magically recognized; set up for you and ready to go then you’d be better off replacing the $20 device with one that does. It is NOT necessarily a failing of "Linux" that you bought a Windows only anti-competitive device in the mix. That is politics and corruption, not technical only.
Feisty auto install of "codecs" when needed is great.
Go with the best. Forget the rest (You can easily dual boot Windows if you wish).
Do not copy the downloaded Kubuntu "iso" file to a CD. "Burn" it as an iso image to the CD properly. Much help can be found if you’ve never done this. Also, you could just wait for your pretty Kubuntu CD in the mail (weeks).
New users much prefer KDE and Kubuntu’s default look. Then it can be made to look ANY way you wish; with more flexibility.
If you have less than about 192MB RAM (maxed out) then I suggest getting a system with 192MB RAM minimum.
uses windows says it looks really old too.
Feisty Fawn looks set to be a great step forward.
I am of course aware of some of the extremely small inconviences in using any Linux graphical desktop. But what angers me the most is when a new user comes along, slam abuse on it becuase he/she cant figure out how to install his graphic drivers (fiesty automates this now by default), and then just gives up without consulting the community (linuxquestions.org anyone? IRC anyone?). I hope this review puts some light in there, becuase it rocks. Its the sort of piece everyone should read before trying out a distrobution.
Good stuff man, keep up the good work.
Steve