| Windows Vista looks fantastic but I've always | | | | Get Thunderbird - the best email client I've found |
| been disappointed by a somewhat lacklustre | | | | for Ubuntu, and it does RSS quite well. You can |
| performance, especially at startup. Certain that | | | | install Thunderbird using the downloadable install |
| my super quick PC could do much much more, I | | | | package straight from the website. |
| decided to take the plunge and install the | | | | VLC viewer is a great media player for video |
| Linux-based OS along side Windows Vista. | | | | because it has native XVID support and lots |
| Ubuntu Hardy Heron was released in late April, | | | | more. It seems like the best free media player |
| 2008 and is the best version of Ubuntu so far. | | | | and I've been using it without a problem for a |
| The key reason I felt it was time to give it a try | | | | few months now. |
| was the press coverage of the Wubi installer. | | | | I'm still working on finding the best mp3 player - |
| Wubi is this neat little installation package that lets | | | | I'm using a player called Audacious, but at the |
| you install Ubuntu from Windows, on the same | | | | time of writing I'm just downloading and installing a |
| partition as your current installation. It even sets | | | | player called amarok. The screenshots look |
| up a dual boot configuration so you can quickly | | | | awesome. I'm still undecided on which MP3 player |
| and easily restart your computer and return to | | | | to use. |
| Vista. | | | | Many of the applications named above can be |
| Ubuntu has an amazing 3d desktop option called | | | | searched for and installed via the Synaptic |
| Compiz that allows you to rotate your desktop in | | | | Package Manager under System>Administration (a |
| 3d! Want to create yourself an Ubuntu machine | | | | bit like add/remove programs), but don't be put |
| that can do this? | | | | off by the few command lines you have to run |
| Here's a list of features available, and a basic | | | | to get any of these packages working. It's really |
| installation guide. I've referenced useful guides | | | | easy, I promise. |
| where possible: | | | | The time may come when you're ready to |
| Ubuntu - Download Ubuntu and open the ISO | | | | migrate to Ubuntu for good. Not a decision to |
| from Windows. Run Wubi and it installs easily, right | | | | take lightly, I can tell you! I certainly haven't |
| from your desktop. It won't break Windows! Oh, | | | | moved over completely just yet. When the time |
| and should you get bored of Ubuntu you can | | | | comes, you'll need to move your virtual disk file |
| uninstall from the add/remove programs menu. | | | | to a dedicated partition. You can do this by using |
| When you restart your machine, you'll be given an | | | | LVPM to transfer your Wubi partition to Ubuntu's |
| option to boot from Windows or Ubuntu. | | | | native ext3 partition format. |
| Compiz - that's the 3d desktop environment | | | | So, give some thought to the Windows |
| plugin. Once installed, you should see "advanced | | | | alternatives. The more people out there using |
| desktop effects" settings in the preferences drop | | | | Ubuntu, the more software tools we'll get for it. |
| down. Switch on "desktop cube". The keyboard | | | | I'm really excited so far and it's working really well. |
| shortcut for the cube on my machine is | | | | I'd love to hear your thoughts on this post and |
| CTRL,ALT and the right mouse button. There are | | | | any experience you've had with Ubuntu. Here's a |
| loads of settings to play with in Compiz, which | | | | detailed guide on how to install Ubuntu for you to |
| does take a while to set up. Once it's done, | | | | get started. Good luck! |
| there's no turning back. | | | | |