Ubuntu? (Excuse me?)

GWC Community GWC Hive Mind
#1

I’m thinking about buying a netbook soon and Dell’s 12 inch version can be loaded w/ Windows XP Home (yes, XP, not Vista) or Ubuntu 8.04. It appears most of the netbooks come w/ 1GB of RAM and aren’t expandable. For what I’m going to use it for, a netbook will really serve my needs best rather than a heavier, larger laptop. So, since I know that the machine is likely to run slowly with XP and only 1GB of RAM, how about with Ubuntu?

What about installing programs like iTunes and Twhirl? Will that be possible in Ubuntu? What about security? Does Ubuntu have built-in security or do programs like McAfee or Norton have Ubuntu versions?

I’m not really very technically literate once we get into this kind of realm. All this open-source stuff is a bit above my head and I could use someone who can explain it on my level (think slowly and like I’m really, really stupid).

Thanks!

#2

I understand that Ubuntu will run well in 1GB (haven’t tried it out, myself) but there is no iTunes for Linux, last I heard. (There’s iTunes replacements, but they’re their own thing.)

#3

That’s a negative on iTunes, as Pike said. You should be able to install Twhirl, though. Twhirl runs on Adobe AIR, which is a cross-platform runtime environment.

#4

well there actually is a way to run itunes on linux

http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/03/04/itunes-syncing-now-works-in-linux-with-wine/

with instructions for ITunes on Ubunto here…
http://sudosys.be/?q=itunes_7.3_on_ubuntu_8.04

you do have to be a little tech Savvy… but it can be done.

#5

OK, I’m barely tech savvy in this realm. When it comes to linux and open source and programming…not so much. I really start to get in over my head.

Badger really thinks I should stay away from a netbook and instead go with an affordable notebook instead, since the netbooks are not expandable or very flexible.

He has a point. I want to keep the cost of it below $500. Below $400 if possible.

Any ideas?

#6

True, but WINE is going to add a lot of overhead for a 1 GB netbook.

Have you considered a used notebook? You’ll have to factor in the cost of a new battery (just assume the one you’re getting is shot) but they are usually a good bang-per-buck option.

#7

You’re not going to find a good laptop for $400. For what you’re looking for, these netbooks are perfect.

As others have said, you can install Twirhl on Linux since it runs on top of Adobe AIR.

If you’re looking for a good iTunes replacement, there is a Novell-backed media player called Banshee that I absolutely love. It can be installed with just a few clicks, but they have made several new releases since Ubuntu 8.04 was released, so if you want to get the most updated version of the program then there are a couple more steps that you can take to get an up-to-date version.

One of the things that makes Ubuntu a great choice for Linux newbies or casual users is that they have just about the most active community forum you’ll ever find, with routinely more than 15,000-20,000 users online at a given time. So, if you ever have any issues, you immediately have a place to go where you will almost always get a quick response. Check it out for yourself: http://ubuntuforums.org/

#8

The extreme portability of netbooks is a major, major plus. With the WiFi turned off, you can run the things for hours and hours on a charge.

I will add, though, that you actually can get a pretty decent notebook for a comparable price (somewhere in the 300-500 range). Resellers like Tiger Direct, Newegg, and ZipZoomFly all offer decent notebook selections that offer equal or better internal specs at the same price as a netbooks. It’s really just out how it’s going to be used. If it’s going to be something he uses when he is out and about, but has a more heavy-duty computer to use at home, the netbook is a great choice. If this is going to be his primary/only computer, though, it might be better to go with something with a bit larger form factor (maybe 12"-13") as he might not want to do hours of work/surfing/whatever on such a tiny display.

#9

Hey. I just caught your post and must say that I was at Wal-Mart(egad!) recently and I purchased an Acer Aspire. They have them on sale for $428. Best Buy has a couple of good in store deals too. I"m pretty happy with my Acer. I installed Ubuntu 9.04 as a dual boot cause I’m not fond of Vista. I wish you well with this and I hope this helps.

#10

I bought this Asus Eee Netbook w/Windows XP Home at Best Buy:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9251392&st=Asus+netbook&lp=2&type=product&cp=1&id=1218068507709

Comes with 1GB memory too, so I ordered a 2GB card for it from Amazon for about $25. Runs everything I need for on the road…including iTunes so I don’t miss any GWC casts. :slight_smile:

#11

I want to throw in a point for the netbook. I just recently bought a 8.9" Dell (A Vostro A90… basically a Mini 9) and it’s a great little computer. It’s plenty fast, does everything I need it to. We were running Ubuntu on it just fine. Excellent OS.

Since then, I’ve installed OS X on it and found it to be very usable. I bought it primarily as a “float-around-the-house” computer, and something I could experiment with.

I don’t know the case with Dell’s larger Netbooks, but the mini 9 was extremely flexible. Mine’s at 2Gb/Ram (super cheap and easy to install…) and a 16GB SSD.