The time has come. I’ve been slugging along with my High School graduation gift from my parents, a 2002 Dell desktop, for the past 7+ years. And I’m finally treating myself with a new laptop (I’m waiting until Christmas morning to open it!!) – but with a twist. Reading Rapture for the Geeks was the final straw that pushed me away from the Windows operating system. Continuing my illogical need to resist jumping on the well-deserved Apple bandwagon, I’ve decided to go with the popular open sourced Ubuntu operating system – and I’m really looking forward to installing it on my new, souped-up laptop (which will have a dual monitor, among many other Lifehacker inspired tweaks).
Developing and personalizing this blag using WordPress really sold me on the power of the open source approach. After reporting this positive experience in an email to my Dad, and confessing I was going to move to the Ubuntu OS, he wrote back “I can die happy now – my offspring has begun the revolt.” (He doesn’t really care for Windows much).
I’ll be using the following resources to install and configure Ubuntu to my liking, and hopefully emerging on the other side with a faster, more secure, orginal, open sourced OS:
- In the spirit of open source, the Ubuntu Pocket Guide and Reference book by Keir Thomas is available for free, by downloading the PDF version.
- I wanted to get the pre-installed Ubuntu Dell laptops (so as to ‘vote’ for the OS with my money), but after Windows7 came out, Dell cut back on the laptops they offered Ubuntu on. So my laptop will have Windows7 preinstalled on it, which is where this trusty manual comes in.
- Once Ubuntu is installed and I have most of the utilities running, I’ll be using Appnr to find useful Ubuntu Apps [i.e., quality backup software]
- After transferring all of my data to the new laptop, I plan on donating the old desktop PC, but before I do, I’ll follow this guide to ensure all of my personal data is purged for good.
- Setting up Dual Monitors, via the helpful Ubuntu Forums
- How I plan to set up my workstation – including an exact replica of this laptop stand.
- Excellent idea to declutter your desk – potential future project
This is SmokeyMaverick, signing off one last time from Bill Gates-land… and as the Funnyman would say, “Catch ya on the flip side.“
Tags: Giving Bill Da Boot · Linux · Making the Linux Jump · Ubuntu2 Comments
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Congrats! And should you ever decide to jump on the apple bandwagon, you’ll be welcomed with open arms.
I hope your new laptop is treating you well :) It’s about time you quit Microsoft..it’s the worst, not to mention the fact that I can barely figure out how to use it.
And nice work fixing the way the links open…much more to my liking!