Much of the feedback that I received from yesterday's post focused on my choice to go with the Wubi install option. Ubuntu purists seem to feel that I am not giving the OS a fair chance if I don't run it natively rather than on top of Windows.
I understand the sentiment, and I understand that there is a performance hit that comes with running under Wubi as opposed to completely standalone. I will make you a deal, though-I won't let any perceived performance issues affect my opinion of Ubuntu. If anything else comes up that I complain about that you feel is a result of my decision to use the Wubi installation, feel free to let me know.
There are some hurdles to cross before I can immerse myself in Ubuntu Linux.Illustration: Chip TaylorI have also received a fair amount of feedback from readers challenging my assertion that this month might not be as immersive as 30 Days With Google Docs was because I am only trying to compare the OS itself, and after a month with Google Docs I am anxious to get back to using Microsoft Office. Fair enough. Some have recommended using CrossOver to run Office from within Ubuntu-so I will take a look at that, but overall I will do my best to literally switch platforms and immerse myself in Ubuntu Linux. If there comes a point where it gets in the way of my productivity, though-all bets are off. I have to pay the bills, so getting work done is priority one.
Just FYI--this post was written split between the two. I used Libre Writer to do most of it, while I worked in Ubuntu and captured screenshots. It seems like a capable enough word processor at first glance. We can dig into that more another day. But, I don't yet have a solution in place in Ubuntu that lets me connect with the PCWorld VPN, so I had to switch back to Windows to finish and post this. We'll try and tackle the VPN issue someday soon and we'll see how that goes.
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Ubuntu communicates with my iPhone at least enough to detect the photos.So, let's say for the sake of argument that I'm going to spend 24/7 in Ubuntu during the 30 Days project. I have to consider very important things like "how will I keep my iPhone and iPad synced up?" I don't think I've ever made it any sort of secret that I abhor iTunes, and I consider it an abomination as far as Apple is concerned. The interface sucks. The software freezes regularly. But, it's a necessary evil that comes with the territory for using iOS devices.
When I boot into Ubuntu it does automatically detect my iPhone. It pops up message boxes letting me know that I have attached a device containing photos and music, and asking which application to open the content with. I just close the boxes, and there my iPhone sits on the Ubuntu desktop among the other removable storage drives. But, that doesn't help me sync it, so I still need iTunes.
I went to my trusty friend Google to search for an answer. On the one hand, there seems to be an abundant supply of help and how-to articles for Linux in general, and Ubuntu specifically. Unfortunately, much of that help is dated and it is hard--especially for a Linux novice--to tell that the information is no longer valid, which just adds extra effort and frustration to the process.
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I had to dig to find a way, but I got WINE installed in Ubuntu Linux.Case in point: Google directed me to a how-to article from eHow.com. That article starts off with steps about opening the Terminal command line interface in Ubuntu and using some archaic "sudo blah-blah-blah" command to download a program called WINE that lets you run Windows software from within Ubuntu. I tried to follow the instructions, but I was rejected. I assume it is because the instructions were version-specific, and since the version is no longer correct the instructions are useless. But, I could be wrong.
I did another search just for installing WINE in Ubuntu and found some simpler instructions for adding a download repository to the Ubuntu Software Center. Then, I just clicked a link and WINE downloaded and installed. Much simpler.
With WINE installed, I jumped back to the eHow.com instructions and resumed the quest for iTunes. I went to the link provided in the eHow.com instructions to download version 7.2 of iTunes--the most current version of iTunes that will work with Ubuntu according to the instructions. I installed it in WINE, but I got some error message at the end of the installation, and iTunes wouldn't run. It gave me an error about missing files.
Throwing caution to the wind, I just opened Firefox and went to iTunes.com and downloaded the current version. I installed it in WINE, and it worked...mostly. Kind of.
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Using WINE, I was able to install iTunes in Ubuntu Linux.Each time I start iTunes, I get some error message about something missing from the Registry, but after I click OK iTunes opens up as it should. iTunes pulled in my music files from the designated folder and seems to work at face value. However, when I play a song it works fine for about two minutes and then just stops. No more music. Nothing. I have to shut down iTunes and restart it so I can listen to two minutes of music again.
Then, there is the issue of iTunes not detecting my iPhone. So, I still can't sync, and if I can't sync the iPhone and iPad, I don't need iTunes at all because I could just use the Banshee music player utility that came by default with Ubuntu. I'll bet it can even play a whole song. Maybe even an album or two.
And, here we are. Despite Apple's claims that the iPad is the harbinger of the "post-PC" era, it still requires a PC (as does the iPhone) to sync and update. But, apparently, in the world of Apple, Linux does not qualify as a "PC". So, even if I dedicate myself to living in Ubuntu for the next 30 days, I would still need to boot back into Windows periodically to sync my iOS devices.
I hate iTunes, but this experience has given me new appreciation for working with iTunes in Windows. See, here's the thing--in Windows I just install the software, and then it works (except for the part where I frequently have to use the Task Manager to forcibly shut it down when it freezes up).
I am open to suggestion Linux gurus. One thing I have determined about Linux is that there always seems to be a way. Given enough duct tape, chewing gum, and perspiration, there is a way to make it work. I guess my question, though, would be "why?" Why should we expect someone who just wants to use a computer to jump through hoops and bend over backwards just to make a simple program work when a much simpler alternative exists?
Tagloud : Day 3: Dude, Dell d630 battery , Hp 2230s battery , Hp pavilion dv6 battery
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