Being a PCLinuxOS user, and having read all about the Ubuntu 8.04, I decided to give the distro a go on my laptop.
My configuration is simple:
- HP Compaq nx6325
- Mobile AMD Sempron(tm) Processor 3500+
- 1 Gb RAM
- HD 80 Gb
- Broadcom Corporation BCM4312 802.11a/b/g (wifi)
- Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme BCM5788 Gigabit Ethernet (wired)
- ATI Technologies Inc RS485 [Radeon Xpress 1100 IGP]
Downloading the distro went fairly good. Using K3B I burned the RW and rebooted the system.
First impression
I could select Dutch as primary language straight away and using the F3 key, selected my UK keyboard.
The option to install directly is a nice shortcut so I opted for that.
Then the Ubuntu appeared and what looked like the Windows XP marque like stuff, even in the same orange color, bouncing from left to right got my attention. Why in hell did they mimic MS Windows XP here.
I pressed Esc to look at the processes while booting, but nothing happened. Just like in Windows I am locked out of the booting process. I start to get an uneasy feeling.
An error flashed by concerning my Broadcom Wifi card but I was unable to read it, as once again I am looking at the boot splash screen.
The installation wizard is simple and well done. I went for manual partitioning and the installation started copying the distro.
Up to now I get a feeling that I am working with a Windows derivative. Change the name Ubuntu in Windows XP and you'll bet you are booting Windows. Not what I expected.
The Desktop
I have no experience whatsoever with Gnome, so let's see what it looks like.
Only three menu items are shown, but although I selected Dutch as language, they are in English. The submenu item are in Dutch. Small glitch that the translators overlooked I suppose.
The desktop is well done, with and empty canvas and some quick access icons clearly visible.
Upgrading the system and installing extra software
I still don't have an internet connection and as it is a laptop, I always work wireless, so let's get the wireless up and running.
I started looking for a way to get my Wifi on-line, but nothing seems to be available to do it. Strange, but no problem, I have my memory stick with the Windows drivers for my Broadcom 4312 card and will have to do it, using ndiswrapper then. This is certainly not something for the newbie who wants to try out Ubuntu....
I open a console and type in ndiswrapper, just to remind me of the command options again, and can you believe this !!!!
Ubuntu does not ship ndiswrapper !!!!!
Ndiswrapper is currently not installed: You can install it by typing:So basicly what Ubuntu says is this:
sudo apt-get install ndiswrapper-common
Go online, download the drivers to setup your card so you can get online to download the drivers to setup your card so you can get online to download the drivers to setup your card ...
Here I am now, stuck with the so called 'Best Ever Ubuntu' and we speak 2008 and there is no way to get my Broadcom BCM4312 wifi driver alive.
I will have to go to the attic, fetch a network cable and hope that using a wired connection, I will be able to get my Wifi up-and-running.
BAD .. BAD ... VERY BAD
I really did not expect such a major errors from a so acclaimed distribution.
Hope they fix this problem real soon.
Meanwhile I will try to get my Wifi working and proceed with the discovery of Ubuntu later today, although my enthusiasm for Ubuntu has diminished to just above freezing point.
2 reactions:
I'll never understand the hostility and antipathy that PCLOS users have for Ubuntu. It seems that they cannot just happy with their selection of choosing PCLOS, but they have to go that extra mile and condemn Ubuntu. They are fast becoming the most annoying users in the Linux world.
Ubuntu has chosen a different path. The distro is different from PCLOS and that is not coincidental. They use Gnome. Get used to it. If you want to compare fairly, use Kubuntu, not Ubuntu.
This appears to be enough to get you off your game. Instead of looking at the scads of new features and some of the major achievements you do not even mention them. Instead, you have chosen to nitpick over not including a small utility which is only needed by a few users. It is like going into Ben and Jerry's and complaining because they don't have plain vanilla ice cream, and entirely overlooking all of the great flavors.
Here's what is so lame about your review. Ndiswrapper is on the CD. You just didn't bother to look for it. Just because it isn't installed by default, doesn't mean that it is not on the CD. For people like me with no wireless, it isn't needed. To find it go to /pool/main/n/. It will also install from Synaptic.
This proves that you were so anxious to nail Ubuntu due to your PCLOS blinders that you could not be fair and that you could not even be accurate.
Roy,
Really, I see no reason for attacking Ubuntu whatsoever. And I certainly have no antipathy verses Ubuntu. If I had, I would not even bother to try out the new 8.04.
I've been looking on different forums and I am not alone feeling that Ubuntu 8.04 is not 100% fit (I read the comments on http://fosswire.com/2008/04/24/ubuntu-804-hardy-heron-review/ and on http://forums.scotsnewsletter.com/index.php?showtopic=20828 .
That being said I have also mentioned in another thread on my blog "I will put Ubuntu 8.04 to rest until they do a major upgrade and then I'll look into Ubuntu 8.04 again It is too unstable to be tested on my box.", so a decent review will follow, where I will emphasize the nice things that are innovating for the GNU/Linux community.
About not finding ndiswrapper on the CD. Correct. I should've looked deeper into the question, but it is such an unusual thing to be missing ndiswrapper from an installed distro that even that thought did not occur to me.
OTOH it is to be said that installing a Broadcom Wifi is not one of the easiest things to do ( see http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=771894 ) that a beginner - and that was and is the level at which I look at Ubuntu 8.04 - will not be able to do it on his own.
Don't think that a beginner knows how to install the Broadcom with PCLinuxOS Minime 2008, because although you can follow the wizard up to the point where you are presented with a bunch of drivers to choose without problems, if you don't know that you need to select the BCMWL5 driver you're stuck.
Och yes, if you could give me one good reason to 'nail Ubuntu' as you so nicely put it, I'll buy you a beer :-)
I hope to see back on my blog once I made an updated review of the 8.04.
Alain
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