A few posts back I was trumpeting the arrival of Linux Mint 7 code named "Gloria". I said at the time I felt it was a very good desktop/notebook distro and a real contender for a Windows replacement. I did intend to write a post, for Linux newbies, dedicated to the installation and configuration of Mint such that a complete and fully operational system could be constructed. The good news for me is someone has already done just that so here it is...Linux Mint - constructing the perfect desktop
Showing posts with label linux. Show all posts
Showing posts with label linux. Show all posts
Friday, 29 May 2009
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Linux marches on
Earlier this month, Linux operating systems represented more than 1% of the global desktop computer installed base compared to the better known alternatives like Windows and Apple's OSX. While this number may not seem impressive on the face of it, the month to month growth of 0.12% is well above the average rate of 0.02%. Windows XP showed a 0.64% decline and, while Vista grew, its growth rate slowed to 0.48% from an average of 0.78%. I was surprised to note that OS X usage rates had declined to 9.73% from 9.77%. So what to make of these figures?
It's no surprise to see a decline in XP use albeit a relatively modest reduction. Most new Windows machines sold are Vista based and these sales will dilute the XP insalled base in favour of Vista. Netbook sales will, however account for some of XP's persistance. Vista just doesn't cut it on the Intel Atom based platforms with their modest 1G RAM allocation and low key graphics capability. The fact that XP's decline is modest and Vista's growth "dissapointing" (if you're a Redmond based product manager) really stems from the unwillingness of the large enterprise market to fully adopt Microsoft's resource hungry product. Better for them they stick with the Devil they know and (possibly) await Windows 7 or something else. Why? well there will be a number of considerations that lead to this conclusion, not least the cost of hardware upgrades that would likely accompany a Vista roll-out (more RAM at least) or it may be XP still provides most of the value and capability needed for office applications. XP has been in the market for a long time now so the much vaunted security "improvements" offered by Vista have already been addressed or worked around by Enterprise IT organsiastions used to XPs capabilities and architecture. No one should ever under estimate the cost to a company of moving to a new IT platform. Licenses, hardware, training and IT support effort are just a few of the costs that will peak with any new roll-out, perhaps these uncertain economic times do not suggest a good time to jump to something new. It's likely that Apple's numbers have declined in line with economic pressure. While A Mac Book or iMac are still highly desirable aspirational items, that desire may not not turn into wallet emptying behaviour while the spectre of unemployment hangs over the target market.
What of Linux? I'm not surprised to see growth in the Linux usage numbers. The Linux Distributions themselves seem to have placed a great deal of focus on mainstream desktop applications; Ubuntu's 9.04, Linux Mint 7 and the soon to arrive Fedora 11 have all placed a great deal of empasis on the needs of the desktop user. All the distributions have targetted boot time, graphics improvements, font management etc. etc. I referenced Netbook sales as a contributor to the stickiness of XP and the dilution of Vista's performance. Well let's not overlook the relevance of Linux on these little platforms. Dell package some of their Netbooks with Ubuntu 8.04 and the nature of the OS lends itself to this resource constrained environment. Even the Red Hat based Fedora, a weapons grade, server focussed Linux distro has added many desktop friendly features to it's forthcoming release. Fedora have added a specific feature relating to enhanced power management for Netbook applications, since when did server operating systems concern themselves with battery life?
The next few months will be very interesting. Microsoft are betting the farm on Windows 7 and Apple look to be planning an assault on the Netbook market with their very sexy tablet PC. Through all this it is likely Linux will continue to emerge as a viable alternative, If the growing trickle of Enterprise deployments turn into a flood, Linux will truly arrive on the desktop scene.
It's no surprise to see a decline in XP use albeit a relatively modest reduction. Most new Windows machines sold are Vista based and these sales will dilute the XP insalled base in favour of Vista. Netbook sales will, however account for some of XP's persistance. Vista just doesn't cut it on the Intel Atom based platforms with their modest 1G RAM allocation and low key graphics capability. The fact that XP's decline is modest and Vista's growth "dissapointing" (if you're a Redmond based product manager) really stems from the unwillingness of the large enterprise market to fully adopt Microsoft's resource hungry product. Better for them they stick with the Devil they know and (possibly) await Windows 7 or something else. Why? well there will be a number of considerations that lead to this conclusion, not least the cost of hardware upgrades that would likely accompany a Vista roll-out (more RAM at least) or it may be XP still provides most of the value and capability needed for office applications. XP has been in the market for a long time now so the much vaunted security "improvements" offered by Vista have already been addressed or worked around by Enterprise IT organsiastions used to XPs capabilities and architecture. No one should ever under estimate the cost to a company of moving to a new IT platform. Licenses, hardware, training and IT support effort are just a few of the costs that will peak with any new roll-out, perhaps these uncertain economic times do not suggest a good time to jump to something new. It's likely that Apple's numbers have declined in line with economic pressure. While A Mac Book or iMac are still highly desirable aspirational items, that desire may not not turn into wallet emptying behaviour while the spectre of unemployment hangs over the target market.
What of Linux? I'm not surprised to see growth in the Linux usage numbers. The Linux Distributions themselves seem to have placed a great deal of focus on mainstream desktop applications; Ubuntu's 9.04, Linux Mint 7 and the soon to arrive Fedora 11 have all placed a great deal of empasis on the needs of the desktop user. All the distributions have targetted boot time, graphics improvements, font management etc. etc. I referenced Netbook sales as a contributor to the stickiness of XP and the dilution of Vista's performance. Well let's not overlook the relevance of Linux on these little platforms. Dell package some of their Netbooks with Ubuntu 8.04 and the nature of the OS lends itself to this resource constrained environment. Even the Red Hat based Fedora, a weapons grade, server focussed Linux distro has added many desktop friendly features to it's forthcoming release. Fedora have added a specific feature relating to enhanced power management for Netbook applications, since when did server operating systems concern themselves with battery life?
The next few months will be very interesting. Microsoft are betting the farm on Windows 7 and Apple look to be planning an assault on the Netbook market with their very sexy tablet PC. Through all this it is likely Linux will continue to emerge as a viable alternative, If the growing trickle of Enterprise deployments turn into a flood, Linux will truly arrive on the desktop scene.
Thursday, 14 May 2009
Ubuntu's all fresh and minty
In an earlier post I argued the case for Ubuntu 9.04 being a serious contender as a mainstream desktop operating system. I suggested it was stable, fast and more than capable of taking on the likes of XP, Vista and even the new Windows 7. If you take into account the fact that it is free then it really does challenge all the commercial OSs including Apples beautifully designed OS X. No sooner had I completed the post and a new pretender appeared, well sort of. Linux Mint 7, code named "Gloria" is available for download as a Release Candidate. there are many reasons why I like this distribution based on the initial testing I have undertaken.
First and foremost, "Gloria" is built upon Ubuntu 9.04 so everything I said in my earlier post still holds.
Secondly, Gloria has been very thoughtfully constructed. Care has been taken to ensure everything a desktop user needs to get started is included. there really is very little need to venture into the Linux terminal for the inexperienced user. Any Ubuntu user will know Adobe Flash has to be installed if you want to watch any web video - the Gloria distribution includes Flash pre-installed and ready to go. Linux users know it contains an incredibly powerful firewall capability in iptables (not just a firewall either, iptables can satisfy many networking tasks) For inexperienced users, iptables can be very daunting and confusing as it is command line driven. Gloria provides a very simple yet effective firewall configuration UI. In addition to this and all the normal applications like Open Office, you will find Mint Backup, an application that enables simple backup of your home directory, Mint Nanny which provides some internet security and domain blocking. Compiz-Config manager is installed by default providing some really powerful desktop user interface and experience configuration. All in all it's pretty complete and very impressive.
Finally, I have to say, and this wouldn't normally be a consideration, Linux Mint 7 just looks great! The theme is very well thought through and particularly elegant. From the desktop backgrounds to the window frames and the styling and operation of the single taskbar/panel, Mint 7 wins. Dowload the ISO from this link and give it a try, you'll be glad you did ...
First and foremost, "Gloria" is built upon Ubuntu 9.04 so everything I said in my earlier post still holds.
Secondly, Gloria has been very thoughtfully constructed. Care has been taken to ensure everything a desktop user needs to get started is included. there really is very little need to venture into the Linux terminal for the inexperienced user. Any Ubuntu user will know Adobe Flash has to be installed if you want to watch any web video - the Gloria distribution includes Flash pre-installed and ready to go. Linux users know it contains an incredibly powerful firewall capability in iptables (not just a firewall either, iptables can satisfy many networking tasks) For inexperienced users, iptables can be very daunting and confusing as it is command line driven. Gloria provides a very simple yet effective firewall configuration UI. In addition to this and all the normal applications like Open Office, you will find Mint Backup, an application that enables simple backup of your home directory, Mint Nanny which provides some internet security and domain blocking. Compiz-Config manager is installed by default providing some really powerful desktop user interface and experience configuration. All in all it's pretty complete and very impressive.
Finally, I have to say, and this wouldn't normally be a consideration, Linux Mint 7 just looks great! The theme is very well thought through and particularly elegant. From the desktop backgrounds to the window frames and the styling and operation of the single taskbar/panel, Mint 7 wins. Dowload the ISO from this link and give it a try, you'll be glad you did ...
Tuesday, 5 May 2009
Linux is ready for your desktop
So why should you look at a new fangled and strangely named operating system? What difference does it make? What is all the fuss about? Operating systems should be seen and not heard, or is that used and not seen? well you know what I mean.
As time has past the role of the operating system (OS) has evolved significantly. It was the case that operating systems were personality free. They provided a silent, hidden service working their magic way below the surface of the user's consciousness. The only interaction one had with this hidden intelligence was simple command entry at a flashing green cursor. It was the applications that attracted focus and attention and quite rightly too. There was a key division between the OS which provided "life support" and the applications that provided the value and output for any given task. Today the lines of demarcation have blurred. OSs like XP, Vista, OS X and the various Linux distributions embody applications in addition to the base OS capability. Many of these applications are tightly integrated into the OS itself. As a consequence, the Operating System beauty contest has become the primary competition. The emergence of a new OS release generates the same kind of celebrity fervour as your average summer blockbuster release. I'm sure our political leaders crave the column inches and attention bestowed upon the release of the next Microsoft or Apple release.
All of this to say operating systems are important, they now define the way we work, play and communicate. They begin to have such a central part in our daily lives that thoughtful consideration should be applied.
So let's get into it. Why Linux? why Ubuntu ( http://www.ubuntu.com/ ) in particular? We all know, or should know, that Linux is Free to download and use, but that alone is not a sufficient justification. In order to attempt a meaningful answer to these questions I will deliberately avoid the dark nooks and crannies of technical intricacy. Instead I want to make the argument from the perspective of the everyday user. If my argument holds and Ubuntu really can be a mainstream alternative, it has to offer value to everyone irrespective of background or knowledge. Linux must embrace a broader church than the bearded-geeky-sandal-wearing-tech-freaks.
It provides all you need (well almost)
When you install Windows for the first time, it will spring into life (eventually) and then...That's exactly it, then what? If you have a pre packaged machine you will have some applications but generally they will be the stunted short forms of their elder siblings. Microsoft Works for example. Why is it so many machines running Microsoft Works also have Microsoft Office installed? Unless the Office installation was acquired by nefarious means, that application suite alone represents a significant investment. Ubuntu's productivity applications come by way of the wonderful Open Office project sponsored by Sun Microsystems (now Oracle)
All of Ubuntu's Open Office applications are fully functional grown ups capable of real work. Let's look at the Evolution email client for example. It is a very good analogue of Microsoft's Outlook. PST files (The files that store all of your Outlook data) are easily imported. Evolution now supports the protocol that Microsoft use to connect Outlook to an Exchange e-mail server so it even has potential for large corporate users. Take a look at the office applications, Spreadsheet looks, works and manipulates files like MS Excel, Presentation the same for Powerpoint and the Word processor is a dead ringer for MS Word. All import and save MS file types even supporting the new .docx format produced by Office 2007. Pidgin provides a very good, light weight multi network IM client and Brasero (I know, it's a weird name) provides Optical disk burning capability sufficient to make Nero blush.
In addition to the standard issue tools, a plethora of utilities and applications are available from the Linux repositories. These wonderful structures provide a kind of application super market where one can explore, browse and finally choose the item required. the applications in the repositories are essentially approved, quality stamped and safe to install. they are provided and supported by the community and, as is the case with Linux generally, are free of charge to download, install and use. Even the installation is a cinch, either use the "package manager" under the Administration menu or venture to the command line and type " sudo apt-get install xxxx" where xxxx is the application you are after. simple!
The thing to note, and we'll explore this in more detail later, all this is FREE!
Ubuntu 9.04 provides the following applications
F-Spot Photo manager, Gimp image editor, Open Office drawing, XSane image scanning
Ekiga Softphone, Evolution mail, Firefox, Pidgin, Transmission Bit Torrent client
Dictionary, Evolution Mail and Calendar, Open office presentation, Spreadsheet and Wordprocessor
Brasero Disc Burner, Movie Player, Rythmbox Music Player, Sound Recorder
It's reliable
Linux can be found in many surprising guises. take a look at your humble home router, chances are it's running Linux. The suitability of the technology extends far beyond the playthings of the average man on the street. Instances of the Linux operating system are to be found at the heart of many industrial grade, so called "mission critical" devices and applications. Much of the telecommunications infrastructure that provides the modern Internet is Linux based. Host a web site with your friendly ISP and they may well be offering you server space on a Linux server. many of our largest banking establishments (I know, not popular right now) use Linux extensively and at the heart of their data centres. A bank's data centre is its most important asset, without the reliable storage and management of all that account data and financial information the bank would not be viable. I've gone through this long diatribe in order to demonstrate the inherent reliability of the Linux platform. There are many varieties of Linux but all are built upon THE Linux kernel and embody significant helpings of this natural born robustness. No room here for the "blue screen of death" !!! It's not uncommon for Linux systems to run unattended for months or even years! When was the last time your Windows box rebooted or shut down because of some unexpected update or bug?
It's fast
While one operating system's relative speed to another can be measured, it's the subjective "how-does-it-feel" performance experienced by the desktop user that is equally important. Trust me, compared to the mainstream OSs Linux is very slick. From the time taken to boot to the time taken to shut down Linux is rapid. once up and running (as little as 28 seconds on my system with Ubuntu 9.04) the desktop environment itself feels light weight and agile. Install one of the compositing window managers, try Compiz fusion, and even graphics intensive operations like rotating desktops are smooth and lithe. Just to put some numbers on this, I use a very simple benchmark just to test the performance of a machine's processor. Super PI provides an algorithm that calculates the value of Pi to any desired number of decimal places. The standard benchmark calls for a calculation yielding 1,000,000 decimal places of significance. On my system running Windows XP pro, the calculation takes about 21 seconds. Not bad by any means. Boot into Ubuntu, run exactly the same algorithm and a heart stopping 13.5 seconds later the calculation is complete; that's a difference of 35% !! this is by no means a complete test and there are many other factors that define performance but it does give a useful indication. Linux is a swift operating system.
It's developed and maintained by the community
For me one of Linux's most compelling characteristics is its development model, the community contribute content and fixes to the operating system together with the contents of the repositories. This has a number of implications. Fixes to problems appear swiftly a regularly (Ubuntu's automatic update process is a thing of beauty). These updates are made available as soon as available, downloaded and installed with the minimum of fuss and very seldom require an application to be closed let alone a system reboot!
The community's contribution runs much deeper however. the Linux development team is very large indeed. Although there are designated application and subsystem owners, pretty much anyone can suggest a modification, improvement or completely new application. The community as a whole has the opportunity to inspect source code, discuss alternatives and, ultimately, approve its inclusion. This means new capabilities appear with great frequency. It almost seems to be the case that if you can think of something you need, someone else has already provided it. It really is a very powerful development model and has lead to Linux's comprehensive capabilities, security and system robustness.
it's very secure
Security in this context means many things to many people. In this section I'll be considering this subject from the point of view as the average home based PC desktop user.
Firewalls
It is generally the case, these days, that most home PCs sit behind a router of some description. That router will either be a stand alone routing unit installed to enable the sharing of a broadband connection or it will be integrated into an ISP provided integrated ADSL Modem/router, these routers nearly always include a built in firewall capability. It is less and less the case that a single machine sits on a direct connection to the Internet. It is for this reason that I am particularly pleased that Ubuntu ships without a firewall enabled by default, home networking is so much easier!. Ubuntu, like any Linux distro does deliver an extremely powerful command line based Firewall in IPTables. IPTables can achieve the kind of selective protection and configurablity found in Enterprise grade devices but, for the average punter, it's a bit of a sledge hammer when one only wants to crack small nuts. If your Ubuntu desktop is directly connected to the net, or a simple firewall is required for some other reason, there are a number of Firewall GUI front ends available from the repositories (for free) that make the task simple. Two such examples are Lokkit and Guarddog. lokkit is simple and straightforward, Guarddog is much more configurable and designed for the more advanced user.
Virus protection
Virus protection on Linux systems is effectively redundant. there have been a few mail worms in the past that have been propagated through Linux mail servers. However the generally accepted form of Malware that embeds itself in innocent looking downloads and then runs amok on unsuspecting and unprotected systems is effectively non-existent in the Linux world. there are many reasons for this, not least the fact that most software is acquired from the repositories where it's source code and resultant binaries are scrutinised by the community. There are also architectural reasons that make it less likely to attack. In reality Linux's modest user base is also a major contributor to its apparent immunity. While we shouldn't be complacent, it's unlikely that Linux will ever suffer the same abuse that has blighted Microsoft's progeny.
User administration
Linux offers extremely flexible user, password and access administration. For me, the separation between general user access and Administration user access is particularly well defined. In Windows based systems, you are a privileged user or you are not. Once you have logged in as that user, you are free to do essentially anything without prompting, further warning or protection. Linux has the notion of the Sudoer list. Users on this list are permitted to perform "dangerous" or system administration task if they prefix those operations with the "sudo" prefix and can then provide the admin password when required. this has many advantages, but the combination of smooth work flow (not having to log in separately as admin) and protection (not having the opportunity to forget you are logged in as admin) make for a flexible, highly usable yet secure system. As a further key protecting element, Linux will always prompt for the admin password when requested to install or uninstall system components.
It's establishing itself with the PC vendors
Dell deliver Ubuntu 8.04 on the Dell Mini 9 Netbook PC. This fact shows the level of maturity Linux is achieving as a commodity desktop solution. The fact that it's appeared on low power netbooks first is an interesting development itself when one considers Linux and Unix's background. It just shows how efficient and portable Linux has become.
It's not perfect - Sometimes you have to use Windows / OS X
Ok so far everything has been rosy in the garden. If you've read this far I would be surprised if you haven't already downloaded the Live CD and have your finger hovering over the Enter key. But before you leap into the unknown without your Bill Gates approved safety net, consider the following. There are certain applications and tasks that have yet to be implemented under the Linux banner. If you are a digital photographer or certainly a vidieographer all is not quite so positive. Although GIMP is a powerful digital image manipulation application and it is possible to construct a solid digital photo production workflow, there really is no alternative for Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom for most pro photographers. I have no real experience in the video production arena but I suspect the same is true when considering video production where Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premier are considered the de facto standards. these applications don't have a portation or analogue under Linux right now. Things may change in the not to distant future; it is already possible to "skin" GIMP to look very much like Photoshop and applications like Kino may well mature into a strong video editing contender. In most other areas, linux stands up very well.
And finally...
In most cases throughout this post I've compared Linux with Wndows OSs. Apple's OS X does offer many of the attributes that define Linux and Ubuntu. To many, OS X looks "prettier" and does in many cases have a more sophisticated workflow orientation. All of this however comes at a cost both in terms of software and certainly hardware. Linux is and always will be free to download and free to use. The list of hardware supported by Linux grows at a furious rate, everything from the smallest netbook to the largest server. The community continues to grow, industry acceptance is in place, the range of applications is vast and now, with Ubuntu 9.04, the desktop user at home can install and operate a fully functional, productive, secure and well maintained Operating system at home for free without the need for a beard, sandals or a degree in Computer Science.
As time has past the role of the operating system (OS) has evolved significantly. It was the case that operating systems were personality free. They provided a silent, hidden service working their magic way below the surface of the user's consciousness. The only interaction one had with this hidden intelligence was simple command entry at a flashing green cursor. It was the applications that attracted focus and attention and quite rightly too. There was a key division between the OS which provided "life support" and the applications that provided the value and output for any given task. Today the lines of demarcation have blurred. OSs like XP, Vista, OS X and the various Linux distributions embody applications in addition to the base OS capability. Many of these applications are tightly integrated into the OS itself. As a consequence, the Operating System beauty contest has become the primary competition. The emergence of a new OS release generates the same kind of celebrity fervour as your average summer blockbuster release. I'm sure our political leaders crave the column inches and attention bestowed upon the release of the next Microsoft or Apple release.
All of this to say operating systems are important, they now define the way we work, play and communicate. They begin to have such a central part in our daily lives that thoughtful consideration should be applied.
So let's get into it. Why Linux? why Ubuntu ( http://www.ubuntu.com/ ) in particular? We all know, or should know, that Linux is Free to download and use, but that alone is not a sufficient justification. In order to attempt a meaningful answer to these questions I will deliberately avoid the dark nooks and crannies of technical intricacy. Instead I want to make the argument from the perspective of the everyday user. If my argument holds and Ubuntu really can be a mainstream alternative, it has to offer value to everyone irrespective of background or knowledge. Linux must embrace a broader church than the bearded-geeky-sandal-wearing-tech-freaks.
It provides all you need (well almost)
When you install Windows for the first time, it will spring into life (eventually) and then...That's exactly it, then what? If you have a pre packaged machine you will have some applications but generally they will be the stunted short forms of their elder siblings. Microsoft Works for example. Why is it so many machines running Microsoft Works also have Microsoft Office installed? Unless the Office installation was acquired by nefarious means, that application suite alone represents a significant investment. Ubuntu's productivity applications come by way of the wonderful Open Office project sponsored by Sun Microsystems (now Oracle)
All of Ubuntu's Open Office applications are fully functional grown ups capable of real work. Let's look at the Evolution email client for example. It is a very good analogue of Microsoft's Outlook. PST files (The files that store all of your Outlook data) are easily imported. Evolution now supports the protocol that Microsoft use to connect Outlook to an Exchange e-mail server so it even has potential for large corporate users. Take a look at the office applications, Spreadsheet looks, works and manipulates files like MS Excel, Presentation the same for Powerpoint and the Word processor is a dead ringer for MS Word. All import and save MS file types even supporting the new .docx format produced by Office 2007. Pidgin provides a very good, light weight multi network IM client and Brasero (I know, it's a weird name) provides Optical disk burning capability sufficient to make Nero blush.
In addition to the standard issue tools, a plethora of utilities and applications are available from the Linux repositories. These wonderful structures provide a kind of application super market where one can explore, browse and finally choose the item required. the applications in the repositories are essentially approved, quality stamped and safe to install. they are provided and supported by the community and, as is the case with Linux generally, are free of charge to download, install and use. Even the installation is a cinch, either use the "package manager" under the Administration menu or venture to the command line and type " sudo apt-get install xxxx" where xxxx is the application you are after. simple!
The thing to note, and we'll explore this in more detail later, all this is FREE!
Ubuntu 9.04 provides the following applications
F-Spot Photo manager, Gimp image editor, Open Office drawing, XSane image scanning
Ekiga Softphone, Evolution mail, Firefox, Pidgin, Transmission Bit Torrent client
Dictionary, Evolution Mail and Calendar, Open office presentation, Spreadsheet and Wordprocessor
Brasero Disc Burner, Movie Player, Rythmbox Music Player, Sound Recorder
It's reliable
Linux can be found in many surprising guises. take a look at your humble home router, chances are it's running Linux. The suitability of the technology extends far beyond the playthings of the average man on the street. Instances of the Linux operating system are to be found at the heart of many industrial grade, so called "mission critical" devices and applications. Much of the telecommunications infrastructure that provides the modern Internet is Linux based. Host a web site with your friendly ISP and they may well be offering you server space on a Linux server. many of our largest banking establishments (I know, not popular right now) use Linux extensively and at the heart of their data centres. A bank's data centre is its most important asset, without the reliable storage and management of all that account data and financial information the bank would not be viable. I've gone through this long diatribe in order to demonstrate the inherent reliability of the Linux platform. There are many varieties of Linux but all are built upon THE Linux kernel and embody significant helpings of this natural born robustness. No room here for the "blue screen of death" !!! It's not uncommon for Linux systems to run unattended for months or even years! When was the last time your Windows box rebooted or shut down because of some unexpected update or bug?
It's fast
While one operating system's relative speed to another can be measured, it's the subjective "how-does-it-feel" performance experienced by the desktop user that is equally important. Trust me, compared to the mainstream OSs Linux is very slick. From the time taken to boot to the time taken to shut down Linux is rapid. once up and running (as little as 28 seconds on my system with Ubuntu 9.04) the desktop environment itself feels light weight and agile. Install one of the compositing window managers, try Compiz fusion, and even graphics intensive operations like rotating desktops are smooth and lithe. Just to put some numbers on this, I use a very simple benchmark just to test the performance of a machine's processor. Super PI provides an algorithm that calculates the value of Pi to any desired number of decimal places. The standard benchmark calls for a calculation yielding 1,000,000 decimal places of significance. On my system running Windows XP pro, the calculation takes about 21 seconds. Not bad by any means. Boot into Ubuntu, run exactly the same algorithm and a heart stopping 13.5 seconds later the calculation is complete; that's a difference of 35% !! this is by no means a complete test and there are many other factors that define performance but it does give a useful indication. Linux is a swift operating system.
It's developed and maintained by the community
For me one of Linux's most compelling characteristics is its development model, the community contribute content and fixes to the operating system together with the contents of the repositories. This has a number of implications. Fixes to problems appear swiftly a regularly (Ubuntu's automatic update process is a thing of beauty). These updates are made available as soon as available, downloaded and installed with the minimum of fuss and very seldom require an application to be closed let alone a system reboot!
The community's contribution runs much deeper however. the Linux development team is very large indeed. Although there are designated application and subsystem owners, pretty much anyone can suggest a modification, improvement or completely new application. The community as a whole has the opportunity to inspect source code, discuss alternatives and, ultimately, approve its inclusion. This means new capabilities appear with great frequency. It almost seems to be the case that if you can think of something you need, someone else has already provided it. It really is a very powerful development model and has lead to Linux's comprehensive capabilities, security and system robustness.
it's very secure
Security in this context means many things to many people. In this section I'll be considering this subject from the point of view as the average home based PC desktop user.
Firewalls
It is generally the case, these days, that most home PCs sit behind a router of some description. That router will either be a stand alone routing unit installed to enable the sharing of a broadband connection or it will be integrated into an ISP provided integrated ADSL Modem/router, these routers nearly always include a built in firewall capability. It is less and less the case that a single machine sits on a direct connection to the Internet. It is for this reason that I am particularly pleased that Ubuntu ships without a firewall enabled by default, home networking is so much easier!. Ubuntu, like any Linux distro does deliver an extremely powerful command line based Firewall in IPTables. IPTables can achieve the kind of selective protection and configurablity found in Enterprise grade devices but, for the average punter, it's a bit of a sledge hammer when one only wants to crack small nuts. If your Ubuntu desktop is directly connected to the net, or a simple firewall is required for some other reason, there are a number of Firewall GUI front ends available from the repositories (for free) that make the task simple. Two such examples are Lokkit and Guarddog. lokkit is simple and straightforward, Guarddog is much more configurable and designed for the more advanced user.
Virus protection
Virus protection on Linux systems is effectively redundant. there have been a few mail worms in the past that have been propagated through Linux mail servers. However the generally accepted form of Malware that embeds itself in innocent looking downloads and then runs amok on unsuspecting and unprotected systems is effectively non-existent in the Linux world. there are many reasons for this, not least the fact that most software is acquired from the repositories where it's source code and resultant binaries are scrutinised by the community. There are also architectural reasons that make it less likely to attack. In reality Linux's modest user base is also a major contributor to its apparent immunity. While we shouldn't be complacent, it's unlikely that Linux will ever suffer the same abuse that has blighted Microsoft's progeny.
User administration
Linux offers extremely flexible user, password and access administration. For me, the separation between general user access and Administration user access is particularly well defined. In Windows based systems, you are a privileged user or you are not. Once you have logged in as that user, you are free to do essentially anything without prompting, further warning or protection. Linux has the notion of the Sudoer list. Users on this list are permitted to perform "dangerous" or system administration task if they prefix those operations with the "sudo" prefix and can then provide the admin password when required. this has many advantages, but the combination of smooth work flow (not having to log in separately as admin) and protection (not having the opportunity to forget you are logged in as admin) make for a flexible, highly usable yet secure system. As a further key protecting element, Linux will always prompt for the admin password when requested to install or uninstall system components.
It's establishing itself with the PC vendors
Dell deliver Ubuntu 8.04 on the Dell Mini 9 Netbook PC. This fact shows the level of maturity Linux is achieving as a commodity desktop solution. The fact that it's appeared on low power netbooks first is an interesting development itself when one considers Linux and Unix's background. It just shows how efficient and portable Linux has become.
It's not perfect - Sometimes you have to use Windows / OS X
Ok so far everything has been rosy in the garden. If you've read this far I would be surprised if you haven't already downloaded the Live CD and have your finger hovering over the Enter key. But before you leap into the unknown without your Bill Gates approved safety net, consider the following. There are certain applications and tasks that have yet to be implemented under the Linux banner. If you are a digital photographer or certainly a vidieographer all is not quite so positive. Although GIMP is a powerful digital image manipulation application and it is possible to construct a solid digital photo production workflow, there really is no alternative for Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom for most pro photographers. I have no real experience in the video production arena but I suspect the same is true when considering video production where Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premier are considered the de facto standards. these applications don't have a portation or analogue under Linux right now. Things may change in the not to distant future; it is already possible to "skin" GIMP to look very much like Photoshop and applications like Kino may well mature into a strong video editing contender. In most other areas, linux stands up very well.
And finally...
In most cases throughout this post I've compared Linux with Wndows OSs. Apple's OS X does offer many of the attributes that define Linux and Ubuntu. To many, OS X looks "prettier" and does in many cases have a more sophisticated workflow orientation. All of this however comes at a cost both in terms of software and certainly hardware. Linux is and always will be free to download and free to use. The list of hardware supported by Linux grows at a furious rate, everything from the smallest netbook to the largest server. The community continues to grow, industry acceptance is in place, the range of applications is vast and now, with Ubuntu 9.04, the desktop user at home can install and operate a fully functional, productive, secure and well maintained Operating system at home for free without the need for a beard, sandals or a degree in Computer Science.
Monday, 27 April 2009
Operating systems, a religous experience?
Opinions are funny things. They are usually strongly held beliefs, a matter of principle a point to defend when confronted with the objections and ridicule of the masses. And so it is with the almost religious fervour that accompanies Operating System discipleship.
There are the Microsoft Windowites, a huge dynasty subdivided into many sects. The '95, '98 and Millennium castes seem to have dispersed. There are reports that small pockets of this once proud following do exist, largely in the dusty halls of local authorities and government agencies. Then there are the XPites, the Vista clan and now the emergence of the number 7. Seven is considered a lucky number in many cultures and so it seems Microsoft are hoping it can bring unanimity to their disparate following, a single clarion call that all can align behind. Can they shake off the ills that plague all long standing and dominant civilisations greed, decadence and, in the case of their platform, obesity? This is unlikely but time will tell.
But wait, what of the forbidden fruit, what of the Apple? A young vibrant brand of religion this, all bright, happy and shiny. Full of big smiles, warm handshakes and cool haircuts; gone are the dowdy formal uniforms of the Windowites, you can wear your jeans around your knees, tattoo your nose and still wear the badge of the blessed fruit. Membership comes at a price. It's no easy task worshiping the Apple, the tools of the trade are highly prized and cost the Earth. You'll need a lot more than plain old gold, frankincense and Myrrh, many pieces of silver must be offered. Strangely the basis for this most modern of followings, it's foundation, it's very core, hidden by high fashion and makeup is a relic from the past, behold the Unix operating system.
Back in our history, long before the first newborn gurgle of the PC, there was Unix. Long beards, comfortable footwear and real ale defined this most ancient of followings. Yet at its heart, at the centre of its belief was the kernel. The kernel was all powerful, all knowing yet simple and forgiving. It brought order to chaos, offered forgiveness to errant applications and it just kept running. Nothing could bring the kernel down, no external force or internal conspiracy, it was omnipotent. The rise of the Windowites threatened to eliminate Unix but its core strengths and virtues, reborn under the Apple and Linux moniker, have survived. Linux, unlike Apple, promises to establish, once again, A single community, a home for everyone, free to join, and available to all. Unfortunately Linux is fragmented into many different groups. All however share a common belief, a point of connection, the Kernel binds them together.
I'm a linux believer as you may have guessed. In subsequent posts I'll try and explain why. I'll attempt to outline why the time is right to consider linux, Ubuntu in particular, as the natural choice for our desktop operating systems.
There are the Microsoft Windowites, a huge dynasty subdivided into many sects. The '95, '98 and Millennium castes seem to have dispersed. There are reports that small pockets of this once proud following do exist, largely in the dusty halls of local authorities and government agencies. Then there are the XPites, the Vista clan and now the emergence of the number 7. Seven is considered a lucky number in many cultures and so it seems Microsoft are hoping it can bring unanimity to their disparate following, a single clarion call that all can align behind. Can they shake off the ills that plague all long standing and dominant civilisations greed, decadence and, in the case of their platform, obesity? This is unlikely but time will tell.
But wait, what of the forbidden fruit, what of the Apple? A young vibrant brand of religion this, all bright, happy and shiny. Full of big smiles, warm handshakes and cool haircuts; gone are the dowdy formal uniforms of the Windowites, you can wear your jeans around your knees, tattoo your nose and still wear the badge of the blessed fruit. Membership comes at a price. It's no easy task worshiping the Apple, the tools of the trade are highly prized and cost the Earth. You'll need a lot more than plain old gold, frankincense and Myrrh, many pieces of silver must be offered. Strangely the basis for this most modern of followings, it's foundation, it's very core, hidden by high fashion and makeup is a relic from the past, behold the Unix operating system.
Back in our history, long before the first newborn gurgle of the PC, there was Unix. Long beards, comfortable footwear and real ale defined this most ancient of followings. Yet at its heart, at the centre of its belief was the kernel. The kernel was all powerful, all knowing yet simple and forgiving. It brought order to chaos, offered forgiveness to errant applications and it just kept running. Nothing could bring the kernel down, no external force or internal conspiracy, it was omnipotent. The rise of the Windowites threatened to eliminate Unix but its core strengths and virtues, reborn under the Apple and Linux moniker, have survived. Linux, unlike Apple, promises to establish, once again, A single community, a home for everyone, free to join, and available to all. Unfortunately Linux is fragmented into many different groups. All however share a common belief, a point of connection, the Kernel binds them together.
I'm a linux believer as you may have guessed. In subsequent posts I'll try and explain why. I'll attempt to outline why the time is right to consider linux, Ubuntu in particular, as the natural choice for our desktop operating systems.
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