I have, for a long while, resisted installing anything but the most nuts and bolts versions of Linux on the machines that I run. But then I realized that I didn’t care for doing hackish maintenance to get simple things to install or work – so I made a step-up to a Linux distribution for people who like customization, but don’t want to get their hands real dirty, and that was good for a while. However, there were still some things that I couldn’t do on my Averatec 3250 laptop that required hackery and mid-level wizardry. Both things that required me to do a lot of maintenance and general wasting-of-time.
Let’s face it – I’m growing older and whereas I used to enjoy maintenance on computers, I’ve been there, done that and yes, I have the t-shirt. I’ve made a giant and stood on it’s shoulders, but dammit, I’m old, I’ve moved on and I just want things to work out of the box! Though, at the same time, I don’t want something that is ridiculously bloated or weighed down with a bunch of apps that I’ll never use. This is a big change for ‘ol Ben. Part of allure and mystique of Linux was that you could “have it your own way”. However, that allure has mostly worn off as I have had it “my way”, but only through a lot of custimization and general time-wasting. Computers are tools to get jobs done, and I need them to “just work” sometimes!
So then, it follows in my progression of Linux distributions that I should end up with something like Ubuntu Linux. Small, lightweight and yet fully featured and easy to use. Installs in under an hour, and so far, everything has “just worked”. Power-saving CPU scaling? Works. Hibernates like Windows? Works. Fan-control so it doesn’t overheat OR be really loud? Works. Sound/Graphics? Works. Wireless Internet without a lot of hassle? Yup. I highly recommend it. More updates at a later date…
Update: While there are many nice configuration options for the Ubuntu desktop (powered by Gnome), there was not one to allow me to change the default habit of the desktop locking when you closed the lid of the laptop. After googling a little bit and figuring out where the configuration files are, I found the /usr/share/acpi-support/screenblank file. To change this behavior you need to just change one line:
From this:
su $user -c “(xscreensaver-command -throttle; xscreensaver-command -lock)”
To this:
su $user -c “(xscreensaver-command -throttle)”
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i am more of a linux newbe, i have been using linux off and on for the past 2 years but never really got into the command lines as much as i prolly should have. anyways, i have a averatec 3270, and i will be installing ubuntu linux on it either tonight or tomorrow morning. if i run into a problem could i consider you a good source for info?
Bryce
hey bryce -
You can consider me a source, sure but know that Google is your Friend(TM).
Good luck!
Hey buddy,
I have one of these same laptops with Ubuntu 6.06 Dapper Drake. Did you have any problems getting on the web with it? How do you set up wifi and the wired cable ethernet? I’m having problems. Is your ethernet port suppose to flash when it works correctly? I have no light at the port at all so part of me thinks the port is broke. I don’t know, I’m a linux newb so it is all disheartening to me. Thanks for any help you may be able to give. :)
Thanks,
John
i install ubuntu 5.10 a few days ago on my 3500 and it installed and so far i’ve gotten everything to work fine, except USB.
@John: there’s a lot of information on setting up wireless access in ubuntu, but 1 thing i found is that my onboard wireless chip is ra0 and not wlan0, so you might have to change that.
but what you need to do is double click your connection, and change the name to whatever then hit configure.
then click the wireless connection, or which ever is showing as using your wireless card, and hit properties. fill evreything in and hit ok, then activate it and give it a minute.
hope everythign works, and bryce have you had any USB problems?