Mesanna's Weblog

I’ve always been a bit of a computer geek, mostly messing around with web design, but I’m not adverse to poking about with my Operating System. I’ve been a Windows user since Windows 3.1 and, whilst I’m far from being an expert, I feel I get by in Windows fairly well and I can usually solve most problems I come across.

As a serial reader of tech blogs though, it seemed like lately everyone and (quite literally) their Granny was using Ubuntu. I’ve had a few aborted attempts with Linux over the years, but something always put me off. One time, my cheap Windows only modem wouldn’t work; another time I couldn’t get my network to connect. There was always something, and I didn’t really have the inclination to stay with it and try and fix out the problem.

Recently though, I’ve been having a bit of change of heart. I really do not like Vista and I don’t think it likes me much either! My nice Epson scanner (which scans beautifully but doesn’t get used all that often) just doesn’t work in Vista. It’s supposed to be compatible, but try as I might, it just won’t work and I really don’t see the need to shell out for a new one. And don’t start me on the UAC pop-ups! If this is the future as Microsoft sees it, I want no part of it. So, with this in mind, I decided to give Linux another go.

As I said, I’m pretty comfortable with Windows, but Linux is a waaaay different kettle of fish. I read somewhere that Windows power users have a harder time with Linux than basic users who never tweak their OS. Not sure that I’m a “Power User” exactly, but I do have a Windows mindset and I think it’s necessary to approach Linux from a different viewpoint.

I’ve now been running Ubuntu in a dual boot with XP for a few weeks and already have faced a few problems but, having said that, oh the absolute joy when you fix something ….

As a Linux newbie, I’m going to document some of the problems I face, as much as a reference for myself as anyone else, because I think I’m getting the bug and I’m gonna tweak and tweak until I break it, then no doubt will have to start from scratch again!