Today is the day I switched over the roles of my computers, I was expecting it to be a relatively easy process of swap hard drives, instull Ubuntu Server, install software. Nothing difficult, done it many times before. But I have been very impressed, I simply needed to complete step one, and everything worked. I was at least expected to have to reconfigure fstab, since one of the hard drives is on a PCI SATA controller, so I expected it to mess up a bit. Or maybe for the network to go a bit funny, since it was a different motherboard, but no. So far everything has worked perfectly, even the network folders which I left open on my computer have just reconnected themselves.
Now I’m installing Ubuntu desktop on my other computer, I chose to go 64 bit. As I said before there’s something about ubuntu which makes me want to use it, and since it will be on a dedicated machine, with (fingers crossed) wobbly windows, and a proper connection to a monitor, through my new KVM switch, I’m hoping that it will be a very pleasant experience.
This brings me onto the KVM, a Belkin model, available from ebuyer for around £19. It is absolutely brilliant, switching between computers is almost instant with the button on top (haven’t bothered with the windows software) and the only fault about it is the really long cables, although better being too long than too short. So if anyone’s wanting an easy way to control 2 computers. Buy it! Absolutely worth it.
I’ve not actually tried printing (as such) yet, although my printer installed effortlessly. It’s an HP Deskjet 6940, connected directly into my router through ethernet. It actually recognised it automatically (which I only expected to happen with USB printers), and choose the correct drivers. But I am yet to actually print anything through it.
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some nice articles on there.
Awesome! Ubuntu is such a polished Linux distribution; it’s really a shining example of the Open Source model.
Out of curiosity, have you attempted printing? I know a lot of people tend to have difficulty with wireless cards, but for me, Printing is the big area of hardware trouble. One of my computers prints out in blue ink (it won’t recognize the black cartridge) and the other won’t even recognize the printer.
Congrats on making the switch, and (plug) we have a ton of awesome content over at FOSSwire.com to help you get acquainted with Ubuntu and other Linux related stuff. Enjoy!