Gobble,
I got a new desktop (Dell Optiplex 780) at my work with Intel quadcore processor, 4 GB DDR3 and 500 GB HDD and Windows 7 pro preinstalled. I was thinking which Linux to install in a dual-boot configuration, and found this Ubuntu 10.04 LTS just released. So I got it installed last week, not the KUbuntu, but the original Ubuntu.
To tell you honestly, I am more than happy. The look and feel is not so important for me, as is the tight integration and functionality. I use TeX/LateX scientific word-processing, Grace graphics package and so on. The "sudo apt-get install" works like a well-oiled machine to install any new package and all this works pretty well, seamlessly. There is no hitch, like some missing libraries etc. I am very familiar with this kind arrangement, because in my Mac, I have used the darwin port facility which works the same way.
So far everything works beautifully. Only little problem I noticed was with opening a pdf file with Adobe reader from Firefox. I installed the Adobe reader 9.3 separately using the apt-get or the Synaptic manager (they are the same, one is from command line, the other is based on muse-clicking). Then I noticed pdfs were not opening from firefox. I ultimately found out that firefox has the adobe reader 9.0 set as default. From firefox preferences I fixed that problem. Another little problem was finding the proper driver for my printer HP Laserjet P3005dn. The driver for the "dn" version was not available. Well the network part I do not care very much because the printer is connected directly with my PC, but the duplex part I care for very much, because it saves a lot of space and paper. Ultimately I settled for a driver for a laserjet 2000 series duplex printer. So far it's working without any visible problem.
I am not a big fan of KDE. I have used it long enough to have gotten bored, I suppose. But I like the Gnome environment on my Ubuntu 10,04 LTS. It's got a low-key but refined look with emphasis on the important buttons, an aspect which is very important for a person with poor eye-sight as me.
I remember I was complaining in this forum some time ago about poor integration of packages in linux distributions. I have been one of the earliest users of linux since 92/93/94 (don't exactly remember). Of late I was using only Suse, and did not try anything beyond SLED 10. But now after installing Ubuntu 10.04 LTS, I must say package integration has come a long way. It also boots extremely fast, as fast as my Mac, and it perhaps shuts down faster than my Mac.
One comment about installing the 64-bit version. I did some research last weekend to find out which one, one should go for. I found discussions on the net that the 64 bit versions of flash players may still have some problems. I chickened out because stability of the system is very important for me, and instead settled for only the 32 bit version. But it probably sees only 3 GB of the 4 GB DDR3 memory installed. That's a pity.
Regards.
Note added later in relation to network conf queries: Well, I had no problem setting up the network. I went to "System" --> "Preferences" and there you find "Network connections" and "Network proxy" and it worked beautifully. The only thing you have to work a little hard for is to get the Synaptic manager/apt-get to work through a proxy server.
. Later I figured out an easier way - I used Partionmagic to create the swap and the ext2fs partition and then install was pretty simple. But today, you just need to fill in some info and the installer does everything.
