I'm a Debian user and am considering switching to Ubuntu because of the somewhat simpler interface and the powerful Debian backend. I'm not interested in plumbing the depths of linux. I just want things to WORK! I do C++ programming, web development (which requires an installed apache / PHP / MySQL setup), internet, email, and writing on the system. I need Wacom graphics tablet support, Nvidia GForce4MX card drivers, and it has to work on a blah NForce2 board w/ AMD Athlon chip. I already have Debian installed but it has some funny quirks that bug me (mostly software bugs, not Debian's fault). But i'm also looking at repartitioning my hard drives which means i have to wipe them out and reinstall the base system anyway. I figured it might be a good time to jump for Ubuntu if it will make sysadmin easier. Any opinions?

Ubuntu works fine for me. I can't compare it with Desktop Debian since use Debian only on servers. Two remarks that come to mind:

1) Make sure you get the recently released ISO's, not the old one's. 6.06.1 is out with all patches to date applied.
2) The C/C++ development enviroment is NOT installed by default. Just apt-get build-essential

i say go for it. ubuntu 6.06 is the first linux distribution i've found worthy of replacing windows. i'm not sure about tablet support, but my geforce 6800gs/nforce4/athlon64 system works perfectly even before installation from the livecd. installing the nvidia drivers is as simple as "sudo apt-get install nvidia-glx", "sudo nvidia-xconfig", log out, ctrl+alt+backspace to restart x. i also managed to install and configure apache2 and vsftpd in only a few minutes with little previous experience. very worthy of both desktop and server.

Cool. Does Ubuntu have a net-installation like regular Debian?

there's no net install that i know of, but i haven't looked recently. i've only used the desktop install cd which is also a livecd. i kinda got a kick out of installing an os while listening to streaming radio stations on talking on aim/icq.

I use Ubuntu 5 for my desktop machine, and I actually use a chopped-down version of it for my development-, web-, and file-server. I've used straight Debian before, but found it difficult to find all the right options for a good desktop install; Ubuntu gives you an excellent desktop install right out of the box.

These days I use windows on my laptop for one reason alone; I can't find Linux drivers for the on-board wireless NIC it uses.

Quote: Original post by Wyrframe
I use Ubuntu 5 for my desktop machine, and I actually use a chopped-down version of it for my development-, web-, and file-server. I've used straight Debian before, but found it difficult to find all the right options for a good desktop install; Ubuntu gives you an excellent desktop install right out of the box.

Exactly. Debian is nice once it is setup correctly, but you have to go in and configure everything by hand first. You shouldn't have to go through "font de-uglyfication" steps before setting up a decent desktop, know what i mean?

I'll try to get ubuntu on my machine when i'm ready to re-partition my HD's. I'm also considering getting XP or Vista in the future so that i can do cross-platform programming and package distribution.

Quote: Original post by leiavoia
Debian is nice once it is setup correctly, but you have to go in and configure everything by hand first.

the only thing i had to configure manually was adding "1280x1024" to xorg.conf, but i've had to do that with every dist using this monitor. the default desktop install is good stuff.

I might recommend Xandros V4 instead: I installed it on my AMD64/GeForce 7600/nForce4 and it worked out of the box, no tweaks, no installation of drivers, 1280x1024 resolution. The Premium edition comes with a printed manual and development system on disk (the non-premium requires a one-click download).

I admit they pay me (not to plug the system, I'm just a developer), but I use the system because it doesn't require me to spend time installing drivers and tweaking the system so I can spend more time programming (and, um, surfing the internet amd playing games).

If you use Ubuntu, upgrade the kernel to the latest stable version available, using the Synaptics manager. Also pick the kernel that is right for your CPU (386 / K7) . There's really a speed improvement. ANd - I've read the .17 kernel that is planned for Edgy Eft is even faster (needs manual compiling however..tricky)..