There are now two main versions of Linux that are used in subnotebooks, which are SuSE Linux and Linux Xandros. For anyone who wants to install them, there are already recipes on the Internet to help you with installing alternate versions of Linux on subnotebooks. The real challenge for many users is how to cope with the switch from Windows XP or Vista to Linux. You will discover that there is a learning curve, and Ubuntu may have found the first answer to that learning curve.
Ubuntu is already one of the best Linux operating systems for Windows users to start converting to Linux. To be clear, this netbook remix is designed to be supplied to computer manufacturers to install on their new Linux subnotebooks. It is not a new operating system. It’s called netbook remix, to make the best use of the smaller netbook screen and also to introduce new users to the differences between Windows and Linux. The Ubuntu operating system has a reputation that when you use it, “the programs just work.”
What will the average user see of a computer that is different?
You will notice different programs. Firefox is the main web browser. Firefox 3 has already been considered to be much faster and more secure than Internet Explorer. OpenOffice is the standard office suite, but it does not include a mail server. The mail server in Ubuntu is Evolution. More familiar may be the Skype program that allows text messages as well as telephone calls over the Internet to PCs and home phones. There is a new Internet Messenger called Pigeon. Image editing is done by Gimp and photos are managed by F-spot. Rather than having to search for all of these in Ubuntu netbook remix, they are presented on the initial screen when you log in.
When you shut down the computer or log out, there is a button on the screen towards the bottom right of the screen. You will see that this is different than the standard Ubuntu logout found in the upper right next to the date and time. This may put off some people who are already using Ubuntu on their normal machine.
Various pieces of information can be seen at the top of the page, including the date and time, the status of any network connection, and whether Skype is connected. It’s different and it will take a little time to work through the options on the screen before you know what it all means.
All in all, this should be welcome to introduce new users to the world of Ubuntu Linux.
