Ubuntu System on Laptop?? Opinions??

[laurafergie]

There is a good deal on a Dell Laptop HERE, for $349. But it has Ubuntu rather than Windows. I need to buy 2 laptops for DDs that are going to college, and I have no money. So this Dell looks good to me, other than the Ubuntu system.

Both DDs are very literate on the computer and have used both Windows and Mac.

Need opinions and reviews please. Like what about Microsoft Office? can you still use that?

 

[wovenwonder]

We have Ubuntu on our Dell mini 9 and find it works just fine. It is a little different than windows but I manage to use it fine for net surfing.

 

[safetymom]

If they are going to use it for school I would get it with Windows. If they have to install a program not many are written for Ubuntu.

 

[moniot]

My mom and dad have that and they love it. The few times I used it I like it. The tech guy who set them up told them that the program comes preloaded with everything that you might need.

 

[Jachred]

There is a good deal on a Dell Laptop HERE, for $349. But it has Ubuntu rather than Windows. I need to buy 2 laptops for DDs that are going to college, and I have no money. So this Dell looks good to me, other than the Ubuntu system.

Both DDs are very literate on the computer and have used both Windows and Mac.

Need opinions and reviews please. Like what about Microsoft Office? can you still use that?

HERE

Same Computer, Same price, Free Windows .. Add office student for 150 more.

Openoffice.org is great for free office for Ubuntu, but MS Office only works on MS Windows. I use Ubuntu personally because of some of the programs available for it rather than windows, but none of them are used for school. The best part about OpenSource is it is free. Bad part about it, you get what you pay for.

PS OpenOffice is available for windows as well.

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

There is a detailed how to install Windows Office on Ubuntu Linux here: http://onlyubuntu.blogspot.com/2009/04/how-to-install-microsoft-office-2007-on.html Is sounds pretty straight forward, but not necessarily simple.

I own the Dell Mini, a friend owns the Acer Aspire mini from Wal-mart. Honestly I like the acer better. The keyboard is more like a standard keyboard. (The dell one is awkward. The " and ' key are very out of place on the Dell.)
Also- the dell does not have a built in hard drive, and I am getting frequent "out of memory" messages.

I can honestly recommend the Acer Aspire from Wal-mart as the better of the two computers, and with a price range of $249 to $315 you will save a bit over the less versatile Dell.

Yours sincerely-
Disappointed Dell Mini Owner
AKA Sheli

 

[Green Tea]

The kids can buy an education copy of Office from their college bookstore for about $25.

 

[jsmith]

I would not purchase a computer with Ubuntu on it for college students for a couple of reasons-and im a linux lover.
Firstly any programs that they do use that would require a linux platform are more likely to run on Red hat or Fedora core-secondly they may have trouble with connecting to a university network because Ubuntu will not meet the the system requirements for anti virus and security required by the windows world-and the fact that it doesnt because it doesn NEED to will escape a lot of network admins trained by microsoft.

 

[laurafergie]

Thank you everyone for the opinions on Ubuntu for college students. That is exactly what I wanted to know. Doesn't sound like the direction we want to go.

And thank you Jachred for the link - am looking at it now.

I have learned so much on the Dis. It rocks!

 

[hrddrv]

As a computer tech at a high school and used to be one for a college, I do not recommend ubuntu unless they are computer savy. I use it at home full time and at work some times. Your biggest issue was stated before, having to install software for a class that will not work on thier computer. And most of the University Techs are not going to work on a personal laptop. If you would like to try it out you can download it for free and try it using the live cd. If you have time to wait you can also order the CD for free and then try it.