Ubuntu blues

[Peter Damoc]

Last night I finished installing Ubuntu on my bro's PC, it took me 4 hours but around midnight it was done.

First, the system is a K6 500 MHz with 192 Mb RAM and a 4.3 Gb HDD

Thoughts:
1. GNOME could be an overkill;  and after I managed to start GNOME it felt like a virus infected install of windows, the cursor moved in slow motion, the programs allowed me to go get refreshments in the time they took to start. What gives? I think Ubuntu should provide a light alternative for older system. Pick one (I vote for ROX) and make it integrate with the rest of ubuntu.

2. I had a problem with the install probably due to a faulty CD-ROM drive (the computer IS old). The first time I tried installing Ubuntu (some time ago) it failed trying to read some package. I thought that this was due to writing the CD at a high speed so yesterday I wrote it at 8x and... it still failed. I managed to somehow get something installed (via an expert install) and discovered that openoffice and xfonts had problems (the later meant no X). I tried copying them from the CD to the /var/cache and.... later
sudo apt-get -f install
fixed the whole thing. What I suggest is this: make the install a 2 step install. In the first step install a minimal system and by minimal I mean as little as possible, then boot into that system and install the rest. If phase 2 fails.... make it so that the user can get a second try... I mean maybe another CD (burned at lower speed) :) or maybe some are lucky and can get the internet connection running.

3.My bro is 8. The first thing he asked me was "where are the games"? He was very disappointed when I told him that he couldn't use the CDs with games from other kids but got over that when I showed him that there are some games. My sister is a little bit older and she too was very upset with me when I told her that her MP3 CDs don't work BUT she to got over when I promised that I'll fix that and when I introduced her to The Gimp as a replacement for Paint ;)

So... Why not a Ubuntu-Kid version? I'm sure you can find some apps to replace on the CD... what could you use as replacement? well maybe something like:
http://childsplay.sourceforge.net/
or
http://gcompris.free.fr/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=2
or a bunch of stuff from
http://www.pygame.org/
or, why not:
http://gvr.sourceforge.net/

a few Mb of stuff that would make all the difference to a kid. Shouldn't Ubuntu care for the younger generation? Shouldn't they start to learn about computers in a free environment?

I know there are distributions that are more friendly to older systems or that have more games BUT why not Ubuntu? I know it takes some effort but... there are a lot of people who wanna help. Place a bounty, ask the developers... I won't be surprised if you get help from the developers of certain programs for free just because you, as an important entity (Canonical) asked. For many if might be something to write on an CV ..."I've worked with Canonical LTD on the integration of FooBarXtreme with Ubuntu Linux".

I like Ubuntu... I like it a lot... why? well is not because is Debian based or because it has the latest Gnome... The main reason for me is the fact that I see in Ubuntu a leader... a guiding light, a entity that could provide some unity in OSS world and maybe a little more focus.

-- 
Peter Damoc
jack of all trades, master of none
http://www.sigmacore.net/