h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Ah...those moments when one remembers how good Ubuntu is (and how crap Windows is).

So. It's Sunday evening and my daughter is trying to print out her project, at the last minute as usual. We;d not used the priner for a while because I hadn't bothered buying any ink...and somehow the printer management sofware had got corrupted. (Don't ask why. I still haven't figured it out.)

So I start downloading the software (1/2 hour!!!) - and then I realise I'll need a USB cable - which I haven't got - and a lot of fiddling.

I'm getting tired and frustrated now.

So I reboot into Ubuntu. Open the project. Print.

'What kind of printer do you have?' asks Ubuntu. 'Ah, I see. I'll go and get the software.'

Bingo.

Sorry shouldn't laugh!

I see Ubuntu is living up to it's motto of "Linux for humans" for you The whole "Ah, I'll go fetch it for you" is brilliant, I guess it works so well cos all of the software is in one place.

I guess you got lucky though as some printers don't work at all with Linux. One of the ones we have does, the other doesn't! Which I found by doing the same thing as your daughter. Essay being printed of about 10 o'clock at night

Ubuntu (well mint but it's v. similar to Ubuntu) installs fine on my computer and then won't boot which is a pain as I wanted to try some programs on it.

Windows has wound me up recently but I shan't bore you with the details, suffice to say I've really wished I could strangle microsoft.

How many computers do you have Ubuntu running on then?

Yeah - I've seen the sites that list the Lx compatible printers. In fact...I deliberately chose an HP on that basis. Previously I've had to ditch an Epson.

I only have it one one machine. I can't install it on my work laptop - and I've met some resistance at suggestions to install the Netbook Remix elsewhere.

I was met with resistance when I suggested Ubuntu for the downstairs computer. Can't think why!

I think the one that does work is a Canon, can't remember the make of the other one, not even sure if we still have it.

Did your netbook come with UNR installed? I seem to remember you asking about it a while ago but I can't remember that far back.

Nah - we've got two Windows netbooks.

Ot the moment I'm trying to get to grips with Open Office. I'm a bit of a whizz at Word and Powerpoint, but there are some simpe things that I'm just not finding as obvious as they should be. Ah well. RTFM.

And as you can see above, I'm also trying to get to grips with the combination of a netbook-sized keyboard and fat fingers.

I had a keyboard slightly smaller than a normal one and hated it, can't imagine how I would do with a netbook!

The OOO version of power point confused me as to write text you have to select the "T" button in the bottom corner. Why put something that useful in the bottom, out of the way?