Duck Duck Go etc

[JustSayNoToStatism]

I started this topic after I read helio's comment in another thread:

I stopped using google and bing in favor of Duck Duck Go (till that engine's proprietors become evil at least).

For those that have switched over, how easy was it? Do you still get good results searching? I pride myself on having gotten really good at doing web searches. Is that a skill I'm going to have to throw away for an inferior engine??
The comments that the head of google made (according to the recent article on the homepage) are shocking and frightening. I couldn't bear to support them ever again, but I also like the internet... 

I'm thinking of also switching to Firefox for a browser and eventually converting to some form of Linux for an operating system. Of course I do think Linux will be the most challenging.

[helio]

I quit using google when their CEO spouted some nonsense about global government and how the president would be better off without congress.  I used Bing till today, for lack of a better alternative.
I now use Duck Duck Go.


It was easy as pie, set default search provider to DDG =).

I hate to admit but Chrome is my fav browser, but only because I've had better HTML5 results with it.

I am SO HOT for HTML5, CSS 3 and SVG.  I like gettin my Nurd On.

I'll prob use IE 9 when it comes out only because Pre-Compiled Javascript is the freakin bomb Imho, not to mention built in Directo2d support with multithreading.  Running IE 9 beta now but its kinda buggy.

[Seth King]

I find Duck Duck Go's results to be adequate. You might have to scroll a little further but it's a small price to pay for a non-evil search engine.

Definitely go to Firefox. There is no excuse not to. I never have any problems with Firefox at all.

Linux used to be a lot less user-friendly than it currently is. Now it is probably at least as user-friendly as windows, a lot less buggy, easy to learn, and clearly the anarchist's OS. Go to Ubuntu.com and get Ubuntu 10.10. You'll be glad you did.

[JustSayNoToStatism]

Seth, when you say easy to use, what type of computer experience is behind that opinion?

I ask because when I read an article about Linux, they talked about having to set up multiple user accounts, and only one of them should be used to do different things, and learning how to open programs by using essentially a "run" box all the time, just like in the old days (which I don't know how to do). It seemed like it would be entirely different from using a regular OS, and a big commitment to really get it down. Is Ubuntu just a user-friendly type? In all honesty, is it like learning how to use a computer all over again? I just want to figure out when I should do this, because I might need a lot of time to get it down....

[Seth King]

I can't speak for recent older versions of Linux, but I can tell you right now that Ubuntu 10.10 is way easy, and I'm not the most computer savvy guy out there. I had the exact same fears you do now. There is only a SLIGHT learning curve. I feel very confident you'll have no problem getting it down in no time. There is also an online documentation section to baby step walk you through learning.

Seriously, go here: http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download

and follow the directions. You don't even have to delete Windows. When asked whether you want to install set up a partition and split the hard drive into two operating systems. Don't worry, it's easy. It does it for you. Before you do that just do one thing. Find out how big your hard drive is and how much is currently being used by Windows. Example:

Let's say your hard drive is 170 GB and you are currently using 90GB, when you make your partition, give the Windows partition 100GB and Linux 70GB. I know this sounds difficult, but it's not. It does it all for you. Just follow the directions as you go. You'll be shocked how easy it is and you'll wish you had done it earlier. The nice thing about the partition is that you'll have both Windows AND Linux at your disposal.

[JustSayNoToStatism]

Thanks for the advice. I'll definitely do dual boot first and play around with it before commiting the whole computer to it. I'm beginning to think security is a huge deal, and abandoning Google, IE, Windows, etc is a good place to start. Next thing you know i'll be encrypting PMs on this site. 

[Seth King]

Ubuntu 10.10 is easy right out of the box, but I've been reading through the Documentation anyways just to get a better feel for it. Dude, I keep getting more and more amazed at how I didn't make the switch a long time ago. Take for example what I am doing at this very moment as I type.

Setup: I have an older version iPod which has a lot of music on it that I got from all over the place. Most of the albums I have on my iPod I do not have on my own computer. iTunes doesn't let me take music from my iPod and put it on my computer. However, the free software music player that comes with Ubuntu does. Right now I am transferring all of my music to my computer. This is brilliant. Everything Windows has can be found for free, open-source, easy to install on Ubuntu. Windows is going down my friend. You're going to love it.

[xphoenix]

I've been using Linux since 2001 so I might be a little biased, but I don't think you'll have any problems with Ubuntu 10.10 unless there is some specialized piece of software that you're using on Windows now.  If your main use for the compute is web browsing and typing documents and email, I think you will be fine.  Ubuntu is mostly like Windows and you can even boot the disk and try it out before you decide to install it.  If you like Chrome, you can install Chromium on Linux.  It is basically the same thing as Chrome, but it* supposedly* does not include any of the usage-tracking "features".

Good luck!

[JustSayNoToStatism]

If you like Chrome, you can install Chromium on Linux.  It is basically the same thing as Chrome, but it* supposedly* does not include any of the usage-tracking "features".

Yeah I'll never trust a company led by a sick bastard who says something to the effect of needing to track everyone because governments will demand it. He can go to hell and take the company with him. I'm not using anything from them anymore, and that's a sacrifice because their search engine is great. Haha, there's no way there browser is safe. People who crave power like that just can't be trusted.

@ xphoenix:

Is it common for programs to not be compatible? For example, today I had to work during the football game, so I downloaded a "streaming downloader" so I could record the game online and watch it later. Are things in this range of specialization likely to be out of reach, or will it just require finding new software providers?

[ransom147]

if i add another partition to my HDD and install ubuntu, will i be able to access my same (data) files while running the new OS? or will the new OS not read them? i have 300 gigs free on my drive, how much should i allocate to the OS? 

[Seth King]

So far I've found that my word documents, excel spreadsheets, music files etc. transfer seamlessly. If you're currently only running Windows, I would split the hard drive down the middle, 50/50. So, I don't know how big your hard drive is. Let's say it's 500GB. Split it 250/250. That's my suggestion. Actually, if I could do it over again I wouldn't have given Windows any more space for growth. For example, I think I gave Windows 10 GB more to grow just in case I wanted to continue using Windows. But since I've transferred all of my music over to Linux, I can delete those files on Windows and free up a bunch of space.

[helio]

I don't use Chrome, but rather found it performs better.  I use a mix of IE/safari/and firefox because I'm a web developer and have to constantly test my code against all three.  So, when browsing personally, it depends which browser i have open at the time as it can be any of those 3.

I'm just pissed that chrome has the best html5 results so far... this is bound to change though.

[xphoenix]

@JustSayNoToStatism:
I've found that there are usually comparable software packages out there for situations like the one you described for the streaming downloader - not sure about that specific instance though.  There is a software package called  "wine" that is supposed to allow you to run Windows programs (basically anything that ends with ".exe") under Linux, but my experience has shown that it's not the most reliable. 

If anyone has/is thinking about splitting your drive 50/50 or some other split, you should be able to locate your data files (i.e. documents, pdfs, MP3s, etc.) on the Windows drive and be able to access them from the Linux drive.  This is because Linux can "see" Windows, but the reverse may not be true.  Any changes you make while in Linux will be available if you reboot in Windows and vice versa.  This saves you from having everything stored in both OS's.

Finally, it's also really convenient to install Windows in a "virtual machine" inside of Linux.  Do a search for VirtualBox and you'll see what I mean.

[JustSayNoToStatism]

Yeah, it's been a few days since I logged into the ubuntu portion of the machine. I can't figure out how to access the program I downloaded online, and figuring it out kind of sucks. Using the internet is very easy, and very smooth. I kind of need to learn a little bit of computer language before continuing.

[Seth King]

Justsayno, you really have to read the documentation part. Take it from me, start at the beginning and thoroughly work your way to the end. It will explain things really easily. Ubuntu is brilliant, but it doesn't operate like Windows, It operates BETTER. But if you don't know how to use it then you're simply missing out. For example, the vast majority of the time when you download programs you don't go onto a browser and download from the site and then install. It doesn't work that way. The way you do it is to go to Applications -> Ubuntu Software Center. You will see categories for "Get Software" and "Install Software." In the "Get Software" section you will see a windows to search for programs. That is where you search for the program you want. Then click on and and hit install.

Try this one to see what I mean. Go to Applications -> Ubuntu Software Center. Then search "GPA." Look for the GNU Privacy Assistant. Click on it. Then click Install. Boom! You've just installed a kickass free encryption program and it works great! Way better than on Windows. Follow the instructions and you'll be set up for encryption. One hint, when given a choice which key you want go with "RSA 3072."

After you've done that, go back to Ubuntu Software Center and search for the program you were trying to install earlier. Find it, and install it.

But seriously, go here https://help.ubuntu.com/10.10/index.html and start reading. Don't let your initial impression ruin Ubuntu for you. That would be a major mistake.