I have Ubuntu (64 bit) running on 2 laptops since version 9.10.
One is a Dell D630 (T7100 duo CPU 1.8 GHz) with 4 GB of RAM, Intel 965GM graphics, the other is a Macbook (T7200 duo CPU 2.0 GHz) with 1 GB of RAM and Intel 950 grapics, used by my wife.
There always have been a slight difference in performance between the 2, the Dell being faster in booting, starting apps etc., and I think the difference in RAM size being the case.
We never missed an upgrade and never had a problem, so our trust in Ubuntu is (was??) 100%.
Untill the upgrade to 11.10. Upgrading the Dell caused major problems with installing graphics. It would boot into the login screen, accept login and then give me a dead screen, only the background, no Unity. Thankfully I could start a terminal window and after trying all sorts of solutions I finally solved the issue by adding "http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates/ubuntu oneiric main" to my repositories. I then still had a Unity problem and that turned out to be related to an active Desktop cube in Compiz. That worked fine in 11.04 but gives a major problem in 11.10.
It took me 3 days to get to this point. Everything works again, however: it takes longer to boot and is definitely slower.
With the DELL experience I started on the Macbook. Installed x-swat/x-updates in the repositories beforehand. Modified the Compiz settings and started the upgrade. It was only slightly better. OK, Unity showed immidiately after the upgrade and I had a stable system, however the Intell 950 Graphics are not properly recognized untill today and the system is AWFULLY SLOW. The Dell is perhaps 10% slower, the Macbook is approx 50% slower. Once an app has started you don't see that much difference, however starting an app can take minutes. Hitting the super button to get into the Dash can easily take 90 seconds which is UNACCEPTABLE. Starting an extra tab in Chrome takes 20 sec's.
The weird part is that it is very unpredictable what it will do. One time it starts Chrome in a blink, next time it takes 20 sec's.
Also PowerSave settings act weird (on the Macbook). After longer absence sometimes the screen comes back with the loginscreen on touching mouse or spacebar, next time it is completely dead and needs a restart.
During analysis I found also an issue with systeminfo. The graphs show only 60 % usage of the (1GB) memory, the "free" command gives a 96% memory usage immidiately after startup/login. The latter value explains why the performance is bad so I looked at the swap partition. I enlarged it from 1.5GB to 5 Gb but its usage remains marginal and I don see a real performance improvement. I guess I have to install more physical RAM to get this thing going again.
What happened to the Ubuntu one could install on the oldest hardware where even XP would not run anymore?? I don't dare to advise my friends to install Ubuntu on their old laptop anymore!!
I hope the emphasis for 12.04 is on performance and not on more features. If I have to buy new hardware to support the latest Ubuntu release I guess I turn back to Microsoft. Afterall Win8 is included in the new hardware and saves me a lot of trouble and time.
Well, let's see....
1. Even though I ALWAYS used the "Classic Desktop" in 11.04, the 11.10 "upgrade" made Unity the default, with no way to (easily) switch back to "Classic".
2-A. I had removed the system and application panels in favor of using AWN. The "upgrade" restored both panels AND apparently locked them so they cannot even be moved.
2-B. The forced usage of Unity screwed something up in AWN so that instead of a nice 3D panel, AWN now has a ugly-assd 2D white panel.
ALL of my customizations were lost during the "upgrade". All of them.
I was considering reinstalling 11.04, but I've decided to hell with Ubuntu, I'll use something else.
- Visitor 17 weeks 1 day agoI am new to Linux and not all *that* technically savvy so bear with me.
Perhaps cutting to the chase - should Ubuntu 11.10 run well on an HP Pavillion 515n with the following specifications taken from the 'system info':
Intel Celeron CPU 230 GHZ
Graphics : Unknown (?)
OS Type: 32 bit
Disk: 78.3GB
Initially I installed Ubuntu 11.10 on this machine alongside Windows XP Home Edition, which was having performance issues of its own. After completing the Ubuntu installation I found the system to be "sluggish" (which I appreciate is a subjective term but, for example, windows were taking 10 - 20 seconds to open, applications much longer).
I then did a complete install of Ubuntu 10.04, (intentionally) removing 11.10 and Windows in the process. That resulted in a much livelier and responsive system, but the Tenda Wireless USB adapter was not being recognized/working/what have you. I searched around the web and tried some of the suggestions without success.
So, thinking perhaps the initial 11.10 installation was suffering having been installed alongside XP, I went ahead and reinstalled that over 10.04. This immediately recognizes the USB adapter and allows me to connect to the internet, but I am still experiencing the same lack of response/sluggishness. I also installed, or think I installed, the Nvidia 275.09.07 Driver per the instructions posted here: http://tinyurl.com/3wpx2tk.
Before I go back and reinstall 10.04 over everything and invest in a new Wireless USB I was wondering about the feasibility / advisability of running 11.10 on this system, and if there were any suggestions for doing so, efficiently.
I have seen various posts on the net describing both a sluggish and wonderful experiences. I would like to get myself into that latter camp.
Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions.
- GFP63 17 weeks 4 days agoInstall went wrong for me.
- Visitor 17 weeks 6 days agoMy drive has 2 partitions, XP on the main partition 127GB, and an unallocated 105GB partition.
I installed Ubuntu 11.10 along side XP.
It installed on the 2nd partition as expected.
On rebooting the computer, I only get an error message 'out of disk'.
Thats it. I can't boot anything now and I am now trying to figure out how to fix the problem.