Racked off with Vista and I dint want to spend loads on win7. I used to like ubuntu. Any other good GUI based Linux systems that you might recommend? I want it to just work not for me to spend a week wishing I could launch the laptop out the window.
Cheers.
QuoteI want it to just work not for me to spend a week wishing I could launch the laptop out the window.
If that's a priority, stick to Windows. Why not go back to XP?
There are so many to choose from, but I think Ubuntu or its cousin Kubuntu are good choices for someone not too familiar with using Linux on a desktop. Kubuntu uses KDE which is an easy to use desktop system. Slax is nice too. Jetboy, I've been using Linux as my primary for 10 years now and I find it much easier to use than anything from MS, I think its a matter of what's familiar, not what's simple.
Why not Apple?
QuoteI think its a matter of what's familiar
Agreed. And I think that unless Gimpy's already very comfortable with Linux, the learning curve is going to be a lot more hassle in the short-term than Windows is. IMHO, moving from Windows to Linux is something you do when you've got surplus time and patience. If I can't talk you out of it, Ubuntu all the way. There may be better distros out there, but its market share means there's a far better support group out there for Ubuntu.
I never used Vista extensively, but do have a Windows 7 machine and find it pretty good on the whole. Very intuitive. After a couple of hours or less there was no looking back.
Our IT guys rave about it as well.
Vista to win7 upgrade is about £80 and for once worth it. In fact £60 of that value comes from just getting the heap of crap that is Vista off your system. XP = OK, Vista = shit, Win7 Good.
I like Ubuntu, but unless it is something that you are particularly up for learning anyway you are going to waste more than a win7 upgrade fee getting to grips with things and find ways to work around stuff that isn't nix friendly.
Someone suggested Apple. As the upgrade fee was questionable I am guessing a new Mac isn't on the cards. You can run Mac OS on a PC, but it might turn out to be a bit of an adventure. License fee would be more than a Win7 updgrade as well.
They might not be the fun and sexy options, but I'd either go Win7 upgrade or go back to XP (home ed about £40)
If you are still thinking it over, take a look at 'Mint' - it is based on Ubuntu, but is a bit more 'Windows like'
I am on the verge of giving it another go as my main OS, using Virtualbox to run Windows 7.
(there is no real logic to me doing this BTW - just the same kind of suicidal 'urge to meddle' that had me pushing wires into plug sockets when I was 5)
Quote from: 4Eyes on January 20, 2011, 05:58:42 AM
If you are still thinking it over, take a look at 'Mint' - it is based on Ubuntu, but is a bit more 'Windows like'
I am on the verge of giving it another go as my main OS, using Virtualbox to run Windows 7.
(there is no real logic to me doing this BTW - just the same kind of suicidal 'urge to meddle' that had me pushing wires into plug sockets when I was 5)
Yeah I'm meddling too. Been playing with Mint on a LiveDVD and it looks worth installing. IMO it has a more usable interface than Ubuntu and more attractive GUI. Nothing wrong with Ubuntu either.
Much against my better judgement (as in "this is going to hurt in the short term"), I am part way through the transition back to Linux.
Mint installed fine - Virtualbox ditto - Windows 7 up and running too.
Looking pretty good so far.
To start with I will duplicate my old Windows setup in the VM, but will try to migrate as much as possible over to Linux.
One nice surprise, the new-to-me 'seamless' mode in Virtualbox - puts the windows menu bar above the linux menu bar (or even on a 2nd monitor) and lets you run the windows stuff almost as if it was Linux - ie the windows share the same workspace.
Downside:
* Running Windows 7 in a virtual machine loses some speed, hardly noticeable in most applications, and a fair amount of graphics processing speed (but then I don't play games anyway).
* More learning needed (OK - I admit, thats part of the fun as well)
Upside:
* All the advantages of Linux :) Mint is very nice - it is basically Ubuntu with all the bells and whistles that are not pure OpenSource rolled in - it also has a more Windows-like interface by default.
* The Windows VM is now in a dynamically expandable virtual disk - it can be cloned and run on any Virtualbox installation on any PC or Mac - which is interesting.
As I said, I have been down this route before (2 years ago) and there were too many irritating niggles, so I switched back to Windows.
Its still too early to say if it will 'stick'; this time. but I haven't hit any of those niggles yet.
You will all be the first to know when/if I do.
Progress report:
Installed "Mint" Ok - Loving it so far - no driver issues at all - really has improved a lot in the last year or so
Installed Virtualbox 4 with Windows 7 and Windows XP Virtual Machines - all working just fine too.
It seems that the Linux windows emulator 'Wine' has improved a fair bit too - got some of my essential windows stuff running Ok with that.
Genuinely think I might stick with it this time.
I'm not doing anything sophisticated like 4Eyes, but I have Ubuntu installed on a new 15" laptop and quite like it. I do think Mint has a slight advantage in not being quite so bound to open source. For instance you get a bigger selection of games with Mint right out of the box. That and Mint being slightly more user friendly. If you are moving from Win to Linux I think Mint will be more what you are used to. Mint lets you chose to have the window (Close, Minimize, Full Screen) on the right (like Windows) or left like Mac whereas Ubuntu you have to change the whole desktop theme.
Coming from a mostly Mac world, it is nice to have all sorts of FREE software ready to download. But it really is the switch to cloud computing that makes me able to have linux, OS X, iPhone and iPad share things like calendar appts. and email across devices. Using Apple's Mobile.me service ($99 a year) let me do it so long as I stayed locked into the Apple proprietary orbit. I'm getting tired of both Apple and Microsoft trying to lock me into their walled gardens which is why I'm trying linux again. However the down side is with a Mac software it just works - now I have to get used to figuring out things again. ;)
If I buy another linux laptop (smaller, lighter, more portable) it will have Mint on it.
Brad - what I am doing is really pretty simple - not that sophisticated at all really.
Just install Virtualbox (free) and you can run install and run any version of Windows within it (or for that matter, different flavours of Lunix).
I have to say, this latest version of Mint is exceptionally easy to install - it worked 100% our of the box for me - as has every bit of software I have installed so far.
>different flavours of Lunix
Thanks for that info. I didn't know that, I might just try it.
I'm liking Gwibber the default social networking client, I use it for Twitter which has in many ways replaced my RSS reader as a source of news.
I found out that Adobe Air will run on Linux so you can run things like Tweetdeck and other software that runs on Air, but the instructions are command line so I haven't tried that.
Thanks for the updates on Mint 4Eyes. You've piqued my interest and I might play around with it if I have some spare time. My question was the type of hardware you're using this on. I have a slew of laptops, desktops and netbooks to choose from...and I'm wondering which one to sacrifice.
I am running it on a fairly powerful (albeit 2 year old+) workstation with plenty of memory..but....
I also had it running on a low grade old pentium that I reclaimed when the main office were sending it to the skip.
On the older machine I can't easily run Virtualbox, as it hasn't enough memory to share between two O/S running at once, but apart from that it runs better and faster than the Windows XP that was previously on that PC.
Codeweavers makes WINE available for the masses:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/01/29/codeweavers_impersonator/?
Haven't tried it. Note there is a Mac OS X version available in addition to Linux.
A further update.
Still loving it - there will be no going back now I think.
Windows is running fine in Virtual Box - but I am finding less and less reason to use it. It helps that much of what I do is now done "up on t'cloud" including a Windows VPS running some of the more processor and connection hogging spam promotion tools (you can guess which). I have a few key tools (like Domain Punch Pro) running under Wine, and the rest is in the VirtualBox Windows setup.
I thought Windows7 was pretty good - no real problems with it all - but by comparison Linux really flies on my PC now, and, IMO Mint has an even more intuitive interface than Windows. Sure, I knew a little bit about linux before I switched - but not that much really - just enough to poke about and screw things up pretty well.
Worth every penny I paid for it ;)
If you are thinking of jumping in, it is worth installing Mint in a Windows Virtualbox and having a play with the interface etc.
After using Linux for a whole you don't really need windows for much. I keep a windows box for running the the PPC desktop applications, I am sure there are a few Windows only SEO tools out there, but for the bulk of the day-to-day operations a typical computer does there really isn't a need to switch.
In case you are still poised for action, check out Zorin (http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=zorin)
It is based on Ubuntu, has a load of extras already installed, and is tailored to look and behave like Windows - even lets you chose which flavour of Windows.
Not tried it yet - might have a go with the live CD on one of my laptops over weekend.
I've run Adobe Air in Linux for various applications, including the now defunct Yahoo PPC desktop application. It seems to work fine, though a bit slow.
How is multi monitor support in linux?
I've never actually set it up, but last I looked it was a bit of a chore.
QuoteHow is multi monitor support in linux?
Its a doddle in 'Mint' - so perhaps also in Ubuntu - it was at least as easy as Windows for my setup.
Prior to converting my wife's work PC to linux, I spent the weekend downloading various different flavours of linux, and installing them on an old Toshiba U110 Laptop (512m memory) - just wanted to check what was out there in case I was missing something.
Most interesting one I found was 'Bodhilinux' (http://bodhilinux.com) - based on Ubuntu and 'Enlightenment' DE.
32 bit only though, and a little 'new', but very nice. I may end up installing it on my own laptop - but using Enlightenment would be to much of a re-adjustment for someone new to linux I think.
Overall though, most were quite disappointing - they all worked, and worked fast enough, but all still had some usability issues for someone coming straight from windows and expecting it be similar.
Zorin was closest to 'OK' but looked 'tacky' - default icons and graphics poor. It didn't inspire enough confidence to persuade me to dig any deeper.
So, I will be installing Linux Mint again - which, IMO, is FAR better for ex-Windows users than any of the others I tested.
So I loaded Mint yesterday, pretty slick. First real install of linux outside of boot disks and the ps3. Out of the box 2 of my 5 monitors worked. If I can get all five working (about to try my hand at the xorg file) then I may use it a bit.
Fingers crossed it works - if it does, you won't look back.
I have my wife using Mint now on the work PC - she is perfectly happy with it - and she is not exactly PC savvy
Yeah, getting it set up is the royal PITA. With the work required to get this working I can see why Linux won't become mainstream any time soon.
Ah well, construction going on at the house today anyway so good time to goof around with something like this.
Wow Linux is definitely a different world.
Finally got the monitors working, but it's buggy with all 5. If I drop down to 4 it seems to work fine. (Main problem with 5 is I can't cross all borders between monitors with the cursor.)
It's a bit different from windows in that each monitor has its own bar and you can't drag windows from one monitor to the other. You have to launch whatever you want from the bar on the monitor where you want to see it. Not a big deal really, but will take some getting used to.
Now it's time for some virtual box. Hoping I can image my current vista install and run it there. That would be too easy, so I doubt it.
Man does this machine fly on this OS.
QuoteIt's a bit different from windows in that each monitor has its own bar and you can't drag windows from one monitor to the other.
I can do that just fine Ken.
Not sure why you can't - I am only using two monitors, but I have a setup not much different from my old Windows setup.
I seem to recall that the default setting makes a window 'resist' if you just move it across, and that you have to move it down and across (kind of a 'slot' mid screen that lets you move it across). I assume this is a 'feature' of sorts, and that I somehow disabled it.
Yeah, that's how it was when I first installed, but that's just with two monitors. I could probably make it work that way if all the monitors were the same size/resolution as it effectively is just one big desktop.
When you get to 3+, it doesn't work like that. It took me a while to get it working at all, but mostly because I don't know what I'm doing.
ahh, gotya... never tried more than two.
Well, that was a fun excursion. Unfortunately at this time, linux is not for me. Or at least not for my main rig, I should say. I could say it's due to multiple monitors not being fully baked yet, and not being able to simply install a driver to get say, a printer working (probably due to my hardware/distro specifics) but in reality I'm just a winders disciple at heart.
Great OS though and I'm keeping it around, I just can't switch over for all the heavy lifting.
I'd try a mac OS too just for the helluvit, but I saw what that did to nffc. Damn I miss the ole boy.
It'll get you eventually :)