Linux Desktop Users

[argentic]

I use both Mandriva Powerpack and Ubuntu 8.10. Two years ago Mandriva was a lot better than Ubuntu. But now I will probably install Ubuntu everywhere soon, because it has all of the Mandriva features and then some. I guess that's because the Ubuntu community is so much larger. Development and updates are quicker and very reliable. Where Ubuntu was a "beginners-distribution" some years ago, it has now become a fullblown very stable production distribution. The only problem with Ubuntu is that you absolutely need an internet connection to install all the packages you need, whereas Mandriva Powerpack comes with an enormous collection of packages readily available on the DVD.

 

[Prest_400]

Hey there.
It's been just a week since I installed ubuntu 9.04 on a second partition. I'm slowly getting used to it, and transferring some data from windows to Ubuntu. I'm still using much more XP than linux, but I think that my next computer will be 100% linux. Specially music and firefox data. Since my firefox in ubuntu has nothing, I end bored. But in XP, I have every page I've browsed since november, so I have lots of stuff to look at. One of these days I'll have to do a data transfer; In a week maybe, the next week will be busy for me.

Edit: I've transferred all my profile info. from windows to ubuntu, so now I don't get so much bored. THe dusty theme with an Ansel adams photo (The tetons and snake river) as background is great. The dark brown theme is great for APUG, it makes it a nicer place.

 

[No Digital]

Hi all, linux users!
I found Dead Link Removed an interesting news: google chromium beta for linux.
Read also HERE for detailed instructions (ubuntu / debian users).
Maybe it's the time I try it...

 

[kurtdriver]

I was exposed to linux in a class back in 1998, installed a dual boot that autumn, and formatted the windows partition in Jan 1999. I sometimes play with other distros but stick with Fedora (10) and gnome. Xfce is nice as well. I don't use digital anything, so I can't comment on software issues.

 

[steelneck]

Just saying hello since i just joined this group, i am a fresh member on apug.

I use Slackware since what feels like forever.. well, since 8.2, that is 2002. Before that i used Mandrake for a year or so. I have about 10 years of Linux-experience (windows where completely out 2003).

 

[phenix]

Just want to say hello. I never used Linux, but I will soon, as I started to increasingly and irrevocably hate the way Windows evolves. The point of no return is very close. Mac-OS, on the other hand, is not an option either, since I recently experienced the installation procedure of an iPod, and was raged at the point I was close to destroy it physically, when I got a better idea and, after calming down, brought it back to the store and got my money back. Now, I will try first an older Linux on one of my old laptops, see what it gives. I’m looking for the moment, for something equivalent in exploitation to W95/98. Something simple, clean and friendly, if such exists. I would gladly take your recommendations for a PII-300, 64Mb, 3.6Gb (really old, but worth for try and learn).
Thanks.

 

[steelneck]

@phenix: Do not use "an older Linux", developers do not update their programs without a reason, it could be anything from security updates to normal bugs, new features or hardware drivers. I suggest that you read around at www.distrowatch.org, there you will find loads of info about more than 100 different distributions.

If you try one of big, Ubuntu, Fedora, Mandriva or SuSe, you will get a highly automated dist that is very easy to install, and i mean very easy if you do not have any exotic hardware. But for a nerd like me, those distributions are not simple, clean and friendly, but for the newbie they are. If you want to get your hands dirty, do everything manually, editing every option there is your self and really learn the unix-way, i would suggest Slackware or one of those sourcecode distrubutions like Gentoo, those dists are KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) simple in the same way as a large format camera. But the learning curve will be _very_ steep for a newbie, though Gentoo have a very good community and a lot of howtos and documentation.

For your old box a standard installation of one of those big distributions, will be to much. Way to heavy in graphics. But any one of them can be set up much lighter than standard. Linux is just a kernel, a quite small program, Linux itself do not require much, but you cannot use Linux by itself. For the graphics, all distributions use the X-window system (Mac-OS also), then on top of X you have either a desktop environment (for modern computers) or you can settle on a much lighter window manager. I would recommend IceWm that is quite like W-95, IceWm can be used on an old 100mhz i486. Ubuntu has also a version that is called Xubuntu, that one is much more suitable for older computers, and Ubuntu has the largest community to get help from. Just fool around for a while, and do not mix up hard-to-use with lack of knowledge, things are very different "under the hood" in a linux-system compared to windows. Remember that linux can be used in any machine from a wrist-watch to a mainframe super-computer cluster, that is one reason behind a lot systemdesign, it is very adaptable. Anything you want to change, is possible to change, everything is open to those willing to learn and take control, everything.

So, welcome young Skywalker, may the force be with you.

 

[phenix]

Thank you very much steelneck, I will follow the paths you suggested. But first I just would like to taste a little bit of a small Linux running from a USB drive – I just downloaded today DSL, Puppy and Slax, and will try them soon. Want to get first the simplest idea of what it is. I never did see a computer running Linux, nor could I persuade any of my friends to try one on their older computers, so I just have to start from the scratch. And I’m not a programmer, nor a computer fan – I can understand them very well, but don’t like this job.
Well, after this first step, I hope I will be ready to install on the hard drive one of the distros you suggested. Thanks again.

Added the next day (Nov. 30, or Dec. 1st being after midnight):
Two DSL cracked my W98 before completely installing, and the Puppy refused to start. All were bootable versions under W from a USB flash (my oldie does not allow bios USB booting). Unfortunately, not a glorious first contact with Linux.

 

[steelneck]

@phenix: I think you just made a mistake, those distributions you mentioned are hardly meant for a beginner. Do not mix up "small and simple" with easy to use without knowledge. To compare with cameras, a large format or box-camera is simple but it is at the same time as far from the "green rectangle" you ever get, what you just did can be compared to a camera newbie who never has used even a SLR, now trying to make a doubble exposure with a large format field camera..

I suggest that you download Xubuntu, or the ordinary Ubuntu, burn it to a CD and then boot from that, it is a "live CD". When you boot from that you will have a working OS with all the bells and whistles running from memmory and CD, nothing installed or touched on your hard drive. In that environment you can play around as you wish, but it will be quite slow running from the CD. Then when you decide to install, it will take care of partitioning and all those things for you, automaticly set up dualboot to keep windows around too. Neither of those dists you downloaded will do such things for you.

 

[phenix]

Thanks steelneck,

You’re right: small and simple are different things. I just wanted to get the flavor of Linux before going definitely for it, but you’re right, it could have been to spicy for a beginner like me. So, I’ll try soon the live-CD alternative you recommended, and will be back with my impressions.


Happy New Year to all of you!

 

[IdahoPhotoist]

I have tried quite a few Linux distros, Liked Suse till Novell got their hands on it and played kissy huggie with M$, I then went to Ubuntu was pretty satisfied with it, though I didn't care for the Brave New World politics of its founder. But also got frustrated with the constant update game, and when their wireless driver for my Dell laptop was dropped and I couldn't get it to work, I dropped Ubuntu.,.. Presently I am using Mepis 6.5, I like it... and wireless works.
As for Joomla, don't know I tried wrapping my head around "Drupal" after some classes in it I decided to go back to my darkroom where I belong...

 

[Eric Rose]

Wow I guess we Linux users must be a happy bunch. Not much activity here. I am currently using Ubuntu netbook version on my HP Mini. Works like a charm and gives me full horsepower from the tiny Atom processor. I mainly use this netbook for quick update from the couch or for traveling. I don't bother to try and do any image editing on my Mini as the Linux programs for RAW files are pretty mickey mouse. One nice thing is that my Mini fits quite nicely into my camera bag. Great for a quick download from the D700.

If anyone has any really good RAW programs that run on Ubuntu let me know. Must support Nikon NEF files.

 

[phenix]

Two years later (since my previous post here) I've got to use Ubuntu on a double Turion HP, have installed Puppy 431 on a USB key just in case I'll need it, and will soon install the same Puppy on my old IBM PII-266MHz & 64MB Ram (tried it Live-CD and works). From the Puppies, I liked most the Wolf's desktop, but didn't work with the PII.
It took me so long, because there are so many releases and absolutely no help - everybody say the same thing: try as many you can and chose by yourself the flavor you like - Thanks, but...! This is why I would like to share here the key issues helping me to make a choice:
1) I think the most important is to decide what desktop you like: mainly Gnome or KDE, but also the other more on the light side desktops. In this respect downloading a big release (only one, no matter which) with all its desktops seems the first step to make. Try the Live-CDs and decide what are you fine with.
2) After choosing the preferred desktop, it's time to decide between a rolling release and a long term one (LT). The LT should be a better choice because, if you take 2-3 weeks of vacation and do not update your Linux in between, when you return the update and possibly the upgrade are smooth (at least with Ubuntu was so). In the same conditions, but with a rolling release, you might be roasted - using Sabayon, the most beautiful Linux I've ever seen, but a rolling release, after 3 weeks of not updating/upgrading it, when I finally did it, I've lost all my desktop (task bars, icons, settings, all). Fortunately I could backup my documents using the right button of the mouse on the empty desktop - the only way to open a location on the broken system and to copy it on a USB key. This is also why for my old PII and my USB key, I choose Puppy over AntiX. For me LT is a must, not a choice.
3) With these, the choices narrow down to very few releases (2-3). Try them on Live-CD, possibly install them next to Windows (double boot), and if you don't like one, install another over it - very easy to install on the same partition created by the old one. As for the choice, I would say that the main criterion is the availability of programs you need. Some know exactly what they need, some other just need time to discover the new possibilities Linux offers them, and get used with the very wide range of free (of money and spam) applications, compared to the very narrow one Windows offers with lot of spam and for lot of $$$. Hobbyists will find their Paradise. Moreover, installing and uninstalling apps in Linux do not leave traces like in Windows, so trial is almost unlimited.
All these, most of you know already, but new Linux users don't, like I didn't 2 years ago. And I hope this will help them to save lot of time when choosing the release the most appropriate for them. To me it took a year and a half - much to much, and in between I completely neglected my darkroom! So, if I wouldn't have hate Windows so much, I would have given away the Linux trial after only 2 weeks, so difficult was to chose over such a large diversity and without any criterion or landmark. So, I hope what I wrote here will be useful for some newcomers to Linux.
Best regards!

 

[Truzi]

Played a bit with Gnu Linux in the late ninties, but went all the way around 2002.

I've toyed with different distros, but my Favorite is Debian. The Gnome3 fiasco is the only problem I've had, and I always use Debian Testing. I'm now happily on XFCE, which has improved a lot over the years.