Linux/Ubuntu and a few other things, in several parts

Hey Bob,

They do say that Ubuntu is the best distro for ex Windows users. And yes, it also very good on old hardware, bring it back to life!

bob

I used to use SUSE with the KDE desktop, but moved to Ubuntu and Gnome about 3 years ago. The beauty of Ubuntu/Gnome is that you can put it onto a machine and stick it in front of any Windows user, and they will manage with no problems.
I have just been given an old PC that was very slow running Windows XP. After putting Ubuntu 10.10 on it just for the fun of it, it has all the performance that a user could want. I am giving it to an old chap who lives close by and after seeing it he says will be happy with it.

Miles

to be precise, the word ‘linux’ actually refers to the core software inside each distribution.

A distribution is the collection of software and managers surrounding the core. Linux Mint is indeed a variation of Ubuntu. In case you didn’t know, Ubuntu itself is based on Debian!

I have used Linux Mint in the past but I chose Ubuntu over it because the update and installation of new versions is much easier.

bob

Miles,

the installation routine should install all the necessary drivers. If you can establish an Internet connection with the LiveCD (which it should be able to do) then it will grab what it needs if it is not on the disk.

bob

"I am a full time Ubuntu user with Mint Linux experience."

I thought Mint and Ubuntu were just different distributions of linux? Or do you mean you have used Mint in the past ? And what are the different desktops, like Gnome and KDE? I wish I'd done this 10 years ago!

OK, thank you all for your input, the machine is now here. Last question before I dive in, is there anywhere in particular to get drivers or is it a case of searching google for them. The new one is an HP DV6 3194ef
Miles

Thanks Nick…

I agree, stick with 32bit versions of Linux. I did try 64 bit once but ended up with so many 32 bit libraries (to get Skype working etc) that it effectively became a 32 bit system. I don’t think there are enough 64 bit programs out there to make it worth while.

Virtualbox is a great system, I used it to try out Windows 7 Beta and it worked fine (Virtual box that is).

Bob

Good words of advice there from Bob for you Miles.

With regards to virtualization, yes you can go 64bit it you like for both Linux and Windows 7, but I currently recommend staying with 32bit for now, as more of the applications you need work out of the box for 32bit systems. The power of virtualization allows you to use 64bit windows running on 32bit Linux, so not a problem there. Just make sure you have the virtualization extensions turned on in your BIOS. Each BIOS is different, but they can all be navigated failry easily, and most new systems turn them on by default anyway.

Just use Virtualbox - www.virtualbox.org - it comes in a package that will just install on your machine, and there are literally hundreds of articles and youtube videos on how to install windows as a virtual machine.

Regards

Nick

Hi all,



I am a full time Ubuntu user with Mint Linux experience. Great discussions going on here and there are comments I want to make so I thought instead of lots of individual ones I would tell you guys of my experience.



Dual boot with WIndows 7 - DONT!



My Samsung Laptop arrived with the lowest version of Win 7 on it. That was removed within hours but I kept the partition structure as supplied. However when I decided to delete one single partition, it also removed all information on the partitions. I did post messages about this but to keep a long story short - if you are going to go multi boot, put Linux on first! The structure of Win 7 (at least on my laptop) is very strange and can lead to problems later. If you really need Windows then use a virtual machine.



Doing on Ubuntu what you did on Windows…



Much talk about GIMP - great for pixel related editing and photo editing. Check out Inkscape for creating vector based images. You can do bezier curves etc



OpenOffice



Great replacement of MsOffice - does everything I need including creating PDF’s. However, OO does have a database program but it does not read in MSAccess files, another separate program is required.



Drivers for hardware



As Nick said, Ubuntu just works! The only problem you might have is with old scanners and printers. Older the printer the less chance you might have of getting it to work ‘just right’. However, companies like Brother are releasing ‘drivers’ for linux aloing side Windows drivers. Old scanners won’t work, newer ones do because to make them cheap they all use the same sort of chips and it is easier to write the drivers.



Software



Installing software could not be easier or safer under Ubuntu. The latest version makes finding and installing programs a breeze!



Well anyway, that is my experience and advice. Hope it helps.

bob

Just been using Skype, MS Access, win MediaPlayer and Outlook. Skype outlook and access all just crashed simultaneously. Linux is looking better and better…

Hi Nick thanks for that, quite encouraging to try it! You say it’s easy to install as a virtual machine, but everything is easy if you know how. I’ve never used Linux, as the last time I tried to get the Ubuntu version on as a dual boot, it kept crashing. I’ve also not looked in to virtual machines either. Any particularly good step by step instructions out there you could recommend?
Mint looks good, so I should install Mint first then do the virtual machine set up? I have UK Win7 64 bit, so does that mean I should install 64bit Mint?
So many questions, all about futureproofing the new machine :slight_smile:
Miles
PS The chaps that are telling me drivers can be a problem… one is a games tester and does the hardware builds for testing (Ex-microprose), and the other is a MCSE network specialist, runs own business managing small to midsize company networks. Maybe they’re too deep in Windows… :slight_smile:

I have seen a few problems with some printer drivers for Ubuntu, but that is with really cheap inkjet printers. I was also asked to install Ubuntu as a dual boot on a Dell desktop, but checked the machine with a live CD first, only to find that the network card would not work and I could not get onto the web. Being a Dell, the case was a slimline one and would not take a “normal” sized network card to replace the standard one.
I use dual boot because the Ubuntu CDs all come with the Grub boot manager on them and it is a very easy way to let people try Ubuntu without complicating matters for users. It is also quite easy to remove Ubuntu should they not want it, and return the system back to just Windows.

Hi Miles, I’m not sure who is telling you that drivers are hard to come by, but Linux in general supports pretty much every piece of hardware I have thrown at it in the last five years. I’m actually using an HP Elitebook laptop in work with Ubuntu, and my daughter uses one at home also with Ubuntu. As Bob says, try your laptop with an Ubuntu or Mint live CD , and you will soon see if everything is supported.

I have to say I have never been a big fan of dual booting, as you tend to stick with your old ways , rather than moving onto the new system. I would recommend, using virtualization, so you install Ubuntu as the main system, and then install Virtualbox and install windows 7 as a virtual machine, so you can have access to both , at the same time if you should need too. It is very simple to do, and saves you from having to repartition the disk , and any problems that can occur from using a boot manager.

It is definitely worth the time and effort, as once you have swapped and learned to use the new system, you will wonder why you didn’t do it before. Watching your disk light thrashing while doing yet another anti-virus scan, or having to re-boot every time you install a new application becomes a a delightful distant memory :wink:

Access to tens of thousands of open source applications that allow you to get things done , without stupid licenses and instant access is worth it’s weight in gold. The security and reliability can’t be under estimated, I have servers running Linux , which have not been restarted in years, no need to , they just keep working.

The simple question, if Linux is good enough to run Google, Amazon, your phone, your KIndle, your Tablet and 80% of the Internet then it sure is good enough to run your laptop.

Regards

Nick

Ubuntu comes with Firfox as standard, but you can use any web browser as you can in Windows.
Openoffice has a database that is similar to Access and I think it will even open Access files.
My wife uses GIMP for graphics, you can download that for Windows too, should you want to see what it is like.
I would not tempt you away from Windows, but suggest that you try Ubuntu alongside it, you will move more and more to Ubuntu anyway.
My wife only has Ubuntu on her PC and no Windows but she manages to do every thing that she wants.
Have a look at one of her blogs at https://judesphotography.wordpress.com/,
There are links to other blogs from that one and that shows what can be done with Ubuntu.

Thanks Bob, but most (95%?) of my computing is internet, MS Access, and Graphics. What software would tempt me the linux way?

I have both running as a dual boot, but on a desktop. There is no problem seeing if Ubuntu will work with the hardware on your laptop by booting to a live CD and making sure everything works. If it does not then you can take the CD out and reboot into Windows without the live CD having any effect on the laptop.
What can it offer you? Free software in English, and much more.