Why Linux?

[Sussexlad]

I've been a Linux nerd since 2001, and have experimented with zillions of these distros e.g. Suse, RH, Mandrake, Debian, Slackware, Mint back in the day. Have rebuilt kernels, farted around with the System-V boot scripts (before Debian kicked off the "Upstart" project - i.e. more dynamic configuration that most Linuxes these days will use) built new drivers etc. I was so impressed by RH 9 that I spent almost a decade stuck on Centos+Fedora Core. I used to spend ages playing with configuring new FC distros to load the nvidia, ethernet, sound card drivers etc. etc. Yes the tedium was immense.

Matt

I have avoided this thread because I'm nowhere near as savvy as most contributors, so don't want to get too involved BUT I have thought, reading some of the posts, that it's definitely going to put some off from experimenting with Linux, which would be a shame.

I initially started with Fedora, because it was recommended by the heritage telephone group I belonged to, the THG, but it was updated far too frequently for my liking and I simply didn't require such cutting-edge software. So I ended up with Centos which waited for things to settle down before updating and was therefore far more stable. However, recently problems weren't getting addressed and I simply felt it was losing the necessary support.

So I plumped for Ubunto about a year ago and it's been brilliant. As others have said, it has all the general software you could need and I have it set up to update every day, so no issues there. I would encourage anyone to give it go if you're sick of Windows. I very much doubt you'll be disappointed.

Sussexlad

[Infrasonic]

...reading some of the posts, that it's definitely going to put some off from experimenting with Linux, which would be a shame...
Sussexlad

There was some debate way back near the start of this thread about how 'primetime' ready Linux is for the non technical user (i.e the typical Windows user).
Like most things getting Linux up and running is simple, but when you run into problems then it's difficult to avoid going off into the weeds with command line skills.
Whether it's computers, cars, electronics et al. ultimately everything is 'complicated' these days.
(I remember spending £15 on bits from Halfords and servicing my MK11 Escort in about twenty minutes. You can't even access the engine bay these days on modern cars...).

I actually think the Google approach with Chromebooks, whereby you can 'powerwash' (clean install) the native OS without any technical ability, all the backups stored in the cloud, and run Android and Linux via containers (skinny VM's) is the future for non techies.
I expect Windows to start drifting that way, they are already bending over to accommodate developers, I can see it extending to the general public.
Android and Windows is actually a really good combination currently.
I sit there responding to SMS, Whatsapp et al all from my W10 PC or Chromebook these days unless I'm physically out and about (where I'm trying to use voice to text as much as possible rather than suffer the pain of smartphone touchscreen typing).

Linux is still a hobby for me, its flexibility is both a strength and a weakness. Apple have been very successful by restricting user flexibility (one reason I don't have any Apple gear...), and tightly developing the hardware and software in unison (since copied by MS with their Surface products).

Dell have their 'developer' range of XPS native Linux laptops, running Ubuntu, but I remember when they were sending out review models where not all the hardware worked properly (since rectified, but still...).

[mrbrightside]

Interesting thread. My wife uses Linux Mint (Mate) and has done for many years. Not a heavy user (Web, email, docs, photos) but she gets twitchy if I even go to grab her laptop simply to apply 'System updates', let alone change distro.

Ubuntu Mate could no doubt be configured offer a similar look and feel but Mint has that slab menu that she's accustomed to.

[JohnB]

I'm a power user, and I like Mint Mate. It keeps looking the same year after year. Ubuntu kept changing its mind

[servodude]

In the words of Neo

'Hmmm. Upgrades'

.....In the form of a new version of Mint. 'Tricia', apparently.

It's upgrading the now.

How timely!
I was just listening to the noise from the living room laptop last night; the one that goes "this is soooo slow these days"
- and thinking I might move it to mint
It's an old Dell Latitude 13 which was pretty whizz bang in its day so probably worth a shot

- sd

[swill453]

I was just listening to the noise from the living room laptop last night; the one that goes "this is soooo slow these days"
- and thinking I might move it to mint
It's an old Dell Latitude 13 which was pretty whizz bang in its day so probably worth a shot

Alternatively a fresh install of Windows 10 from scratch might be a less drastic way of giving it a new lease of life.

Scott.

[servodude]

I was just listening to the noise from the living room laptop last night; the one that goes "this is soooo slow these days"
- and thinking I might move it to mint
It's an old Dell Latitude 13 which was pretty whizz bang in its day so probably worth a shot

Alternatively a fresh install of Windows 10 from scratch might be a less drastic way of giving it a new lease of life.

Scott.

It's had that done ( and 2GB of mem added)
TBH I reckon the biggest culprit is Chrome; but it will be easier to jump to mint than change the default browser ( or better half)
And it's a bit of fun
- sd

[JohnB]

If you want to try variant Linuxes, use VirtualBox and set them up as hosted virtual machines. Very easy to do

[Infrasonic]

You can try out different Linux distros online without installing or running in a VM if you want...https://distrotest.net/

Test a new operating system

Welcome to DistroTest.net

On our website you will find many operating systems,
which you can test directly online without a installation.

There are no restrictions for the operating system:
You can use all functions of the system,
Uninstall and install software, test installed programs and
even delete or format the hard disk or system files...

[ReformedCharacter]

You can try out different Linux distros online without installing or running in a VM if you want...https://distrotest.net/

Test a new operating system

Welcome to DistroTest.net

On our website you will find many operating systems,
which you can test directly online without a installation.

There are no restrictions for the operating system:
You can use all functions of the system,
Uninstall and install software, test installed programs and
even delete or format the hard disk or system files...

That's very neat!

RC

[Infrasonic]

You can try out different Linux distros online without installing or running in a VM if you want...https://distrotest.net/

Test a new operating system

Welcome to DistroTest.net

On our website you will find many operating systems,
which you can test directly online without a installation.

There are no restrictions for the operating system:
You can use all functions of the system,
Uninstall and install software, test installed programs and
even delete or format the hard disk or system files...

That's very neat!

RC

I discovered it a few months back at launch, but they were limiting access as every man and his dog was on there.
It should have calmed down a bit now hopefully!

[Infrasonic]

I was just listening to the noise from the living room laptop last night; the one that goes "this is soooo slow these days"
- and thinking I might move it to mint
It's an old Dell Latitude 13 which was pretty whizz bang in its day so probably worth a shot

Alternatively a fresh install of Windows 10 from scratch might be a less drastic way of giving it a new lease of life.
Scott.

It's had that done ( and 2GB of mem added)
TBH I reckon the biggest culprit is Chrome; but it will be easier to jump to mint than change the default browser ( or better half)
And it's a bit of fun
- sd

The multi OS Chromium based alternatives like Brave are worth looking at, much of the privacy stuff is built into the settings rather than being an extension option, so the overhead is lower. And functionally the layout/settings et al is pretty much the same as Chrome, so a five minute job to learn even for a luddite. I've ploughed through loads of the Android chromium browser options over the years, install, have a fiddle, no, uninstall, next.
Brave is one I'm sticking with across various OS platforms.

[JohnB]

Its good of distrotest to provide the service, but as their FAQ confirms the machines don't have an internet connection, you can learn very little about how the software works. I suppose it lets you compare UI look and feel.

[kyu66]

I've just done my second 'timeshift' to a USB pen (Tina and now Tricia, if your interested)

I've looked at the instructions for restoring a timeshift backup and it all seems to involve accessing the timeshift app from the desktop.

But what if, like last time, I can access the desktop? I take it it wont boot from the timeshift USB and that its a matter of reinstalling a new version of Mint and then restoring my saved timeshift?

Just so I know.....

Not done it personally, but according to https://itsfoss.com/backup-restore-linux-timeshift/

boot from a Live image (CD or USB), install Timeshift then restore backup from USB

[Infrasonic]

Its good of distrotest to provide the service, but as their FAQ confirms the machines don't have an internet connection, you can learn very little about how the software works. I suppose it lets you compare UI look and feel.

Providing an internet connection could lead to all sorts of security problems and the potential domain/IP blacklisting that would result (as well as the bandwidth expense). If they locked down the outgoing traffic sufficiently to minimise the security issues then you'd be back to square one regarding the WAN functionality.
Any inbound shenanigans can be remedied by wiping the container and auto reloading the distro instance, which is why they let you fiddle with it to such an extent.

[kiloran]

You can try out different Linux distros online without installing or running in a VM if you want...https://distrotest.net/

Test a new operating system

Welcome to DistroTest.net

On our website you will find many operating systems,
which you can test directly online without a installation.

There are no restrictions for the operating system:
You can use all functions of the system,
Uninstall and install software, test installed programs and
even delete or format the hard disk or system files...

What a fabulous site! Many thanks.

--kiloran

[Infrasonic]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL2llKqJ6oI

Explaining Computers 22 Dec 2019

Windows 7: End of Support & Extended Security Updates

Windows 7 support ends on January 14 2020. This video provides my final update, including the latest information on the extended security updates (ESUs) available from Microsoft for some users. I also report on what I am doing with my own Windows 7 machines.

The first video about my transition from Windows 7 to Linux Mint on my i3 PC is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBph0...

If you are considering transitioning to Linux, you may find useful my videos:

Linux Mint 19 for Windows Users:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI7QQ...

Zorin OS 15 for Windows Users:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEHr3...

Linux Tips for MS Office Users:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3R58...

Cont.

I've mentioned to Chris about Distrotest.net and he's very interested in doing a dedicated video on it.
He's also going to (hopefully) do a Rpi Zero video in the new year covering setting one up as a legacy WiFi print server for both centronics and USB printers (purely selfish motivation there on my part as I need both...). He seemed quite keen.
(The deprecation of Google cloud print in about 12 months is an impetus there as well).

[Infrasonic]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryTykjUbJIs

Explaining Computers 29 December 2019
Khadas VIM3: 4K NVMe SBC with NPU

Khadas VIM3 Basic SBC review, including full specifications, fitting a heat sink and case, 4K YouTube playback in Android, and Ubuntu demo.

[Infrasonic]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHDT4Cw ... sQDCad%3A6

Explaining Computers 12 january 2020

Control of SG90 servos in Python on a Raspberry Pi, including an explanation of PWM and how a servo differs from a motor.

[servodude]

how a servo differs from a motor.

<grabs popcorn and thinks this will be fun/>
-sd