Linux

[Grizzly Bear]

If you are building a computer at home, sure use Linux, why not? The price is right.
But until it comes as a regular free option with prebuilt machines it is doomed to remain a minority choice.

Most home users don't need Linux and are unlikely to make any major gains by using it. Yes, security is better, but anyone savvy enough to be using Linux is apt to have Windows security sewn up tightly as well. Just running Ubuntu doesn't guarantee a routine user is safe from malware- and if it becomes more popular, the risk will increase disproportionately, because the sort of person who targets a virus at a Unix derived system is apt to be far better informed than the average Micro$oft script kid.

Actually, I've viewed linux more as a viable option for extending the usable lifespan of an old computer personally. While in my case at least, the issue tends to be about software compatability (I use predominantly industry known software such as CAD and photoshop on a regular basis), I've actually put it on a couple of older computers because it doesn't have major hardware requirements that newer versions of windows requires. In that sense, even with some learning curbs involved with learning another OS I've found some benefits to the linux system. It gets basic stuff done, which for every day users is more than enough. It's just not suited well for big industries which rely on commercial software to do business. In mine, BIM, CAD, and lots of things design related practically wed me to windows at the very least as a required secondary option.

 

[Alan]

There's an Ubuntu advertising campaign/game at www.thisisthecountdown.com with a mystery/game about strange transmissions and a website at www.worldspaceagency.org. A game as in you find clues and try to figure out what it means.

It was counting down to a day that wasn't the release of 11.10, so people were speculating about what it was counting down to. An Ubuntu tablet, some speculated. The content of the game made it seem like maybe they were going to announce SETI was going to use Ubuntu.

It counted down and at the end of it was....the start of another countdown of 2 days, to align with 11.10's release.

A big failure.

 

[Chupacabras]

We have some old computers at work and we installed Ubuntu 9.04 and 9.10 with great success. Our software expert and I (manager) intend to port the whole enchilada to Linux in one year (several reasons, cost of licensing one of them, but mostly poor hardware).

However, these versions are no longer supported and I was wondering where - if at all - I could find a repository of the upgrades that were available just a couple months ago. I particularly look forward to the language libraries in order to Open Office work in Spanish, but also run Flash and maybe others.

I only got broken links in my effort, so does anyone know where I can look?

 

[Brian-M]

I'm going to have to read through this thread some time. I've had Slackware set up on my computer for months, but aside from installing LibreOffice and adding a driver to my computer (and setting up the background, putting icons on the desktop, etc), I haven't got around to doing much with it.

I do want to set up DOS Box and Wine sometime.

 

[Alan]

We have some old computers at work and we installed Ubuntu 9.04 and 9.10 with great success. Our software expert and I (manager) intend to port the whole enchilada to Linux in one year (several reasons, cost of licensing one of them, but mostly poor hardware).

However, these versions are no longer supported and I was wondering where - if at all - I could find a repository of the upgrades that were available just a couple months ago. I particularly look forward to the language libraries in order to Open Office work in Spanish, but also run Flash and maybe others.

I only got broken links in my effort, so does anyone know where I can look?

I don't know about any PPAs that would be suitable for those versions.

I suggest installing LibreOffice with the appropriate .deb from http://www.libreoffice.org/download as LibreOffice is a fork of OpenOffice.org with lots more updates.

For Flash in Firefox, I recommend the Flash-Aid extension. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/flash-aid/

But you'll have to upgrade at some point. Ubuntu 10.04 is a Long Term Support release. Long Term Support releases have three years of updates (or five years for the server versions), compared to the 18 months of support for regular releases. There are 18 months left of support for workstations with that. The next LTS is set to come out in 6 months.

 

[Toke]

Thanks Alan, that flash aid extension just got my youtube to work.

 

[Chupacabras]

I suggest installing LibreOffice with the ...

Duh... I *did* know LibreOffice, but wouldn't have remembered it in my life!

For Flash in Firefox, I recommend the Flash-Aid extension.

Gee! I think this is great. Next week will install about 30 computers, so this will be of great help.

Thanks much!

 

[Sideroxylon]

I have been running Pardus 2011 on my old Asus Eee netbook for a couple of weeks now and really like it. Prior to that I had it set up with Ubuntu 11.10, but it seemed to be always maxing out the Atom 1.6 CPU, as well as seeming to be running a bit too hot.

With Pardus I am not missing anything aesthetically or functionally over Ubuntu and the Unity desktop. It all looks rather slick actually and there are no performance issues. The GUIs for various things like the networking and bluetooth system seem to give me better control for someone who doesn't want to have to go looking up all the terminal commands.

The fact that it is produced by the Turkish government is a bit of a factor for me. I figure if they are going to put out something of such quality I am going to give it a go.

 

[Eddie Dane]

Just re-animated my old box with Lubuntu.

So far it seems to work fine.

I also tried Macpup, but that really was a bit too meagre fro me.

Any recommendations which distro is best for a media centre?
I want to hook it up to the TV.

 

[Alan]

I tried Pardus 2011 when it came out and it didn't live up to the hype about it being the best KDE desktop, for me. But it was good and would be ideal for Turkish speakers due to the community being focused around that language. And Kaptan would be good for a lot of people.

Just re-animated my old box with Lubuntu.

So far it seems to work fine.

I also tried Macpup, but that really was a bit too meagre fro me.

Any recommendations which distro is best for a media centre?
I want to hook it up to the TV.

Perhaps Mythbuntu?

 

[Eddie Dane]

Question:

Which packages should I download to get all the codecs and flash etc?

 

[Alan]

There's a Mythbuntu Control Centre which you can use to install things like that.

I'm not sure if the package would be ubuntu-restricted-extras or mythbuntu-restricted-extras or something else.

http://www.mythbuntu.org/

 

[Bram Kaandorp]

I am being drawn towards Linux Mint lately.

Can anyone per/dissuade me to/from using it, when compared to Ubuntu (current releases, nothing before 11.04)?

I mean, in which technical aspects is Linux Mint better than Ubuntu? Does it even matter when I change which programs I use any way?

I ask because I want to know which of the two has the better "chassis" so to speak. They use the same sources, so what is the fundamental difference under the hood?

 

[Alan]

The main difference between Ubuntu and Mint used to be that Mint was friendlier with playing media. Then it became the theme. Now it's become not having Unity.

If you like Ubuntu and Gnome (2 or 3), but don't like Unity, then go with Linux Mint. The next version will have MATE (Gnome 2 fork) and heavily extended Gnome Shell versions (the extensions make it more like Gnome 2).

 

[Bram Kaandorp]

The main difference between Ubuntu and Mint used to be that Mint was friendlier with playing media. Then it became the theme. Now it's become not having Unity.

If you like Ubuntu and Gnome (2 or 3), but don't like Unity, then go with Linux Mint. The next version will have MATE (Gnome 2 fork) and heavily extended Gnome Shell versions (the extensions make it more like Gnome 2).

But apart from that, it's virtually identical to Ubuntu in all but the GUI and codecs?

In that case, I might just stay with Ubuntu, because I want to try Gnome 3, so I'd have to install it either way.

 

[Chungy]

But apart from that, it's virtually identical to Ubuntu in all but the GUI and codecs?

In that case, I might just stay with Ubuntu, because I want to try Gnome 3, so I'd have to install it either way.

Why dont you just make USB stick of mint and load it up if your box will allow booting from USB, or DVD if not. ONly take 30 minutes to downlaod and make bootable OS. I am using mint at the moment on usb and besides the ugly grey color, the clock and icons being at the bottom right (like windows) I like it ok.

I actually am kind liking the new Fedora as well. I have about 6 different version on this usb stick. I will say mint does come flash installed and with Fedora it's up to you to chose Gnash or Flash.

Remember people that hate on Unity, all you have to do to shut it off is click the little gear icon by your name sign on screen and you shut it off, it will stay off till you turn it on.

I don't understand Unity haters.

I love the way Unity allows you to work with 100% of monitor, but that is me. It does take while to get used to navigating with it.

 

[Bram Kaandorp]

Why dont you just make USB stick of mint and load it up if your box will allow booting from USB, or DVD if not. ONly take 30 minutes to downlaod and make bootable OS. I am using mint at the moment on usb and besides the ugly grey color, the clock and icons being at the bottom right (like windows) I like it ok.

I actually am kind liking the new Fedora as well. I have about 6 different version on this usb stick. I will say mint does come flash installed and with Fedora it's up to you to chose Gnash or Flash.

Remember people that hate on Unity, all you have to do to shut it off is click the little gear icon by your name sign on screen and you shut it off, it will stay off till you turn it on.

I don't understand Unity haters.

I love the way Unity allows you to work with 100% of monitor, but that is me. It does take while to get used to navigating with it.

Yeah, I've tried it, but other than the GUI, I didn't find many differences, so I thought I'd ask here, since there's a good possibility that someone will know more about it than I do.

Oh, and I don't really like Unity because I'm not a dock person. I am a hierarchy person, making docks highly unintuitive for me.

 

[Chungy]

I am being drawn towards Linux Mint lately.

Can anyone per/dissuade me to/from using it, when compared to Ubuntu (current releases, nothing before 11.04)?

Yeah, I've tried it, but other than the GUI, I didn't find many differences, so I thought I'd ask here, since there's a good possibility that someone will know more about it than I do.

Sorry, from your first post I guess you hadn't used it my bad.

Yes Unity took 6 months to grow on me, at first I hated it, but now it reminds me of tablet OS in a way.

 

[Bram Kaandorp]

Sorry, from your first post I guess you hadn't used it my bad.

Yes Unity took 6 months to grow on me, at first I hated it, but now it reminds me of tablet OS in a way.

What are the biggest advantages you experienced in using Unity over Gnome 2?

If they are significant enough (and if stability improves (I've had trouble with the "home" icon, which seems to freeze and keep the dock in view at all times, obscuring part of the screen)), then maybe I'll consider using it for some time longer to see if I can get used to it.

 

[Eddie Dane]

I'm using Lubuntu now, is Mint much more resource-hungry?
I'd like to give it a go.