Linux on the laptop

[Dieseljockey]

I'm trialling Linux..(ubunu version)..running it from a cd for the moment, first impressions are very good. :clap:
.finding my way around..wanted to do this for a while now, had a number of problems with Mr Gates OS over the last few months..anyone use it on a regular basis???

 

[Cussword]

I have the same disc, I've only played a little but the guy who gave it me swears by it :thumb:

 

[StubbsPKS]

I use Linux on my server and my netbook.

I absolutely love it. I used to use Gentoo, then switched to Debian and now (so long as you don't tell the other linux users ) I've switched to Ubuntu.

The one thing I always tell people starting out in Linux is: Google (or the wiki for your distribution) is your friend.

 

[Sean_Mc]

The kids and I use Ubuntu or Linux mint on our PC's, but the main desktop that Mrs Mc uses is Windows7, because of her photography programs.
You can use WINE to get microsoft programs to work, and have tried several times to get her to use GIMP, but she's happy with the way things are.

Nice seeing an old PC installed with Linux comeback to life and running as fast as a windows7 machine

 

[Dieseljockey]

I downloaded it last night and burned a disc...as I said it will run from the disc but they say it will be a little slower..but if installed to the hard drive it's faster then Mr Gates...they give you an option to run along side Windows as a dual boot..will have a play and see what happens...loads of free software for it...can't be bad.. :clap:

 

[Dieseljockey]

I absolutely love it. I used to use Gentoo, then switched to Debian and now (so long as you don't tell the other linux users ) I've switched to Ubuntu.

The one thing I always tell people starting out in Linux is: Google (or the wiki for your distribution) is your friend.

Why is "Ubuntu" for us numtys?? :rofl: :rofl:

 

[StubbsPKS]

The main problem with the online Linux community in general is a slightly elitist attitude. The way that Ubuntu handles some things makes it much easier to use (and harder to screw things up), but goes against some of the more traditional Unix/Linux ways.

I personally like Ubuntu most of the time, but a lot of long time Linux users tend to steer clear of it because to them it's not as "powerful" or customizable.

 

[gsidford]

I have been using OpenSuse for a few months and quite like it. Stable and reasonably fast.

I have been through Debian and onto Sidux which worked really well, but I left that when the developers started having political issues. Tried Ubuntu but found it sluggish on my hardware.

 

[richc]

I'm posting this from my linux laptop, I'd suggest Ubuntu or Mint as the best learning distros. Good luck and feel free to send questions.

 

[jamesb]

I use Debian on my laptop. Or I did before the laptop broke. My only internet access outside of work at the moment is my nokia phone

 

[BarnsleyBrewer]

If I installed Linux on a laptop does the internet stay the same, ie Firefox and will most software run?

BB

 

[Sean_Mc]

Firefox is the default browser John. Most programs have a free alternative, like open office instead of windows office.

With Firefox I signed up to Xmarks and have all my bookmarks on all my PC's

 

[marshbrewer]

I only run Ubuntu on both my laptop and desktop PC. Love it. I hate having to use windows at work.

 

[TheMumbler]

Overall I really like the ubuntu operating systems but, even though they are getting easier and easier to use, you may experience some weird problems.

I've run ubuntu on a laptop before and use the lightest 'buntu, xubuntu, on my main desktop at home as it is pretty geriatric (1.7gig P4). I like it but you do need to watch out for hardware compatibility issues.

I find the ubuntu forums pretty helpful when I have issues. However that isn't much use if your machine falls over and you don't have another one to access teh interwebs with. I've been glad of having an XP box and a Mac in the house to look stuff up when xubuntu has unexpectedly gone squiffy. It used to regularly throw a fit with the graphics card which required me to reinstall drivers and the linux headers from the command line after I went to the version before this one. Thankfully that seems to have been fixed with the latest version (touch wood).

 

[BarnsleyBrewer]

Do I just download and install?
How do I delete Vista that is already on?

:? :? :? :? :? :?

 

[mr_spin]

Do I just download and install?
How do I delete Vista that is already on?

:? :? :? :? :? :?

you can dual boot... so you can keep crappy vista if you need to.

 

[Sean_Mc]

No need to delete Vista, try the LIVE CD first and see how you get on with it.
You may have to go into the bios and change the startup sequence to boot from a CD.

 

[BarnsleyBrewer]

Do I just download and install?
How do I delete Vista that is already on?

:? :? :? :? :? :?

you can dual boot... so you can keep crappy vista if you need to.

I'd get rid of Vista, it's Sh*t, how do I do it? :wha:

 

[TheMumbler]

Well you could backup your data and format the hard drive. That is my usual approach but I would really recommend leaving Vista on and trying the live CD first as Sean_Mc suggests. Maybe go with a dual boot for a while after that until you are really sure. You may find that you have some issue or other that takes a little time to manifest itself, or that you just don't like it in the long run...

 

[StubbsPKS]

Well you could backup your data and format the hard drive. That is my usual approach but I would really recommend leaving Vista on and trying the live CD first as Sean_Mc suggests. Maybe go with a dual boot for a while after that until you are really sure. You may find that you have some issue or other that takes a little time to manifest itself, or that you just don't like it in the long run...

TrickyChick has been using my netbook with ubuntu on it for several months and she isn't really a computing person. Her only complaints so far are that it's annoying to find the location of all the tools in The GIMP (she's used to Photoshop) and some weird sound issue to do with the netbook's hardware that I just haven't had a chance to check out. YMMV of course.

I've used Linux for quite awhile, but I still run Win7 on my main desktop purely for a gaming/software compatibility standpoint. Ubuntu has helped quite a lot, but IMO Linux still isn't 100% there for non-techy users as their main machine.