Can I make a suggestion, perhaps you Linux guys could make a new topic maybe titled Linux User's or whatever, and if there are enough members here to follow the topic and seek advice I am sure you would both be able to supply info to those that need or want it, there must be other members on here that use Linux and could help with advice.
Please do not think that I am having a go at Linux user's, (I am not) I did say that I would like more info sometime ago, I just have not had the time to look into it, I must put that right and have another look.
If enough members are interested then maybe Cindy will make it a sticky.
Happy travels guys.
-- Edited by Webmaster on Tuesday 18th of March 2014 10:31:20 AM
hako said
09:39 AM Mar 17, 2014
Good suggestion wombat. I'd like to see a Linux section as well - my son installed it for me years ago but I lost interest due to no one to ask questions except for the Linux forum which is populated by young kids/geniuses.
oldbobsbus said
04:00 PM Mar 17, 2014
I would also read it with interest and if there is enough useful info and help offered I would be willing to give it another go for about the 5th time, I am hoping that maybe it has improved since I last tried Ubuntu 12.5 3 or 4 years ago..
I would also add that I wouldn't try to hijack it with Microsoft propaganda..
_wombat_ said
04:24 PM Mar 17, 2014
oldbobsbus wrote:
I would also read it with interest and if there is enough useful info and help offered I would be willing to give it another go for about the 5th time, I am hoping that maybe it has improved since I last tried Ubuntu 12.5 3 or 4 years ago..
I would also add that I wouldn't try to hijack it with Microsoft propaganda..
good one bob, would be good if somebody who knows what they are talking about could start a topic on the subject.
-- Edited by _wombat_ on Monday 17th of March 2014 04:24:25 PM
KFT said
05:55 PM Mar 17, 2014
I would like to second the motion
am very interested in anything that will help improve a computing experience and take profit away from billy
frank
Cloak said
06:25 PM Mar 17, 2014
I gave a talk at the MLUG (Melbourne Linux User Group) some years ago to about 500 folks and I reckon 200 of them were retirees.
Wonder why it's lost ground in this particular segment of the market?
_wombat_ said
06:37 PM Mar 17, 2014
Cloak wrote:
I gave a talk at the MLUG (Melbourne Linux User Group) some years ago to about 500 folks and I reckon 200 of them were retirees.
Wonder why it's lost ground in this particular segment of the market?
cos nobody here wants to start a topic on the subject, I have just sent NP and PeterD a PM in case they have not seen this post, on the other hand maybe they do not have the time to put into it, no problem some Google searching should give me more info I hope.
oldbobsbus said
06:52 PM Mar 17, 2014
_wombat_ wrote:
Cloak wrote:
I gave a talk at the MLUG (Melbourne Linux User Group) some years ago to about 500 folks and I reckon 200 of them were retirees.
Wonder why it's lost ground in this particular segment of the market?
cos nobody here wants to start a topic on the subject, I have just sent NP and PeterD a PM in case they have not seen this post, on the other hand maybe they do not have the time to put into it, no problem some Google searching should give me more info I hope.
How about you start the thread Wombat and hopefully someone will come along and help us get our puters up and running with Linux..
I will be home in 2 days (After 8 weeks and 15000k on the road) and I have about 10 spare Pentium 4 and duel core towers that I can pick out one from to use to try it on..
_wombat_ said
07:14 PM Mar 17, 2014
oldbobsbus wrote:
_wombat_ wrote:
Cloak wrote:
I gave a talk at the MLUG (Melbourne Linux User Group) some years ago to about 500 folks and I reckon 200 of them were retirees.
Wonder why it's lost ground in this particular segment of the market?
cos nobody here wants to start a topic on the subject, I have just sent NP and PeterD a PM in case they have not seen this post, on the other hand maybe they do not have the time to put into it, no problem some Google searching should give me more info I hope.
How about you start the thread Wombat and hopefully someone will come along and help us get our puters up and running with Linux..
I will be home in 2 days (After 8 weeks and 15000k on the road) and I have about 10 spare Pentium 4 and duel core towers that I can pick out one from to use to try it on..
I feel it needs to be started by somebody who knows what they are talking about, I did have a try with on an old laptop running XP but the computer was about 5-6 years old and I could not get it to run from a dvd, tried the bios and could not get it to start with the dvd, I don't want to install it without first trying it.
Solo Steve said
08:49 PM Mar 17, 2014
Good idea Wombat. I am just about to give Linux a go and would apprexiate some expert guidance
Steve
rockylizard said
09:11 PM Mar 17, 2014
Gday...
Feel like ya got a bit of time to spend ?
This is an expansive read - seems to cover heaps of stuff. However, I cannot comprehend it without a "Linux technical guru" to translate for me. It's all double-dutch to me
I cannot see how I could simply "download Linux operating system" to my pooter without over-writing the WIN7 OS ... happy to be shown I am wrong.
Consequently, I would not wanna puddle in Linux without considerable assistance, before I decided, and during the process.
But it certainly seems to be a "highly accepted and preferred" OS.
Cheers - John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Monday 17th of March 2014 09:12:32 PM
_wombat_ said
09:26 PM Mar 17, 2014
rockylizard wrote:
Gday...
Feel like ya got a bit of time to spend ?
This is an expansive read - seems to cover heaps of stuff. However, I cannot comprehend it without a "Linux technical guru" to translate for me. It's all double-dutch to me
I cannot see how I could simply "download Linux operating system" to my pooter without over-writing the WIN7 OS ... happy to be shown I am wrong.
Consequently, I would not wanna puddle in Linux without considerable assistance, before I decided, and during the process.
But it certainly seems to be a "highly accepted and preferred" OS.
Cheers - John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Monday 17th of March 2014 09:12:32 PM
RL, you do not need to install it just download to a dvd and run your computer from the dvd, well that is how I see it and I am no expert on Linux but would like to learn more about it, my paroblem is time I need 36 hours in a day
rockylizard said
09:33 PM Mar 17, 2014
_wombat_ wrote:
RL, you do not need to install it just download to a dvd and run your computer from the dvd, well that is how I see it and I am no expert on Linux but would like to learn more about it, my paroblem is time I need 36 hours in a day
Gday...
Interesting. So, I download it to a DVD - not sure I could do that without saving it to the HDD first.
But that notwithstanding, I therefore assume that I continue to have WIN7 OS and my existing software on my HDD for me to use, but run the Linux OS from a DVD 'behind/beside/over the top of' WIN7 OS.
I am now REALLY confused.
Cheers - John
_wombat_ said
09:53 PM Mar 17, 2014
rockylizard wrote:
_wombat_ wrote:
RL, you do not need to install it just download to a dvd and run your computer from the dvd, well that is how I see it and I am no expert on Linux but would like to learn more about it, my paroblem is time I need 36 hours in a day
Gday...
Interesting. So, I download it to a DVD - not sure I could do that without saving it to the HDD first.
But that notwithstanding, I therefore assume that I continue to have WIN7 OS and my existing software on my HDD for me to use, but run the Linux OS from a DVD 'behind/beside/over the top of' WIN7 OS.
I am now REALLY confused.
Cheers - John
that's the way I see it but we do need somebody who has more knowledge on the subject, I am no expert, I think you can use both on dvd or install and yes it can be used as well as Win 7 or any os I believe
Joe50 said
11:46 PM Mar 17, 2014
I believe you would download an image file (with a .ISO extension) which is then burned to a DVD. However, you need the proper program to burn an ISO image to DVD to make it bootable (you don't just copy it to the DVD). One of the best is Imgburn, free at www.imgburn.com.
Joe
-- Edited by jpw50 on Monday 17th of March 2014 11:50:38 PM
native pepper said
08:01 AM Mar 18, 2014
If you're going to try linux try Mint as it's probably the easiest and most reliable distro at the moment. Download the 32bit iso, burn it to disc just like you'd burn a movie to disc. You can also burn it to a usb stick, but that can be a bit more difficult and you can also install it on a usb stick so you can carry your operating system with you and just plug it into any computer.
Once you've done that put the disc in the computer and restart it, then your bios should pick the disc first and load mint. It's called a live disc as you can play with it use the internet and all the software, you just can't save or install anything. Remember it isn't windows so don't expect it to act as you are used to, as it won't.
When it loads it gives you the opportunity to decide whether you want to install or use live disc. Choose live disc and go through it, at the bottom left of the screen is a menu, click that and it will open up all the software included, categorised into sections, making it easy to find and use.
Once you've had a play which you can do as many times as you like until you're used to it and decide to install it, just click on install and it will run you through the system as it is installed. Live disc doesn't download or install anything on your system, it's just like an interactive movie.
First it will tell you there is Win on the computer and ask if you want to install mint alongside as a dual boot with windows, or over write the computer entirely, choose dual boot and let it do all the work automatically. Don't try to install it yourself, you may wipe out everything if you aren't sure what you're doing.
The installation will take about 15 minutes, depending on how many updates needed to be downloaded. During the install it will run you through the system, once loaded it will ask you to reboot. When it reboots you will be asked which system you want to boot into, linux or windows.
I'm yet to use Mint petra 16, use LTS (long term support) releases, which provide support for up to 5 years, but there is not one of those for another release or so. If there is anyone really interested in getting into this, then will download mint 16 and run it in a VB so I can emulate any problems others come up with and try to help. Probably others here that are using mint/linux, so should be enough help to get anyone up and running.
Once you get used to mint, you can download any number of distro's and try them out in a VB to see what you think of them.
Plendo said
08:25 AM Mar 18, 2014
I am slightly technical, with a title like IT Manager for a small business I have to be, and from time to time I have had a go at moving a PC to Linux as I see it as a cheaper ongoing proposition, and it would also allow me to switch to open office.
Each time I have tried I get so far, and things start to get difficult, probably because I have made a mistake earlier, or I have assumed something will work in a specific way, under the pressures of modern life, it gets forgotten again.
I would like to see a thread here with people who would be prepared to put together a guide to setting up a laptop suitable for travelling, with Linux, Open Office, and whatever else would be of value. It would give me the confidence to have another go.
It would also help me with one of my other project areas where I play with AVR programming.
_wombat_ said
08:38 AM Mar 18, 2014
native pepper wrote:
If you're going to try linux try Mint as it's probably the easiest and most reliable distro at the moment. Download the 32bit iso, burn it to disc just like you'd burn a movie to disc. You can also burn it to a usb stick, but that can be a bit more difficult and you can also install it on a usb stick so you can carry your operating system with you and just plug it into any computer.
Once you've done that put the disc in the computer and restart it, then your bios should pick the disc first and load mint. It's called a live disc as you can play with it use the internet and all the software, you just can't save or install anything. Remember it isn't windows so don't expect it to act as you are used to, as it won't.
When it loads it gives you the opportunity to decide whether you want to install or use live disc. Choose live disc and go through it, at the bottom left of the screen is a menu, click that and it will open up all the software included, categorised into sections, making it easy to find and use.
Once you've had a play which you can do as many times as you like until you're used to it and decide to install it, just click on install and it will run you through the system as it is installed. Live disc doesn't download or install anything on your system, it's just like an interactive movie.
First it will tell you there is Win on the computer and ask if you want to install mint alongside as a dual boot with windows, or over write the computer entirely, choose dual boot and let it do all the work automatically. Don't try to install it yourself, you may wipe out everything if you aren't sure what you're doing.
The installation will take about 15 minutes, depending on how many updates needed to be downloaded. During the install it will run you through the system, once loaded it will ask you to reboot. When it reboots you will be asked which system you want to boot into, linux or windows.
I'm yet to use Mint petra 16, use LTS (long term support) releases, which provide support for up to 5 years, but there is not one of those for another release or so. If there is anyone really interested in getting into this, then will download mint 16 and run it in a VB so I can emulate any problems others come up with and try to help. Probably others here that are using mint/linux, so should be enough help to get anyone up and running.
Once you get used to mint, you can download any number of distro's and try them out in a VB to see what you think of them.
Hi NP, thank you for that info a couple of questions, what is a VB? what is a distro? I have just Googled Mint and here's some info for those that are interested in LinuxMint
I have just downloaded what I thought was Linux Mint and the download is 'linuxmint-16-cinnamon-dvd-32bit.iso' is this the correct one?
native pepper said
10:17 AM Mar 18, 2014
_wombat_ wrote:
native pepper wrote:
If you're going to try linux try Mint as it's probably the easiest and most reliable distro at the moment. Download the 32bit iso, burn it to disc just like you'd burn a movie to disc. You can also burn it to a usb stick, but that can be a bit more difficult and you can also install it on a usb stick so you can carry your operating system with you and just plug it into any computer.
Once you've done that put the disc in the computer and restart it, then your bios should pick the disc first and load mint. It's called a live disc as you can play with it use the internet and all the software, you just can't save or install anything. Remember it isn't windows so don't expect it to act as you are used to, as it won't.
When it loads it gives you the opportunity to decide whether you want to install or use live disc. Choose live disc and go through it, at the bottom left of the screen is a menu, click that and it will open up all the software included, categorised into sections, making it easy to find and use.
Once you've had a play which you can do as many times as you like until you're used to it and decide to install it, just click on install and it will run you through the system as it is installed. Live disc doesn't download or install anything on your system, it's just like an interactive movie.
First it will tell you there is Win on the computer and ask if you want to install mint alongside as a dual boot with windows, or over write the computer entirely, choose dual boot and let it do all the work automatically. Don't try to install it yourself, you may wipe out everything if you aren't sure what you're doing.
The installation will take about 15 minutes, depending on how many updates needed to be downloaded. During the install it will run you through the system, once loaded it will ask you to reboot. When it reboots you will be asked which system you want to boot into, linux or windows.
I'm yet to use Mint petra 16, use LTS (long term support) releases, which provide support for up to 5 years, but there is not one of those for another release or so. If there is anyone really interested in getting into this, then will download mint 16 and run it in a VB so I can emulate any problems others come up with and try to help. Probably others here that are using mint/linux, so should be enough help to get anyone up and running.
Once you get used to mint, you can download any number of distro's and try them out in a VB to see what you think of them.
Hi NP, thank you for that info a couple of questions, what is a VB? what is a distro? I have just Googled Mint and here's some info for those that are interested in LinuxMint
A distro is a linux distribution, which comes in hundreds of flavours and types, you can check out what's available distro watch. This is where most linux developers submit their new release, you can choose from hundreds to suit your purposes, hobby or business. However many are not good for the average user and require a bit more understanding of how things work. There's a distro for just about anything you want to get into, many small and very large businesses run on linux/open source very successfully and the economies of scale are brilliant. http://distrowatch.com/
A VB is a virtual box, which is a software package that allows you to install and run a number of distro's from within a linux box, (computer). There is a virtual box for windows, which does the same thing, but from reports I've read windows doesn't really like it and there may be bugs to contend with. https://www.virtualbox.org/
If you're a Windows technical person, you may have more trouble with linux than the average user. Windows techs seem to be very reluctant to change the way they think things should work and can create many problems for themselves. Much better to let linux do it for you and then as you get int it, questions and software needs will come up. That's when you can begin to learn how it works under the hood, how to tweak and customise your distro, or just continue using automatic installations and fixes. What ever you do don't try to understand all the tech stuff on the web, that's for developers and linux nerds who like to tinker and play under the hood. In the end they make their own custom distro, which is pretty easy once you understand how it all works.
Open Office is standard in mint, as is just about every bit of software you may need for using your computer, camera's, printers, whatever. It's all in synaptic package manager, which is found in preferences in the menu. When you click on the menu and any item, it will tell you what it is and does. On the left of the menu there are icons which you can click on to get started, one if Firefox for browsing and one is the software manager, which is different to synaptic package manager and tells you about the software you are about to install, synaptic is a bit more technical. Check out all the menu and you will find everything you need to get started.
-- Edited by native pepper on Tuesday 18th of March 2014 10:27:53 AM
native pepper said
10:18 AM Mar 18, 2014
_wombat_ wrote:
I have just downloaded what I thought was Linux Mint and the download is 'linuxmint-16-cinnamon-dvd-32bit.iso' is this the correct one?
Yes
_wombat_ said
10:57 AM Mar 18, 2014
thank you NP, I asked Cindy to change the topic heading, making it easier to find for Linux users, thanks Cindy.
-- Edited by _wombat_ on Tuesday 18th of March 2014 10:59:37 AM
thank you NP, I asked Cindy to change the topic heading, making it easier to find for Linux users, thanks Cindy.
-- Edited by _wombat_ on Tuesday 18th of March 2014 10:59:37 AM
Looks like it, windows presents disc contents a bit differently, but it all seems there. Just put it in and reboot. To be sure it's downloaded right, you could do a mdssum check, but don't worry about that at the moment as it should work as is. if not them you can do a check and see where the problem is. Normally downloads at this stage of development have all the bugs fixed that a normal user may come across, I rarely do a mdssum check, unless the download source is not that stable and it's a beta or experimental distro. Getting it from Mint alleviates that problem 99% of the time.
_wombat_ said
01:40 PM Mar 18, 2014
thanks NP, I have to go out soon, will try that later today or tomorrow
Solo Steve said
06:24 PM Mar 18, 2014
Thanks for all your help to date NP it is much appreciated, it looks as though some of us may keep you busy for a while.
Steve
03_troopy said
06:32 PM Mar 18, 2014
I'm having another go at Linux as well. Just downloaded the iso and in the process of burning it to disk. See if i play with it more than I do with the win8 laptop i've used twice in the 5 months since i bought it.
PeterD said
06:50 PM Mar 18, 2014
Plendo wrote:
I am slightly technical, with a title like IT Manager for a small business I have to be, and from time to time I have had a go at moving a PC to Linux as I see it as a cheaper ongoing proposition, and it would also allow me to switch to open office.
You don't need Linux to install OpenOffice.org. I have not purchased any M$ Office produce this century. I was using an old copy of M$ Works until OpenOffice.org was released. In April 2011, Oracle announced the discontinuation of Oracle Open Office as part of the decision to turn OpenOffice.org into a "purely community-based project". Active successor projects include Apache OpenOffice, LibreOffice and NeoOffice. Since then I have been using LibreOffice.
You can download the latest stable version from here. Download both filex, install the Main Installer first and then the help file second.
native pepper said
07:27 PM Mar 18, 2014
Peter thanks for that, I used open office for so long forgot libre office took over, it's what I use for proof work and is installed in mint and most other distro's. Great set of packages, which are becoming the standard in many professions.
I run mint and Ubuntu studio as my main distro's on the pc and Ubuntu studio on laptops, which are used when travelling. Have Suse, Debian and different others in VB at most times, just can't stop checking new distro's and beta software. Used Suse for a couple of years, but the girls found it to finicky, so stick with Mint for them.
Plendo said
11:19 PM Mar 18, 2014
Linux seems to have become a lot easier this time around, either that or it was the good advice I had leading me. I am typing this on a computer running the Cinnamon flavor of Mint as a USB Live install.
It is certainly faster than windows (even with teh USB delay), and while different enough to be frustrating in the begining I can see the interface is now consistent, and no longer requires a huge amount of "geek" to use it.
Thanks NP for encouraging us Linux newbies.
_wombat_ said
09:25 AM Mar 19, 2014
two of my laptops are not able to access the dvd as 1st option at start up, both Compaq and Dell do not have the option to change the setting's in the bios so looks like I will not be able to try out Linux, having said that I do remember somewhere I read about the Linux operating from a flash/mem stick, any info on this maybe helpful to me and others.
If I cannot alter the bios for dvd to read first would I need to do the same for a flash/mem stick?
-- Edited by _wombat_ on Wednesday 19th of March 2014 09:26:12 AM
Hi Guys,
Can I make a suggestion, perhaps you Linux guys could make a new topic maybe titled Linux User's or whatever, and if there are enough members here to follow the topic and seek advice I am sure you would both be able to supply info to those that need or want it, there must be other members on here that use Linux and could help with advice.
Please do not think that I am having a go at Linux user's, (I am not) I did say that I would like more info sometime ago, I just have not had the time to look into it, I must put that right and have another look.
If enough members are interested then maybe Cindy will make it a sticky.
Happy travels guys.
-- Edited by Webmaster on Tuesday 18th of March 2014 10:31:20 AM
I would also read it with interest and if there is enough useful info and help offered I would be willing to give it another go for about the 5th time, I am hoping that maybe it has improved since I last tried Ubuntu 12.5 3 or 4 years ago..
I would also add that I wouldn't try to hijack it with Microsoft propaganda
..
good one bob, would be good if somebody who knows what they are talking about could start a topic on the subject.
-- Edited by _wombat_ on Monday 17th of March 2014 04:24:25 PM
am very interested in anything that will help improve a computing experience and take profit away from billy
frank
Wonder why it's lost ground in this particular segment of the market?
cos nobody here wants to start a topic on the subject, I have just sent NP and PeterD a PM in case they have not seen this post, on the other hand maybe they do not have the time to put into it, no problem some Google searching should give me more info I hope.
How about you start the thread Wombat and hopefully someone will come along and help us get our puters up and running with Linux..
I will be home in 2 days (After 8 weeks and 15000k on the road) and I have about 10 spare Pentium 4 and duel core towers that I can pick out one from to use to try it on..
I feel it needs to be started by somebody who knows what they are talking about, I did have a try with on an old laptop running XP but the computer was about 5-6 years old and I could not get it to run from a dvd, tried the bios and could not get it to start with the dvd, I don't want to install it without first trying it.
Good idea Wombat. I am just about to give Linux a go and would apprexiate some expert guidance
Steve
Gday...
Feel like ya got a bit of time to spend ?
This is an expansive read - seems to cover heaps of stuff. However, I cannot comprehend it without a "Linux technical guru" to translate for me. It's all double-dutch to me
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux
I cannot see how I could simply "download Linux operating system" to my pooter without over-writing the WIN7 OS ... happy to be shown I am wrong.
Consequently, I would not wanna puddle in Linux without considerable assistance, before I decided, and during the process.
But it certainly seems to be a "highly accepted and preferred" OS.
Cheers - John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Monday 17th of March 2014 09:12:32 PM
RL, you do not need to install it just download to a dvd and run your computer from the dvd, well that is how I see it and I am no expert on Linux but would like to learn more about it, my paroblem is time I need 36 hours in a day
Gday...
Interesting.
So, I download it to a DVD - not sure I could do that without saving it to the HDD first.
But that notwithstanding, I therefore assume that I continue to have WIN7 OS and my existing software on my HDD for me to use, but run the Linux OS from a DVD 'behind/beside/over the top of' WIN7 OS.
I am now REALLY confused.
Cheers - John
that's the way I see it but we do need somebody who has more knowledge on the subject, I am no expert, I think you can use both on dvd or install and yes it can be used as well as Win 7 or any os I believe
I believe you would download an image file (with a .ISO extension) which is then burned to a DVD. However, you need the proper program to burn an ISO image to DVD to make it bootable (you don't just copy it to the DVD). One of the best is Imgburn, free at www.imgburn.com.
Joe
-- Edited by jpw50 on Monday 17th of March 2014 11:50:38 PM
Once you've done that put the disc in the computer and restart it, then your bios should pick the disc first and load mint. It's called a live disc as you can play with it use the internet and all the software, you just can't save or install anything. Remember it isn't windows so don't expect it to act as you are used to, as it won't.
When it loads it gives you the opportunity to decide whether you want to install or use live disc. Choose live disc and go through it, at the bottom left of the screen is a menu, click that and it will open up all the software included, categorised into sections, making it easy to find and use.
Once you've had a play which you can do as many times as you like until you're used to it and decide to install it, just click on install and it will run you through the system as it is installed. Live disc doesn't download or install anything on your system, it's just like an interactive movie.
First it will tell you there is Win on the computer and ask if you want to install mint alongside as a dual boot with windows, or over write the computer entirely, choose dual boot and let it do all the work automatically. Don't try to install it yourself, you may wipe out everything if you aren't sure what you're doing.
The installation will take about 15 minutes, depending on how many updates needed to be downloaded. During the install it will run you through the system, once loaded it will ask you to reboot. When it reboots you will be asked which system you want to boot into, linux or windows.
I'm yet to use Mint petra 16, use LTS (long term support) releases, which provide support for up to 5 years, but there is not one of those for another release or so. If there is anyone really interested in getting into this, then will download mint 16 and run it in a VB so I can emulate any problems others come up with and try to help. Probably others here that are using mint/linux, so should be enough help to get anyone up and running.
Once you get used to mint, you can download any number of distro's and try them out in a VB to see what you think of them.
I am slightly technical, with a title like IT Manager for a small business I have to be, and from time to time I have had a go at moving a PC to Linux as I see it as a cheaper ongoing proposition, and it would also allow me to switch to open office.
Each time I have tried I get so far, and things start to get difficult, probably because I have made a mistake earlier, or I have assumed something will work in a specific way, under the pressures of modern life, it gets forgotten again.
I would like to see a thread here with people who would be prepared to put together a guide to setting up a laptop suitable for travelling, with Linux, Open Office, and whatever else would be of value. It would give me the confidence to have another go.
It would also help me with one of my other project areas where I play with AVR programming.
Hi NP, thank you for that info a couple of questions, what is a VB? what is a distro? I have just Googled Mint and here's some info for those that are interested in LinuxMint
http://www.linuxmint.com/
http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=mint
http://www.extremetech.com/computing/104581-linux-mint-the-new-ubuntu
I have just downloaded what I thought was Linux Mint and the download is 'linuxmint-16-cinnamon-dvd-32bit.iso' is this the correct one?
A distro is a linux distribution, which comes in hundreds of flavours and types, you can check out what's available distro watch. This is where most linux developers submit their new release, you can choose from hundreds to suit your purposes, hobby or business. However many are not good for the average user and require a bit more understanding of how things work. There's a distro for just about anything you want to get into, many small and very large businesses run on linux/open source very successfully and the economies of scale are brilliant. http://distrowatch.com/
A VB is a virtual box, which is a software package that allows you to install and run a number of distro's from within a linux box, (computer). There is a virtual box for windows, which does the same thing, but from reports I've read windows doesn't really like it and there may be bugs to contend with. https://www.virtualbox.org/
If you're a Windows technical person, you may have more trouble with linux than the average user. Windows techs seem to be very reluctant to change the way they think things should work and can create many problems for themselves. Much better to let linux do it for you and then as you get int it, questions and software needs will come up. That's when you can begin to learn how it works under the hood, how to tweak and customise your distro, or just continue using automatic installations and fixes. What ever you do don't try to understand all the tech stuff on the web, that's for developers and linux nerds who like to tinker and play under the hood. In the end they make their own custom distro, which is pretty easy once you understand how it all works.
Open Office is standard in mint, as is just about every bit of software you may need for using your computer, camera's, printers, whatever. It's all in synaptic package manager, which is found in preferences in the menu. When you click on the menu and any item, it will tell you what it is and does. On the left of the menu there are icons which you can click on to get started, one if Firefox for browsing and one is the software manager, which is different to synaptic package manager and tells you about the software you are about to install, synaptic is a bit more technical. Check out all the menu and you will find everything you need to get started.
-- Edited by native pepper on Tuesday 18th of March 2014 10:27:53 AM
Yes
thank you NP, I asked Cindy to change the topic heading, making it easier to find for Linux users, thanks Cindy.
-- Edited by _wombat_ on Tuesday 18th of March 2014 10:59:37 AM
Looks like it, windows presents disc contents a bit differently, but it all seems there. Just put it in and reboot. To be sure it's downloaded right, you could do a mdssum check, but don't worry about that at the moment as it should work as is. if not them you can do a check and see where the problem is. Normally downloads at this stage of development have all the bugs fixed that a normal user may come across, I rarely do a mdssum check, unless the download source is not that stable and it's a beta or experimental distro. Getting it from Mint alleviates that problem 99% of the time.
thanks NP, I have to go out soon, will try that later today or tomorrow
Thanks for all your help to date NP it is much appreciated, it looks as though some of us may keep you busy for a while.
Steve
You don't need Linux to install OpenOffice.org. I have not purchased any M$ Office produce this century. I was using an old copy of M$ Works until OpenOffice.org was released. In April 2011, Oracle announced the discontinuation of Oracle Open Office as part of the decision to turn OpenOffice.org into a "purely community-based project". Active successor projects include Apache OpenOffice, LibreOffice and NeoOffice. Since then I have been using LibreOffice.
You can download the latest stable version from here. Download both filex, install the Main Installer first and then the help file second.
I run mint and Ubuntu studio as my main distro's on the pc and Ubuntu studio on laptops, which are used when travelling. Have Suse, Debian and different others in VB at most times, just can't stop checking new distro's and beta software. Used Suse for a couple of years, but the girls found it to finicky, so stick with Mint for them.
Linux seems to have become a lot easier this time around, either that or it was the good advice I had leading me. I am typing this on a computer running the Cinnamon flavor of Mint as a USB Live install.
It is certainly faster than windows (even with teh USB delay), and while different enough to be frustrating in the begining I can see the interface is now consistent, and no longer requires a huge amount of "geek" to use it.
Thanks NP for encouraging us Linux newbies.
two of my laptops are not able to access the dvd as 1st option at start up, both Compaq and Dell do not have the option to change the setting's in the bios so looks like I will not be able to try out Linux, having said that I do remember somewhere I read about the Linux operating from a flash/mem stick, any info on this maybe helpful to me and others.
If I cannot alter the bios for dvd to read first would I need to do the same for a flash/mem stick?
-- Edited by _wombat_ on Wednesday 19th of March 2014 09:26:12 AM