Desktop Linux For The Windows Power User

[sjmurraymd]

My Computer is running Win XP, but I want to completely rid myself of it and install Linux instead. Does the Edit Partition option give me the option of writing over or deleting or re-formatting or whatever, so that I am left with Linux, only Linux and no trace of Windows?

Thx!

S.

 

[ebattleon]

This was a well written article and Ubuntu is an excellent Linux distribution. There are other decent ones out there but for the cost of a download and CD it is worth a try. The lack of game support has less to do with Linux itself and more to do with money.

Hardware support issues are due to mfrs not willing to release hardware details s the Linux community wouold write the drivers for free. In fact a lot of device support is due to the Linux community hacking the command structure on the device.the command.

As to software support Microsoft pays companies to develop software for windows. Also quiet a few gaming companies develop their software on Linux boxes but never release Linux versions of the game.So it is about money and the lack of legislation the levels the playing field.

Sigh

 

[Guest]

hi, does anyone know if the audio/video drivers for Linux have been updated yet??

if so, does it make sense for me to switch my OS to Linux
and run an EVGA video card and an Azuntech X5 prelude sound card,
(that is if these drivers are available for Linux)

thanks in advance for any help or comments about this question.

peace to you all!

 

[Guest]

A word of warning about dual booting with windows... If window's file system gets hosed, as happens when windows throws BSODs, you won't be able to run chkdsk to fix it. The bootloader will keep you from running chkdsk. I searched for days and could not find any way to get chkdsk to run so I had to wipe out my linux install to get to where I could run chkdsk to fix the windows file system. After the "fix" Windows kept on throwing the BSODs and the ultimate fix was to wipe the HDD and reinstall windows.

How is it possible that the world has settled on an OS that requires periodic (like every 6 months) reinstalls in order to keep the machine running? Why aren't people screaming about it?

Linux is OK, but there are a few things that really bug me. I've tried three different ubuntu installs (and a Mandriva) on my laptop and found that the gosh-darned thing can't be made to hibernate when you close the computer. Such a simple thing! Then there's the power drain. For some reason linux distros don't seem to come with a power-save mode built in. You have to play games with things like PowerTop to identify processes that wake the cpu and suck power for no good reason. Then you have to figure out how to deal with those processes.

Why don't any of the big linux players produce laptop oriented versions of their OSes that come with everything configured for minimum power drain and hibernate the OS when the lid is closed?

 

[Guest]

Q: what is that "OS X-styled panel" app that you're using?
and thanks... yes a great howto article that influenced me to make the change. I've moved my XP environment to VirtualBox. Now my usb devices stay attached to the localhost and don't affect the XP guest machine. Fantastic!

 

[Guest]

Hi all,

If you ever consider to evaluate linux you should only go for either Linux Mint 7 (based on Ubuntu or Mandriva 2009.1 (both are speedy and amazingly user friendly). You will fall love with them. Choice is yours. Beginners should only start with these distros.

www.linuxmint.com
www.mandriva.com

 

[lsnarskis]

Ware is the GUI
It seems the 64 bit server version of Ubuntu has no GUI?

From Ubuntu documentation

https://help.ubuntu.com/9.04/serverguide/C/installing-from-cd.html

“The basic steps to install Ubuntu Server Edition from CD are the same for installing any operating system from CD. Unlike the Desktop Edition the Server Edition does not include a graphical installation program. Instead the Server Edition uses a console menu based process.”

From Adams Article

“All screenshots have been taken from the 32-bit edition of Ubuntu 9.04, but the instructions are essentially the same for 8.04, 32-bit, and 64-bit editions”

Not true 64bit has no GUI installer

I need a GUI I can’t find a install guide for the GUI
Desktops come with the GUI so no help there
HELP!!!!

 

[Guest]

I got lost trying to understand all this at
http://media.bestofmicro.com/Linux-Ubuntu-9-04,X-8-209852-13.png

Why do you need to specify "do not use the partition" ? That isn't explained and confuses me to the point where I give up

 

[FoShizzleDizzle]

The reason more people don't use Linux is because the minimum requirements include having a pulse -- or what someone here earlier referred to as being 'special'. Proof of this is in statements from detractors, such as how it's apparently Linux's fault it can't run games. Reading that is a good reminder of just how dumb people really are. Even ones who somehow manage to stumble through the sign up sheet to post on Tom's Hardware.

 

[yester64]

[citation][nom]smlong[/nom]Oh yeah - and I have to really say this:I was a loyal Amiga user from 1990 until about 1998. I gave up the Amiga for a few reasons. [/citation]
Let me say this. I was an Amiga user too and i remember very well, that Amiga users in general hated M$. Yes, i switched eventually to M$ as well. But i run now Ubuntu and i can tell you, everything i had on Windows i have now on Ubuntu running.
For one thing, Linux is safer and any program you find on windows you will find on linux something similar.
But if you love how windows works, then yes, windows is your way to go.
But i refuse to pay everytime M$ money for another version of Windows, plus all the updates you have to buy for every program.
I used Acdsee which was original pretty good, but now it has stability and security problems. And it never gets solved and you pay for that.
The Amiga system was far superior to windows, but was also a closed system. And thats the major difference. With linux you choose an open system made by people for people.
You have to have a certain mindset to run linux and an another to run windows.

 

[mayne92]

Adam - "I just want the most amount of control over my system [ubuntu] as possible"

I couldn't agree more with you adam on that! Why I switched my server over to Fedora and Netbook over to Ubuntu...I prefer operating my computers this way with the obvious benefit of stability and greater security.

 

[mayne92]

[citation][nom]lsnarskis[/nom]Ware is the GUI It seems the 64 bit server version of Ubuntu has no GUI?From Ubuntu documentationhttps://help.ubuntu.com/9.04/server [...] om-cd.html“The basic steps to install Ubuntu Server Edition from CD are the same for installing any operating system from CD. Unlike the Desktop Edition the Server Edition does not include a graphical installation program. Instead the Server Edition uses a console menu based process.”From Adams Article“All screenshots have been taken from the 32-bit edition of Ubuntu 9.04, but the instructions are essentially the same for 8.04, 32-bit, and 64-bit editions”Not true 64bit has no GUI installer I need a GUI I can’t find a install guide for the GUI Desktops come with the GUI so no help there HELP!!!![/citation]
There are many tutorials out there that people write in response to linux problems and overcomings of such as I have accumulated and created and posted online myself for a LOAD of such...you just need to get creative with your google searches ~wink~

 

[WarraWarra]

You would have to add that for the stupid people you need 1+ partitions 1 for windows xp / vista and other space from linux so you can duel boot and then first have windows installed before installing linux.

I am sure Ubuntu might by now finally have duel booting 20 years after the rest of us in linux has been doing it already.

Tired of reading about some Ubuntu genius who could not duel boot and lost his windows data.

Unfortunately with the recent 2 years and poor crappy code entering into linux source just to push numbers / revision to get more user has caused a truckload of issues / stability in both linux and widows compiled code.

Now you either have to use 2+ years old linux live cd or get someone with balls that is constantly fixing the 90% garbage code in all packages coming out daily in all linux even in the kernel.

PS> the wayland DM any info on that as I see there is some unstable build already using it.

 

[Guest]

Look, the guy made a tutorial to help people who want to switch from windows to linux. Which I bookmarked btw THANK YOU FOR THIS SITE! If you don't want to switch then wtf is your problem? Another bullshit view that needs to be thrown out the window, EVERYONE DOESN'T HAVE TO BELIEVE THE SAME AS YOU! Yeah I'm sure Linux wont fulfill everyones wants and needs. The same can be said about any OS. I even have a client who runs an IBM OS that im sure most people don't even know about. We had to have a tech write special drivers for a few pieces of hardware.. A litttle more expensive but the client desires that OS. We all drink different cups of tea..

Someone said Linux will never go mainstream. You might want to re-evaluate your statement. I just spent $300 on an AR Drone Helicoptor and it is powered by a LINUX OS! The helicoptor is designed to be flown from an IPad. A Linux based device uses WiFi to interact with an Apple device... A little closer to mainstream then you think.

I have windows 7 on my Family Room Pc. I have Linux on my laptop, on my wifes netbook and I just installed Ubuntu on my sons Pc. He loves it. He is only 10 but he has a very good knowledge of computers, the kid bypassed software I installed to regulate his usage. I will also put Linux on my home server as soon as magic jack builds drivers for the os. It's a lite Os that wont eat up my valuable resources. OH and it's open source so I can do whatever the hell I want to. Read Apple, or Microsoft End User License Agreement once... You pay a shit load of money for a big company to tell you what you can do with your computer. OR get a free os that lets you do anything. Hmm that's a hard choice isn't it. LoL.

 

[Guest]

if you want to run windows programs get a iso disk image of it and install it to a virtual hard drive.
you can do it in parallels, virtualbox, qemu... and stop complaining!!!