Linux Lover's Thread --

[mjdtexan]

RainPlace, do you use the "Open Office"? I like the way it looks. I have really been procratinating about getting another computor. I have not done so because i am tired of them coming loaded with all kinds of crazy stuff. I hate that.

So, my question is, can you buy a computor with no software, install Linux, install Open Office, and run it? It will go online with no issues?

It will load up fast?

 

[Boyd]

Quote:
I'm running an off lease compaq with an 80gb hd, 3gb ram. I finally switched out the cd rom drive (no burner) to a dvd burner that I had laying around... I fried out my main tower by over clocking it and had a couple of fan failures that led to a literal meltdown.... but anyways, this computer kinda looks and feels like windows XP. Sure some things are different but easy to get used to.

For the first time user -

Start on a live cd... basically you download an ISO image. Any cd or dvd burning program can put that onto a CD or DVD for you and it'll be bootable. You can then boot off of the cd without installing.

If you take the plunge.........

Get ultamatixx for debian based systems
Get the restricted drivers and codecs package that comes from the synaptic package manager
Open Office (which works for both windows and Linux) works just like Microsoft products... but it doesn't cost you 200 bucks... its free!!!!
For those pesky windows programs you can't live without... install wine ver 1.2 also through the package manager

Updates are free
Operating system is free
I've gone close to 3 years without a software crash that I didn't cause ...

 

[mjdtexan]

Quote:
I'm running an off lease compaq with an 80gb hd, 3gb ram. I finally switched out the cd rom drive (no burner) to a dvd burner that I had laying around... I fried out my main tower by over clocking it and had a couple of fan failures that led to a literal meltdown.... but anyways, this computer kinda looks and feels like windows XP. Sure some things are different but easy to get used to.

For the first time user -

Start on a live cd... basically you download an ISO image. Any cd or dvd burning program can put that onto a CD or DVD for you and it'll be bootable. You can then boot off of the cd without installing.

If you take the plunge.........

Get ultamatixx for debian based systems
Get the restricted drivers and codecs package that comes from the synaptic package manager
Open Office (which works for both windows and Linux) works just like Microsoft products... but it doesn't cost you 200 bucks... its free!!!!
For those pesky windows programs you can't live without... install wine ver 1.2 also through the package manager

Updates are free
Operating system is free
I've gone close to 3 years without a software crash that I didn't cause ...

I really really want to do something like that. I cant do that by myself at first. I will ruin a machine. I am sure of it. You could though. I'ma gonna contact you soon.

 

[beakkeeper]

i like macs...

 

[canada-goose]

Quote:
I love it!

 

[Javamama]

I just about to make the leap. I'm so sick of Vista I could spit. Brand new hard drive, plenty of RAM, and stupid Vista is running at a snail pace. I have turned off so many services and spent way to much time tweaking. I actually made a Ubuntu boot disc, ran it and couldn't figure out how to get the internet up and running and just gave up. But guess what - as soon as I ran that Ubuntu, it told me my hard drive was failing. Now I suspected it, but stupid Vista never once diagnosed it

. I purchased a new hard drive and backed up right after that and wouldn't you know - a few days after my hard drive crashed. Thank you, Ubuntu! If I have time to figure out this wireless internet hookup, I'm going to try it again. I don't do programming or anything near it, but I think I could figure it out.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

I wish I knew more about computers so I could do this. However, after just going through all the hoopla upgrading my system to the official Windows 7, I'd like to avoid having to do that again for at least another two years! LOL

For now my computer is running nice and fast, but windows is so slow. I never understood why computers slow down over time, even if you don't make any changes to them! Honestly, it's like they have a mind of their own sometimes!

 

[mjdtexan]

Quote:
I think they slow down on purpose so that we will buy more computers that slow down so we will buy more computers that slow down so that we will buy more computers that will slow down so that we will bu--------------

 

[rainplace]

Windows and Apple opened up the world of computers to the average person. It's an amazing and lovely thing. Unix then later Linux did not have a friendly user interface. In order to use their software there was a huge learning curve. One had to learn how to use the command line, how to read documentation... in other words there was no "plug and play." Windows and Apple gave the world clickability, which is all most people want when they turn on their computers. I mean sheesh, look around any forum see the same question pop up again and again and you know that most people don't understand how powerful a search engine is or don't know how to get through the information to get the answer they want. People want easy. PC and Mac give easy. Nothing wrong with that, it's a great thing.

It is difficult to find system without one of those two operating systems already installed. Rarely are you given the Windows software disc when you buy a computer. This means that if you wipe your system and install Unix, you can't just reinstall windows if it doesn't work out. It's a scary thing. I know because I went through it.

This is why when I hear people say they would like to use Linux but don't know if they can, I recommend Knoppix. You don't have to overwrite or wipe windows off your computer. You just put the Knoppix cd or dvd into the player and reboot your computer. Your computer will then boot the Knoppix linux distribution on your computer and you can play with it all you want. When you are done and want to go back to using Windows, just pop out the disc and reboot... you'll be right back into Windows (or mac).

The first thing you do is download the Knoppix .iso file onto your computer. Make a file on your desktop and download it there. From that file you will burn the .iso onto a cd or dvd... you cannot drag and drop the file... here are instructions from Knoppix found here: http://www.knoppix.net/wiki/Downloading_FAQ#Q:_I_have_downloaded_the_ISO_file._How_do_I_burn_the_ISO.3F_How_is_the_ISO_supposed_to_be_burned.3F

" Q: I have downloaded the ISO file. How do I burn the ISO? How is the ISO supposed to be burned?

A: First check to see if the ISO that was downloaded is perfect & not corrupt. See the above FAQ labeled #Q: What are these strange MD5 files that accompany the ISO CD images?. If it passes the MD5 checksum then you must burn the ISO as an image.

If you have a cd-rw (re-writable) drive, you should opt to use cd-rw disks, saving you from wasting disks and allowing flexability. If you have a cd-r (recordable) drive you will need to use cd-r disks. You will need one 700MB/80min blank CD-RW or CDR disk.

* Windows
o Quick answer: Use a program such as Nero Burning Rom or Roxio CD Creator. You can get a free trial of Nero from their site . In most cases you will want to skip the burning wizard and choose File -> Burn Image or File -> Open. Select the KNOPPIX_Vxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.iso file, then -> Burn.
o Long answer: Of course the answer depends on the individual program you are using to burn CDs, but all common CD-Writing programs should support the option of burning the ISO as an image, you probably just have to find the right menu option. In the burning program, do not drag & drop the ISO into the burning screen. In the windows explorer, do not attempt to decompress the ISO with something like WinRAR or WinZip. You must CHOOSE to burn it as an image. Do not burn it at a fast speed greater than 16X. You must burn it at a very slow speed preferably 4X or 8X. Burn your CDR as a "Single Session CD" or select finalize. The Mode "Disk at once" or "Track at once" should not matter (have a look at the Online-Help of your burning software).
* Windows XP/2003 / Vista only
o Install the ISO Recorder plug-in for Windows Explorer. Once installed you merely right-click on the ISO image and choose "Copy image to CD".

A common mistake made when burning ISOs: "I downloaded & burned the ISO to CDR as a bootable data disc. Now it boots to a A:\\ Caldera DR-DOS prompt." You are probably seeing something like:

Caldera DR-DOS 7.03
Copyright (c) 1976, 1998 Caldera, Inc. All rights reserved.
[DR-DOS] A:\\]

This means that the ISO was burned as a bootable CD or bootable data disc. A Knoppix ISO already includes the boot instructions so it is not necessary to burn it as as a bootable data CD. Burning the ISO file as an image will automatically take care of the bootable details.

It is also possible to burn a bootable Knoppix CD using a Mac. After you have downloaded and verified the .iso file, open Disk Utility from the Utilities folder. Choose Burn from the Images menu and select the .iso. The resulting disk will be bootable on most PCs, the same as if you had used another iso-burning tools. "

I haven't used Knoppix in a while, but my sons took their Knoppix CD everywhere they went so they could always use Linux. They started a whole Linux cool factor among their friends... it was most awesome.

If you need more help, you can PM me if you need to.

 

[canada-goose]

Quote:
Our computer doesn't seem slow and it takes a daily pounding....