windows 8.1 vs ubuntu 14.04

[broe23]

thanks. as i am at the bottom of the learning ladder do you mind if i ask how i do that
broe23

It depends on which one. You would have to use Synaptic Package Manager to load the one that you are wishing to use. Xubuntu uses the XFCE Gui.

There are plenty of resources out there, in how to install the different interfaces. This one explains how to install Gnome. How To Install GNOME 3.12 On Ubuntu GNOME 14.04 Trusty Tahr | LinuxG.net

I chose Xubuntu, because I wanted a light weight interface. But also installed the gnome & kde components, so I can run apps for those two environments as I need to.

 

[broe23]

xubuntu loaded nice and worked right off, but I only do a bit of web browsing and my little bit here on this site,burn the odd iso file ,and listen to some music , so ill stick with windows .

All I use Xubuntu for, is mainly web browsing, and emails. All in Google Chrome.

If I want to listen to music, I use my iPhone. If I want to read something in Kindle. I use my Google Nexus 7, or the Kindle app in Chrome.

 

[noelbeth55]

broe23. again i thank you. i will give it a try. can you recommend a good forum for ubuntu. it is a truly amazing os. thanks again

 

[broe23]

broe23. again i thank you. i will give it a try. can you recommend a good forum for ubuntu. it is a truly amazing os. thanks again

ubuntuforums.org

 

[whs]

I had a hard time on the Ubuntu forum. The guys there were not very friendly. I recommend the Linux Forums - a lot nicer people.

 

[caperjack]

xubuntu loaded nice and worked right off, but I only do a bit of web browsing and my little bit here on this site,burn the odd iso file ,and listen to some music , so ill stick with windows .

All I use Xubuntu for, is mainly web browsing, and emails. All in Google Chrome.

If I want to listen to music, I use my iPhone. If I want to read something in Kindle. I use my Google Nexus 7, or the Kindle app in Chrome.

I don't read much,im still old school for mobile music I still use a ipod 4gig ,i figured it out years ago, if I want to have expensive toys I would have to work for them ,and I hate work ,so, I go with out ,

 

[Superfly]

broe23. again i thank you. i will give it a try. can you recommend a good forum for ubuntu. it is a truly amazing os. thanks again

You may wanna check this one out as well (Non-Debian editions of Mint are supported by Ubuntu repositories) - it has nice tutorials etc...

Well supported as well (Total posts 843540 • Total topics 152599 • Total members 116988)

 

[noelbeth55]

after trying ubuntu 14.04 which i loved i have gone to and will be keeping lubuntu 14.04. amazing os. i feel microsofts days at the top are numbered. i know it will take a while but linux will take the top spot eventually. all i can say is try lubuntu. you will be suprised.

 

[caperjack]

after trying ubuntu 14.04 which i loved i have gone to and will be keeping lubuntu 14.04. amazing os. i feel microsofts days at the top are numbered. i know it will take a while but linux will take the top spot eventually. all i can say is try lubuntu. you will be suprised.

its a good os for sure ,but its a long way to the top ,wishing them luck

 

[whs]

after trying ubuntu 14.04 which i loved i have gone to and will be keeping lubuntu 14.04. amazing os. i feel microsofts days at the top are numbered. i know it will take a while but linux will take the top spot eventually. all i can say is try lubuntu. you will be suprised.

That is a very optimistic view. I love my Mint Mate too, but it will have to go a long way before it can compete with Windows.

The biggest inhibitor for all Linux distros is the number of distros on the market. If they could agree on 2 or 3 systems, they might make some headway. But the way it is, any potential average user will leave the scene in disgust because of the total confusion.

 

[CountMike]

after trying ubuntu 14.04 which i loved i have gone to and will be keeping lubuntu 14.04. amazing os. i feel microsofts days at the top are numbered. i know it will take a while but linux will take the top spot eventually. all i can say is try lubuntu. you will be suprised.

That is a very optimistic view. I love my Mint Mate too, but it will have to go a long way before it can compete with Windows.

The biggest inhibitor for all Linux distros is the number of distros on the market. If they could agree on 2 or 3 systems, they might make some headway. But the way it is, any potential average user will leave the scene in disgust because of the total confusion.

Or at least if those distros would collaborate with each other in a meaningful way.

 

[caperjack]

a big to that

after trying ubuntu 14.04 which i loved i have gone to and will be keeping lubuntu 14.04. amazing os. i feel microsofts days at the top are numbered. i know it will take a while but linux will take the top spot eventually. all i can say is try lubuntu. you will be suprised.

That is a very optimistic view. I love my Mint Mate too, but it will have to go a long way before it can compete with Windows.

The biggest inhibitor for all Linux distros is the number of distros on the market. If they could agree on 2 or 3 systems, they might make some headway. But the way it is, any potential average user will leave the scene in disgust because of the total confusion.

 

[lehnerus2000]

The biggest inhibitor for all Linux distros is the number of distros on the market. If they could agree on 2 or 3 systems, they might make some headway. But the way it is, any potential average user will leave the scene in disgust because of the total confusion.

IMO, that is Linux's greatest strength and also its greatest weakness.

Despite the fact all of these Linux distros have a common base, they don't all implement functions the same way.
Themes are a classic example.

I had an issue the other day setting permissions.
I executed the chmod command (using the Terminal) and it gave no error messages.
However a check of the directory showed that the permissions had not changed!

Apparently the way Ubuntu and Linux Mint mount [DEL]the operating system[/DEL] NTFS partitions can cause problems (according to my friend who has used Arch Linux for ~8 years now).
The solution was to unmount the the drive, change the permissions and then remount the drive.

The thing that annoyed me was the fact that the Terminal indicated (by omission) that the chmod command was succeeding.

But the way it is, any potential average user will leave the scene in disgust because of the total confusion.

IMO, the biggest issue for the average user is that they won't be able to (directly) install the Windows programs they are used to.

 

[whs]

IMO, that is Linux's greatest strength and also its greatest weakness.

Yes, strength for the geeks but weakness for the general public. Unfortunately the geeks are only 2% of the market.

IMO, the biggest issue for the average user is that they won't be able to (directly) install the Windows programs they are used to.

That is the case for many people. But there is also a large amount of users that do only very trivial things and do not need a lot of programs. Those are well served with the programs that are available in Linux.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Yes, strength for the geeks but weakness for the general public. Unfortunately the geeks are only 2% of the market.

It also provides a bit of "biodiversity"; not all Linux Distros are exactly the same.

That is the case for many people. But there is also a large amount of users that do only very trivial things and do not need a lot of programs. Those are well served with the programs that are available in Linux.

Agreed.

If you don't need to specifically use a commercial program (Adobe, MS, etc.) you can do most activities in Linux.

 

[broe23]

If you don't need to specifically use a commercial program (Adobe, MS, etc.) you can do most activities in Linux.

There are a lot of alternatives, that are better then the two brands you named. Any digital animation you see as a movie or tv show. Is all done on Linux workstations.

 

[lehnerus2000]

There are a lot of alternatives, that are better then the two brands you named.

If someone has forked out $2K for Adobe software (or $400 for Office), they are going to expect it to work.

Personally I think Adobe GUIs are horrible.
For example, I prefer to use GIMP rather than Photoshop.

Any digital animation you see as a movie or tv show. Is all done on Linux workstations.

Not with the software I have.

Most of the video editing software I've tried is garbage (Windows and Linux).
I have videos that play perfectly in players, but when they are loaded into video editors, the editors crash.

 

[CountMike]

Those Linux systems for "serious" workstations and servers are nothing like the rest of "consumer" distros. They are custom made and are not free, just as software they are running.

 

[jimbo45]

Never going to be order, it would violate the whole principal. Nobody will agree when you have total freedom.

Xubuntu is faster, but it is more lightweight with less features than other desktops environments. So, it's not my favorite.

Hi there

For Windows users I would recommend any decent Linux Distro that has the KDE desktop -- most windows users trying Linux for the first time would probably find it the most "Windows like" desktop -- even has the Windows 7 type of classic menu too.

Why not try it in a VM first -- that's often the best way to learn a new OS.

I tend these days - even on my laptop (and I'll be trying soon on My new Surface Pro 3) to run Linux Opensuse and have Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 as VM's when I need to access corporate applications -- or sometimes use the Windows to Go system on an external USB HDD. Linux can easily run VM's - VBOX and VMWARE run just fine - and you can try things like XEN if you are a bit more adventurous.


I'm not a gamer so that aspect of Linux doesn't bother me -- however I still can't find any realistic alternative to Ms Office including the email program Outlook so I will stick to windows for as long as I can use Office. (I don't like thunderbird as an email client either).

However things like Kingsoft office are improving - so if and when Ms decides to go Cloud and / or subscription I'm ready to make the move.

For in depth Linux discussions I suggest you start on the various 'nix forums - but there's nothing wrong in using these as VM's under windows as a learning platform.

One HUGE advantage of most Linux distros opposed to windows is that you can run them TOTALLY from external HDD's / USB sticks. (Windows to Go is only available to Enterprise users).
This makes it extremely versatile as a portable system - especially if you have some Windows VM's too.

Example to create a portable Linux system with a Windows VM running totally from an external device (note you need to run this in NON UEFI mode - legacy boot) otherwise the Linux boot loader will get written to the INTERNAL HDD -- for a portable system you want the whole kybosh to run from the EXTERNAL device - not touching the internal one of course. You can access the internal devices though.

http://www.eightforums.com/installa...make-portable-windows-system-any-version.html


@Countmike - OPENSUSE is perfectly robust enough for any desktop if you are using Linux and backed by SUSE/NOVELL who after REDHAT are big also into servers so the system has a lot of "heavyweight commercial backing" behind it. Linux MINT is also good but IMO more for hobbyists than as a serious "workhorse" desktop.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[CountMike]

I got used to Mint as Live on a USB 16GB, perfectly comfortable with it, even with newest version and persistent, for what I use Linux for. Also got it in a VM but not using that too much, to me it's more useful as portable.