I just posted some fun stuff on the Sevenforums

[whs]

When you have some time, head over to this thread on the sevenforums where I have posted some fun alternative to Windows 8.

 

[DavidY]

I've tried Linux Live CDs a few years ago.

However I got stuck trying to make it talk to WiFi. I got as far as working out I needed to use ndiswrapper or some thing of the sort but couldn't figure out how to make it work. Having tried many paramaters, I eventually gave up in frustration.

Although I do criticise bits of Windows 8, compared to that version of Linux, Windows 8 is utterly heavenly.

I take it Linux is catching up though?

 

[SIW2]

Some would say it way ahead. Perhaps you haven't looked at it for a while. Mint is popular

 

[whs]

David, try Mint Mate as I have oulined in my tutorials. Run it in virtual (WMware player - instructions also included). It is really stunning. Just have a look at this one feature for starters: Mint Mate - Terminal Window - YouTube

And everything works 'out of the box' - even in virtual.

 

[DavidY]

Some would say it way ahead. Perhaps you haven't looked at it for a while.

Yes, this was indeed years ago.

David, try Mint Mate as I have oulined in my tutorials. Run it in virtual (WMware player - instructions also included).

Ah thanks for that. I'm wondering if VMware player will work with my old CPU? It won't run Hyper-V for instance as the processor is missing some feature or other. (Plus it's 32-bit Windows 8.)

 

[whs]

I don't think there will be a problem with the CPU. What is more important is the speed of the disk. I run my VMware Player partitions from a SSD - even from an external SSD attached via USB3 (but there is little difference to USB2). I run Windows 8 that way too (from the external).

PS, what did you think about that Terminal setup ?? Also, the video was made with a screen capture program in Mint. It is also described in my tutorial series. It is simple and high quality.

 

[Indianatone]

WHS, I am going to set up a Zorin VM and I have a Mint VM already done. I have seen your excellent tutorials on you tube.
Just need my heart to stop hurting so much so I can have a clear head to play with the virtual machines. If I were M$ I would be very worried since 8 is such an epic fail on all fronts. If you have an older XP machine, don't play games except on-line casual Linux is all you need to surf and play music and do some emailing and letter writing.

 

[whs]

I hope you will be well soon. I like to have a buddy to exchange ideas - if possible a healthy buddy, says the man who has all the ailments of the world. But I am a tough cookie.

 

[Indianatone]

Thanks, I have an appointment in early April to see about an LVAD. Then I'll be computerized aswell.

 

[DavidY]

PS, what did you think about that Terminal setup ??

Well it is cool that you can customise Terminal like that. But the implication that you'd spend so much time there, that you'd want to customise it, is discouraging.

Back in the day I once had a vacation job using Unix for a short time, so the commands needed to drive Linux probably exist somewhere in the back of my mind. But if I wanted to try Linux, would I really have to dredge through my brain to remember all the command-line stuff?

 

[whs]

I found that you normally do not need Terminal to get things done. In Mint, there is enough UI to do most things. But sometimes you need it - e.g. to setup the VMware tools. Those are 2 simple commands that scare nobody. Or if you want to download things it is often easiest to use the command line. E.g. to install more themes, you use apt install mate-themes - not really a rocket science.

 

[Hopachi]

When you have some time, head over to this thread on the sevenforums where I have posted some fun alternative to Windows 8.

Great documentation.
Another good thing in addition is that you can install VMware Player in a Mint host too.

 

[whs]

Right, VMware Player works in Linux as a host - if that is your configuration. I wonder whether you could actually install it in a Linux that is already running under VMware Player - triple level. But that would be just for the fun of it without any practical sense.

 

[Hopachi]

Right, VMware Player works in Linux as a host - if that is your configuration. I wonder whether you could actually install it in a Linux that is already running under VMware Player - triple level. But that would be just for the fun of it without any practical sense.

That was my configuration some time ago, now I'm on Win8.

Yes you could install Player in a Linux guest, be it running on Windows or Linux hosts. You would get a warning note that it will degrade performance but you are allowed to do that for fun by the installer anyway.