So I'm thinking of sticking my toe in the Linux waters...

[Rik]

As you may have read elsewhere, by a piece of jammy luck, I'm getting a new lappy tomorrow courtesy of the OED.

I was, therefore, thinking of having a little play with Linux on my old Acer lappy. However, when I go to the Linux Mint site, I'm presented with 4 variants:

Linux Mint 10 (grey, and therefore pleasing to my eye)
Mint Debian
Mint 9 Xfce
Mint 9 KDE

If someone could explain the differences and which version to go for, I'd be grateful.

Thanks

[Steve]

My guess  

Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu

Mint Debian is based on Debian Testing


Mint 9 Xfce and Mint 9 KDE are the previous version with 2 different desktop environments (GUI)

[Glenn]

I put Mint 10 on my Dell Mini 9 (had Mint 9 on previously), it works fine apart from no wireless.

[Rik]

Was that a Dell issue or a Linux one, Glenn?

[Rik]

Mint Debian is based on Debian Testing

Which is? The main advantage of this one seemed to be self-updating.

Mint 9 Xfce and Mint 9 KDE are the previous version with 2 different desktop environments (GUI)

Any recommendations on which is better?

[Glenn]

I haven't found the correct Linux driver for it yet, none available on the Dell site, but I haven't looked too far. The drivers that are suggested, both Broadcom B43's fail to load, when I try to activate them.

[trophymick]

This is the version I have been using Rik, it's supported up until 2013.

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=52

[Glenn]

Which is? The main advantage of this one seemed to be self-updating.

I just hit the update button after building, it then search and installed 100+ updates fairly quickly.

[Rik]

I haven't found the correct Linux driver for it yet, none available on the Dell site, but I haven't looked too far. The drivers that are suggested, both Broadcom B43's fail to load, when I try to activate them.

Mmm. I tried looking for HP drivers for my printers and found the site was down for maintenance.  

[Rik]

This is the version I have been using Rik, it's supported up until 2013.

http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=52

Which GUI is that, Mick?

[Rik]

I just hit the update button after building, it then search and installed 100+ updates fairly quickly.

Sounds just like a new Windows machine.

[Glenn]

http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/ is an easy way to make a bootable Linux USB drive.

[Rik]

Thanks. I was wondering about going down the live CD route initially...

[Steve]

'Testing' means it should be a stable version or not go badly wrong, it has rolling updates which may or may not work 

[Rik]

Nothing like a definitive answer, Steve.

[Ray]

I should have a look at Ubuntu V10 as well, Rik, I managed to get the wireless working on that, like Glenn I couldn't get it to work on Mint 9.

[Rik]

Thanks, Ray. How about printer drivers?

[Steve]

The different desktops have differing functionality so probably worth a google to see which may suit. I'm guessing Linux Mint is based on the commoner Gnome desktop

[Rik]

I thought this was going to be easy.

[JB]

I'm guessing Linux Mint is based on the commoner Gnome desktop

It is Steve. I'm running Linux Mint 10 (Julia) on my second computer. Amongst other things, I use it for accessing personal banking sites. I haven't used a Windows machine for that purpose for quite a while.

I have tried both Ubuntu 10.10 and Linux Mint 10 and although based on Ubuntu, I find the Linux Mint GUI nicer to the eye. I find the Mint GUI less Gnome-ey.

Rik, if you do try Mint, here is a good page of tweaks that I found very useful:-

http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/tips-and-tricks-linux-mint-after-installation.htm

[Rik]

Thanks, JB.

[MisterW]

Mmm. I tried looking for HP drivers for my printers

Shouldn't need to Rik, just install the 'hplip' ( HP Linux Printing & Imaging System ) package ( using the package manager ), if it isn't already installed, and your HP printer should just work.

I thought this was going to be easy.

It is!, it's just different though!

I'd certainly give a live CD a go first, you've lost nothing cos you'll need the live CD to install it anyway, it just gives you a chance
to check things ( like wireless! ) are working before you commit.

I've been using Ubuntu now for a couple of years on my desktop and netbook and wouldn't want to go back to Windows, all that messing about with AV and Firewall's , no thanks!!

[pctech]

I thought this was going to be easy.

Nobody said this was easy

[Rik]

Shouldn't need to Rik, just install the 'hplip' ( HP Linux Printing & Imaging System ) package ( using the package manager ), if it isn't already installed, and your HP printer should just work.

Does that include multi-function devices do you know?

It is!, it's just different though!

It's the range of choices which is confusing.

{quote]I'd certainly give a live CD a go first, you've lost nothing cos you'll need the live CD to install it anyway, it just gives you a chance
to check things ( like wireless! ) are working before you commit.[/quote]

I've been using Ubuntu now for a couple of years on my desktop and netbook and wouldn't want to go back to Windows, all that messing about with AV and Firewall's , no thanks!!

I'll feel naked without one.

[Rik]

Nobody said this was easy

[MisterW]

Does that include multi-function devices do you know?

Yep, I've got a networked PSC 2610 printer/scanner and that works fine.
I must admit that, when I tried Ubuntu two years ago, having got a basic system working for a test I thought 'ah how do I get it to talk to my printer then!!'. I just went to System->Printers->Add , selected networked printer , it found it and it just worked!!

I'll feel naked without one.

It's liberating, enjoy

Another good thing about Ubuntu/Mint is that all updates ( both OS and any installed applications ) are handling by the same update method from the repositories. There's none of each application prompting you to download an update, there's just one update manager which runs periodically and notifies you what updates are available for your system. Much simpler, but different to Windows...

[kinmel]

I would start with a straight Ubuntu install.

It is stable and has great online support, with the answer to almost any question ( a bit like here really ). The whole thing just works out of the box and Ubuntu comes with the hassle already taken out.

Once installed you can change between GUIs at will and if you break it, a new install takes less than 30 minutes.

Once you have played a while you can try all the other flavours and choose then; none cost a penny and all work very well.

[Simon]

Ubuntu is what I dipped my toe in a while back.  I found it reasonably easy to get to grips with, as long as I stuck to the point and click UI.  Getting into command lines wasn't my bag, though, and I struggled trying to install apps that weren't in the repository (which sometimes didn't seem to be all that up to date, eg, it didn't have the latest version of SeaMonkey).  It's definitely a learning curve, and had I devoted more time to it, I'd have probably got the hang of it, but without the spare time, the 'comfort' of Windows won the day.

[JB]

There is one thing that Mint has over vanilla Ubuntu. All the little 'non free' additions, such as video and audio encoders/decoders, are included in the Mint distribution but not in Ubuntu. They are fully available for Ubuntu and installation is trivial and free, provided you have some Linux experience. Mint will get you going more quickly out of the box if you intend to work with sound and video.

[Steve]

Anyone got the additional repository listing for Ubuntu for adding the audio and video codecs. maybe useful? Also thinking about wifi chipsets and Linux compatibility is NDISwrapper easy to use?

[DorsetBoy]

PCLinuxOS always seems to work pretty much out of the box for me 

[Rik]

And there I was trying to narrow the field.

[Simon]

That's partly the trouble with it, isn't it?

[Rik]

Big pond, lots of little fishes...

[kinmel]

the joy is you can try them all

[Rik]

And find time to post?

[D-Dan]

I'm late to the party with this, but my recommendation would be Mint (Not the LMDE which is currently not as well tested or supported). As has already been mentioned, this covers Ubuntu with the restricted extras thrown in.

Wireless issues (if your wireless doesn't work out of the box) can usually be solved using the Windows driver and NDISWrapper (which is helpfully located in the Mint menu after install - though I personally didn't use it, my wireless card just worked).

The vast majority of printers will, likewise, just work, though not necessarily with all the functionality of the Windows drivers, but usually enough to, ermm, print stuff.

As for MFPs, YMMV with regard to the likes of the scanner etc, though I have to say that SANE is pretty good generally.

Steve

[Rik]

Sane I can do, Steve. Thanks.  LMDE?

[D-Dan]

LMDE is Linux Mint Debian Edition. I'd steer clear for now (I tested it in a VM and it's not as polished or stable as the standard Mint).

Steve

[Rik]

Thanks. No wonder I'm getting confused - too many choices.

[D-Dan]

A few more listed here

http://www.gigatux.com/linux.php

(These are some of the specialist distros out there)

Steve

[Rik]

Stop, I surrender! 

[pctech]

I lost patience with Linux after dabbling to try and get used to the CLI so that I could maybe manage a Linux server but I'm one of those folks that likes to study documentation but trying to find some complete documentation is like finding a needle in a haystack.

[chrisga]

I lost patience with Linux after dabbling to try and get used to the CLI so that I could maybe manage a Linux server but I'm one of those folks that likes to study documentation but trying to find some complete documentation is like finding a needle in a haystack.

Had the same problem with servers - I'm sure it's OK when  you get a  way into it, but finding  readable  documentation  that corresponds to what you want to do  seemed a bit of a  nightmare. Time is of course always of the essence - I gave up as well, other things seemed rather more fun for the time expended . I have however been running Ubuntu (regular) as a 2nd boot on my PC and laptop for a number of years without a  hitch - The specialist  Ubuntu forums are  helpful and  generally more tolerant of  "early learners" than some of the Linux fraternity traditionally were 

[pctech]

I work with a guy who has his own hosting business as well (he works part time) and every day he comes in with his laptop and sits there doing stuff on his server, always typing.

I asked him how he got into it and he said 'I just did', the guy is much more of a geek than I could ever hope to be.

At least with MS-DOS and Windows you can get hold of documentation.

[JB]

Well Rik,

You have heard all the discussion, the like and dislikes.

Question is, will you or won't you?

[MisterW]

Anyone got the additional repository listing for Ubuntu for adding the audio and video codecs. maybe useful?

You need to install the ubuntu-restricted-extras package from the multiverse repository ( which is usually enabled by default ).
See here https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats
There is now also ( for Ubuntu 10.04 ) a start script which guides you through the most common additions and tweaks to a fresh ubuntu install. http://www.webupd8.org/2010/04/what-to-do-after-fresh-ubuntu-install.html

 

[Steve]

Thanks 

[Rik]

Question is, will you or won't you?

First get the new lappy sorted...

[Glenn]

There is another OS http://www.openbsd.org/ 

[Rik]

Calling an OS OpenBSD is a bit off putting to Windows users.

[pctech]

 

[mrapoc]

Linuxmint definately Rik.

I used to use ubuntu, but linuxmint has everything it has plus more. Its faster, easier on the codec problems and pretty much everything works out of the box


It found and installed my networked HP printer (windows install is stupid compared)

Wireless out of the box

Tethering with the htc desire is instant

Quick to power up and down

Recommended!! 

[Technical Ben]

If that's the ColdPlay song, one of my favourites! 

[Rik]

Thanks, Sam. 

[davej99]

I have had some modest success with LinuxMint. Certainly it just worked out of the box and founds basic drivers. Not checked wireless. Seemed to install in about 10 minutes. GUI is slick and as a Windows user I found it very intuitive. However, I have not done much road testing, except browsing, watching BBC News and iPlayer.

To begin with I tried to install alongside XP as dual boot, but this would not work because the installer found apparent disk errors and would not repartition. However, these errors did not exist in check disk.  I cannot find the citation but this seems to be problem associated with the MS file system. Then I did a Mint install over XP reformatting the whole drive and Mint installed fine. As I said Mint just worked out of the box.

Now I have not partitioned a drive since DOS days, so I though I should learn how and experiment a bit. I reformatted the drive again, using GParted Live booted from CD, creating part NTFS and part empty. I put back XP in the NTFS partition and then installed Mint in the empty space. This worked fine and I got dual boot.

As further experiment I then used GParted to create a single NTFS partition and and installed XP. Again the mint installer refused to create a second partition, I concluded that the Mint installer could not deal with a single NTFS partition because of apparent disk errors, which do not seem to appear straight away. However, using GParted booted from CD to first shrink the NTFS partition and create a second EXT partition, I found Mint would install fine, though curiously it would not use the whole of the ext partition.

Had I known how, I guess I should have used GParted to create space or a second partition to start with. But anyway it has turned out to be a usefull tool and so far it has not caused problems creating and removing a mix of NTFS, XPS and EXT partitions, with XP and Mint side by side. BUT figure on trashing your entire system if you try this at home. I was just lucky and have time to waste.

[Glenn]

I now have my Dell Mini9 working via wireless on Mint 10  I used NDiswrapper and the XP driver.

[davej99]

Not sure I know what NDisrapper is?

[Rik]

He's very hot in certain parts of the yoof culture, Dave.

[Glenn]

Dave, I didn't until Steve mentioned it earlier in this thread, it allowed me to use a Windows XP driver, to configure the wireless.

[Ray]

I now have my Dell Mini9 working via wireless on Mint 10  I used NDiswrapper and the XP driver.

What wireless adapter does the Dell use? Glenn, I've just put Mint 10 on my Acer laptop and all I needed to do to get the wireless to work was install the included wireless driver, the Acer uses a Broadcom adapter.

Mint works well and seems to run considerably faster than Windows ever did on the Acer.

[Glenn]

It's using a Broadcom driver, but the suggested Mint drivers wouldn't install.

[davej99]

Dave, I didn't until Steve mentioned it earlier in this thread, it allowed me to use a Windows XP driver, to configure the wireless.

Thanks, Glen. Note to self: read thread more thoroughly

[Rik]

We never do, Dave.

[Ray]

It's using a Broadcom driver, but the suggested Mint drivers wouldn't install.

Strange, Glenn, I had that problem when I tried Mint 9, and I couldn't get the wireless to work at all using that version.

[mrapoc]

Strange, both my dell laptops (one a lot older than the other) detected the driver instantly and offered me the choice to activate it in restricted drivers or whatever its called nowadays

Try connecting via ethernet first, fully update and maybe  then it will detect it/offer it in hardware drivers section

[D-Dan]

Dave, I didn't until Steve mentioned it earlier in this thread, it allowed me to use a Windows XP driver, to configure the wireless.

Nice to know I have my uses

Steve

[Rik]

 

Give us time and we'll think of more.

[nowster]

What wireless adapter does the Dell use?

Whatever was cheapest the day it was assembled, probably.

[pctech]

On their consumer products at least they do seem to use really cheap components.