Considering installing Linux....

[Groo The Perverted]

I have some questions here. I'm thinking of installing Linux on my laptop to try it out, and I have a few things I'm wondering.

1. Is there a free copy out there? like an ISO I can download and burn to a disc, and then just reformat and install this like I would Windows?

2. How is it with drivers? if I plug in my external HD or my external DVDRW will it recognize it?

3. Does Skype work with it? I have a USB mic that I use with Skype as well, and hopefully that would work as well.

4. How's the browser? Flash? Any websites that won't work with it?

I've never had ANY experience with Linux/Ubuntu or whatever but wanted to check it out.

What are things I need to know before doing this? Things that work in Windows but won't in Linux?

[bhampton]

1. Yes, I use Ubuntu and would suggest that.

http://www.ubuntu.com/


2. Very good. Will likely have no problems. If the drivers aren't "free" though they will let you know that you have drivers that aren't "free"... this usually doesn't make any difference since having the hardware gives you rights to the driver

Here's details..

http://www.ubuntu.com/products/whatisubuntu

3. I don't know. I've never tried Skype.

4. Comes with Firefox typically.


Someone gave me an old PC and I put Ubuntu on it. It was simple as could be. You download a ISO CD and boot from it and if you like it lets you try the OS without making changes by booting Linux right from the CD.

I use Mythbuntu on it because I use it as a dedicated DVR. I think it's amazing and I would never try to make Windows work again. Last time I used Windows was XP and l regret the amount of time I spent with it.

Of course installing Linux will mean a reformat of the hard drive usually but if you're sure there's no data that not backed up on there then just dive in. It's really great.

-Brian

[Groo The Perverted]

How does it run? Using XP (SP3 and fully updated) whenever I go to Facebook and use the games on there (Cafe World especially) it slows things down to a crawl if I leave it running more than three minutes or so.

Plus after awhile, I'll have to restart Firefox because the CPU will be @ 100% or close to it.

Is what you run more efficient and clean and sparse?

[Groo The Perverted]

Trying to think of programs that I use that I'm needing to make sure work, or if there's a substitute that's just as good or better.

1. Nero
2. Itunes
3. Skype

EDIT: is Linux and Ubuntu the same thing? Cause Skype works for Linux.

[Hammie]

Ubuntu is a version of Linux. It is a free distribution and be burned to disc for a clean start up/install. I have this on an old laptop and does fine for playing around. I'll be honest that I have not tested it to its max, but I enjoy it when I am using it.

[Groo The Perverted]

Originally Posted by Hammie

Ubuntu is a version of Linux. It is a free distribution and be burned to disc for a clean start up/install. I have this on an old laptop and does fine for playing around. I'll be honest that I have not tested it to its max, but I enjoy it when I am using it.

Also I suppose images are the same right? They use JPEG or whatever?

I've never had ANY experience with Linux so I have no clue.

Just wondering what are things that I can do with Windows that I absolutely can NOT do with Linux

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by Groo The Perverted

Also I suppose images are the same right? They use JPEG or whatever?

I've never had ANY experience with Linux so I have no clue.

Just wondering what are things that I can do with Windows that I absolutely can NOT do with Linux

A BSOD!


Seriously, though, you should be able to do most things that you could on a Windows machine. Obviously, not all programs will work with Linux. There are Windows emulators that can be installed in order to use a Windows only program. However, I have not heard too much luck with this option. Personally, I have never used an emulator.

What are you hoping to accomplish with a Linux laptop?

[Groo The Perverted]

Originally Posted by Hammie

A BSOD!


Seriously, though, you should be able to do most things that you could on a Windows machine. Obviously, not all programs will work with Linux. There are Windows emulators that can be installed in order to use a Windows only program. However, I have not heard too much luck with this option. Personally, I have never used an emulator.

What are you hoping to accomplish with a Linux laptop?

What's BSOD? lol.

As for what I'm trying to accomplish, just something I'm interested in trying. I am hoping that it'll be less memory/cpu usage than Windows. Figuring it'll be streamlined so my system doesn't freeze up or slow down as much as it does now.

As long as I can burn dvds like I can with Nero, use Skype (I have no cell/landline) and can use my external HD, DVDRW and Printer, then I should be golden ponyboy.

[bhampton]

BSOD is a Blue Screen of Death.

I haven't used Windows in so long I almost forgot the color. They really should update it or at least change it up a little sometimes.

There is NO itunes in Llinux. There are very "similar" programs but itunes is itunes and it doesn't exist in Linux outside of emulaters (which I hear work perfectly but I haven't needed them.)

I'm typing this on a Ubuntu system by the way. Ubuntu and my macbook which is running Snow Leopard seem equally use-able and fully robust. They don't crash.

People should really stop rewarding Microsoft since I don't think they have ever made a good operating system.

-Brian

[Groo The Perverted]

Originally Posted by bhampton

BSOD is a Blue Screen of Death.

I haven't used Windows in so long I almost forgot the color. They really should update it or at least change it up a little sometimes.

There is NO itunes in Llinux. There are very "similar" programs but itunes is itunes and it doesn't exist in Linux outside of emulaters (which I hear work perfectly but I haven't needed them.)

I'm typing this on a Ubuntu system by the way. Ubuntu and my macbook which is running Snow Leopard seem equally use-able and fully robust. They don't crash.

People should really stop rewarding Microsoft since I don't think they have ever made a good operating system.

-Brian

If there's no Itunes, how do you update an Ipod? I have an Ipod Classic and enjoy updating it with podcasts and whatnot, but that's not a killer to my idea (the podcasts).

I WOULD need some program on Linux that would allow me to manage my music and sync it with my Ipod though.

As for Windows, I mostly agree, although I've always liked XP.

[xtop]

http://www.kubuntu.org/ >

Originally Posted by bhampton

http://www.ubuntu.com/

[bhampton]

My ipod just sync's with my macbook so I haven't explored this type of stuff.

But I did google ubuntu itunes and found work-arounds to get itunes and also alternatives to itunes.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5197743_down...ux-ubuntu.html

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by xtop

http://www.kubuntu.org/ >

Interesting. Had not heard of that one. The one I use is for making a DVR or in my case a HD DVR like Tivo but free.

http://www.mythbuntu.org/

I have local HD stations coming over cable (I have a cable modem but I don't subscribe to cable service.) Works great., and I can playback stuff from the macbook anywhere in the house and stuff like that.

-Brian

[JE3146]

Originally Posted by xtop

http://www.kubuntu.org/ >

It's just Ubuntu that uses KDE instead of Gnome for the GUI.

Also check out Fedora.

Ubuntu might have more of a following now though.

[xtop]

Originally Posted by JE3146

It's just Ubuntu that uses KDE instead of Gnome for the GUI.

Also check out Fedora.

Ubuntu might have more of a following now though.

i know what it is, i just prefer it. just giving choices

[JE3146]

Originally Posted by xtop

i know what it is, i just prefer it. just giving choices

You posted a link without explanation. Was just explaining