From WinXP to Ubuntu
Discussion
I had plans to move to linux as well, but I discovered that a few of my important programs are only on the windows platform and there is no worthy alternative on linux. I know I could use a dual boot arrangement for both OSs but that defeats the whole point of moving to linux for me.
I've used Ubuntu solely as my only OS for the last two years, originally a dual-boot setup, but I ditched Windows last December as I had never used it after making the switch.
I don't use Unity though, my desktop uses Cairo Dock as a sole launcher, it's quicker and less resource hungry, and much simpler.
People think it's a 'Mac on a PC' when they see it or use it. It's just easier to go 'Kind of...', rather than try and explain though.
I don't use Unity though, my desktop uses Cairo Dock as a sole launcher, it's quicker and less resource hungry, and much simpler.
People think it's a 'Mac on a PC' when they see it or use it. It's just easier to go 'Kind of...', rather than try and explain though.
ash73 said:
See here and here - just to illustrate...
My folks use some family tree software on Windows, so I'll try that later...
Already aware of it and thought all my problems were over when I discovered it but unfortunately doesn't work due to API issues and also the fact that it's only supported to XP level.My folks use some family tree software on Windows, so I'll try that later...
I used only Ubuntu for 5 years. If you don't mind your OS being completely unpolished, and you aren't scared of getting down and dirty with terminal commands then you'll get by. Whether you will like it as such... Debatable. Upgrades come every 6 months, and generally they will break something major every time for your particular hardware, and you'll need to scrat around to find a fix. Also they have a habit of removing certain packages and replacing them with others with new OS versions. If you get used to using something, you might upgrade and find it's disappeared. It never feels like it's quite finished. Also canonical are really fragmenting away from mainline Linux, and are getting distracted with silly things like their new phone etc. As a rule of thumb, desktop Linux at best is approximate to what a chinese rip off of Mac OSX would be like. It's free, and you get what you pay for.
I've been occasionally dipping into Linux for the last ten years or so, and each time has been a bit more polished and a bit less painful. The last time, with Mint and , I was very impressed with how easily it installed, no hardware issues at all, nice UI. I reckon a win7 user would find Mint more intuitive than win8.
Edited by otolith on Monday 7th April 10:39
Blown2CV said:
I used only Ubuntu for 5 years. If you don't mind your OS being completely unpolished, and you aren't scared of getting down and dirty with terminal commands then you'll get by. Whether you will like it as such... Debatable. Upgrades come every 6 months, and generally they will break something major every time for your particular hardware, and you'll need to scrat around to find a fix. Also they have a habit of removing certain packages and replacing them with others with new OS versions. If you get used to using something, you might upgrade and find it's disappeared. It never feels like it's quite finished. Also canonical are really fragmenting away from mainline Linux, and are getting distracted with silly things like their new phone etc. As a rule of thumb, desktop Linux at best is approximate to what a chinese rip off of Mac OSX would be like. It's free, and you get what you pay for.
Why didn't you stick with the LTS versions and only upgrade if you want the additional bells and whistles?Very interesting thread and well done to the OP.
It's nice its not degenerating into the usual "windows is bad and I hate this version like....." as so many do.
I am interested in the music player capabilities as I'm thinking of rebuilding a little acer desktop as a dedicated music pc. The sound will be via a USB to optical to old Arcam Dac box I acquired cheap.
It's for a gift for a family member for a rear lounge. I have the 22" Samsung screen, external HD to rip the music too and wireless mouse/ Keyboard - all bought cheap as chips. A cheap viable OS would be helpful. It needs to be easy to use as in switch on click music library and press play really.I can utilise a Win 7 Home Premium license I have but cheap alternatives would be good.
Biggest stumbling box so far seems to be I tunes not being compatable - that's the music player they are used to.
It's nice its not degenerating into the usual "windows is bad and I hate this version like....." as so many do.
I am interested in the music player capabilities as I'm thinking of rebuilding a little acer desktop as a dedicated music pc. The sound will be via a USB to optical to old Arcam Dac box I acquired cheap.
It's for a gift for a family member for a rear lounge. I have the 22" Samsung screen, external HD to rip the music too and wireless mouse/ Keyboard - all bought cheap as chips. A cheap viable OS would be helpful. It needs to be easy to use as in switch on click music library and press play really.I can utilise a Win 7 Home Premium license I have but cheap alternatives would be good.
Biggest stumbling box so far seems to be I tunes not being compatable - that's the music player they are used to.
gpo746 said:
Very interesting thread and well done to the OP.
It's nice its not degenerating into the usual "windows is bad and I hate this version like....." as so many do.
I am interested in the music player capabilities as I'm thinking of rebuilding a little acer desktop as a dedicated music pc. The sound will be via a USB to optical to old Arcam Dac box I acquired cheap.
It's for a gift for a family member for a rear lounge. I have the 22" Samsung screen, external HD to rip the music too and wireless mouse/ Keyboard - all bought cheap as chips. A cheap viable OS would be helpful. It needs to be easy to use as in switch on click music library and press play really.I can utilise a Win 7 Home Premium license I have but cheap alternatives would be good.
Biggest stumbling box so far seems to be I tunes not being compatable - that's the music player they are used to.
LTS only came around as a thing maybe 3 updates from when I moved away from the OS, but my experience was that those releases weren't any more reliable when they first came out than the non-LTS. The only difference is that they are supported for longer, hence the name. It's nice its not degenerating into the usual "windows is bad and I hate this version like....." as so many do.
I am interested in the music player capabilities as I'm thinking of rebuilding a little acer desktop as a dedicated music pc. The sound will be via a USB to optical to old Arcam Dac box I acquired cheap.
It's for a gift for a family member for a rear lounge. I have the 22" Samsung screen, external HD to rip the music too and wireless mouse/ Keyboard - all bought cheap as chips. A cheap viable OS would be helpful. It needs to be easy to use as in switch on click music library and press play really.I can utilise a Win 7 Home Premium license I have but cheap alternatives would be good.
Biggest stumbling box so far seems to be I tunes not being compatable - that's the music player they are used to.
After my Windows install crapped itself on my 7 years old laptop and refused to boot i installed the lubuntu version of ubuntu i.e. light weight ui. With google chrome I can watch all the normal flash video porn same as windows and it plays minecraft just fine, what more do you need?
I've been using Ubuntu for about four years now and still think it's excellent. Initially installed (as seems to often be the case) to recover a failed Windows machine, I stuck with it because it was much quicker than XP on an old machine and felt far nicer to use.
That was something like version 9 which looked significantly different to 12 and I wasn't sure about 12 when I moved, but I've got used to it now. The only programme I haven't been able to get to work is GoToMeeting (for video conferences); everything else works well through Wine (including games). You can also install a virtual Windows machine if you desperately need a back up.
That was something like version 9 which looked significantly different to 12 and I wasn't sure about 12 when I moved, but I've got used to it now. The only programme I haven't been able to get to work is GoToMeeting (for video conferences); everything else works well through Wine (including games). You can also install a virtual Windows machine if you desperately need a back up.
ash73 said:
Not tried the Chrome browser yet, but I added flash to Firefox as follows:
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras
<tab><space><tab><space> to accept terms
ash73 - both restricted extras and chrome are available in the Ubuntu Software Centre for free - a 2 click install. I haven't needed to go to the terminal to use sudo at all with my current installation.sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras
<tab><space><tab><space> to accept terms
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