Discussion
I must confess I've not really paid much attention to Linux over the years.
But now I'm wondering if I could remove my Win XP Pro OS and run Linux instead?
It would need to run MS Office, Lotus SmartSuite, FireFox and Lotus Notes, as well support network printing.
It's to run on a Lenovo ThinkPad T42, with a P4 1.7, 1gig of memory and a 40 gig drive - of which I have about 20 gig of current data.
Any advice suggestions?
Many thanks in advance,
Linux-Numpty Kinky
Edited to add: I've found a useful ThinkPad-specific site, which seems to help enormously from a Thinkpad-specific point of view (drivers, etc) .... www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkWiki But more concerned initially with running my day-to day apps.
But now I'm wondering if I could remove my Win XP Pro OS and run Linux instead?
It would need to run MS Office, Lotus SmartSuite, FireFox and Lotus Notes, as well support network printing.
It's to run on a Lenovo ThinkPad T42, with a P4 1.7, 1gig of memory and a 40 gig drive - of which I have about 20 gig of current data.
Any advice suggestions?
Many thanks in advance,
Linux-Numpty Kinky
Edited to add: I've found a useful ThinkPad-specific site, which seems to help enormously from a Thinkpad-specific point of view (drivers, etc) .... www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/ThinkWiki But more concerned initially with running my day-to day apps.
Edited by Kinky on Wednesday 16th August 08:51
Firefox - Available as a native app, no probs there.
Network printing - yes.
MS Office - Office 2000 & XP (well, Word, Excel & Powerpoint) is supported via CodeWeavers Crossover office. Later versions are not as of yet.
Lotus Notes - 6.5.1 supported as above.
SmartSuite - Doesn't appear to be.
(Full list of supported software, and what level it works at are available at www.codeweavers.com/products/cxoffice/supported_apps/)
Instead of MS Office, have a look at Open Office (www.openoffice.org/) which should be able to open and save mose MS Office file types. It's free and runs natively under linux, so will be quicker than running MS under the codeweavers product.
HTH,
Jim.
Network printing - yes.
MS Office - Office 2000 & XP (well, Word, Excel & Powerpoint) is supported via CodeWeavers Crossover office. Later versions are not as of yet.
Lotus Notes - 6.5.1 supported as above.
SmartSuite - Doesn't appear to be.
(Full list of supported software, and what level it works at are available at www.codeweavers.com/products/cxoffice/supported_apps/)
Instead of MS Office, have a look at Open Office (www.openoffice.org/) which should be able to open and save mose MS Office file types. It's free and runs natively under linux, so will be quicker than running MS under the codeweavers product.
HTH,
Jim.
Stuff like Ubutnu and Kubuntu are a doddle to use even for a linux "n00b"
www.ubunutu.com
www.kubuntu.com
Only difference between the two is that they run a different desktop package, i personally prefer KDE which means you should choose kubuntu, but many prefer gnome which comes with ubuntu.
These are still proportionally more nerdy than windows, but much less so than other linux distributions.
www.ubunutu.com
www.kubuntu.com
Only difference between the two is that they run a different desktop package, i personally prefer KDE which means you should choose kubuntu, but many prefer gnome which comes with ubuntu.
These are still proportionally more nerdy than windows, but much less so than other linux distributions.
Kinky,
Have a look at my thread from last week... www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=297013&f=95&h=0
Largely my fault I'm sure, but I lost 6 years worth of photo's, video's, mp3's etc etc..
slinky
Have a look at my thread from last week... www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=297013&f=95&h=0
Largely my fault I'm sure, but I lost 6 years worth of photo's, video's, mp3's etc etc..
slinky
The most recent version of Lotus Notes runs natively on Linux and is supported by IBM:
http://www-142.ibm.com/software/sw-lo
http://www-142.ibm.com/software/sw-lo
sp60 said:
Go the live CD route.
I've been looking at DSL (damnsmalllinux) over the last couple months, you can load it onto a pendrive and boot from that, leaving your existing install intact. I like this idea...but haven't got it to work yet!!
I've been looking at DSL (damnsmalllinux) over the last couple months, you can load it onto a pendrive and boot from that, leaving your existing install intact. I like this idea...but haven't got it to work yet!!
You can do that with XP too, dead smart these pen drive initiatives.
slinky said:
Kinky,
Have a look at my thread from last week... www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=297013&f=95&h=0
Largely my fault I'm sure, but I lost 6 years worth of photo's, video's, mp3's etc etc..
slinky
Have a look at my thread from last week... www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=297013&f=95&h=0
Largely my fault I'm sure, but I lost 6 years worth of photo's, video's, mp3's etc etc..
slinky
Not really Linux's fault, either.
Yeah, without rereading that thread ISTR it looked like the problem was with Windoze's arrogant assumption that it owns the master boot record and refusal to play nicely in multi-boot situations. You can make multi-boot work, but you have to fight around Windoze acting the arse. I'd definitely recommend the live-CD route for checking it out, and an extra hard drive for a permanent installation (with the original 'doze drive still installed for access to the data on it) just so you don't have to touch the partition table.
Looks like Live CD will be the way to go in the short-term - to see how it goes.
Having read through the responses here (thank you all - much appreciated), on other threads, and general chat with some folk here at work, it does not certainly sound like a doddle.
I don't mind having a go, and getting stuck in - but it's having the time to do it (sadly lacking on the time front at the moment).
But Live CD is it to start with, and take it from there.
Again, thanks all.
K
Having read through the responses here (thank you all - much appreciated), on other threads, and general chat with some folk here at work, it does not certainly sound like a doddle.
I don't mind having a go, and getting stuck in - but it's having the time to do it (sadly lacking on the time front at the moment).
But Live CD is it to start with, and take it from there.
Again, thanks all.
K
I'm dual booting XP Pro and Linux at present - got Linux on a second hard drive and boot up from a floppy, but I think you can use the NT Boot Loader with a bit of twiddling. Personally, I find the floppy just as easy. Mostly just playing around with as much non Windows stuff as I can, as I like the whole Open Source ethos. Ultimate aim is to switch to a completely non MS machine. Not because I hate Microsoft especially, I just enjoy geeking around 
As for live CDs, I started with Knoppix, then moved on to Kanotix (which I installed). If you want one that's small and easy to use, I've found Slax to be very good. Some of the others I've tried have had problems with sound and internet connectivity, but Slax worked out of the box.
As for live CDs, I started with Knoppix, then moved on to Kanotix (which I installed). If you want one that's small and easy to use, I've found Slax to be very good. Some of the others I've tried have had problems with sound and internet connectivity, but Slax worked out of the box.
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