Any of you running Linux?

[pbsmind]

[Cowboy T]

Turns out the wife has a computer that she'd installed Ubuntu Xenial Xerus (16.04) on some time back. This is an AMD 4-core build from maybe 2-3 years ago, and it seems she followed my advice on stuffing enough cores and DRAM into it for desktop use. Upgraded it to the current LTS version (20.04 Focal Fossa) last week, and I'm using it right now to make this post. :-)

I also installed kubuntu-desktop on it, since I tend to prefer KDE (she likes GNOME and uses that).

Recently used Knoppix to do some troubleshooting on another box. I really like Knoppix; it's very handy. Installing it gives you standard Debian, too, so you get all that goodness as well (Debian is and always has been a mighty fine distro in its own right).

[sigstroker]

For you PDP folks the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, CA has a working PDP-1.

https://computerhistory.org/exhibits/pdp-1/

And for you big iron folks they have 2 working IBM 1401s.

https://computerhistory.org/exhibits/ibm1401/

When I moved to Cali in 1989, the school system I worked at was STILL using a PDP-8 with core memory as their main system. The DEC technician used to say we did more with that hunk of junk than the Army did with their mega-dollar DEC-10.

But I digress. I've noticed these days there's aren't much in the way of Windows standalone applications because everything runs on a browser. Besides Office-type apps and a file editor I don't really need Windows at all.

So I'm thinking of loading Linux on a semi-new laptop that came with Win10. Should I put it on a different "segment" or partition or vm or just wipe out the Win10 completely?

[Uncivil Engineer]

When I moved to Cali in 1989, the school system I worked at was STILL using a PDP-8 with core memory as their main system. The DEC technician used to say we did more with that hunk of junk than the Army did with their mega-dollar DEC-10.



But I digress. I've noticed these days there's aren't much in the way of Windows standalone applications because everything runs on a browser. Besides Office-type apps and a file editor I don't really need Windows at all.



So I'm thinking of loading Linux on a semi-new laptop that came with Win10. Should I put it on a different "segment" or partition or vm or just wipe out the Win10 completely?

It depends on what you want to do. If you just want to a Unix shell then I'd say check out WSL2. The latest updated windows 10 has a Linux kernel in it which you can install a few different distributions on. It doesn't require a different partition. About the only part or doesn't have yet it's a native gui window but even that can happen if you install a windows x11 server.

If that isn't enough Linux for you then you can install hyperv and create a VM which just about any Linux distro will run in.

Finally you can do the create a second partition and dual boot but really it's more hassle then it's worth. Boot loaders are still not great and sharing files between the systems can be a pain.

One option you might want to think about it running Linux in a raspberry pi. The board is only $35 and it's ready to run, it only needs a sdcard and a good USB power supply. You can get in cheap and you don't need to worry about losing your windows data.

[Cowboy T]

So I'm thinking of loading Linux on a semi-new laptop that came with Win10. Should I put it on a different "segment" or partition or vm or just wipe out the Win10 completely?

I just wipe the Windows installation completely and install GNU/Linux on it. It reduces complications all the way around; I have no need for the Windows OS at this point. Been doing this on HP, Dell, and Acer laptops for years now.

[Uncivil Engineer]

I just wipe the Windows installation completely and install GNU/Linux on it. It reduces complications all the way around; I have no need for the Windows OS at this point. Been doing this on HP, Dell, and Acer laptops for years now.

You know Dell and HP buy designs for laptops from oems like Sager. While they do refine it bit you can usually get just about the same thing cheaper from one of the oems. If your aren't going to use windows there isn't much software support Dell it HP are going to give you.

[Mosin1944]

Raspberry Pi

I'm running Ububtu Mate 18.04 on a Raspberry Pi. Working on a Maker's Space project for the middle school I work at, whenever we get back on campus! Amazing computer for its size and cost!

[Cowboy T]

You know Dell and HP buy designs for laptops from oems like Sager. While they do refine it bit you can usually get just about the same thing cheaper from one of the oems. If your aren't going to use windows there isn't much software support Dell it HP are going to give you.

What you say is true, you certainly can. Most people don't know that, though, so I figured I'd point out the major brand names. Just about all of 'em are made in China nowadays, too.

[Cowboy T]

I'm running Ububtu Mate 18.04 on a Raspberry Pi. Working on a Maker's Space project for the middle school I work at, whenever we get back on campus! Amazing computer for its size and cost!

You've got a point. Just bought a Pi model 4 recently, and it really does make a pretty good desktop computer for most general usage. The key is its 4GB of DRAM, which lets the OS stretch out a bit when running applications like LibreOffice. Bolts onto the back of a VESA-compliant monitor or TV, too, with the appropriate case. Mine currently runs the standard Raspbian, since I've always kinda liked Debian as well.

[Sea-Fore]

running it here, on Linux Mint 19... Had enough with so much of Windows' crap lol.

[Mosin1944]

You've got a point. Just bought a Pi model 4 recently, and it really does make a pretty good desktop computer for most general usage. The key is its 4GB of DRAM, which lets the OS stretch out a bit when running applications like LibreOffice. Bolts onto the back of a VESA-compliant monitor or TV, too, with the appropriate case. Mine currently runs the standard Raspbian, since I've always kinda liked Debian as well.

4Gb would definitely make a big difference. I got the 3B+ with 1GB just before the 4 came out, it can be slow, especially when running Firefox, right now I'm using it as a media center jukebox. I'll get the 4 shortly.

[2shotjoe]

Pop os seems to be a newer and better alternative of mint 19. They have more support on the nvidia powered laptops and firmware support.

Switching between the apu to nvidia gpu hasn't been easy in mint 19. Seems pop os supports it and has an easy giu switch. Windows always does it better.

Second would be native support on the fingerprint reader. I use that a lot and I don't want it to be a dead feature on my laptop.

I'll be testing it out soon, I got lots to backup first.

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[tomrkba]

Latest Linux Mint when I run it. I usually put it into a VM.

[2shotjoe]

I tried pop os just now, seems harder to use over mint19.

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[Cowboy T]

^^ That's good to know since System76 uses PopOS as the default distribution on their computers. I haven't yet tried Linux Mint, as I've got my hands full with the distros that I currently run. But from all reports, it's said to be a very good desktop OS for general end-users and a good way to migrate away from Microsoft Windows.

I hate "distro wars", because they're stupid. People engaging in distro wars are fighting the wrong battle against the wrong "enemy". Whichever distro someone uses doesn't bother me in the least, as I'm simply glad that they're using a Free Software platform. That's the real win, there.