Windows 8 anyone?

[Shaman]

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Well why don't the Linux ppl take the best of MS and Apple and make an amazing interface for user experience.

KDE 4.9.x

It's even better on tablets than Win8.

Also Linux needs to work easily when plugged in.

Work needs to be done here, but out of the box, a modern Linux is usually more compatible than a modern Windows.

It is still too techie for most.

Eh... I don't see it. The biggest issues were video and ethernet. Both of those are easy now.

Feel free to post info on how I can run Linux inside of Win7 or how I can dual boot Linux and Win7. I would want an easy to use interface of Linux (no command line stuff).

You can do both, easily. Download virtualbox from Oracle. It's a really simple, easy to use VM system. There are better, but this is the quick and dirty.

Try the latest Linux Mint or the latest Kubuntu.

You can try straight Ubuntu & Unity too if you want, but it's not my thing.

 

[PSY]

I did a quick look at Ubuntu and Mint on Youtube.
Mint looks nicer.

Why are there so many damn versions of Linux? What's the pros and cons?


How does Mint have drivers for my laptop?
I don't recall laptops having many linux drivers on their support page.

Tell me why Mint is better than Win7. I am open to dual booting Mint on my laptop with Win7.

 

[PSY]

@Shaman How can I get the true speed and feel of Mint if I am using an emulator in Win7?


I don't play games on my laptop so it's just browsing/music/video.

I hear that Linux is stable and fast but how does it compare to WIn7 which I tend to have about 25 tabs open for browsing and playing a movie as well.

Mint does look clean and simple. I am just trying to understand why Mint is better than Win7.

thanks

 

[Poser]

I feel like throwing up everytime I hear Linux.

I should try it, to overcome this.

I watched a video demo a year or two ago, although similar to OSX....its boring!!!!

 

[FiReSTaRT]

Well why don't the Linux ppl take the best of MS and Apple and make an amazing interface for user experience.
Also Linux needs to work easily when plugged in.
It is still too techie for most.

Feel free to post info on how I can run Linux inside of Win7 or how I can dual boot Linux and Win7. I would want an easy to use interface of Linux (no command line stuff).

Show me what you got

What I got? I'm using Cinnamon.. It's a slick take on the WIMP paradigm, but with a smarter "start" menu and as many desktops as I want (I usually stick with 2). I don't really use the command line on my desktop systems, it's all gui. The only exception is when I reinstall the OS, I use 30 different applications and it's a lot easier for me to tell my computer to download and install them in 15 seconds of typing than it is to individually download and installl each app. A couple of easy solutions if you wanna try Linux for size.. The easiest: Download and burn to CD or make a bootable memory stick, boot from it. It will be slow because it's reading everything from removable storage but at least you'll see a normal, easy to use graphical interface that you can work with. You can also use an app like VirtualBox or VMWare to run a virtual Linux machine inside your windows. I'm actually running a virtual Linux machine inside my Linux ,machine for work lol Here's what I got:

Standard desktop and menu

Desktop switcher, you get to it by taking the mouse cursor to the hot corner..

The command line in this pic isn't a necessity, just something the guy who took the screenshot uses for his own stuff, seems to be a programmer or something.

And here's the interface on my other Linux computer

I control it with a remote

 

[Shaman]

Mint looks nicer.

Agree.

Why are there so many damn versions of Linux? What's the pros and cons?

Mostly, because they can.

But there are really only a few "major" distributions today. Mint, RedHat, Debian, Ubuntu.

Each has its merits.

How does Mint have drivers for my laptop?

Heck, it may not. But it probably does. Companies like Intel, Broadcom and AMD directly contribute drivers, and there's the community as well.

I don't recall laptops having many linux drivers on their support page.

Usually not because they're in the base package.

Tell me why Mint is better than Win7. I am open to dual booting Mint on my laptop with Win7.

It may not be for you. I don't know how you like to work - or if you'll go deep enough into it to make it work for you.

For me:

- multiple screens (also can be set up as "activities" that remember what you used last time and pre-load software)
- full office suite that is good enough for my needs
- good printer support with auto-discovery on the LAN
- some decent video and graphics programs included
- a groupware capable PIM included
- good support for many instant messengers
- built-in RSS feed capabilities
- I use Firefox, but there is a browser in KDE if you prefer it
- virtualbox, etc. included in the package
- nice desktop configurability capabilities
- traditional WIMP UI with a good "start" menu, includes favorites, etc.
- all the desktop gadgets you can stand, if you can stand gadgets
- at high resolution, it stays the hell outta my way
- an excellent music player (closest I've found on Windows is Songbird)

Your milage may vary.

 

[PSY]

I saw the Mint video on youtube just now with the Cinnamon.

Ok, can you point me to the files I need. The links. I can find vmware (used it before) or Virtual box.
I need instructions and file locations for Mint with Cinnamon.
Thanks!


Again, why is Mint BETTER than Win7Pro 64?
I want to understand the tech side of why it's better. I will accept if you say that it's about the same now but if it's lighter/faster/ more stable then I will dual boot it

I am all ears

 

[PSY]

Agree.



Mostly, because they can.

But there are really only a few "major" distributions today. Mint, RedHat, Debian, Ubuntu.

Each has its merits.



Heck, it may not. But it probably does. Companies like Intel, Broadcom and AMD directly contribute drivers, and there's the community as well.



Usually not because they're in the base package.



It may not be for you. I don't know how you like to work - or if you'll go deep enough into it to make it work for you.

For me:

- multiple screens (also can be set up as "activities" that remember what you used last time and pre-load software)
- full office suite that is good enough for my needs
- good printer support with auto-discovery on the LAN
- some decent video and graphics programs included
- a groupware capable PIM included
- good support for many instant messengers
- built-in RSS feed capabilities
- I use Firefox, but there is a browser in KDE if you prefer it
- virtualbox, etc. included in the package
- nice desktop configurability capabilities
- traditional WIMP UI with a good "start" menu, includes favorites, etc.
- all the desktop gadgets you can stand, if you can stand gadgets
- at high resolution, it stays the hell outta my way
- an excellent music player (closest I've found on Windows is Songbird)

Your milage may vary.

Thanks! I am liking the multi desktop setup.
This sounds good as I can have my tech Android tools and websites on that desktop.
I can have a regular desktop for everything else.

How can I find out if my laptop is compatible FIRST?
* I know I am being lazy by not googling but I am asking you guys to save me the time as I am NOT that motivated to go digging but I am OPEN to installing it if the info is there. I just remember the beginning with Redhat what a PITA like assembling a ball of unrolled yarn.

thx

 

[FiReSTaRT]

Lower memory footprint, more efficient, more stable, no crapware preinstalled, none pushed on you through updates, but it already comes ready to do all you want outta the box. Better security too and no need for antivirus software.

The best way is to google "ubuntu laptop_make laptop_model" for example "ubuntu hp dv9894ca".. Linux Mint is Ubuntu-based and if everything on your lappy works outta the box on Ubuntu, it will work outta the box on Mint. If you don't wanna post it on google, post it here and I'll google it for you For example, on my laptop, everything works outta the box, but wireless and the manufacturer's video driver require one additional step - either a check-box during the install process or opening a driver installer app and choosing to activate those 2 drivers. Video still works but for 3D acceleration and some fancier stuff, the manufacturer's driver is king.

 

[Shaman]

Well, in a VM it won't need the drivers, most functionality will be supplied by the VM. But some hardware won't do much because the VM system will hide it from the hosted operating system. So by default, I'm saying that it will work if you have the host operating system working.

After that, you need to look it up. That's all I can tell you.

As with all operating systems, some are better than others at some things. For example, as a server OS Linux has some very strong advantages in some ways. That's why it runs most of the Internet (and this forum, I'd bet). But it may not be as great at doing some video tasks - but a lot of work is being done right now in that respect, in two years I expect Linux to be the fastest video/game platform.

But who knows if you'll like it or it works for you? I can't say.

I can say that most people won't like Windows 8, though.

 

[Splash]

How can I find out if my laptop is compatible FIRST?
* I know I am being lazy by not googling but I am asking you guys to save me the time as I am NOT that motivated to go digging but I am OPEN to installing it if the info is there. I just remember the beginning with Redhat what a PITA like assembling a ball of unrolled yarn.

thx

Click on the "Download Pro" button and it will run a compatibility test before you can move on.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-CA/windows/buy?ocid=GA8_O_WOL_DIS_ShopHP_FPP_Light

 

[PSY]

Click on the "Download Pro" button and it will run a compatibility test before you can move on.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-CA/windows/buy?ocid=GA8_O_WOL_DIS_ShopHP_FPP_Light

Dude, we are not talking about trying Wincrap 8.

@Shaman I like the last line...

Thanks for the info Shaman and Firestart.
I will google for laptop compatibility.

@ Shaman and Firestart...So can I install Mint on top of Win7? Meaning the Linux bootloader will setup a Menu system to pick on boot or is there some kinda prep needed first i.e. setup a 500mb partition

 

[Sushii]

Dude, we are not talking about trying Wincrap 8.

@Shaman I like the last line...

Thanks for the info Shaman and Firestart.
I will google for laptop compatibility.

@ Shaman and Firestart...So can I install Mint on top of Win7? Meaning the Linux bootloader will setup a Menu system to pick on boot or is there some kinda prep needed first i.e. setup a 500mb partition

Why not just create a live CD to test it? Run it off a CD/DVD disc instead of installing it.

 

[FiReSTaRT]

Live discs dont always have full hardware support like wireless and 3d video acceleration but they're a good way to nose around and see how it feels. To dual-boot, you would need to set up a partition and I'd make it 10 gigs at least, probably 20 for a usable modern system with applications and space for some local data. Just beware that Windows doesn't like to share a computer and generally finds a way to kill other OS' bootloaders, so you may wanna read up on how to set up dual boot with your version of windows. I've done it once while I was dual-booting Vista and Ubuntu, but then I realized that I was only booting into Vista to run updates so I wiped it.

 

[Splash]

Dude, we are not talking about trying Wincrap 8.

Realy? then WTF are you doing on a thread called "Windows 8 anyone?"

 

[Rob MacLennan]

Realy? then WTF are you doing on a thread called "Windows 8 anyone?"

Somehow any OS conversation, no matter what it starts as, always turns to Linux :lol:

 

[FiReSTaRT]

Somehow any OS conversation, no matter what it starts as, always turns to Linux :lol:

Well considering the fact that the only advantage that Windows has over it are spreadsheets and gaming and even gaming has a good chance of melting away thanks to Windows 8, I'm not surprised.. Linux runs everything, from the supercomputer in your nuclear power station to your TiVo to a good chunk of the smartphone market

 

[Rob MacLennan]

Well considering the fact that the only advantage that Windows has over it are spreadsheets and gaming and even gaming has a good chance of melting away thanks to Windows 8, I'm not surprised.. Linux runs everything, from the supercomputer in your nuclear power station to your TiVo to a good chunk of the smartphone market

... but still isn't ready for Prime Time.

 

[Shaman]

... but still isn't ready for Prime Time.

Hah. Something like 80% of the Internet runs on a Linux system. But I know what you're saying... even if you're wrong.

I've been using it on my desktop for almost 15 years. Not always been a comfortable ride, but recently it's been excellent.

 

[FiReSTaRT]

... but still isn't ready for Prime Time.

It is for those of us who just wanna get our work done without fighting the OS. The only reasons the market share is down in the 5% range are:

1) Inertia - People don't wanna learn new stuff. That's where Win8 could play a big role lol

2) Windows tax - even if you don't wanna use windows on your computer, you still have to pay for a windows license and that's where the "if I already paid for it, I might as well use it" mentality kicks in

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