Linux for Starters: Your Guide to Linux – Try Different Desktops

LinuxLinks ^ | 6 September 2021 | Steve Emms

[usconservative]

Yes I do.

[Samurai_Jack]

Yeah I noted a few years ago that it is the case that they’ve improved the installation and update processes. However, they still have to address the Plug and Play subscriptions. I think the issue is that the developers do not write applications, drivers and API’s for linux distributions as they probably should. When they do it’s an afterthought and not as a primary or even secondary business goal. Those targets are reserved for Apple and Microsoft.

Until they address that problem then sadly, Linux will always be most suitable as an appliance driver. But it wont stop me from trying it.

[Mr. K]

Until Linux comes where you can install it out of the box and it looks and works exactly like windows it will never be more than it is right now.

This article sums it all up.

Imagine trying to explain this article to grandma who just wants to turn on the inter-webs and see pictures of the grandkids.

Seriously, just try to picture how that conversation would go

[The Duke]

I’m running Docker Desktop on my I5 Windows laptop, and it’s a dream for running non-gui Linux containers. Because the containers don’t require allocation of storage or CPUs, I could probably run 10 Linux containers concurrently.

Containers are a great way to run Linux security tools, BTW.

My desktop is Elementary OS, a Linux-based MacOS look-a-like.

[bigbob]

Good info. No one will learn anything g unless they try it.

[HombreSecreto]

Bkmk

[ShadowAce]

This article sums it all up.

...and yet you didn't actually read it, did you?

This article is about alternatives to the default installation. It is *not* about the basic installation.

[Openurmind]

Ace is right. Now there are GUI addons for everything. “Update Manager” is fantastic at keeping up with all the updates and such.

But most full distros now come boxed with all those addons included. We are now at a full point and click, PnP GUI OS like windows with newer Distros.

For Windows users who want something almost the same as Windows 7 I highly highly suggest Mint Cinnamon...

The references in those sources are obviously older. None of that is needed anymore. If you get a fully loaded boxed package like Mint Cinnamon it comes with about all the GUI programs you will ever need.

Very seldom will you ever need the command line. Only if you are doing something more technical like building a local VPN server or similar.

[Openurmind]

“Until Linux comes where you can install it out of the box and it looks and works exactly like windows it will never be more than it is right now.”

And Mint Cinnamon does... Anyone who is familiar with Windows 7 can feel right at home right away, all point and click. My Grandkids jumped on my Mint cinnamon from Win 7 and were jamming with it in half an hour.

[TianaHighrider]

Bookmark

[Dr. Sivana]

Don't even know how to get a computer going in CP/M.

For most small computers, it was just a matter of booting off of the floppy diskette. I've run CP/M on Osborne, Kaypro II, Coleco Adam, Xerox 820, and knew someone with a Seequa Chameleon (dual processor). I also tried CP/M-86 (hated it!).

I admit I forgot the PIP commands, but many of the command line functions inspired DOS.

[ptsal]

Bkmk - Elementary OS

[Dr. Sivana]

Until Linux comes where you can install it out of the box and it looks and works exactly like windows it will never be more than it is right now.

Chromebooks don't do that, and they have a sizeable following, including grandmas.

[ptsal]

Ahhhh...the sudo boundary.

The line is between Morgan Hill and Gilroy.

[Openurmind]

In fact with Cinnamon you can make it look like Win 10 or even XP if you like.

https://cinnamon-spices.linuxmint.com/themes/view/Windows-10

https://cinnamon-spices.linuxmint.com/themes/view/Mint-XP

[Pollard]

Your hard drive can fill up pretty fast installing multiple DEs. I don’t really see the point when most distros of linux will run as a Live USB allowing you to test drive the DE.

I don’t worry too much about what programs come with a given distro because over the years, I’ve found favorites for everything. I’m running Kubuntu/KDE with Plasma desktop but I’m not a big fan of KDE programs. They need to do more work on them and some haven’t been touched in years. They also, imho, need to get away from the kstupid knaming konvention of putting a K in front of every program name.

[Pollard]

Been a few decades since you used Linux?

Programs, I searched for "Office Suite"

Updates, same program called Discover

I use Discover for all updates and to find and install most any program using a GUI. I do have a couple of favorite programs that I've found over the years that aren't in the official software repositories. In that case, I copy and paste a few commands to use that repository and install them. The average person who checks emails and surfs the web and maybe does some word processing or uses a spreadsheet would not have to type in any commands at all.

[DataJunkie]

Thanks a bunch, I was just looking for this exact info, great timing!

[martin_fierro]

I just loves me some compiz 3-D desktop.

Not that I use it that much, but it's great to have the option.

[Pollard]

I guess a better intro to Linux would be,

1) Install Rufus, a free windows program that burns Linux Live to a USB drive.
2) Download a version of Linux/Ubuntu that looks interesting to you
3) Burn that downloaded ISO file to a USB drive using Rufus
4) Restart your PC and have it boot to the USB (many will do this automatically. Tapping the F12 on most systems will bring up a boot menu where you can choose to boot to USB. A few systems won’t so you may have to find instructions for your PC on “how to boot to USB drive”.)
5) Upon booting to the USB drive, you will be running a Live operating system from that USB drive. Test drive to your heart’s content but keep in mind, no changes will be saved.
6) If you like what you see, you can install Linux directly from within your Live instance. You can overwrite Windows(save your files first) or you can install Linux alongside Windows for a dual boot system(provided you have the hard drive space) and choose which one to boot to whenever you start your PC.
7) On a dual boot install, when starting the PC, after several seconds, it will boot to Linux unless you choose to boot to Windows. To change that default Operating System to Windows, install Grub Customizer which will allow you to change the order of the boot list. You can also hide the advanced choices on that list that most people won’t use.

With links given to various Linux distros, Rufus. Rufus tutorial and Linux install tutorial would be next with screenshots for all the GUI screens that are used.

No commands required.

Having a second PC, tablet or even a phone helps so you can have the tutorial open while you go through the process. Then again, you’re either running Windows or Linux Live USB and can use a browser in both cases.

I need to start an e-commerce website where people can rent a dozen USB drives, each with a different Linux Live distro burned to it. Test drive them all, install one, mail back the USB drives and get most of your money back. Would save people the download time and the slightly scary step of making sure you burn the image to the correct drive using Rufus or one of the other USB image burning programs.