What you should not expect when switching to Linux

DarkDuck ^ | 17 September 2015 | Dmitry (Darkduck)

[minnesota_bound]

#30 So easy even little girls can use it.

It’s a Unix system
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFUlAQZB9Ng

[angryoldfatman]

“If I install Linux, does that wipe out all my applications?”

If you do a clean install, yes.

There are two other options though, and one of them (#1) will not molest anything at all on your computer.

#1: DVD Tryout.

This is not really an install, but you can try out Linux Mint straight from the DVD to see what it will look like and how compatible it is with your computer. You simply boot from the DVD and run Linux from it instead of the install option.
It’s much slower than a real install, but like I said, you don’t have to worry about anything being wiped out.

#2 Dual boot.

You can install Linux on just part of your hard drive, and the installation will set up a start-up screen to allow you to go either into Windows or into Linux.
The biggest problem with this approach is figuring out how much disk space to give Linux and Windows. You’re essentially dividing your hard disk in half, but you get to choose how big each half is.

[roamer_1]

All right, I have a question... I have an Asus EEE PC from early netbook era, running xp (poorly)... I have already jacked the ram as far as it will go (4g, i think), and I am willing to stuff a solid state hdd in it (I have a spare laying around)...

I would like a recommendation as to which nix distro to use to bring it to reasonable performance (bearing in mind, wireless)... I need net, LAN, basic PIM, basic office, music and video (youtube, movies, etc).

I know it’s never going to be a speed demon, but I really like the clam-shell form factor a lot better than the tablet that replaced it, and would go back to it if I could get it to run decently.

[ShadowAce]

Are are two discussions on that particular topic:

Linux Questions

Stack Exchange

Hope that helps!

[Boogieman]

I used Corel years and years ago, and it was nice, but I’ve always stuck to Adobe since then.

And yes, I know how to use GIMP, but I prefer not to. It is not user friendly, and everything you want to do generally takes two or three steps where it would take only one in Adobe.

[roamer_1]

Hope that helps!

Yes it does - thank you very much.

[angryoldfatman]

My personal recommendation for the Asus machine you’re talking about is Mint or Ubuntu running the xfce GUI.

Mint 32-bit xfce:
http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=169

Mint 64-bit xfce:
http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=170

Xubuntu
http://xubuntu.org/getxubuntu/

[roamer_1]

My personal recommendation for the Asus machine you’re talking about is Mint or Ubuntu running the xfce GUI.

Thanks. I'll give it a whirl... This is gonna be fun. It's been a long time since I had a 'for the fun of it' project... And I'd love to put the old girl back in service.

[ducttape45]

The wireless mouse and keyboard were also problems. They kept cutting out on me. It was very frustrating.

I think I heard somewhere that Linux doesn't play well with wireless devices. Is that true?

[Bikkuri]

Actually, I’ve never had a problem on install (with wireless)... it (Mint KDE) recognized everything during the installation (instantly, it seemed), and all of my systems since about 1990 were home built.

[ducttape45]

Mint recognized my devices but the mouse would not work correctly in that it would move, freeze, move, freeze, move, freeze. At least it recognized the monitors but with mouse continually freezing up I had to move on. Of course none of the other installs were any better, but if I can’t move my mouse freely what’s the point in having the Linux O/S?

[roamer_1]

My personal recommendation for the Asus machine you’re talking about is Mint or Ubuntu running the xfce GUI.

Just to note to thank you once again for your recommendation. I am writing this missive from my Asus EeePC running Mint/xfce 32bit... Spun it in last night in about 20 minutes... As far as I can tell, it picked up everything perfectly and is running nicely - Noticeably quicker than w/ WinXP! It still lags a little, but it is definitely useable - More so than it ever has before.

SWEET. Thanks very much.

[angryoldfatman]

You’re very welcome, and I’m glad it worked!

[ducttape45]

I reloaded Linux Mint unto another hard drive and played around with it a bit. I'm still having problem with my mouse though, wired and wireless. They both keep cutting in and out. I've seen posted on various boards but I don't understand what the fixes are they are talking about, something about kernels and recompiling.

Anyone have any suggestions?

[BlueLancer]

"Anyone have any suggestions?"

That's why I use Microsoft ...

Oh, man, I just ride in 'em ... I don't know what makes 'em work.

[Bikkuri]

I want to assist, but on Android (been offline for a year)..
Shadow, can you help?

[ShadowAce]

I've seen posted on various boards but I don't understand what the fixes are they are talking about, something about kernels and recompiling.

Sounds like a troll. You don't need to recompile the kernel for this.

[Bikkuri]

Agree, but, his issue is with wireless mouse.. I have never really had problems..

[CodeToad]

“If you are using Photoshop (at least professionally) you are probably on a Mac anyway.”

Far from it. The Mac = Photoshop hasn’t been trues in more than a decade.

[ducttape45]

Not a troll. I’ve been on FR for years. I honestly want to make this work (Linux). I was just commenting on posts I’ve seen on other boards. FYI, I’m having trouble with both wired AND wireless mice. So far, they’ve been the only problem I’ve had with Linux Mint. Everything else seems to work fine.