Any Linux users here?

[MrLinc]

Hey guys,

Are there any Linux users here @ VEF?

Please no fanboys and no "windoze s*cks" type of comments, I'm starting this thread to share our experiences so let's keep it clean, please.

I've been using Ubuntu since 2006 or 2007 maybe, although for the last 2 years I switched to Xubuntu which I like a lot more.
Even when I've got Ubuntu on another computer, I start my sessions under the Gnome3 interface, as I don't like Unity.

I'm a home user, no server admin or anything on that level. I do give a good use to software like Bluefish (html and other web code editing), GIMP (image editing) together with Gthumb (image viewer), I also try some audio editing with Audacity.

I'm not much of a gamer, from time to time play Quake 3 which has got its native version, and also Half-Life 2 which works perfect thanks to Wine. There is a Steam version for Ubuntu which works fine but only allows games that have been ported to Linux.

Anyone is welcome to share their experiences.

Thanks in advance.

[9876543210]

MrLinc,

I have used Ubuntu quite a few times and really like it. I hope to make it my only OS in about 5 years when I retire but, until then, I'm afraid I have to use Word so I'm stuck with Windoze.

[maxedout]

I started using Ubuntu in 2006. I'd been meaning to try a dual-boot system for some time but kept putting it off until my HD died on me & I couldn't find a usable windows disk to install on the replacement. I thought "Why the hell not, at least I'll have a working OS" & installed Ubuntu 6.06 (soon changed to Xubuntu as it was an older machine with limited resources).

Now I know my way around computers after several college courses (I even taught basic IT to ECDL level for a while) so I didn't have any major problems finding my way round a new system.

When that machine finally died I was given an old desktop model & decide to try Mint. I think I prefer it slightly over Ubuntu but couldn't say why - maybe because I found it easier & quicker to install... but not by much.

I wouldn't go back to windows now - when I eventually buy a new machine the first thing I'll do is turn it into a linux only machine.

As for programs - I've never had any trouble finding a Linux equivalent of anything windows-based (except for one great little app for creating animated thumbnail preview sheets of videos - no great loss). I only need to use wine for a few apps & even then very rarely. If you're prepared to put in the effort & time to learn, there are some great command-line apps available (I keep the most commonly used commands in a text file & just copy & paste after a little editing of e.g. file names - saves a lot of time & avoids the risks of typos)

As far as "windoze sucks" goes, my first PC came with ME pre-installed. Now that DID suck. I used to have to restart about 4 or 5 times just to get to the log-in screen!

And let's face it, Steve Ballmer is a dick. Unbelievably rich but still a dick.


Most-used apps - not all Linux only, some are cross-platform

MPlayer & VLC - media playback
Gimp - excellent graphics app - IMO as good as photoshop (at least for my needs)
Avidemux - video editor
Audacity - audio editor
Pan - newsgroups reader - similar to the old ForteAgent
LibreOffice - office suite
Xsane - scanning software
K3B - CD & DVD burning

command-line stuff
ImageMagick - image editing, takes a bit of getting used to but worth the effort
get_iplayer - download BBC Iplayer programmes (no TV licence required)
asfbin - wmv & flv editor

[9876543210]

maxedout,

Originally Posted by maxedout

As for programs - I've never had any trouble finding a Linux equivalent of anything windows-based

Gonna have to disagree with you here. At least in my experience, someone in the business or academic communities MUST use MS Word for writing. Years ago I was bitched out a few times for not emailing stuff I'd written in Word. So, at least for what I do, you must have Word. Pretty much the same for all the office apps.

Not saying I like it, I don't. I wish Lotus Word Pro was still around (liked it a lot more as it was a better word processor).

[palo5]

Originally Posted by 9876543210

At least in my experience, someone in the business or academic communities MUST use MS Word for writing

Is that so?

Where I am, nearly all academic & gov departments use OpenOffice software

[winebeavis]

Originally Posted by 9876543210

Gonna have to disagree with you here. At least in my experience, someone in the business or academic communities MUST use MS Word for writing. Years ago I was bitched out a few times for not emailing stuff I'd written in Word. So, at least for what I do, you must have Word. Pretty much the same for all the office apps.

Same here.

I'm almost completely Mac. But I have to continue to run windows on one of the macs for a couple of industry specific subscription programs that don't operate natively on mac or linux.

I've told every vendor who gives me the sales pitch, get me an equivalent program for a different OS and sign me up. I cut them off when they start telling me theirs works just fine on macs, but I need to use bootcamp.

MS Word is now pretty much universal in my area as well. There is a version for mac thankfully. A few of the old guys left from the Corel WP days who won't switch over use OpenOffice to convert, but it doesn't work as well as it should when editing the text and highlighting the changes to be made. For whatever reason, I've run into issues with that on a regular basis sending docx to their odt (or whatever it is). We can usually open the document, but when some of the features start getting put in, it usually breaks down.

I've always been intrigued by linux. However, I'm probably not familiar enough with it to use at this point as a main computer. I'd love to have the time to someday learn more about it.

[MrKinkade]

Yes I was a full time linux user from about 05 till last year (new laptop) with windows 7 64 bit. I've used ubuntu (gnome) mandriva (kde) mint (lxde) crunchbang (openbox) and ultimately cinnarch (cinnamon) which btw I really liked and very fast. But since I bought my new laptop with windows 7 I really like it, the Achilles heel of linux @ the moment is their video drivers> slow, I know wayland should be introduced sometime towards the end of this year so here's looking.

[maxedout]

Originally Posted by 9876543210

maxedout,
Years ago I was bitched out a few times for not emailing stuff I'd written in Word. So, at least for what I do, you must have Word. Pretty much the same for all the office apps.

What these companies mean is that they only use .doc format - it doesn't matter what program was used to create it. Until fairly recently the only way to do that was to use ms word.

That's no longer true. All the major FOSS office suites now recognise ms formats, microsoft finally gave up the struggle & stopped legally blocking use of their formats a while ago. LibreOffice Writer, for example, allows you to save as .doc, docx etc.

Originally Posted by winebeavis

We can usually open the document, but when some of the features start getting put in, it usually breaks down.

Looks like the problem there is the users wanting all the latest whistles & bells without realising that what looks good on their machine is probably not going to look as good on someone elses, e.g. something as basic as using a non-standard font can really mess up a document. The key is to keep things simple.

Originally Posted by MrKinkade

... the Achilles heel of linux @ the moment is their video drivers> slow...

I've never noticed any real difference but then I'm using an old, fairly slow machine.
IMO the only real problem is with some hardware manufacturers not supporting Linux. If they don't release their source code then it's impossible to (legally) write free, Linux compatible drivers.
The main downside of this is with printers. Some work perfectly (I had an Epson up & running in less than 30 seconds), some partially (my Lexmark all-in-one has to be run on-screen, most of the buttons don't work & I had to search online for the driver) or are just expensive paperweights.
Buying a new printer can involve a lot of research - Epson & HP are probably the best supported.

[MaxJoker]

Originally Posted by MrLinc

Are there any Linux users here @ VEF?

Oh man don`t even go there

As i`ve tried it already !.

Total waste of time !.



You see despite the adverts women don`t like the smell as it`s totally foreign to them

No what they like is an odour they`ve become regularly used to

Which is why i now instead use a month out of date split packet of mackerel under each arm.

[9876543210]

Originally Posted by winebeavis

MS Word is now pretty much universal in my area as well. There is a version for mac thankfully. A few of the old guys left from the Corel WP days who won't switch over use OpenOffice to convert, but it doesn't work as well as it should when editing the text and highlighting the changes to be made. For whatever reason, I've run into issues with that on a regular basis sending docx to their odt (or whatever it is). We can usually open the document, but when some of the features start getting put in, it usually breaks down.

Ahh, the old tried and true Word Perfect. I think that was the first wp I ever used. Back in the old DOS days.

I've futzed around with OpenOffice a few times and it really is a good wp but its a pain to get the formatting to work correctly with Word. In fact, unless you have a lot of time to mess with the formatting you can forget using it. Just don't have the time to mess with it. So what I've learned to tell people nowadays is that if you have to send your work to anyone for review, approvals or publication then you must use Word. If you just use a wp for yourself then get whatever you want.

Wish it wasn't that way but.....

I've always been intrigued by linux. However, I'm probably not familiar enough with it to use at this point as a main computer. I'd love to have the time to someday learn more about it.

I really like Ubuntu linux. Well worth the time to play around with. The key word being "play". But, at least for now, it really doesn't work well in the business community. Sorry to say.

The most difficult thing about Ubuntu for me was the install as I wanted dual boot. You have to be careful there and really think about how to allocate drive size but once you get it installed and running its really pretty nice. Not a lot different from Windoze. But, as someone else mentioned, drivers can be a pain to find and use.