For grown ups Linux is not an easy OS to learn.
If you are computer savvy, then Linux is not going to be too hard for you to migrate to.
Then if your a child, wants to learn Linux, it will be easy. Think about it, kids soak up so much, a little guidance and they will be able to tell you what to do in a year or two.
What are some of the other benefits of Linux?
Don't have to worry too much about virus,
If you want to have a server, Linux does it.
Linux is low cost and even lower maintenance. Unlike it's Window's counterpart.
Now Apple's new software is: Get ready for it, built around a LINUX heart. Now to keep Apple's OS proprietary, they have crippled some of features of LINUX.
With Linux you get to enjoy using your computer and not downloading Virus Definitions and then waiting hours for it to scan your computer. Weekly if you want to keep it as much up to date and virus free as possible. Besides Viruses you have malware, and popups. All slowing down your machine and costing you more money.
If you really want to spend some money, get an Apple.
Next time you fork out 30 to 120 dollars for an Anti-Virus program for your computer, think LINUX.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Monday, April 15, 2013
My new computer
My old computer was old. Over seven years.
Running Linux for the three years.
I screwed up and shut down while it was doing a check. I admit it. I asked my wife for another harddrive, I told her the truth "I scrambled the harddrive".
She suggested that I get a new computer. So we went to a computer store and had one made.
Blu-Ray drive,
DVD drive,
8 gigs memory,
1 terabyte drive
and
NO OPERATING SYSTEM.
I was going to put Linux on it.
So a week later she goes and picks it up.
I put it in the place where my old computer was.
I got a new keyboard and mouse too.
About 10 minutes to put the computer together and hooked up.
Now what distro to put on it.
After going through different live distros, I decided on Mint Linux, it had everything working out of the box except for the Blu-Ray.
I spent a couple of weeks trying to get Blu-Ray working. I am not a newbie, but I am not an expert either. I am able to go into root and take care of things.
So in the mean time, I got a old Panasonic toughbook. Windows 98 and full of problems. So this one I tried several different distros. (Installed, not live versions) I came across Fedora. I like it. It worked on the laptop just fine.
So back to the desktop. I switched to Fedora. It took me less than an hour to switch from Mint to Fedora. Then I went to work on the Blu-Ray drive.
Fedora has a great forum section. I was able to find what I needed to get Blu-Ray working in less than an hour. Download a few files, move them to different directories, download the VLC player (this one supports Blu-Ray)
Change the /dev/dvd/ to /dev/sr0/
BINGO, Blu-Ray works. Tried several movies all worked. The only thing that doesn't work is the menus. But the movie runs fine.
So next step. Linux from scratch. I did take business computer programming in college, Have played with programming on my computer.
I think I might just be able to build a Linux from scratch. Best part of it, I have a computer with plenty of room to use.
For someone who did not like Fedora when I started Linux, I now have two computers running Fedora.
Best part of Linux. I can get the software that I need and want.
If I want a game, education, office, utilities, music or video. Just look it up and download it. My first Distro was Debian. I still like it and Ubuntu before unity. I am not fond of Gnome 3 either.
The other part of Linux I like. Different desktops.
Unlike Windows. Linux is very customizeable.
Give Linux a try. Try PCLinuxOS, Mint and a few others have everything working out of the box. Except for Blu-ray.
Running Linux for the three years.
I screwed up and shut down while it was doing a check. I admit it. I asked my wife for another harddrive, I told her the truth "I scrambled the harddrive".
She suggested that I get a new computer. So we went to a computer store and had one made.
Blu-Ray drive,
DVD drive,
8 gigs memory,
1 terabyte drive
and
NO OPERATING SYSTEM.
I was going to put Linux on it.
So a week later she goes and picks it up.
I put it in the place where my old computer was.
I got a new keyboard and mouse too.
About 10 minutes to put the computer together and hooked up.
Now what distro to put on it.
After going through different live distros, I decided on Mint Linux, it had everything working out of the box except for the Blu-Ray.
I spent a couple of weeks trying to get Blu-Ray working. I am not a newbie, but I am not an expert either. I am able to go into root and take care of things.
So in the mean time, I got a old Panasonic toughbook. Windows 98 and full of problems. So this one I tried several different distros. (Installed, not live versions) I came across Fedora. I like it. It worked on the laptop just fine.
So back to the desktop. I switched to Fedora. It took me less than an hour to switch from Mint to Fedora. Then I went to work on the Blu-Ray drive.
Fedora has a great forum section. I was able to find what I needed to get Blu-Ray working in less than an hour. Download a few files, move them to different directories, download the VLC player (this one supports Blu-Ray)
Change the /dev/dvd/ to /dev/sr0/
BINGO, Blu-Ray works. Tried several movies all worked. The only thing that doesn't work is the menus. But the movie runs fine.
So next step. Linux from scratch. I did take business computer programming in college, Have played with programming on my computer.
I think I might just be able to build a Linux from scratch. Best part of it, I have a computer with plenty of room to use.
For someone who did not like Fedora when I started Linux, I now have two computers running Fedora.
Best part of Linux. I can get the software that I need and want.
If I want a game, education, office, utilities, music or video. Just look it up and download it. My first Distro was Debian. I still like it and Ubuntu before unity. I am not fond of Gnome 3 either.
The other part of Linux I like. Different desktops.
Unlike Windows. Linux is very customizeable.
Give Linux a try. Try PCLinuxOS, Mint and a few others have everything working out of the box. Except for Blu-ray.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Got a new computer for my birthday.
I was excited to get a new computer for my Birthday.
New tower with memory to burn, Very large hard drive, a couple of DVD drives and new keyboard and mouse.
I said no to Windows. Had to get this thing made. Best Buy and other stores that sell computers you get what you see. That includes Windows and you pay for it.
By having it made I saved $150 for not having Windows. So that means I saved even more, no anti-virus, no office suite, no games, no utilities.
I put Linux on the machine and saved tons of money and I have control of my computer. Look at Windows License. You lose control of your computer when you put Windows on it. Microsoft takes control of your computer when you accept the license. They can scan your computer without your permission to see if you are using unregistered software. If you are they can shut down your computer.
By switching to Linux I saved Hundreds if not Thousands.
New tower with memory to burn, Very large hard drive, a couple of DVD drives and new keyboard and mouse.
I said no to Windows. Had to get this thing made. Best Buy and other stores that sell computers you get what you see. That includes Windows and you pay for it.
By having it made I saved $150 for not having Windows. So that means I saved even more, no anti-virus, no office suite, no games, no utilities.
I put Linux on the machine and saved tons of money and I have control of my computer. Look at Windows License. You lose control of your computer when you put Windows on it. Microsoft takes control of your computer when you accept the license. They can scan your computer without your permission to see if you are using unregistered software. If you are they can shut down your computer.
By switching to Linux I saved Hundreds if not Thousands.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Need to save some money?
With Obamacare, and this governments attacks on its citizens. Massive taxes and charges for everything, you are trying to save a few dollars here and there.
Well, lets look where we can save a few bucks:
You could get rid of Cable. Some people have and relay more on Internet.
You could get rid of Internet. Some people have done this too.
You could get rid of your land line phone. Most people have cell phones today
You could get rid of your car. Without public transit it’s kinda hard to travel without a car.
You could get rid of your pets. But they bring so much joy to your life.
You could get rid of your computers. Some people have, use their cell phones as their computer.
You could get rid of your cell phone. Almost everyone needs one of these.
How about you keep your computer but just change the operating system?
Yep, instead of Windows you could get a different operating system.
Let’s look at Windows. Any version. Windows only support their operating system for a few years and then come out with something different.
What does that mean for you? You have to get a newer computer in some cases, you purchase the new operating system, you have to purchase new Anti-virus to run on your new operating system,. You have to purchase new programs to run on your new operating system.
Windows Operating system comes with almost no software. You have to download and/or purchase software to run on your computer and operating system.
You are talking big bucks. $100 + for a new operation system.
$300-$500 for a new computer in some cases.
$30-$100+ for anti-virus program.
$30-$1,500 for a program to run on your new operating system.
X how many programs you want on your new operating system.
It adds up fast.
You will soon be spending $500-$10,000 for your new computer.
How about an alternative?
You could go to Mac. But that is more expensive then Windows.
Then theres Linux.
What?
Linux.
It is a open source version of very expensive version of Unix. Now Unix has been around for 40 years. Still going.
Linux has been going for over 20 years.
Open source is just that, open source.
You can get the source code and compile your own operating system.
You don’t need to anymore. In the early days of Linux you pretty much had to compile everything from the source code. Could take weeks to get your operating system and programs running. Well, see like Windows, programs depend on other programs to run properly. But in the early days of Linux that was not bundled together. You had to find the source code to all these programs and compile them.
Today, you have CD’s and DVD’s where Linux runs from the disk. Just put it in and restart the computer. If you like it, you can get a thumb drive (flash drive) and install the operating system to the drive and you can have YOUR computer wherever you go. With a large enough thumb drive you can install a couple of versions of Linux, and store your files there as well. In other words, carry your computer wherever you go.
What do you mean versions of Linux?
Linux was developed over 20 years ago, Many people have compiled and offered versions of Linux. The older ones around are Slackware, Debian, and Red Hat. There are many, many more. One thing about Linux, you can change the way your Operating System works.
Example, Windows has 95, 98, 2000, XP, Vista, 8. Each one is a little different. Well, say you use Mac and really like the way Mac works over Windows. With Linux you can have your Operating System look like Windows, Mac, or something completely different.
Well, lets look where we can save a few bucks:
You could get rid of Cable. Some people have and relay more on Internet.
You could get rid of Internet. Some people have done this too.
You could get rid of your land line phone. Most people have cell phones today
You could get rid of your car. Without public transit it’s kinda hard to travel without a car.
You could get rid of your pets. But they bring so much joy to your life.
You could get rid of your computers. Some people have, use their cell phones as their computer.
You could get rid of your cell phone. Almost everyone needs one of these.
How about you keep your computer but just change the operating system?
Yep, instead of Windows you could get a different operating system.
Let’s look at Windows. Any version. Windows only support their operating system for a few years and then come out with something different.
What does that mean for you? You have to get a newer computer in some cases, you purchase the new operating system, you have to purchase new Anti-virus to run on your new operating system,. You have to purchase new programs to run on your new operating system.
Windows Operating system comes with almost no software. You have to download and/or purchase software to run on your computer and operating system.
You are talking big bucks. $100 + for a new operation system.
$300-$500 for a new computer in some cases.
$30-$100+ for anti-virus program.
$30-$1,500 for a program to run on your new operating system.
X how many programs you want on your new operating system.
It adds up fast.
You will soon be spending $500-$10,000 for your new computer.
How about an alternative?
You could go to Mac. But that is more expensive then Windows.
Then theres Linux.
What?
Linux.
It is a open source version of very expensive version of Unix. Now Unix has been around for 40 years. Still going.
Linux has been going for over 20 years.
Open source is just that, open source.
You can get the source code and compile your own operating system.
You don’t need to anymore. In the early days of Linux you pretty much had to compile everything from the source code. Could take weeks to get your operating system and programs running. Well, see like Windows, programs depend on other programs to run properly. But in the early days of Linux that was not bundled together. You had to find the source code to all these programs and compile them.
Today, you have CD’s and DVD’s where Linux runs from the disk. Just put it in and restart the computer. If you like it, you can get a thumb drive (flash drive) and install the operating system to the drive and you can have YOUR computer wherever you go. With a large enough thumb drive you can install a couple of versions of Linux, and store your files there as well. In other words, carry your computer wherever you go.
What do you mean versions of Linux?
Linux was developed over 20 years ago, Many people have compiled and offered versions of Linux. The older ones around are Slackware, Debian, and Red Hat. There are many, many more. One thing about Linux, you can change the way your Operating System works.
Example, Windows has 95, 98, 2000, XP, Vista, 8. Each one is a little different. Well, say you use Mac and really like the way Mac works over Windows. With Linux you can have your Operating System look like Windows, Mac, or something completely different.
You can go to http://distrowatch.com/ and see which distros have the most hits.
The top 35 are the most active. Most of those I have played with.
My first adventure into Linux was when it was a year old. I had one big problem. Linux would not work unless you had a 386 processor and my computer had a 286.
When I did get a computer large enough to run Linux, I was busy with school and had no time to pla y with Linux.
Over the years Linux was there in the background but I was trying to find any way I could to get cheap software for Windows that did what I wanted without spending several hundred dollars at a time.
Then I went through a divorce, some alone time and then I was found by my current wife. I moved and got back into my computers.
Then the day came when Windows no longer supported the operating system I was using. It cost much more than I was willing to spend to upgrade to a newer operating system.
A friend gave me a copy of Red Hat. (by the way, that is legal with open source software) and I put it on my computer. It ran better than Windows did.
I went Linux crazy. I downloaded Debian, Suse, Knoppix, PCLinuxOS, Fedora, Ubuntu, Mint, Slackware, FreeBSD (Not Linux but open source Unix) Puppy, Sabayon, and a few more.
Just starting off I had problems with flash players, movie players, music players. Then I found what they are calling Windows type. There were a couple of versions of Linux set up just like Windows, the creators thought many people would pay them instead of Windows. They were wrong and went under.
But if you stick with Mint, PCLinuxOS, Ultmate Edition, all have the software installed when you install and will be able to watch movies, listen to music. Basically everyting works out of the box.
Most of the others you have to install flash player, Java, Libraries to watch movies and listen to music.
One other feature of Linux, you can change the Desktop. KDE, GNOME, UNITY and many more.
Then theres software. You can download software from repositories, thousands upon thousands of programs to download. Games, Office, utilities, Graphics, Sound, Video. Just about anything under the sun you can find.
One huge problem with switching to Linux. You have to spend a little time learning how to use Linux. Some programs have their own language. But if you are learning computer languages you can use Linux. Almost every language out there, there is an open source for Linux.
So you can just use your computer like Windows, and just surf the Internet write a few emails, play a few games. You don’t need to learn how to use Linux. Just start and go.
Oh did I tell you, you can run Linux without anti-Virus.
So to sum it up you can switch to Linux, get programs for Linux and use Linux without any anti-virus software and without much cost to you. You do have or purchase a computer that you can burn a CD or DVD (Most computer today have that ability) and purchase some blank CD's or DVD's. Have Internet access and time to download ISO's.
You do need a cd burning program that will burn ISO's.
Good luck and most of all, have fun.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Linux ReBoot
We just moved to a new (old, new to us) house. After hooking up my computer it suggested that I upgrade. I was using Ubuntu (notice the word was) Yep, I clicked to upgrade to Ununtu 12. Twenty hours later, that would be downloading and installing I got an error that scripts were not loaded. Tried again and still nothing. Rebooted and, you guessed it. Blank screen. In the Windows world that would be the blue screen of death.
Now one of the good things about Linux is, I just put in a live Distro, and mount my hard drive and get the few important pics and documents, a few songs and audiobooks put them all on a thumb flash drive.
Now next step. What distro do I want to use?
I like Debian, Ununtu (even with the problems), Mint, Fedora, OpenBSD, KNOPPIX, PCLinuxOS, OpenSUSE and many, many more. I have tried many of these as live versions. Some I really like because everything is loaded ready to go. But I also like the thought that I can install what I want. (By the way I am working on LFS and hope to have one system built from scratch. Best way to learn what you are doing is - to do it). I am a huge Commodore 64 fan and love the look of the new Commodore (Mint) Linux. But, until all the bugs are worked out of it and it becomes a good Linux I will have to skip it.
I am currently running live CD on one Laptop with Windows Vista. Another Laptop with KNOPPIX, A desktop with Mint and this one don't know which distro I want to put on it.
I do like using different Desktops. I am currently using Ultimate Edition Live CD. A lot of eye candy and little bits of extra features than basic Linux. I like it.
I am not a fan of Unity Desktop by Ubuntu. But, I have not used it enough to see if I really like it.
So a few more days of playing with a few different distros and maybe by weeks end I will have decided which one to go with. I will let you know which one I use and why.
Now one of the good things about Linux is, I just put in a live Distro, and mount my hard drive and get the few important pics and documents, a few songs and audiobooks put them all on a thumb flash drive.
Now next step. What distro do I want to use?
I like Debian, Ununtu (even with the problems), Mint, Fedora, OpenBSD, KNOPPIX, PCLinuxOS, OpenSUSE and many, many more. I have tried many of these as live versions. Some I really like because everything is loaded ready to go. But I also like the thought that I can install what I want. (By the way I am working on LFS and hope to have one system built from scratch. Best way to learn what you are doing is - to do it). I am a huge Commodore 64 fan and love the look of the new Commodore (Mint) Linux. But, until all the bugs are worked out of it and it becomes a good Linux I will have to skip it.
I am currently running live CD on one Laptop with Windows Vista. Another Laptop with KNOPPIX, A desktop with Mint and this one don't know which distro I want to put on it.
I do like using different Desktops. I am currently using Ultimate Edition Live CD. A lot of eye candy and little bits of extra features than basic Linux. I like it.
I am not a fan of Unity Desktop by Ubuntu. But, I have not used it enough to see if I really like it.
So a few more days of playing with a few different distros and maybe by weeks end I will have decided which one to go with. I will let you know which one I use and why.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
New Commodore 64x.
I just watched a video of the new Commodore 64 running Linux Mint 10-10
One word - Awesome.
It has the great eye candy installed, Retro Sounds for your computer. Many Commodore 64 things laying around the screen.
Eye Candy alone is worth the download.
Of course I cut my teeth in Computing on the Commodore 64 and the Commodore VIC-20. I did (still have) a Commodore 128. and last time I powered them up, they all worked. and the disks still were readable. Some 20 years later.
And today all three of my computers are running Linux Mint. The Commodore 64 was one of the best home computers way back then. Apple was the other. There were at one time about 20 different home computers. Radio Shack had the Tandy.
Today I am glad for Linux. It is one of my favorites. I am not to hip on Fedora or the Red Hat based distros. I do like the Debian based, and I love the Gnome Desktop over the KDE. Nothing wrong KDE or Fedora, Slackware or any of their distro downstream. Debian was the one I learned on and thats the one I like.
I am starting to go through the Linux From Scratch. Wanting to build a system from the ground up.
Have some fun and download a few Linux Distros and play awhile, you just might give up that Windows machine.
I just watched a video of the new Commodore 64 running Linux Mint 10-10
One word - Awesome.
It has the great eye candy installed, Retro Sounds for your computer. Many Commodore 64 things laying around the screen.
Eye Candy alone is worth the download.
Of course I cut my teeth in Computing on the Commodore 64 and the Commodore VIC-20. I did (still have) a Commodore 128. and last time I powered them up, they all worked. and the disks still were readable. Some 20 years later.
And today all three of my computers are running Linux Mint. The Commodore 64 was one of the best home computers way back then. Apple was the other. There were at one time about 20 different home computers. Radio Shack had the Tandy.
Today I am glad for Linux. It is one of my favorites. I am not to hip on Fedora or the Red Hat based distros. I do like the Debian based, and I love the Gnome Desktop over the KDE. Nothing wrong KDE or Fedora, Slackware or any of their distro downstream. Debian was the one I learned on and thats the one I like.
I am starting to go through the Linux From Scratch. Wanting to build a system from the ground up.
Have some fun and download a few Linux Distros and play awhile, you just might give up that Windows machine.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Linux has been great.
I move to Linux a few years ago and I have never looked back. Windows has so many problems and bugs that I was spending more time running anti-viruses than doing what I wanted to do.
My wifes old laptop refused to run Windows XP. She has had it for over 8 years. So for her retirement I let her get a new laptop. She picked it out. We had it for less than two months and it stopped working. Had to ship it off to get a new motherboard and harddrive. Got it back and it had VIRUSES all threw it. So my wife called and they said it was not their problem. So after a long battle between Windows and the games she can play and Linux that does not have all those games she likes. She is considering it after we got our Credit Card bill and Norton charged us $80 for something that doesn't work. Their Anti-Virus. She gets so frustrated over the fact that I can do almost anything she does and I don't have to spend Hours waiting for the Anti-virus to do its thing.
I put Linux on her old laptop and it works good. I have some problem with her WiFi card and some Distributions. The Distributions (Distros) that I don't like, reads her WiFi. The Distros I like does not.
I have a lot more to learn about Linux and one of them is getting her WiFi to work using the Distro that I like and works well with her old Laptop.
There are plenty of great Linux books and podcasts that can help you with learning Linux. I have been tempted with starting a podcast for Linux newbies. First listen to Chess Griffins - Linux Reality. So much great stuff there and I don't know if I could do better than what he did. Second get a few ebooks and read through them. You can find plenty of them for free online.
If you want to do some programming - look to Linux. If you need to run a office - look to Linux. There are plenty of reasons to move to Linux. The biggest reason - its free. As in costs nothing to get or use. You have control of your computer. Unlike Windows where they have control of your computer. Read the License Agreement. There is a little bit of a learning curve, but its worth the time and trouble. You have several office suites to choose from, by the way most of the programs on Linux are also free like before costs nothing to get or use. That includes most of the office suites.
I move to Linux a few years ago and I have never looked back. Windows has so many problems and bugs that I was spending more time running anti-viruses than doing what I wanted to do.
My wifes old laptop refused to run Windows XP. She has had it for over 8 years. So for her retirement I let her get a new laptop. She picked it out. We had it for less than two months and it stopped working. Had to ship it off to get a new motherboard and harddrive. Got it back and it had VIRUSES all threw it. So my wife called and they said it was not their problem. So after a long battle between Windows and the games she can play and Linux that does not have all those games she likes. She is considering it after we got our Credit Card bill and Norton charged us $80 for something that doesn't work. Their Anti-Virus. She gets so frustrated over the fact that I can do almost anything she does and I don't have to spend Hours waiting for the Anti-virus to do its thing.
I put Linux on her old laptop and it works good. I have some problem with her WiFi card and some Distributions. The Distributions (Distros) that I don't like, reads her WiFi. The Distros I like does not.
I have a lot more to learn about Linux and one of them is getting her WiFi to work using the Distro that I like and works well with her old Laptop.
There are plenty of great Linux books and podcasts that can help you with learning Linux. I have been tempted with starting a podcast for Linux newbies. First listen to Chess Griffins - Linux Reality. So much great stuff there and I don't know if I could do better than what he did. Second get a few ebooks and read through them. You can find plenty of them for free online.
If you want to do some programming - look to Linux. If you need to run a office - look to Linux. There are plenty of reasons to move to Linux. The biggest reason - its free. As in costs nothing to get or use. You have control of your computer. Unlike Windows where they have control of your computer. Read the License Agreement. There is a little bit of a learning curve, but its worth the time and trouble. You have several office suites to choose from, by the way most of the programs on Linux are also free like before costs nothing to get or use. That includes most of the office suites.
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