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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Today, I am going to talk about starting Linux.

I can no longer consider myself a newbie on Linux, but I still have much to learn.

But if you are a brand new user to Linux there are a few things you should know.

I suggest you get Mint Linux or PCLinuxOS because they both are internet ready.  They have the flash and java already installed.  Most of Linux "YOU" have to install the flash and Java.   One thing about Linux is there are thousands of programs for you to download and install.  You can't use Windows.  So programs that end with .exe are usually Windows and unless you have Wine (free) and a wine support program (That costs)  You just might be able to run that program on Linux.

I started off with Debian.  I downloaded the entire Debian distro.  It was like 14 cd's of programs.  You don't have to do that.  You can just download one of the two above and go to the software download section and download the programs you want.  There is almost everything you can think of available to download. 

Education, Games, Graphics, Programming, Video, Sound, Internet, Office and Science thats not counting the system tools and accessories.  Thousands of programs. 

Another feature of Linux is the different Desktop programs.  The two powerhouses are Gnome and KDE.  Gnome is going through an identity crisis at the moment.  But there are many more desktop programs to choose from.

Not only that then you have virtual desktops most of the distros give you 2 to 4 but if you download Debian you can have up to 32 different desktops.  That is if you have enough memory.

Once you get started with Mint or PCLinuxOS and you feel comfortable you can move to Ubuntu.  I have Ubuntu on one desktop computer and it found my web cam, camera and printer with no disk required.  My printer is one of those multifunction printers and it made sure I had scanner software and printer software for MY printer. 

If you are wanting to just surf the web, play simple games and chat with your friends Linux is the best.   

Another benefit of Linux I don't have to purchase a anti-virus, 



Best of all it cost nothing. 


Okay I had to purchase a cd to burn the distro to.



Now if you don't want to burn a cd you can purchase a magazine with a cd/dvd in the back or a book with a cd/dvd.

Now I mention cd/dvd because some older systems don't have dvd drives.  So if you  purchase this make sure you can use it.

Another feature of the cd/dvd is that you can run most of these distros right from the cd/dvd drive.  Nothing is written to your disk.  Another option is getting a flash USB thumb drive that is 2 gigs or higher and install Linux on the flash drive and you will also have the ability to save any work on the same flash drive.



Now can you do that with Windows?  95/98/2000/ME/XP/VISTA/and / or 7?  Or how about Apple?

By the way the newest Apple OS is actually a crippled version of Linux.  That way you can't do everything Linux can and Linux can't do what you are doing on Apple.

I hope this gives you some insight as to where Linux is, and is going.   I like Linux for many reasons.  Games, Office programs, Internet, Programming and the price.  When the word free is used its free as it doesn't cost you any money but also free because you can change and modify it for your own personal needs.  You are not stuck with an out of box this is all you get and paid huge bucks for program you need to install and hope it runs on Windows.  Not saying that Linux is bug free.  But any bug you find and submit will get you a fix in a few weeks to days or even hours.  With Windows you have to wait until enough bugs will fill up an update for you to download and wait, wait, wait. 

You will see some sites charge for Linux.  Actually they are charging for the disk that they are going to ship to you if you ordered it that way.  Some are pretty pricey.  But if you have Linux installed you can download distros and burn disks.  You can even Virtually install it and run it from memory.  Again that requires that you have plenty of memory.  Once you are feeling very comfy with Linux you can download almost any source code and modify it, recompile it and run it on your computer.  That includes Linux itself.  But that is a long way away.

I think I am rambling on so if you haven't tried Linux, give it a shot. 


By the way, if you are going to be using this on a laptop, right now most Red Hat Distros will read and run your software wifi.  If you have a wifi that you can  turn on or off only after the operating system is installed then, that I call a software wifi.  If your wifi can be turned on even when the operating system is not installed then you have what I call a hardware wifi  and you can use Debian or Slackware  based distros.  But that I will save for another day.  For right now just look up on the internet what distros are Red Hat/Fedora based.  You may have problems playing music or watching movies because the programs needed to run music and movies are not usually installed on these versions of Linux.


Have fun....  I know I covered alot.  Just play and it will fall into place.  Next will be the several branches of Linux and Unix. 

The Joy of not having to use Windows.

I can tell you that not having to put up with Windows and the S L O W computing that comes with Windows is a true joy.

I can honestly say that I have had a few problems with Linux but, I just get online and visit the home blog site and look for my problem and if I can't find it I just put in my problems and email I will get an answer within 24 hours.

Not days, months, or even years that happen with Windows.