Linux Flavors

Post by **Digger[NJLP]** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 8:13 pm

OK so last night while working through my basement, I decided to download ISOs of the top three linux builds; Freespire, Fedora, and Ubuntu. I was going to install them on a Dell CPx laptop, its a P3. But after getting annoyed with the fact that my burns from the iSO files were constantly corrupted, I decided to pull them down at work and did some installs over the course of the day. I tend to do this every year or so to see how far they have come in ease of install and usage.

I also decided to use a newer Dell Latitude C840, its a P4 1.4 Gig with 512 Megs and a 20 Gig Hard drive.

Fedora, the Redhat public license, installed with almost the same process as windows. I would have had to DL a few drivers, which I did not since I wanted to see how all three installed.

Freespire, the Linspire public license, went even easier but I had some issues with the graphics card.

Ubuntu pretty much floored me.
I inserted the disk, rebooted the PC and when the splash screen came up, I chose Start/Install Ubuntu.
The Ubuntu OS loaded from the CD and gave me a fully functional OS off the CD, with an install icon on the desktop.
I double clicked the install icon and it asked me for the username and password I wanted to use and how I wanted to install.
Wipe HD full install
Dual boot with current OS
Advance partion config.
I chose Wipe HD Full install
The thing asked me for the time, date, and zone info and thats it.

Really thats it, the next thing I know I turn around and its asking me if I want to reboot and use the install off the hardrive, which I did.

The PC reboots and everthing and I mean everything works! Every piece of hardware is configured and ready to go! The Dell Function buttons like volume, monitor switch, brightness and contrast all work. It has open office already installed and I'm amazed!

But here is the kicker, the C840 doesn't have a built in wireless lan card, so when I get home I dig up an older linksys nic card and slide it in to the slot. I was expecting some kind of popup saying new hardware installed, Or something like the need to find linux drivers for the card. But nothing happens, at all, the laptop just sits their and stares at me. So I access the network settings and the card is just their and enabled like it was their all along!

I double click the interface, add my, WEP stuff and walla I'm on the web!

So I'm going for it.. I'm going to use Ubuntu with Gnome on my laptop as my traveling system. I really want to see how good open office is accessing MS-Office docs from work.

For anybodty who is using a Linux OS let me know which one and what apps you are using.

As I use this more and find issues or surprises I'll post here.

Post by **Digger[NJLP]** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 8:23 pm

Feeling a bit like Duh! I just realized Ubuntu is what Dell is shipping on their new laptops..

Its still seems to be a great OS for free..

Post by **Digger[NJLP]** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 2:01 pm

So I spent about two hours last night working on the Rhythm Media player, specifically getting it to see my music library on my Win2000 server.
I learned a few things about adding packages and also learned about the different ways to mount volumes. Cool part was I had to install the samba mounting drivers which I remembered from my unix days.

But it seems there is not one true stand out media player for linux, much to my disappointment. I know most of linux is open source and community driven, but I can't beleave that WinAmp has not created a Linux version. It seems those who use WinAmp on Ubuntu use wine to allow it to run.
But I have gotten Rhythm Media to run and it seems to work well. My only problem is every time it opens it scans for new media. Scanning 4200 songs is taking about 10 minutes.. I'll have to work on that.

Post by **Digger[NJLP]** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 8:06 pm

Have the media player delay fixed.. One kewl feature is it tells you the total play time of your collection.

4344 Songs, would take 11 days 16 hours and 12 minutes to play them all.

So far I like Ubuntu, but its pretty much being used as just a web browser. I'm going to try wine and see what kind of games I could get setup.

Post by **Murdock** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 9:25 pm

Here's a resource for ya:

http://www.linux-gamers.net/

Post by **Digger[NJLP]** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 5:29 pm

Hey! Nice resource! I'm so psyched, they're bringing back Privateer! I loved that game!

Post by **Murdock** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 9:39 pm

Hey...

Here is another nice linux quick reference...

http://digg.com/linux_unix/Unix_Linux_Cheat_Sheet

Post by **Majestic** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:58 am

there is not one true stand out media player for linux

Did you try XMMS or Amarok? Xmms is light and Amarok is elaborate.

BTW ACGNJ has a Linux group called Lunics. Meeting's are usually just Q n A if there's no speaker.

Post by **Digger[NJLP]** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 12:10 pm

Majestic wrote: Did you try XMMS or Amarok? Xmms is light and Amarok is elaborate.

BTW ACGNJ has a Linux group called Lunics. Meeting's are usually just Q n A if there's no speaker.

I tried Amarok and it seemed what I was looking for but the thing doesn't play my music. Well it tries and plays the songs with no sound and at twice the speed. Been posting on on the Amarok site but no answers yet.

I'll check out the Linux group thanks for the info.

Post by **Murdock** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 7:36 am

Here is another list of Linux games:

http://www.digg.com/linux_unix/HUGE_Lis ... eck_it_out

Post by **Murdock** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 11:58 pm

Here's another linux story on Digg...

This time...Linux Audio.

http://digg.com/linux_unix/An_Introduct ... inux_Audio