Re: [BLUG] New OS

Paul Proctor wrote:
> Hi Simon,
> I am comfortable with Windows but a good bit of my income and my hobby
> is from building PC's. I would like to use an OS that is more open.
> I understand something new would be a chalange, no problem. I just need
> some material to experiment with.

If you're building for others, then you're going to have to understand
that the end user doesn't give a wit about "freedom" and "openness" and
what have you. They want to click on an icon, open the file or program,
and do what they want to do. The best candidates for desktop Linux are
total neophytes that have no Windows knowledge or preconceived notions
about how computers (Windows) should operate. And be prepared to get a
call when the printer they buy at Staples doesn't work automagically.

That being said, I would start by experimenting with Live CDs. Most
desktop Linux distros nowadays come as a bootable CD that loads to
memory and allows you to play around. My personal preferences are MEPIS,
PCLinuxOS, and Ubuntu. The first two use the KDE desktop environment,
which is somewhat similar to Windows; Ubuntu uses Gnome, which is
reminiscent of the Mac desktop.

I also personally prefer distros based on Debian. MEPIS and Ubuntu meet
that preference. And while PCLinuxOS is Mandriva based, it uses the
apt/Synaptic package manager from Debian, which (imo) is far superior
than any of the other mainstream offerings.

--
Mark Warner
SimplyMEPIS Linux v6.5
Registered Linux User #415318

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Re: [BLUG] New OS

Paul,

Well, so an install would be your first step.

If your hobby is PC building I'm guessing that, like me, you've got
more than one computer laying around, huh? Pick one to play with and
install some flavor of Linux on it.

Now, I'm a little biased since I'm pretty active in Ubuntu's Indiana
Local Community (LoCo), but I think Ubuntu is a great starting place.

Are you comfortable downloading and burning CD-ROM .iso images? If so,
head on over to <http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download>. If you're
in Bloomington, you'll most likely get the fastest possible download
from the "ftp.ussg.iu.edu" option.

I think, like me, that you'll find that installing Ubuntu is a LOT
easier and faster than installing XP. Not to mention, it comes
pre-loaded with a lot of the software you'd end up having to install
yourself after a Windows install.

Plus, you don't need to worry about setting up virus scanners, malware
removers, or a firewall except in special circumstances (e.g., we have
a virus checker running on our file server and mail server at work not
so the servers are protected from virii, but so our users running
Windows are).

A note on hardware, especially since you build your own:
Unfortunately, most hardware manufacturers only worry about making
sure their hardware runs on Windows and the open source community is
left to their own devices as far as getting it to run on any other OS.

This means that some of the latest hardware may take a bit of extra
work to get running, or is functionally limited, under Linux. So most
of us who build systems with the intent of installing Linux on them
need to do the research to know what is and isn't supported yet.
(Nothing is more irritating that buying a piece of hardware, plugging
it in, and finding out that you aren't getting full functionality out
of it right now.)

On the other hand, for 95% of the hardware out there you won't need to
go find drivers for it, since it'll be supported right out of the box.
On Ubuntu, there's a "restricted drivers manager" (under System ->
Administration -> Hardware Drivers) that will go out and automatically
download and set up the extra drivers that are unable to be included
automatically due to intellectual property concerns, covering another
4% of the possibilities.

It's in that 1% of cases (or more, if you like buying on the cutting
edge) that this can be a real pain.

(NOTE, the percentages here are vague, biased, hand-wavy estimates
based on personal experience, not real statistics.)

So jump in the pool, swim around a bit, and when in doubt, ask questions.

Take care!

Simón

On Sun, Sep 21, 2008 at 1:16 PM, Paul Proctor <proctor710@comcast.net> wrote:
> Hi Simon,
> I am comfortable with Windows but a good bit of my income and my hobby is
> from building PC's. I would like to use an OS that is more open.
> I understand something new would be a chalange, no problem. I just need some
> material to experiment with.
> Thanks,
> Paul

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[BLUG] New OS

Hi Simon,

I am comfortable with Windows but a good bit of my income and my hobby is from building PC's. I would like to use an OS that is more open.

I understand something new would be a chalange, no problem. I just need some material to experiment with.

Thanks,

Paul 

 

 

 

Re: [BLUG] Happy Software Freedom Day!

On Sun, Sep 21, 2008 at 8:10 AM, Paul Proctor <proctor710@comcast.net> wrote:
> Hi,
> You guys don't know me but I am sorta desperate. I know nothing about LINUX.
> I have been using and building PC's since the days of DOS.
> I need a new OS and lots of advice on LINUX. My first step should probably
> be to attend a meeting I guess. Any help would be much apreciated!

Welcome, Paul,

If you've been working with PC's since the days of DOS, and if you're
anything like me, you'll find Linux to be a breath of fresh air.

I know as I began to learn my way around Linux, it was like all of the
good things that have changed in computing since the days of DOS
without all the crud.

Things that need to be complex are, of course, complex (who can we
kid? computers are complex.), and anything that can be simple is. It's
refreshing.

Not to mention, I still have an affinity for the command-line, so
while there was a slight learning curve going from "dir" to "ls", from
"ren" to "mv", etc. learning my way around the bash shell was like
going from a club to a light saber.

Out of curiosity, what is it that brought you to the decision that you
need a new OS?

> Thanx,
> Paul Proctor

Simón

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Re: [BLUG] Happy Software Freedom Day!

Hi,
You guys don't know me but I am sorta desperate. I know nothing about LINUX.
I have been using and building PC's since the days of DOS.
I need a new OS and lots of advice on LINUX. My first step should probably
be to attend a meeting I guess. Any help would be much apreciated!

Thanx,
Paul Proctor

----- Original Message -----
From: "Simón Ruiz" <simon.a.ruiz@gmail.com>
To: "Bloomington LINUX Users Group" <blug@cs.indiana.edu>
Sent: Saturday, September 20, 2008 7:05 PM
Subject: Re: [BLUG] Happy Software Freedom Day!

> Indeed!
>
> http://www.fsf.org/news/freedom-fry
>
> On Sat, Sep 20, 2008 at 1:26 PM, Mark Krenz <mark@slugbug.org> wrote:
>>
>> And next Saturday is the 25th anniversary of free software (and my
>> daughter's birthday). Richard Stallman announced his intentions to make
>> a free operating system and the GNU project on September 27th, 1983.
>>
>> http://ostatic.com/173195-blog/gnu-kicks-off-25th-anniversary-celebration
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Sep 20, 2008 at 01:46:23PM GMT, Simón Ruiz
>> [simon.a.ruiz@gmail.com] said the following:
>>> Today, Saturday September 20th, 2008 is Software Freedom Day.
>>>
>>> May we all have a great one!
>>>
>>> Simón
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> BLUG mailing list
>>> BLUG@linuxfan.com
>>> http://mailman.cs.indiana.edu/mailman/listinfo/blug
>>>
>>
>> --
>> Mark Krenz
>> Bloomington Linux Users Group
>> http://www.bloomingtonlinux.org/
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> BLUG mailing list
>> BLUG@linuxfan.com
>> http://mailman.cs.indiana.edu/mailman/listinfo/blug
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> BLUG mailing list
> BLUG@linuxfan.com
> http://mailman.cs.indiana.edu/mailman/listinfo/blug

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Re: [BLUG] Ohio LinuxFest

I would love to go this year, but it isn't the cards...the debt and
credit cards. Course I also have to work that weekend.

OLF has been a blast the last 2 years and I would recommend for anyone
to go if they get the chance.

Thank you,
Scott Blaydes

Simón Ruiz wrote:
> Just so you know, I was able to book a room over the phone at the Red
> Roof Inn using the group code provided at the "Hotel" link over at
> ohiolinux.org.
>
> This was yesterday afternoon, and every online resource said the
> closest hotel with availability was not comfortably within walking
> distance (if you're like me, you won't want to be *driving* to your
> room after the Pre Party or After Party (or After After After After
> Party ;-) ).
>
> My boss suggested just calling and seeing, and hey, it worked for me.
>
> YMMV.
>
> Simón
>
> P.S. If you're unsure about whether you wanna go to OLF, Go! You won't
> regret it. I'm taking my wife along, she had a blast last year even
> though she wasn't particularly interested in many of the talks.
>
> I wouldn't miss seeing Jon "maddog" Hall's talk on sustainable
> computing, or Jono Bacon's keynote.
>
> On Sat, Sep 20, 2008 at 1:34 PM, Mark Krenz <mark@slugbug.org> wrote:
>> If you want to go this, get a hotel room immediately because the two
>> hotels connected to the convention center are already sold out.
>>
>> On Thu, Sep 18, 2008 at 09:31:54PM GMT, Barry Schatz [sorbetninja@gmail.com] said the following:
>>> Ohio LinuxFest registration is open. As usual, it will be in downtown
>>> Columbus, OH. The event takes place October 10-11. but all the real
>>> stuff is Saturday the 11th. Many people (myself included) get a hotel
>>> room, and drive in Friday night. There is a really good pub right next
>>> to the convention center and that Friday night is a great time to fill a
>>> pub with Linux geeks. Guess where I'll be. :)
>>>
>>> I'll have copies of my GPG fingerprint and government-issued ID on me
>>> for impromptu key signings. If you have a GPG key, bring copies of your
>>> fingerprint and get some signatures!
>>>
>>> LinuxFest site:
>>> http://www.ohiolinux.org/
>>> Registration:
>>> https://www.ohiolinux.org/register.html
>>> Hotel:
>>> http://www.ohiolinux.org/hotel.html
>>> Location:
>>> http://www.ohiolinux.org/directions.html
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> BLUG mailing list
>>> BLUG@linuxfan.com
>>> http://mailman.cs.indiana.edu/mailman/listinfo/blug
>>>
>> --
>> Mark Krenz
>> Bloomington Linux Users Group
>> http://www.bloomingtonlinux.org/
>> _______________________________________________
>> BLUG mailing list
>> BLUG@linuxfan.com
>> http://mailman.cs.indiana.edu/mailman/listinfo/blug
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> BLUG mailing list
> BLUG@linuxfan.com
> http://mailman.cs.indiana.edu/mailman/listinfo/blug

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Re: [BLUG] Ohio LinuxFest

Just so you know, I was able to book a room over the phone at the Red
Roof Inn using the group code provided at the "Hotel" link over at
ohiolinux.org.

This was yesterday afternoon, and every online resource said the
closest hotel with availability was not comfortably within walking
distance (if you're like me, you won't want to be *driving* to your
room after the Pre Party or After Party (or After After After After
Party ;-) ).

My boss suggested just calling and seeing, and hey, it worked for me.

YMMV.

Simón

P.S. If you're unsure about whether you wanna go to OLF, Go! You won't
regret it. I'm taking my wife along, she had a blast last year even
though she wasn't particularly interested in many of the talks.

I wouldn't miss seeing Jon "maddog" Hall's talk on sustainable
computing, or Jono Bacon's keynote.

On Sat, Sep 20, 2008 at 1:34 PM, Mark Krenz <mark@slugbug.org> wrote:
>
> If you want to go this, get a hotel room immediately because the two
> hotels connected to the convention center are already sold out.
>
> On Thu, Sep 18, 2008 at 09:31:54PM GMT, Barry Schatz [sorbetninja@gmail.com] said the following:
>> Ohio LinuxFest registration is open. As usual, it will be in downtown
>> Columbus, OH. The event takes place October 10-11. but all the real
>> stuff is Saturday the 11th. Many people (myself included) get a hotel
>> room, and drive in Friday night. There is a really good pub right next
>> to the convention center and that Friday night is a great time to fill a
>> pub with Linux geeks. Guess where I'll be. :)
>>
>> I'll have copies of my GPG fingerprint and government-issued ID on me
>> for impromptu key signings. If you have a GPG key, bring copies of your
>> fingerprint and get some signatures!
>>
>> LinuxFest site:
>> http://www.ohiolinux.org/
>> Registration:
>> https://www.ohiolinux.org/register.html
>> Hotel:
>> http://www.ohiolinux.org/hotel.html
>> Location:
>> http://www.ohiolinux.org/directions.html
>> _______________________________________________
>> BLUG mailing list
>> BLUG@linuxfan.com
>> http://mailman.cs.indiana.edu/mailman/listinfo/blug
>>
>
> --
> Mark Krenz
> Bloomington Linux Users Group
> http://www.bloomingtonlinux.org/
> _______________________________________________
> BLUG mailing list
> BLUG@linuxfan.com
> http://mailman.cs.indiana.edu/mailman/listinfo/blug
>

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