Starting to investigate a Linux Mint notebook - Page 2

STEED · 08-21-16, 05:24 AM

The Win10 will only be used for writing letters and other stuff and if I need to print anything off I just make a copy on a USB stick and pop up to the library to do the printing. Apart from that I still got a few old games that don't need the Internet, so in many ways this desktop PC will be my last one as I will switch to a laptop when the times comes. My router will never be switched on while using the Win10 laptop nor will I take it out the house so no need to worry about wifi. Just to add when I'm on the Mint on the Internet I will unplug the power to the Win10.

This is of course still a few years away so I got time to continual researching and dropping into this thread. Any luck the MS crime bosses will be bought down..we hope.

danasan · 08-21-16, 05:30 AM

Well, I would expect a BluRay drive in such a machine.

Skybird · 08-21-16, 04:39 PM

Bluray, I thought about it, but then - at 17" you simply do not need Bluray movies, on that screen diameter, no matter the 1980 resolution, you simply do not see a difference to a DVD, its all too small. At best it would have made sense with a 4K display which also is available for this machine - but not with Linux preinstalled, and for much higher price, around 1700 bucks. I think it then has Bluray by default - and is Microsoft-infested by default as well.

My TV is 80cm, and at my seating distance, ca. 1.90m, I cannot see the difference between DVD and BluRay as well. Bluray only becomes visible in effect if I seat myself MUCH closer to the screen so that I would see single pixels of a DVD. And that screen is much wider than that of a laptop.

4K and BluRay and all that becomes interesting only on really big screens, imo, on small and medium sized screens it is a waste of money, me thinks.

danasan · 08-22-16, 03:43 AM

Don't forget that Bluray is a medium to write on as well.

The capacity is something like ten DVDs.

And they are affordable today.

Skybird · 08-22-16, 05:34 AM

Yes, but I usually do not need such storage capacities, I never needed them so far. For the usual everyday needs to store this and that I still use mostly CDs over DVDs, because they are sufficient for that. Or I use bigger capacity USB-sticks, 64GB. Or an external HD. For long time storage, HDs are the safest option, the data could be often rescued by specialists even if the contorl electronics and chips have broken down. USB sticks are the unsafest, their break-down rate is higher than that of any other storage medium.

I think financially the system is worth its price even without a bluray burner, due to the modern processor and speed, the very good - they write - IPS panel, and the very good - so they write - sound system. I will see in some days.

Did a first investigation into Virtual Box VM. Seems to be quite capable and reliable, but is not as easy as I hoped it would be. After a first half an hour of reading an introduction to installing it, I have understood little to nothing. That the background tasks of Linux under the graphical surface are no world I am familiar with, does not help either.

Its like with the very early Windows versions in the 90s - many power users still used a CLI window to do more complex stuff, it was more precise and worked faster than doing that stuff via the GUI of Windows, often it also was the only way to get certain stuff done. Same with Linux. The ordinary every day tasks can be wonderfully done under Mint Cinnamon, and linux works much faster and much more problem-free and reliable than Windows - but when you need to work on the system itself, you often need to fall back to Linux' pendant of a CLI, although under Mint the need to do so seems to be met less often than under many other Linux distributions.

Skybird · 08-24-16, 08:58 AM

It's here. Super display quality from even absurd viewing angles

(better than my PC main display), very good sound indeed for a size like this , and Linux and stuff runs smoother and faster on it than on my PC. Needing to tailor and tune the usual things which will cost time, I am still not that blindly familiar with Linux, maybe never will be (compared to Wíndows), but I so far and after 4 hours I am a happy customer.

Skybird · 08-24-16, 12:23 PM

Thought I'd share this with those of you who consider to move to Mint sooner or later. https://sites.google.com/site/easyli...cinnamon-first This is a great way to continue after you have done the base installation. The base installation does not explained in this, but all the recommended first steps to follow after it. Also, there are many sub-"wikis" linked to in the list, focussing on specific things in more detail. I think this is a good read you should do before you start to install, it gives you a good overview and introduction to what to expect. You may be tempted to think that this is difficult stuff, due to the importance of inputs via the socalled Terminal. Bu this tool only is needed for background administration, and system maintenance beyond the ordinary every-day-routines. In normal life, you will not need to use it once you have set up the system in detail - and problems are very rare under Linux, Windows gives you more often a headache. Usually you will just paste and copy command lines from wikis and forum advices when you asked for help, and insert them into the Terminal without knowing what the options and command syntax really means. The importance of the Terminal is no argument against using Linux, you must not be intimidated by it - really. At least if you just live a private user life in front of your machine and do not depend on using it for server maintenance and complicated network administration etc.

As you can see I still need to tweak the script permissions in Firefox a bit, text formatting currently works - not as intended...LOL

Onkel Neal · 09-13-16, 03:53 AM

One month in, the new laptop still making you happy?

Skybird · 09-16-16, 05:40 AM

It does, but I do not do any fancy stuff with it, mostly browsing and emails. First latop I ever had seen or maintained that is as fast, if not faster, than my main PC. Linux adds its boost to the fast hardware,too.

Its the off-the-routine stuff that can give you headaches in Linux at times.

Too bad that chess is a sad, sad affair under Linux.

08-21-16, 05:24 AM	#16
STEED Lucky Jack Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Down Town UK Posts: 27,695 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 48	The Win10 will only be used for writing letters and other stuff and if I need to print anything off I just make a copy on a USB stick and pop up to the library to do the printing. Apart from that I still got a few old games that don't need the Internet, so in many ways this desktop PC will be my last one as I will switch to a laptop when the times comes. My router will never be switched on while using the Win10 laptop nor will I take it out the house so no need to worry about wifi. Just to add when I'm on the Mint on the Internet I will unplug the power to the Win10. This is of course still a few years away so I got time to continual researching and dropping into this thread. Any luck the MS crime bosses will be bought down..we hope. __________________ Dr Who rest in peace 1963-2017. To borrow Davros saying...I NAME YOU CHIBNALL THE DESTROYER OF DR WHO YOU KILLED IT!

08-21-16, 05:30 AM	#17
danasan Elite Spam Hunter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Flensburg / Germany Posts: 1,141 Downloads: 39 Uploads: 0	Well, I would expect a BluRay drive in such a machine. __________________ "I invite you to go inside this submergible hole in the water where you can nicely hide from destroyers."

08-21-16, 04:39 PM	#18
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 40,516 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Bluray, I thought about it, but then - at 17" you simply do not need Bluray movies, on that screen diameter, no matter the 1980 resolution, you simply do not see a difference to a DVD, its all too small. At best it would have made sense with a 4K display which also is available for this machine - but not with Linux preinstalled, and for much higher price, around 1700 bucks. I think it then has Bluray by default - and is Microsoft-infested by default as well. My TV is 80cm, and at my seating distance, ca. 1.90m, I cannot see the difference between DVD and BluRay as well. Bluray only becomes visible in effect if I seat myself MUCH closer to the screen so that I would see single pixels of a DVD. And that screen is much wider than that of a laptop. 4K and BluRay and all that becomes interesting only on really big screens, imo, on small and medium sized screens it is a waste of money, me thinks. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

08-22-16, 03:43 AM	#19
danasan Elite Spam Hunter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Flensburg / Germany Posts: 1,141 Downloads: 39 Uploads: 0	Don't forget that Bluray is a medium to write on as well. The capacity is something like ten DVDs. And they are affordable today. __________________ "I invite you to go inside this submergible hole in the water where you can nicely hide from destroyers."

08-22-16, 05:34 AM	#20
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 40,516 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Yes, but I usually do not need such storage capacities, I never needed them so far. For the usual everyday needs to store this and that I still use mostly CDs over DVDs, because they are sufficient for that. Or I use bigger capacity USB-sticks, 64GB. Or an external HD. For long time storage, HDs are the safest option, the data could be often rescued by specialists even if the contorl electronics and chips have broken down. USB sticks are the unsafest, their break-down rate is higher than that of any other storage medium. I think financially the system is worth its price even without a bluray burner, due to the modern processor and speed, the very good - they write - IPS panel, and the very good - so they write - sound system. I will see in some days. Did a first investigation into Virtual Box VM. Seems to be quite capable and reliable, but is not as easy as I hoped it would be. After a first half an hour of reading an introduction to installing it, I have understood little to nothing. That the background tasks of Linux under the graphical surface are no world I am familiar with, does not help either. Its like with the very early Windows versions in the 90s - many power users still used a CLI window to do more complex stuff, it was more precise and worked faster than doing that stuff via the GUI of Windows, often it also was the only way to get certain stuff done. Same with Linux. The ordinary every day tasks can be wonderfully done under Mint Cinnamon, and linux works much faster and much more problem-free and reliable than Windows - but when you need to work on the system itself, you often need to fall back to Linux' pendant of a CLI, although under Mint the need to do so seems to be met less often than under many other Linux distributions. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert. Last edited by Skybird; 08-22-16 at 05:45 AM.

08-24-16, 08:58 AM	#21
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 40,516 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	It's here. Super display quality from even absurd viewing angles (better than my PC main display), very good sound indeed for a size like this , and Linux and stuff runs smoother and faster on it than on my PC. Needing to tailor and tune the usual things which will cost time, I am still not that blindly familiar with Linux, maybe never will be (compared to Wíndows), but I so far and after 4 hours I am a happy customer. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

08-24-16, 12:23 PM	#22
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 40,516 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Thought I'd share this with those of you who consider to move to Mint sooner or later. https://sites.google.com/site/easyli...cinnamon-first This is a great way to continue after you have done the base installation. The base installation does not explained in this, but all the recommended first steps to follow after it. Also, there are many sub-"wikis" linked to in the list, focussing on specific things in more detail. I think this is a good read you should do before you start to install, it gives you a good overview and introduction to what to expect. You may be tempted to think that this is difficult stuff, due to the importance of inputs via the socalled Terminal. Bu this tool only is needed for background administration, and system maintenance beyond the ordinary every-day-routines. In normal life, you will not need to use it once you have set up the system in detail - and problems are very rare under Linux, Windows gives you more often a headache. Usually you will just paste and copy command lines from wikis and forum advices when you asked for help, and insert them into the Terminal without knowing what the options and command syntax really means. The importance of the Terminal is no argument against using Linux, you must not be intimidated by it - really. At least if you just live a private user life in front of your machine and do not depend on using it for server maintenance and complicated network administration etc. As you can see I still need to tweak the script permissions in Firefox a bit, text formatting currently works - not as intended...LOL __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

09-13-16, 03:53 AM	#23
Onkel Neal Born to Run Silent Join Date: Jan 1997 Location: Cougar Trap, Texas Posts: 21,289 Downloads: 534 Uploads: 224	One month in, the new laptop still making you happy? __________________ SUBSIM - 26 Years on the Web

09-16-16, 05:40 AM	#24
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 40,516 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	It does, but I do not do any fancy stuff with it, mostly browsing and emails. First latop I ever had seen or maintained that is as fast, if not faster, than my main PC. Linux adds its boost to the fast hardware,too. Its the off-the-routine stuff that can give you headaches in Linux at times. Too bad that chess is a sad, sad affair under Linux. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.