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Baron Patsy
whiny, oversensitive, socially awkward
Joined: 05 Dec 2006
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 Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 1:53 am Post subject: Linux. |
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Well, I'm considering dual-booting my new desktop with XP Pro Corporate edition and a Linux distro. The problem is choosing which distro I need to install. I have very little experience with Linux. I am using a wireless card for my internet access, which requires the use of ndiswrapper, something that I don't quite know how to use. So if anyone could explain how to use that in plain English, that'd be great too.
Basically, I'm looking for a distro that I can get up and running relatively quickly, and then screw around with at a later date once I'm more familiar with the Linux environment.
Thanks, and feel free to discuss any other issues relating to Linux in this topic. |
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Baron Patsy
whiny, oversensitive, socially awkward
Joined: 05 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 7:09 am |
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| slipstream wrote: |
| Why do you need Linux ANNNND Windows? |
Because I would like to start using Linux but I enjoy occasionally playing PC games? |
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Baron Patsy
whiny, oversensitive, socially awkward
Joined: 05 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 8:54 am |
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Okay, I'm going to make the jump and install the latest Ubuntu release on my laptop.
Wish me luck!
I will likely post lots of questions in this thread. And maybe posts full of angry swearing. |
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Baron Patsy
whiny, oversensitive, socially awkward
Joined: 05 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 8:19 am |
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Posting from a laptop running Ubuntu Edgy!
Yes!
I get the impression that my connection is kind of badly set-up, considering it doesn't like it when I try to use a static IP and I had to go about things oddly to get it set up.
But it works!
Is it supposed to be this slow? Pages take much longer to load than they do on XP. |
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Baron Patsy
whiny, oversensitive, socially awkward
Joined: 05 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 10:08 am |
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This is very alien to me, and to be honest, kind of confusing.
Being kind of overwhelmed is a natural reaction right? I've used XP for most of my time using computers heavily, and this is quite a change. |
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Baron Patsy
whiny, oversensitive, socially awkward
Joined: 05 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 1:08 pm |
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| psiga wrote: |
Can anyone provide more information on this 'slowness' bullshit? Is it Firefox or the OS or what?
STOTELHEIM: Can you come up with a way in Swedish to say "I'm fucking a shapeless girl and really ecstatic to be here" that rhymes with Vi sitter har i venten och spelar litte DotA? (Man I am going to keep liking that song even though I know the guy is a total kneebiter.) |
Well, for me, it was because I had some IPV6 stuff enabled, or something, which enables something-or-other that I don't need because I, along with everyone else, am using IPV4. I believe it's a way of classifying IP addresses or something? I read something about how there are very few IPV4 addresses left, so IPV6 was brought about, etc.
And it's enabled automatically when you install Ubuntu, so you have to disable it or else your browser/messenger/whatever has to scan a bunch of IP addresses that don't correspond to anything.
That might be completely wrong, though! |
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Baron Patsy
whiny, oversensitive, socially awkward
Joined: 05 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 1:41 pm |
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| gooktime wrote: |
The official Gnome browser "epiphany" is pretty nice and if I remember right was always very snappy and obviously felt more native to Gnome than Firefox. It uses the same rendering engine too so has the same compatibility with pages and such as Firefox, you'll just lose some extention stuff if you have any.
Might be worth a try? |
Maybe I'll give that a try! |
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Baron Patsy
whiny, oversensitive, socially awkward
Joined: 05 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 9:28 pm |
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| DeusJester wrote: |
I'm curious. Assuming you're not heavy into programming, what's the appeal of Linux besides "lol M$ free" and/or as a rescue disc like Kap said? Just to fart around with a new OS and self-educate, or...?
I tried using Ubuntu a ways back and, like Toups, struggled with it. It seemed like a massive chore to get anything to work (graphics/sound card, web browser, basically anything not specifically written for the OS) and 90% of the stuff I used my computer for (games, music, video, photo editing, sweet, sweet piracy) were incompatible from the get-go. After a 24-ish hour trial run I switched back to Windows and have never looked back. It didn't even seem worth learning, as I had zero practical use for it. Anything Linux could do, Windows could do better and with orders of magnitude less hassle.
As much as I love the idea of Linux, it still seems like a programmers-only club to me.
I do want to like it though. Bah. |
Yeah, I'm getting into Linux for a few reasons. I've always found the idea of Linux fascinating, much like you, and I've always wanted to take the plunge. I also love learning, so Linux seemed like a great way to be introduced to an entirely new operating system with its own rules and be able to get my bearings in it and learn to use it.
I don't really program, even! I used to dabble, and I have both a Python book and a Java book sitting here waiting to be used, but I can't muster up the courage and motivation to get started. |
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Baron Patsy
whiny, oversensitive, socially awkward
Joined: 05 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 1:17 am |
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| DeusJester wrote: |
| BenoitRen wrote: |
| You can't say Linux doesn't work for you just because one distro didn't. |
Got one that will detect and run an nVidia graphics card and Sound Blaster 24, work with Firefox, run MAME, Steam, World of Warcraft, Photoshop, F.E.A.R., assorted indie games, uTorrent, Media Player Classic, and WinAmp? In other words, got one that has near-universal compatibility with Windows programs without having to do a lot of programming gymnastics just to get basic things to work? If so, sign me up.
The only reason I don't use Linux is because 90% of the stuff I use doesn't work on it, and it's simply not worth re-downloading what are usually inferior or bootstrapped versions of (or drivers for) the stuff I use. For the record, this is also why I won't be switching to Vista any time soon, either. I have no reason to whatsoever; it would actually be detrimental for me to move to Vista at this point, because most of my shit would instantly stop working.
Windows XP, on the other hand, could use three times its current memory, be a fourth as fast and electrocute my balls at random intervals while I use it; it runs my programs, and other OSes do not. Period. Points about the efficiency of Linux can be (and I'm sure are) perfectly valid, but it means nothing to me. That's like saying "This car gets 200 miles to the gallon, is crash proof, has heated seats and a blowjob simulator...But you can't drive it on roads."
It's the same reason I don't use a Mac (besides the price). I've got no love for WinXP, but that's what I need if I want to do all this stuff.
I can see the usefulness of Linux if you do zero computer gaming, but that just ain't the case for me, and there's pretty much no way around it. It renders Linux 100% useless for me. Honestly, if I could find a distro that would run any game windows XP could, I'd be willing to work out getting the drivers running and swapping out a few other programs to make the switch. Right now, though, it's like you can more-or-less approximate everything WinXP can do with Linux except games, where Linux is just completely dead in the water. |
You know, I've been told that WINE can run a lot of modern games very well. And there are actually quite a few games that run in Linux! All of id's games and games that use the Unreal (I think) engine are Linux-compatible, as well as a few other high-profile games.
In other news, I am addicted to installing optional packages in Ubuntu. The Synaptic Package Manager makes it so easy! I've already installed over three hundred megs worth of optional stuff, and I'm only into the C's!
I have a morse code teaching program! And a million different games! This is neat! |
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Baron Patsy
whiny, oversensitive, socially awkward
Joined: 05 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 1:40 am |
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| DeusJester wrote: |
| Baron Patsy wrote: |
| You know, I've been told that WINE can run a lot of modern games very well. And there are actually quite a few games that run in Linux! All of id's games and games that use the Unreal (I think) engine are Linux-compatible, as well as a few other high-profile games. |
Yeah, id is the big exception to the rule (kinda like how all Blizzard games are hybrid Mac compatible).
Didn't know about WINE, though! Hmm. |
I would bet that the id thing is Carmack's doing. That seems like the sort of thing he'd do. He posts on Slashdot, occasionally! And is my personal idol! |
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Baron Patsy
whiny, oversensitive, socially awkward
Joined: 05 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 2:31 am |
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| I think I'm going to have to switch back to XP, unfortunately. The power management is really bad on this laptop, and I would like it if the bottom of my laptop didn't melt. And there's a problem with my graphics card, resulting in absolutely dismal performance in just about everything even remotely graphics-intensive. |
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Baron Patsy
whiny, oversensitive, socially awkward
Joined: 05 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 6:55 am |
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See, I find all of the stuff that Talbain is talking about greatly interesting and even fun in some cases. I love futzing around in the terminal and setting things up myself. It gives me a sense of accomplishment that I don't get when I click the "install" button in Windows.
I recommend you find a nice big tutorial, print it out, and keep it next to you at all times. Or, hell, get a book on it, if you want. Stick with it. |
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