My Journey to Becoming a Linux End User on Linux Mint
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One thing that I am testing now is switching from using Skype proper to using Skype integration with Pidgin. Want to see how or if that improves the experience.
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@scottalanmiller said:
Figuring out all of the applications that one uses can be difficult. Some things are only used once in a while which makes it that much harder.
Ha another thing Linux does better :-P. Just dump your apt-get list and use it when you restore.
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I'm installing Mint now just to see what it's like. I haven't used it since 12 I think. I'm so happy and used to gnome 3 that I don't know if I can go back.
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I have considered the move from Windows to Linux as well. I have used Linux Mint LIVE, Ubuntu, Puppy, DamnSmall, and maybe one other.
I can not say that there is a real reason as to why I remain on Windows. I don't have the application limitation I once had, with the exception of my Apple iOS devices. There are a number of applications I use that are cross platform : Firefox, CHIRP, Libre Office, GIMP, KeyPass and a few others. If I decide to return to building my website back, that will be CMS based- either Joomla! or Wordpress, so all that is needed is a browser.
I have managed to learn a bit since joining ML and am very grateful for that. Several MLers have pushed me to want to do and learn more in Linux and with using the CLI with the projects they have worked on. Which has helped provide a need to do more in Linux.
There is much I still need to work on and learn.. some very basic functions of moving from a dominate Windows OS platform to the Linux platform. But I'm getting there.
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@scottalanmiller said:
One thing that I am testing now is switching from using Skype proper to using Skype integration with Pidgin. Want to see how or if that improves the experience.
It can only make it better because it removes that damned full screen adds.
/me does not like the skype gui
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No ads in the Skype GUI on Linux. It doesn't appear to actually make it better because it has some lag, doesn't notify as well as the original Skype app and it requires Skype be running all of the time for it to work - so Skype is doing notifications while you talk on Pidgin. I quickly disabled it and went back to straight Skype. Not horrible, I was just hoping for something even better. Still better than the Windows Skype client, though, for some reason.
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Day Two on Nothing but Linux. So far so good. Have two browsers (Firefox and Chromium) both working great. Just using Skype not Pidgin. Testing LXDE on my VM rather than XFCE. LXDE is definitely way better to use. Just as fast, more natural, wastes quite a bit less screen real estate.
Continuing to have no issues.
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@scottalanmiller said:
Day Two on Nothing but Linux. So far so good. Have two browsers (Firefox and Chromium) both working great. Just using Skype not Pidgin. Testing LXDE on my VM rather than XFCE. LXDE is definitely way better to use. Just as fast, more natural, wastes quite a bit less screen real estate.
Continuing to have no issues.
Switching to Linux in an Office setting for me, has been good for years. I keep switching back and forth between Windows and Linux on my home laptop because... games, lol.
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I've thought of trying this many times but never thought Linux was good enough as an alternative. But as you said, if things like Office365 work fine on web browser and you have ownclud/onedrive/dropbox etc things look a lot better.
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It's hard to describe "good enough." For what works, I find it consistently better. The issues are around a Windows limitation normally - like needing to use specific Windows software already in place. If that limitation does not exist, I've not found any Linux desktop downsides yet.
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@scottalanmiller said:
It's hard to describe "good enough." For what works, I find it consistently better. The issues are around a Windows limitation normally - like needing to use specific Windows software already in place. If that limitation does not exist, I've not found any Linux desktop downsides yet.
This is my problem is working out what I use and if there is an Linux alternative/version. Problem is some devices here are "broken" so things like the web interface doesn't work so I have to use the management software that is windows only, but once they are "fixed/replaced" the move could be done I guess.
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@hobbit666 said:
@scottalanmiller said:
It's hard to describe "good enough." For what works, I find it consistently better. The issues are around a Windows limitation normally - like needing to use specific Windows software already in place. If that limitation does not exist, I've not found any Linux desktop downsides yet.
This is my problem is working out what I use and if there is an Linux alternative/version. Problem is some devices here are "broken" so things like the web interface doesn't work so I have to use the management software that is windows only, but once they are "fixed/replaced" the move could be done I guess.
What devices are you having issues with?
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First hiccup is that while Skype audio works fine inside of Linux inside of a VM, it only gets the audio device that VirtualBox presents to it and it is presenting the wrong one. So not a Linux or a Skype issue but a VBox one. It still worked but was hard to hear.
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@scottalanmiller would it pass a USB mic/headset through better? I've not used vbox in ages.
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@gjacobse said:
@hobbit666 said:
@scottalanmiller said:
It's hard to describe "good enough." For what works, I find it consistently better. The issues are around a Windows limitation normally - like needing to use specific Windows software already in place. If that limitation does not exist, I've not found any Linux desktop downsides yet.
This is my problem is working out what I use and if there is an Linux alternative/version. Problem is some devices here are "broken" so things like the web interface doesn't work so I have to use the management software that is windows only, but once they are "fixed/replaced" the move could be done I guess.
What devices are you having issues with?
You name it we have issues lol, ongoing battle to update and replace old stuff with better stuff. Switches, Firewalls, Servers (both physical and Virtual)
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One gripe I have with a lot of Linux software, and open source stuff in general, is the icons they use for things. I've been playing with x2go and the icon is a fur ball with a seal face. Now granted, a large company probably would be using something else like NoMachine Enterprise or something, but I think if anyone was seriously looking for replacement software, that might turn some people off.
Now I know you can change it, and it's not really a problem, just something that I've noticed.
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@johnhooks said:
One gripe I have with a lot of Linux software, and open source stuff in general, is the icons they use for things. I've been playing with x2go and the icon is a fur ball with a seal face. Now granted, a large company probably would be using something else like NoMachine Enterprise or something, but I think if anyone was seriously looking for replacement software, that might turn some people off.
Now I know you can change it, and it's not really a problem, just something that I've noticed.
The icon for X2Go is a speeding X. No idea why you have that fur ball thing. I have the X logo on both Windows and Linux desktops.
Here is X2Go on Linux...
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And here it is on Windows...
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This sounds like an awesome project. Looking forward to seeing the results.
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I have to say, now that I am getting used to the Linux Skype client, it is quite a bit nicer than the Windows one.
