Running Linux

[AndrewWiggin]

I just virtualized Linux on my laptop and I'm playing around with it before installing it to the machine itself.

Does anyone here run Linux? Could you give me advice/point me to good resources? I'm running Ubuntu on a virtual machine on Mac OS X Snow Leopard with 4GB of RAM.

 

[soapbox]

I just virtualized Linux on my laptop and I'm playing around with it before installing it to the machine itself.

Does anyone here run Linux? Could you give me advice/point me to good resources? I'm running Ubuntu on a virtual machine on Mac OS X Snow Leopard with 4GB of RAM.

I run lots of linux and OS X. I haven't virtualized Linux on my Mac at this point because I don't need to (i.e. OS X runs everything Linux does that I need right now.

Your question is vague. What do you want to do with Linux? What problems are you having?

 

[krawlx]

I run a dual boot, but spend most of my time in Windows as much of my work needs to be done in MS Office to ensure compatibility with those I share documents with. The Ubuntu forums were really helpful when I got started. If i remember correctly, you have to register for them, but it's worth it in the end.

 

[AndrewWiggin]

I run lots of linux and OS X. I haven't virtualized Linux on my Mac at this point because I don't need to (i.e. OS X runs everything Linux does that I need right now.

Your question is vague. What do you want to do with Linux? What problems are you having?

I have no clue what I'm doing on Ubuntu, not that it seems terribly complex, but I really would like to learn how to use the command lines so I can build a computer and boot up Linux on it. I love Macs to death but I can't afford them right now. I'm also looking at other Linux platforms like Mint.

Anyway, I just need a resource that can help me figure out command lines and just give me a general run through of the OS.

 

[soapbox]

I have no clue what I'm doing on Ubuntu, not that it seems terribly complex, but I really would like to learn how to use the command lines so I can build a computer and boot up Linux on it. I love Macs to death but I can't afford them right now. I'm also looking at other Linux platforms like Mint.

Anyway, I just need a resource that can help me figure out command lines and just give me a general run through of the OS.

OK, so now I see where you're coming from.

1. A bash tutorial is a must. This is great because Mac OS X's command line also runs bash. Start here.

2. At first, your primary tasks inside the CLI will probably revolve around using Ubuntu's software repository management utility -- apt. It's not always possible to install/maintain/do everything you want from the (very good) Ubuntu graphical-interface software management tools. So learn some apt tools.

3. Check in with the Linux Mint thread. We're usually pretty helpful, if also sometimes frivolous.

 

[paulboeck]

I'm on Ubuntu, not because it's the greatest Linux distro (which it may or may not be, it's all I've used), but because it seems to be the one with the largest install base. So I'm 99.5 percent sure that any problem I come across has already been solved by someone smarter than me. All I have to do is find the solution on Google. Google 'Ubuntu forums' and you'll have what you need as far as resources go.

 

[strat1117]

I just virtualized Linux on my laptop and I'm playing around with it before installing it to the machine itself.

Does anyone here run Linux? Could you give me advice/point me to good resources? I'm running Ubuntu on a virtual machine on Mac OS X Snow Leopard with 4GB of RAM.

There are a number of Linux experts here -- RichGem, Soapbox and Lynchmeister, to name but a few. Check out the Linux Mint thread, which ended up in the clown house.

 

[RichGem]

There are a number of Linux experts here -- RichGem, Soapbox and Lynchmeister, to name but a few. Check out the Linux Mint thread, which ended up in the clown house.

Checking in to say +1. I dumped windows back in '03 and haven't looked back once. Currently running Fedora on my desktop and Xandros on my eeePC.

Lynchmeister has done a lot of virtualizing lately. He might be a good person to start with. Jesse (soapbox) also uses linux daily and is in the process of adding a new notch to his already well-notched guru belt by setting up a ginormus monitor array for work.

edit: also, check out (and join!) the "shaved penguins" social group... all linux users over there.

 

[Lynchmeister]

There are a number of Linux experts here -- RichGem, Soapbox and Lynchmeister, to name but a few. Check out the Linux Mint thread, which ended up in the clown house.

Wow! I'm considered an expert! Who wudda thunkit?

You've come a long way, baby!

 

[soapbox]

Wow! I'm considered an expert! Who wudda thunkit?

You've come a long way, baby!

Hey, make enough mistakes and you're bound to learn something...

 

[RichGem]

Hey, make enough mistakes and you're bound to learn something...

RULE 1: Disconnect the external drive when formatting if it contains data you want to save!

RULE 2: Double check rule 1.


(sorry, Cory,.... we've all been there)

 

[RichGem]

Wow! I'm considered an expert! Who wudda thunkit?

You've come a long way, baby!

 

[Lynchmeister]

Hey, make enough mistakes and you're bound to learn something...

RULE 1: Disconnect the external drive when formatting if it contains data you want to save!

RULE 2: Double check rule 1.


(sorry, Cory,.... we've all been there)

 

[newboy]

Maybe I can get some help here, sorry for the hijack, I have seen a fair bit on references to linux on B&B, but I don't know where a new thread for linux should be posted.
I have some experience with linux, had to use it for learning C programming years ago, so there's always been 1 PC with linux installed here since RH5 and I've dabbled in it from time to time, I've forgotten most of it though.
I want to set up a new PC using a distro for business use only, so if my main windows PC for internet/gaming goes down I don't lose any business records.

I'm having a hard time finding a replacement for Quicken though. I've looked at gnucash and it doesn't suit me as it needs so much info to accept an invoice. I don't want to build a huge customer database that takes time to set up as I get 5 or more unique customers every day I never see again. I just want to bang in a name and address like I can in quicken for invoices.
I've looked a NOLA and ledgersmb, both browser/apache web based, and I haven't a clue how to set up a server anymore.
I've looked at a few others, but they aren't good enough to keep enough details on invoicing.
If it comes down the the fact that I should use wine and windows software, I may as well just buy another windows licence and forget linux. But I really want to get back in the horse so I need to find a linux solution that doesn't involve wine and 'windows only' software.
Any ideas on software that is like Quicken on linux?
I've heard about money dance, but don't want to buy it without trying it.

 

[soapbox]

Maybe I can get some help here, sorry for the hijack, I have seen a fair bit on references to linux on B&B, but I don't know where a new thread for linux should be posted.
I have some experience with linux, had to use it for learning C programming years ago, so there's always been 1 PC with linux installed here since RH5 and I've dabbled in it from time to time, I've forgotten most of it though.
I want to set up a new PC using a distro for business use only, so if my main windows PC for internet/gaming goes down I don't lose any business records.

I'm having a hard time finding a replacement for Quicken though. I've looked at gnucash and it doesn't suit me as it needs so much info to accept an invoice. I don't want to build a huge customer database that takes time to set up as I get 5 or more unique customers every day I never see again. I just want to bang in a name and address like I can in quicken for invoices.
I've looked a NOLA and ledgersmb, both browser/apache web based, and I haven't a clue how to set up a server anymore.
I've looked at a few others, but they aren't good enough to keep enough details on invoicing.
If it comes down the the fact that I should use wine and windows software, I may as well just buy another windows licence and forget linux. But I really want to get back in the horse so I need to find a linux solution that doesn't involve wine and 'windows only' software.
Any ideas on software that is like Quicken on linux?
I've heard about money dance, but don't want to buy it without trying it.

I realize you said you don't want to run WINE, and I've never tried any of Intuit's software competition, but WineHQ says that the most recent versions of Quicken run really well under WINE. Why the aversion to WINE?

 

[Confuzius]

The best way to learn linux is to just use it, don't give up and get frustrated and switch back to window/osx just keep using it, if you run into a problem, ask for help or google it, you'll eventually learn all sorts of stuff.

I've been using Ubuntu as my main OS for almost 3 years now, for the most part self taught. Just make sure you've got backups of your essential data and don't be afraid of breaking things, it's the best way to learn how to fix things and in the process how things work.


Also osalt.com is a good headstart when looking for alternatives to commercial software, they've got a some suggestions for quicken replacements here http://www.osalt.com/quicken

 

[newboy]

I realize you said you don't want to run WINE, and I've never tried any of Intuit's software competition, but WineHQ says that the most recent versions of Quicken run really well under WINE. Why the aversion to WINE?

Because enough things already don't work under linux for me. EG dvd playback won't work on nearly every dvd I own made after 2004 due to encryption and other reasons, and a couple of other issues I have with hardware. My kk 9.10 install was plagued with weird stuff that took me ages to sort out.
I've been playing with linux for a while, always playing but never sticking with it because there's always a couple of things that just don't work.
Playing with linux when I'm bored has been a bit of a hobby for a number of years, but going from a hobby into a business PC is no longer playing around as a hobby, I want something that works out of the box, trouble free, with the minimum stuff installed on it. I prefer stuff that works without using WINE, if I have to use windows software, I may as well stick with windows that I don't have much problem with.
Like I said, I've used red hat, mandrake, debian, suse, ubuntu, slackware in previous years, so I am familiar with it. But only used it for what it does well, and have always returned to winXP for day to day things because windows does that better for me. If theres accounting software for linux that does as good a job as some windows software does, I'm happy to make the full time switch. If there's not and I have to run under WINE, I'm happy to stay with windows as there's not a lot that goes wrong with the way I use and set up windows (never a crash, never a virus, etc etc ).

Thanks for the help and suggestions by the way, I don't want to start an OS argument. It's just right now I'm considering a new PC and if I should build one optimized for linux hardware compatibility (and any install/configure headaches that may occur), or just pay an extra ~$100 for windows and not have to deal with the problems that have occurred with linux in the past...and find a decent linux accounting software. If I have to use WINE, that's a deal breaker, I may as well pay ~$100 and not deal with any potential install and configure headaches like I've had in the past.

 

[A-Man]

I am thinking of installing Linux on my laptop (very beginning stages of thinking about it, so nothing is imminent.) I'd still keep my Vista, and would like to dual boot. My first question is on my HD, it is broken up as a C (OS) drive, and D (data) drive. So is that already pre-partitioned, and I could install Linux on the D drive, or is only the C drive set up for programming, and that's why it's named an OS drive?

Also, I took a short questionaire on choosing which version of Linux would best suit me. The results came up with OpenSuse. Keeping in mind I have never used Linux before, does this sound like a good choice in making a smooth/easy transition from Vista and other Windows OSs? Keep in mind as well, that I have pretty much zero experience with any sort of coding/programming/etc.

Again, this isn't something I plan on doing today, but am thinking about it in the future. So any help, suggestions, ideas, warnings are appreciated.

(sorry for jumping in the OP's thread with my own questions, just didn't want to start another Linux thread myself)

 

[Uncle Erik]

Another vote of support for Linux here. I switched over to Red Hat (now Fedora) in 2003 after my Windows box was taken to task by some virus or other nasty. It got to where it wouldn't even boot. So a friend switched it over to Red Hat 7.3 and I've been with Linux ever since.

I also run OS X on my MacBook. I keep OS X around mostly to support my iPhone that I cannot do without. OS X is very good, but nothing is as strong and stable as Linux. It's worth getting over the learning curve and tailoring hardware purchases to - you can set it and forget it. I have one Linux box with close to four years of uptime. I really should update the software one of these days, but it just keeps running and running.

 

[faster_than_u]

I used to run ubuntu up until december when i did the updates it told me to and the computer wrecked itself( extremely slow and wouldn't shut off unless holding the power button and even then it would beep like a mad man until it shut off). So after that fiasco went and bought a mac desktop. Now I find myself wondering why I didn't switch years ago.