[Herts] Questions.

[Mike - XP Computers]

>...and Ubuntu would have been a better introduction to Linux.
<snip>

I have been very impressed by Mint Linux, which is based on Ubuntu, but with
a few usability tweaks and customisations pre-configured. I am using Mint 8
here (which is based on the latest Ubuntu 9.10). Mint 9 is coming soon, to
be based on the imminent Ubuntu 10.4

As a newbie to Linux, I found the process to be very simple and effective.
In fact I am assessing it from the perspective of rolling it out to people
who are less tech savvy than myself, and I finally think I've found a distro
that I could safely recommend to others no matter what their level of tech
expertise. It just works!

Highly recommend taking a look. It uses Ubuntu repositories too, so you get
all the perks of Ubuntu, with a few extras that Ubuntu doesn't have...
http://www.linuxmint.com/about.php

Mike



From: herts-bounces at mailman.lug.org.uk
[mailto:herts-bounces at mailman.lug.org.uk] On Behalf Of Andrew Porter
Sent: 02 April 2010 14:51
To: herts at mailman.lug.org.uk
Subject: Re: [Herts] Questions.

Steve

Your comments are consistent with the general recommendations that I have
received from work colleagues, that is, Q-Tek did not provide the full set
up they should have, and Ubuntu would have been a better introduction to
Linux. Apparently, it is notably better in detecting the dual boot Windows
element, and able to extract the Internet settings information, etc. As for
the Lexmark printer, I have found that Lexmark do provide driver software
compatible with SuSE Linux and other Linux operating systems, therefore,
once SuSE Linux is set up correctly, it should be a straight forward process
to down load the software. Suffice to say, help received from Lexmark with
Windows Vista was really comprehensive, easy to understand and follow. The
bad bit was trying to stop Windows Vista automatically overriding the
correct driver software! Put it this way, Vista is my first ever Microsoft
purchase, and will be the last.

I must add that rather than feeling that my experience with Linux has been
bad, or possibly frustrating, I suspect that this has more to do with Q-Tek
not preforming the installation requested completely, possibly because they
are not familiar with Linux installations. Being new to Linux myself means
that I was unable to detect that this issue was applicable, therefore, I am
reluctant to blame Linux as being at fault. In fact, I remain very keen to
have a Linux operating system as my prime operating system, and only use
Microsoft products as a last resort for those increasingly less common
elements that require a Microsoft operating system. Even within my Microsoft
system I use Open Office, etc., and have found this better than Microsoft
Office.

Yes, operating a Linux system from a DVD does work, and this is one method,
possibly, of testing Ubuntu, before installing over SuSE Linux. The live
DVDs I have are those intended to allow the user to run a Linux system from
a DVD, without endangering the computer's existing operating system. If it
works well, then the option exists to provide an installation. As my
computer is already a dual boot system, with a 50% partitioned hard drive
means that the process should be relatively simple, provided that I over
write the correct half of the hard drive! However, I know that the Windows
side is a FAT32 or NTFS system, and SuSE Linus should be EXT 2 or EXT 3 so
that the risk of deleting the Windows system in error is low. Even if I did,
I have an external hard drive used as a full back up of the Windows Vista
system, all the documents, files, etc.

As for bringing in my computer, the answer is yes. However, I am may miss
this month's meeting, I as I am due to be in France on a business trip.
Suffice to say, being in the minority as an Analogue Design Engineer at work
means high demands upon my time at work!

Enjoy your Easter break, whilst I look forward to eliminating my initial
frustrations with SuSE Linux, where SuSE Linux, itself, is not the cause of
the problem.

Regards

Andrew Porter

PS. I have been advised that SuSE Linux is biased towards office
applications, therefore, a Local Area Network. This make explain why Ubuntu
is regarded as a better option for the home user.

On 02/04/2010 12:37, Steve Clark wrote: 
On Wednesday 31 Mar 2010 21:22:22 Andrew Porter wrote:
  
4. Is Linux your main OS? 
 
 It was intended to be, but I have failed, so far, to get the system to
 recognise the DVD drive, the printer, and connect to the Internet. Books,
 etc., have not been of any help, as they assume that all that is needed has

 already been established, reference the DVD drive recognition, printer, 
 Internet connection and settings. The information sources are intended to 
 provide guidance once all that is needed is in place and working.
    

I'm sorry to hear you've had such a bad experience with Linux so far. I
think 
that back in the old days (a few years ago) I too found it tricky to get 
everything working, but my recent experience, mostly with Ubuntu, has been 
that it 'just works'. I've plugged in a webcam, Bluetooth adaptor and
scanner 
and had them working without any extra drivers or even editing of 
configuration files.

You say you've tried SUSE, which I haven't used. Have you tried other
distros? 
Have you tried live CDs? Can you bring the PC to a meeting so we can try and

help?