[Herts] Questions.

Fri Apr 2 18:03:14 UTC 2010

Mike

I either received, or took the wrong advice from a former colleague. 
Suffice to say, it was SuSE Linux that was introduced on a corporate 
computer that some engineers were asked to use, therefore, this was 
their first introduction to Linux. With impressed responses all round 
means that the general opinion, at the time, was for SuSE Linux, without 
necessarily understanding the implications of how to install and fully 
set up SuSE Linux. In addition, when one former colleague did install 
SuSE Linux, it was a dual boot system with Windows 98, where it appears 
that SuSE Linux was able to detect far more from the Windows 98 
settings, when compared to SuSE Linux and Windows Vista, no great 
surprise now that I understand how much Microsoft appear to tie in their 
users. Perhaps Microsoft regard Linux operating systems as an increasing 
market competitor, particularly when Dell started to offer ready to run 
computers with Ubuntu Linux installed.

Time to step back and recognise that I need to start with Ubuntu or 
similar, as an alternative to SuSE Linux, or more significantly, to 
detatch myself from Microsoft Vista.

Andrew

On 02/04/2010 15:41, Mike - XP Computers wrote:
>> ...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?
>
>
>
>
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>    
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