Category: Linux

Trying Different Operating Systems

Posted onAuthorTruXter

I have had my share of Microsoft operating systems, and I am not about to jump into a 2002 looking os like windows 8
So I am going through  5 different Operating systems on the Linux build. Downloaded them fresh today. Of course I did the Torrent download of each (if available) to prevent any issues of dropped service anywhere.
With the testing of each of these operating systems, I will be testing my every day tasks. and this will be in live boot mode if possible. If not then I will have to snap something together to test the full installation.
Part of this test will consist of me just doing every day in commands. Such as logging into facebook and reddit to comment. Taking a screenshot. Using the calculator button (a button that requests the calculator to pop up) on my keyboard. Email button on the keyboard. Web browser button and volume buttons on my keyboard. To see what is going to work the easiest.
Mint 14 64 bit
Mageia 2 64 bit
Kubuntu 12.04 64 bit
Xubuntu 12.10 64 bit
Fedora 17 64 bit

Trying Linux mint for my first time.

This is a test of Mint live

Not too bad

Mint looks a bit bland, almost Windows vista-ish. Square, no Opaque  as far as I have seen yet. but start up was simi fast and drivers right out of the disk run me pretty well.

First linux cut that doesn’t make my mouse act weird (scroll wheel too fast or slow or pointer too fast too slow etc)
Images look right as if latest Nvidia drivers are in disk.
Taskbar menu has many of the usual items found in linux . The items you kind of need . VLC player, G.I.M.P., Libre Office (i guess no one uses open office anymore?)
All of my keyboard shortcut buttons worked.

Review scoring of mint
looks: 6/10
function 10/10
drivers: 10/10
speed: 9/10

Over all scoring of Mint: 8.75/10

fedora

This is a test of fedora live
again, right out of the Live dick, nice fast load. Clean load. a big odd on the mouse but nothing terrible. Images look great, no anti-aliasing issues. Task bar at top with the android looking shortcuts at the bottom of the screen, I don’t like that. Too much real estate wasted when you open a browser and see half an inch of screen not being used. again no Opaque, everything is boxy.

Probably not the operating system for me.
Might do wonders for you but fedora is not what I am looking for.
Libre office again on this one.
None of my keyboard shortcut buttons worked.

 

Review scoring of fedora
looks: 3/10
function 8/10
drivers: 10/10
speed: 9/10

Over all scoring of fedora: 7.5/10

Kubuntu

This is a test of Kubuntu Live
Now this feels like a complete operating system. Everything has a nice sharp look to it. Mouse movement is a bit slower. and scroll wheel is a tad more sluggish, but that’s only after using two other operating systems first. So my opinion may be swerved from the feel of the others. Menu is a bit empty Lybre is there again. yet another operating system not using open office. Why the sudden disinterest in Open Office? but the whole taskbar in it’s self is very nice. Widgets add with ease and look great.
None of my keyboard shortcut buttons worked. never found the calculator so I could tally my review score.. -1 point. So I used my phone.After a complete install of Kubuntu, it’s hard to get wifi drivers if you didn’t do the install while hard wire lan connected to the internet. If you are not connected to the internet when installing, it’s also hard to connect to the internet. Wifi set up has no useful “scan for nearest connection” option at all.

Review scoring of Kubuntu
looks: 10/10
function 8/10
drivers: 10/10
speed: 9/10

Over all scoring of Kubuntu: 9.25/10

Xubuntu
This is a test of Xubuntu live
Xubuntu has a look and feel. Much better than the first two operating systems. and some o the look and feel of Kubuntu. Menu was easy to navigate, found the calculator right away and the screenshot program right away. Browsing the web, some pages hung up for a moment. Mouse is quick, scroll wheel is quick. If I just wanted a live boot it would have to Xubuntu, the boot up was half the time of the other operating systems.

None of my keyboard shortcut buttons worked.
Which is kind of a let down for me. After a complete install of Xubuntu, it’s hard to get wifi drivers if you didn’t do the install while hard wire lan connected to the internet. If you are not connected to the internet when installing, it’s also hard to connect to the internet. Wifi set up has no useful “scan for nearest connection” option at all.

Review scoring of Xubuntu
looks: 7/10
function 8/10
drivers: 10/10
speed: 7/10

Over all scoring of Xubuntu: 8/10

Mageia
This is a test of Mageia live
Web browsing, default fonts, wow, not from the typical/traditional choice.
Never found the calculator. So I am using my phone to tally up the score this one -1 point. Libre office again.

For what it’s worth this is a decent operating system.
I mean I could let my mother use Mageia and not have to worry about showing her much, but same with the rest of the operating systems listed on this page. but it does look better than most  here. Some of it is a bit bland. pages freeze up from time to time, and editing in wordpress is a nightmare. Kept placing bold font in places I didn’t even ask for bold font.
Didn’t do that with any of the other operating systems tested.

Review scoring of Mageia
looks: 9/10
function 5/10
drivers: 8/10
speed: 7/10

Over all scoring of Mageia:7.25/10

Of the five operating systems. I find it kind of a toss up between Mint and Kubuntu. Mint seems to have all that I need, but Kubuntu has the nice sharp look I want in an operating system. Let’s see what happens when I throw a hard drive in one of the spare computers laying around and I get to test out Mageia.
*update, found the live disk for Mageia*

Mageia. Seems okay, looks nice. KDE version
bit of a load issue when switching apps . some drivers not found.

Looks like Kubuntu for the win. just a bitch locating anything in the menu.
even over mint. Mint is fast and has excellent drivers, just looks somewhere pre-windwos 95 and that bugs me

So. Mageia, not there yet. but looks great. just don’t do anything or you will see the issues.
Something I do like though.

Mac or Linux Or Windows?

Posted onAuthorTruXter

Mac or Linux Or Windows?

Which one do you think is better? Which one do you think is safer?
[poll id=”5″]
The question that comes up more than Star Trek or Star Wars, “Which is better Mac Windows or Linux?”. The question that people really want answered now is which one is less likely to get a virus. Mac would like you to believe they are completely and entirely 100% virus proof. That is not even close to the truth. Mac has less people writing a virus for it simply because there aren’t enough users on that system. it’s like spending 200 hours creating a pill that makes people with smiley face looking freckle patch beneath their left pinky nail, have a bad day. why would you do that? Unless you were attacking that one specific person. o a $1000000 Car modification that lets people with a smiley face patch of freckles below their left pinky nail, get good gas mileage. Why would you? no one to use it. Same thing goes for Linux. but imagine that one of the eyes on the smiley face are winking.
On that same note, if there are less people to infect on an operating system, then there are less people to write software for to market them. So lots of software that is available for windows. might not be available for Linux or mac, (under the same license). Linux of course is full hobbyist programmers working more and more to add more software for Linux and make it more useful. So for just about every single piece of software out there for Windows or Mac, Count on the Linux community creating something that is very similar and just as effective, for free.

Pros

Mac
Software is written to match the operating system
operating system is written to match the hardware.
hardware is written to match the software need
All software can be downloaded now like aps for a cell phone
Looks really nice.
The available software works very well and crashes less.
Mac specific repair, so you know your mac computer will be fixed right.

Windows
You can install the operating system on any computer you build
Every electronics store has multiple times more software in stock that works with windows.
Most hardware you buy, is windows ready when upgrading.
Very Customizable.
Large selection of computer repair specialists that are prepared to help you. So you can price shop for help.

Linux
You can install Linux on any computer you build, even outdated ones.
There is a unique version of Linux for every need.
You can even install Linux to a thumb drive and use it on any computer without effecting that computer’s current settings.
More developers for Linux than for any other operating system.
Linux is Free (most distributions) you just download it.
Millions of programs and software available, and different variations
influences all other operating systems while being influenced by other operating systems.

Cons

Mac
You have less ability to customize.
Upgrading your computer could lead to issues since every piece of software is written specific for the hardware.
Not a whole lot of software
The creator of the phrase “Sad Mac”
Only mac employees can help you fix your computer.

Windows
The creator of the phrase “blue screen of death”.
Every time you upgrade, you have to buy new stuff.
Patches like crazy bloat Windows down and makes it slower.
So many different malware written for Windows
They invented the phrase Malware.

Linux
Huge learning curve for people who are used to one of the other operating systems.
Nearly no repair companies want to touch your computer, not even your internet provider.
You have to install the operating system and all addons yourself, almost no computers come preset-up.
Maybe to large of a variety of software and programs, can be overwhelming to figure what one is best for you.
Though more and more hardware companies are compatible with Linux these days, just not near enough.

New Tech Forum

Posted onAuthorTruXter

It’s new , it needs you.

I just built a tech support and rumors forum with a video game and console section.
I hope you people like it.
I will be adding moderators as I see the users with morals sticking around.
I will be banning all clowns as fast as I can and as often as I can. who knows maybe I will redirect them to forums I hate -)

The goal is to get information and news about tech to the world. and what the hell, to hang out and talk to others like myself.
I don’t see any out there with the same stuff as what I have envisioned so I am making it myself. yes there will be a fight room. Because hey, we all do need to get it out of our systems.
But no fighting in main rooms.

There is avatar and all other options we all have been missing through the past few years as these places seem to get invisible these days.
Yes you can upload your own images to my server, I can handle a fricken lot .
bbcode welcome, html code welcome (for now)

Start a thread and break ground with me.

Choosing a Linux distribution

Posted onAuthorTruXter

http://www.helium.com/tm/554548/making-choice-distribution-linux

Making your choice of distribution of Linux is not near as big of a deal as it was 3 – 4 years ago, even though for some reason all of the tech guys lead you to think it is.Really i think it is because of pc repair minded political correctness. The ease and interface is not varied by such a greatness that only techy nerdy guys can use one version and regular people can use another. Anything on one distribution can be used on another.
Let’s break this into 3 popular core distros.
1.fedora
2.debian
3.novell

On fedora you get the two main players. Mandrake and redhat. You get excellent support on either one, there is a slight difference in the look but not the feel. The installs have gone smooth for me every time and easily on many different machines, from mother board and wifi and video card variations. even the freshest of Linux users can install and use fedora smoothly and easily.

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on debian you get a few main players. Knoppix, Linspire, Xandros, and the Ubuntu family.
ubuntu I have to say has the best of all splash screen when it boots up, after that it is really not worth the install.ubuntu is heavy bloated and really limited to what types of installs you can use. pretty much limited to .deb files and source. That operating system is slow, but has some high dollar hype or public viral advertisement. Linspire is a transition os made to make the swap from windows to linux easy. it’s alright and makes alot of usage really easy. Knoppix isnt much different but is a bit more pro feeling. Xandros is the ultimate operating system for those who like a fast operating system without bloat-ware,basic file install works easily with .deb and .rpm with no code to type in or lines to edit.

On novell you get suse . and a bunch of add on software. suse is foreground user of .rpm but recently also took in the use of .deb installs. Suse is the mid mark between ubuntu in it’s nice looks and excessive bloated addons, and Xandros with it’s ease of use and fast performance.

The question you need to ask is “Do I need Performance and speed? or do I need appearance?” if you can not make your mind up on which is more what you want, then go the midway and get suse. after you use suse for a while and get a feel , you might want to think about what you do need and don’t need. You could even consider getting the faster operating system and then adding on only the stuff you would like to see on it. to pretty it up.everything on linux is tweakable. 90% of the addons are free. Sourceforge will be your best friend eventually.

The choice is yours and there is nothing to fear about linux and every big distributed version is safe and easy to install and use. They all can be strong tools and beautied up if needed.It really is not a huge ordeal and adaptation comes quick.

Learn more about this author, TruXter

Upgraded Linux Xandros To 4

Posted onAuthorTruXter

I was using Xandros 3.4 for over a year. I purchased my disk from Fry’s electronics for like $29.

Well I saw in all of the help forums for modding of Xandros desktops and boot screens tons of help but it was all for 4.0 so I installed 4.0 . It really looks good and comes with a blue launch button as opposed to the default red I had to use with v3.4 . Quite nice. I changed the start button to a modified that I found through the links of the Xandros forum. with 3.4 when you changed the launch button you kept getting a notice to upgrade service pack, even if you already have. When you do the service pack upgrade it changes your launch button back to default. but with 4.0 , no you do not get forced into the change. Nice addon I like this.

When I installed wine again, not a hiccup one. Not one issue. It went great. My Grand Theft Auto Vice City and San Andreas both play nicely and my III does not freeze up on the video configuration like it did with 3.4.

I am happy with 4.0 it was a very good move.

I was there at Fry’s to actually by a new motherboard and nvidia video card so I could prepare myself for Vista. Thank god I did not get into that mess. Xandros is really good. I did of course remove my Ubuntu partition. Ubuntu is not pleasant at all. Even though Ubuntu is Debian just like Xandros; it does not come close in comparison to Xandros with features. I am satisfied and I hope this helped you decide what you will do to you computer.

enjoy.