Thinking of Switiching to Ubuntu guys?

[Centrix]

So I've been thinking long and hard on this and I think I want to do one of two things. The first I'm playing around with in my head is to make my hard drive dual boot-able for Windows 7/8.1 and Ubuntu not sure how to go about doing this though? Another option I am playing with is to just format my PC completely to Ubuntu ditching Windows altogether (Yes I have used it in the past to some extant) and use virtual box or some program like that to run Photoshop and Aion and any other Windows based programs I use - which sounds like the easier of the two!? lol

I'm choosing Ubuntu simply bc its the most user friendly and desktop friendly from what I have read about it. But I am always open to input from you guys as you have all been a great help since my signing up here many years ago and have taught me much. Also is there away to get ubuntu on my Galaxy S4 or Nexus 7 2nd gen (This is just a last min random question lol) Thanks for all your help, Always guys

 

[TyBlood13]

I prefer Linux Mint to Ubuntu, but setting up the dual boot is pretty easy with pretty much all distros.

The only reason to keep Windows is for gaming, imo

 

[Sicklyboy]

I mean, I'm running Ubuntu Server on my server box. Completely different beast, but I'm happy with it. As far as Ubuntu Desktop I've never been able to get onboard with it because I'm so used to Windows and what it offers; you do lose some stuff by switching to Ubuntu, and for me, there's very little it can do that Windows can't. I tried it out of curiosity, I had no reason to switch, so I never did fully switch.

 

[Centrix]

Interesting, I just found that I could boot it and run it completely off a pen drive, I must have missed that the last time I was on there site, so I think I'll install it on my pen drive and run it off that instead for now and take your guys advice and also look into Mint

 

[3bbb7]

Ubuntus gone bad lately. too much adware you could say now, or bloatware, idk what you want to call it. Linux Mint is the way to go

 

[Centrix]

So why Linux Mint guys?

 

[3bbb7]

So why Linux Mint guys?

ubuntu focuses itself around the unity desktop (of course you can change it, but out of the box) while Mint Cinnamon, MATE, KDE, and LXDE (I think on the last two, not certain if those are correct)
Cinnamon focuses on eye candy, much like unity does however it's more of a 'user friendly' experience. If you're starting Linux Mint after windows, you'll be relatively fine using it, using Ubuntu is a big change with unity.
MATE is more of a get stuff done type of desktop. Not so much eyecandy but works well, and speed is definitely faster than cinnamon. I don't have any experience using KDE/LXDE so I can't speak for those

Linux mint also doesnt come with all the amazon bloatware ubuntu does, so that's a plus.

Ubuntu doesn't tend to run as smoothly as Linux Mint on older systems as well

 

[Centrix]

k thats good now what about emulators, I know both have them?

 

[Pleng]

I've tried to like Linux for about 20 years now and I have to say, as a user experience it sucks. It feels about 10 years out of date - in fact it feels like it's loosing ground even *faster* in that respect. In the days of WinXP I'd say various desktop environments for Linux actually felt a bit more up to date than XP (until you started trying to actually *do* anything), but these days Win 7/8 feel light years ahead of Linux desktops.

Having said that I *do* use Ubuntu, for two main reasons. I have Win 7 as my host OS with an Ubuntu VM as my 'personal' machine, and another installation as my 'work' OS. The main reason for using Ubuntu as my personal OS is that it looks different enough to Windows to not accidentally be working from the wrong VM. That, and I don't particularly feel like buying another Windows licence at the moment.

 

[3bbb7]

k thats good now what about emulators, I know both have them?

tons of emulators (and software too) have linux support. Basically, any app that says it works on ubuntu will work on mint.
I know there are lots of emulators that work on linux, but my favorite is retroarch

I've tried to like Linux for about 20 years now and I have to say, as a user experience it sucks. It feels about 10 years out of date - in fact it feels like it's loosing ground even *faster* in that respect. In the days of WinXP I'd say various desktop environments for Linux actually felt a bit more up to date than XP (until you started trying to actually *do* anything), but these days Win 7/8 feel light years ahead of Linux desktops.

Having said that I *do* use Ubuntu, for two main reasons. I have Win 7 as my host OS with an Ubuntu VM as my 'personal' machine, and another installation as my 'work' OS. The main reason for using Ubuntu as my personal OS is that it looks different enough to Windows to not accidentally be working from the wrong VM. That, and I don't particularly feel like buying another Windows licence at the moment.

I'm going to have to disagree with you on the Win7/8 feel faster than Linux desktops. I find that Linux installations are so much faster for me. After installing programs on Windows it slows down after a while, startup, installs, etc. On Linux Mint for me it's very little of a slowdown.

Linux is actually much farther ahead, imo at least. Where are the Windows updates that don't require a shutdown? Almost every linux distro has those. You don't even need to shut down your system for any update unless its a huge one. I find myself being kicked out of programs and games to complete the windows update without me checking 'yes shutdown now'. It gets annoying.

The only reason I am on windows is because of gaming. Once Linux gets big with gaming, I'll be gone forever.

 

[Centrix]

k so it sounds like every one has opinions which is awesome and allot of help, Ill start with Mint cinnamon its downloading now

 

[grossaffe]

I'm not a fan of the Unity interface Ubuntu moved to (used to have Gnome 2, which I liked), so I use the XFCE flavor of Ubuntu, Xubuntu, and I'm quite happy with it.

 

[Centrix]

I really appreciate all the feed back, one emulator I am absolutely in love with is byuu's Higan emulator, was wondering if there is a 0.94 version for mint? figure I'd just get all my questions outta the way as they come lol sigh I wish their was a android port of his emulator too especially with how far phones and tablets and android game consoles have come!

 

[3bbb7]

I really appreciate all the feed back, one emulator I am absolutely in love with is byuu's Higan emulator, was wondering if there is a 0.94 version for mint? figure I'd just get all my questions outta the way as they come lol sigh I wish their was a android port of his emulator too especially with how far phones and tablets and android game consoles have come!

It seems theres a linux version of his software available, but the problem is it also looks like it hasnt been updated in quite a while (correct me if I'm wrong?)
Try Retroarch, it's an amazing multisystem emulator and works near perfect on Linux with tons of updates.
It also has an android version which I can say I enjoy very much

 

[grossaffe]

I really appreciate all the feed back, one emulator I am absolutely in love with is byuu's Higan emulator, was wondering if there is a 0.94 version for mint? figure I'd just get all my questions outta the way as they come lol sigh I wish their was a android port of his emulator too especially with how far phones and tablets and android game consoles have come!

Most of these open-source programs can be compiled for linux. Learn to compile and you'll be on your way.

 

[Centrix]

u know I've wanted to learn how to compile for along time is there a link on how to do that? I've read tutorials but some how get confused along the way!

 

[grossaffe]

u know I've wanted to learn how to compile for along time is there a link on how to do that? I've read tutorials but some how get confused along the way!

I would start out just finding a program you want and downloading the source. It will usually come with a readme file telling you how to compile it. Often it's as simple as going into the terminal and typing 'make' if you have all of the dependencies.

 

[Centrix]

awesome thanks for the help guys, so I love Mint, and would love it more if I had the device drives installed like the Nvidia Graphics drivers and my wifi since I get on the internet via wifi dongle lol

 

[lampdemon]

If you do still plan on getting ubuntu then I recommend getting xubuntu(ubuntu with xfce), it's light and clean, unlike that horrible unity which makes you want to punch a baby every time you see it.

 

[Centrix]

You sir have been watching to much AVGN LMAO