Best Linux version for XP user? Best guide book for nuubie Linux user?

[tom2u]

I've been a fairly happy XP user for many years but would like to try Linux so I downloaded Umbuntu. I see that many keyboard shortcuts are the same thankfully but many other things are not or don't seem available. Maybe there are programs that can translate shortcuts? If not, I'm trying to find a Llinux version that replicates or uses as many shortcuts I already have learned for XP as possible. This minimizes pointless downtime learning. For example Alt_F4 seems to close programs. What I'm looking at Linux for is better 64bit performance as I don't like Win7 and XP64 is a disaster. And the lack of viruses is a huge plus too. And the open source design of course.

And what would be some good books for nuubies trying Linux?

 

[sam_p_lay]

Any particular shortcut keys you're after? Many distributions let you set your own shortcuts and I'd be surprised if Ubuntu is any different in that regard. It's actually my distribution of choice, but I've never had any need to set shortcuts - I'm pretty sure it has everything I'm used to (Alt+F4, Alt+Tab etc). Probably done specifically to make the system more welcoming to Windows users.

 

[c911darkwolf]

Linux Mint is similar to Windows so you would pick it up faster,

The ++ Behind Linux are really that flash/java/firefox/ Office Apps / already installed so you can use it right out of the box.

Now "Lack of Viruses" is a partial myth. Linux doens't have the virus problem that Windows has for 3 reasons..
a. Linux is harder to code to make viruses for

b. Linux users tend to be more "tech" Savvy and don't click malicious looking links or download corrupted porn like the avgerage windows user who click every email they get and sends Jobba the Egyption prince money in good faith

c. Linux is about 5% of all OS's and so were a much smaller Target for viruses. Windows being the biggest has the largest amount


Linux Mint has many shot commands all available in the documentation. Alt F4 still works in Linux to close windows and with Linux you can make your own short commands as well.

Linux does excellent across most platforms when it comes to 64bit performance, but keep in mind there just isn't many 64bit applicatinos out there and a 64bit OS powering a 32bit application will run it no faster hten a 32bit OS.

The big + is all the open source software you could ever want at your finger tips and that list is growing Rapidly!

http://www.amazon.com/books/dp/0672336243 Covers the Latest version 12.10 & 13.04 of Ubuntu and it's only $18 on Amazon. Becareful you don't buy a book that covers a old copy of Ubuntu as it's changed quite a bit of the years.

Keep in mind that Linux Mint is the easiest and fastest OS to get use to for first time users, it is built on UBUNTU distro so 99% of anything that would work on Ubuntu works on Linux Mint. I.e. Steam Game Client form Valve came out for Ubuntu but easily installed into Linux Mint as well.

If you are new to Linux I would Read This:
http://www.techradar.com/us/news/software/operating-systems/beginner-s-guide-to-linux-where-to-start-1066778
Then Go here:
http://www.linux.org/

 

[c911darkwolf]

Excuse my Typo's English is my Primary Language

 

[sam_p_lay]

Excuse my Typo's English is my Primary Language

Do you mean is not? And *typos

 

[c911darkwolf]

Excuse my Typo's English is my Primary Language

Do you mean is not? And *typos

These are the jokes, take it or leave it.

 

[tom2u]

c911darkwolf, you really know how to answer a query!
The ability to make your own commands.....utter simplicity and brilliance. Such a shame that both other major OS's seem to be moving so far away from user control. Especially Apple. You wouldn't think it take much to implement ideas like this.

Regarding 64bit performance, I was looking for that for video editing with a slower than normal CPU and cheaper ram. Sometimes I have so many tabs open on a browser; that can also ramp up the strain on the computer (currently a dual core 1.8ghz/2gb 800mhz machine) so that would be nice not for the browser to affect other program's performance at times. Besides gaming, what are the main other advantages of 64bit?

 

[c911darkwolf]

ok.. so we can break it down like this..

When you open programs/run proceses (even the ones that just run windows) That information is stored in Memory right?

A 32 bit processor references how much memory it can process at one time. So ideally 64bit processors can process twice as much memory at one time. Now the tricky part is HOW FAST it processes that CHUNK of memory is based off the speed of the processor. Because 64bit processors can process more at one time they have a higher cap of Memory (like 1Tb or something crazy) for the Max Amount of Ram.

This means you can find some performance increases when you meet the following requirements:
1. Application your running is 64bit compaitable
2. It requires large amount of data
3. PC is not bottle necked by another process..


So anything that uses a lot of data resources i.e. Video Editing / Code Compiling / CAD Machines / ect.. all benefit from 64bit apps.

Things like Browsers / Word Documents / ect.. do not as they are not memory intensive enough to matter. Also with Video Editing having a good Video Card can help too. These allevates a lot of stress off your CPU/Ram.

HTH

 

[stillblue]

FYI In Ubuntu click on the power button and choose system settings. Click on keyboard. There you'll find all of the shortcuts and you can change them by simply click and hold on the one you want to change and type the shortcut combo you want.

 

[c911darkwolf]

If you have more questions let us know, otherwise click the "Select a answer" button under the response that helped you the most so we know your question was answered.

Thanks!

 

[tom2u]

I replied earlier but I don't see the post.
I tried installing Linuxmint and was baffled by the "Installation Size" option. I googled and couldn't find anything explaining why we pick the installation size and what difference it makes when we choose a different size.
Anyway I installed it and when I restarted it there was no Boot option like there was with Ubuntu and the only thing that was installed on the partition specified was a folder called linuxmint at a size of 2534 kb. Inside that folder were 5 folders:
disks, install, winboot, Linux Mint.ico, uninstall-wubi.exe
Nothing starts an installer apparently.
I'm stumped. Why would they not explain what to do?
And why don't they name the setup file correctly? mint4win.exe? What is that? Do they speak English? In Ubuntu its the same (wubi.exe). Cryptic name that has no relevance in English. Bizarre.

To programmers: Please wake up and realize that if its not obvious to a beginner for basic functions, its not very well designed. Get the basics first - make them brain dead easy, then allow them to delve into it more deeply as their needs increase. This is intelligent design. Not "I'm going to do it the way I want because I'm the guy who made it and I'm in control." That's something a 15 year old would say, not a thinking adult. I see this ALL the time in software, web design, everywhere and its all about pride and having respect for the user of your design.

 

[sam_p_lay]

I replied earlier but I don't see the post.
I tried installing Linuxmint and was baffled by the "Installation Size" option. I googled and couldn't find anything explaining why we pick the installation size and what difference it makes when we choose a different size.
Anyway I installed it and when I restarted it there was no Boot option like there was with Ubuntu and the only thing that was installed on the partition specified was a folder called linuxmint at a size of 2534 kb. Inside that folder were 5 folders:
disks, install, winboot, Linux Mint.ico, uninstall-wubi.exe
Nothing starts an installer apparently.
I'm stumped. Why would they not explain what to do?
And why don't they name the setup file correctly? mint4win.exe? What is that? Do they speak English? In Ubuntu its the same (wubi.exe). Cryptic name that has no relevance in English. Bizarre.

To programmers: Please wake up and realize that if its not obvious to a beginner for basic functions, its not very well designed. Get the basics first - make them brain dead easy, then allow them to delve into it more deeply as their needs increase. This is intelligent design. Not "I'm going to do it the way I want because I'm the guy who made it and I'm in control." That's something a 15 year old would say, not a thinking adult. I see this ALL the time in software, web design, everywhere and its all about pride and having respect for the user of your design.

I'd hazard a guess that "mint4win" is short for "Mint for Windows".

 

[c911darkwolf]

http://www.tecmint.com/installation-guide-of-linux-mint-14-nadia-mate-edition/

This is a step by step install guide.

You should put in your CD or USB that has linux mint installed/burned and then it should boot to Linux Mint. From here you will have a Install Icon on you desktop that you click and follow the simple walkthrough to finish installing. Not many steps at all and this link shows tons of pictures.

Linux mint has less options then Windows installing.


If your not sure how to do a Boot Option then
Goto
http://www.linuxmint.com/download.php

Download the ISO

To Burn to a USB Drive I use
http://www.linuxliveusb.com/
It's easy, cheap, and no spyware. Just install it and select the USB dive you want to use and the ISO image you downloaded from Linux Mint and it will make it a Bootable USB Drive. When you boot up you should get the "Press any key to boot from CD...." message or you can hit like F2 (varies per machine) to select what you want to boot from.

Literally just let it boot off the USB Drive and when it loads linux mint there is the install icon on the desktop.. Feel free to explore linux mint before you install it although keep in mind your running it off a USB drive and it will be SLOWWWW..


ANy questions post here I will reply Fast As I am Able!

 

[c911darkwolf]

Also if your doing the manual Setting... where you pick the sizes then follow this guide
http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=122276

basically the perk to Linux is there is the Home Directory (which is where your personal stuff is stored ) then you pick the hard drive size of the OS, and then how much to put towards apps.. Since each part of your system has it's own Partition on your Hard drive unlike windows which only has 1 for everything it prevents cross infection/contamination when something goes wrong. Thats how we can upgrade our Kernel and not affect our applications or personal data and when you upgrade the core of Windows it has to come out on a brand new install cd and they charge you another $100+.

Again any questions let me know and again feel free to explore the Test USB version, If your not sure and you plan to wipe everything and instal Linux Mint just choose the "Erase Everything" option when you start the install from the bootable USB drive.

HTH

 

[sam_p_lay]

I'll just point out that Windows 8.1 will be a free update for Windows 8 users. But granted any OS update can be effort.

 

[tom2u]

So its not possible to install off a hard drive? Ubuntu installed fine. Just start the installation program in Windows, select the empty partition to install too and BAM....its done. When you restart Windows its there to select from (Ubuntu or Windows). Hey - does anyone know how to choose which OS is on top (which will start after a few seconds if nothing is chosen)? I looked in my bios but couldn't see anything. I see there seems to be something in Control Panel, System, Advanced, Startup and Recovery, System Startup. Is that the only option? If Ubuntu was installed should it show up in that menu list?

And is the "Installation Size" option you see when selecting where to install your OS actually the Partition Size?

And is there any performance difference between installing it with Windows or separate?

 

[stillblue]

From AskUbuntu This does not change the order but it does change the highlighted and therefore default choice. In a nutshell, after your backup is made of /etc/default/grub, sudo gedit /etc/default/grub and change GRUB_DEFAULT=0 to what you want highlighted, if Windows is forth on the list then it becomes GRUB_DEFAULT=3

You can also change the grub default boot entry from the command line without having to install any additional tool. This won't change the order in the list but it will allow a different OS to boot by default, which sounds like what you may want anyway.

First, make a backup copy of /etc/default/grub. In case something goes wrong, you can easily revert to the known-good copy.

sudo cp /etc/default/grub /etc/default/grub.bak
Then edit the file using vim or the text editor of your choice.

sudo vim /etc/default/grub
Find the line that contains GRUB_DEFAULT=0 and set it to GRUB_DEFAULT=x where x is the index of grub menu item to which you would like to boot to by default. Note that the menu items are zero-indexed. That means that the first item in the list is 0 and that the sixth item is actually 5. So to boot to the sixth item in the list, the line would read GRUB_DEFAULT=5.

Additionally, if you want to use a kernel in the "Previous Linux Versions" menu, you'll want to change GRUB_DEFAULT=0 to GRUB_DEFAULT="2>x" (make sure to include the quotations), where x is the placement of the old kernel on the sub-list (assuming the "Previous Linux Versions" is third on the main list). Remember that the list always begins counting at 0.

Then build the updated grub menu.

sudo update-grub

 

[tom2u]

Thanks for the boot option info.
One does wonder why the designer would use a word like grub to describe the boot process instead of a word like....I don't know....maybe boot? Could it be because grub means boot in their native non-English language I wonder?

 

[tom2u]

Just want someone to confirm if its not possible to install Linuxmint off the hard drive.

 

[sam_p_lay]

GRand Unified Bootloader. Linux devs like quirky names - adds personality I suppose.

 

[tom2u]

GRand Unified Bootloader. Linux devs like quirky names - adds personality I suppose.

LOL...guess we all like to stamp our names on things sometimes. Thanks.

 

[sam_p_lay]

I suppose when you're not selling the product you can have some fun with the names

 

[c911darkwolf]

I'll just point out that Windows 8.1 will be a free update for Windows 8 users. But granted any OS update can be effort.

All service packs have been free there not updates but Patches. Also 8.1 or Azure is a desperate attempt to draw in users because they realized they messed up.



Linux has patches for it's OS versions, but a NEW OS version is still free.

 

[c911darkwolf]

So its not possible to install off a hard drive? Ubuntu installed fine. Just start the installation program in Windows, select the empty partition to install too and BAM....its done. When you restart Windows its there to select from (Ubuntu or Windows). Hey - does anyone know how to choose which OS is on top (which will start after a few seconds if nothing is chosen)? I looked in my bios but couldn't see anything. I see there seems to be something in Control Panel, System, Advanced, Startup and Recovery, System Startup. Is that the only option? If Ubuntu was installed should it show up in that menu list?

And is the "Installation Size" option you see when selecting where to install your OS actually the Partition Size?

And is there any performance difference between installing it with Windows or separate?

Can you clarify what you mean by install off a hard drive? Install what exactly? It sounds like you are dual booting Linux and Windows what else were your trying to accomplish as well?

HTH

 

[sam_p_lay]

I'll just point out that Windows 8.1 will be a free update for Windows 8 users. But granted any OS update can be effort.

All service packs have been free there not updates but Patches. Also 8.1 or Azure is a desperate attempt to draw in users because they realized they messed up.



Linux has patches for it's OS versions, but a NEW OS version is still free.

Care to differentiate between the two? Ubuntu 13.04 looks the same to me as 12.10 did, which looked the same as 12.04 did... seems like service packs to me.