Install time?

Wayne · #1 6th April 2012, 04:26 AM

The warranty on my Lenovo Thinkpad has expired so I think it's time to nuke that installed pile of carp Windows 7 and install some flavour of Linux!

Problem is deciding what distro to install and what DE. Linux Mint or something a little more long term like Debian or Arch? I like KDE on my desktop machine but want something a little more simple on the laptop.

No hurry, it's not going anywhere, although now I have a pocket WiFi unit, it might. Ditched my cellp-hone at last!

nonamedotc · #2 6th April 2012, 05:33 AM

I have a thinkpad T500 on which, at one point, I had quadruple boot.

When I was deciding which distro I wanted to use.

I had some problems with Debian - it complained that there was no firmware for intel wireless (I think).
openSUSE - worked out of the box. But did not like it - personal taste, I suppose.
Arch - PERFECT.
Fedora 14/15/16 - Everything worked ==>Fedora 16 - PERFECT

Actually, I also did use Chakra Linux for a short period. I would not recommend that though. I am very happy with Arch and Fedora. Based on my experience, I would suggest that you choose between Fedora/Arch.

P.S. Fedora/Arch is what I dual boot now

Wayne · #3 6th April 2012, 05:50 AM

There are one or two pieces of software I rely on that have been 'retired' from the Fedora repos because there is no maintainer. That is one reason why I no longer use Fedora. I might give Arch a go.

angryfirelord · #4 13th April 2012, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne

There are one or two pieces of software I rely on that have been 'retired' from the Fedora repos because there is no maintainer. That is one reason why I no longer use Fedora. I might give Arch a go.

Is it possible to just compile it? That's how I run Scientific Linux where if there's not a package in the repo I'll just compile and update it manually.

Wayne · #5 14th April 2012, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angryfirelord

Is it possible to just compile it? That's how I run Scientific Linux where if there's not a package in the repo I'll just compile and update it manually.

I don't have the time nor inclination to learn how to compile stuff, especially if/when things go wrong, as I know they will

Mint 12 KDE was already sitting on my USB thumb drive and installed in minutes and was fully functional...

Misfit138 · #6 14th April 2012, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne

I don't have the time nor inclination to learn how to compile stuff, especially if/when things go wrong, as I know they will

Mint 12 KDE was already sitting on my USB thumb drive and installed in minutes and was fully functional...

Which package do you need? Wouldn't be "tpb", would it?

Wayne · #7 14th April 2012, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misfit138

Which package do you need? Wouldn't be "tpb", would it?

Gwaei

http://gwaei.sourceforge.net/

#8 6th April 2012, 05:55 AM

i'd go with Debian if you want a LTS Distro

resistor200 · #9 6th April 2012, 07:33 AM

I am running a z61p with mint 10. Best distro I have run on this box, been with it now since 8. I like gnome, so I chose not to upgrade at this time until there is a better wm solution... who knows what the future will bring!

BBQdave · #10 13th April 2012, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tox

i'd go with Debian if you want a LTS Distro

+1

Debian 6 with backports (current applications) is a great distro. Gnome 2 is the default desktop, but of course other DE are available.

Wayne · #11 6th April 2012, 08:31 AM

I'm sorely tempted to install mint 12 with Cinnamon. Mint might even replace Kubuntu on my desktop when the next version comes out. Of course, there's always Linux Mint Debian Edition

#12 6th April 2012, 10:11 AM

even windows7 has a LTS to 2020. install anything you want an update it without a problem

***Dan*** · #13 6th April 2012, 10:41 AM

F16/Enlightenment has been a good combination here. But I've had to find other sources for a few favorite applications, too.

A few benefits of F16

Supports gigabit LANs at high speed.
Supports dual (twin view) monitors with fewer glitches.
PulseAudio has finally matured into something useful.
The usual vunderbork updates have just about played themselves out.

<..

..>

Wayne · #14 13th April 2012, 04:49 AM

So, yesterday I 'zipped-up' my Pictures folder on my main Linux box and copied it over to an external drive formatted to NTFS in the vain hope that I could then move it over to my Windows 7 Thinkpad. Yeah, right, Windows barfed about halfway through on several attempts. That Windows Thinkpad is now running Linux and the file is copying over just fine, thank you!

nonamedotc · #15 13th April 2012, 05:00 AM

Ha! Ha! Ha!

In my research lab, my advisor and I fought with a windows computer to connect to a printer for at least 30 - 45 minutes.

After 1 million driver installations and restart cycles, I suggested installing Scientific Linux. Installation took ~30 minutes, printer installed fine. LDAP authentication worked straight away. No issues what so ever. Sanity restored.