Linux Article/ Linux Coverage

RobertAlvarez

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Jun 12, 2008
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All last year Linux users were strung along about an article about Ubuntu. Finally in October there was a posting about it being almost done - So Whatever Happened To That Ubuntu Article?. Then nothing. Maybe the guy that was going to write the article got laid of, or maybe Anand doesn't who knows enough about Linux to finish and post the article.

I like the site and will likely come here whether they post articles about Linux or not, but it is an embarrassment that they have a tab labeled Linux where the most recent article is several years old. A lot has happened in Linux since then.

If they are going to start fresh on Linux, I would suggest the just released Linux Mint 7 - Gloria. It is the best distribution out there for comparison to Windows and Mac. Based on Ubuntu packages, but a different user experience all together. It gets great reviews with every release, and unlike the pay for play OS's gets free updates forever. You can read more about it here - Linux Mint 7 - Gloria

:confused:
 

Sylvanas

Diamond Member
Jan 20, 2004
3,752
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I'd like to see more Linux articles from AT but really, I get my Linux news elsewhere.
 

RobertAlvarez

Member
Jun 12, 2008
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While I agree that there are plenty of other sites that give good coverage, AnandTech is a well respected site and I know there are plenty of Linux users who frequent the site since it gets mentioned from time to time on the forums and in chat.

Give Gloria a shot. XP users often complain that Linux is a bit rough around the edges for them to make the jump, but Mint Gloria is as smooth as Linux can be. Way better than Ubuntu for the new to Linux crowd. It is designed to easily dual boot with Windows, and if you don't like it, you can delete its partition.
 

VinDSL

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2006
4,869
1
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www.lenon.com
Vista is the best recruiter for Linux, not AnandTech, but don't despair!

The problem with places like this is... users are emotionally or practically wedded to Windows! It's the battered wife syndrome, in effect...

LoL! MS is in deep shit if 7 doesn't work - and it won't! 7 is Vista with lipstick, and ppl will sober up to that fact, once the honeymoon is over!

I'm with Sylvanas! You're looking for love in the wrong places.

This forum is simply a humorous distraction for most of us, chronicling the gradual erosion of Windows. ;)

When I started posting over here, a year ago, I felt intimidated at times. There were some really smart ppl in this forum - but they've all headed for higher ground. All that's left is a few old skool provocateurs (with devil avatars) that enjoy beating ppl down with their biting sarcasm and high post counts. This too shall pass...

Kinda sad, really... watching Microsoft's monkey army slip and fall on banana peels, but nothing lasts forever. Hang in there...

I digress: Speaking of Mint, I encoded this (YouTube) video last night, using Avidemux 2.4.4 under 'Felicia' x64.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5XAEl9dd_s (Click the HD button)

Check out the res in HD!

Heh! They don't know what they're missing, do they?!?!?
 

Mem

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
21,476
13
81
Originally posted by: VinDSL
Vista is the best recruiter for Linux, not AnandTech, but don't despair!

The problem with places like this is... users are emotionally or practically wedded to Windows! It's the battered wife syndrome, in effect...

LoL! MS is in deep shit if 7 doesn't work - and it won't! 7 is Vista with lipstick, and ppl will sober up to that fact, once the honeymoon is over!

I'm with Sylvanas! You're looking for love in the wrong places.

This forum is simply a humorous distraction for most of us, chronicling the gradual erosion of Windows. ;)

When I started posting over here, a year ago, I felt intimidated at times. There were some really smart ppl in this forum - but they've all headed for higher ground. All that's left is a few old skool provocateurs (with devil avatars) that enjoy beating ppl down with their biting sarcasm and high post counts. This too shall pass...

Kinda sad, really... watching Microsoft's monkey army slip and fall on banana peels, but nothing lasts forever. Hang in there...

I digress: Speaking of Mint, I encoded this (YouTube) video last night, using Avidemux 2.4.4 under 'Felicia' x64.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5XAEl9dd_s

Check out the res in HD!

Heh! They don't know what they're missing, do they?!?!?

Show me another OS with gaming support like Windows has?..you can't ,as a gamer its the main reason why I stay with a Windows based operating system.

At least you have the nix forum link..Nothing wrong with Linux etc.. however no good for my needs as a gamer (at this time).



Give Gloria a shot. XP users often complain that Linux is a bit rough around the edges for them to make the jump, but Mint Gloria is as smooth as Linux can be. Way better than Ubuntu for the new to Linux crowd. It is designed to easily dual boot with Windows, and if you don't like it, you can delete its partition.

Learning curve for some( especially from Windows to Linux) and what they will be using the OS for as well are other factors,not everybody likes or wants to dual boot.
 

VinDSL

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2006
4,869
1
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www.lenon.com
Originally posted by: Mem
Show me another OS with gaming support like Windows has?

Nothing wrong with Linux etc.. however no good for my needs as a gamer (at this time).
In that context, I agree!

Any doorstop computer will work for gamers...

Originally posted by: The Boston Dangler
it is now the middle of 2009, and:
64-bit computing is unused by games
4GB+ RAM is unused by games
quad-core chips are now barely used by a few games
DX10 is used in a small handful of crappy games

Linux is a little beyond that kiddy stuff, don't you think? ;)
 

Mem

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
21,476
13
81
Originally posted by: VinDSL

Linux is a little beyond that kiddy stuff, don't you think? ;)


Windows is kiddie's stuff compared to good old DOS days, but some users even now still managed to blame Windows for most of their user errors (you want them to play with Linux?..RUN!!!! ;) ),how many Windows users now know about expanded memory etc in DOS days,getting games to run in those days was fun :).







 

sourceninja

Diamond Member
Mar 8, 2005
8,805
65
91
Originally posted by: Rifterut
Its true that you cant play new games in linux, this is why you dual boot.

As a long time linux user I am against dual booting. If you need windows, just use windows. Dual booting means wasting time to reboot when you are done gaming. Most users are just going to stay in windows and eventually they are just wasting a few dozen gigs of hard drive space on a OS they do not use.

Either quit playing windows games (and only play games with native linux or wine support) or just stay on windows.

 

Ryan Smith

The New Boss
Staff member
Oct 22, 2005
537
117
116
www.anandtech.com
No, it's quite alive, it's just also quite delayed. It probably would have been up today, but I've been spending all night rebuilding my file server (which is necessary for some of the benchmarks) which has pushed it back just a little more. Look for it by the end of this week or the start of next, depending on what our publishing schedule is like.

Ubuntu 8.04 LTS, with a follow-up piece looking at 9.04. After that... we'll see what the response is to the first two articles.
 

Fox5

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2005
5,957
7
81
Originally posted by: sourceninja
Originally posted by: Rifterut
Its true that you cant play new games in linux, this is why you dual boot.

As a long time linux user I am against dual booting. If you need windows, just use windows. Dual booting means wasting time to reboot when you are done gaming. Most users are just going to stay in windows and eventually they are just wasting a few dozen gigs of hard drive space on a OS they do not use.

Either quit playing windows games (and only play games with native linux or wine support) or just stay on windows.

Other option:
Stay in windows, but use a virtual machine to take advantage of Linux's superior desktop management options. (windowing systems and all)
Also, if you're a programmer, it's not hard to find love for linux, even in a VM.

Ubuntu does have a permanent place on my tablet PC though.
 

RobertAlvarez

Member
Jun 12, 2008
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Originally posted by: Ryan Smith
No, it's quite alive, it's just also quite delayed. It probably would have been up today, but I've been spending all night rebuilding my file server (which is necessary for some of the benchmarks) which has pushed it back just a little more. Look for it by the end of this week or the start of next, depending on what our publishing schedule is like.

Ubuntu 8.04 LTS, with a follow-up piece looking at 9.04. After that... we'll see what the response is to the first two articles.

Ryan,
Try Mint Gloria. If not now, then next. If you study Linux trends at all you will see that Mint is on the rise due to it making even a pretty easy distro like Ubuntu even easier and more stable.

I have been dual booting for a year and a half now, and find myself using XP only for those programs I need that are XP only (accessing Siebel (CRM) through my employer's VPN requires XP. For all my personal computing Mint is definitely superior.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
60,007
10,501
126
Originally posted by: sourceninja
Originally posted by: Rifterut
Its true that you cant play new games in linux, this is why you dual boot.

As a long time linux user I am against dual booting. If you need windows, just use windows. Dual booting means wasting time to reboot when you are done gaming. Most users are just going to stay in windows and eventually they are just wasting a few dozen gigs of hard drive space on a OS they do not use.

Either quit playing windows games (and only play games with native linux or wine support) or just stay on windows.

That's how I view it also. I use Linux on my boxes where it makes the most sense, and Windows on the other machines. Dual booting is tedious, and I don't see much benefit in that scenario.
 

RobertAlvarez

Member
Jun 12, 2008
31
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Originally posted by: sourceninja
Originally posted by: Rifterut
Its true that you cant play new games in linux, this is why you dual boot.

As a long time linux user I am against dual booting. If you need windows, just use windows. Dual booting means wasting time to reboot when you are done gaming. Most users are just going to stay in windows and eventually they are just wasting a few dozen gigs of hard drive space on a OS they do not use.

Either quit playing windows games (and only play games with native linux or wine support) or just stay on windows.

I couldn't disagree more. I have been dual booting a while now and although there are certain things I have to do on XP that keep me dual booting, I find myself increasingly drawn to Linux.

If you partition your HD like I do, with data and docs on a separate partition from XP/Program installation (if you are not, I recommend it whether you go Linux or not for data safety), You can access all your files from Linux or Windows by setting up NTFS partitions. Linux reads/writes NTFS. You can even mount these partitions in your Home folder (similar to documents folder in XP), so that when it comes to sharing data, there is seamless integration between XP/Linux in a dual boot setup. It is easy and effective to dual boot. Linux takes 10 - 12 gigs for a full installation including a boatload of free software. Most of us are running HD's with at least 500 gigs these days, so to say you can't spare 10 - 12 gigs to dual boot, is a joke. Go for it. If you don't like Mint you can delete the partition, with no harm done.

Here is a nice thread on setting up your HD. There is an automatic partitioner that will safely grab some empty space from your HD and create a partition to install Mint/Ubuntu, which is great to start out. If you are a more advanced user, or just want to have a more custom setup check this thread out. It has good tips that can help almost anyone out in setting up their HD: Considerations before you install
To try Mint Gloria (related to Ubuntu, but different, better and easier), go here: Linux Mint 7: Gloria

Nice thing about keeping data separate from install is, it makes upgrading or installing Linux or XP substantially less of a hassle, plus if in the case of XP the installation partition becomes compromised you can just format and re-install, and then point My Docs to the partitions where your data is and your back in business.
 

RobertAlvarez

Member
Jun 12, 2008
31
0
0
Originally posted by: sourceninja
Originally posted by: Rifterut
Its true that you cant play new games in linux, this is why you dual boot.

As a long time linux user I am against dual booting. If you need windows, just use windows. Dual booting means wasting time to reboot when you are done gaming. Most users are just going to stay in windows and eventually they are just wasting a few dozen gigs of hard drive space on a OS they do not use.

Either quit playing windows games (and only play games with native linux or wine support) or just stay on windows.

I couldn't disagree more. I have been dual booting a while now and although there are certain things I have to do on XP that keep me dual booting, I find myself increasingly drawn to Linux. You can set either OS as the default and even set the delay before booting default to just a few seconds so that if you don't press a key in say three seconds it goes straight to the default. Easy.

If you partition your HD like I do, with data and docs on a separate partition from XP/Program installation (if you are not, I recommend it whether you go Linux or not for data safety), you can access all your files from Linux or Windows by setting up NTFS partitions. Linux reads/writes NTFS so even if you only create a linux partition, you can access your files on your XP partition. You can even mount these partitions in your Home folder (similar to documents folder in XP), so that when it comes to sharing data, there is seamless integration between XP/Linux in a dual boot setup. It is easy and effective to dual boot. Linux takes 10 - 12 gigs for a full installation including a boatload of free software. Most of us are running HD's with at least 500 gigs these days, so to say you can't spare 10 - 12 gigs to dual boot, is a joke. Go for it. If you don't like Mint you can delete the partition, with no harm done.

Here is a nice thread on setting up your HD. There is an automatic partitioner that will safely grab some empty space from your HD and create a partition to install Mint/Ubuntu, which is great to start out. If you are a more advanced user, or just want to have a more custom setup check this thread out. It has good tips that can help almost anyone out in setting up their HD: Considerations before you install
To try Mint Gloria (related to Ubuntu, but different, better and easier), go here: Linux Mint 7: Gloria

Nice thing about keeping data separate from install is, it makes upgrading or installing Linux or XP substantially less of a hassle, plus if in the case of XP the installation partition becomes compromised you can just format and re-install, and then point My Docs to the partitions where your data is and your back in business.
 

VinDSL

Diamond Member
Apr 11, 2006
4,869
1
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www.lenon.com
Originally posted by: RobertAlvarez
Originally posted by: Ryan Smith
Ubuntu 8.04 LTS, with a follow-up piece looking at 9.04. After that... we'll see..
Try Mint Gloria. If not now, then next...

For all my personal computing Mint is definitely superior.
I'm a distro hopper...

Linux Mint 6 x64 is a keeper on my triple-booted Mint/Vista/7 AMD Turion 64 X2 lappy!

Ubuntu 9.04 is the pick for my Intel P4 Extreme Edition box...

Ryan: When you're reviewing 'Jaunty', make sure to install Sun VirtualBox.

It's jaw-droopingly simple to install using the package manager, and demonstrates the power (and simplicity) of Ubuntu.

While I prefer to multi-boot my 4GB RAM lappy (a pro/con discussion for another time)...

Sun VirtualBox under 'Jaunty', allows me to run Ubuntu, openSUSE, FreeBSD, and Windows - all at the same time - with 1GB RAM.

Simply amazing!!! :D
 

RobertAlvarez

Member
Jun 12, 2008
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Originally posted by: VinDSL
Originally posted by: RobertAlvarez
Originally posted by: Ryan Smith
Ubuntu 8.04 LTS, with a follow-up piece looking at 9.04. After that... we'll see..
Try Mint Gloria. If not now, then next...

For all my personal computing Mint is definitely superior.
I'm a distro hopper...

Linux Mint 6 x64 is a keeper on my triple-booted Mint/Vista/7 AMD Turion 64 X2 lappy!

Ubuntu 9.04 is the pick for my Intel P4 Extreme Edition box...

Ryan: When you're reviewing 'Jaunty', make sure to install Sun VirtualBox.

It's jaw-droopingly simple to install using the package manager, and demonstrates the power (and simplicity) of Ubuntu.

While I prefer to multi-boot my 4GB RAM lappy (a pro/con discussion for another time)...

Sun VirtualBox under 'Jaunty', allows me to run Ubuntu, openSUSE, FreeBSD, and Windows - all at the same time - with 1GB RAM.

Simply amazing!!! :D

Mint 7 - Gloria is even better. 64 bit will be out version of Mint 7 will be out very soon, now that 32 bit version is out. The new theme is awesome.
 

soonerproud

Golden Member
Jun 30, 2007
1,874
0
0
Originally posted by: RobertAlvarez
All last year Linux users were strung along about an article about Ubuntu. Finally in October there was a posting about it being almost done - So Whatever Happened To That Ubuntu Article?. Then nothing. Maybe the guy that was going to write the article got laid of, or maybe Anand doesn't who knows enough about Linux to finish and post the article.

I like the site and will likely come here whether they post articles about Linux or not, but it is an embarrassment that they have a tab labeled Linux where the most recent article is several years old. A lot has happened in Linux since then.

If they are going to start fresh on Linux, I would suggest the just released Linux Mint 7 - Gloria. It is the best distribution out there for comparison to Windows and Mac. Based on Ubuntu packages, but a different user experience all together. It gets great reviews with every release, and unlike the pay for play OS's gets free updates forever. You can read more about it here - Linux Mint 7 - Gloria

:confused:

Considering the openly anti-semite attitude of the developer, Anand should absolutely not cover Linux Mint. Anand should not support open racism in any form and there are actual real distros to cover instead of a repackaged and rebranded Ubuntu.

Outside of that, I agree that there should be better Linux coverage here at AT.
 

soonerproud

Golden Member
Jun 30, 2007
1,874
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Originally posted by: VinDSL
In that context, I agree!

Any doorstop computer will work for gamers...

That doesn't make any sense. Gamers tend to go with the latest and the greatest when it comes to hardware. Go hang out on any Linux forum and there are tons of people that complain when a distro requires more than 128 MB of memory and think thier circa 1995 hardware should still be supported by the major distros.

Looks to me like Linux is the OS any doorstop works on. ;)

Originally posted by: VinDSL
Linux is a little beyond that kiddy stuff, don't you think? ;)

Except for the fact that the real world uses Windows in most cases to get real work done. While some enterprises and governments have moved to nix, the vast majority have to stick with Windows because that is the platform the apps they need to run to get work done is developed on.

Another thing, it is in most cases Linux that is the toy operating system since it is people that love to tinker with PC's that mainly use it on the desktop.

:evil:

 

soonerproud

Golden Member
Jun 30, 2007
1,874
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Originally posted by: RobertAlvarez
Mint 7 - Gloria is even better. 64 bit will be out version of Mint 7 will be out very soon, now that 32 bit version is out. The new theme is awesome.

There is nothing better about Mint. It is nothing more than a hacked, repackaged and rebranded Ubuntu. Anand should stick with the major distros first, like Debian, Ubuntu, Open Suse, Fedora and a few source distros like Slackware and Arch.
 

RobertAlvarez

Member
Jun 12, 2008
31
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0
Originally posted by: soonerproud
Considering the openly anti-semite attitude of the developer, Anand should absolutely not cover Linux Mint. Anand should not support open racism in any form and there are actual real distros to cover instead of a repackaged and rebranded Ubuntu.

Outside of that, I agree that there should be better Linux coverage here at AT.
I didn't agree with his sharing his views on the Israeli/Palestinian issue, and felt that Clem should have posted his personal views elsewhere. After I an many others including some of his fellow developers let him know that he apologized to the entire community, users and developers alike and moved his personal opinion to his personal blog.

To characterize his views as anti-semitic is simply false. He never said anything negative about Jewish people, Jewish culture, or Jewish existence...not even a little bit negative. I disagreed with his view that Israel as a nation is more wrong than Palestine for the violence, and would have not continued using the distro if he had not agreed to keep his personal opinions personal. He gave a proper apology to the community, many of whom are like myself very mush pro Israel. All that said to claim that anyone who doesn't take Israels side is an anti-Semite is pretty ignorant.

As for your comments about Mint. They reflect your ignorance about Linux. Ubuntu itself is based on Debian, so you would have a problem with Ubuntu too if you were being consistent, which I'll bet you are not (uyou just want to take a shot). Mint uses Ubuntu packages, but is its own Distro, just as Ubuntu, which uses Debian packages and code is its own distro. Get a clue about what you are talking about before you post next time, dude.


 

soonerproud

Golden Member
Jun 30, 2007
1,874
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Originally posted by: RobertAlvarez
I didn't agree with his sharing his views on the Israeli/Palestinian issue, and felt that Clem should have posted his personal views elsewhere. After I an many others including some of his fellow developers let him know that he apologized to the entire community, users and developers alike and moved his personal opinion to his personal blog.

To characterize his views as anti-semitic is simply false. He never said anything negative about Jewish people, Jewish culture, or Jewish existence...not even a little bit negative. I disagreed with his view that Israel as a nation is more wrong than Palestine for the violence, and would have not continued using the distro if he had not agreed to keep his personal opinions personal. He gave a proper apology to the community, many of whom are like myself very mush pro Israel. All that said to claim that anyone who doesn't take Israels side is an anti-Semite is pretty ignorant.

I was unaware of the apology and was basing my view on what he previously said which is Israelis are not welcome. When you tell an entire people that they are not welcome, that is racist. I would feel the same way if some one said all Palestinians , Muslims or Arabs were not welcome. I am all about giving second chances so we will see where this goes.


Originally posted by: RobertAlvarez
As for your comments about Mint. They reflect your ignorance about Linux. Ubuntu itself is based on Debian, so you would have a problem with Ubuntu too if you were being consistent, which I'll bet you are not (uyou just want to take a shot). Mint uses Ubuntu packages, but is its own Distro, just as Ubuntu, which uses Debian packages and code is its own distro. Get a clue about what you are talking about before you post next time, dude.

I have quite a bit of experience, especially with Debian and Ubuntu so I am not as clueless as you think. Ubuntu is a fork of Debian, has many Debian developers involved with the project and is not package compatible with Debian because of differences in the way the cultures are. Ubuntu is very much it's own Distro in it's own right and is the base for many other distros.

Mint is simply Ubuntu repackaged, is 99% compatible with Ubuntu and is nothing more than a reconfiguration and a few extra community tools added. Like I said, Mint is not a major distro, it is a minor one and with the limited resources of AT, it doesn't make sense to concentrate on minor distros since there are so many.






 

Fox5

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2005
5,957
7
81
Originally posted by: soonerproud
Originally posted by: RobertAlvarez
Mint 7 - Gloria is even better. 64 bit will be out version of Mint 7 will be out very soon, now that 32 bit version is out. The new theme is awesome.

There is nothing better about Mint. It is nothing more than a hacked, repackaged and rebranded Ubuntu. Anand should stick with the major distros first, like Debian, Ubuntu, Open Suse, Fedora and a few source distros like Slackware and Arch.

Given anandtech's current coverage of absolutely zero, anything would be a step up.
If evaluating Linux operating systems, there's probably no reason to evaluate anything other than Ubuntu and maybe Fedora, as those are the only major releases targeted at casual users. (and ubuntu has way more users than fedora)

If looking at individual apps or situations, they may be able to be more generic.

I could also see concentrating just on debian as OK, since most of what is in Ubuntu is in or easily added to a debian install, but that's almost like reviewing windows server as a home OS.