[WasteSomeTime]

Hi, what do you use linux for?
I was looking at the home screen today and all I could think was what do I do now? Also wondering why I was interested in it when i saw it for the first time.
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[mase123987]

What form of linux are you talking about specifically? Like Ubuntu?

[Laura Knotek]

Hi, what do you use linux for?

I use Linux for the same things I use Windows.

I was looking at the home screen today and all I could think was what do I do now? Also wondering why I was interested in it when i saw it for the first time.
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Which distro are you running?

Which desktop are you running?

Which particular types of software do you use in Windows? Chances are, there are Linux versions of software or alternative software for Linux that will provide same or similar functionality as in Windows. If you mention what you need, those of us who use Linux will be able to provide recommendations.

[WasteSomeTime]

Ubuntu 12.04.2 I really don't like that I can go into the windows partition and access the files. Also Also tried to use mac buntu to skin it apple style and it didn't work. Also google chrome doesn't install.
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[mase123987]

Ubuntu is a good OS, and linux in general. Problem is that there are still too many things that require terminal. This isn't a problem for IT guys when running it as servers or other work related uses, but for the average joe, it can be intimidating and frustrating. Also, so many things work out of the box in Windows with having to install anything (or by installing one program) that it doesn't take much brains to do it. In Ubuntu, a lot of things do work very well, but not nearly with the same compatibility as Windows. I find one that video cards often will have issues, AMD esp.

I enjoy the UI's (not Unity but most of the others commonly used). I also find the idea of repositories easy and simple. There are a lot of other things that I like also! But when it comes down to it, Windows runs everything I could want, Linux doesn't.

[xandros9]

it has come a long way since (ubuntu) i tried it out for the first time
i use it for pretty much everything i use windows for, but i've gotten rid of it lately because i dont need it.

it's speedy and light (pretty much any distro i tried) and can replace windows for the either, really advanced or really simple user.

even if you don't use it - it's great for system recovery in the event of something catastrophic in the windows side

[WasteSomeTime]

Yeah I was thinking about that. I'm trying to find a reason to use it. It needs improvement in the looks department. I didn't find it to a hassle to use, but there some bugs. I do like that it comes with some kind of ms office counterpart right out if the box. I like that it has that Spotify feature. It is simpler than windows. I wish you tweak the theme. I don't know I cant justify keeping it on my laptop. But is there a way to not have the option to go into the windows partition? Also does guest session also give option to do that? I'm far from the computer, so can't check.
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[WasteSomeTime]

I guess it has come a long way since I've seen someone typing a command years ago for it to just shut down. It needed a command for running the disk drive.
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[fatclue_98]

I have Ubuntu on a partition. My only use is for playing with webOS devices. I am watching Canonical's progress with Ubuntu Touch, looks promising.

[palandri]

I started using Linux when my Windows 3.1 floppies corrupted and I didn't have the $80 to buy new 3.1 floppies. I started with RedHat 3.0 or 4.0 " Colgate edition. I got it at the library.. Everything was done from the shell back then. I wrote a lot of scripts back then for getting dialup modems to work with Linux. U.S. Robotics (when they existed) contacted me about using my scripts.

I still play with Linux today. My main laptop runs Win8 64bit and LinuxMint 64 bit.

[squire777]

I used Linux for a while when I was in university. It was more of a hobby type thing rather than something I would use for daily work. There are some things I love about Linux like the speed and straightforwardness but other things that were incredibly frustrating.

[cj-m]

Ubuntu is a good OS, and linux in general. Problem is that there are still too many things that require terminal. This isn't a problem for IT guys when running it as servers or other work related uses, but for the average joe, it can be intimidating and frustrating. Also, so many things work out of the box in Windows with having to install anything (or by installing one program) that it doesn't take much brains to do it. In Ubuntu, a lot of things do work very well, but not nearly with the same compatibility as Windows. I find one that video cards often will have issues, AMD esp.

I enjoy the UI's (not Unity but most of the others commonly used). I also find the idea of repositories easy and simple. There are a lot of other things that I like also! But when it comes down to it, Windows runs everything I could want, Linux doesn't.

This post is true for me too. I really enjoyed Kubuntu on my laptop, but at the end of the day, constant struggling with my wireless cards, WINE, etc became a little too much. If, in this case, everything worked out of the box then I would happily go back to Kubuntu, unfortunately I lack the skill set to use linux on a daily basis.

[WasteSomeTime]

So how much space do you give Linux? I mean how big is the partition and how big is the Ubuntu OS? I want to shrink it. Beside the size if the OS I want it to have only 5 GB of space.
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[Laura Knotek]

The swap partition needs to be at least the same size as your RAM, possibly twice the size of your RAM, depending on your hard disk space. https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwapFaq

[mase123987]

The swap partition needs to be at least the same size as your RAM, possibly twice the size of your RAM, depending on your hard disk space. https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwapFaq

I think that is over kill for swap in most situations.

[Laura Knotek]

I think that is over kill for swap in most situations.

Twice as big would be overkill probably. We don't know if the OP has really old hardware.

[WasteSomeTime]

Its a 5 year old Toshiba. 2.2 GHz , 2 GB ram , 160 GB HDD.
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[mase123987]

Yea with that little RAM, 2gb SWAP minimum

[mase123987]

WasteSomeTime, why are you using board express over wpcentral app? board express is downright evil lol

[WasteSomeTime]

Its actually board express pro.
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[mase123987]

I have Board Express Pro. It is evil lol. WPCentral app is a lot better experience for me but to each their own!

[WasteSomeTime]

I agree its nicer and has some sleek animations. But why would I buy that for only one forum when board express supports multiple? The only problem I have with it is that the search function to look up forums doesn't work.
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[mase123987]

I agree its nicer and has some sleek animations. But why would I buy that for only one forum when board express supports multiple? The only problem I have with it is that the search function to look up forums doesn't work.
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To me, it is well worth it considering it is a lot easier to get around and I use it A LOT. Also, WPCentral app includes all the story/blog posts. If you spend much time on this site, it is well worth the money.

[WasteSomeTime]

Its just a dollar. I'm not concerned about the money. I had the foroplex beta. I was good but don't like reading small text. No I barely read anything in this site. I know that WP is progressing nicely and some threads have some news stories attached. I have a bigger interest in cars and learning in how to behave like an ***.
So with the computer specs I've given how much should I give to the Linux partition?
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[Laura Knotek]

From Ubuntu's site: Absolute Requirements

The required disk space for an out-of-the-box Ubuntu installation is said to be 15 GB. However, that does not take into account the space needed for a file-system or a swap partition.
It is more realistic to give yourself a little bit more than 15 GB of space. Give yourself 15-25 GB to have some space left for actually doing things. If your file-system is full to the brim, you will feel some performance loss. A certain percentage of an ext3 file-system is dedicated to root, as a way of preventing a rogue process from filling the disk to the point that the system is unusable. This dedicated portion is 5% by default. Also, the anti-fragmentation strategies used by Linux file-systems require that the disk is not close to full. A rule of thumb is to keep them less than 90% full.