Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Quemado

(1,262 posts)
Thu Sep 5, 2019, 07:04 PM Sep 2019

I switched to Linux, and so far I like it.

1994 - 2008: Windows user. I left Windows because of a growing sense of dissatisfaction with the OS, culminating in my experience with Vista. I wanted an OS that would be less trouble, so I switched to Mac.

2008 - 2019: Mac user. I basically got tired of Apple making (in my opinion) over-priced and under-powered devices.

2019 - ? Linux user. I switched to Linux because the OS (Linux Mint) was free.

Only time will tell how long I stick to Linux, but so far, I like it. It almost feels like I'm having a flashback to 1994, learning how to use a computer.

22 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
I switched to Linux, and so far I like it. (Original Post) Quemado Sep 2019 OP
tried it verrrry briefly once but dont know how to code and incompatible software issues nt msongs Sep 2019 #1
as I understand, those issues are mostly in the past? stopdiggin Sep 2019 #7
You don't.... LPBBEAR Apr 2021 #14
Ive used Linux Mint or Peppermint Adelante Sep 2019 #2
We've been using Ubuntu x 10+ years. dixiegrrrrl Sep 2019 #3
Linux is perfectly fine, unless there's some software you need to run PoliticAverse Sep 2019 #4
doesn't WINE cover any Win software? (nt) stopdiggin Sep 2019 #8
Lots but not "any". n/t PoliticAverse Sep 2019 #9
The fault for that.... LPBBEAR Apr 2021 #13
Welcome aboard! Recursion Sep 2019 #5
It's the only thing I've used for many years. defacto7 Sep 2019 #6
Welcome to the free world. FigTree Oct 2020 #10
Love Linux, just upgraded to LM 19 and 20 bucolic_frolic Apr 2021 #11
Firefox LPBBEAR Apr 2021 #12
Thanks for the tips, will weave into my tweaks and see what happens! bucolic_frolic Apr 2021 #15
I've tried several solutions, still no startup music bucolic_frolic Apr 2021 #16
A question LPBBEAR Apr 2021 #17
I fixed it! bucolic_frolic Apr 2021 #18
Glad you were...... LPBBEAR Apr 2021 #19
My husband played with Linux Mint on one of our older PC's... NurseJackie Jun 2021 #20
Message auto-removed Name removed Aug 2021 #21
I put Zorin Linux on an old laptop Captain Zero Jan 2022 #22

stopdiggin

(12,696 posts)
7. as I understand, those issues are mostly in the past?
Sun Sep 8, 2019, 02:43 AM
Sep 2019

I suppose the software issue would kind of depend on how exotic (and technical) your interests were. But for 99% of the things people are normally doing on their computers .. you'll never see a command prompt.

LPBBEAR

(337 posts)
14. You don't....
Wed Apr 7, 2021, 06:55 PM
Apr 2021

need to know how to code to run Linux. I have used Linux since the mid 90's. I don't know how to code at all. Incompatible software is the fault of the software vendor, not Linux. They could release a Linux version. They just haven't Blame them, not Linux.

Adelante

(28,394 posts)
2. Ive used Linux Mint or Peppermint
Thu Sep 5, 2019, 07:38 PM
Sep 2019

for the past ten years. The last time I liked Windows was XP. I tried Win 10 on a new computer and found it incoherent. I lasted a couple of days before laying on Linux again. I still use a 15 year old Mac keyboard. I hope it lasts forever.

dixiegrrrrl

(60,011 posts)
3. We've been using Ubuntu x 10+ years.
Thu Sep 5, 2019, 07:43 PM
Sep 2019

Running Mate flavour, it is the most intuitive interface,easy peasy to work with.

PoliticAverse

(26,366 posts)
4. Linux is perfectly fine, unless there's some software you need to run
Thu Sep 5, 2019, 07:44 PM
Sep 2019

for which there is only a Windows version.

LPBBEAR

(337 posts)
13. The fault for that....
Wed Apr 7, 2021, 06:51 PM
Apr 2021

lies with whoever made the Windows software you're trying to run. They could release a Linux version. If they haven't blame them, not Linux.

defacto7

(13,551 posts)
6. It's the only thing I've used for many years.
Fri Sep 6, 2019, 07:36 PM
Sep 2019

I use Debian mostly. 4 servers, 2 laptops and a desktop with 4 different versions in separate partitions just for fun. The amount of free software is massive and Libre Office is both compatible with and infinitely better than MS Office.

bucolic_frolic

(46,736 posts)
11. Love Linux, just upgraded to LM 19 and 20
Wed Apr 7, 2021, 04:51 PM
Apr 2021

Smooth upgrade, except for the long downloads. A couple minor glitches in the tweaking. Firefox keeps changing its look, and trying to get back to the old Favorites spacing is not going well. And no idea why, on the 19, the startup music is gone. Reinstalling that module didn't help, at least not yet.

LPBBEAR

(337 posts)
12. Firefox
Wed Apr 7, 2021, 06:45 PM
Apr 2021

Firefox keeps all of your user files in /home/yourusername/.mozilla Take note of the .

The dot indicates a hidden folder. Turn on hidden folders to see that folder.

To test Firefox's issue that you're seeing close Firefox and rename the .mozilla folder to old.mozilla.

Restart Firefox. Firefox will automatically create a new copy of that folder. I'm not sure what you mean by Favorites spacing but that change should tell you if Firefox will work correctly in your updated version. If so you should be able to import your old bookmarks from the old folder.

You can also reverse this by closing Firefox, deleting the new .mozilla folder and renaming the old.mozilla back to .mozilla. That will return all of your original Firefox settings and bookmarks and probably what ever issue you were seeing.

For the music startup issue check that the upgrade didn't default to a lowered volume or muted volume during the upgrade process.

bucolic_frolic

(46,736 posts)
16. I've tried several solutions, still no startup music
Sat Apr 10, 2021, 07:54 AM
Apr 2021

Some other folks reported success with uninstalls and reinstalls of pulseaudio. It's just gone.

I upgraded to 19.3 Still gone. So I'm going to go for full upgrade to LM20. Very glad to have a backup hard drive with LM20 already installed and operational.

bucolic_frolic

(46,736 posts)
18. I fixed it!
Sat Apr 10, 2021, 06:22 PM
Apr 2021

All sounds except startup were normal all along.

I opened Menu>Sound>Sounds. The first item on the list is Starting Cinnamon. It used a file called login.oga. Would not play. So I loaded the equivalent from the KDE collection of sounds. This is a collection of sounds in the folder that opens when click on the Starting Cinnamon alternative, that file is linuxmint-login.wav. I really don't know where these folders are located, they open automatically. I cannot access the login.oga folder, wherever it is, from the Starting Cinnamon option which is the first on the list. All other sounds in that tile are .oga sounds, and they all work fine.

So now it works and my take is that some folders and options are mismatched during the upgrade.

LPBBEAR

(337 posts)
19. Glad you were......
Sat Apr 10, 2021, 08:49 PM
Apr 2021

able to resolve it.

Here is a little tip that may help you find files in the future.

1. Type the following in a terminal
sudo updatedb

2. Now use this command to search your system for a file

locate nameoffile

In your case locate login.oga

On my Mint system there are 2 files that are basically the same sound file. One is login.oga and the other is desktop-login.ogg

Just a trivia note. The file is playing the first notes to the old Matt Monro song "Borm Free".

NurseJackie

(42,862 posts)
20. My husband played with Linux Mint on one of our older PC's...
Wed Jun 30, 2021, 05:16 PM
Jun 2021

... and it was rather "zippy" to use his description. It worked well on a 12+ year old Gateway tower. But he's now deleted Linux Mint and installed Kubuntu and he likes that better. (Or... I guess he likes it better. He's enjoying playing with it.)

Response to Quemado (Original post)

Captain Zero

(7,468 posts)
22. I put Zorin Linux on an old laptop
Fri Jan 21, 2022, 12:27 PM
Jan 2022

It runs quite well, but I don't turn it on much.
One big plus was it wiped the drive of windows and old user data.
Another fun thing was making it appear like a Mac onscreen.

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Open Source and Free Software»I switched to Linux, and ...