Good bye Windows 8...Hello Ubuntu!

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ClutchDisc

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Just wiped my hard drive on my laptop that came with windows 8...I won't miss windows 8 either. Ubuntu took all of about 10 minutes to wipe the hard drive and install. I was then up and running! I am amazed at how much faster this computer is with Ubuntu that it was with windows 8. It's like my computer is totally different now! Just thought I'd share it with you all.

Anyone else put Linux on a newer computer and gain any speed?
 
I don't know how many people I've told to run away from Windows 8 (or 8.1) and opt for Windows 7 instead.

Most have been people who have been using XP up until now.
 
8.1 is far better than 8.0, and if you load the "Update 1" (public release next Tuesday), it's quite usable.

I have tried Ubuntu and ElementaryOS for a week or two, just for grins, and found it to be a touch faster. Both my work laptop and personal desktop have way more power than I need, so it's not like I would use Linux for the performance improvements.
 
I'll likely be installing Mint on our stuff shortly as everything we have still is on XP. Have been running from a flash drive and no complaints about user interface thus far.
 
It took me forever to move from XP to 7.. ultimately I only did it because XP's 64-bit implementation left a lot to be desired and that 7 took better advantage of modern quad-core processing power.
I don't see myself migrating away from 7 for a good, long while.
 
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I have some Windows 7 machines with marginal power. I would need to install a solid state drive to get similar speeds compared Mint running on older Windows machine. I help friends and family with Windows 7 machines. It is nice to have one computer you can just use, is fast, and takes little maintenance. The first Tuesday of every month has become "Critical Update Day" for my Windows computers. Then there is Java, Flash, Adobe, updates, etc. Then trying to figure out what is causing the computer to run slow. I am getting tired just thinking of all the tinkering Windows needs. Currently I am getting Dell Mini with Windows 7 Starter ready for a friend. A speed demon it is not. Windows 7 is fine if you have a powerful machine so I could see those that want to stay with 7. The learning curve with 8.1 made it worth trying Mint. Now I am hooked on Mint (better text, better graphics, faster on same hardware).
 
This computer that I'm posting from is a computer that is about 10 years old and is a Compaq that was a discount special from WM. I have used Ubuntu since version 8-something on it and am now on 12.04. I've never had a glitch or problem on it whatsoever. It says that the battery is now low on it and I have to hit F2 every time to boot so I guess a new battery or motherboard is in the near future.
The Windows 7 machine that is next to it takes twice as long to load and is mainly used by my kid to play games on. I hate using it.
 
Linux mint is great as well, but I prefer Ubuntu over Mint. I have a netbook with windows 7 on it that is going to start needing to be dusted now and then. And that is coming from someone who thinks 7 is the best version of windows yet....but 7 still leaves a lot to be desired. I hated the "your computer is going to restart in 2 days to install critical updates" message.
 
I'm trying Mint/Cinammon out using a live CD on an old Dell B130 LT. One has 2G, the other only 0.5G. Processor is probably a P4? I'll have to look. I took the former with me while donating, booted, ran, started FF and accessed their local WiFi, all within about 10min. of turning the machine on. I remember having to enable touch-pad "clicking". Cinammon seemed to run fine on the Intel graphics environment. (This machine was ready for Vista back then).

No issues at all with compatibility..so far. I was up, connected, and using FF quite fast. Impressive. I was surprised with the software that came with it. I use OO exclusively under WXP. I'll have to check compatibility with some of my astronomy programs.

I may dual-boot it. I'd also like to try Ubuntu and see the difference between it (Unity?) and Cinammon. See for myself what all the fuss & buzz is about.

My thanks to those who started talking about Linux here. You encouraged me to try it out. So far it's been painless.

Just do it >>> soduit.
 
Originally Posted By: ClutchDisc
Linux mint is great as well, but I prefer Ubuntu over Mint.
I'm curious why? Haven't tried Ubuntu yet, just Mint/Cinammon. Thanks.
 
I think alot of windows XP folks when hit with malware after 4/8, may go to chromebooks who taunt virus free OS powered by google.
 
I dual-boot Win 7 and Xubuntu. (Ubuntu with medium-light xfce DE) They are both plenty fast enough for my basic usage, and would likely fly if I had a better CPU.

Here's the difference. Win 7 is fast and responsive and fairly stable---IF you tweak it, trim it and update things constantly. Xubuntu is fast and fun and the only tweak I made was to trim the list of start-up programs and services. No constant updating and checking for updated programs, etc.

I use Xubuntu much more than Win 7 lately. If I could only keep one it would be (X) Ubuntu in a heartbeat. There are a very few things that are easier on Windows, but the trade-off is in favor of Linux, by far. Enjoy.
 
Originally Posted By: sleddriver
Originally Posted By: ClutchDisc
Linux mint is great as well, but I prefer Ubuntu over Mint.
I'm curious why? Haven't tried Ubuntu yet, just Mint/Cinammon. Thanks.


Mint is OK, but I also prefer (X) Ubuntu, given a choice. Mint is just a hair too close to giving in to the Dark Side of proprietary software for my taste. Also, I prefer the xfce DE, which is more refined (IMHO) in Xubuntu than in Mint XFCE. Gonna try Mate someday soon.
 
Originally Posted By: sleddriver
Originally Posted By: ClutchDisc
Linux mint is great as well, but I prefer Ubuntu over Mint.
I'm curious why? Haven't tried Ubuntu yet, just Mint/Cinammon. Thanks.

Mostly the user interface. Very simple to use, I really like the layout. I might put Mint 17 on my Dell desktop after it comes out, not sure yet. Try Ubuntu sometime, that is the beauty of Linux!
 
Originally Posted By: Rand
how do you do amazon prime video on linux?


You may not be able to. Netflix doesn't support Unix flavors either. I have a laptop that dual boots Windows 7 and Linux Mint. I use Mint for fun, but I usually use Windows 7. Mint is faster to load and use but few things I do actually work in it. There is no Google Drive app for Linux. There is little-to-no streaming support for Linux. End of story for me.

Linux is a novelty for me. It's fun to use as something different, but it doesn't really add any value to my computer.

Our desktop has Windows 8.1 and it's the best-running computer we have.
 
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
You may not be able to. Netflix doesn't support Unix flavors either.

Things like Netflix had better get on with it. If a company is on the cusp of being a credible alternative to "normal" TV content providers, it had better be able to provide service to something like Linux. It's a streaming service, for heaven's sake. What's the overriding need here for Windows or a gaming console?
 
I couldn't get Brighthouse's streaming to run in Mint. Uses Silverlight for some reason. Frustrating. I like to sometimes have a game on while on the computer. I'm off Mint for a bit. Screwed it up trying to install AMD drivers. Fixed it and screwed it up again.
 
Originally Posted By: Garak
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
You may not be able to. Netflix doesn't support Unix flavors either.

Things like Netflix had better get on with it. If a company is on the cusp of being a credible alternative to "normal" TV content providers, it had better be able to provide service to something like Linux. It's a streaming service, for heaven's sake. What's the overriding need here for Windows or a gaming console?



Netflix uses Silverlight. Microsoft has not released a version of Silverlight for Linux. There are open source clones of it, though (Moonlight).
 
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