This is a question for Huw or anyone else that's running Mint: What desktop environment should I start with? I have used Ubuntu before and have tried it out now on a minicomp I just got recently but I'd like to try out Mint instead. What's closest to Windows and what would be closest to OSX?
The options are:
Can I easily switch between them or would I need to reinstall? Thanks!
I don't know enough yet to tell you about switching but I am using Cinnamon and it looks and works very well.
My only complaint about Linux so far is I have had occasional lockups in the browser and rebooting seems to be the only solution. That may not be specific to Cinnamon.
Thanks. I D/Led the Cinnamon distro and will install tonight. I've used Firefox on the Ubuntu distro on my little comp and had no problems. Admittedly, I've only browsed a little while for answers to tech questions while trying to get a DVD player program installed. Most installs are pretty easy but it looks like there is no avoiding having to learn using the Terminal for some things though.
I have mainly used KDE for the decade or so I've been using Linux, and in truth KDE shouldn't be a problem to anyone familiar with Windows. I also happen to think it's the most attractive desktop, and it's indisputably the most powerful/configurable. If there's something you don't like about KDE, chances are there's a button right there to change it.
I have no experience with OSX so I can't really advise you there I'm afraid.
I also haven't really used Cinnamon or MATE, but I understand they were developed as a response to Gnome 3. You see, Gnome 2 was a major hit and worked well for a lot of people, so the developers did what all really bad developers do, and changed it drastically whilst ignoring user feedback. Gnome 3 is bloody awful and clearly designed for mobile devices. So Cinnamon and MATE were both developed as forks of Gnome 2, and as such, I imagine they work well and are both easy to use.
XFCE is OK for what it does, i.e. a lightweight desktop. It should also not be a problem for those familiar with Windows, however the last time I used it a lot of its configuration was done in text files. Perhaps that's changed lately.
Quote from: Staggerwing on October 24, 2015, 02:57:43 PM
Can I easily switch between them or would I need to reinstall? Thanks!
The best news of all, is that you aren't tied to a single desktop. You can download as many as you like, and you get to choose which one to boot into at the login screen (unless you've selected automatic login). So give them all a shot, and above all, have fun!
If they are separate boot-ups will the same files and installed programs be available to each desktop?
Yep. Your personal data will always be in the /home mount point - which you should be housing on its own partition, although the same applies even if you don't. Anything the desktop needs which isn't user data will be available too. Hell, you can even use software specifically designed for one desktop in another, if you want - although it might not look as pretty as if you'd used it in its native desktop environment.
Cool. I've never dedicated a new computer to Linux before. Previously it's always been some ancient and creaky leftover and after some frustration I eventually gave up.
The adventure begins...
Minty Fresh
(https://www.grogheads.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi747.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx120%2FStaggerwing%2FMinty%2520Fresh_zpsexal9wnu.png&hash=0b4c7afd62de1e6c7462e21f05bd659f99429217)
Interesting.
Looking good! If you ever get tired of that Cinnamon theme don't forget you can change it in the settings, and there are loads more to download. From here (http://cinnamon-spices.linuxmint.com/), for example. :)
I'm looking for a Live-DVD distro that has TOR, Firefox and Libre office. Looked at a few but can't decide.
And I am planning on using it as read-only system that operates purely from the optical drive without need for a hard drive.
Any recommendations would be great.
Off the top of my head, Tails. (https://tails.boum.org/) If I recall correctly, it does exactly what you need. I'm pretty sure it's the distro Ed Snowden recommends.
Quote from: Huw the Poo on October 31, 2015, 07:12:28 PM
Off the top of my head, Tails. (https://tails.boum.org/) If I recall correctly, it does exactly what you need. I'm pretty sure it's the distro Ed Snowden recommends.
That looks like the one I was looking at the closest...thanks for the confirmation :)
Quote from: Huw the Poo on October 31, 2015, 07:12:28 PM
Off the top of my head, Tails. (https://tails.boum.org/) If I recall correctly, it does exactly what you need. I'm pretty sure it's the distro Ed Snowden recommends.
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Tails is a live operating system, that you can start on almost any computer from a DVD, USB stick, or SD card. It aims at preserving your privacy and anonymity, and helps you to:
use the Internet anonymously and circumvent censorship;
all connections to the Internet are forced to go through the Tor network;
leave no trace on the computer you are using unless you ask it explicitly;
use state-of-the-art cryptographic tools to encrypt your files, emails and instant messaging.
Wow. Just the thing for LB's peace of mind. ;)
Awesome.
And for me it's a combination of privacy, new Windows versions not being backwards compatible with older hardware/software and having to load my machine down with programs to stop hacking and virii.
No better method than a static build that can't be written to or traced...now we're talking.
Plus I have TONS of blank media and optical drives laying around doing nothing and whenever they upgrade I can just d/l and burn a new distro and even go back to an older one just by replacing the DVD.
Yeah...awesome :)
Privacy. Uh huh.
Quote from: bbmike on October 31, 2015, 09:41:57 PM
Privacy. Uh huh.
No, seriously.
Somebody said it best...imagine if the CIA walked up to your house and said 'we are creating a central data base of all citizens and we need to know everything about you and your personal life' there would be a civil war. But people trip over themselves to post their lives on Facebook...the CIA LOVES Facebook.
I'm not even going to start with Google...remember the electric Jesus in THX-1138...that's the voice of the future...