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incurablegeek

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Please forgive me for such a simple-minded question.
redface.gif


After 23 years with MS, I am now migrating everything to Linux, my question being which flavor is:

1) Has a UI like Windows 7
2) Faster
3) Most long-term support
4) Easiest to network and file share with win 7 computers
5) Most available drivers (I assume all Linux drivers will work?)
6) Not interested in gaming

Although I had settled on a nice lifetime marriage with Ubuntu, I hear that Ubuntu has gone the direction of MS in trying to appeal to both desktop and handheld users. I do not want another stillborn Win 8. I am a desktop user and want an OS that is happy to be just for desktops.

Again, my apologies for such a silly and horribly vague question.
 
#2 ·
For a familar yet customizable interface, I would choose KDE, and the Kubuntu implementaion is much better thean Mint KDE imho
 
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#3 ·
i <3 My mint cinnamon on my 6 year old laptop. easy to use and verry close to win 7. haven't really touched umbuntu since like the 5-7.0 era.
 
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#4 ·
Ubuntu is pretty bad. My old Laptop runs Windows 7 butter smooth. With Ubuntu it feels like a Pentium2
 
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#5 ·
Mint is Ubuntu.

However, I would recommend using Cinnamon if you like having a traditional start menu desktop like Win 7. Mint has that.



You could get cinnamon with Ubuntu, but it is more work to get it working.

The problem with Mint/Ubuntu is that you will have to upgrade them from time to time, they aren't rolling release. This causes issues, and generally you have to clean install every time you want to upgrade.

KDE is ugly IMHO
 
#6 ·
Mint, although it's not much different as it's based on Ubuntu
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I'm using Mint 13 XFCE right now
smile.gif
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
Quote:
Ubuntu is pretty bad. My old Laptop runs Windows 7 butter smooth. With Ubuntu it feels like a Pentium2
Click to expand...
That's a pretty scary statement. Although I quite obviously know nothing about Linux, I had always assumed that it's engine would be much more streamlined, efficient and faster than bloatware Windows. Apparently not so?
Quote:
However, I would recommend using Cinnamon if you like having a traditional start menu desktop like Win 7. Mint has that.
Click to expand...
Actually I'm one of those rare beings who never, ever uses the so-called start menu. I have all my icons nicely grouped in Win 7 with Fences and on different monitors for each task. I never start a program from the start menu. What I do like is having the icons on the bottom taskbar as opposed to lined up the side which is ugh!
Quote:
The problem with Mint/Ubuntu is that you will have to upgrade them from time to time, they aren't rolling release. This causes issues, and generally you have to clean install every time you want to upgrade.
Click to expand...
Yes, I agree. That way of updating, ie reinstalling the entire OS and Programs is something I really want to avoid if I can. With Win 7 I know that takes me many hours of time no matter how organized I might be. So both Ubuntu and Mint require a complete reinstall??

I think the main thing I was worried about is Forum Support. I have been on the Ubuntu forums and those guys are super responsive and helpful. By contrast, the Mint Forum looks kind of like a forgotten stepchild.

Let me ask these two perhaps more meaningful questions:

1) Which of the two is here to stay in terms of user acceptance and support: Ubuntu or Mint?

2) Which of the two is faster?

3) Are drivers for the two equally available or am I going to be SOL with some of my hardware?
 
#8 ·
FWIW, I've had A LOT more luck with Fedora with the KDE desktop then mint and ubuntu on my AMD tower. My Intel laptop runs mint just fine.
 
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#9 ·
A lot of your questions are redundant. Mint IS for all intents and purposes Ubuntu. It is based on it and uses it's repositories so both will perform pretty much exactly the same.

I say Mint simply because it provides 3rd party drivers and codecs by default, whereas Ubuntu does not due to some reason I think to do with licensing. So for most cases it is easier as there is less fiddling for video drivers, wireless drivers, and certain codecs for DVD and media playback.
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
Quote:
A lot of your questions are redundant.
Click to expand...
I would be interested in knowing which ones are.

I think the questions below are quite significant:
Quote:
I think the main thing I was worried about is Forum Support. I have been on the Ubuntu forums and those guys are super responsive and helpful. By contrast, the Mint Forum looks kind of like a forgotten stepchild.

Let me ask these two perhaps more meaningful questions:

1) Which of the two is here to stay in terms of user acceptance and support: Ubuntu or Mint? Note: It sure seems that Ubuntu is much more widely accepted; hence more users are responsive to problems that might develop with it. True or Not True?

2) Which of the two is faster? Note: I raised this question because of this rather scary response
Quote:
Ubuntu is pretty bad. My old Laptop runs Windows 7 butter smooth. With Ubuntu it feels like a Pentium2
Click to expand...
Again, is that true or not true?

3) Are drivers for the two equally available or am I going to be SOL with some of my hardware? Note: The following response was most helpful, though I must necessarily ask why drivers would be a licensing problem.
Quote:
I say Mint simply because it provides 3rd party drivers and codecs by default, whereas Ubuntu does not due to some reason I think to do with licensing.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Is the only difference amongst the various versions of Ubuntu simply the interface, which I would assume could be "stapled on" as per
Quote:
You could get cinnamon with Ubuntu, but it is more work to get it working.
Click to expand...
If no one here is able to clearly articulate the differences amongst all these versions, is there a reference manual that someone might be able to suggest.

I found this over at http://www.socialphy.com/posts/computers-technology/15083/Different-Linux-distros-explained.html which scares me even more that Mint might be a dead-end street.
Quote:
The Mint desktop is a bit less controversial for frequent users of Windows and has slightly a "flavor" family, as the arrangement of the windows, and the handling of formats like MP3, Flash and Java. Worth considering, but do not wait for the time to find software developed by third parties amount to this re-version of Ubuntu./QUOTE]

So what good would a given Linux flavor be if 3rd party software is not available for it. Would more programs be available for other flavors of Linux?
Click to expand...
 
#11 ·
Zorin OS. Just install it. It's pretty much exactly what you are looking for. It uses Ubuntu's repos, has Jocky (Automated driver discovery and installation wizard) Interface can be easily switched to match that of many Windows versions and OS X out of the box, has easy to understand dialogue based wizards for switching web browsers, mime-type associations etc. I'm starting to recommend it as a starter Linux distro - its pretty clean and makes the transition easy.
 
#12 ·
All of the above answers are missing the important OS.

UI almost identical to Windows 7. Zorin OS 6. It's based on ubuntu. Same driver support as ubuntu. Has the software center like ubuntu for extremely easy install of apps.

Edit: Suppose I didn't refresh the page for 10 minutes, got ninja'd a little.
 
#13 ·
I'll third Zorin. It isn't that bad.
 
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#14 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by incurablegeek View Post

I would be interested in knowing which ones are.

I think the questions below are quite significant:
Is the only difference amongst the various versions of Ubuntu simply the interface, which I would assume could be "stapled on" as per
If no one here is able to clearly articulate the differences amongst all these versions, is there a reference manual that someone might be able to suggest.

I found this over at http://www.socialphy.com/posts/computers-technology/15083/Different-Linux-distros-explained.html which scares me even more that Mint might be a dead-end street.

So what good would a given Linux flavor be if 3rd party software is not available for it. Would more programs be available for other flavors of Linux?
Click to expand...
To be honest, Mint and Ubuntu are functionally the same. The support provided on the Ubuntu Forums can answer questions for both distributions. The differences are minor. Ubuntu installs by the Unity desktop by default, which you will probably hate or perhaps mildly dislike. Mint gives you the option to install various desktop environments like Cinnamon, Mate, and XFCE by default. You can still run these desktops in Ubuntu, but you have to set them up post-installation.

Ubuntu provides more proprietary services. First, they give you access to their Ubuntu One cloud syncing service, which functions just like Dropbox. Second, you have access to the Ubuntu App store, which, in addition to all the open source software, provides a selection of native proprietary software and games. However, Ubuntu does not install many proprietary drivers and codecs by default, like Flash which people always have to download when installing Ubuntu.

Mint on the other hand tries to provide a more friendly experience by installing proprietary drivers and codecs by default. While it may lack the services like Ubuntu One and the Ubuntu App Store, I am certain that you can install and run those on Mint without any difficulty whatsoever because again, Mint is functionally Ubuntu. Mint, in addition to the packages that are found in the Ubuntu sources, has its own sources which add even more software that Ubuntu doesn't have. Essentially, Mint is just Ubuntu with more software and user customizability. I wouldn't really consider it a dead end street because wherever Ubuntu goes, Mint follows.
 
#15 ·
Quote:
Yes, I agree. That way of updating, ie reinstalling the entire OS and Programs is something I really want to avoid if I can. With Win 7 I know that takes me many hours of time no matter how organized I might be. So both Ubuntu and Mint require a complete reinstall??
Click to expand...
Touching on this issue you have. For me I had to reinstall the other night because I tried something and broke my mint big time (i think). But a full re-install including redownloading all my software and copying my home folder stuff back into place took less than 2 hours. Fully configured my taskbar and settings and such in that time as well. That is with a very sad little 5-6mb internet connection that I'm lucky to get 200k per second out of for downloads. Yes it's a pain but it's not even comparable to windows in regards to time required. For reference the last time I re-installed windows on this machine with my internet connection it took just over a day and a half to get all my stuff updated and configured. That didn't include my steam games either.

If above doesn't swa you the option is to use the LTS versions, in this case Ubuntu 12.04 and Mint 13 I believe. They should be supported till 2017? But they won't get very up to date software.
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
I just returned from the hospital for a day of X-rays and MRI's, so I must apologize for seeming ungrateful in not responding to all your suggestions. Spent much of the day naked. Wasn't a pretty sight I can assure you.
rolleyes.gif


First of all, I assume that Ubuntu Linux is the ongoing OS "engine", and that:

1) Mint simply adds a "veneer" of multiple desktop choices and a bag full of ready-to-go drivers?

2) Same goes for Zorin OS?

3)
Quote:
To be honest, Mint and Ubuntu are functionally the same. The support provided on the Ubuntu Forums can answer questions for both distributions. The differences are minor. Ubuntu installs by the Unity desktop by default, which you will probably hate or perhaps mildly dislike. Mint gives you the option to install various desktop environments like Cinnamon, Mate, and XFCE by default. You can still run these desktops in Ubuntu, but you have to set them up post-installation.
Click to expand...
OK, that raises the obvious question of just how does one go about selecting a desktop and customizing for one's own personal needs? My present Win 7 Desktop, for example, has a Taskbar at the bottom with the icons I am most likely to use, then I have everything else labeled and grouped with "Fences" (software program). I could really give a **** about Windows blessed Start Button, because I almost never use it anyway (only rarely for accessories, etc.).

4) I haven't looked into this but
Quote:
Jocky (Automated driver discovery and installation wizard)
Click to expand...
looks to be an absolute godsend.

Here for me is the Ultimate Question: Why can't I just install an LTS version of Ubuntu ---- and add a desktop/customize a desktop later?
 
#20 ·
xfce mint is really fast i always use xfce over other versions it just looks better not so cluttered with stuff also mint debian is nice
smile.gif
 
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jerry1998
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