Giving the Linux tires a kicking

[airboatr]

Hiya Chaps,

I've finally got the hankering to work with Linux a few weeks ago. I started out with Zorin installed on a bootable USB memory stick .
I set my boot menu to run Zorin 11 from the USB drive . I ran it in trial mode to see what it was like in comparison to windows. It's very easy to navigate the web with the preinstall Firefox browser. I connected to my headset using the USB Bluetooth dongle I plugged in, easily enough, Played a few card games -preinstalled, thank you.

The next step was to actually install it on a laptop, which I didn't have , so on my daily run about I stopped into a few secondhand stores and found a HP mini 1030nr that had a boot error and was being sold for 10.00. The storekeep let me boot it up and I saw the problem ..
the serial number was missing in the bios. (( ok , I'll take that lesson on)) SO off I went with mini under arm!
I had to find a solution to the bios malfu , Well that fix, turns out , requires a confidential DMI software tool... nuff said. Done!

Next step was to install Zorin on the ,, Yikes! 16gb SSD ?? ( HP actually install windows XP 2005 on , essentially a 16gb memory stick .. OK whatever, - all I needed was a couple of giggies of space for Zorin, Perfect!

The install went quick and problem free. The experience is smooth, pleasing on the eyes, .. and the battery, Got lucky on the battery was still good on an older machine, I'm getting over two hours runtime.
There are a lot of things I have to learn - obviously, but I'm chugging right along,
So now ,- I got to thinking,, dangerously perhaps.
I read that Valve - has released a Linux OS for Gamers, Steam OS they call it.

Anyone here dive into that arena , any Linux users?

I'd like to get some feedback on what, if any Linux users here are doing on Linux, perhaps some tips and tricks you can share.

I will have to jump into another version of Linux since support for Zorin ends this month. I know I know, you are probably asking yourself why would I choose zorin when it's death is imminent.
Because , The person that pushed me to install it said it was similar to windows and If I got bit by the Linux bug , It's easy enough to pick another flavor..
He was right. I'm kicking myself for not trying it earlier.

All ears / eyes.

Joe

[blanston12]

I use linux a lot for work. Mostly web servers running debian, few systems of my own running ubuntu. My previous company used ubuntu, my current one used debian. For most things its pretty rock solid, my preference for running a web server. As a work platform its pretty good. Programs like open office are decent productivity tools and chrome and firefox both run well on it.

One thing it does not do as well, which is something readers of this site would be interested in, is it does not do games that great, X-Plane is available but graphics drivers for linux are generally inferior to those available for windows. But then I have not been able to get myself into x-plane.

I have not used Zorin before, its built on ubuntu (which is built on debian). Of the unix distributions I have used, ubuntu seams to have the best device support.

Right now when I do my work its running linux inside a virtual machine using a program called virtualbox, makes it easy to build and delete linux systems as needed, but at my last company I had my laptop setup to dual boot linux and windows.

[blanston12]

Are you sure that Zorin is shutting down? Could it be that just the version you are using is coming to the end of support and you can upgrade to the next version?

[airboatr]

Right, Joe.
Just the version Zorin 11
Zorin 9 is supported until 2019

I've had a look at Debian, and Ubuntu.
I should get a distros flavor that's designed to work on older netbooks
Arch or Ubuntu Mate.
Drivers are definitely a necessity obviously, I had to fix a problem with the internal WLAN driver in Zorin 11
I can't remember the command I used in the terminal, but it worked. Odd thing was, after I realized the internal WLAN wasn't working (orange indicator light on the WiFi switch) I plugged a netgear usb adapter in and it worked instantly

Joe

[Paul K]

Psst..does anyone know what these two are banging on about ?

[Vancouver]

I think Zorin was a Dr Who baddie. Otherwise, haven't a clue.

[Paul K]

[airboatr]

Ohhh.. It's -... it's nothing really.
Just the key for a secret place where all the powers of the universe are kept...

Nothing important

[blanston12]

Move along, nothing to see here.

[airboatr]

Hey Joe,
I'm thinking I'll be installing Ubuntu Mate next.
Easy on resources, and it's newcomer friendly.
I'll keep you updated,