Linux install

[desert_sailing]

I have wanted to install linux for many years but never found a good tutorial and kept getting scared away concerned that I would fry my computer with my lack of tech skills.

I finally found a great tutorial on how to install the LinuxMint operating system and thought I would share it here for those of you who also wanted to switch up but did not feel confident in doing so.




Linux is a very secure operating system and allows you  much more control over the usage of your computer with out all the bloatware/"spyware" installed by microsoft and apple ...aaaaand its FREE!

 

[B and C]

I have messed with computers since before DOS, remember basic? DOS 3.2 was my first full on operating system and I changed as the OS changed. I recently tried playing with a Raspberry Pi. This old brain ain't so good at picking up a new programming language. Sure, there was a nice GUI (graphical user interface) for it (Debian linux) but to really do anything you had to do command line stuff. Not for me. Gave it away to a friends kid. At this stage I'll take easy.

How about Chrome as an operating system? I think it is free too. I am not sure what it is based on though.

DYK that the fruit company OS (Apple's operating system) is based on unix and linux comes from unix as well?

 

[mpruet]

Linux (and other Unix similar systems) can be useful, but do require a bit more programming/system orientation than windows and/or iPad OS. If you do Mac, you can get into a OS window as well, and since Mac-OS is based on a Unix variant, you’re in a similar world as Linux.

It’s probably a good idea to start out with Linux-mint since it is a virtual OS inside a windows OS. You can learn the basic Linux tools and environment without having to do all of the system stuff that a Linux based shell would require.

In my working years I was a software developer for IBM and most of my development was either in a RedHat (i.e. Linux) environment, either native or in a virtual system (VMWare) inside my laptop. Now I only deal iPad so am pretty far away from Linux at this point.

 

[wayne49]

"Linux-mint since it is a virtual OS inside a windows OS"

Say what?
I think you are talking about Microsoft's Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).

Linux Mint is one of many freeware distributions based on the freeware Linux kernel, and it runs as a native system on bare hardware, and virtual machines (VM), without any need for Windows any where in the mix.

https://linuxmint.com/

Chrome is a Google product for tablets, like Android for smartphones.
Using any Google product means you let Google use you.

 

[Freelander]

I ran Linux for a few years, I ran Mandrake/Mandriva.

 

[mpruet]

"Linux-mint since it is a virtual OS inside a windows OS"

Say what?
I think you are talking about Microsoft's Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).

Linux Mint is one of many freeware distributions based on the freeware Linux kernel, and it runs as a native system on bare hardware, and virtual machines (VM), without any need for Windows any where in the mix.

https://linuxmint.com/

Chrome is a Google product for tablets, like Android for smartphones.
Using any Google product means you let Google use you.

Sorry, was thinking of Cygwin.  I had ‘mint as a dual boot instal, but since retirement have simplified my life and only use the iPad.

 

[desert_sailing]

The Mint did give me the option to leave windows and have dual operating systems..but I dove right in and went with just the Linux and removed the windows 10..or whatever it did..

I am pretty happy with the mint even with just a few days of usage. I can't stand that companies like microsoft and google force you onto a path that benefits them. I particularly hate that stinking edge browser they keep pushing. Peddling their garbage bloatware and ad ons.. that is exactly why sooo many communities have no solicitation laws.

I also like of course that Linux is very low on a hackers "to do" list.

I am looking to change my phone as well to run linux. I saw a few with preinstalled linux systems.

I am leaning to the PinePhone or Librem phones. Anyone here using a linux based phone?

 

[Freelander]

With an Android Phone you are getting a Linux Phone kinda.

I agree with you on Windows, I dumped Windows full-time probably 10 years ago.

I still keep a PC around just for games, but there are some games that do run on the Mac.

 

[barleyguy]

Yes, Android is Linux. Runs on a Linux kernel. Android itself is mostly a user interface and an application environment.

My current favorite Linux is Manjaro. It's a more friendly version of Arch Linux. https://manjaro.org/

As far as spyware, Windows is worse but don't assume Linux is perfect. Ubuntu version 19 was found to be sending all search queries to Amazon, after they'd been doing it for a couple of years. Later versions are more transparent and will generally ask your permission before turning it on, but it may be buried in something you didn't bother to read, such as a software install screen.

I use Linux every day for work, and sometimes personally as well. Though my most used personal computing device is an iPad.

 

[mpruet]

I also like of course that Linux is very low on a hackers "to do" list.

Don’t fool yourself.  Most businesses now run on either IBM’s OS-MVS or some form of Linux.  Oh there are some that run their operations on MS, but the days of propriety UNIX systems and other operating systems are pretty much gone.   Linux is definitely on the hacker’s ‘to do’ list these days.

 

[desert_sailing]

Don’t fool yourself.  Most businesses now run on either IBM’s OS-MVS or some form of Linux.  Oh there are some that run their operations on MS, but the days of propriety UNIX systems and other operating systems are pretty much gone.   Linux is definitely on the hacker’s ‘to do’ list these days.

Ofc.. but it is not a top priority.. There are literally millions of articles that indicate it is a much more secure environment than apple or windows. Nothing is perfect..but I would rather linux than microsoft forcing me onto their path.

barelyguy.. I did see that about the amazon data doing a sneaky pete. Thanks for posting the manjaro link as well.. Imma check it out.

Really appreciate the input from everyone here. I am a novice still when it comes to much of the practical and so all input is much appreciated.

I really hate giving my monies and time to certain companies. I did have at one a time a very nice "boycott" app where you could set what causes are important to you.. and then you could scan the barcode of an item and see how it "jived" with your choices before purchasing.. I wish I could find it again.

 

[Freelander]

Ofc.. but it is not a top priority.. There are literally millions of articles that indicate it is a much more secure environment than apple or windows. Nothing is perfect..but I would rather linux than microsoft forcing me onto their path.

Actually Apple is very secure, much more so than Linux. OS X is UNIX, it is one of the few certified versions of UNIX.

The one thing that makes Linux as secure as it is, is that there are hundreds of disros and there is enough difference between them to make it much harder to hack. Its normally the APPS or unauthorized software that causes problems with UNIX/Linux or OSX.

 

[barleyguy]

Actually Apple is very secure, much more so than Linux. OS X is UNIX, it is one of the few certified versions of UNIX.

The one thing that makes Linux as secure as it is, is that there are hundreds of disros and there is enough difference between them to make it much harder to hack. Its normally the APPS or unauthorized software that causes problems with UNIX/Linux or OSX.

The other thing that makes Linux extremely secure is that when they get a security vulnerability report it gets fixed right away, usually within a matter of hours. So if you keep your OS up to date, there are usually no known vulnerabilities to take advantage of to hack into it.

Windows on the other hand, sometimes has working viruses and vulnerabilities for months or years. Their approach to fixing viruses is to check for and remove them, rather than to fix the vulnerability in the OS that made them possible to start with. In some cases there are valid excuses for this, because Windows has to keep compatibility with software years into the past. Windows 10 is compatible with most software all the way back to Windows 2000. This is convenient for users and application developers, but it has the downside of not being able to change anything that will break compatibility. Linux on the other hand, will fix a vulnerability immediately even if it changes application compatibility, and it's up to everybody downstream to make the necessary adjustments.

 

[Freelander]

One thing I learned with working with Linux, it that the shared Libraries are kept intact in the same directory, Windows tends to break the Libraries up and scatter them through out the OS. So if only a part of the Library needs updated, makes it much harder.

 

[Freelander]

Windows has a LOT of legacy routines left behind.

I have always compared Windows to Beef Stew, once the add Green Beans to the pot, you can try and try to remove them, but there will be a few pieces you miss.

On the other Linux is like a hamburger, if you don't like pickles they are very easier removed.

 

[doublegregg]

I'd suggest a raspberry pi as a good intro to Unix. I run a pi 4 and windows. The raspberry is quite user friendly, for Unix, and I think it's basically easier too do anything easier since your running this pi, instead of some other Unix flavor. Personally I wouldn't want to run Linux under windows.. seems like there would be random gotcha s from time to time. No thanks! But even a raspberry pi has a learning curve....

 

[ridgeway]

I have installed and played with at least a couple of dozen different Linux distros and flavors over the years. Ubuntu has always installed with the least amount of problems for me. Lots of Linux heads hate Ubuntu but it is the most dependable and easiest to install IMO.

 

[wayne49]

With Ubuntu, the divide is about the type of licensing for some of the software packages that are shipped as part of the Ubuntu distribution.

An average desktop user would/could be oblivious to the issue.

Purists want every package in a distribution to have a GNU General Public License [aka FOSS license (FOSS - Free Open Source Software)].

Some of the software in the Ubuntu package comes under commercial licenses. Still $ free to the user, but is encumbered against modifying and extending that software for free release into the wild.

Orthodox (strict purists) versus Reformed (relaxed pragmatists) for the religious types.