Is Linux something I should try?

[Okjoek]

The idea of a free OS is kind of appealing and I was considerig buying a cheap small HDD to experiment with the Ubuntu kernel of Linux (that's what it is called right? A kernel?). Basically I've never used a non-windows OS and I'm very weak when it comes to my knowledge of software, and I still have a lot to learn about hardware too, but software is still far more alien to me. Is an OS like Ubuntu user friendly? What kinds of things will I recognize and what won't I? I know there was a recent techquickie about linux, but is there a good tutorial or guide for a beginner? 

[2FA]

I would suggest Linux Mint, it is much more user friendly than stock Ubuntu.

[steezemageeze]

Not a kernel, a distro. Linux is the kernel. I think buying a cheap HDD to give it a shot on is a great idea for someone who just wants to try it out. If you want a guide, I wrote a half decent one a while back, it's linked in my signature. It covers the basics of getting started, choosing a distro, etc.

 

One thing to note, is if you're doing this on the rig in your signature, you may run into driver issues with your R9 390, AMD (from what I've heard) can be a bit of a shit show to get running properly. I don't have any experience with AMD cards, so this may have changed or improved, but I thought I'd warn you. Wifi can also sometimes be an issue (Killer NICS are the worst), so try to use a wired connection if you can.

[NumLock21]

There are live CD that you can try out too. It's basically linux that runs directly off a disc. No need to install.

[GDRRiley]

9 minutes ago, Okjoek said:

The idea of a free OS is kind of appealing and I was considerig buying a cheap small HDD to experiment with the Ubuntu kernel of Linux (that's what it is called right? A kernel?). Basically I've never used a non-windows OS and I'm very weak when it comes to my knowledge of software, and I still have a lot to learn about hardware too, but software is still far more alien to me. Is an OS like Ubuntu user friendly? What kinds of things will I recognize and what won't I? I know there was a recent techquickie about linux, but is there a good tutorial or guide for a beginner? 

I right now have a secondary PC with a i2 duo that runs linux for servers and to experiment. Just be ready to get confused.

[Mark77]

Get yourself a second machine, or even a Raspberry Pi or similar.  People who dual boot usually end up as failures Linux-wise, because the minute they run into a little bit of trouble, instead of looking up solutions to their problems, they simply revert to using Windows and rarely return to their dual-booted OS. 

 

Emphasis should always be on learning how to do things from the command line.  If you really want to learn Linux/Unix, GUI's should be an after-thought.

[Jack.EXE]

I threw myself into the deep end to learn linux, and run debian as my main OS, and I dont have a windows partition.

 

I'm regretting that second part, as debian is refusing to cooperate with my 21:9 monitor.

[vanished]

I basically grew up on Linux on my own machine and the best thing that could happen was having constant problems with it!   I leaned a fair bit about the internals.  But usually people who are interested will just get at it themselves; when people come here asking if they should get into it and where to start, I always think in the back of my mind that it's probably not for them.

[Okjoek]

5 minutes ago, Mark77 said:

Get yourself a second machine, or even a Raspberry Pi or similar.  People who dual boot usually end up as failures Linux-wise, because the minute they run into a little bit of trouble, instead of looking up solutions to their problems, they simply revert to using Windows and rarely return to their dual-booted OS. 

 

Emphasis should always be on learning how to do things from the command line.  If you really want to learn Linux/Unix, GUI's should be an after-thought.

Well they wouldn't be on the same HDD. 

11 minutes ago, steezemageeze said:

Not a kernel, a distro. Linux is the kernel. I think buying a cheap HDD to give it a shot on is a great idea for someone who just wants to try it out. If you want a guide, I wrote a half decent one a while back, it's linked in my signature. It covers the basics of getting started, choosing a distro, etc.

 

One thing to note, is if you're doing this on the rig in your signature, you may run into driver issues with your R9 390, AMD (from what I've heard) can be a bit of a shit show to get running properly. I don't have any experience with AMD cards, so this may have changed or improved, but I thought I'd warn you. Wifi can also sometimes be an issue (Killer NICS are the worst), so try to use a wired connection if you can.

It's not the build in my sig, but I am using a prebuilt Compaq pro with a dual core Athlon B28 in an AM3 motherboard and I forget what the AMD GPU I put in it was. It was a title beginning with HD though so it's not one of the "R" series. Would I still be likely to encounter problems?

[steezemageeze]

1 minute ago, Ryan_Vickers said:

I basically grew up on Linux on my own machine and the best thing that could happen was having constant problems with it!   I leaned a fair bit about the internals.  But usually people who are interested will just get at it themselves; when people come here asking if they should get into it and where to start, I always think in the back of my mind that it's probably not for them.

I tend to agree with this, but I also encourage people to give it a shot nonetheless.

[BuckGup]

Install linux without a GUI and learn how to do everything. You will thank me later. Then you can go from their and use a mac to its fullest

[steezemageeze]

1 minute ago, Okjoek said:

<snip></snip>

It's not the build in my sig, but I am using a prebuilt Compaq pro with a dual core Athlon B28 in an AM3 motherboard and I forget what the AMD GPU I put in it was. It was a title beginning with HD though so it's not one of the "R" series. Would I still be likely to encounter problems?

Like I said, I'm not entirely sure. From what I pick up on the Tek Syndicate forums (yes, I cheat on LTT occasionally), older AMD cards (HD series I think, so that's good) work somewhat better than newer cards. But seriously, don't take my word for that. Find out what card it is and do a Google search to see if people have had issues using it in Linux.

[Okjoek]

33 minutes ago, steezemageeze said:

Like I said, I'm not entirely sure. From what I pick up on the Tek Syndicate forums (yes, I cheat on LTT occasionally), older AMD cards (HD series I think, so that's good) work somewhat better than newer cards. But seriously, don't take my word for that. Find out what card it is and do a Google search to see if people have had issues using it in Linux.

HD 7300

[steezemageeze]

34 minutes ago, Okjoek said:

HD 7300

I don't see anything immediately alarming from a quick Google search, go ahead and give it a try. You can always come back here for help if you need it

[Sauron]

6 hours ago, Okjoek said:

The idea of a free OS is kind of appealing and I was considerig buying a cheap small HDD to experiment with the Ubuntu kernel of Linux (that's what it is called right? A kernel?). Basically I've never used a non-windows OS and I'm very weak when it comes to my knowledge of software, and I still have a lot to learn about hardware too, but software is still far more alien to me. Is an OS like Ubuntu user friendly? What kinds of things will I recognize and what won't I? I know there was a recent techquickie about linux, but is there a good tutorial or guide for a beginner? 

Linux itself is the kernel, Ubuntu and friends are operating systems built on top of Linux and are called distributions.

 

Yes, you should absolutely give it a try, but keep an open mind and know that as much as ubuntu is one of the more user friendly linux distributions, it is harder than windows to use as a power user.

[SpaceNugget]

Using linux is as hard or easy as you want to make it. Just like 99% of computer related things, its easy to learn provided you have lots of time and are willing to read.

[vorticalbox]

7 hours ago, WaxyMaxy said:

Using linux is as hard or easy as you want to make it. Just like 99% of computer related things, its easy to learn provided you have lots of time and are willing to read.

linus can have weird problems, my motherboard as a weird big where 64 bit destros not connect to networks without enabling IOMMU in the bios, after a lot of trying and google finally got it to connect without needs that option enable 

[vanished]

On 6/4/2016 at 4:54 AM, vorticalbox said:

linus can have weird problems [...]

yes, yes he can

 

I found in the early days the issues were nice since they motivated me to learn what I needed to to fix them

[vorticalbox]

5 hours ago, Ryan_Vickers said:

yes, yes he can

 

I found in the early days the issues were nice since they motivated me to learn what I needed to to fix them

auto correct. The last wan show shockingly suited him.

 

yeah it helps push you along. There are a few things that really really bug me about linux that windows does much better. Moving home drive/my documents is much easier on windows and doesn't actually work for me.

 

having a second drive for data doesn't always share well with other users. Have to remember to actually unmount the drive when I log off.

 

little things luke that make me miss windows a little. The. I remember the security I get and im ok again

[SpaceNugget]

20 hours ago, vorticalbox said:

auto correct. The last wan show shockingly suited him.

 

yeah it helps push you along. There are a few things that really really bug me about linux that windows does much better. Moving home drive/my documents is much easier on windows and doesn't actually work for me.

 

having a second drive for data doesn't always share well with other users. Have to remember to actually unmount the drive when I log off.

 

little things luke that make me miss windows a little. The. I remember the security I get and im ok again

That one was on purpose =P

 

I have never had to unmount my drives when I log off. Add the drive to fstab and it just works.

changing home location is a perfect example of something I find way easier on linux actually. I wouldn't know offhand what the exact command was but I would guess usermod, so "man usermod" and bam, it says right there. I have messed around with windows user "libraries" for hours at work and never got them to work correctly.

[Dat Guy]

Why not use a real Unix instead?

[Sintezza]

On 3-6-2016 at 4:21 AM, steezemageeze said:

Like I said, I'm not entirely sure. From what I pick up on the Tek Syndicate forums (yes, I cheat on LTT occasionally), older AMD cards (HD series I think, so that's good) work somewhat better than newer cards. But seriously, don't take my word for that. Find out what card it is and do a Google search to see if people have had issues using it in Linux.

Yeah the newer AMD cards dont work that will with Linux.

Especialy with the newly released 4.4 kernel.

This is because they have dropped support for flgrx.

But i suppose that their will be a new driver soon.

But indeed allot of people complain about AMD support on Linux in general.

[Sintezza]

To aswer the main question.

 

"should" you try Linux? No you shouldnt.

But it does never hurt to try it.

[MadRussian42]

By all means yes, it is something you should try. I use it on my main rig because im broke. Definitely give it a go.

[chantheman1288]

I personally hated Ubuntu, and gave up on Linux because of it until I discovered Linux Mint. Linux Mint is a lot easier to use, and looks better than Ubuntu in my opinion. I would use it. It still has a pretty large user base, but I personally think it is easier to use as a beginner. I would agree with a lot of the input other people have given, if you have a windows machine as a backup that is too easy to switch to, as soon as something gets hard to do, you will just switch back to Windows. I would also recommend a Raspberry Pi, they are a very good learning tool, but are not compatible with everything that an actual Linux computer would be because they have ARM processors.