Found: Best distro

[Paul Verizzo]

As loyal readers here might recall, I’ve been playing with - no, working with - various Linux distros in order to run digiKam in its native OS.  (Is that loyalty, or what?  Many dozens of hours!)  I’ve come to some finalizations, which I will summarize here:

Oh, native OS for me is Windows XP Pro, Service Pack 3, running on an AMD 3800+ with 3GB (soon to be 5GB) RAM.  I have my hard drive broken into two partitions, C which is the Windows, Virtual Box, and dual boot Wubi OS’s and supporting files, and D which is all of my data.  Why, I hear you ask?  A long ago experience of having data wiped in an aborted Checkdisk run.  I’ve gotten used to this and it’s very safe from machine or human error.  

The problem for me, using two partitions, with Ubuntu/Wubi/Mint Linux: As designed, the installer is prevented from having, or using, or becoming a root user.  That means no access to the drive the Linux OS is installed on, “C” or hda1 to those who insist.  That has been my default database location, although my photos are on easily accessed D.  For Windows users on Wubi, it appears you just can’t get access to your C drive without going through the annoyance of Secret Instructions and Terminal.  Maybe someday when I need another challenge in my life, I’ll correct that.

For Virtual Box, The Winner Is: PC Linux OS.  I tried a lot of distros, maybe a dozen.  Some would not install, several I aborted because I wasn’t confident that it wasn’t going to partition my C drive, several insisted on pretending that the live CD was installed after VB installation and hence, not the subsequent OS.  BZZZZZT!

Standard KDE PCLOS went in w/o a problem (although like many other distros, my screen resolution required constant sliding downward to see the Forward type buttons during the installation), reboots w/o a problem, and with the Guest Additions installed, sees my C and D partitions without a problem.  I have found the overall look and feel welcoming to this Windows user.  Not too simplistic, not too complex, just right.  Nice large screens and icons. Visually robust.

So, I’ve been hanging around the PCLOS community, and I guess “ease of use” on a desktop is the priority of development. No server edition. Also, a “When its ready" philosophy, which leads to great stability. I also like the rolling distribution, just update via Synaptic now and then. The independent on line magazine is stunning in its usefulness and teaching.   

I like it well enough that I might re-re-partition my primary drive for Linux again, or run PCLOS (What an awkward name!  Of course it’s an OS!) on a different hard drive.  

If you’ve not tried this distro and don’t feel you must continue down the loyalty path of whatever you are using, give it a whirl.  


_______________________________________________
Digikam-users mailing list
[hidden email]
https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/digikam-users

[Rinus]

I wondered already a few days, what happened to Paul?

Not that I have to complain much about Ubuntu, but curious as I am, I will give it a try. Thanks for the share.

Best,
Rinus

Op 20-09-11 14:25, Paul Verizzo schreef:

As loyal readers here might recall, I’ve been playing with - no, working with - various Linux distros in order to run digiKam in its native OS.  (Is that loyalty, or what?  Many dozens of hours!)  I’ve come to some finalizations, which I will summarize here:

Oh, native OS for me is Windows XP Pro, Service Pack 3, running on an AMD 3800+ with 3GB (soon to be 5GB) RAM.  I have my hard drive broken into two partitions, C which is the Windows, Virtual Box, and dual boot Wubi OS’s and supporting files, and D which is all of my data.  Why, I hear you ask?  A long ago experience of having data wiped in an aborted Checkdisk run.  I’ve gotten used to this and it’s very safe from machine or human error.  

The problem for me, using two partitions, with Ubuntu/Wubi/Mint Linux: As designed, the installer is prevented from having, or using, or becoming a root user.  That means no access to the drive the Linux OS is installed on, “C” or hda1 to those who insist.  That has been my default database location, although my photos are on easily accessed D.  For Windows users on Wubi, it appears you just can’t get access to your C drive without going through the annoyance of Secret Instructions and Terminal.  Maybe someday when I need another challenge in my life, I’ll correct that.

For Virtual Box, The Winner Is: PC Linux OS.  I tried a lot of distros, maybe a dozen.  Some would not install, several I aborted because I wasn’t confident that it wasn’t going to partition my C drive, several insisted on pretending that the live CD was installed after VB installation and hence, not the subsequent OS.  BZZZZZT!

Standard KDE PCLOS went in w/o a problem (although like many other distros, my screen resolution required constant sliding downward to see the Forward type buttons during the installation), reboots w/o a problem, and with the Guest Additions installed, sees my C and D partitions without a problem.  I have found the overall look and feel welcoming to this Windows user.  Not too simplistic, not too complex, just right.  Nice large screens and icons. Visually robust.

So, I’ve been hanging around the PCLOS community, and I guess “ease of use” on a desktop is the priority of development. No server edition. Also, a “When its ready" philosophy, which leads to great stability. I also like the rolling distribution, just update via Synaptic now and then. The independent on line magazine is stunning in its usefulness and teaching.   

I like it well enough that I might re-re-partition my primary drive for Linux again, or run PCLOS (What an awkward name!  Of course it’s an OS!) on a different hard drive.  

If you’ve not tried this distro and don’t feel you must continue down the loyalty path of whatever you are using, give it a whirl.  

_______________________________________________
Digikam-users mailing list
[hidden email]
https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/digikam-users

_______________________________________________
Digikam-users mailing list
[hidden email]
https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/digikam-users

[Willem Ferguson]

Hi Paul,

There is probably no 'best OS'. People use different OSs for different reasons. Individuals coming from a Windows environment wish to have a similar OS in Linux. They expect LibreOffice to work just as MS Word (Is that not an arrogant assumption? Similar applications in different OSs often have different approaches towards achieving the same thing with your data or documents). Linux is strong because it gives different things to individuals with different needs. For GUI-bound individuals, Ubuntu and derivatives (e.g. Kubuntu, Mint) have found common acceptance. For more technically minded persons, the above may not appear optimal and they would choose another Linux variant. The Linux community graphically showcases the degree of flexibility in using computers that the 'large' OSs like Windows and OS/X cannot even get near to. If PCLOS is best for your purpose, great. Keep your mind open to the broader open source community. Do not become involved in turf wars about what is the 'best' OS. We are all working together to make Linux and reliable open source software available for as many users as possible.
Kind regards,
willem ferguson

On 20/09/2011 14:25, Paul Verizzo wrote:

As loyal readers here might recall, I’ve been playing with - no, working with - various Linux distros in order to run digiKam in its native OS.  (Is that loyalty, or what?  Many dozens of hours!)  I’ve come to some finalizations, which I will summarize here:

Oh, native OS for me is Windows XP Pro, Service Pack 3, running on an AMD 3800+ with 3GB (soon to be 5GB) RAM.  I have my hard drive broken into two partitions, C which is the Windows, Virtual Box, and dual boot Wubi OS’s and supporting files, and D which is all of my data.  Why, I hear you ask?  A long ago experience of having data wiped in an aborted Checkdisk run.  I’ve gotten used to this and it’s very safe from machine or human error.  

The problem for me, using two partitions, with Ubuntu/Wubi/Mint Linux: As designed, the installer is prevented from having, or using, or becoming a root user.  That means no access to the drive the Linux OS is installed on, “C” or hda1 to those who insist.  That has been my default database location, although my photos are on easily accessed D.  For Windows users on Wubi, it appears you just can’t get access to your C drive without going through the annoyance of Secret Instructions and Terminal.  Maybe someday when I need another challenge in my life, I’ll correct that.

For Virtual Box, The Winner Is: PC Linux OS.  I tried a lot of distros, maybe a dozen.  Some would not install, several I aborted because I wasn’t confident that it wasn’t going to partition my C drive, several insisted on pretending that the live CD was installed after VB installation and hence, not the subsequent OS.  BZZZZZT!

Standard KDE PCLOS went in w/o a problem (although like many other distros, my screen resolution required constant sliding downward to see the Forward type buttons during the installation), reboots w/o a problem, and with the Guest Additions installed, sees my C and D partitions without a problem.  I have found the overall look and feel welcoming to this Windows user.  Not too simplistic, not too complex, just right.  Nice large screens and icons. Visually robust.

So, I’ve been hanging around the PCLOS community, and I guess “ease of use” on a desktop is the priority of development. No server edition. Also, a “When its ready" philosophy, which leads to great stability. I also like the rolling distribution, just update via Synaptic now and then. The independent on line magazine is stunning in its usefulness and teaching.   

I like it well enough that I might re-re-partition my primary drive for Linux again, or run PCLOS (What an awkward name!  Of course it’s an OS!) on a different hard drive.  

If you’ve not tried this distro and don’t feel you must continue down the loyalty path of whatever you are using, give it a whirl.  

_______________________________________________
Digikam-users mailing list
[hidden email]
https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/digikam-users

_______________________________________________
Digikam-users mailing list
[hidden email]
https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/digikam-users

[Rinus]

Hi Willem,
The man is just giving some opinion in his own particular way. Notthing wrong with that. See how much attention he attracts. I love it!

Digikam is the best, sorry adobe.
Best
Rinus

Op 20-09-11 14:57, Willem Ferguson schreef:

Hi Paul,

There is probably no 'best OS'. People use different OSs for different reasons. Individuals coming from a Windows environment wish to have a similar OS in Linux. They expect LibreOffice to work just as MS Word (Is that not an arrogant assumption? Similar applications in different OSs often have different approaches towards achieving the same thing with your data or documents). Linux is strong because it gives different things to individuals with different needs. For GUI-bound individuals, Ubuntu and derivatives (e.g. Kubuntu, Mint) have found common acceptance. For more technically minded persons, the above may not appear optimal and they would choose another Linux variant. The Linux community graphically showcases the degree of flexibility in using computers that the 'large' OSs like Windows and OS/X cannot even get near to. If PCLOS is best for your purpose, great. Keep your mind open to the broader open source community. Do not become involved in turf wars about what is the 'best' OS. We are all working together to make Linux and reliable open source software available for as many users as possible.
Kind regards,
willem ferguson

On 20/09/2011 14:25, Paul Verizzo wrote:

As loyal readers here might recall, I’ve been playing with - no, working with - various Linux distros in order to run digiKam in its native OS.  (Is that loyalty, or what?  Many dozens of hours!)  I’ve come to some finalizations, which I will summarize here:

Oh, native OS for me is Windows XP Pro, Service Pack 3, running on an AMD 3800+ with 3GB (soon to be 5GB) RAM.  I have my hard drive broken into two partitions, C which is the Windows, Virtual Box, and dual boot Wubi OS’s and supporting files, and D which is all of my data.  Why, I hear you ask?  A long ago experience of having data wiped in an aborted Checkdisk run.  I’ve gotten used to this and it’s very safe from machine or human error.  

The problem for me, using two partitions, with Ubuntu/Wubi/Mint Linux: As designed, the installer is prevented from having, or using, or becoming a root user.  That means no access to the drive the Linux OS is installed on, “C” or hda1 to those who insist.  That has been my default database location, although my photos are on easily accessed D.  For Windows users on Wubi, it appears you just can’t get access to your C drive without going through the annoyance of Secret Instructions and Terminal.  Maybe someday when I need another challenge in my life, I’ll correct that.

For Virtual Box, The Winner Is: PC Linux OS.  I tried a lot of distros, maybe a dozen.  Some would not install, several I aborted because I wasn’t confident that it wasn’t going to partition my C drive, several insisted on pretending that the live CD was installed after VB installation and hence, not the subsequent OS.  BZZZZZT!

Standard KDE PCLOS went in w/o a problem (although like many other distros, my screen resolution required constant sliding downward to see the Forward type buttons during the installation), reboots w/o a problem, and with the Guest Additions installed, sees my C and D partitions without a problem.  I have found the overall look and feel welcoming to this Windows user.  Not too simplistic, not too complex, just right.  Nice large screens and icons. Visually robust.

So, I’ve been hanging around the PCLOS community, and I guess “ease of use” on a desktop is the priority of development. No server edition. Also, a “When its ready" philosophy, which leads to great stability. I also like the rolling distribution, just update via Synaptic now and then. The independent on line magazine is stunning in its usefulness and teaching.   

I like it well enough that I might re-re-partition my primary drive for Linux again, or run PCLOS (What an awkward name!  Of course it’s an OS!) on a different hard drive.  

If you’ve not tried this distro and don’t feel you must continue down the loyalty path of whatever you are using, give it a whirl.  

_______________________________________________
Digikam-users mailing list
[hidden email]
https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/digikam-users

_______________________________________________
Digikam-users mailing list
[hidden email]
https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/digikam-users

_______________________________________________
Digikam-users mailing list
[hidden email]
https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/digikam-users

> maybe a dozen.  Some would not install, several I aborted because I wasn’t
> confident that it wasn’t going to partition my C drive, several insisted on

I'm just curios: what made You think that the installer inside
VirtualBox has ability to format Your C drive? Having access to
physical disk would be an "expert option" in VirtualBox. I didn't find
such option in quick look. Well, if You have external USB disk then
You can give VB can grant to guest OS direct access to drive in box.

Gert
_______________________________________________
Digikam-users mailing list
[hidden email]
https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/digikam-users