So ...  what OS is it? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: onesixright
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2015, 10:47:20 pm
content: As the title implies, what OS are you running for you electronic development. Take into account that some tools don't run on specific platforms.Software like:MPLABEAGLEBluetooth Developer StudioAutodeskCNC softwareetc.

author: suicidaleggroll
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2015, 10:55:10 pm
content: Linux here. If a device doesn't have a Linux option for its necessary support software, I pick one that does. I do have a Windows 7 VM for those cases when it's absolutely necessary, but it almost never is.

author: John Coloccia
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2015, 11:01:06 pm
content: I do everything in Windows.

author: rs20
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2015, 11:05:54 pm
content: Windows, because Windows is the Arduino of operating systems -- technically awful (I mean some of the design decision are just horrendous), but all the software runs on it. It's standard, as opposed to intrinsically good, is what I'm trying to say.(I normally employ the above metaphor the other way around, as in "Arduino is the Windows of MCU dev boards...")(I also have some RPis and other linux boxes to keep me sane.)

author: codeboy2k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 12:41:52 am
content: Linux.For any tools that don't run in Linux I first try Wine . If that doesn't work then I load it up inside a VirtualBox running Windows 7.My Windows virtual box runs full-screen on a virtual screen of my linux desktop, so it just looks and runs like a normal Windows install when I switch to it.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 12:45:08 am
content: Another OS thread?Quote from: onesixright on July 22, 2015, 10:47:20 pmHuh? Is this "which OS are you running" or "which OS is the best"? I can't "take into account" anything, other than the fact that Arch Linux happens to be installed on my hard drive, when telling you which one I'm running...

author: Whales
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 12:50:15 am
content: Linux.Similarly: if I can't find a native version then Wine is very mature and when that eventually fails I have some VMs of Windows handy. Sometimes Windows is necessary, but keeping it in a VM allows me to avoid most of the cons of it. I basically get the best parts from both worlds.Todo: get rid of systemd. It bricks my ARM laptop every time I update, let alone the philosophical/security issues with it.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 12:55:01 am
content: Quote from: Whales on July 23, 2015, 12:50:15 am+1 for VMs. I've got pretty much every OS in a VM somewhere (except for OS X, but that's a toy anyway...) so I don't care so much about OSes. I like Linux for day-to-day stuff, but if a tool I need from time to time doesn't work on it, nbd, just start up a VM.

author: Whales
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 12:57:59 am
content: Quote from: c4757p on July 23, 2015, 12:55:01 amTangent: paste this into the terminal app on OSX and be amazed: 🍕 . Highly amusing, but probably not that useful.

author: rs20
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 12:59:28 am
content: How good are VMs these days? With respect to, say, lagginess scrolling around a complex 2D PCB view, or even 3D cad? Any particular VMs anyone recommends?

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 01:01:29 am
content: I use VirtualBox. 3D doesn't work well, but everything else including 2D CAD might as well be native.

author: Armxnian
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 01:05:27 am
content: Quote from: rs20 on July 23, 2015, 12:59:28 amVirtualbox is widely used and is great for running something light like Sage. However, I wouldn't recommend it for something like Windows or a heavy Linux distro. It's too slow, and is limited in many ways, like cores, ram, hardware virtualizion, etc. VMware is better if you're going to be using the VM a lot. Personally I just install Linux natively and avoid all potential issues.

author: suicidaleggroll
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 01:18:35 am
content: Quote from: Armxnian on July 23, 2015, 01:05:27 amI'm not sure what you mean. VirtualBox works just fine with Windows and "heavy Linux distros". What core/ram/virtualization limitations are you referring to? I have a server at work that has 28 cores and 128 GB of RAM. VirtualBox has no issues givingall of itto a VM (well, 85% of the RAM, since VB can't be configured to give 100% to the VM or there would be nothing left for the host). If VB can hand over at least 28 cores and 100 GB of RAM to a VM, then I have no earthly idea what cores/ram limitations you're talking about...certainly nothing that would affect Windows or even the heaviest Linux distros. VirtualBox definitely supports hardware virtualization as well, not supporting it would be a dealbreaker these days.This thread has a few of the limits spelled out:https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=41211For a Linux x64 host, the limit is 256 cores, 16 TiB of RAM, and 1023 VMs. That's one hell of a Windows system you're trying to run if you're limited by those numbers...

author: Armxnian
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 02:01:27 am
content: Quote from: suicidaleggroll on July 23, 2015, 01:18:35 amLimited amount of Vram support, and 3D acceleration doesn't work properly. Vmware also has support for newer hardware visualization extensions and is in general more customizable. Clicking on the start menu in Virtualbox running windows lags... run vmware in exclusive mode and it feels like you are running a native installation. I hate paid software, and exclusively use open source when I can, but there is no comparison in this area. Try it for yourself.

author: mtdoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 03:15:37 am
content: VM you say? Does this count?

author: suicidaleggroll
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 03:40:32 am
content: Quote from: Armxnian on July 23, 2015, 02:01:27 amI supposed 256 MB might not be enough for some tasks, but it's plenty for everything I've ever tried to do.Quote from: Armxnian on July 23, 2015, 02:01:27 amYou might be right, I don't do a lot of (read: any) 3D work.Quote from: Armxnian on July 23, 2015, 02:01:27 amThey both support VT-x and AMD-V. Are you talking about a subset of these? Do you have any sources since I'd like to read about it more.Quote from: Armxnian on July 23, 2015, 02:01:27 amHow so?Quote from: Armxnian on July 23, 2015, 02:01:27 amNot for me it doesn't. Clicking on the start menu is instant, the only way it would be faster is if it opened up before I clicked the mouse. From cold boot Windows 7 is at a working desktop in 12 seconds flat (I just timed it), most bare metal Windows installations would struggle to keep up with that.I'm not saying VMWareisn'tbetter, but nothing you've said so far about VirtualBox's limitations or "lagging" has been true in my experience.

author: Armxnian
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 04:40:08 am
content: Quote from: suicidaleggroll on July 23, 2015, 03:40:32 amModern workstation graphics cards have up to 12GB of vram. Nvidia Pascal is said to support 32GB. Anything above 256MB and Virtualbox crashes on boot. Obviously vmware isn't perfect either, and can't match a native machine, but it does support much more vram. For many applications, 256MB is unusable. Furthermore, the actual gpu performance suffers greatly in virtualbox. I had UI lag on a 1080p monitor with a 780ti in ubuntu.Quote from: suicidaleggroll on July 23, 2015, 03:40:32 amI don't have vmware workstation 11 installed anymore, and can't for the life of me remember what it was called. But if IIRC it had a newer hardware visualization extension that Virtualbox did not have.Quote from: suicidaleggroll on July 23, 2015, 03:40:32 amI don't think Virtualbox supports nesting; other various features in the setup and live menus and things that the vmware tools extension enables.Quote from: suicidaleggroll on July 23, 2015, 03:40:32 amI ran Ubuntu on Virtualbox and vmware workstation 11 when I had it installed. Using it as an actual os (browsing the web, managing files, etc) was night and day. This could be because of the better implemented 3D acceleration. Benchmarks show CPU performance much closer however, with vmware products having the slight edge.Finally, vmware just works. It is extremely easy to get going. With virtualbox, I run into countless errors getting it to boot various os's. I just tried Windows 10 insider with default/conservative settings and it didn't even get to the boot screen. It's annoying to troubleshoot. With vmware I ran the less stable Windows 10 technical preview as a VM in a Ubuntu 14.10 VM running on a Windows 8.1 machine.Obviously one is paid and the other is free. You can try out vmware however using alternative methods, only then can you make comparisons.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 07:17:37 am
content: Quote from: suicidaleggroll on July 23, 2015, 03:40:32 amSame here. Virtualbox runs just as quick (or better said: slow) as a regular Windows machine. I have to note that the Linux machine I run Virtual box on has been choosen to have good support for running virtual machines. Also copying and pasting works just fine between the host and virtual machines.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 07:30:39 am
content: Windows. Mainly because it's the most unacceptable pile of crap, and so is a constant source of inspiration and ideas for 'something else' - a long term background project. I suspect if I switched to Linux I might lose that motivation.Btw speaking of virtual machines, this is amusing:http://9gag.com/gag/a0Y5EDnHack makes playing 'Doom' on a computer inside 'Doom' a reality

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 07:57:11 am
content: Really depends on what I'm doing and what the machine gets used for.Quote from: rs20 on July 23, 2015, 12:59:28 amMy main PC and main entertainment PC are both currently using KVM and VFIO for games that don't like Linux, I maybe drop 2-3 percent in performance compared to running the heaviest games native in Windows.EDIT:The only real down side is that I run a cut down distro just to do the VM hosting and then everything else is virtualised so I might not stick with it.

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 08:16:48 am
content: Windows. It's a standard, works well enough in most cases, and is simply easier to get most things released for the consumer marked (like games) working on.

author: BradC
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 11:58:48 am
content: Quote from: rs20 on July 23, 2015, 12:59:28 amI use Autodesk Revit in a Win2k3 instance inside a KVM VM on Linux. I use SPICE for the display to a remote machine and run dual head. One 2560x1600 & the other 1920x1200. Revit on 2k3 runs faster in the VM than on any windows version on the bare hardware. I don't set the models photorealistic and panning can be a little bit laggy, but to be honest everything else is so much faster that I just learned to pan less.So yes, 3D CAD inside a VM is certainly possible and useable. I've used VMWare, VirtualBox qemu with kqemu and Win4Lin. Now days, qemu/kvm does everything I need it to without needing proprietary modules or extraneous fluff.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 12:43:05 pm
content: Yep, Windows for me too. It's solid, stable and just works without fiddling about. Mind you, I also have decent hardware, that's the key to getting a great Windows setup. If you want to run Windows on bog-standard, low-grade consumer crap, then expect the same performance/stability in return.

author: Mephitus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 02:03:01 pm
content: Windows 7 & server, several varients of Debian Linux, and one Red Hat. I am not "counting" it, but I also have to run OSX(shudder) on a test box at work. I keep breaking that one...I have been wanting to try a new one called MenuetOS. An OS written completely in assembly. It looks rather interesting:http://www.menuetos.net/

author: bingo600
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 02:37:36 pm
content: Linux w. virtualbox , and a single dualboot Linux/W7 for my garmin gps updates./Bingo

author: Red Squirrel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 05:36:34 pm
content: Linux for day to day stuff. Generally I really don't like the direction Windows is going so I jumped ship when I saw what 8 looked like knowing I'd have to change eventually. I have a windows 7 machine hooked up to a KVM for gaming but since it's a core i7 it eats electricity for breakfast so I usually leave it off. On similar note, why is it that 99% of KVM switches are garbage and why are they still selling them mostly as PS2? It's 2015!

author: briselec
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 06:20:41 pm
content: I have a work provided windows laptop that spends most of it's time sitting in a drawer that I use for PLC and any other industrial software that only comes in Windows versions.For everything else I use Linux.

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 06:31:27 pm
content: Quote from: Red Squirrel on July 23, 2015, 05:36:34 pmThey still mainly get used main used in server racks.Wired PS2 mouses and keyboards are still popular with hardcore* gamers.*As in skill level, not necessarily general attitude lol.

author: Mephitus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 06:39:42 pm
content: Quote from: Mechanical Menace on July 23, 2015, 06:31:27 pmWhile not a "professional", per se. I consider myself a hard-core gamer. I have tested multiple bluetooth and other wireless keyboards/mice and never found the reliability and response to be good enough. A solid performing USB laser mouse with 2K DPI works fantastic. Personal fave being the Logitech G5 gaming mouse (MSRP is $200, but I always find em on sale for under $100 easy) I know the thing with the weights seems strange. But if you use it for any length of time, it can completely change the comfort and feel.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 06:41:23 pm
content: I was quite surprised to find PS/2 mouse & keyboard ports on a new PC I bought a couple of months ago. I guess a PS/2 port is more reliable to switch using a KVM than a USB port.

author: John Coloccia
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 06:56:10 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on July 23, 2015, 06:41:23 pmIt's for gaming.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 07:00:09 pm
content: Quote from: John Coloccia on July 23, 2015, 06:56:10 pmThe machine I'm writing about isn't targetted at the gaming market but at the (higher end) business market.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 07:22:57 pm
content: There is a KVM in a rack at work that only has USB and VGA switching, though it does also do PS2 keyboards as well. Good thing it has 2 USB ports per switch, so you are not stuck with using older USB keyboards with a built in hub or an external hub with it. Don't remember who makes it, but it is less than 2 years old, replacing one that did not have USB and which needed PS2 keyboard and PS2 mouse to work.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 07:27:58 pm
content: Quote from: Red Squirrel on July 23, 2015, 05:36:34 pmBecause they are used on servers for the most part. PS/2 works regardless of operating system. A decent one will have both PS/2 and USB support. It also allows you to use the keyboard before the USB controller has time to initialise (e.g.: for pausing on a particular screen).

author: apis
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2015, 07:42:06 pm
content: I use linux for everything since 10-15 years back, haven't regretted it. It can be a steep learning curve if you are used to windows but these days there are good drivers for most common hardware and especially graphic drivers which used to be a pain to get working. I do have a windows partition for playing games though.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 24, 2015, 12:36:19 pm
content: Quote from: Mechanical Menace on July 23, 2015, 06:31:27 pmI have IOGear and Belkin KVMs and both are PS2. No servers here but no computer is newer than 3 years old, so still have PS2 connections. The company laptop doesn't but the docking station does. I do keep a USB keyboard and mouse in case someone needs a computer fixed that only has USB.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2015, 12:46:53 pm
content: I'm just thankful youcanstill get motherboards with PS/2, and PCI! Made sure the new one I bought recently had both, so I'd have a place to plug my Model M and my GPIB cardIt's got a header for a serial port too, though sadly doesn't have the actual port on the IO panel. I do use that from time to time... always had stability issues running the USB adapter ones long term, like to suck data out of a DMM for multiple days. Easy enough to add, though. No parallel or floppy disk driver, though I do wonder whether the relatively standard-looking super-IO chip has the pins for those.

author: John Coloccia
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2015, 01:10:51 pm
content: Man, GPIB is the standard that just wouldn't die. I remember thinking to myself that GPIB is the instrumentation equivalent of SCSI. I'd spend an hour or two sometimes on a complicated setup shifting around the location of instruments in the chain, and the length of cables between them, until I found something that worked. Ah, the good 'ole days.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2015, 01:23:47 pm
content: Well, I think it's close to death now, but I'm using some very old equipment from when it was still current

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2015, 02:08:43 pm
content: Quote from: GreyWoolfe on July 24, 2015, 12:36:19 pmSomeone once got me a Happy Hacking Keyboard Pro, that's all that's ever been used for. I prefer my old QuietKey. And if the one I use ever gives up I've a box full of them (new, individually packaged) in the loft that cost me much much less than one will cost you second hand now lol.My mother got me a Das Keyboard Ultimate 4C for Christmas which is actually very nice though and maybe even worth the money. I might do some reading up on how the latency issue with USB HID is now in regards to gaming*. If it's got better I might even switch main keyboards.*I'm actually good enough in some games to notice a difference. While not proud of that I'm not ashamed of it either.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2015, 04:31:50 pm
content: Get a USB to PS2 adaptor and you can add the Model M to a USB port. Just looking for a curly USB cable to make the fit look like the original keyboard with curly cord.Then again, my favourite keyboard is actually an old Microsoft USB keyboard, the old white one. My sister was using the ergonomic version with the big hump in the middle. That the keycaps were all white was no issue to her, as she is a touch typist, and does transcription on the side. She only changed to a newer one when she finally wore out a few of the letter keys and the space bar, physically broken switches.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2015, 05:20:56 pm
content: Whatever os can ru. The programs i want to use.This is like asking. What engine do you run in your car ? Whatever it needs.If i want a ferrari , i cant have a diesel.If i want a tesla i cant complain i cant have a petrolIt's as simple as that. Anything else is just fanaticism.A more interesting wuestion would beWhat version of windows are you usingWhat distro of linux are you using.I d like to see what is the most popular linux amongst the technical users. Whenever i talk to 'real' users (business) it's always red hat. Talking to home users its ubuntu. I find that strange.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2015, 05:40:38 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on July 24, 2015, 05:20:56 pmSupport. Red Hat has better commercial support, but Ubuntu is more user-friendly.

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2015, 06:29:05 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on July 24, 2015, 05:20:56 pmOut of the people I know it seems to be a 45/45 split between a *buntu or Fedora1, the rest going to Arch. Some claim to use something else, and may even be passionate about that distro, but it tends to not be their main desktop workhorse.For the personal servers it's almost always CentOS or Debian2, very rarely have I seen a personal Ubuntu server running on someone's own hardware and not on a cloud or managed host somewhere.1I prefer Fedora, it seems to be aimed more at devs. Or at least has an easy experience for them setting up their environment as a higher priority than *buntu does. But I end up using a *buntu most of the time due to better support from third parties. If you're not on a LTS *buntu some of them will ignore any issues you bring up until it's replicated by someone on the exact version of Ubuntu they like.2Well when it comes to Linux. BSDs are very popular with the people I know for personal servers, even amongst those who would bend over for Linus. Windows seems to be even less popular for that than it is in "real" situations even amongst serious Windows/MS fanboys.

author: ElektroQuark
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 24, 2015, 06:34:07 pm
content: You didn't even mention OpenSuSe. Is it diying?

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2015, 06:46:57 pm
content: Not dying but seems to have hit a plateau. The main people I've seen using OpenSUSE for a long time are those who also use SUSE for work and/or aren't technical at all. It still (SUSE, not OpenSUSE lol) seems very popular (with RHEL) in my old/currently separating from field of HTC and it's cousin HPC for storage and management nodes though. I'm sure Oracle is getting in there but I have no experience.

author: suicidaleggroll
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2015, 06:53:37 pm
content: Quote from: c4757p on July 24, 2015, 05:40:38 pmIt'smuchmore than that...they're designed for completely different purposes. Stability, reliability, and long term support vs rapid release "beta testing" with numerous 3rd party drivers and built-in spyware.I refuse to use Ubuntu. It's been terribly unstable on any machine I've thrown it at, it has the aforementioned opt-out spyware built right into the DE, their approach to security is laughable, their support admins have a stick up their ass, and Canonical is doing everything it can to distance itself from Linux and abandon everything that has made Linux great over the last 20 years. If you want to know what I mean, go to ubuntu.com and search the page for "linux". Go to their various versions, about us, features, etc., see if you can find a mention of the word "linux"anywhereon their site. Now do the same for literally any other Linux distribution. The whole thing just rubs me the wrong way. Canonical is nearly as bad as Microsoft in my mind.I don't use Fedora either, way too "alpha" status for me. I don't like my services randomly dropping in and out of operation from daily update to daily update. Good for devs or people who need the latest versions of programs and don't mind reinstalling their OS every 6 months, but it's not good for the rest of the population IMO. I used to use it, but after about version 15 they switched from "bleeding edge" to "hemorrhaging edge" and I haven't looked back.Personally I use CentOS on servers and workstations and OpenSUSE on laptops and development machines where I need newer libraries. They both have a support/release cycle that meshes well with my usage, and they've both been very stable for me.

author: John Coloccia
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2015, 06:57:42 pm
content: I use OpenSuse when I need Linux also. Seems to be best in terms of stability and I overall professionalism.

author: codeboy2k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2015, 08:11:21 pm
content: I'm an extremely experienced Linux kernel developer and user, with my roots going back to the early 80's and AT&T System III, SVR4 , 3 versions of BSD (4.1, 4.2 and 4.3) ,HP-UX, SunOS 3.2, 4.x, and later Solaris (SunOS 5). I've been hacking on Linux and writing hardware drivers for it since the 0.99.xxx days, and I've gone through most every Linux distribution that ever was released (my favorite desktop version for it's simplicity was #! CrunchBang but it is no longer in active development -- my favorite server release is still "roll-your-own" gentoo, but even my ideas about that has changed now)These days I use Linux Mint, which is considered a "beginners" linux. I get plenty of elitist "OMG's" when I tell a peer that I use Mint. But I've grown tired of constantly hacking on my OS to make it work and losing time because of it, and Mint just works out of the box with every video card and every piece piece of hardware or printer or scanner I've ever thrown at it. The user experience is first class, the updates just work, and everything is still the same and working after an upgrade. That's not the way it used to be when ever I used any other distro, and every upgrade back then was frought with things that broke.These days I just want a Linux that works and can help me get my real work done and it doesn't get in my way. While I'm perfectly capable of fixing it when it's broken, I really don't want to do that anymore.I have VM's that run the other distros so I can keep my knowledge up on those and I do some development work and porting work there when I need to, but my main daily desktop is Mint, and I can't see anything that will change that yet.I don't need to follow the elites anymore.. I've been there for many years already.(PS: in all those years, I've just barely learned enough Windows Programming to write a hello world -- I'm Unix / Linux to the core!)

author: Armxnian
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2015, 08:39:44 pm
content: Quote from: suicidaleggroll on July 24, 2015, 06:53:37 pmWhat about LTS versions is unstable? I've successfully compiled AOSP on a weak machine, which is a nice 4 hour stress test.What annoys me is instead of trying to compete with other linux distros, they are trying to redefine the "os" and compete with Windows. Considering a big chunk of users use Windows for direct3d, they have already failed. They are also trying to compete with Android and ios with their smartphone, it's not going to happen. They need to focus on improving linux from the ground up, not try and add gimmicky features to mimic the popular operating systems. Ubuntu isn't the best, but at least you don't need to install from a terminal window

author: suicidaleggroll
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2015, 09:33:42 pm
content: Quote from: Armxnian on July 24, 2015, 08:39:44 pmTypically the DE and wifi. The CLI-only server version with a wired connection seemed stable enough the bit that I spent testing it a few months back, but I still won't use Ubuntu due to the other reasons I mentioned.

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2015, 09:54:31 pm
content: Quote from: suicidaleggroll on July 24, 2015, 09:33:42 pmI totally get that. While I happily use Ubuntu variants I don't use Unity often. And when I do (or install it for anyone else) I uninstall certain things and turn off others depending on my view of "that's ok if it's opt-in and sitting there doing nothing otherwise."

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2015, 09:12:09 am
content: I stick on older versions, so just upgraded from Ubunto 10 to Mint. I always use a LTS, and so far most has migrated reasonably well, even the entire Firefox complete with history and most of the bookmarks, even open tabs. Using Evolution, as that I have been using since RH4 and am comfortable with it. Just have to get the graphics card that came with this old used Core 2 duo working, though I am fine with the on board, and this card is one of those which has been flagged as problematic. Leaving it out saves 50W of power though.Only bug is the swap not working if I want entire disk encryption. so just encrypted /home like before. worked for testing even with no swap, though I would have run into issues later. Wonder if I should use the key on the case to install XP into a VM, though I will probably just migrate another VM over instead and let it complain if needed.

author: John Coloccia
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2015, 11:45:04 am
content: For guys running Mint, are you using Cinnamon?

author: f1rmb
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2015, 11:46:19 am
content: Quote from: John Coloccia on July 25, 2015, 11:45:04 amMate here.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2015, 12:01:33 pm
content: Cinnamon here, might install Mate in a VM and try it, though they are both better than Unity. I really do not like Win8/8.1/10 UI wise on a screen that does not fit in my hand. The phone runs Android, but the other is a plain Nokia, where I have never used the browser.

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2015, 12:16:56 pm
content: For the guys running Mint, do any of you use the Debian Edition? How does that compare to the normal Ubuntu ones?Quote from: SeanB on July 25, 2015, 12:01:33 pmPersonally I agree, but I've got to admit it seems to please people who want to just use a computer rather than do some computer work iykwim. It also works better than I'd expect if you've a touchscreen monitor/laptop and I half think that when/if they become more popular Unity could become the best DE for them. As long as you're happy to remove the crap and/or someone decides to fork it.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2015, 02:05:03 pm
content: Unity lasted the boot of the live DVD, trying it for about a minute then doing a hard power off and ejecting the DVD on the reboot. Tossed it in the bin, was not worth doing data erasure in the microwave. It might be good on some devices, but it made me think of bad experiences with Win8, which my sister is using. She likes it, because it looks just like her phone........... She upgraded from Vista, so pretty anything is an improvement.Did find a copy of WinME in a cupboard at work, complete with the ME Experience additional DVD and the unused product key. Not sure if I tossed it, though I do have a whole load ( or did till I gave them away or used as cup coasters) of Win98 discs. We bought them as "upgrades" with new computers made from parts, just by buying a lot of MS mice. Most were never opened, just used one, cloned the drive a few times ( faster and I got bored waiting for the 2 hour install wait, clone patched drive took 30 minutes) and used regedit to put the key in the image from the visible key on the back of the shrink. Saved a lot of time in assembling 25 computers in a week to replace the old ones running DRDOS and Netware. took a lot of time to train some users though.......

author: ddavidebor
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2015, 06:16:37 pm
content: i use OS X as my main OS.Windows 7 under parallels for the software that requires it (allium and avrstudio mainly) and Ubuntu under parallels when i want to mess things up.i prefer mint to ubuntu tought.

author: codeboy2k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2015, 07:55:46 pm
content: On my Mint install I use Cinnamon these days. I used to use LXDE, then Mate, because earlier version of Cinnamon where not stable and almost always got into a 100% CPU loop (i.e. Mint 13, Mint 15 several years back). On Mint 17 Cinnamon is so much better now, it's fast, stable and less of a CPU hog, staying around 15%-20% now