Hello Linux Nerds

[rAIner-linux]

Hello world...

this is the third forum I have joined. The first one was about a car and the second ons about a computer game.

I am Rainer, 57, German, having learned some UNIX in a course and used it a bit (6 months) at work as a normal user. I have a university degree in computer-science and was working as an IT-specialist for more than 30 years.

Privately, I've used only Windows-PCs and Mac. I really believe that with using mainstream stuff you don't do anything wrong and consequently I tried to stay away from the Linux world.

Currently, I need to buy new hardware and I am considering to get a new desktop with Linux (probably Ubuntu because I don't hear too many complaints... again, my mainstream thinking) installed. If I would choose to do so, I will probably become a pretty active member of this forum and I am looking forward to get in contact with other nerds to exchange ideas.

 

[xlbooyahlx]

Hello, and welcome brother!

 

[wizardfromoz]

G'day @rAIner-linux from DownUnder (Australia) and welcome to linux.org

...consequently I tried to stay away from the Linux world.

Fortunately the makers and operators of the world's top 500 supercomputers don't agree, and run Linux, as do most of the Web Servers of most of the largest websites in the world, but perhaps you already know that.

When I was your age, I made the decision to stop using Windows (7) in favour of Linux, which I had been using intermittently for 4 years prior, and I have never looked back.

Although I have had computers such as HP, Compaq, Asus and other, I keep coming back to Dell, because it is so Linux-friendly and reliable.

In any event, we look forward to engaging with you in your journey.

Cheers

Chris Turner
wizardfromoz

 

[Brickwizard]

Welcome to the forums,
please be aware if you are buying the latest cutting edge computers, you may run into problems with Linux drivers for things like Graphics, sound, & Network, as it can take 6 to 9 months for the boys and girls who back engineer them to complete and test new drivers, and it may take several more months until they hit the software repositories of your distribution.
Normally for a newbie, I would recommend you use an old machine [provided all the components are working] to run , test and make yourself familiar with Linux,

 

[Brickwizard]

probably Ubuntu because I don't hear too many complaints... again, my mainstream thinking)

don't restrict yourself , there are around 500 different Linux desktop builds, and around 10 different GUI's, when you get your machine, download around 6-8 different distributions [with different desktops] and run them "live" from a pen-drive, you will then get a better idea of which you like the look and feel of the most, some popular distributions for newbies are,
Mint LMDE [Debian based ]
Mint-21 [Ubuntu based]
MX Linux
Linux Lite
Peppermint
Pop [but can be a problem to install to non system76 equipment]
Parrot home edition
there are many others,

https://www.linux.org/threads/what-is-the-best-linux-distribution-which-should-i-use.43789/

 

[camtaf]

Welcome to freedom for you & your computer!

 

[Terminal Velocity]

Welcome to the forum. What made you change your mind about Linux? Even with ubuntu you are out of mainstream computing. What made you start looking for alternatives to Win and Mac?

 

[kc1di]

Hello @rainer-linuxk,
Welcome to the Linux.org forums, enjoy the journey!
If you learn Linux with the other two OS's you use you will be well rounded.

 

[ML_113]

Saving the environment is my aim.
I still have XP in VirtualBox to keep using my Canon Scanner, Brother Printer.
I feel guilty dumping these electronics to the e-waste.

 

[Brickwizard]

Canon Scanner, Brother Printer.

Have you tried using the Xsane drivers in Linux for the cannon scan, and the brother print drivers ?

 

[rAIner-linux]

Welcome to the forum. What made you change your mind about Linux? Even with ubuntu you are out of mainstream computing. What made you start looking for alternatives to Win and Mac?

Actually, it is affordability. I am planning to build a fileserver for my home network. And it seems that a Linux solution would be the most cost effective and on top of that, I will have better control over the system.

 

[MattWinter]

I will have better control over the system

Absolutely you will! That was my main reason for finally breaking away from Windows as much as possible and switching to Linux.

 

[KGIII]

Welcome aboard the HMAS Linux.

I used to call it the USS Linux, but we have a bunch of Aussies.

 

[ML_113]

Have you tried using the Xsane drivers in Linux for the cannon scan, and the brother print drivers

I have enough with these, continue maintenance when update. I don't even trust ... Win 7.
Setup XP VM once, backup the exported OVA - then I don't have to think ... for life.

 

[rAIner-linux]

Saving the environment is my aim.
I still have XP in VirtualBox to keep using my Canon Scanner, Brother Printer.
I feel guilty dumping these electronics to the e-waste.

Interesting remark...
Linux doesn't support your old devices?

 

[bob466]

Welcome to the Forum.

Linux is the best especially Linux Mint...speaking of new hardware I've just gone through that myself...new Motherboard...CPU and Ram...now all UEFI which I don't understand...was much better in the days of BIOS/Legacy but those days are gone.

 

[gvisoc]

"old devices" may be a bit of an overstatement.

Scanners and printers are engines of Evil, and they follow most of the worse predatory commercial practices this civilisation has seen and has to see (e.g.: a printer making you pay a subscription based on the number of pages that you intend to print a month --that's HP).

I refuse to let any of those get into my house unless they have pure TCP / HTTP interface.

So yeah. Printers and scanners. Evil. They breath sulfur.

The surprise is to see them working.

Edit: Perfect timing!

 

[ML_113]

Linux doesn't support your old devices?

15 years ago some manufacturers not only ignore Linux, they are downright hostile to it. My scanner is a Canon 5600F. I scoured forums and asked for help, and people gave it up for dead. Do you know that Samsung SSD don't support Trim, shortens their life? I don't know about now, because I never buy one from them again.

Of course an expert will handle anything, I worked in IT before, but on a different platform (AS/400) so I make do with Google, Copy/Paste.

 

[bob466]

15 years ago some manufacturers not only ignore Linux, they are downright hostile to it. My scanner is a Canon 5600F. I scoured forums and asked for help, and people gave it up for dead. Do you know that Samsung SSD don't support Trim, shortens their life? I don't know about now, because I never buy one from them again.

You are right about Printers/Scanners as they are disigned to work with windowz. I have an Epson Printer/Scanner...it's only a few months old and had trouble getting both to work in Mint but when my Motherboard died and now have a new one...the printer works but the scanner will not and have tried everything.

I had to install the printer/scanner in my win 7 VM...now the scanner works just fine. Samsung SSDs do support trim...my 4 year old SSD is set to trim daily and you can run trim manually if you wish.

 

[Brickwizard]

@bob466
to get your Epsom working fully, you need to install an old Linux dependency that is not in the current distributions, called lsb [Linux Standard Base] you can find it here. https://pkgs.org/download/lsb-release