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Author Topic: Basic Linux Question  (Read 7996 times)

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Offline MiracleOfTheSun

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Basic Linux Question
« on: February 29, 2024, 05:19:53 PM »
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  • When using Linux, do sites like CathInfo have to be specially formatted to be viewable on Linux?  Or can I use Linux to download Mozilla (or any other browser) and surf the web per the usual?  

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    Online Ladislaus

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    Re: Basic Linux Question
    « Reply #1 on: February 29, 2024, 05:29:03 PM »
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  • It's not about the operating system but about the browser.  If you can get a good, modern HTML5-compliant browser (most of the big names are), you should have no issues.


    Offline MiracleOfTheSun

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    Re: Basic Linux Question
    « Reply #2 on: February 29, 2024, 05:37:07 PM »
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  • So download Linux, put on Mozilla, and things would be good to go?  ( aside from navigating the new system )

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    Offline Matthew

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    Re: Basic Linux Question
    « Reply #3 on: February 29, 2024, 06:37:25 PM »
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  • When using Linux, do sites like CathInfo have to be specially formatted to be viewable on Linux?  Or can I use Linux to download Mozilla (or any other browser) and surf the web per the usual? 



    You'd be surprised how much of your computer life is done through the browser. And yes, the browser experience is the same on Linux, Windows, Mac -- or Chromebook.

    That's the whole theory behind low-cost Chromebooks. "We don't need CPU power or software. Just give them a cheap laptop that can surf the web, and most people will be good to go." And they're right, in most cases.
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    Offline Sneedevacantist

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    Re: Basic Linux Question
    « Reply #4 on: February 29, 2024, 06:41:52 PM »
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  • So download Linux, put on Mozilla, and things would be good to go?  ( aside from navigating the new system )
    Most Linux distros come with Mozilla Firefox as the default browser, so there's really nothing you'll have to do. CathInfo works perfectly on my Linux laptop using any normal browser.


    Offline Yeti

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    Re: Basic Linux Question
    « Reply #5 on: February 29, 2024, 06:42:49 PM »
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  • When using Linux, do sites like CathInfo have to be specially formatted to be viewable on Linux?  Or can I use Linux to download Mozilla (or any other browser) and surf the web per the usual? 
    .

    Nope. I'm using Linux to type this. :cowboy:

    The internet doesn't look any different on Linux than it does on any other operating system. And you can use any modern browser in Linux. I'm using Firefox, but you can also use Chrome, Safari (probably), Chromium, Opera, Vivaldi, etc. They all come with Linux versions that work exactly the same as how they work in Windows.

    Offline MiracleOfTheSun

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    Re: Basic Linux Question
    « Reply #6 on: March 01, 2024, 04:46:47 PM »
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  • Thanks all.  Will take a look at the Linux link in the other thread and poke around.
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    Offline Matthew

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    Re: Basic Linux Question
    « Reply #7 on: March 01, 2024, 04:55:23 PM »
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  • Again, I keep repeating: I'm a power user. I'm a software developer and do a lot of web development; I need several browsers on my PC, including various plugins, to do my work. If Linux wasn't adequate, I would be the first to discover it, not the last.

    Imagine a hammer that is used by a handyman to do 25 different things, all day every day. Then I come along and ask, "Yes, but will it drive a nail into the wall? That's what I need done..." Um, DUH! of course it will! If it will do various exotic tasks for that handyman (a specialist), things you'll never need to do, of course it can do the absolute basics like driving a nail in the wall.
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    Offline MiracleOfTheSun

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    Re: Basic Linux Question
    « Reply #8 on: March 16, 2024, 11:34:55 AM »
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  • I've downloaded Cinnamon 21.3 from Linux Mint onto a usb but it didn't automatically open up Linux.  Isn't it supposed to just open and start operating?  Attached is a screenshot of the usb files.  I put in the usb then turned on the computer.  Any quick thoughts or should I download it again as this is a clear indication something went wrong?  Thanks

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    Offline MiracleOfTheSun

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    Re: Basic Linux Question
    « Reply #9 on: March 16, 2024, 04:45:38 PM »
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  • Hunted around and got it operational so it looks to be up and running.  Should it typically be a faster system or just sapping less resources?
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    Offline Sneedevacantist

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    Re: Basic Linux Question
    « Reply #10 on: March 16, 2024, 05:23:46 PM »
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  • Hunted around and got it operational so it looks to be up and running.  Should it typically be a faster system or just sapping less resources?
    For your previous question, I was about to say that you needed to reboot your PC and press the appropriate key (based on your device, sadly the hardware manufacturers do not use a universal standard :fryingpan:) to pull up your list of boot devices. I'm glad that you were able to get Linux running. Are you just using the Live USB environment, or have you installed it on your internal drive? Using Linux off of a USB, and especially off of a CD/DVD, will be noticeably slower than running it installed on a hard drive or solid state drive.

    For your current question, Mint using Cinnamon desktop should be faster than Windows 10, and definitely use way less resources. There's not a bajillion Microsoft spyware and update services running in the background on Mint, which significantly lightens the load on your CPU, memory, and internal storage drive. You can always check resource usage with whatever resource monitor program that ships with Mint (I can't remember which one it comes with on Cinnamon, but you can find it in your list of applications) to see just how lean it's running. I like to use a terminal-based program called Htop for system resource monitoring.


    Offline Yeti

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    Re: Basic Linux Question
    « Reply #11 on: March 16, 2024, 06:52:34 PM »
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  • Hunted around and got it operational so it looks to be up and running.  Should it typically be a faster system or just sapping less resources?
    .

    Both.

    Any operating system run from a USB drive is going to be slower than the same thing run off a normal hard drive because of the slower read/write rates with a USB thumb drive. You can expect significant speed improvements if you install to your hard drive.

    The real purpose of installing and running Linux from a thumb drive is to see if it works for you and if you are comfortable with it.

    Offline MiracleOfTheSun

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    Re: Basic Linux Question
    « Reply #12 on: March 16, 2024, 10:01:59 PM »
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  • So far I'm just running it from the usb but the difference in speed is already noticeably different and faster.  I still need Windows for a couple of things so I guess I'll look into partitioning the drive.  It looks and feels just like Windows so I'm pretty happy it's already working.  Any hot tips on the best way to set it up to have access to both operating systems?  I'm a real newb at this stuff so anything appreciated.
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    Offline MiracleOfTheSun

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    Re: Basic Linux Question
    « Reply #13 on: March 16, 2024, 10:12:50 PM »
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  • Actually, gotta say this difference in speed is amazing even from just the usb. 

    Had another question for any computer person.  Anything wrong with Adblocker Plus?  I was using it on Windows and just want to make sure it isn't clutter and is worth putting on the Linux.  Thanks.
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    Offline AnthonyPadua

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    Re: Basic Linux Question
    « Reply #14 on: March 16, 2024, 11:53:19 PM »
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  • So far I'm just running it from the usb but the difference in speed is already noticeably different and faster.  I still need Windows for a couple of things so I guess I'll look into partitioning the drive.  It looks and feels just like Windows so I'm pretty happy it's already working.  Any hot tips on the best way to set it up to have access to both operating systems?  I'm a real newb at this stuff so anything appreciated.
    The best way to to have 2 separate Drives. One for windows and another for Linux. when you boot you can set it to which one you prefer, or take you to the boot menu and let you pick, otherwise you will need to press a button manually to bring up the options if you want to boot from a 2nd OS that isn't your default.