Comments on: The Minimalist’s Guide to a Productive Linux Desktop, Part 1 – Installing Linux http://wageslaverebel.com/the-minimalists-guide-to-a-productive-linux-desktop-installing-linux/ Lessons in Dismantling the Status Quo Sat, 24 Jul 2010 06:06:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Shaun http://wageslaverebel.com/the-minimalists-guide-to-a-productive-linux-desktop-installing-linux/comment-page-1/#comment-1016 Shaun Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:53:51 +0000 http://wageslaverebel.com/?p=677#comment-1016 <p>How have you found using Linux for design work? I've switched numerous times but always found the software for creative endeavours lacking and ended up returning to familiarity. Are you using GimpShop and sucking up the learning curve? I do some audio recording and video editing as well and, though I admittedly haven't tried Ubuntu Studio lately, always found the software options lacking or just impossible to get working properly.</p> <p>This isn't a criticism of FOSS developers - simply a problem I can't solve myself that no one else has managed either. I suspect there are a lot of folks in a similar boat who otherwise would be entirely supportive of the movement. .-= Shaun´s last blog ..<a href="http://shaunchurch.com/blog/how-to-setup-the-ideal-lamp-development-server-using-ubuntu/" rel="nofollow">How To Setup the Ideal LAMP Development Server using Ubuntu</a> =-.</p> How have you found using Linux for design work? I’ve switched numerous times but always found the software for creative endeavours lacking and ended up returning to familiarity. Are you using GimpShop and sucking up the learning curve? I do some audio recording and video editing as well and, though I admittedly haven’t tried Ubuntu Studio lately, always found the software options lacking or just impossible to get working properly.

This isn’t a criticism of FOSS developers – simply a problem I can’t solve myself that no one else has managed either. I suspect there are a lot of folks in a similar boat who otherwise would be entirely supportive of the movement. .-= Shaun´s last blog ..How To Setup the Ideal LAMP Development Server using Ubuntu =-.

]]> By: Robert http://wageslaverebel.com/the-minimalists-guide-to-a-productive-linux-desktop-installing-linux/comment-page-1/#comment-1007 Robert Wed, 20 Jan 2010 01:24:22 +0000 http://wageslaverebel.com/?p=677#comment-1007 <p>Awesome post, love seeing this technical side get up on the blog. I've played with plenty of Linux builds but come back to Ubuntu because I waste less time messing with it and more time using it.</p> <p>Some advantages over windows for Alan might be that it adds new life to an aging laptop or desktop you might have. The "app store" you mentioned above really is an awesome platform...I think all software should work like it does...and I think Apple is looking to move in that direction.</p> <p>That being said commercial apps are skimpy on a linux system and technical issues mean you need a super technical linux support guy, I'd recommend going Apple next time for the quality match of hardware and software, it's what I use personally for easy or advanced.</p> <p>Awesome post JD, I love the tech stuff! I'm ripping this idea and going to do a few lifestyle design tech posts soon too. .-= Robert´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheLifeDesignProject/~3/auCS0jZWWkE/" rel="nofollow">Freedom Business | Making Ideas Real (Keyword Truths)</a> =-.</p> Awesome post, love seeing this technical side get up on the blog. I’ve played with plenty of Linux builds but come back to Ubuntu because I waste less time messing with it and more time using it.

Some advantages over windows for Alan might be that it adds new life to an aging laptop or desktop you might have. The “app store” you mentioned above really is an awesome platform…I think all software should work like it does…and I think Apple is looking to move in that direction.

That being said commercial apps are skimpy on a linux system and technical issues mean you need a super technical linux support guy, I’d recommend going Apple next time for the quality match of hardware and software, it’s what I use personally for easy or advanced.

Awesome post JD, I love the tech stuff! I’m ripping this idea and going to do a few lifestyle design tech posts soon too. .-= Robert´s last blog ..Freedom Business | Making Ideas Real (Keyword Truths) =-.

]]> By: J. D. Bentley http://wageslaverebel.com/the-minimalists-guide-to-a-productive-linux-desktop-installing-linux/comment-page-1/#comment-993 J. D. Bentley Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:35:32 +0000 http://wageslaverebel.com/?p=677#comment-993 <p>For this post I had to strike a balance between minimalism and ease-of-use. Installing and using Ubuntu is pretty straightforward and GNOME is close enough to windows or Mac that it doesn't require much of a shift in thinking.</p> <p>The most minimalist gui I used was Blackbox. I've tried to install it over the years but was never able to find it again. I first used it with Mandrake Linux in 2000 or 2001.</p> <p>Anyway, I have a special love for FreeBSD even though I don't have much experience with it. Always wanted to give it a try though.</p> For this post I had to strike a balance between minimalism and ease-of-use. Installing and using Ubuntu is pretty straightforward and GNOME is close enough to windows or Mac that it doesn’t require much of a shift in thinking.

The most minimalist gui I used was Blackbox. I’ve tried to install it over the years but was never able to find it again. I first used it with Mandrake Linux in 2000 or 2001.

Anyway, I have a special love for FreeBSD even though I don’t have much experience with it. Always wanted to give it a try though.

]]> By: J. D. Bentley http://wageslaverebel.com/the-minimalists-guide-to-a-productive-linux-desktop-installing-linux/comment-page-1/#comment-992 J. D. Bentley Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:27:53 +0000 http://wageslaverebel.com/?p=677#comment-992 <p>If you already have a Windows desktop that's minimal and it works for you, maybe it's not worth switching except for philosophical reasons. I like knowing that the software I use is free and will always be free (cost-wise and rights-wise). I like knowing that in general, it's users are the ones who decided what features are most needed and that the development roadmap is public knowledge.</p> <p>More practically speaking, the Ubuntu Software Center kicks ass. It's like an app store, except all the apps are free. Almost any app you'd want can be downloaded and installed with one click from one location. The last Windows OS I used was XP so going from XP to Ubuntu was like upgrading to MacOS X for free. It's got the same sort of polish and elegance (more so now than when I started using it).</p> <p>It's also got plenty of sweet apps. Lately I've been playing around with Basket, which is a bit like Bento on Mac or Microsoft's OneNote. Really cool for planning and clipping things from the web. I also got PyRoom, which is a clone of the WriteRoom app for Mac.</p> <p>To me it's like this. If I have the choice between two computers, both having the software that gets the job done and the sort of user experience that makes me more productive, but one of them is free to use and free to change, I'm going with the free one.</p> If you already have a Windows desktop that’s minimal and it works for you, maybe it’s not worth switching except for philosophical reasons. I like knowing that the software I use is free and will always be free (cost-wise and rights-wise). I like knowing that in general, it’s users are the ones who decided what features are most needed and that the development roadmap is public knowledge.

More practically speaking, the Ubuntu Software Center kicks ass. It’s like an app store, except all the apps are free. Almost any app you’d want can be downloaded and installed with one click from one location. The last Windows OS I used was XP so going from XP to Ubuntu was like upgrading to MacOS X for free. It’s got the same sort of polish and elegance (more so now than when I started using it).

It’s also got plenty of sweet apps. Lately I’ve been playing around with Basket, which is a bit like Bento on Mac or Microsoft’s OneNote. Really cool for planning and clipping things from the web. I also got PyRoom, which is a clone of the WriteRoom app for Mac.

To me it’s like this. If I have the choice between two computers, both having the software that gets the job done and the sort of user experience that makes me more productive, but one of them is free to use and free to change, I’m going with the free one.

]]> By: Brandon http://wageslaverebel.com/the-minimalists-guide-to-a-productive-linux-desktop-installing-linux/comment-page-1/#comment-991 Brandon Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:24:36 +0000 http://wageslaverebel.com/?p=677#comment-991 <p>In all honesty, I could never find myself liking the GNOME feel. My linux usage went from GNOME (with Ubuntu 7.04) to Openbox (<a href="http://www.archlinux.org" title="Arch Linux" rel="nofollow">Arch</a>) to KDE (<a href="http://www.gentoo.org" title="Gentoo" rel="nofollow">Gentoo</a>) to <a href="http://dwm.suckless.org/" title="Dynamic Window Manager" rel="nofollow">dwm</a> (<a href="http://www.funtoo.org" title="Funtoo Linux" rel="nofollow">Funtoo</a>). Now, if you want minimalism, a tiled WM is the way to go. I was able to focus much more on my work when I switched to dwm.</p> <p>I use FreeBSD now, though. But, yeah. I'm just saying that dwm is one of the most minimalistic approaches to a window manager while still providing a massive amount of productivity. .-= Brandon´s last blog ..<a href="http://dexodro.wordpress.com/2010/01/10/oh-this-backwards-life/" rel="nofollow">Oh, This Backwards Life</a> =-.</p> In all honesty, I could never find myself liking the GNOME feel. My linux usage went from GNOME (with Ubuntu 7.04) to Openbox (Arch) to KDE (Gentoo) to dwm (Funtoo). Now, if you want minimalism, a tiled WM is the way to go. I was able to focus much more on my work when I switched to dwm.

I use FreeBSD now, though. But, yeah. I’m just saying that dwm is one of the most minimalistic approaches to a window manager while still providing a massive amount of productivity. .-= Brandon´s last blog ..Oh, This Backwards Life =-.

]]> By: J. D. Bentley http://wageslaverebel.com/the-minimalists-guide-to-a-productive-linux-desktop-installing-linux/comment-page-1/#comment-989 J. D. Bentley Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:09:23 +0000 http://wageslaverebel.com/?p=677#comment-989 <p>Linux has gotten a lot more user friendly since Ubuntu popped up and I get amazed at the polish that put on every release. I'd say that for most people, there probably won't be any need to learn terminal commands. In fact, the only time I use commands is when I install things because typing "sudo apt-get install blah" is faster than searching through the graphical program, but installing apps is just as easy in the Ubuntu Software Center or Synaptic Package Manager. If I were you I'd burn a live disk (one that runs Linux without installing it) and give it a go.</p> Linux has gotten a lot more user friendly since Ubuntu popped up and I get amazed at the polish that put on every release. I’d say that for most people, there probably won’t be any need to learn terminal commands. In fact, the only time I use commands is when I install things because typing “sudo apt-get install blah” is faster than searching through the graphical program, but installing apps is just as easy in the Ubuntu Software Center or Synaptic Package Manager. If I were you I’d burn a live disk (one that runs Linux without installing it) and give it a go.

]]> By: Alan http://wageslaverebel.com/the-minimalists-guide-to-a-productive-linux-desktop-installing-linux/comment-page-1/#comment-988 Alan Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:57:21 +0000 http://wageslaverebel.com/?p=677#comment-988 <p>What are the main advantages you've found using Linux? Any compelling arguments for me, a Windows user, with an already minimalist desktop? .-= Alan´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.the9to5alternative.com/blog/experiments-in-lifestyle-design-all-the-jobs-youve-ever-had" rel="nofollow">Experiments in Lifestyle Design: All the Jobs You’ve Ever Had</a> =-.</p> What are the main advantages you’ve found using Linux? Any compelling arguments for me, a Windows user, with an already minimalist desktop? .-= Alan´s last blog ..Experiments in Lifestyle Design: All the Jobs You’ve Ever Had =-.

]]> By: Gordie http://wageslaverebel.com/the-minimalists-guide-to-a-productive-linux-desktop-installing-linux/comment-page-1/#comment-986 Gordie Mon, 11 Jan 2010 09:23:34 +0000 http://wageslaverebel.com/?p=677#comment-986 <p>Is there still a lot of special commands one needs like there used to be?</p> <p>I like the idea of using Ubuntu and will definitely consider upgrading to it when I move back to New Zealand and buy a new computer. .-= Gordie´s last blog ..<a href="http://lifestyledesignforyou.com/2010/01/lifestyle-design-begins-at-home/" rel="nofollow">Lifestyle Design Begins at Home.</a> =-.</p> Is there still a lot of special commands one needs like there used to be?

I like the idea of using Ubuntu and will definitely consider upgrading to it when I move back to New Zealand and buy a new computer. .-= Gordie´s last blog ..Lifestyle Design Begins at Home. =-.

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