Comments on The Perfect Desktop - Linux Mint 17 (Qiana)
The Perfect Desktop - Linux Mint 17 (Qiana) This tutorial shows how you can set up a Linux Mint 17 (Qiana) desktop that is a full-fledged replacement for a Windows desktop, i.e.that has all the software that people need to do the things they do on their Windows desktops. The advantages are clear: you get a securesystem without DRM restrictions that works even on old hardware, and the best thing is: all software comes free of charge. Linux Mint 17 is a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu that has lots of packages in its repositories (like multimedia codecs, Adobe Flash, Adobe Reader, Skype,Google Earth, etc.) that are relatively hard to install on other distributions; it therefore provides a user-friendly desktop experience even for Linux newbies.
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So near yet so far. I have just replaced Mint 16 with 17 Quiana. A fresh start and new install thinking I know enough about it now must be good. And it is good, brilliant in fact. After formatting, partitioning and only one 'fixmbr' for old WinXP I easily loaded all the Mint 17 software on an empty HDD.
Wine runs my Sitespinner perfectly, and also my old copy of Corel, perfectly! The Libre Office is great and Softmaker 2012 is better still(for me). It even installed itself and put the icons on the screen!! My sound works not bad this time and Skype is good. Browser and email function top class. So why would anyone want to go near any Windows???? Well I will tell you. I do have nasty feelings about MS, sorry Bill.
There are a few remaining complexities and real headaches that appear common Linux ground. Only the real "geeks", the hobbyists/programmers who speak an alien lingo seem to enjoy it. People who want to produce DVDs from tapes or print accurately in colour on their Canon printer don't enjoy this run-around. IT IS NOT OFTEN EASY. I still can't get my Easycap to go, 'not a clue! There are many hundreds of selections to make, "switches" to throw choices which either confuse even if you know what they mean. Even the directory system is a learning curve. The "terminal" and Synaptic might be a salvation but it's a new language. What happens to a "tar" when it arrives?
But as an operating system I feel it is really worth the trouble and support. It is brilliant, economical on memory, powerful and fast, reliable, and FREE. Another milestone today, I finally got it to grab the photos from my Canon G16 (like Mint 16 did without my help).
Only the real "geeks", the hobbyists/programmers who speak an alien lingo seem to enjoy it. People who want to produce DVDs from tapes or print accurately in colour on their Canon printer don't enjoy this run-around. IT IS NOT OFTEN EASY
And this is different from Windows how? Every time you upgrade an OS something breaks. Windows and OS X, unfortunately, are no different. Singling out Linux compatibility issues as only something that "hobbyists" can handle is meaningless.
LinuxMint 16 to LinuxMint 17.
Thanks for an interesting writeup.