Migrating to Linux (Ubuntu?)

[#1]

That is exactly how I was running XP on my Linux machine, using VMWare. It was set up in such a way that depending on the username, you would get either a Gnome or XP session.
It worked by using rdesktop to RDP into the XP Virtual machine.
But since updating to Ubuntu 8.04 I have not set up VM yet. As I am not longer running a (virtual) webserver from home.

[#2]

Quote from: Kelly

The only thing stopping me from uninstalling Windows on my laptop is that I can't get Eve-Online running in Ubuntu.  Can't get the OpenGL stuff working

I started with Ubuntu but found so many things just didn't work , particularly in the graphics area. For a Linux dummy like me it was just too difficult even to get the BBCs various video formats working.
Thats why I changed to PCLOS where everything needed comes pre-installed and works "out of the box". Even basics like Flash.
Don't know a thing about OpenGL ( I really am a dummy) but on checking Synaptic I see all the basic stuff seems to be installed by default and there's a host of Nvidia drivers and other extras in the repository.
I keep going back to look at Ubuntu (Checked out 8.04 yesterday), but there's no question that distros like PCLOS and Mepis and a couple of others are much more friendly for the beginner. Specially for those like me that think that "Command Line" is an obscenity and like to boot into "root" if they wish without being made to feel unclean. 
(I was severely reprimanded on the Ubuntu forums for asking if that was possible!)

[#3]

It's easy to sign into the GUI (Gnome or KDE etc) as root, in Ubuntu, and even browse if you really want to live dangerously.
I do it myself (very occasionally).
Although I've had problems running 32 bit apps (like all the browser plugins) in my 64 bit browser, this now appears to be fixed and wrappers allow me to run all the stuff like flash, java, quicktime/real player files. The BBC iplayer works too.

[#4]

I've tried various flavours of Linux as well as the usual Ubuntu variants:
Mepis, Mint, MCN Live, Berry, NimbleX, Dreamlinux, GoblinX, PCLinuxOS, Puppy, DSL, SUSE, Xandros (on an EeePC) and Sam.
Mainly now I use Mepis (on an old desktop) PCLinuxOs (as it supports a new Intel Wifi card better than the others) and Mint 4 (but I have more sound problems with this distro than the others)
I now am trying to get another user who has an old desktop with just 256mb RAM a small HDD and a CD drive into Linux.
I've downloaded Xubuntu 8.04, Mepis 7.2 AntiX and will download PCLinuxOS TinyMe - are there any other more mainstream distro's that have a lightweight equivalent?
User involved is only a recent computer user, used to Windows 2000 and 98se, so I'd like to get something that is close(ish) to a Windows experience and will not involve too much delving into the terminal/console.

[#5]

Quote from: Kelly

The only thing stopping me from uninstalling Windows on my laptop is that I can't get Eve-Online running in Ubuntu.  Can't get the OpenGL stuff working

Eve-Online works very well under PCLOS providing all necessary requirements are met prior to installing it.
No fiddling around required - it just works! 
Regards .....

[#6]

Trying to make me convert eh?
It's because it's a laptop and therefore on board gxf, rather than a ndivia/ATI card etc.  I'm sure it's fixable, I just don't actually know where to start.
Perhaps I should dig out some details later and put them on here...

[#7]

Quote from: Kelly

Trying to make me convert eh?

The thought never crossed my mind 

Quote

It's because it's a laptop and therefore on board gxf, rather than a ndivia/ATI card etc.  I'm sure it's fixable, I just don't actually know where to start.

Mine's a desktop but also has on-board graphics (nVidia GeForce 6100).
Perhaps you should start by looking at your graphics drivers?

Quote

Perhaps I should dig out some details later and put them on here...

Please do 
Regards .....

[#8]

Quote from: axisofevil

It's easy to sign into the GUI (Gnome or KDE etc) as root, in Ubuntu, and even browse if you really want to live dangerously. I do it myself (very occasionally). Although I've had problems running 32 bit apps (like all the browser plugins) in my 64 bit browser, this now appears to be fixed and wrappers allow me to run all the stuff like flash, java, quicktime/real player files. The BBC iplayer works too.

Can you sign into the Ubuntu GUI (does that mean desktop)  as root without using CL?
What are wrappers? I can run stuff like flash, java, quicktime/real player files and the BBC iplayer with PCLOS out--of -the -box.
When I tried Ubuntu 8.04 it kept on telling me I needed to install all kinds of extra things......

[#9]

Ok.  The laptop is a Sony VGN-FS515B.  It's gfx card is an  "Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 900 with up to 128MB Dynamic Video Memory shared with Main Memory" which might be a the stumbling block.  I'll reboot in a mo into Ubuntu and try some OpenGL diags.

[#10]

Actually, I now think it's configured fine.  glxgears gets btw 500-700fps...  it's just the 3D acceleration test via cedega in the Eve config app that fails:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=opera&rls=en&hs=bxT&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&...

[#11]

Hi Folks
Sorry to distirb this thread a bit, but since reading it I have been getting a bit more interested in looking at the Linux OS.
After looking at distrowatch.com, I did not realise how easy it was to install one of these until I looked their.
I have since had a little play around with Ubuntu, and iam just looking at Kubuntu.  Iam also currently downloading PCLinuxOS.
I know Kubuntu is Ubuntu but with the KDE front end.
With Ubuntu I had no problems with installing and getting my drivers found correctly, but with Kubuntu I had problems with trying to get me Wireless Broadcom adaptor installed which is built into my HP Pavillion , it just would not install the correct drivers for it and so far is disabled. It can see my hardware correctly, but just does not want to install or enable my wireless card.
With Kubuntu my first impressions were that it looks nicer then Ubuntu, but seemed slower and a bit more aukward to work around for a new user.  Ubuntu seemed to work flawsley and no problems with hardware.
What i did not understand why Kubuntu did not like my Broadcom wireless adaptor but Ubuntu did.
What are peoples oppions/experience with PCLinuxOS?  Will it detect most hardware like Ubuntu does very well?
How well does the KDE frontend work, does it slow it down much after it has been installed to the hard drive?
Thanks
Andy

[#12]

Quote from: Heloman

Can you sign into the Ubuntu GUI (does that mean desktop)  as root without using CL? What are wrappers? I can run stuff like flash, java, quicktime/real player files and the BBC iplayer with PCLOS out--of -the -box. When I tried Ubuntu 8.04 it kept on telling me I needed to install all kinds of extra things......

Yes. You need to enter a couple of simple commands.
In a terminal screen enter:-
sudo passwd root
Give your password when prompted for "[sudo] password for ..."
Then enter your choice of root password when prompted to do so (twice).
To sign on to your GUI, you have to change the default behaviour of preventing root signon.
For Gnome:-
from a terminal screen enter
sudo gedit /etc/gdm/gdm.conf
Look for a line that says...
[security]
# Allow root to login.  It makes sense to turn this off for kiosk use, when
# you want to minimize the possibility of break in.
AllowRoot=false
Change false to true
Give your password when prompted for "[sudo] password for ..."
Next time you use the computer you can use root...

[#13]

visit the forum sites for those distros you are interested in and read up on some of the issues.  on pclinuxos, broadcom can be a bear and the atheros chipset is hard to configure too.  this thread alone:
http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php?topic=8631.0
runs to ten pages.
sometimes it's as easy as sliding the cd into the drive and rebooting.  from there you can install in minutes, get online and fully update and have no trouble at all.  other times one small issue, be it wireless, or getting your printer working, can ruin your computing experience.  lexmark, for example, the makers will not release code so that the open sourcerers can write suitable drivers.  consequently getting on of those printers to work is a nightmare, though it has been done.
a lot of people like to have a stripped down pclos from which to customise their system.  minime 2008 fulfils this function and many people have to use safeboot, or noscsi at the boot command line, to get past the scsi bottleneck at boot.  installed from safeboot, you don't get the pretty bootsplash, but you do get a blistering fast os.
for specialised functions community members have produced a variety of remasters, tinyme, tinyflux for older and low spec hardware are probably the most famous.  there is a community soho remaster for home and small business, an audio remaster and one for video.
to know more about the various projects arising out of pclinuxos, visit mypclinuxos.com.  if you enjoy tinkering with software and have a spare box/install to trash at will, visit hack.mypclinuxos.com, which was set up so that people could take on more advanced subjects than pclinuxos.com can cater for.
reallylinux.com is a good starting place to ask questions and they cover all of linux, so you can ask a question on any distribution there.
kde is a great window manager, highly configurable and stable.  dependent upon hardware, pclinuxos runs pretty fast and last time i turned my computer off because a thunderstorm was imminent, it had been up and running for 17 days.
the only real test is your own.  try several distros and compare how one works against another against your preferred way of doing things.  for some people this will be gnome, or openbox, or fluxbox.  kde seems to be the window manager many windows migrants feel most comfortable with.
most of all, linux is for fun.

[#14]

Quote from: axisofevil

Next time you use the computer you can use root...

I'd strongly advise against running a gui as root, that's a very quick and easy way to trash your system. Also one of the reasons that *nix based systems are more secure is that user's can't do much in the way of damage. By logging into the GUI as root and using it to browse the web etc any problems with your software become greatly magnified.
Distrowise I'm a fan of debian, it does what I want and I find it easy to maintain. If you really want to learn about how your computer works etc I'd recommend slackware or gentoo.

[#15]

I strongly agree with not using root signons - it's a bit like using Windows 
However, anything you want to do in Linux can be done.
It does have it's uses - if you are strongly averse to command entry screens.
So if you want GUI features + access all areas + you don't want to learn about gksu etc then root logins are the way to go.
Don't be surprised if it all ends in tears though.