Hello from an odd duck

[rationalunicorn]

Hi folks. Just a long-time lurker here stepping out of the shadows.

A little about me and my general computing background:
I started learning on Windows 3.1 when I was a kid. Ah, those halcyon days of regular command line input. The math teacher decided to teach us to program in LOGO (a programming much older than I am, thank you), which was fun - if perhaps a bit tedious. I have used every Windows OS since then except for NT. My skill on a Mac is limited; it's difficult for me to grasp the one mouse button concept. As for Linux, I have about a year of prior experience with Ubuntu 8.04. My husband had a dying desktop that he desperately wanted to save, and I'd been reading about various distros for a few years, trying to decide if I detested MS enough to make the switch. I recommended it, and since I have the stronger technical skills between the two of us, I installed it. What a pain in the butt! But once it was set up, I rather liked it. It had issues with wireless internet, but since it was a desktop that wasn't a big deal. Meanwhile, I was content to leave my laptop running Vista. It ran fine and I didn't want to deal with the headache of making the switch just yet.

That was in 2011. Now, 3 years later, I find that my laptop is starting to show some signs of aging, and it's time to get rid of Vista and move on. I've decided to install Mint 13 Cinnamon 32 bit. I chose Mint because of some pretty awesome reviews I've read, and I chose 13 because I want an LTS release. I have to admit, though, that I chose Cinnamon partly because it looks like a nice transition between GNOME 2 and 3, but mostly because it sounded delicious.

I'm preparing to fully convert my laptop over and testing out functionality via live USB. So far, everything works perfectly except for my Broadcom wireless card. Regrettably, my husband and I live with an evil dragon who guards the wired internet connection in the house. I hope to find a way to get the wireless internet up and running without disturbing the dragon, so my next step is to test out the spare USB wireless adapter I have here. Crossing my fingers that it'll be plug & play, but not holding my breath.

I suppose that's enough about me for now. Looking forward to meeting you guys and learning more about Mint!

[austin.texas]

Welcome, rationalunicorn !

And good luck with the Broadcom. I've heard they are problematic sometimes.
How to install a driver for the Broadcom series of PCI wireless cards - http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2214110

The good news is... Mint 17 will be along soon.

dragon_spray_insecticide.jpg

[The-Wizard]

Most broadcom wireless cards work out of the box, the few that don' t have plenty of coverage in the networking forum, before you do anything nasty, check the additional drivers/driver manager if it recognises your card it may be a simple download from the repository [which the driver manager will do if you tell it to]

Welcome to the Mint family forums,

wizard

PS mint 17 LTS is due out shortly may be worth hanging on to play with the laptop

[Crewp]

Welcome

[vrkalak]

.
** Welcome to LinuxMint **

Read everything you can -- Forums - Wiki - IRC

Linux: Tricks of the Trade > http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=38355
What works for Ubuntu, usually works for Mint > http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/
Linux Alternative to Windows > http://www.linuxalt.com/
LinuxMint Community Forums - Tutorials > http://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/welcome

** Remember, all OS-Distro, Apps, DE/WM are Open-Source and have a Help-Forum

[rationalunicorn]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome, and for the advice & links. I'll be adding them as bookmarks on my new setup. I've decided to sneak into the lair while the dragon is at church in the morning. I think I can run a line to my room, so I can work on this project relatively undisturbed and unhindered.

Thanks again!

PS - Love the dragon spray, Austin!

[rationalunicorn]

Welcome, rationalunicorn !

And good luck with the Broadcom. I've heard they are problematic sometimes.
How to install a driver for the Broadcom series of PCI wireless cards - http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2214110

This worked perfectly! I have a Broadcom 4321 & had read lots of threads about how difficult the 432x are kind of a pain (and found that even with a wired connection I couldn't get the driver through the gui) - but now I have it working under live usb mode. Going to finish up moving my files now & making the switch. Thanks so much, austin.texas!

[jesica]

Good day and welcome to the forum