Finally jumped off the fence (kinda)

[Freth]

I've been a PC power user since the early DOS days. Over the years, I've accumulated a large collection of software. Software has been the only thing keeping me from letting go of Windows 7 completely. I use complex software packages on Windows 7, which aren't available on Linux. However, I don't use them every day, so I have been sitting on that fence, wanting to switch to Linux completely, but not able to. I've been playing with a number of distributions for about two years now, as well as Raspbian with the PI2 (a dumb terminal replacement project for work, emulation, etc). My favorites are Linux Mint and Xubuntu, with close seconds being Peppermint OS and Manjaro and of course, Arch. Having been a DOS user in the past, I even considered using Arch. I've done a few test installs with Arch, using bash commands manually and installed the cinnamon desktop, just to know I could do it. Although I've fiddled with them, I had not committed to any.

I recently picked up an ASUS micro PC system for my bedroom, so I can browse the web and watch video content on my 43 inch monitor (which I find is too big for sitting at a desk). I installed Linux Mint on it as dual boot, along with Windows 10 (which it came with), because I was getting tired of Windows constantly doing something in the background. I can't stand to see my hard drive run continuously for no good reason. I used Linux Mint for a week, until Windows 10 decided it wanted to overwrite/override grub2 during an update.

Peeved as I was, I decided not to mess with dual boot, but instead use one of my 4TB external hard drives as a portable Linux Mint solution. I used an old laptop to boot into a live USB drive and install Linux Mint on the hard drive. I've been using it for a week solid and I'm loving it. I bring the hard drive to work and boot my personal laptop using it. I can literally take it anywhere and use it on any of my PC's (64-bit, at least). So far it's been gravy. NOTE: I did find a bug in the Linux Mint live USB image. It wouldn't let me change back from Hi-DPI when I used it on another PC. Maybe this is intended behavior, not sure. I also boogered it up and it ran out of space, so that may have been an issue. I fixed it with a new write of the image.

So here I am, typing on Linux Mint, happy that my OS is snappy and not bogged down by needless background junk. Mint has really grown on me. As a power user, I was kind of reluctant to pick the most user-friendly distribution, but it's been everything I need and nothing has reared its ugly head to turn me away, so I'm happy. I still need Windows for that specialized software (mostly creative work), but it doesn't mean I have to use it for my every day OS.

Thanks, Linux Mint team!

[lmintnewb2]

Definitely welcome aboard and glad you came. Sound like a good addition to me, to an already widely well known and liked friendly gnu/Nix community ! Btw: Think you made a dang fine choice, the grass is DEFINITELY greener on the gnu/Linux side of the fence. Esp with Mint. I mean ummmm, green is kind of their thing !

[jimallyn]

Welcome aboard, Freth!

[phd21]

Hi "Freth",

Welcome to the wonderful world of Linux Mint and its excellent forum !

It would help to know more about your system setup. If you run "inxi -Fxzd" and "lsusb" from the console terminal prompt, highlight the results, copy and paste them back here, that should provide enough information.

Software has been the only thing keeping me from letting go of Windows 7 completely. I use complex software packages on Windows 7, which aren't available on Linux.

Perhaps if you told us what "complex software packages" you are using in MS Windows, then we might be able to suggest good to excellent Linux alternatives for you. And, you can install Virtualbox or VMware, then install a version of MS Windows in that, and install any MS Windows applications in that and run them while still in Linux Mint without "dual-booting".

[catweazel]

Welcome!

[WharfRat]

Hello Freth

Welcome to Linux Mint and the Linux Mint forum

[Amii_Leigh]

Namaste and welcome to the Linux Mint forums!

[Freth]

Thank you for the kind welcomes.

The software that's currently keeping me in Windows:

• Xara Designer Pro X
• CyberLink PowerDirector Suite 14
• Ableton Live 9 Suite
• SAM Broadcaster

These packages are latency intensive and CPU hungry, which has me skeptical about running them in a virtual machine, especially Ableton Live. PowerDirector uses my home PC's graphics card hardware to crunch video.

I will do some hardware dumps and post them shortly. I use my hard drive at home and at work on my laptop.

[JerryF]

Welcome to the forums!

[Freth]

Code: Select all

System:    Host: luscious-XPS-M1330 Kernel: 4.10.0-38-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
           Desktop: Cinnamon 3.4.6 (Gtk 3.18.9-1ubuntu3.3)
           Distro: Linux Mint 18.2 Sonya
Machine:   System: TOSHIBA product: Qosmio X500 v: PQX34U-01F01U
           Mobo: Intel model: N/A Bios: INSYDE v: 1.40 date: 02/14/2011
CPU:       Quad core Intel Core i7-2630QM (-HT-MCP-) cache: 6144 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 15963
           clock speeds: max: 2900 MHz 1: 898 MHz 2: 900 MHz 3: 899 MHz
           4: 934 MHz 5: 858 MHz 6: 894 MHz 7: 896 MHz 8: 844 MHz
Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA GF106M [GeForce GTX 460M] bus-ID: 01:00.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: nouveau (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1920x1080@60.00hz
           GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on NVC3
           GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 17.0.7 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card-1 NVIDIA GF106 High Definition Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 01:00.1
           Card-2 Intel 6 Series/C200 Series Family High Definition Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.10.0-38-generic
Network:   Card-1: Qualcomm Atheros AR9285 Wireless Network Adapter (PCI-Express)
           driver: ath9k bus-ID: 0f:00.0
           IF: wlp15s0 state: up mac: <filter>
           Card-2: Qualcomm Atheros AR8151 v2.0 Gigabit Ethernet
           driver: atl1c v: 1.0.1.1-NAPI port: 2000 bus-ID: 10:00.0
           IF: enp16s0 state: down mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 9001.7GB (-)
           ID-1: /dev/sda model: ST9500420AS size: 500.1GB
           ID-2: /dev/sdb model: ST9500420AS size: 500.1GB
           ID-3: USB /dev/sdc model: My_Passport_25E2 size: 4000.8GB
           ID-4: USB /dev/sdd model: My_Passport_25E2 size: 4000.8GB
           Optical: /dev/sr0 model: HL-DT-ST BDDVDRW CT30F
           rev: YT04 dev-links: cdrom,cdrw,dvd,dvdrw
           Features: speed: 24x multisession: yes
           audio: yes dvd: yes rw: cd-r,cd-rw,dvd-r,dvd-ram state: running
Partition: ID-1: / size: 230G used: 7.3G (4%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdc2
           ID-2: /boot size: 464M used: 121M (28%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdc1
           ID-3: /home size: 3.4T used: 979G (31%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdc4
           ID-4: swap-1 size: 32.00GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sdc3
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 47.0C mobo: N/A gpu: 44.0
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 257 Uptime: 10 min Memory: 1773.9/7963.4MB
           Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.481) inxi: 2.2.35 

Bus 002 Device 003: ID 1058:25e2 Western Digital Technologies, Inc. 
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 0cf3:3005 Atheros Communications, Inc. AR3011 Bluetooth
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 04f2:b130 Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd 
Bus 001 Device 006: ID 1058:25e2 Western Digital Technologies, Inc. 
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 046d:c077 Logitech, Inc. M105 Optical Mouse
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

[phd21]

Hi "Freth",

As with anyone coming from any other computer operating system, it will take you sometime to get used to the differences between them. I found that it did not take that long.

There are a lot of posts in this forum regarding each of these type of applications ... Although it may take a little time to learn a new application, it is worth making the effort. You already have good computer hardware which is a necessity for these applications, but adding more system memory (ram) would help. If you run into a latency issue that you cannot overcome within a particular application's configuration, then you can also install a "low latency" Linux Kernel. Many of these type of applications have settings for using the video card GPU as well.

I do not see anything wrong with the results of the "inxi -Fxzd" console terminal command, except that you are not using the correct video driver for your GeForce GTX 460M video card, see link below

NVIDIA: how to install the latest video card drivers (great website for Linux)
https://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/12

FYI: Most Java based applications also work perfectly under Linux, just install the Java runtimes. Obviously all web based (website based) applications should work in any browser on any computer operating system, including Linux.

1.) Xara Designer Pro X (Web design)
- There are many web site building options and many posts on this in this forum, search for "web design". FYI: Most web hosts already offer WYSIWYG web builder apps.

Google Web Designer
https://www.google.com/webdesigner/

Simple WYSIWYG HTML Editor [Solved]
viewtopic.php?t=222786

best linux wysiwyg web development tools
https://www.google.com/search?client=op ... -n5pisQ3Aw

2.) CyberLink PowerDirector Suite 14 (Video editing)
- There are many excellent video editors, movie and slideshow makers, home and business DVD disc makers, available to install and use under Linux. Again, there are many posts on this in this forum, search for "video editor" in this forum and "best linux video editor" online. "Kdenlive", Lightworks (LWS) pro, Openshot, Shotcut, Lives, and many more ...

Best linux video editors
https://www.google.com/search?client=op ... 8&oe=UTF-8

3.) Ableton Live 9 Suite (music production)

best linux music production software
https://www.google.com/search?client=op ... 8&oe=UTF-8


4.) SAM Broadcaster (Online broadcasting)

- Try OBS Studio
https://obsproject.com/

YouTube has this, and there are others ...
https://www.google.com/search?client=op ... 8&oe=UTF-8

best linux radio broadcasting software
https://www.google.com/search?client=op ... HR_ysVoJ8k


Hope this helps ...

[mrmajik45]

Welcome to the Minty side of Linux!

[Green-cedar-19+52]

Welcome to the forum!

Green Cedar

[Freth]

Hi "Freth",

As with anyone coming from any other computer operating system, it will take you sometime to get used to the differences between them. I found that it did not take that long.

There are a lot of posts in this forum regarding each of these type of applications ... Although it may take a little time to learn a new application, it is worth making the effort. You already have good computer hardware which is a necessity for these applications, but adding more system memory (ram) would help. If you run into a latency issue that you cannot overcome within a particular application's configuration, then you can also install a "low latency" Linux Kernel. Many of these type of applications have settings for using the video card GPU as well.

I do not see anything wrong with the results of the "inxi -Fxzd" console terminal command, except that you are not using the correct video driver for your GeForce GTX 460M video card, see link below

NVIDIA: how to install the latest video card drivers (great website for Linux)
https://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/12

FYI: Most Java based applications also work perfectly under Linux, just install the Java runtimes. Obviously all web based (website based) applications should work in any browser on any computer operating system, including Linux.

1.) Xara Designer Pro X (Web design)
- There are many web site building options and many posts on this in this forum, search for "web design". FYI: Most web hosts already offer WYSIWYG web builder apps.

Google Web Designer
https://www.google.com/webdesigner/

Simple WYSIWYG HTML Editor [Solved]
viewtopic.php?t=222786

best linux wysiwyg web development tools
https://www.google.com/search?client=op ... -n5pisQ3Aw

2.) CyberLink PowerDirector Suite 14 (Video editing)
- There are many excellent video editors, movie and slideshow makers, home and business DVD disc makers, available to install and use under Linux. Again, there are many posts on this in this forum, search for "video editor" in this forum and "best linux video editor" online. "Kdenlive", Lightworks (LWS) pro, Openshot, Shotcut, Lives, and many more ...

Best linux video editors
https://www.google.com/search?client=op ... 8&oe=UTF-8

3.) Ableton Live 9 Suite (music production)

best linux music production software
https://www.google.com/search?client=op ... 8&oe=UTF-8


4.) SAM Broadcaster (Online broadcasting)

- Try OBS Studio
https://obsproject.com/

YouTube has this, and there are others ...
https://www.google.com/search?client=op ... 8&oe=UTF-8

best linux radio broadcasting software
https://www.google.com/search?client=op ... HR_ysVoJ8k


Hope this helps ...

Thanks again for the welcomes.

The RAM you're seeing is on my personal laptop I use at work, which doesn't get used for anything intensive. I use my home PC for most of my work. My home PC has similar stats, an NVIDIA 970 GTX and 12GB of RAM (I just recently quit my decades long habit of PC gaming). Both systems are 5-8 years old. I'll probably be upgrading soon since the laptop and PC are nearing the end of their life spans.

I hadn't gotten around to changing the driver, since I'm not using Linux for anything graphically intensive (yet). Thanks for the suggestions. At issue here is the money investment I've already put into the software and my preference to use them to get my money out of them. I've spent hundreds of dollars on these packages, so I'm reluctant to let go of them.

I appreciate your suggestions. I am familiar with some of them, because I've been trying out Linux off and on for a few years, as well as much of the software available. I use Xara for graphic design, not web design. Vector graphics. I've tried some of the vector graphics apps for Linux, but haven't found one I really like. I'll check out your suggestions and give them a once over, to see if they meet my needs.

Aside from the money investment I already have in my software, some of which I haven't gotten my money's worth yet, I think it's going to come down to features and interface that wins me over.

Much appreciation.

[phd21]

Hi "Freth",

You are welcome again...

I would use the Nvidia drivers on both machines.

5 Best Vector Graphics Editors for Linux
https://itsfoss.com/vector-graphics-editors-linux/


best linux Vector graphics
https://www.google.com/search?client=op ... 7-TjzWci4k


7 Best Linux Tools For Digital Artists
https://itsfoss.com/best-linux-graphic-design-software/


Hope this helps ...