[olug] Linux Adventure

[Shannon]

Hey Amy

Sounds like your starting your switch much like I did.  I had to forced
myself use GNU/Linux all the time so I would find out what I needed to learn
to stay there.  I think things are much easier now then ever to switch. I do
not know what games you play. For me, I found some games to play on Linux to
get my gaming fix in. currently I enjoy playing "battle for wesnoth".

If there is something like Audible you need to run in windows. Install
virtual box and run windows inside the virtual machine. That will help keep
you running in Linux yet still use that one or two things that might be
slowing your complete switch. If you enjoy audio books you might want to
check out http://librivox.org.

As far as installing Linux on your computer. I think it would be easier to
buy another hard drive and use that for Linux. you can change the boot order
in the bios or hit f12 or f10? on boot to temporally change it on the fly
during boot up. this would keep your windows systems unchanged.

good luck

Shannon



On Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 2:25 AM, Amy Mason <amason80 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello to all of my wonderful Linux Friends,
>
> I have a plan, and to put this plan in action, I need a lot of advice,
> which
> is where you all come in.  I have found that although I now have a system
> dedicated to Linux, I never, ever, use it.  I am too comfortable in
> Windows,
> and honestly, I don't want to be a windows weakling any longer.  I have
> seen
> the power of Linux, and I know a handful of commands.  I've installed
> Ubuntu
> on average twice per OS upgrade since 7.4, and really enjoyed fiddling with
> it.  However, when its time to get "real" work or play done, I turn to Win
> XP, and the Linux machine collects a lot of dust. Therefore, it is my
> intention to go Win-Free during my spring break from school.  (It's a
> slightly longer spring break, about 12 days, as it is time to change
> quarters.) I would appreciate any feedback on my plan, or the best way to
> set up to make this go as smooth as possible, so here it is, please feel
> free to critique, and offer advice as you see fit.
>
> Distro: Vinux 1.3 http://vinux.org.uk/  For those who don't know, and
> haven't bothered to visit the webisite. Vinux is a remastering of Ubuntu
> with the express purpose of including and improving access for the blind
> and
> visually impaired.  This will allow me to have a screen
> reader/magnification
> for when I need it, the Ubuntu/Debian package management I prefer, and for
> the most part, the ability to use the Ubuntu forums to get answers to what
> are likely to be miriad questions.  Also, as an aside... I have no choice,
> for accessibility I have to use Gnome, or the console, which Vinux
> obviously
> provides.
>
> System: Dell Inspiron 530 Desktop
>             Intel Core2 Duo E4500 at 2.20 Ghz
>             3 Gb Ram
>             NVidia Geforce 8300 GS 256 Shared Video Memory
>             21 inch widescreen dell monitor
>             Epson NX400 All-in-one Scanner/Printer/Copier
>             20 Gb partition of a 320 Gb SATA hard drive. (XP: 20 Gb, Vista:
> 20 Gb, Dell Utilities: >1 Gb, Data: 280 Gb Approx.)
>
> I'll be wiping my Vista partition for the install and accessing my data
> from
> the data partition of the main SATA drive, and if drivers exist, backing up
> all data to an eSATA drive connected to the system.  Otherwise, backups
> will
> be conducted between the system and a USB drive.  I'm doing this on my
> primary system because I can't seem to get proper video support on my
> dedicated Linux machine, and I am going to want to do everything, (i.e.
> game, watch videos) from the Ubuntu machine that I normally do.
>
> This brings us to a few preliminary questions.
>
> 1.  XP and Vista each are on their own 20 Gb partitions.  I've never
> installed ubuntu on a system with as complex a partitioning scheme before,
> so how do I know that I am wiping the Vista partition instead of XP?
>
> 2.  Does anyone have experience with Audible and wine, or know if its
> possible?
>
> 3. My favorite recent toy is a Wacom Bamboo tablet, is there anything fun I
> can do with it under Linux?
>
> 4.  Any resources you would reccomend to me for getting info on other
> questions that are likely to pop up?
>
> 5.  Any general flaws in the logic that you would like to point out?
>
> If this is simplistic enough to get me trounced on by grouchy Linux trolls,
> fair enough, I know I am a newb, point me to the right man
> page/forum/mailing list/(insert your favorite explative here) or feel free
> to ignore me.  I've been to OLUG meetings for 10 out of the 12 last months,
> and I am honestly trying, I just seem to be slow at the learning of it, and
> thought this might be the best way.  I appreciate all the help you have
> provided in the past, and hope you are willing to help me again.
>
> My eventual goal is probably never going to be entirely dumping windows, (I
> like games) but to try and use Linux as my primary OS, so this is a step in
> that process.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Amy
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