I Made The Switch
Mar 24th, 2008 by Don Ray
After months of looking at various Linux distributions, I have switched from UBUNTU to Linux Mint. I had mentioned it in the past and I finally decided it was worth the effort to make the move. Actually, the move was very easy. I just backed up all of my files, including email and address lists, to my external drive, and installed the new system. Then I restored the files.
What I gave up was my 64-bit dual processor capability, but I gained a lot more flexibility since the 32 bit Linux is better supported. Many programs don’t have 64-bit versions, and that finally became too much of a hassle.
Don,
What are the reason for the switch? I am using Ubuntu 32 and like it, but have not looked at mint. Always like hearing other view points. I have to dual boot as several of the programs I use at work with not run on linux, but so far Ubuntu has covered my needs.
Saludos desde Venezuela
I suppose the change was right since the 64 bit stuff is still a kind of dream. I don’t know that much about any OS except Windows and Vista that came with this new HP has been full of surprises. I got the first SP installed OK and thought that might cure some problems but it didn’t. Oh well. I still got XP on the Dell.
Abraham Lincoln in Brookville, Ohio
Hi drill4hire. There are a couple of reasons. One, I like their improved desktop interface. It frees up a little space on the screen and is simpler for others, that may be new to the system, to use. I guess all of this falls under esthetics.
Second, I have tried to install a couple of programs and not been able to because they weren’t designed to run under 64-bit. Most can be worked around, but I just got tired of fighting it. Maybe when more programs are designed to run under native 64-bit, I might switch back. However, I can’t tell that the new system is any slower than the old one.
I am even running Evolution again. Kontact, would run too slow sometimes and while I liked the look and feel of Kontact better, Evolution seems to run better.
Hi Abe. Vista may get there someday. Probably when they are ready for their next release. I just wasn’t willing to fork over $300 and spend another $1,000 to upgrade the hardware. I actually am quite satisfied with Linux.
Don Ray,
I’m sorry you decided to drop the 64-bit Ubuntu. As I mentioned in another comment, 32-bit software can be installed on a 64-bit Linux system. You could have also compiled the software if it was open source. Ubuntu doesn’t package the build environment to make it easy, but it’s possible.
Best wishes with LinuxMint. Freedom to chose a distribution is one of the strengths of Linux.
It is interesting. Today, I was watching the system monitor and it is still displaying two CPUs and each one is running at different % utilizations. In the system monitor looks the same as it did when I had the 64-bit version of UBUNTU running.
I guess I expected to see one CPU idle and the other busy.
Yes, I could have done the things you mentioned and did in some cases. However, I don’t think I am taxing the PC the way it is and there is no reason to complicate things.
drill4hire, I gave up on dual-boot in favor of VMWare. I run Win 2K Pro, which in my opinion is the only half-decent OS Microsoft ever produced. They should have stuck with it. Anyway, with VMWare, I simply run Windows from inside Linux. I take a snapshot of the OS whenever I install new softrware, and if I get a virus or other malware, all I have to do is revert to the last clean snapshot.
Hi Henry. Maybe in your case VMWARE would make sense. For me, I run Windows XP so little, I could not justify the purchase.I am happy with my dual boot system.
Don Ray,
If the EULA allows it, you can run XP in a VM whether it’s VMWare Server (available at no cost) or Innotek’s VirtualBox. There is a package for VirtualBox on Ubuntu’s repositories, and you may be able to find a package for LinuxMint.
I’ve switched from VMWare Server to VirtualBox and am quite happy with the VirtualBox solution. VirtualBox has an OpenSourceEdition (OSE) or a personal use/evaluation edition, both of which are available at no charge.
Linux Mint uses UBUNTU’s libraries, so it should be there.