is there a guide for how to use an ereader in linux?

[Shades]

Originally Posted by rcentros

And hard drives don't go out? Whatever you're using for your mass storage you're probably going to want to back it up.

Depending on what the HDD is doing at the time, a power outage can be catastrophic to it as well.

For this reason, it is always good to have your desktop plugged into an uninterruptible power supply. Basically a glorified surge protector with a battery. Some of them have petty cool features like sending a shutdown command when it senses that power is out.

[Alexander Turcic]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Some SSD crap out if the computer loses power.

Off topic (forgive me), but it's one reason why we switched our SSDs in our servers to Intel S3500. They are relatively inexpensive, made for read-intensive applications, and offer power-loss data protection.

[AnotherCat]

Originally Posted by arjaybe

That's interesting about running legacy apps in an XP VM. And I'm pleasantly surprised to hear Windows isn't the resource hog it's made out to be. All those stories - was that just Vista?

I did not notice nor hear of any reliable reports of resource problems with Vista; I ran VMware on a Vista machine with no problems.

The main Vista issues for general users were, I think, that Microsoft changed the Start button from a button with "Start" written in it to an orb, which created a big outcry, and the intrusiveness of User Account Control asking for permissions.

So deja vu with respect to the Start button come Windows 8; it seems changing the Start button is like lighting the anger fuse of some Windows users and so becomes grist for media commentators who find it to be something to spin a story around.

As BWinmill has said (post #137), it is difficult to understand the angst some feel towards Win 8's Start screen as it is much more efficient and customisable than previous Windows versions for desktop application launching. I suspect Microsoft underestimated the contrariness and resistance to change of many people, especially when it comes to touching their "Start" button .

[arjaybe]

Originally Posted by AnotherCat

I did not notice nor hear of any reliable reports of resource problems with Vista; I ran VMware on a Vista machine with no problems.

The main Vista issues for general users were, I think, that Microsoft changed the Start button from a button with "Start" written in it to an orb, which created a big outcry, and the intrusiveness of User Account Control asking for permissions.

So deja vu with respect to the Start button come Windows 8; it seems changing the Start button is like lighting the anger fuse of some Windows users and so becomes grist for media commentators who find it to be something to spin a story around.

As BWinmill has said (post #137), it is difficult to understand the angst some feel towards Win 8's Start screen as it is much more efficient and customisable than previous Windows versions for desktop application launching. I suspect Microsoft underestimated the contrariness and resistance to change of many people, especially when it comes to touching their "Start" button .

We have the same problem over here in Linuxland. People revolted when KDE and Gnome (desktop environments) made major changes, and when Ubuntu debuted their own. Most of us just carried on, adapting to the changes, and I expect it was the same in Windowsland.

So, what was the big stink about PCs that ran poorly even though they were rated capable? I remember something about 4GB being the sweet spot. Vague memories, since I don't use Windows.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Alexander Turcic

Off topic (forgive me), but it's one reason why we switched our SSDs in our servers to Intel S3500. They are relatively inexpensive, made for read-intensive applications, and offer power-loss data protection.

Thank you for that. It was very interesting to read how unreliable most SSDs are. That's why I don't recommend them for a desktop computer. A laptop is OK as the power going out won't be an issue as the battery will keep the SSD alive.

So if you want an SSD for a desktop, make sure it's battery backed up or you buy the Intel S3500 SSD. Are other Intel SSD as good if the power goes out?

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by arjaybe

We have the same problem over here in Linuxland. People revolted when KDE and Gnome (desktop environments) made major changes, and when Ubuntu debuted their own. Most of us just carried on, adapting to the changes, and I expect it was the same in Windowsland.

With Windows 8 it was more than just the Start Button (or lack of it). At least in the earliest editions (I haven't really followed or read much about later editions) there was also the fact that specific windows couldn't be resized and there was the schizophrenic desktop which, apparently, wouldn't always allow you to close applications. My brother has been a Windows programmer for years. He simply won't touch Windows 8.

As for "Linuxland" -- while it's true many (maybe most) just eventually accepted the new Gnome, the new KDE or Unity, the fact that Linux is open means that not all of us were stuck with the new Desktops. I, for example, held on to Gnome 2 until Mate came along. Linux Mint also made their own Cinnamon (built on Gnome 3, I believe, but more "traditional"). And there are many more, like Xfce (which I used on Vector Linux), JWM, Fluxbox, LXDE ... and probably at least 30 others. In "Windowsland" you're stuck with what Redmond thinks you should want. And, let's face it, their main reason for pushing the Metro UI (by whatever name) is that they wanted to build a Windows Market, like Apple's or Google's Play Store, where they could control content and profit off each sale. The fact that Windows 8.x adoption has been even slower than Vista's adoption (and that they're rushing out Windows 10) shows how little appeal the new desktop had.

[arjaybe]

Originally Posted by rcentros

With Windows 8 it was more than just the Start Button (or lack of it). At least in the earliest editions (I haven't really followed or read much about later editions) there was also the fact that specific windows couldn't be resized and there was the schizophrenic desktop which, apparently, wouldn't always allow you to close applications. My brother has been a Windows programmer for years. He simply won't touch Windows 8.

As for "Linuxland" -- while it's true many (maybe most) just eventually accepted the new Gnome, the new KDE or Unity, the fact that Linux is open means that not all of us were stuck with the new Desktops. I, for example, held on to Gnome 2 until Mate came along. Linux Mint also made their own Cinnamon (built on Gnome 3, I believe, but more "traditional"). And there are many more, like Xfce (which I used on Vector Linux), JWM, Fluxbox, LXDE ... and probably at least 30 others.

I get the impression that people are sticking with W7 until W10 comes out. (what happened to 9?) Kind of like they skipped from XP to 7. But that's just outside looking in.

I'm a KDE guy, but I've had a look at a lot of the others. I like xfce for a lighter desktop. That's what's on Gregg's xubuntu, isn't it? A good choice for a beginner.-) It's what my current OS came with, but I installed KDE for its comfortable familiarity. Nice to be able to do that, isn't it?

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by arjaybe

I get the impression that people are sticking with W7 until W10 comes out. (what happened to 9?) Kind of like they skipped from XP to 7. But that's just outside looking in.

It was going to be Windows 9, but MS changed the version to 10. There is a rumor going around that Windows 10 will be free and if that is the case, then I do think you'll see lots more people upgrading to 10 from 7 & 8/8.1. 10 is supposed to have a proper desktop like 7 but also with the Metro from 8.1. So there's a chance that 10 will be a lot more popular then 8/8.1.

Now to get back on topic, can ADE 2.01 be used in Linux with Wine? if so, how difficult is it to do so and how difficult is it to setup the plugin to be able to strip the DRM?

[Gregg Bell]

Originally Posted by kacir

No.
When you need a new computer, just some here and ask. And we will have a nice little flamewar, quarreling about what is the best hardware for your budget and needs.

Sounds good!

Originally Posted by arjaybe

I get the impression that people are sticking with W7 until W10 comes out. (what happened to 9?) Kind of like they skipped from XP to 7. But that's just outside looking in.

I'm a KDE guy, but I've had a look at a lot of the others. I like xfce for a lighter desktop. That's what's on Gregg's xubuntu, isn't it? A good choice for a beginner.-) It's what my current OS came with, but I installed KDE for its comfortable familiarity. Nice to be able to do that, isn't it?

Yep rjb. Xfce in on Xubuntu. And I just upgraded to 14.10. I'm a little afraid to try something new because my computer's so old but also because Xubuntu is working so well.

[gbm]

Originally Posted by Gregg Bell

Sounds good!



Yep rjb. Xfce in on Xubuntu. And I just upgraded to 14.10. I'm a little afraid to try something new because my computer's so old but also because Xubuntu is working so well.

You should have stayed at 14.04LTS end of life is 04-1019, 14.10 end of life is 07-2015. With your computer xfce, lxde or mate are the desktops that will work with no problems.


bernie

P.S. Did you ever get a guide for installing ereader software?

[arjaybe]

Originally Posted by Gregg Bell

Yep rjb. Xfce in on Xubuntu. And I just upgraded to 14.10. I'm a little afraid to try something new because my computer's so old but also because Xubuntu is working so well.

Good choice to stick with xfce. It's a good compromise between ease of use and resource requirements.

Let us know when you're in the market for a new computer. I'm already looking forward to the flame war.-)

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Gregg Bell

Sounds good!

Here is my suggestion for what you should have in a new computer. What computer you get is up to you.

I suggest you get at least a 1TB hard drive, 8gigs of ram, 2gigs of video ram with whatever video card you get, and at least a quad core processor be it AMD or Intel.

If you buy a system that comes with Windows 8.1 and still want to run Linux, setup dual-boot.

Originally Posted by rcentros

With Windows 8 it was more than just the Start Button (or lack of it). At least in the earliest editions (I haven't really followed or read much about later editions) there was also the fact that specific windows couldn't be resized and there was the schizophrenic desktop which, apparently, wouldn't always allow you to close applications. My brother has been a Windows programmer for years. He simply won't touch Windows 8.

Again, that is an issue with Metro. If you avoided Metro applications, you wouldn't notice the non-resizable windows or non-closable applications. (Actually, I'm pretty sure you could close the application from the task manager. Yet that is something that most users wouldn't be aware of or comfortable with.)

The biggest issue, in my opinion, with Windows 8 was system management. Simple put, some things are changed in the classic control panel and other things are changed in the modern control panel. That makes some settings difficult to find. Then again, that is something that end users shouldn't be encountering on a regular basis.

As for "Linuxland" -- while it's true many (maybe most) just eventually accepted the new Gnome, the new KDE or Unity, the fact that Linux is open means that not all of us were stuck with the new Desktops.

That is one of the huge benefits of Linux. While bits and pieces of Windows can be changed, I have not seen anything as comprehensive as the options available to Linux users since the days of Windows 3.1.

[STrucks]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I'm not talking about Linux. I'm saying his computer is too old to properly run current versions of Sigil and Calibre. If the hardware cannot run the software, t matters not what OS is in use.

I'm confused. Gregg stated earlier he could run both Calibre and Sigil fine.

Originally Posted by Gregg Bell

Hey JS. Here's the stats on my computer:
Dell Optiplex 170 L
1.5 GB RAM
Intel Pentium 4 CPU 2.80GHz
distro is Xubuntu 14.10
Hard drive a massive 39GB

Yes, XP was slow, but the Linux I have that replaced it is FAST. And I have the latest Calibre and Sigil 0.7.2 on it and they both work great.

[JSWolf]

Sigil 0.7.2 uses Qt4.