I'd stick with kubuntu if you must and are familiar with it.  I moved onto arch, but it's a big step to do so.

re: questions,

1) Is it GNOME or KDE?
>> kde ftw.  I hate gnome-shell and what it became, ymmv.

2) What mail client should I use?  I have been using Thunderbird for years and am not married to it.
>> I use gmail better or worse, stopped screwing with email clients long ago, but if you must, tbird is what I'd use.

3) For FTP I have been using FileZilla.
>> Solid.

4) For watching DVD videos I have been using VCL media player - any thoughts?
>> VLC is fine, or when I run into codec bugs, I use kodi/xbmc.

5) For SSH I have been using the Win 10, I think it called the Linux subsystem. This new box will have command line access so that should not be an issue.
>> I run windoze under virtualbox, kvm, whatever really - always need a windoze instance around though, visio and project if nothing else. Works great for me.

6) I will be using a wired non-routable static IP.
>> expected for any sane config, works.

7) Eventually I will need to configure my printer/scanner.  From a quick search it looks like KDE makes it simple compared to the old days...
>> I have a brother mfc laser I've used for years with tools to scan or print against, really depends on the printer if they hate linux or not.

Otherwise, yeah do it.  I haven't had a need to run windoze natively in 15 year now, other than occasionally updating firmware on things like my thunderbolt 3/4 docks and other weird vendor contraptions.  Windoze runs fine in a hypervisor, and lately using vmeware horizon to vdi to my corp customer, which works pretty well too even with multiple monitors in the desktop.  There's never any reason to run windoze native anymore unless you simply don't know better.

-mb



On Sun, Oct 23, 2022 at 11:04 AM Keith Smith via PLUG-discuss <plug-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org> wrote:

Hi,

I need some advice.  I have used Linux for my desktop during several
periods in the past.  About 6 years ago I needed to run Windows for my
desktop for business reasons.  I am now free of those requirements.

I have a Dell i5 that I think has 4 cores and 4 threads.  I upgraded it
to 16Gb of RAM years ago... maybe 7 or 8.  I think the box might be 8
years old.

This box has been setting under my desk since I switched over to Win 10.

I bought an SSD drive for it sometime ago and have yet to install it.  I
think it has a 1Tb spinner in it.  My plan is to make the SSD the
primary drive and the spinner a backup drive for holding files.

For the last few months the monitors on my Win 10 box would occasionally
turn black and I would have to reset the computer to get it operational.

It should be noted that these two Dells have after market video cards
since Dell only allows one monitor even thought the CPU provides for 3
monitors... Yikes.

So this morning both my monitors turned black and when I cycled the
computer only one monitor would work.   I am running two monitors.

After setting the correct resolution for that one monitor and restarting
it several times I now have two monitors functioning.

Where am I going with this?  I need your help.  I am a PHP developer.  I
started using Linux in 1998...  While I know a few things about Linux I
have gaping holes in my knowledge. I've been able to accomplish a lot
with Linux to include using it as my desktop for long periods of time
and ultimately creating a Ubuntu home web server. That included the
entire LAMP stack, BIND, PostFix, Devcot, and Let's Encrypt.  For the
PostFix, Devcot, and Let's Encrypt I just got it to work without really
understanding how they work.

So here we are Sunday morning October 23rd, 2022 and I need to move back
to Linux on my desktop.

AND I need your help because I do not know what I do not know.

I figure it is a good time to "start fresh".  I want to get a Linux box
up and running and only pull in from my backups what I
will actually use.  My Win box has 6 or 7 years of clutter.

I apologize in advance for all my future questions.

My first question has to do with what desktop KDE or GNOME?  We have had
this discussion in the past and I'm thinking KDE was the winner.  Please
no flame wars.  This is for my education and maybe for those who are
lurking.

I want to use Ubuntu.  Ubuntu desktop used GNOME.  Kubuntu uses KDE and
has the Plasma desktop.  Not sure what the Plasma desktop is. I will
look into that once I have sent this email.

I eventually would like to edit videos on Linux.  According to what I
hear and read, Kdenlive is said to be the best free Linux editor.

I need to do a handful of things with this Linux box.  Mail, Internet
surfing, virtualization using oracle VirtualBox, programming using
Visual Studio Code, and video editing using Kdenlive.  I hope I did not
leave anything out.

List of initial questions:

1) Is it GNOME or KDE?
2) What mail client should I use?  I have been using Thunderbird for
years and am not married to it.
3) For FTP I have been using FileZilla.
4) For watching DVD videos I have been using VCL media player - any
thoughts?
5) For SSH I have been using the Win 10, I think it called the Linux
subsystem. This new box will have command line access so that should not
be an issue.
6) I will be using a wired non-routable static IP.
7) Eventually I will need to configure my printer/scanner.  From a quick
search it looks like KDE makes it simple compared to the old days...

I apologize in advance for all my future questions.  I'm sure I will
drive you crazy over the next few months while I try to understand and
learn.

Please give me your feedback.  I appreciate it!!

Keith

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