Re: Questions : switching back to Linux for my desktop

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Author: Keith Smith via PLUG-discuss
Date:  
To: Main PLUG discussion list
CC: techlists
Subject: Re: Questions : switching back to Linux for my desktop
Thanks Phil! I'm looking at Kubuntu right now. I think I tried it
maybe 8 years ago and did not like it. Not sure why. I ended up
installing Mint. I want to keep things simple. I really like Ubuntu
for servers so I want to stay with Ubuntu on my desktop if I can.

Keith


On 2022-10-23 16:56, Phil Waclawski via PLUG-discuss wrote:
> Well, I have not tried many desktops of late, I used to be a huge fan
> of Ubuntu, but when the Unity/Gnome thing came around, and they kept
> locking out my ability to configure the desktop the way I wanted
> (unless I installed a bunch of firefox plugins???) I quit Ubuntu and
> went to Kubuntu, and I've never gone back.
>
> I've been very happy with Kubuntu for the last 10+ years, but I know
> there are some other great desktops out there,
> Phil W
>
> On Sun, Oct 23, 2022 at 11:04 AM Keith Smith via PLUG-discuss
> <> 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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