I mended something today!

"JGrabowMSt" (jgrabowmst) 01/11/2014 at 23:28 • Filed to: unixlopnik

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So, I decided to get my linux SSD working. It's probably the second most productive thing I've done since waking up this morning (first being successfully recovering all of a customers files off a failing drive).

For the nerd stuff, it's a Ubuntu 13.10 base because I need the hardware support for the initial install. Because I can't stand Unity, I switched over to XFCE and have a panel across the bottom for the open windows (so I don't have to ALT+TAB all the time). Terminal is transparent because nerdy, and the rest is nearly done. I have to go back to a live CD to fix my partitioning (no SWAP, so I need to re-gain the rest of my SSD) and then I'm good to go.

I slimmed down to a single workspace because as much fun as the cube is, it's pretty impractical. Both of my network printers are linux compatible, so take that Microsoft and Apple, I don't *really* need you to get on the internet.

Everything else is in the right click menu, application launchers to logoff/shutdown menus. Only icons that would appear on the desktop are removable storage devices, so they're easy to eject.

For some reason, if you were to look at the System Overview, it says I only have 18 cores. I guess the Xeons don't report correctly? Not sure, just know that it should be 24. If you open up the Resource Monitor, it does show all 24 there, it a funny looking graph, because it's hard for a lightweight desktop manager and the internet to cause a blip on this machine. I liked the light blue default desktop, but it was just too hard to read the conky display, and the dark background actually looks pretty good, so I'm happy with it. GRUB was being a pain in the ass, but I think I fixed that.

All things considered, I'm happy. I thought the install was completely screwed and the SSD was dead because it didn't show up right away, but after some persistence, it seems to be just fine. I'm only concerned because my internet is way below sub-par, and I wouldn't be able to download the ISO in any reasonable amount of time if I had to. My internet is a solid 1.98mbps download, 0.63mbps upload. You think you have it bad. Sustained download speeds stay in the realm of 180-300kbps, Speedtest be damned.

Eventually I'll configure this more, but for now, I'm happy with it. Anyone else have a cool desktop?

Xentron Holy Reaper of Worlds > JGrabowMSt 01/12/2014 at 09:18

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Cool! How much better than 12.10 is 13.10?

Xentron Holy Reaper of Worlds > JGrabowMSt 01/12/2014 at 09:22

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This is my (main) desktop environment. I have GNOME installed as well, just don't use it.

JGrabowMSt > Xentron Holy Reaper of Worlds 01/12/2014 at 10:15

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I actually skipped 12 for the most part. I had it running on an HP Mini netbook, and wasnt really happy with it ever. My Toshiba netbook runs Mint, and Im much more satisfied with the hardware and design of that laptop. Previously I had 11.04 on a beefier Toshiba Tecra M11, but that was before Chromium was any good in linux, so internet was a constant struggle with Flash content. Otherwise, I cant say I ever had a problem. I just cant really stand Unity. I started using Ubuntu One when it rolled out (and Google Drive, JoliCloud and SkyDrive as well), so I can get the usefulness, but Im on a slow connection, the internet searches take a long time to load, and thats all enabled by default, which is way less than ideal.

Ive been pretty out of the loop for a while with linux, been using Mac OS and Win 8 exclusively for school reasons, but I would much rather have linux to mess around on than what I need running for work or school, and while virtual machines are fun, with my computer, I want the full experience. If I wasnt so wrapped up in audio/video production, I would love to only run linux. Ive tried out many many distros, but I always found customizing my own way nicer.

Do you like Unity? Its the first thing I change...

Xentron Holy Reaper of Worlds > JGrabowMSt 01/12/2014 at 10:30

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Unity is okay...it does it's job but takes a lot of cpu to do so.

Xentron Holy Reaper of Worlds > JGrabowMSt 01/12/2014 at 10:33

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These are the specs I'm running (Rooted Chromebook)

JGrabowMSt > Xentron Holy Reaper of Worlds 01/12/2014 at 10:46

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Which Chromebook is that? I have the original here, but I leave it alone, good for slow days at school when I dont need Pro Tools or Adobe Premiere.

That kind of low resource machine is what XFCE was really made for. A new desktop manager could really help that machine out immensely.

Xentron Holy Reaper of Worlds > JGrabowMSt 01/12/2014 at 14:38

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Acer C7, with 4 gb ram upgrade.

JGrabowMSt > Xentron Holy Reaper of Worlds 01/12/2014 at 14:55

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I didnt like that one from the day it came out...too bulky for what it really is. The newer HP is better IMO. The Acer was cheaper, but for the extra $50, you get the samsung.

Xentron Holy Reaper of Worlds > JGrabowMSt 01/12/2014 at 15:00

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Yeah, but 320 gigs of hard drive space is hard to argue with.