Linux workshop

[stumpey]

This is good news

I have mostly found when you actually show people what Linux can do they are very suprised!. They think Linux is just for geeks which as we know is now not correct with distro's such as Ubuntu etc.There are now quit a few converts in my stable including my 85 year old dad! (not that he had much choice...lol)

We know that Linux does not do everything but the vast majority off pc users just want to surf,email and write a few letters.

Steve

[Posh Geordie]

An update on my installing a Linux OS on the IBM Thinkpad T22 laptop I got off Ebay-

Spec PIII 900MHz; 128MB RAM; 20GB HDD and a Netgear WG511 V2 wireless plug-in card.

Tried the following distros:

Fluxbuntu Alternative i386 - V quick install but uses Kazehakase web browser which is fine for geeks but not for the average user.  Since it is very cut down, using their version of synaptic package manager does not install any dependencies needed for programs, so you need to know what are needed if adding extra programs.
For this reason I didn't feel it was user friendly for newbies.

Similar comments for the latest version of Damn Small Linux - great package though!

All of the following needed a memory upgrade to 256MB (cost ?6.99 for brand new 128MB from Ebay!)- all distros loaded OK with the orginal 128MB, but crawled when trying to use more memory intensive apps like Firefox and Synaptic.

Feisty 7.04 Alternative i386 - actually installed and worked for the most part.  Removed Open Office, Evolution, Compiz, all printing programs which didn't remove other apps (like Evince the PDF reader) - person who will be using the Thinkpad doesn't have a printer - and any other unnecessary programs. 
Using Gnome Desktop this was a reasonably quick, but was a still a large install (remember I only have a 20Gb HDD).  However when I updated to the latest kernel it would only load to just after the splash screen and freeze.  It would appear to be a video driver problem but didn't persue this further.

Xubuntu 7.10 alternative i386 - Installs and runs fine and has become the OS of choice.  There may be an issue with the latest Kernel preventing the laptop from loading when it's cold (this is not unknown for these machines), but time will tell.
My Netgear WG511 V2 'made in China' plug in wireless card does not work with Linux, though the Taiwan verson does.  Instead found a D-Link DWL-G630 AirPlus card on Ebay, which on a brand new install was automatically detected, and drivers installed etc.  All that was needed was adding the appropriate ESSID and encryption WEP / WPA. 
From now on this will be my plug in wireless card of choice. It is not even this easy in Windows!!

There are no other issues and sound and video USB etc were all detected 'out of the box'

Overall a perfect Linux OS for someone who wants wired or wireless Internet, email, IM, word processing and the like.

This is my first time with a Thinkpad, and even though the specs are modest it's a great laptop, and built like a brick s@#t house!

Hope this helps you Street Spirit in your very laudible quest for a simple LInux OS for the masses on any type of PC.

[Posh Geordie]

Ah interesting.... I've just bought an IBM T22 laptop off Ebay- PIII 900MHz; 128MB RAM; 20GB HDD, with the express purpose of installing the most suitable Linux OS.  It also needs to be able to work with a plug in wireless card (Netgear WG511).

Ignoring Damn Small Linux (DSL), Puppy Linux, the most favoured one for older boxes is Slackware.  Only problem is that it's quite techie.
Now looking at 'shrunk' versions of Ubuntu and Xubuntu and Fluxbuntu are the favourites - when the thing arrives via eBay (and it actually works!) I'll get back with the results of my experiments.

This all came about coz I recently installed Feisty 7.04 onto an old Advent and whilst it works OK, it's very easy to kill the performance, and I think 7.04 is just too much for it.

Unfortunately Plymouth is a little far for me too, but good on ya SS

[street_spirit]

Thanks for the responses, version 7 I think it is then!

Version 6 is not as good as version 7 so try and go with version 7 or even version 8 if you are daring....but maybe not so stable.
You can use linux on any old low spec pc and it will fly for all the reasons that we love Linux 

Steve

Yes its versatility is nice, I have it on my ipod too 

[stumpey]

Version 6 is not as good as version 7 so try and go with version 7 or even version 8 if you are daring....but maybe not so stable.
You can use linux on any old low spec pc and it will fly for all the reasons that we love Linux 

Steve

[right ejit]

If it wasn't so damn far (about 700 miles) I would bring along my trusty cantenna (malt whisky presentation tin) and pulse jet made out of a Kilner jar!

Oh and Ubuntu 7.10 seems to have a much larger support for various hardware configs. Apart for that I dunno. The real Linux gurus will be along later!

[street_spirit]

Ok I am setting up a workshop for migrating people from os x and/or windows to linux and basically as the department I am in has a load of old G4 iMacs laying around I will probably 'nick' one of those and use it as my demo machine. I will be using Ubuntu as that seems the best cross over as far as i can see. My question is as this would be a PPC chip Mac I can only install version 6, so what are the major differences between 6 and 7. I can I suppose hall in my old Vaio desktop that has ubuntu installed, version 7 I think, edgy?? Or chuck it one an old Intel or AMD laptop that's kicking around somewhere. So what I'm driving at is what would be the limitations of using 6 over 7?

The idea behind the project is trying to free the average user from overzealous intellectual property owners.  I am writing my dissertation on the music industries ridiculous approach to protecting 'their' intellectual property but the way commercial software vendors operate it doesn't even compare. So anyone is interested in the workshop and others about DIY culture including; making a wifi antenna from a pringles can! Freeing an xBox, psp hacking and charging an ipod with an onion and sports drink. And are in Plymouth on the 12th of March then you can find us at Ride Cafe and Bar on North hill opposite the University, time to be confirmed.