Windows 8.1 vs Linux Mint 17

[Biker]

Mint has been my daily driver for quite some time now. No issues at all with it. As for Winderz, I boot into it occasionally to ensure updates are current and play the odd game every now and then.

 

[meetdilip]

when my Windows 8.1 will reinstalled from scratch all boot entries like grub would removed

Use EasyBCD (free version) in Windows 8.1. It can restore Linux in one click.

Do you using linuxmint as of today ? If yes can you tell me it's pros and cons.

Linux Mint is very popular and probably best linux like i read

Is mint more user friendly than Ubunthu?

Linux Mint is a fork or Ubuntu. When Ubuntu became popular, they started commercialising it. Like adding Amazon suggestions in search. Since Ubuntu is open source, a group who are keen on keeping it away from compromising user discretion began forking (or you can say simply copying it without ad codes under the name Linux Mint).

Most software if not all which work on Ubuntu will work on Linux Mint as well.

Will a Windows user be able to manage everything? Or is there still a lot that needs to be done through command line?

Unlike Windows, you can choose how your desktop environment looks in Ubuntu / Linux Mint. All you have to do is install a desktop environment ( which again has themes to make it similar to Windows) like KDE, Gnome Classic, Cinnamon (I prefer this), Gnome etc

Gone are the days when everything is done through terminal (command line) in Linux. Ubuntu / Linux Mint is the closest thing in Linux you get to Windows.

You can install software using Ubuntu Software Center which is more like Google Play or Apple App Store. The updates can be installed through Software Updater.

Even if you need to use command line, it is pretty easier than you think. Honestly, in earlier days I had no idea what the command I am using means. All I did was copy paste and simply press enter a couple or three commands in Terminal ( that is what they call it for Command Prompt in Ubuntu).

Feel free to PM me / start a thread with tagging / or use this thread if you think I can be of some help.

 

[meetdilip]

i read somewhere that Gimp (Photoshop alternative) can open .PSD files is this true or not ?

GIMP can open PSD files. But I must warn you that at times layers are messed up. That is one reason, I suggested having a dual boot.

 

[ForestForTrees]

Personally, I'm on windows now, but very interested in trying out Ubuntu or Mint. It may be a while before I can purchase another computer, though, and I don't see myself altering my current laptop (it does exactly what I want and doesn't have space for dual boot).

Thanks for the tips, @meetdilip. What advice would you give for someone trying to decide between Mint and Ubuntu?

 

[meetdilip]

@ForestForTrees

It is more or less the same whichever you choose. Personally, I would go with Ubuntu as I don't mind their putting ads or earning some money for their work. But if you have somewhat radical attitude about privacy, data collection etc , Linux Mint is not bad either.

 

[rdn]

ElementaryOS is another option, though it has a OSX style to it.

But based on their site, looks like outdated and development is very slow.

 

[ForestForTrees]

For some one perspective on the recent growth of elementary, see the following video, starting at 15m, 48s

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There's no deep analysis in it, but it gives you a sense of Elementary's rather impressive recent growth

 

[meetdilip]

Elementary OS is again Ubuntu with a different look. The latest stable build is Elementary OS Luna which is based on an older version of Ubuntu ( a 2012 version of Ubuntu to be precise).

 

[RickM]

Elementary OS is again Ubuntu with a different look.

Most "new" distros these days are exactly that - another (more popular) distro, with a few packages swapped out, and the theme changed. People forget that you can do all this yourself.

Personally I'd pick up a copy of Debian and go from there. You can customise it as much or as little as you like then, and arent relying on someone maintaining the new distro.

 

[Sheratan]

Most "new" distros these days are exactly that - another (more popular) distro, with a few packages swapped out, and the theme changed. People forget that you can do all this yourself.

Personally I'd pick up a copy of Debian and go from there. You can customise it as much or as little as you like then, and arent relying on someone maintaining the new distro.

Debian FTW!

 

[masterking]

Finally I've installed Linux Mint and glad like it Once the install has completed i've upgraded my kernel to 3.1.7 and after installed Sublime Text 2 for Programming.

 

[masterking]

I can also say that mint is much user friendly than ubuntu thanks for all who have spend their time to help me if somebody has any questions thought mint feel free to ask.