Companies unloading laptops at silly prices and mine has a case that ha
s ltearlly fallen too pieces so ordered a new/refurb/whatever "HP
14s-dq2507sa Core i3-1115G4 4GB 128GB 14 Inch Windows 10 S Laptop"

Long battery life, full HD screen, but only 14", which was OK
First shock was noi DVD drive. Second shock was no ethernet port.
It took me longer to prep a USB stick and find out how to get into the
BIOS to make it USB BOOT than it did to install Linux!

Mint site was first rate on bootable USB stick.

Once booted, just said 'install linux, scrub windows and go'

And in about 5 minutes it had.

It picked up the wifi, used it, and remembered the setup post install as
well. That's impressive.

Only issue was with touchpad right button not working - Interwebby thing
said 'install synaptic input device' so did, and it fixed it.

Completely seamless and I have my sort of default XP/MAC OSX look and
feel setup running.

The Boyz have done a great job on making this idiot proof enough that
even windows users should be able to install it.

Nice one MINTERS

Be aware you may need to turn up zooms on a full HD screen on only 14" !!!

--
Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the
gospel of envy.

Its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.

Winston Churchill

On 2/16/23 2:10 PM, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> Companies unloading laptops at silly prices and mine has a case that ha
> s ltearlly fallen too pieces so ordered a new/refurb/whatever "HP
> 14s-dq2507sa Core i3-1115G4 4GB 128GB 14 Inch Windows 10 S Laptop"
>
> Long battery life, full HD screen, but only 14", which was OK
> First shock was noi DVD drive. Second shock was no  ethernet port.
> It took me longer to prep a USB stick and find out how to get into the
> BIOS to make it USB BOOT than it did to install Linux!
>
> Mint site was first rate on bootable USB stick.
>
> Once booted, just said 'install linux, scrub windows and go'
>
> And in about 5 minutes it had.
>
> It picked up the wifi, used it, and remembered the setup post install as
> well. That's impressive.
>
> Only issue was with touchpad right button not working - Interwebby thing
> said 'install synaptic input device' so did, and it fixed it.
>
> Completely seamless and I have my sort of default XP/MAC OSX look and
> feel setup running.
>
> The Boyz have done a great job on making this idiot proof enough that
> even windows users should be able to install it.
>
> Nice one MINTERS
>
> Be aware you may need to turn up zooms on a full HD screen on only 14" !!!

MINT remains a big fave, and for good reasons.

I use MX + LXDE on all laptops and it's top rate too.
It is a bit "lighter" overall and has lots of useful
MX-brand utilities. CAN be weird issue with the touchpad
on HPs though.

On 19/02/2023 02:45, 25B.R866 wrote:
> On 2/16/23 2:10 PM, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>> Companies unloading laptops at silly prices and mine has a case that
>> ha s ltearlly fallen too pieces so ordered a new/refurb/whatever "HP
>> 14s-dq2507sa Core i3-1115G4 4GB 128GB 14 Inch Windows 10 S Laptop"
>>
>> Long battery life, full HD screen, but only 14", which was OK
>> First shock was noi DVD drive. Second shock was no  ethernet port.
>> It took me longer to prep a USB stick and find out how to get into the
>> BIOS to make it USB BOOT than it did to install Linux!
>>
>> Mint site was first rate on bootable USB stick.
>>
>> Once booted, just said 'install linux, scrub windows and go'
>>
>> And in about 5 minutes it had.
>>
>> It picked up the wifi, used it, and remembered the setup post install
>> as well. That's impressive.
>>
>> Only issue was with touchpad right button not working - Interwebby
>> thing said 'install synaptic input device' so did, and it fixed it.
>>
>> Completely seamless and I have my sort of default XP/MAC OSX look and
>> feel setup running.
>>
>> The Boyz have done a great job on making this idiot proof enough that
>> even windows users should be able to install it.
>>
>> Nice one MINTERS
>>
>> Be aware you may need to turn up zooms on a full HD screen on only 14"
>> !!!
>
>
>   MINT remains a big fave, and for good reasons.
>
>   I use MX + LXDE on all laptops and it's top rate too.
>   It is a bit "lighter" overall and has lots of useful
>   MX-brand utilities. CAN be weird issue with the touchpad
>   on HPs though.

I tried all the desktops. MATE remains for me the nicest balance between
light weight and having the features that I like.
Now I am afraid I have simply gotten used to it. :-) Can't be bothered
to learn another one

My point in posting was really to highlight the really massive amount of
work in the installation code and the online documentation that makes it
probably the easiest distro to install.

I take my hat off to the developers for that.

--
"And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch".

Gospel of St. Mathew 15:14

On 2/19/23 6:58 AM, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> On 19/02/2023 02:45, 25B.R866 wrote:
>> On 2/16/23 2:10 PM, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>>> Companies unloading laptops at silly prices and mine has a case that
>>> ha s ltearlly fallen too pieces so ordered a new/refurb/whatever "HP
>>> 14s-dq2507sa Core i3-1115G4 4GB 128GB 14 Inch Windows 10 S Laptop"
>>>
>>> Long battery life, full HD screen, but only 14", which was OK
>>> First shock was noi DVD drive. Second shock was no  ethernet port.
>>> It took me longer to prep a USB stick and find out how to get into
>>> the BIOS to make it USB BOOT than it did to install Linux!
>>>
>>> Mint site was first rate on bootable USB stick.
>>>
>>> Once booted, just said 'install linux, scrub windows and go'
>>>
>>> And in about 5 minutes it had.
>>>
>>> It picked up the wifi, used it, and remembered the setup post install
>>> as well. That's impressive.
>>>
>>> Only issue was with touchpad right button not working - Interwebby
>>> thing said 'install synaptic input device' so did, and it fixed it.
>>>
>>> Completely seamless and I have my sort of default XP/MAC OSX look and
>>> feel setup running.
>>>
>>> The Boyz have done a great job on making this idiot proof enough that
>>> even windows users should be able to install it.
>>>
>>> Nice one MINTERS
>>>
>>> Be aware you may need to turn up zooms on a full HD screen on only
>>> 14" !!!
>>
>>
>>    MINT remains a big fave, and for good reasons.
>>
>>    I use MX + LXDE on all laptops and it's top rate too.
>>    It is a bit "lighter" overall and has lots of useful
>>    MX-brand utilities. CAN be weird issue with the touchpad
>>    on HPs though.
>
> I tried all the desktops. MATE remains for me the nicest balance between
> light weight and having the features that I like.
> Now I am afraid I have simply gotten used to it. :-) Can't be bothered
> to learn another one

Linux gives you CHOICES. Sorry, but LXDE is much more
to my liking and I even turn off some of its "eye candy"
features - but MATE has some nice bits too (at higher
CPU cost, of course).

At the office I use MINT (though with LXDE). Rarely
disappoints.

> My point in posting was really to highlight the really massive amount of
> work in the installation code and the online documentation that makes it
> probably the easiest distro to install.
>
> I take my hat off to the developers for that.

Absolutely. They do a GREAT job.

It'll also install on even relatively crappy hardware
and/or old boards with usually no issues at all.

On 21/02/2023 02:44, 25B.E866 wrote:
> On 2/19/23 6:58 AM, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>> On 19/02/2023 02:45, 25B.R866 wrote:
>>> On 2/16/23 2:10 PM, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>>>> Companies unloading laptops at silly prices and mine has a case that
>>>> ha s ltearlly fallen too pieces so ordered a new/refurb/whatever "HP
>>>> 14s-dq2507sa Core i3-1115G4 4GB 128GB 14 Inch Windows 10 S Laptop"
>>>>
>>>> Long battery life, full HD screen, but only 14", which was OK
>>>> First shock was noi DVD drive. Second shock was no  ethernet port.
>>>> It took me longer to prep a USB stick and find out how to get into
>>>> the BIOS to make it USB BOOT than it did to install Linux!
>>>>
>>>> Mint site was first rate on bootable USB stick.
>>>>
>>>> Once booted, just said 'install linux, scrub windows and go'
>>>>
>>>> And in about 5 minutes it had.
>>>>
>>>> It picked up the wifi, used it, and remembered the setup post
>>>> install as well. That's impressive.
>>>>
>>>> Only issue was with touchpad right button not working - Interwebby
>>>> thing said 'install synaptic input device' so did, and it fixed it.
>>>>
>>>> Completely seamless and I have my sort of default XP/MAC OSX look
>>>> and feel setup running.
>>>>
>>>> The Boyz have done a great job on making this idiot proof enough
>>>> that even windows users should be able to install it.
>>>>
>>>> Nice one MINTERS
>>>>
>>>> Be aware you may need to turn up zooms on a full HD screen on only
>>>> 14" !!!
>>>
>>>
>>>    MINT remains a big fave, and for good reasons.
>>>
>>>    I use MX + LXDE on all laptops and it's top rate too.
>>>    It is a bit "lighter" overall and has lots of useful
>>>    MX-brand utilities. CAN be weird issue with the touchpad
>>>    on HPs though.
>>
>> I tried all the desktops. MATE remains for me the nicest balance
>> between light weight and having the features that I like.
>> Now I am afraid I have simply gotten used to it. :-) Can't be bothered
>> to learn another one
>
>
>   Linux gives you CHOICES. Sorry, but LXDE is much more
>   to my liking and I even turn off some of its "eye candy"
>   features - but MATE has some nice bits too (at higher
>   CPU cost, of course).
>
It suits me.

>   At the office I use MINT (though with LXDE). Rarely
>   disappoints.
>
It wasn't a 'default' offering as far as I recall when I switched from
Debian, tried Ubuntu,which didn't install properly and looked like
vomit, and lots of people said 'try Mint'..and indeed it isn't default
now - xfce is the default 'lightweight' manager...

So I did. It was simply the first distro that didn't make me want to try
a different one.

I tried Cinnamon, but though the eye candy was nice, It lacked features
I had got used to, so I went back to MATE.

CPU cycles are not an issue as far as a window manager goes. I watch a
lot of video, and that is a voracious gobbler of CPU as is real time gaming.

And the only time I get CPU bound is video *processing*.

My point is that really I *ought* to be running windows, because I am
although it was my job, enormously not interested by the subtleties of
what goes on under the hood. I retired over 20 years ago when I judged I
had enough money stashed away, to take time off to enjoy it, and whilst
I tinker a little with code - mainly PHP and javascript - I am glad I
dont have to make a living out it, or system administration.

I am 90% a USER who 'just wants it to work' and only 10% a tech who can
sort it out when it does not without recourse to the AppleStore or whatever.

>
>> My point in posting was really to highlight the really massive amount
>> of work in the installation code and the online documentation that
>> makes it probably the easiest distro to install.
>>
>> I take my hat off to the developers for that.
>
>   Absolutely. They do a GREAT job.
>
>   It'll also install on even relatively crappy hardware
>   and/or old boards with usually no issues at all.

Yes, but all my crappy hardware has now died the death...have a 8 year
old Celeron that was my desktop and is sitting there in case I wanted
something off it. A year later, I haven't yet, so it will become a media
center I think

The server which was a desktop before THAT is very ancient now, but it
still runs.

--
To ban Christmas, simply give turkeys the vote.

On 2/21/23 6:33 AM, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
> On 21/02/2023 02:44, 25B.E866 wrote:
>> On 2/19/23 6:58 AM, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>>> On 19/02/2023 02:45, 25B.R866 wrote:
>>>> On 2/16/23 2:10 PM, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
>>>>> Companies unloading laptops at silly prices and mine has a case
>>>>> that ha s ltearlly fallen too pieces so ordered a
>>>>> new/refurb/whatever "HP 14s-dq2507sa Core i3-1115G4 4GB 128GB 14
>>>>> Inch Windows 10 S Laptop"
>>>>>
>>>>> Long battery life, full HD screen, but only 14", which was OK
>>>>> First shock was noi DVD drive. Second shock was no  ethernet port.
>>>>> It took me longer to prep a USB stick and find out how to get into
>>>>> the BIOS to make it USB BOOT than it did to install Linux!
>>>>>
>>>>> Mint site was first rate on bootable USB stick.
>>>>>
>>>>> Once booted, just said 'install linux, scrub windows and go'
>>>>>
>>>>> And in about 5 minutes it had.
>>>>>
>>>>> It picked up the wifi, used it, and remembered the setup post
>>>>> install as well. That's impressive.
>>>>>
>>>>> Only issue was with touchpad right button not working - Interwebby
>>>>> thing said 'install synaptic input device' so did, and it fixed it.
>>>>>
>>>>> Completely seamless and I have my sort of default XP/MAC OSX look
>>>>> and feel setup running.
>>>>>
>>>>> The Boyz have done a great job on making this idiot proof enough
>>>>> that even windows users should be able to install it.
>>>>>
>>>>> Nice one MINTERS
>>>>>
>>>>> Be aware you may need to turn up zooms on a full HD screen on only
>>>>> 14" !!!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>    MINT remains a big fave, and for good reasons.
>>>>
>>>>    I use MX + LXDE on all laptops and it's top rate too.
>>>>    It is a bit "lighter" overall and has lots of useful
>>>>    MX-brand utilities. CAN be weird issue with the touchpad
>>>>    on HPs though.
>>>
>>> I tried all the desktops. MATE remains for me the nicest balance
>>> between light weight and having the features that I like.
>>> Now I am afraid I have simply gotten used to it. :-) Can't be
>>> bothered to learn another one
>>
>>
>>    Linux gives you CHOICES. Sorry, but LXDE is much more
>>    to my liking and I even turn off some of its "eye candy"
>>    features - but MATE has some nice bits too (at higher
>>    CPU cost, of course).
>>
> It suits me.
>
>>    At the office I use MINT (though with LXDE). Rarely
>>    disappoints.
>>
> It wasn't a 'default' offering as far as I recall when I switched from
> Debian, tried Ubuntu,which  didn't install properly and looked like
> vomit, and lots of people said 'try Mint'..and indeed it isn't default
> now - xfce is the default  'lightweight' manager...
>
> So I did. It was simply the first distro that didn't make me want to try
> a different one.
>
> I tried Cinnamon, but though the eye candy was nice, It lacked features
> I had got used to, so I went back to MATE.
>
> CPU cycles are not an issue as far as a window manager goes. I watch a
> lot of video, and that is a voracious gobbler of CPU as is real time
> gaming.
>
> And the only time I get CPU bound is video *processing*.
>
> My point is that really I *ought* to be running windows, because I am
> although it was my job, enormously not interested by the subtleties of
> what goes on under the hood. I retired over 20 years ago when I judged I
> had enough money stashed away, to take time off to enjoy it, and whilst
> I tinker a little with code - mainly PHP and javascript - I am glad I
> dont have to make a living out it, or system administration.
>
> I am 90% a USER who 'just wants it to work' and only 10% a tech who can
> sort it out when it does not without recourse to the AppleStore or
> whatever.

Well, Mint/Mate "just works" just fine. If it does
if for you .......

But LXDE does it for me.

I code pretty much daily. C/Pascal/Python usually
cover it - unless it's a webby thing. Don't really
like Javascript, but you can get a lot done with
just plain HTML/PHP.

>>> My point in posting was really to highlight the really massive amount
>>> of work in the installation code and the online documentation that
>>> makes it probably the easiest distro to install.
>>>
>>> I take my hat off to the developers for that.
>>
>>    Absolutely. They do a GREAT job.
>>
>>    It'll also install on even relatively crappy hardware
>>    and/or old boards with usually no issues at all.
>
> Yes, but all my crappy hardware has now died the death...have a 8 year
> old Celeron that was my desktop and is sitting there in case I wanted
> something off it. A year later, I haven't yet, so it will become a media
> center I think

Good use.

> The server which was a desktop before THAT is very ancient now, but it
> still runs.

Enough hardware is enough hardware. I still have a
solid Core2/Quad board that provides useful services.
(and yes it can run MINT pretty well)

You don't NEED an i9 or a quad 64 core Xeon national-
debt board to get 99.9999% of the stuff done.

Despite the seemingly heavy use, almost all commercial
NAS systems have fairly CRAPPY processors. The whole
operation is I/O bound and even 10gb networking is
really rather SLOW. Actually I/O puts big limits
on a LOT of things. If it doesn't run in RAM, or
at least on a RAMdisk ... geez !

And no, you really SHOULDN'T be using Winders :-)