The Computer Question Thread

[FireKnife]

Stunt in your example I would still say that both Client 1 and 2 should stay away.

 

This is going to be as Client 1 will not have much in the way of support too by that example and given that yes Ubuntu does have a lot of internet forum answers and such it is still easier for people to just go on a central website like Microsoft and click some fix it for me box and off it goes.

 

I admit I would like to see more users try Ubuntu but I would also like to see many other things change but due to intense familiarity people will just stick with what they know and it makes life easier for them which is what most people want in a PC, an easier life.

 

'FireKnife'

[FireKnife]

Damn, too late to edit.

 

Also just went into the stuff we got from another mill at work. Found about 6 30GB SSDs and even a 16GB IDE SSD (I didn't know such things existed given how dead IDE is now).

 

However it gives me a perfect chance to test out and compare SSDs to regular HDDs. So far using the 64GB one I found it is almost worth the cost but just not quite unless you use your laptop as a surfboard.

 

'FireKnife'

[Skarclaw]

I see where you are going but it depends on the level of the user.

 

There are basically three levels of computer user:

 

1? Q: My magic box of lights is not working, can you help me? A: Yes, your screen magic window has fallen over onto your keyboard alphabet thing, obfuscating covering it - lift it up and you will be OK.

 

2? Q: I am trying to get my networked printer to work but I am having real problems, can you help me?  A: Have you checked the settings on your switch?  Try opening a browser on your PC and directly accessing it, the ip should be 192.168.0.1 or something similar.

 

3? Q: I have been having a problem with the three different hardware RAID controllers in my PC causing Windows 7 to be unable to install service pack 1 and it also seems to be causing my Garmin Edge 500 to only be recognised as an external drive for 0.1 seconds due to a drive letter allocation issue, also, whenever I try to mount the Edge 500 as a drive something on Windows 7 corrupts it and subsequently Linux can nly mount it in read only mode until I do a factory reset on it.  It is all very frustrating, can you help me?  A: No.

 

 

I'd say I'm somewhere in between 2 and 3... I used to mod games and I got in big trouble for dicking about on the network whilst at school. 

 

But *fruitcage* me if I can install drivers in my ubuntu distro.

 

I enjoy fiddling around and stuff so its not a massive deal but I NEVER have to go into command prompt or similar when I use windows, let alone to install a software package ffs.

 

I'd reccomend ubuntu to your average joe who doesn't need to use anything then the software included or what can be downloaded from software centre. doing anything else can be problematic.

[Tinkerton]

I've dabbled with Ubuntu before, but never really used it properly.

 

I'd say I'm closer to a 2 than anything else - I don't know anything about command line and so avoid at all costs. Also printers don't like me.

[FireKnife]

I work in IT and refuse to use command line unless I have to.

 

To me command line in it's purest form is the perverse of the kind of people that code their own porn and think achievement peaked at Zork.

 

The rest of us tolerate it and then rejoice as soon as a GUI pops up to save us from the black and whitish-grey death .

 

Only thing CMD is good for is ping, ipconfig, batch scripts and a few other quick commands. Actually creating folders and modifying them? Sod that shizz.

 

'FireKnife'

[Tinkerton]

I was over Marlowes' house once and he copied me some stuff onto a usb, which happened to need reformatting for some reason.

He did it all in CLI. :|

[FireKnife]

Wow, that must have been eye burning.

 

I recall on my course when they explained that we could do Server AD and GP stuff in three ways, CLI, PowerShell or GUI.

 

Yeah everyone went straight for the GUI option.

 

I know some will moan but tools have been made easier to use as then they are easier to use, what is the point in making it simpler only to then complicate it again?

 

'FireKnife'

[Tinkerton]

'Zactly.

 

Anyway, similar to your WE test, i have hereby decided to only use Ubuntu on my home laptop for the next month (at minimum).

 

I will still use Win7 on my gaming PC upstairs, but literally all I do on that is play games, so won't skew the results.

 

Fortunately i've already installed Ubuntu (12.04 LTS) on this laptop, but i've hardly used it beyond installing chrome and an IRC client.

 

As previously stated I consider myself an 'above average' computer user, I know a lot of basic stuff, but all I really know is how much I *don't* know.

 

Anyway, i'll keep you updated.

 

So far the one thing thats really pissing me off is the minimise/restore/close buttons being top right instead of top left. 24 years of habit makes me automatically go for the top right of a window when i need to close it... :|

[FireKnife]

Be oh so glad you didn't have to use an older Mac for two years like me back in 2005-2007.

 

I wish to close this program, ok close the little red button in the top right hand corner.

 

Ok lets open up two other programs, ah I need to Alt+Tab between them.

 

Wait why is the other program from before still open?

 

MMMMMMAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCCCCCCC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

You had to actually go into the program menu and close it that way. There was a shortcut key but one of the keys used in the shortcut was also the right click option (Apple use a single click mouse, donkeys) so you could end up doing the wrong command if you were going too quick.

 

So glad Windows doesn't have that issue. Plus, like back in XP when you tried to close a faulty program it would stall and take a while. However at least the Windows PC could do it without having to demand a restart that you couldn't back out of sometimes.

 

Actually I might try Ubuntu, I have a stack of spare SSDs so lets fill them with stuff and OS to play with.

 

'FireKnife'

[DrAlexanderTobacco]

I work in IT and refuse to use command line unless I have to.

lol

[amateurstuntman]

So far the one thing thats really pissing me off is the minimise/restore/close buttons being top right instead of top left. 24 years of habit makes me automatically go for the top right of a window when i need to close it... :|

 

You can either: A - change it to the right side relatively easily. or B - learn the keyboard shortcuts for minimise, restore and close.  If your laptop has a windows key, it will work in Ubuntu as the "super" key.  If you press and hold the super key you will get a handy cheat sheet screen showing the common keyboard shortcuts.

 

I use keyboard shortcuts all the time and combined with my trackpoint make for a very easy computering experience.

 

OK stunt seeing as you're an Ubuntu expert:

 

I've just acquired an old XP box that would be good for word processing, leaving simulations running and general Internet browsing etc. - but Microsoft no long supports XP as of yesterday and I don't want to buy an OS, so what would be my best bet for running MS Office on Linux? Wine?

 

Does it absolutely have to be MS office?

 

Ubuntu 12.04 comes with a pre-installed suite of office software, Libre Calc, Libre Writer and Libre Impress (I think which is a powerpoint type thing) and I use Calc and Writer a lot.

Apart from a few keyboard shortcuts not being the same (F12 not being save as is the most annoying for me) they work fine and can edit and save as (although not by pressing F12) windows compatible files.

The newest version of Microsoft office is now finally compatible with the ODF format too so it is going to become less and less of an issue.

 

The only time I have ever had a problem is with a password protected word file and that was because the NHS' IT system was set up by an escaped mental patient and the client was a 65 year old woman on her first computer who had to tippex over the shift button and write "shift" on it because she kept confusing it with the up cursor key.

 

If you don't get on with Libre office you can use Open office too.

 

All free.

 

 

 

I wouldn't call myself an expert but I am a bit of an evangelist.  Why wouldn't you use an open, free, stable, reliable, secure piece of software when the mainstream alternative is none of those things?

 

As for driver issues - I've never had any.

 

I have 2 xbox controllers, a wireless trackball a mouse and a keyboard that incorporates a track point and touchpad, a built in soundcard and a USB soundcard (5.1 surround headphones) in this box and it all works.

I did have to install drivers for the hardware raid controllers but I had to do that for Windows too because they work before the OS takes over.  I just followed the guidance I found on the internet.

 

In Windows I can't get the track point and touch pad to work at the same time and about once a week the middle click on the track ball stops working.

You also can't have the soundcard and USB soundcard working at the same time - at all.

 

On Ubuntu it all just works.

 

 

 

Anyway.

 

Heartbleed - who's pooping their pants?

 

 

 

*Edit* Ubuntu tip of the day. In settings>keyboard you can either completely disable the stupid capslock button or map it to a totally different function TO STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING ANY MORE.

[Tinkerton]

Wait, you mean people dont use [ctrl]+ to save? FREAAAAAAAAAKS!

 

Fireknife- share the SSD love, my man!

 

Stunt: I've got a windows key - holding it down does nothing, sadly :< 

 

Also, tips for getting an ubuntu machine working nicely with a windows homegroup?

[amateurstuntman]

Yes, you need samba on the Ubuntu machine and then follow the instructions you'll find online.

 

Does pressing the Super key once open the dashboard?

If it does not then your Super key might be broken, you can turn it on and off in both the BIOS and in the keyboard settings in Ubuntu.

 

If it is working then you can go into CompizConfiguration Settings Manager > unity plugin > experimental and check to see if "enable shortcut hints overlay" is active, that's what makes the shortcut lists pop up.

 

 

The keyboard shortcuts for minimise and restore require the super key to be working though, they are:

Minimise: Ctrl+Alt+0 (zero)

and

Restore: Ctrl+Super+[down cursor]

 

Or Ctrl+Super+d to show desktop and repeat to restore all windows.

[Stuey]

Does it absolutely have to be MS office?

 

Ubuntu 12.04 comes with a pre-installed suite of office software, Libre Calc, Libre Writer and Libre Impress (I think which is a powerpoint type thing) and I use Calc and Writer a lot.

Apart from a few keyboard shortcuts not being the same (F12 not being save as is the most annoying for me) they work fine and can edit and save as (although not by pressing F12) windows compatible files.

The newest version of Microsoft office is now finally compatible with the ODF format too so it is going to become less and less of an issue.

 

The only time I have ever had a problem is with a password protected word file and that was because the NHS' IT system was set up by an escaped mental patient and the client was a 65 year old woman on her first computer who had to tippex over the shift button and write "shift" on it because she kept confusing it with the up cursor key.

 

If you don't get on with Libre office you can use Open office too.

 

All free.

 

 

 

Anyway.

 

Heartbleed - who's pooping their pants?

 

I am a bit, I installed the Chromebleed checker for peace of mind, obviously ZeroIn is vulnerable haha. Will probably change my more important passwords/check if anything I use is affected.

 

I'm wary now because I just read somewhere that Ubuntu 12 is vulnerable too!

 

I'll check out the free Office suites, I've used OpenOffice before and not been impressed...I do like Word etc and after all the years I'm used to using them.

[FireKnife]

Wait, you mean people dont use [ctrl]+ to save? FREAAAAAAAAAKS!

 

Fireknife- share the SSD love, my man!

 

I have taken to using Ctrl+S (or ker-tarl as Homer calls it) when in the middle of writing but I still open the explorer and check it is saving to the right place when I am done. Just for piece of mind.

 

I would but I have a feeling they 'might' notice. However I could just say one is damaged and then put it in the 'skip'. To be honest I don't think they are going to ever use it and really 30GB is a bit limiting but hey if they get put out as being useless then I will format then wipe and then see what to do with them.

 

By that logic does anyone want a Dell Latitude D630? Has no hard drive in it but everything else is there .

 

'FireKnife'

[amateurstuntman]

Sure but Ctrl+S is "save" and F12 is "save as" which I use very often for saving multiple versions of standard letters with different data in them. In Ubuntu etc. I think it is Shift+Ctrl+S and I am still getting used to it.

 

I don't know if you can use Wine/Play n Linux to use MS Office.  Probably, I'll have to look.

[Tinkerton]

Ah, fair enough. Never knew that.

 

Anyway, I use libre office on my PC's when I can. Our store-room computer has it, but my main work one has 'proper' office. The wifes laptop has 'proper' office as it does play better with formatting when submitting essays and the like online. 

 

Anyway, going to burn to DVD's now, so we'll see how that goes.

[FireKnife]

Speaking of Office it leads me to two things.

 

1. Some people at my work are now working with documents submitted from the now personal PCs of some ex-employees. They receive such a file in a format that isn't .doc but it is .odf, queue them phoning me up, asking what to do with it. They don't even notice that Microsoft has already picked it up and assigned it the same thumbnail image as a typical Office document.

 

2. We still have a lot of people at work on 2003 Office. This causes us no end of issues with documents popping up in .docx, .pptx and .xlsx. Now the majority of the .docx ones comvert using the standard tools from Microsoft however given the *albartroth* about face way they do some spreadsheets Excel just throws a fit.

 

Now we can't tell the other company to stop sending us stuff in 2007 onwards format and there are no reliable yet free tools for conversion. This means even more work as we have to be sent the email, open it in our own 2010 or 2013 and then convert it back to a pre-2007 format. Add in that we are not allowed to buy any more copies of Office and you can soon see how stupidly annoying this gets.

 

'FireKnife'

[mightyjebus]

why don't you use the free online version?

[FireKnife]

Work = not allowed to use free anything that isn't certified or deemed 'safe'.

 

'FireKnife'

[Tinkerton]

do it anyway. Who's going to find out? :3.

[mightyjebus]

it is free and safe and it's Microsoft office online. All you need is an internet connection.

here's the link

 

https://www.office.com/start/default.aspx

[FireKnife]

Yeah that doesn't work for us due to slow bandwidth along with the fact that we are not allowed to use it for business.

 

After the whole security paper making got added they really cracked down on things though however it did stop people at work-center machines using them to charge their stupid phones via USB.

 

'FireKnife'

[Tinkerton]

'Zactly.

 

Anyway, similar to your WE test, i have hereby decided to only use Ubuntu on my home laptop for the next month (at minimum).

 

I will still use Win7 on my gaming PC upstairs, but literally all I do on that is play games, so won't skew the results.

 

Fortunately i've already installed Ubuntu (12.04 LTS) on this laptop, but i've hardly used it beyond installing chrome and an IRC client.

 

As previously stated I consider myself an 'above average' computer user, I know a lot of basic stuff, but all I really know is how much I *don't* know.

 

Anyway, i'll keep you updated.

 

So far the one thing thats really pissing me off is the minimise/restore/close buttons being top right instead of top left. 24 years of habit makes me automatically go for the top right of a window when i need to close it... :|

 

So, it's not been quite a full month yet, but it's worth an update now, I think, as to how I'm gettinng on with Ubuntu as my day to day OS instead of Win7.

 

It's perfect.

 

It's a lot faster and more responsive than Win7, everything* I want to do, or have done on Win7 I can do on this - just as easily, just as quickly, just as simply.

 

After a bit of playing to get the Win7 homegroup working nicely with Ubuntu that all works fine, too, so i can stream my films and music from the 'Big PC' media centre thingy next to the TV and I can shunt files betwixt this laptop, the Big PC and the Upstairs PC (Gaming rig).

 

All of the programmes are easy to install either from the Ubuntu Software Centre (one click, done. totes amaze-balls) or by a simple sudo apt-get from Command Line (most of these you can just ctrl+c into the terminal window).

 

*The ONLY thing I've had an issue with has been burning DVD's and Printing - DVD's i got around by using a different software than that 'nix equivalent of what i used on Win7, and sadly it just appears my printer (Kodak ESP 1.2) isn't Linux compatible.

 

Which is a real shame, and something I've never thought about before. It's certainly something I'm going to be paying attention to when I next have to buy a printer.

 

If you're unsure of whether it's actually that simple, or worried that its too complex, it's not. I'm quite confident my 60 year old, computer illiterate mother could cope with learning this fine. There's nothing that's been any more confusing or difficult than the equivalent on windows.

[amateurstuntman]

Yay!

 

Welcome.

 

I've actually never had a printer that couldn't work under Linux, a lot of the time the manufacturer's software doesn't work but the printer will still print.