[olug] Linux Adventure

Fri Feb 27 20:54:09 UTC 2009

Mostly, I play puzzles, old dos stuff, and adventure games, but I like
simple arcadeish stuff too.  I am pretty certain I can find what I need in
Linux on that front, Until I've gone through the trial, I don't dare run
virtual box, but at that point that was precisely my plan.  I don't have a
huge audible collection, but I will be cranky if I can't get at what I
bought, which is generally a big problem with them and Linux.  My biggest
problem is a lack of funds, so I kind of have to do this with the hardware I
have on hand, which is why I was planning to wipe Vista. (its not a loss, I
just don't want to break XP.) If my intended Linux machine would work with
Ubuntu, I would use that, but I cannot fix video resolution, no matter what
I do, and I cannot abide using openSUSE any longer. I just don't like it. I
can't really explain why either sadly.

On Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 8:18 AM, Shannon <ridgid at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hey Amy
>
> Sounds like your starting your switch much like I did.  I had to forced
> myself use GNU/Linux all the time so I would find out what I needed to
> learn
> to stay there.  I think things are much easier now then ever to switch. I
> do
> not know what games you play. For me, I found some games to play on Linux
> to
> get my gaming fix in. currently I enjoy playing "battle for wesnoth".
>
> If there is something like Audible you need to run in windows. Install
> virtual box and run windows inside the virtual machine. That will help keep
> you running in Linux yet still use that one or two things that might be
> slowing your complete switch. If you enjoy audio books you might want to
> check out http://librivox.org.
>
> As far as installing Linux on your computer. I think it would be easier to
> buy another hard drive and use that for Linux. you can change the boot
> order
> in the bios or hit f12 or f10? on boot to temporally change it on the fly
> during boot up. this would keep your windows systems unchanged.
>
> good luck
>
> Shannon
>
>
>
> On Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 2:25 AM, Amy Mason <amason80 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Hello to all of my wonderful Linux Friends,
> >
> > I have a plan, and to put this plan in action, I need a lot of advice,
> > which
> > is where you all come in.  I have found that although I now have a system
> > dedicated to Linux, I never, ever, use it.  I am too comfortable in
> > Windows,
> > and honestly, I don't want to be a windows weakling any longer.  I have
> > seen
> > the power of Linux, and I know a handful of commands.  I've installed
> > Ubuntu
> > on average twice per OS upgrade since 7.4, and really enjoyed fiddling
> with
> > it.  However, when its time to get "real" work or play done, I turn to
> Win
> > XP, and the Linux machine collects a lot of dust. Therefore, it is my
> > intention to go Win-Free during my spring break from school.  (It's a
> > slightly longer spring break, about 12 days, as it is time to change
> > quarters.) I would appreciate any feedback on my plan, or the best way to
> > set up to make this go as smooth as possible, so here it is, please feel
> > free to critique, and offer advice as you see fit.
> >
> > Distro: Vinux 1.3 http://vinux.org.uk/  For those who don't know, and
> > haven't bothered to visit the webisite. Vinux is a remastering of Ubuntu
> > with the express purpose of including and improving access for the blind
> > and
> > visually impaired.  This will allow me to have a screen
> > reader/magnification
> > for when I need it, the Ubuntu/Debian package management I prefer, and
> for
> > the most part, the ability to use the Ubuntu forums to get answers to
> what
> > are likely to be miriad questions.  Also, as an aside... I have no
> choice,
> > for accessibility I have to use Gnome, or the console, which Vinux
> > obviously
> > provides.
> >
> > System: Dell Inspiron 530 Desktop
> >             Intel Core2 Duo E4500 at 2.20 Ghz
> >             3 Gb Ram
> >             NVidia Geforce 8300 GS 256 Shared Video Memory
> >             21 inch widescreen dell monitor
> >             Epson NX400 All-in-one Scanner/Printer/Copier
> >             20 Gb partition of a 320 Gb SATA hard drive. (XP: 20 Gb,
> Vista:
> > 20 Gb, Dell Utilities: >1 Gb, Data: 280 Gb Approx.)
> >
> > I'll be wiping my Vista partition for the install and accessing my data
> > from
> > the data partition of the main SATA drive, and if drivers exist, backing
> up
> > all data to an eSATA drive connected to the system.  Otherwise, backups
> > will
> > be conducted between the system and a USB drive.  I'm doing this on my
> > primary system because I can't seem to get proper video support on my
> > dedicated Linux machine, and I am going to want to do everything, (i.e.
> > game, watch videos) from the Ubuntu machine that I normally do.
> >
> > This brings us to a few preliminary questions.
> >
> > 1.  XP and Vista each are on their own 20 Gb partitions.  I've never
> > installed ubuntu on a system with as complex a partitioning scheme
> before,
> > so how do I know that I am wiping the Vista partition instead of XP?
> >
> > 2.  Does anyone have experience with Audible and wine, or know if its
> > possible?
> >
> > 3. My favorite recent toy is a Wacom Bamboo tablet, is there anything fun
> I
> > can do with it under Linux?
> >
> > 4.  Any resources you would reccomend to me for getting info on other
> > questions that are likely to pop up?
> >
> > 5.  Any general flaws in the logic that you would like to point out?
> >
> > If this is simplistic enough to get me trounced on by grouchy Linux
> trolls,
> > fair enough, I know I am a newb, point me to the right man
> > page/forum/mailing list/(insert your favorite explative here) or feel
> free
> > to ignore me.  I've been to OLUG meetings for 10 out of the 12 last
> months,
> > and I am honestly trying, I just seem to be slow at the learning of it,
> and
> > thought this might be the best way.  I appreciate all the help you have
> > provided in the past, and hope you are willing to help me again.
> >
> > My eventual goal is probably never going to be entirely dumping windows,
> (I
> > like games) but to try and use Linux as my primary OS, so this is a step
> in
> > that process.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Amy
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