I wonder about your level of knowledge about Slackware users, about Slackware itself and if you are familiar with the "GUI as what-you-see-is-all-you-get" concept. Or are you trying to get yourself involved in an arrogance contest with OP?

I actually playtested a bunch of distros over the last few months, and they all had pretty much the same installation process. Where did you run into problems?

chrism01 and others

Thanks for the DELL recommendation. When I add up the cost of good or even better, basic components, however, I get a much lower cost. I know it's guaranteed, but most warranties are designed to exclude their liability for every possible fault that the manufacturer has ever encountered. I'll probably look for a fairly recent model pc running Windows 10 that the owner has got fed up with. I'll try to avoid a Horrible Product, but the auction sites are packed with them. I don't need to guess why.

Tips on brands and models to avoid gratefully accepted.

MFS

swissfella,

For me the advantage of a self-build is that it allows the fitment of a decent quality PSU, amongst other components.
This may not be a priority for you, in which case a recent used W10 machine will fit the bill.

error post

And maybe you should get over yourself! But then I did say that Slackers would have a sense-of-humour failure. And yes, I have tried Slackware. I admit the quality is good, but the whole approach takes me back to the 90s (or even 80s), to which I do not want to return.

Swissfella, you could check out the Ubuntu certified hardware list at https://certification.ubuntu.com/.

Do you already know what software you will be running using Linux? DTP software to me seems a niche market, so if you need good DTP software to run your business you should have an idea what you'll be running.

As for the distribution, I'd stick to one of the main distributions and learn to live with it. I chose Ubuntu and I am fine with it.

If you need a laptop I recommend buying a Lenovo Thinkpad. They don't look bling but you can rely on them, their keyboards are really nice to work on and they run Ubuntu with everything working right out of the box.

Whatever you do, coming from a Mac I would strongly recommend to stay away from Windows 10 and just try to get comfortable with Linux. The internal structure of the software is roughly the same and you'll feel more at home with Linux. And please don't mess around with dual boot. I think it hinders a good Linux experience. Just run it alongside your Mac so you can transfer your work to your new Linux workstation.

I have personal experience: previously I bought everything Uncle Steve presented as soon as it was announced on one of those Apple keynotes. I still have a Macbook pro and two 27" iMacs in my house. However when my Macbook Pro physically broke down just over 2 years after purchase and the Macbook I quickly bought to replace it had the performance of a low end smartphone and a bad keyboard I just quit Apple (like smoking). So I bought a Windows 10 PC and just bought all the software I thought I might need for my work: mostly e-mail, some graphical and presentation work and some video. Even though I spent a lot of money on software the PC kept disappointing me. That PC now has Linux installed as well, just as my laptop has. The only thing I keep Windows 10 around for is the e-mail archiving software I still haven't found a good alternative to my liking for.

Hi,

I have no problem responding to you and my personal believes are the reason for my Slackware usage.

Since you seem to want to continue making erroneous statements then I am going to respond. Sense of humor has nothing to do with my previous post. So you tried Slackware. I have been using Slackware since PV first released it. So having a stable operating system is a problem. Maybe you prefer the wiss-bang of the GUI world but myself prefer a means to setup the OS without worry about whether the author has done the GUI correctly to produce a required installation. As to your 80-90 references, Slackware maintainer and team provides the means to have that stable installation for a Gnu/Linux. Maybe you should try Slackware again and use it so you can learn a real Gnu/Linux.

Hope this helps!
Have fun & enjoy Slackware!

The entire point of GNU/Linux is to clone a 70s-era operating system. All Linux distros are fundamentally ancient in their approach and distros like Ubuntu merely obscure it with eye candy and automation.

Even if it were to be conceded that Slackware does take an outdated approach, that approach simply works. As the adage says, don't fix what ain't broken.

Also, you can get a better machine for less money if you build your own PC compared to buying a pre-built. My current desktop was about $300 but the same specs would have probably been at least $500 with a pre-built.

I’ll limit my answer to one related to “look & feel” of the distribution, but no matter which you choose, you’re going to have to put some effort into learning how to install it.

The Linux distribution closest to MacOS look and feel that I know of is elementaryOS.

Looking at the Distrowatch page hit ranking list, a couple of others that target making it as easy as possible to install and run, aside from those mentioned in earlier posts, are Zorin and Peppermint.

There are others, but people more familiar with those can point them out.

Debian and Ubuntu derivatives give the advantage of a large repository of packages with a popular package format.

If you go for Linux, and after you’ve started the easy way, if you decide to look for something to dig deeper into the OS with, then yeah, look at Slackware and come join us on the forum over there.

TKS

By the way, since this wasn't explicitly pointed out: Elementary, Zorin, and Peppermint are all Ubuntu derivatives.

Taking the liberty to expand your points.

There is much truth in this statement, which can be re-expressed as a car analogy: "the entire point of Tesla cars is to clone a late 18th century-era mode of transport. All cars are fundamentally ancient in their approach".

If it ain't broke it really ain't outdated.

@ swissfella:-

I'm not going to take exception over, or get into a 'strop' over the section I've bolded. At least you're honest, and straight-to-the point as to why you're posting. I will, however, say this:-

Most folks that use Windows or Macs for work do so, I believe, not out of any particular sense of loyalty and/or liking for the systems in general; they do so because those platforms are the ones which are supported by the accepted, industry-standard software that so many have no choice but to use to earn a living with.

As stated earlier in the thread, I too have always been under the impression that Macs are the tool-of-choice for most people working in your particular field. I accept your statement about the sky-high pricing that Apple seems to regard as 'normal' to promulgate a degree of exclusivity (yes, and 'snobbery', too!) Personally, I lost all interest in Cupertino's products more than 35 years ago, when struggling with an exceptionally 'balky' Apple Lisa back in the 1980's, and have seen no reason to revise my opinion in the intervening years; I've never been able to justify that kind of outlay for something which, for me personally, has never been more than a hobby.

During the whole of my working life I never once had to use these boxes of black magic as part of my day-to-day activities. My personal interest stems from leaving school around the time of the 'home computer revolution' in the late 70's/early 80's, and just being fascinated by the concepts of what these things were capable of doing. I've had an on-going interest ever since.

--------------------------

And that pretty much brings me to the point of my post; you would be amazed at just how many retired/semi-retired individuals frequent most of the well-known Linux fora online. In these cases there's no mystery about it; most don't want to have to continue to 'struggle' with Windows when there's no longer any need, and at that stage of life you have to begin to prioritize finances during retirement. Linux doesn't cost anything to use, and it allows the re-purposing of elderly hardware that in many cases is no longer fit to cope with top-of-the-line modern operating systems. So no need to purchase new hardware either.

And at that time of life, you suddenly have a lot of time on your hands, and many like to keep their minds active in their later years. Which is another plus point for starting to use Linux; you now have the time necessary to learn new ways of doing things.....and, yes; to "play around with it"..!

It really does take "all sorts" to make this dirtball continue rotating.....


Mike.

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Hi Mike

Actually, my current situation would best be described as "semi-retired".

The situation I face is a) buying a used, recent model iMac with all the potential hazards that this involves or b) a new, but low-cost, Windows 10 computer shop box with all the REAL hazards that come with Microsoft's claimed Windows upgrades. The other options are c) a new iMac, which I can't justify pricewise or d) a not-too-old, but used Windows box costing almost zero from a website auction site. The dilemma here is what makes me take slightly more interest in the cobwebbed Windows pcs left behind by my kids when they left the nest (I have their permission to delete all contents if found).

My son (in San Francisco) has already pointed me in the direction of ElementaryOS, so I'll probably start with that in one of these old Windows pcs that I have access to.

One thought that keeps rearing its head is "Why are new brand-new Linux pcs just as expensive as Windows 10 pcs if the OS is free and setting them up is so easy?" It isn't a volume issue as the situation is the same at big box shifters as well as at my local pcs and parts emporium. I reckon that new Linux pcs should be half the price currently being demanded, but my own cynicism tells me that the aim of this is to deflect pc buyers in the direction of Windows, where there is money to be had in "repairing" Windows updates.

MFS

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