Have you ever used GNU/Linux? If so, what distributions did you use, and how did you like them? What got you interested in GNU/Linux, and are you still using it? If not, why?

If you've never used GNU/Linux, why not? Free and Open Source Software is awesome!

I've used GNU/Linux quite frequently. In fact, there have been times when I only had GNU/Linux on my computer, for months at a time. I've used a tonne of different distros. Heavily leaning on Ubuntu back when I started (But that was the 07.x series). The first I ever used was Knoppix, because way back then (2004, I think?) there weren't a lot of distros that ran on Live CDs, so that was kind of a big deal. Right now I have Arch Linux installed alongside Windows 8, but I don't really have the time to set it up (Arch is kind of a lot of work) so I might just move over to Linux Mint Debian Edition, just for ease of use.

Local Mods : I know there are a couple other Linux threads out there, but they seem to be asking a specific question about Linux, versus my thread wanting to just discuss Linux in general. But if you think it's too similar, feel free to close it. No hard feelings. =)

I use Linux every now and again when writing programs. It's just easier to run them from the console, and I don't know how to do that with windows.

And I use the newest version of Ubuntu (10 I think). I don't mind it. It's easy enough to use and a lot like windows; but one complaint I do have is how task bar is on the left side of the screen and so are the minimize/close buttons on a browser window, so I go to minimize them and the stupid thing pops out and gets in the way. Other than that I have no complaints.

soxfan849 : I actually haven't used the Unity interface, so I don't know how it works, but the way you describe it sounds a bit like an old Gnome setup I had... I actually can't find a screenshot, but it had the taskbar over to the left of the screen, with a bunch of drawers to get to different launchers, then active applications would list from top to bottom.


You know, you can (Or could) switch which side the close buttons are on, right? And if all else fails, you can just reinstall good old GNOME.

Wait, I had it backwards. My computer has GNOME (which has the problem I was talking about) and the computer lab computers on campus have Ubuntu.

And I know I could change some settings, but I don't know how exactly; and I don't think it's really annoying enough to bother figuring out. Maybe one day I will, though.

I'm kind of a Linux guy, if you could call me that. Even though I grew up using Windows, I started using Linux(Ubuntu) about a year-and-a-half ago, maybe. But, when I first used it, I just loved it. I've only used a few different distros, Ubuntu, Debian, Linux Mint, and Linux Slax LIVE CD.
I'm the only person in my family uses Linux, except for my grandpa, who used RedHat back in the 90s, I think. He's got a Linux 2.0 book at his his house, that's how I found out about it actually. lol There are only 3 people(including myself) that I know use Linux in my school, so it's a pretty unique thing to tell people in my school that I use Linux.

I really like Linux(mainly Ubuntu), and I know I'll be using for a long time, and maybe get more people to make the switch.

I haven't gotten the chance to try Arch Linux like I said I was yet, since my moms old laptop wont read cds anymore, and I have no flash drive, and I'm quite unsure of how to do a net install. I heard that it's a really good distro to play around with, and learn about Linux.

Now I only use Windows when I need to use FL Studio, since it runs terribly in Wine. Also the school computers use Windows...

soxfan849 : Wait, what? GNOME is just a desktop environment used by older versions of Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and several other distros. And the default GNOME layout isn't like what you described at all. What you described sounds like the default Unity layout, so I'm a bit confused... Normally with GNOME's default settings, the bars are on the top and bottom.

pi0x : Wow, that's actually quite a head start for you having someone in your family who already knows how to use GNU/Linux. If you ever get in to real trouble, he could probably help you out a lot. I had to learn all on my own, and let me tell you, it wasn't easy.

Hey, has anyone ever successfully installed something from tarballs? (Or even attempted it, for that matter)

I have actually tried to install a few games from tarballs, and I think just a hand full or programs off of Sourceforge. I can't remember whether or not they worked, although I'm sure they didn't.

Also, the Unity interface isn't very good. They are trying to make things more "user-friendly", but I think they are making it less customizable. I think it is a very cramped interface, and you can't move the Unity bar, at all. I would much rather like it on the bottom, like a normal dock.
I just use Docky, it works really well, and goes with my Mac-styled UI.

Lazlo Falconi : Yeah, I thought you were telling me I was wrong and I assumed that you would be right. Misread your last post and trusted it. I have Ubuntu 11 (which comes with Unity 2D by default).

Obviously I'm no expert, but I can get by using it.

I haven't even touched Unity or Gnome. I always thought Windows seemed so bloated with the display that seemed to be built for people obsessed with big shiny things, so when I switched to Linux I started out using Xubuntu with the XFCE interface.

Then I did some research, and found Peppermint, which uses the LXDE interface, and is one of the smallest ISOs carrying an OS built to be installed instead of run live (largely because it's built to run mainly off of the cloud).

Since trying Peppermint I've looked at Tiny Core, Lucid Puppy, WattOS, MacPup, and I just recently wiped the disk I burned Xubuntu onto to use it for MadBox. But after trying all of those, I haven't found any OS that seems to suit me better than Peppermint.

I did install the Jupiter power manager I discovered while trying out WattOS and installed VLC, Jave JRE, and a basic BASH accessible temperature sensor package, but that's all, and I couldn't be happier with it. LXDE doesn't really come with bells and whistles, but it's simple and elegant, and I just plain wouldn't be interested in more.

Paracelsus : It's nice to see someone who is willing to try out different distributions, even if you always return to one or another. I also like seeing someone who likes to try, shall we say, "Alternative" window managers. Personally, I don't care for Unity or whatever they call the new KDE thing. Actually, I don't much care for desktop environments at all, resorting to much simpler tools like xmonad or twm for window management.

I've never used Jupiter, but I may go ahead and check it out...