SRL Archive - NOTA

Now before everyone gets into a heated debate on which one is better, this is not what I am asking lol. I just got a laptop from a friend that's about a year and a half old, it has an AMD Turion 64 X2 2.0 Ghz processor, and 3 gigs of memory. It originally came with Vista on it but I'm going to upgrade it… Now, here is my question. Should I put Linux or Windows on it? The only reason I am asking this, is because I plan on using it when I am not at home for my online college, which needs Microsoft Office to do my papers. Should I just put Windows on it, then run Linux on a virtual machine? Or put Linux on it, then run Windows on Wine when I am going to work on my school work?

You can use Open Office, if you do save as, you can save as word (or any Microsoft Office file) :)

From: sirlaughsalot
You can use Open Office, if you do save as, you can save as word (or any Microsoft Office file) :)

Oh, I didn't know you could do that. Of course I never used Office until I started college. I'm trying to figure out if I need Windows to do anything specific for them though.

If you ever make powerpoints make sure you use them making Microsoft Office powerpoint (If thats what they use at your school)

If you make it using OpenOffices powerpoint program then open your saved file in Microsoft offices powerpoint, all your images and text will be fucked up

Alright thanks you two, I'll go ahead and put Linux on there and have Windows on Wine just in case… Now I need to figure out which Linux to put on there, I have Suse Enterprise 11 but I'm not sure.

From: Alek000
Oh, I didn't know you could do that. Of course I never used Office until I started college. I'm trying to figure out if I need Windows to do anything specific for them though.

It never hurts to have a VM running for windows. You will need it at some point.. unfortunately.

I run Linux as my primary and seldom boot into windows. The only time I do is to run my CAD software for school.

I do all my office work with OpenOffice. I've come to love it. :) I get frustrated with MSOffice now.

I like all the openoffice vouches a lot of people still buy MSoffice which is foolish..

openoffice will open / save in all microsoft office formats and it runs MUCH smoother, even on windows.

If you're gonna play games on it, then windows, if not, linux :)

Haha the laptop can't play any games lol… It might be able to play Minecraft but that's about it

A good linux distro to start off with would be Ubuntu. Its very user friendly and it's what most linux people start off with at first (Either that or debain since they are similar)

What kind of papers? If you're going to write serious papers I suggest you use \LaTeX. :)

From: cycrosism
A good linux distro to start off with would be Ubuntu. Its very user friendly and it's what most linux people start off with at first (Either that or debain since they are similar)

I have used Ubuntu, Debian, and Suse before… I was thinking about diving into some Gentoo and see how that goes. Since I don't really leave the house that much I kind of have time to at least give it a shot lol

From: Wizzup?
What kind of papers? If you're going to write serious papers I suggest you use \LaTeX. :)

The largest paper so far was 4 pages, but mostly it's 2-3 pages so it's not that bad.


Edit: Well, I tried to install Gentoo onto the laptop. But for some reason it's not letting me boot from the DVDrom. It's not letting me boot from an external DVDrom either. :-/

Use this: http://distfiles.gentoo.org/releases/x86/autobuilds/current-iso/install-x86-minimal-20110215.iso

Also, make sure to use the Gentoo Install Handbook. Good luck, it's not easy. :p

From: Wizzup?
Use this: http://distfiles.gentoo.org/releases/x86/autobuilds/current-iso/install-x86-minimal-20110215.iso

Also, make sure to use the Gentoo Install Handbook. Good luck, it's not easy. :p

I think that's the same one I tried lol… I successfully installed Gentoo once, but I don't really claim victory on that since I was using VMWare and SSH so I was just copying and pasting from the handbook lol

why not just dual boot,

I could do that, if I could my laptop to boot off of the CD for Gentoo

From: Awkwardsaw
why not just dual boot,

What's the point of dual booting if you can have Linux and the an Office suite? (Open Office)

Just use Ubuntu if you can't get Gentoo to work. You just asked what a practical approach is, Ubuntu is practical.

Windows to the bone. All I can say, really. (Simba works on it!)

From: Alek000
Or put Linux on it, then run Windows on Wine when I am going to work on my school work?

^This one, and I would go with Ubuntu.

From: Echo_
^This one, and I would go with Ubuntu.

MSOffice does not work in WINE… Also, you don't typically run things in WINE, you run them with WINE. :P

From: Wizzup?
What's the point of dual booting if you can have Linux and the an Office suite? (Open Office)

Just use Ubuntu if you can't get Gentoo to work. You just asked what a practical approach is, Ubuntu is practical.

I agree with you, but if for some reason he does want windows, it would personally be easier if you dual boot instead of using a VM, or even just install ubuntu inside of windows

There's open office on linux iirc.

I'm in the works of learning Gentoo with VMWare on my desktop for right now, just to make sure that I can get it up and going before I start doing it for real on the laptop.

From: Wizzup?
What kind of papers? If you're going to write serious papers I suggest you use \LaTeX. :)

http://imgur.com/gallery/ZyeCO

Lmao ^

When migrating from Windows to Linux, read this: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SwitchingToUbuntu/FromWindows

When in pain and disappointed, read this:
http://linux.oneandoneis2.org/LNW.htm

I successfully installed Gentoo using VMWare, I'm emerging KDE right now which of course is taking forever lol.

VICTORY IS MINE! I got KDE installed, and running perfect lol. Sorry for the double post, I'm a little excited lmao. First time installing Gentoo with KDE and it works!:spot:

Good job. ;)

Except it's all about libre office now.

Mine is dual boot with Vista and OpenSUSE linux and I love it.