http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2016/03/m...-to-windows-10

Oh...my...goodness. I never expected that! Official cooperation between Microsoft and Canonical? Wonders will never cease! This has only happened since Satya Nadella took over and I guess he doesn't subscribe to the monolithic domination strategy of the Ballmer and Gates years (bet they regard him as a traitor now whom they should never have appointed) but to a diverse market, healthy competition and constructive cooperation.

Link:

That's perhaps a bit odd for me, as I hadn't used Windows in nearly 16 years. But that changed a few months ago, as I embarked on a super secret (and totally mind boggling!) project between Microsoft and Canonical, as unveiled today in a demo during Kevin Gallo's opening keynote of the Build conference....

New!

BUILD 2016 Microsoft’s love of Linux is extending to its flagship Visual Studio suite. Redmond has released for download an extension it has developed that lets you roll C++ code for Linux servers, desktops and devices. Visual Studio will copy and remote build source and launch the application with a debugger. There’s added support in the project system for architectures like ARM.

That said, Microsoft's new love in with Linux does have its limits. Last night, l was on their help forums giving objective advice and the answers which included trying out free Linux distributions were censored and never published. Someone asked about stopping Win 10 nagware on their Win 7 system and I said download and install the free GWX Control Panel software and that answer was published.

In a different thread, a member claimed that some recent distro's do not need any terminal input ie work like Windows. I'd be interested in testing this in VMware - any suggestions for Bash-free Linux ?

TIA

When you say ''do not need terminal input'' And as you mention Bash/Terminal.
What would you be needing the Linux distro to do, just general browsing, email, videos, music. Or are you after being able to do programming?
Also what operating systems do you use at the moment?

I would say any of the modern user-friendly well maintained distros can be used completely from the GUI if the user wishes.

Linux Mint is one that most newbies are pointed towards, provided their computers are reasonably up to date.
This is because it is very conservative in it's approach to updates, and is based on Ubuntu long term support editions. So although it stays well behind the 'bleeding edge' curve, it's consequently very stable.

For older machines LXLE (another Ubuntu based one) is often suggested.

If a user knows how to install an OS from DVD or USB, then they can do so using the GUI installer, can install all their programs from the Software Centre (names vary), and can keep the computer updated all without opening a terminal.

Of course the terminal is there if needed, and it can often be simpler to do some things through the terminal, when you get the hang of it.
But it's your choice. It's not needed generally.

Apart from those two there is Ubuntu itself, or if you want to step out of the Ubuntu world you could consider Manjaro and Antergos which are Arch Linux based. Or openSUSE, which is Slackware based. And many others.

Yep, I'd agree with all of that and another recommendation of mine is Linux Lite which is pretty straightforward and easy to use on both older and newer equipment: Linux Lite Easy to Use Free Linux Operating System

I currently use Windows 7 and 10. I have dabbled in Linux a few years ago (hardware not VM) and although I had Win cmd experience, I thought having to use CLI to install drivers, Flash etc a bit much - mainly because the file sytem and commands were different to Windows. I could see this being a big problem for non techy people.

When it was mentioned in the W10 thread that with some newer Linux, there's no need for CLI, I thought it might be interesting to give that idea a spin in VMware. I do realise that VM is not a real test compared to a hardware install (no need for sound, video, network, chipset drivers etc).

Re programming - I've recently started using Python (with PyCharm) in Windows, and when watching YouTube tutorials, was surprised to learn that Python comes with some distro's as standard.

I'm not interested in switching to Linux, because the software I use - Cinema 4D and Photoshop, After Effects, Illustrator et al - is not currently ported to Linux. I'm still intrigued though, as to whether a recent distro could be installed, configured etc with no terminal use as claimed, by a non tech person. From my experience, the average joe would fail at any mention of sda or grub, but could easily install Windows with a few mouse clicks.

So - what point and click version of Linux should I test ?

Linux Mint Cinnamon Edition.

You don't usually need to install drivers (last time i needed to was in the 90s with a Winmodem) as they come with the kernel. The only exception is if you're going to use the proprietary graphics card drivers for gaming. The standard open-source drivers included will be suitable for non-gamers.

Adobe doesn't update Flash on Linux any more (excepting security updates) but an old version is installed by default in Mint, and if you install Chrome it comes with a Google-maintained more up-to-date version (just like on Windows/OS X).

You don't even need to install most Linux distros, they'll run directly from a live CD/USB stick. It's far easier than Windows and has been for more than a decade.

Well as its been a few yrs for you, you will notice a HUGE change in linux desktops.
Some people say the choice in linux is its downfall, others say its not
As you will be ok downloading and burning to DVD? and they are free try several as they are all easy to install.


Mint
https://linuxmint.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9ByJN1iOAs

Ubuntu
http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoeCcCQuJrM

There's also Gnome
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU2f_jkPRq4

Or any from
http://distrowatch.com/

...and things continue to get ever more surreal:

Microsoft lures top Linux executive from Oracle to Redmond. Wim Coekaerts' [now ex-Oracle Senior Vice President, Linux and Virtualization Engineering] hire another sign of open source push.

@ 1saintly @ Esot-eric

I took you guy's advice and loaded Linux Mint Cinnamon x64 in VMWare Workstation 10. Mint wasn't listed, so I installed as Debian 7 and that seemed OK. I guess I have to eat my words - Mint installed with just Windows style point and click.

I had to use a terminal to install VMtools (to get full screen), but that was no big deal since I had a YouTube tutorial on my 2nd screen showing me how. From iso > install > updates > watching a music video was about 40 mins.

I'll play with Mint a bit, until I've found my way around - then might have it as a dual boot with W10.

So that's a result - thanks for advice re disto etc.

Just found and thought it was a good video showing off Linux.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCRFMgMMiKU

That review shows Ubuntu Mate to be a polished and competent operating system and I only wish that Spatry was still doing reviews so that he could promote this distribution too.

I was going to make a post about Ubuntu Mate anyway because of the mutiny going on there - yes, the Mutiny theme which makes Ubuntu Mate look like Ubuntu's Unity: Ubuntu MATE is having a bit of a Mutiny

@Mr Dos - I'm glad you're enjoying your experience with today's Linux distributions which are certainly more user friendly than they were 15 years ago, for example. Enjoy the Linux road trip!

There are reports from different sources and countries that a formally approved Ubuntu Budgie derivative of Ubuntu could be on its way:

Today, Budgie-Remix developer David Mohammed informs Softpedia about the progress made with the project, which Canonical founder Mark Shuttleworth said that it would definitely support if there were a community around the packaging, as well as the availability of the second Beta build for the upcoming 16.04 release.

As the title says.

List of changes
http://mate-desktop.com/blog/2016-04...1-14-released/

I keep hearing a lot of good things about MATE's Software Boutique. I might pop it onto this Kubuntu install and see if it works there.

And Mint marches onwards and upwards
http://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=3017

And i am sure i don't need to mention what's happening on the 21st
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/XenialXerus/ReleaseSchedule

Skip to 45mins
http://www.jupiterbroadcasting.com/9...wimpy-las-413/

But you still will not be able to move the min/max/close buttons to the right

Yes i know other Distro releases are released through the year,, but Ubuntu is a biggy.

Hmm wonder what happened to Ubuntu phone

Skip to 4mins for how my house looks at upgrade time
http://www.jupiterbroadcasting.com/9...wimpy-las-413/

Hmm .. so what new Ubuntu flavour do I try first?

what the heck you on about.





There's only one
https://ubuntu-mate.org/

Kubuntu 16.04 is a keeper for me. It's staying as my secondary OS. Very impressed with it this season. Still, I'll be waiting for Mint as usual.

its difficult to choose between some distros as they are very pleasing. ive had xubuntu and later kubuntu.

right now i'm enjoying the ubuntu mate 15.04. this version and onwards are official Ubuntu flavours. though im thinking of going for Ubuntu mate 14.04. 2 LTS (long term support).

So I bit the bullet and have installed UbuntuMATE 16.04

I can understand why you would want the LTS Release, but why the old 14.04.2 and not the newer 16.04 ?
When 14.04.2 is soon end of support.
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Releases