Linux people!

[alexseanchai]

I had the thought that maybe one of the reasons I can get work shit done so much easier On The Clock than Anywhere Else is, at my previous job I was not primarily on a personal device.

...Okay so that isn't going to work so hot for work shit that isn't directly For The Corporate Overlords or whatever. Unless I acquire a second laptop, which, uh. Shall we not?

But hey! I have previously turned a Windows machine into a Windows-Linux dual-boot without difficulty! I could make this laptop also a Linux machine and use the Linux for work shit! And just...not let myself log in to social media shit on the Linux side. (I'd still have access to the things on my phone, but I got work shit done just fine at previous job by alternating the work desktop and my phone.)

Ubuntu is what I had ten years and several machines ago. I have forgotten everything.

And I'm sure Linux options have changed in the past ten years! Techradar is currently recommending Zorin OS for total newbies, Linux Mint for beginners, and Ubuntu (or Lubuntu for less graphics-heavy or Ubuntu Studio for audio and video processing) for somewhat more experienced users. iTechHacks and It's FOSS concur.

*debates*

Does anyone have any strong opinions?

Comments

[alexseanchai]

*nodnod* thanks, and thanks specifically for the note re laptops! hadn't occurred to me that might be an issue!

[wohali]

Yes, be sure that Linux has support for your laptop's wifi chipset (this is usually fine), graphics chipset, and search specifically on power considerations. Many Linux installs on laptops don't do anything special for power states, meaning you might have trouble with standby/sleep modes and reduced battery life when running normally. If you always use your laptop plugged in, or don't care about battery life, you can ignore this.

[alexseanchai]

*nod nod* Thanks!

[alexseanchai]

...okay how to discern what my laptop's wifi chipset even is, please? Here's what I get when looking at Hardware Properties, less the lines with the name of the wifi network, assorted IP addresses, and the MAC address.

Protocol: 802.11n
Security type: Open
Network band: 5 GHz
Network channel: 40
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Description: Intel(R) Centrino(R) Advanced-N 6205 #2
Driver version: 15.16.0.2

Looks like I'm okay on graphics with both Mint and Ubuntu, and in either instance I should be okay on battery life if I make sure to install TLP in setup? (Also, today I learned laptops are not meant for on laps.)

Never mind re wifi chipset, I figured out it's the line says Centrino. I'm good with both Ubuntu and Mint. :)

[wohali]

I haven't used TLP specifically, but yes, various system level tools should work. Just write down how well your battery holds up under Windows (how many hours vs. how much battery % remaining) and compare it under Linux, if you don't get good results you might have to try a different utility. Poke me if none of the suggestions on the page you found work for you.

[alexseanchai]

Thank you much!