fun suggestions for linux newb?

[birthdaymonkey]

Hi folks,

Here's the situation: I was just given an otherwise fully functional laptop with a broken LCD. I installed Ubuntu 10.10 and have it set up so I can VNC into it. It's now sitting on a shelf doing nothing.

I am ready to entertain any and all suggestions for what I can do with this machine. I already have three other computers serving various functions, so I can't really think of anything practical to use it for. It's a 2GHz Pentium dual core with 3GB RAM and an 80GB hard drive. I installed Ubuntu on it because I wanted to learn a little bit about Linux. So I would really appreciate it if someone could suggest something fun and educational I could try with this computer.

Thanks!

 

[zokudu]

Porn

But in all seriousness your best bet would be to pick up a less install and run distro and just try to do things. Like getting flash 32 bit to work on a 64 bit install. Its trying to do things that makes you learn. If you just install Ubuntu and want to use it and expect to learn linux your not going to learna whole lot.

 

[Kirby]

fork bomb

 

[laserhawk64]

If it's a newer laptop, you could just replace the screen.

Booooooooooooring, I know.

 

[MrColin]

Presumably, the laptop has some wireless card in it. You could use it to manage/record from some wireless security/surveillance cameras.

 

[velvetpants]

But in all seriousness your best bet would be to pick up a less install and run distro and just try to do things. Like getting flash 32 bit to work on a 64 bit install. Its trying to do things that makes you learn. If you just install Ubuntu and want to use it and expect to learn linux your not going to learna whole lot.

This dude speaks the truth.

Ubuntu 10.10 is so user friendly you might as well get a mac and except to learn to use unix.

I installed arch linux on my PC a few days ago and it took me like 4 hours just to get the dual monitor setup working. It's awesome, I've been learning new shit every step of the way.

You should try arch. It's just linux in it's rawest form. Comes with nothing but a package manager and some basic drivers.

 

[velvetpants]

If it's a newer laptop, you could just replace the screen.

that's no fun

he should tape it to the back of an LCD and call it a gMac

 

[Bateluer]

You should try arch. It's just linux in it's rawest form. Comes with nothing but a package manager and some basic drivers.

Unity Linux is like this too, basic distro only. Its purpose is to provide a platform that other distros can be built on.

 

[laserhawk64]

I installed arch linux on my PC a few days ago and it took me like 4 hours just to get the dual monitor setup working. It's awesome, I've been learning new shit every step of the way.

So... what gives most folks an urgent need for Ibuprofen in the uber strength formula, you find "awesome".

De gustibus non disputantem est. [Latin -- "In taste, there is no arguing."]

 

[zokudu]

Well honestly I find the fun in linux is making things work. Its the whole enjoy the journey idea. I finally got debian to do exactly what I've been working on for like 2 weeks last night and I was ecstatic. But now I'm looking for something else to do.

 

[birthdaymonkey]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think I will try a more basic distro and see what I can do with it. One thing that frightens me is the prospect of getting all the drivers working... a nice thing about Ubuntu is that it seems to configure itself nicely on a wide range of hardware. Aside from Arch, are there any other distros that people recommend?

I've thought about getting the screen fixed and letting my gf have the laptop since she only has a desktop (with the proviso that she leave linux on it so as I can mess around). I don't really feel like spending the money right now though, as I've just spent a fair amount upgrading my HT/SC2PC. I love the idea of taping it to the back of an LCD...

 

[lxskllr]

A car computer is fun. You're back to spending money, but you might be able to pickup a small surplus screen cheap somewhere. Hide the laptop body someplace, and mount a 7"-9" screen on the dash. You make it as simple or complicated as you like.

 

[zokudu]

Well if you want this to be your linux fun box why does it really matter if driver work out of the box? I'm a fan of Debian personally. The stable release is a bit...dated but I would suggest the "testing" installer as it will be released very shortly as the new "stable".

But I like Debian because its got just enough in it to get you started but you have plenty of stuff to play around with. IE You get a working video driver (most likely) but your wireless might not setup correctly. I gives room to "play" while still being usable. Also theres tons of documentation on Debian as a whole to help you out.

Thats the only distro I've had a lot of fun with so I can't comment on anything else.

 

[Kirby]

So... what gives most folks an urgent need for Ibuprofen in the uber strength formula, you find "awesome".

De gustibus non disputantem est. [Latin -- "In taste, there is no arguing."]

This. I like things like drivers to work correctly with least amount of hassle possible.

 

[zokudu]

This. I like things like drivers to work correctly with least amount of hassle possible.

Then why are you using Linux?

 

[lxskllr]

Linux can work flawlessly with drivers, or it can be a PITA. I like the Linux features, and it's worth putting in a little work to get them, but I won't move heaven and earth to do so. My last few installs have been silky smooth. As easy as Windows, if not more so.

 

[birthdaymonkey]

Linux can work flawlessly with drivers, or it can be a PITA. I like the Linux features, and it's worth putting in a little work to get them, but I won't move heaven and earth to do so. My last few installs have been silky smooth. As easy as Windows, if not more so.

I was shocked with the smoothness of the Ubuntu install. The last time I tried it was a few years ago and it didn't go well. This time, every driver was identified and installed seamlessly; wifi was even working before I started the installation to my hard drive so I could access the internet for updates.

I would say it was easier than Windows because I didn't have to deal with any activation BS. (All my Win7 licenses are family pack upgrade versions... I refuse to pay more than $60 for a Windows license, but activating them requires "double installs" and frequent calls to the MS activation hotline.)

 

[lxskllr]

I like Windows, and I think it's a good value for what it does, but I've been preferring Linux lately. I especially agree regarding the install/activation. If you're reinstalling a Linux computer, you just torrent the version you want, install, and it's done. With Windows you check your folder of discs, discover you don't have the specific one of hundreds you need to do the reinstall, ask your friends if they have the disc, and when that fails hit Pirate Bay, and try to find an unmolested copy. If you're lucky you can at least get a generic oem, so after downloading that and installing it, you promptly fail activation, and have to call MS. You then completely ignore the computer support since it never works properly anyway, and wait to get patched through to a real person. Once that happens, things start to get easy. You just exchange 100 digit number strings with the support person, and you're on your way :^D

Yup, I'll take the Linux method over that any day :^)

 

[Kirby]

Then why are you using Linux?

Because it's free and I like it. It's stable, powerful, infinitely customizable, does everything I need to do (web, programming, watching movies, music). I haven't touched my Win7 machine in months. The only reason I keep it around is for storage, and the occasional game or dicking around in FL Studio. I prefer my computers to be a tool, not a hobby to constantly work on.

 

[kb3edk]

Well, since you're in Canada I assume you like to heat your living quarters in winter, why not have this spare laptop help with that and benefit a good cause at the same time?

Over in the Distributed Computing Forum you can find lots of good uses for those spare CPU cycles, my favorite is the plethora of projects to choose from on the BOINC software which runs very nicely in Linux.

 

[lxskllr]

Well, since you're in Canada I assume you like to heat your living quarters in winter, why not have this spare laptop help with that and benefit a good cause at the same time?

Over in the Distributed Computing Forum you can find lots of good uses for those spare CPU cycles, my favorite is the plethora of projects to choose from on the BOINC software which runs very nicely in Linux.

That's a good idea. I fold to generate heat in the winter. It's free in the winter time, and it goes to a good cause.

 

[HAL9000]

My suggestion, not the most conventional, is if you want to learn to use linux then do what I did, remove the GUI and force yourself to use the command line see how it goes, you wont look back!

 

[birthdaymonkey]

Well, since you're in Canada I assume you like to heat your living quarters in winter, why not have this spare laptop help with that and benefit a good cause at the same time?

Over in the Distributed Computing Forum you can find lots of good uses for those spare CPU cycles, my favorite is the plethora of projects to choose from on the BOINC software which runs very nicely in Linux.

I thought of doing some kind of DC, but it seems that most of the popular ones benefit a lot more from GPU cycles than CPU cycles. This lappy has no graphics capabilities worth mentioning. But maybe getting it working with Debian and BOINC would be a fun goal. I have a reasonably fast upstream internet connection, so I was thinking of setting up an FTP server too so that friends can download stuff from me and I can access my files at work. Of course none of these are actually stored on the laptop, so this would involve mounting my homegroup shares in whatever flavour of Linux I end up using.

I'm sure the tasks I've just mentioned will keep me busy for a while...

Edit: I'm having a hard time finding a link to the latest test version of Debian on the official site. Am I just being dumb, or should I be looking elsewhere?

 

[lxskllr]

I've only loaded Debian once, but I started with a minimal install, loaded stable, then tried upgrading to Sid, but ran out of VM room. Try stable, then upgrade to Sid once you have it setup.

 

[birthdaymonkey]

Alright, making a bootable USB drive using unetbootin with the latest stable debian.