If you buy a copy of the current "Linux Format" magazine, you can try 5 different versions of Linux from the free DVD.
Nerd/Boffin Technical corner. Page 41
Fancy!
Which do you use, bill?
Quote: Lee @ February 11 2012, 12:14 AM GMTFancy!
Which do you use, bill?
I use Mint 11 Linux for browsing & email, running as a virtual computer on this computer whose primary system is Windows XP.
I have Ubuntu 10.4 Linux on an 8GB SHDC chip on my netbook as its most frequent system. The netbook's original Linux system Xandos is no longer supported by Asus. I have put a temporary copy of Windows 7 on the main 'disk' of the Netbook, because I wanted to do a webcam for a club meeting & the only suitable software I had on hand runs only on Windows.
I have another WinXP machine that I use for photo & film editing & I usually use that for website editing too, but this week it has developed a weird fault where it stops dead, so dead that even holding the power switch down for >8 seconds doesn't complete the power off. That is very very weird indeed.
Yet another computer is my file server & backup generator and that also runs two virtual computers that are Linux Ubuntu server 10.4, one has my family tree stuff on it and the other the secure membership details of my ex-School Club.
Finally there are two 'experimental' computers, which I use for checking how things work on newer Windows. Both computers are actually cast-offs from Marks & Gran, which were replaced by better computers. One now somewhat sluggish, runs Vista, the other is actually now my speediest computer, it had died at Marks & Grans office, but after replacing it, I mended the discarded computer. I've set it up as a computer with a very big hard disk that can be subdivided into many partitions, so that a different system can be installed in each, but I haven't really got very far with that yet, so all that is there at present is a Windows 7 partition that I mostly use to play with Flight Simulator X.
I really need to rationalise this lot
Naturally they are not all powered up at the same time as that might seriously reduce the mains supply voltage in this part of London. 
Wasn't expecting that answer.
I haven't really needed to use Linux for the past few years. I know Ubuntu is generally considered the best one (as in most user friendly for newcomers) but is it still as bloated as it used to be? Because when I tried to use it, it would take an age for to to load up. It's a question more for Nogget's sake if he has never tried Linux, Ubuntu would be the least daunting, I fink.
It's not the case anymore but when I first discovered Ubuntu they were giving the CDs away with free postage. Was pretty cool. Now they charge £5 I think. But you can still download it for free.
The Ubuntu project has decided to go for a new-style graphical interface called Unity, which is said to be easier for new users, but it is less like Windows & more like what you have on mobile phones. Many previous users of Ubuntu don't like it so there is an option to use the Gnome interface instead configured to look more like Windows.
Mint is developed from Ubuntu and the Mint team decided to stay more with the Windows look and feel, so Mint has become very popular and may be more suitable for a previous Windows user, like Nogget.
On the DVD that I mentioned above on magazine Linux Format number 155, the version of Ubuntu has been 're-mixed' so that it defaults to the Windows-like interface but updated to Gnome v 3.0.
Mint 12 was on the DVD of last month's Linux Format number 154.
All can be downloaded of course, if you have reasonable speed broadband, as ISO images which you can then use to make your own CDs/DVDs, assuming you have a DVD writer either on your computer or as an external one that plugs into a USB socket.
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Note that a Linux will seem rather slow if you are running it from a 'live' CD, i.e. not touching your hard disk at all, because CDs/DVDs are nowhere near as fast as a hard disk. That might account for why you thought boot time was slow.
PS: though I might seem to have a lot of computers, they are all quite old machines. My XP computers and file server ar at least 5 or 6 years old and even the 'speedy' cast-off from Marks & Gran is at least 4 years old.
My netbook is actually my newest computer, but that is one of the early ASUS EEEPC 900 and I bought it dead cheap (£168 I think) when it was being sold as obsolete stock by CPC.
I'm trying to write a contents page in Word 2007. I can't figure out how to use the 'Insert Table of Contents' balls.
So, I'm writing it manually. How can I have the section title on the left of the page and the page number on the right hand side (on the same line) so that they are all in line? I've tried 'justify' but it doesn't work :-(
Can't you 'Insert table' then select however many rows you want, and two columns? Then align the text in each to left and right respectively.
Wish I could offer help or add a big tits pic! I am just trying to learn 'cut and paste' techniques guys, that's how 'nerdy' I am!
Justified and ancient that's me, (I do know that justify means 'margins @ text alignment')
Oooohhh! Insert table! I'll try it!
It's totally worked! Thank you!
IS that due to me Tb? hooray!
Quote: Lee @ February 10 2012, 8:36 PM GMTGoogle "UnetBootin"
"Looks"
Quote: dellas @ February 13 2012, 4:17 AM GMT
You and Putters helped, dellas.
Kidding I need this info' more than you TB!
Quote: TopBanana @ February 12 2012, 1:58 PM GMTI'm trying to write a contents page in Word 2007.
If you write a lot, have you tried the software Quark? Very useful for writing for publication, but expensive if you buy up-to-date. (I got mine - earlier version - free on a disc in a PC mag).