I'm excited for this! I'm on the Ubuntu-based Pop!_OS, and even though there isn't anything in this update that I really need, I still can appreciate a new release (especially an LTS one). As...
I'm excited for this! I'm on the Ubuntu-based Pop!_OS, and even though there isn't anything in this update that I really need, I still can appreciate a new release (especially an LTS one).
As someone relatively new to Linux, is the best practice for updating to wait a few days just in case there are any showstopper bugs, or is it generally pretty safe to move forward once my distro gives me the green light?
LTS users should generally wait for the .1 point release, 20.04.1 LTS, before upgrading. Automatic LTS-to-LTS upgrades are disabled in Ubuntu until the .1 release. If you're not on LTS, those...
LTS users should generally wait for the .1 point release, 20.04.1 LTS, before upgrading. Automatic LTS-to-LTS upgrades are disabled in Ubuntu until the .1 release.
If you're not on LTS, those intermediate six-month releases are more or less public betas anyway, so upgrading is pretty much up to personal preference.
As your de-facto tech support person I advise you wait at least a few weeks if not a month. I'll bet System76 is good about fixing problems specific to their own laptops on their own distro, so...
As your attorney de-facto tech support person I advise you wait at least a few weeks if not a month. I'll bet System76 is good about fixing problems specific to their own laptops on their own distro, so you'll be able to confidently update sooner than I will. For me though, when I tried updating to 19.10 within the first weeks of its release it hosed my system enough that I ended up wiping and reinstalling.
I appreciate all of your help! Can I just keep you on retainer? :D I will definitely follow your advice and wait. You've already saved this computer once! What matters most to me is that it just...
I appreciate all of your help! Can I just keep you on retainer? :D
I will definitely follow your advice and wait. You've already saved this computer once! What matters most to me is that it just works, so if waiting a month reduces the risk of catastrophic failure, well, then I'll go ahead and wait a month!
No worries. I'm just usually around, and can often give Pop!_OS-specific advice. Helping you two times in a row was just that I happened to be the person who was nearby with the appropriate...
No worries. I'm just usually around, and can often give Pop!_OS-specific advice. Helping you two times in a row was just that I happened to be the person who was nearby with the appropriate knowledge at the appropriate time.
"As your attorney..." is a Fear and Loathing reference.
I'd give it at least two weeks before updating, though again you're in the rare situation where you've got a system that's 100% officially supported on linux. In fact your distro of linux is custom made for your species of laptop, which is a rare luxury I can't even begin to relate to. I suppose if the new version doesn't work for you, you have every right to call up the company that made your laptop and demand they fix your linux problems, which is something so foreign to me I have a hard time typing it.
Take advantage of your System76 warranty/support contract when you need it. It's the main benefit you get when you buy a laptop with linux preinstalled.
Personally every time I've tried upgrading to a new release it breaks something. Since I need my HTPC for various datahoarding endeavors I can't be dealing with hours of troubleshooting when it...
Personally every time I've tried upgrading to a new release it breaks something. Since I need my HTPC for various datahoarding endeavors I can't be dealing with hours of troubleshooting when it inevitably breaks something. So I always wait a few months.
I'm thinking of switching to Ubuntu (Or xubuntu really, but who's counting?) with this release. Void's been nice, but I just want an easy computer you know? And I have all the time in the world rn
I'm thinking of switching to Ubuntu (Or xubuntu really, but who's counting?) with this release. Void's been nice, but I just want an easy computer you know? And I have all the time in the world rn
If you still want rolling-release as well as stability, Manjaro is a good distro to look in to. I'm a very non technical user and I've had no problems with it.
If you still want rolling-release as well as stability, Manjaro is a good distro to look in to. I'm a very non technical user and I've had no problems with it.
You have all the time in the world and you don't want to use Gentoo? I can't understand that. :P Honestly, that's the biggest reason why I use Ubuntu-based distros. I'm fine with fixing little...
You have all the time in the world and you don't want to use Gentoo? I can't understand that. :P
Honestly, that's the biggest reason why I use Ubuntu-based distros. I'm fine with fixing little problems every once in a while, but for the most part I just want a working computer most of the time.
I did use Gentoo for a bit, and it was cool! I just never have the commitment to really get everything I need for a functioning computer without also installing a ton of unused crap, then...
I did use Gentoo for a bit, and it was cool! I just never have the commitment to really get everything I need for a functioning computer without also installing a ton of unused crap, then forgetting what I needed and what I didn't.
I'm not a big fan of Ubuntu, or GNOME, but decided to buy a refurbished Surface Go to make into a Linux tablet, and went with 20.04. It's a pretty good, experience, but the built-in virtual...
I'm not a big fan of Ubuntu, or GNOME, but decided to buy a refurbished Surface Go to make into a Linux tablet, and went with 20.04. It's a pretty good, experience, but the built-in virtual keyboard sucks. that's more of a GNOME issue than Ubuntu, but I don't know what to do about it. I wanna try playing some OpenTTD or OpenRCT2 on it for fun.
I like it enough, though, and GNOME has been knocking it out of the park with constant performance improvements.
The GNOME keyboard is pretty limited, and getting something line onboard on 3.36 isn't working as development for keyboard stuff in plugins seems to have gone cold.
Gnome is DE like anything else. It can be customized to look really good. It's the middle ground between nice and polished KDE and minimal DEs like XFCE. It is intuitive and works pretty well....
Gnome is DE like anything else. It can be customized to look really good. It's the middle ground between nice and polished KDE and minimal DEs like XFCE. It is intuitive and works pretty well. Gnome these days isn't bad. It has all the features you would ever need and is reasonably useful out of the box.
Note, I abandoned Ubuntu for Arch because I wanted stability - major updates always broke something. And I ditched Gnome for i3 even before because I wanted something more lightweight on my 8 year old machine. So I'm not gnome propagator. But it's not bad DE.
I'm usually using i3 or XFCE with Arch, but the problem I've got is I don't know of an easy way to get screen rotation and an on-screen keyboard. I've ordered a used keyboard cover and Bamboo pen...
I'm usually using i3 or XFCE with Arch, but the problem I've got is I don't know of an easy way to get screen rotation and an on-screen keyboard. I've ordered a used keyboard cover and Bamboo pen for this Surface, but I want it to work as well as a tablet as I can manage.
I tried whiskermenu with it, and it was alright, but it wouldn't stay up when I typed with onboard.
Btw I have scripted a solution for screen (and touchpad!) rotation. It doesn't work automatically when I tilt laptop, but if you end up writing your own solution it might help. It took a while to...
Btw I have scripted a solution for screen (and touchpad!) rotation. It doesn't work automatically when I tilt laptop, but if you end up writing your own solution it might help. It took a while to get touchpad rotation working.
I decided to go to Arch and XFCE, and am going to follow a thread of info I found in the wiki for automatic rotation. How do you trigger your scripts, with a virtual keyboard like Onboard? I'm...
I decided to go to Arch and XFCE, and am going to follow a thread of info I found in the wiki for automatic rotation.
How do you trigger your scripts, with a virtual keyboard like Onboard? I'm thinking of getting my i3 config on my surface and am curious about ideas.
I don't use a virtual keyboard unfortunately, I trigger it with laptop keyboard, but it theoretically should work with it just fine. I just use it to rotate screen when I'm reading something long,...
I don't use a virtual keyboard unfortunately, I trigger it with laptop keyboard, but it theoretically should work with it just fine. I just use it to rotate screen when I'm reading something long, so I can put my laptop on side and have essentially 90-degrees rotated monitor :) The experience when reading something that is tall but not wide is really much better, but I don't use it often enough to really make something like this properly.
Well I'd suggest checking in to it if you want to - I mean its not like there's a pressure or anything Installing Linux is easy nowadays (very VERY easy) and if I where you I'd get some ISO's and...
Well I'd suggest checking in to it if you want to - I mean its not like there's a pressure or anything
Installing Linux is easy nowadays (very VERY easy) and if I where you I'd get some ISO's and make a live-USB to try them in that environment (not the same ofc since its pre-installed environment running from the USB but you can test a lot of the DE's and distros)
I actually built a live USB last night and gave it a test drive. It's pretty sweet! The only hang-up I've got is that I am a .NET developer, and I'm a little worried I will never be able to fully...
I actually built a live USB last night and gave it a test drive. It's pretty sweet!
The only hang-up I've got is that I am a .NET developer, and I'm a little worried I will never be able to fully transition. Granted, the stack I'm accustomed to is a little older, so making the jump is easier if I greenfield projects, what with .NET Core.
On the other hand, I am an avid Emacs org-mode user, and I want to see what the native Emacs experience is like.
I think I'll dual-boot for now and give it a shot!
From my experience with emacs on windows/*nix (nowadays I swap between windows & linux PCs regularly, and share an emacs config between them) it works almost the same, save for on linux I can use...
From my experience with emacs on windows/*nix (nowadays I swap between windows & linux PCs regularly, and share an emacs config between them) it works almost the same, save for on linux I can use TUI emacs as well, which integrates quite well in an already commandline-central workflow.
Other than that, I'd expect it to be nearly identical.
I'm taking a C# class and am looking into ways to continue with it after the class is over (application development, mostly) rather than jumping into a different language. Apparently .NET...
I'm taking a C# class and am looking into ways to continue with it after the class is over (application development, mostly) rather than jumping into a different language. Apparently .NET Framework and Core are supported fully by Mono (developed by the .NET Foundation and Xamarin, a subsidiary of Microsoft). Apparently .NET 4.5 has some issues, so if your older stack needs it, it could be an issue.
I used Emacs for literally one purpose I've shifted to nvim (in Windows, I just use nvim in WSL), but I found it was easier to set up in Linux. The behavior was identical after setup, though.
Sweet, thanks for the insight! I haven't consulted the comparability matrix yet because any development I do will be personal projects, so I get to pick my platform. I will definitely check Mono...
Sweet, thanks for the insight! I haven't consulted the comparability matrix yet because any development I do will be personal projects, so I get to pick my platform. I will definitely check Mono out - I completely forgot about it!
Oh now you are way out of my league Codo :D I'm a lowly graphics designer - I'm sure you will do awesome and just remember that whatever you chose in the end = best choice! Whatever it may be.
Oh now you are way out of my league Codo :D I'm a lowly graphics designer - I'm sure you will do awesome and just remember that whatever you chose in the end = best choice! Whatever it may be.
Oh wow, that's awesome! I'll check it out - I've seen a lot of chatter about GNOME vs KDE, and I'm interested in checking both out. This will save me lots of time for setting up new live USBs!
Oh wow, that's awesome! I'll check it out - I've seen a lot of chatter about GNOME vs KDE, and I'm interested in checking both out. This will save me lots of time for setting up new live USBs!
I really don't like recommending that to people new to Linux, simply because it doesn't work as a good representation of the feel of how the interface is and they can't really see most of the...
I really don't like recommending that to people new to Linux, simply because it doesn't work as a good representation of the feel of how the interface is and they can't really see most of the effects. Virtual Machines are ideal, but that's not really a good recommendation for people who are not tech-inclined.
I'm excited for this! I'm on the Ubuntu-based Pop!_OS, and even though there isn't anything in this update that I really need, I still can appreciate a new release (especially an LTS one).
As someone relatively new to Linux, is the best practice for updating to wait a few days just in case there are any showstopper bugs, or is it generally pretty safe to move forward once my distro gives me the green light?
LTS users should generally wait for the .1 point release, 20.04.1 LTS, before upgrading. Automatic LTS-to-LTS upgrades are disabled in Ubuntu until the .1 release.
If you're not on LTS, those intermediate six-month releases are more or less public betas anyway, so upgrading is pretty much up to personal preference.
As your
attorneyde-facto tech support person I advise you wait at least a few weeks if not a month. I'll bet System76 is good about fixing problems specific to their own laptops on their own distro, so you'll be able to confidently update sooner than I will. For me though, when I tried updating to 19.10 within the first weeks of its release it hosed my system enough that I ended up wiping and reinstalling.I appreciate all of your help! Can I just keep you on retainer? :D
I will definitely follow your advice and wait. You've already saved this computer once! What matters most to me is that it just works, so if waiting a month reduces the risk of catastrophic failure, well, then I'll go ahead and wait a month!
No worries. I'm just usually around, and can often give Pop!_OS-specific advice. Helping you two times in a row was just that I happened to be the person who was nearby with the appropriate knowledge at the appropriate time.
"As your attorney..." is a Fear and Loathing reference.
I'd give it at least two weeks before updating, though again you're in the rare situation where you've got a system that's 100% officially supported on linux. In fact your distro of linux is custom made for your species of laptop, which is a rare luxury I can't even begin to relate to. I suppose if the new version doesn't work for you, you have every right to call up the company that made your laptop and demand they fix your linux problems, which is something so foreign to me I have a hard time typing it.
Take advantage of your System76 warranty/support contract when you need it. It's the main benefit you get when you buy a laptop with linux preinstalled.
Personally every time I've tried upgrading to a new release it breaks something. Since I need my HTPC for various datahoarding endeavors I can't be dealing with hours of troubleshooting when it inevitably breaks something. So I always wait a few months.
I'm thinking of switching to Ubuntu (Or xubuntu really, but who's counting?) with this release. Void's been nice, but I just want an easy computer you know? And I have all the time in the world rn
If you still want rolling-release as well as stability, Manjaro is a good distro to look in to. I'm a very non technical user and I've had no problems with it.
You have all the time in the world and you don't want to use Gentoo? I can't understand that. :P
Honestly, that's the biggest reason why I use Ubuntu-based distros. I'm fine with fixing little problems every once in a while, but for the most part I just want a working computer most of the time.
I did use Gentoo for a bit, and it was cool! I just never have the commitment to really get everything I need for a functioning computer without also installing a ton of unused crap, then forgetting what I needed and what I didn't.
Definitely worth a shot. I just switched from Linux Mint 19.3 and after updating to the latest graphics drivers for AMD it's smooth and stable.
I'm on it now! Good so far :)
I'm not a big fan of Ubuntu, or GNOME, but decided to buy a refurbished Surface Go to make into a Linux tablet, and went with 20.04. It's a pretty good, experience, but the built-in virtual keyboard sucks. that's more of a GNOME issue than Ubuntu, but I don't know what to do about it. I wanna try playing some OpenTTD or OpenRCT2 on it for fun.
I like it enough, though, and GNOME has been knocking it out of the park with constant performance improvements.
The GNOME keyboard is pretty limited, and getting something line
onboardon 3.36 isn't working as development for keyboard stuff in plugins seems to have gone cold.Why don't you like GNOME? I've been a big fan for years.
Gnome is DE like anything else. It can be customized to look really good. It's the middle ground between nice and polished KDE and minimal DEs like XFCE. It is intuitive and works pretty well. Gnome these days isn't bad. It has all the features you would ever need and is reasonably useful out of the box.
Note, I abandoned Ubuntu for Arch because I wanted stability - major updates always broke something. And I ditched Gnome for i3 even before because I wanted something more lightweight on my 8 year old machine. So I'm not gnome propagator. But it's not bad DE.
GNOME is hands down the best Linux DE for touch support though.
I'm usually using i3 or XFCE with Arch, but the problem I've got is I don't know of an easy way to get screen rotation and an on-screen keyboard. I've ordered a used keyboard cover and Bamboo pen for this Surface, but I want it to work as well as a tablet as I can manage.
I tried whiskermenu with it, and it was alright, but it wouldn't stay up when I typed with onboard.
Btw I have scripted a solution for screen (and touchpad!) rotation. It doesn't work automatically when I tilt laptop, but if you end up writing your own solution it might help. It took a while to get touchpad rotation working.
Script, example usage
I decided to go to Arch and XFCE, and am going to follow a thread of info I found in the wiki for automatic rotation.
How do you trigger your scripts, with a virtual keyboard like Onboard? I'm thinking of getting my i3 config on my surface and am curious about ideas.
I don't use a virtual keyboard unfortunately, I trigger it with laptop keyboard, but it theoretically should work with it just fine. I just use it to rotate screen when I'm reading something long, so I can put my laptop on side and have essentially 90-degrees rotated monitor :) The experience when reading something that is tall but not wide is really much better, but I don't use it often enough to really make something like this properly.
Hi from the Windows world!
I've been toying with the idea of switching because, what else is there to do now?
Well I'd suggest checking in to it if you want to - I mean its not like there's a pressure or anything
Installing Linux is easy nowadays (very VERY easy) and if I where you I'd get some ISO's and make a live-USB to try them in that environment (not the same ofc since its pre-installed environment running from the USB but you can test a lot of the DE's and distros)
I actually built a live USB last night and gave it a test drive. It's pretty sweet!
The only hang-up I've got is that I am a .NET developer, and I'm a little worried I will never be able to fully transition. Granted, the stack I'm accustomed to is a little older, so making the jump is easier if I greenfield projects, what with .NET Core.
On the other hand, I am an avid Emacs org-mode user, and I want to see what the native Emacs experience is like.
I think I'll dual-boot for now and give it a shot!
From my experience with emacs on windows/*nix (nowadays I swap between windows & linux PCs regularly, and share an emacs config between them) it works almost the same, save for on linux I can use TUI emacs as well, which integrates quite well in an already commandline-central workflow.
Other than that, I'd expect it to be nearly identical.
Yeah, shared Emacs config is my plan for now as well.
TUI Emacs could be fun!
I'm taking a C# class and am looking into ways to continue with it after the class is over (application development, mostly) rather than jumping into a different language. Apparently .NET Framework and Core are supported fully by Mono (developed by the .NET Foundation and Xamarin, a subsidiary of Microsoft). Apparently .NET 4.5 has some issues, so if your older stack needs it, it could be an issue.
I used Emacs for literally one purpose I've shifted to nvim (in Windows, I just use nvim in WSL), but I found it was easier to set up in Linux. The behavior was identical after setup, though.
Sweet, thanks for the insight! I haven't consulted the comparability matrix yet because any development I do will be personal projects, so I get to pick my platform. I will definitely check Mono out - I completely forgot about it!
Oh now you are way out of my league Codo :D I'm a lowly graphics designer - I'm sure you will do awesome and just remember that whatever you chose in the end = best choice! Whatever it may be.
No leagues, my friend... We are all at different points on the path!
You could also try distrotest.net.
Oh wow, that's awesome! I'll check it out - I've seen a lot of chatter about GNOME vs KDE, and I'm interested in checking both out. This will save me lots of time for setting up new live USBs!
I really don't like recommending that to people new to Linux, simply because it doesn't work as a good representation of the feel of how the interface is and they can't really see most of the effects. Virtual Machines are ideal, but that's not really a good recommendation for people who are not tech-inclined.