I Made The Switch

I recently made the switch. No! Not to Windows 7 !!!!
I switched to Mint.
I have been using Ubuntu since Edgy and became a full time Linux user since Feisty.
As good as it is, I needed a change. Not so much a full distro change but more of a look and feel change.

I had some help with this decision. I was trying out ReneL's new multi-boot DVD which contains Mint (Both Gnome and KDE) along with all the Ubuntu versions, SysRescue and TinyCore.
In case you haven't been following the comments in my blogs and missed it, you can get the torrent from here;
http://www.mininova.org/tor/2837481

I will also be posting a new article about it and hope to put up some RS links to it.
Now about Mint.
After I installed it I realized that the look was very different. Instead of 2 task bars, there was only one. And that was at the bottom of the screen. I know I said I wanted a new look and feel but I'm so accustomed to having the task bar on top I switched its position.

The install and updates along with additional software installs took about 2 hours.
And thanks to Linux keeping all your personal files in the Home directory along with the ability to have your Home folder loaded into it's own partition, my documents, bookmarks and email were all ready and waiting for me.

So now I will be using Mint until I tire of it and switch to another distro.
But I still have my back up computer that currently has Vector Linux on it that I also use.
I enjoy variety and thankfully Linux provides me with plenty of choices.
Maybe I will just have to set up a multi-boot on my back up computer and install TinyCore next to Vector just for the fun of it.

BTW..... As with all the Debian distros, Streamtuner also needed to be patched for the Shoutcast bug. Mint may look different but it still has it's roots in Debian.

Until next time.

TaZMAn

Use Any Desktop Manager In Ubuntu

So many people say the want to install Kubuntu or Xubuntu because they don't like the Gnome interface in Ubuntu.
So they go and download the iso, burn it and reinstall the O.S.
Whoa!!!
No need to do that.

You can install the KDE or XFCE desktop manager from within Ubuntu.
Then during boot up you click on Session and choose which desktop you want to use.
When you make the choice, the boot manager will ask if you want to make this your default manager.
Say yes and you will always boot into the desktop manager of choice.

So how do I download these manager's?
Easy. Open up the Synaptic Package Manager and do a search for KDE if you want the Kubuntu style of desktop or search for XFCE to grab the Xubuntu version.
Hey! Grab both and you will now have all 3 Ubuntu versions all on one computer!

You can check out how they look by going to their web sites.

KDE Screenshots Link

XFCE Screenshots Link

And if you want a bonus desktop manager you might want to take a look at Sun's Looking Glass project. Has many features similar to Compiz pertaining to the 3d manipulation of files.

You can find it here;
Looking Glass Link

You can view their video showing it's features. But be forewarned! It's Sun Boring Corporate idea of a video. It doesn't get good until 2:05.
Or you can view the embedded video I provided below from Xtreme Tech.
Near the end of the video they say that Looking Glass is not available at this time.
That's due to the age of this video. It is available from Sun's site.



So there you go!
You can now have 1, 2, 3 or even 4 different desktop managers all in one package.
Something a certain software company could only wish they could do.
LOL!!

TaZMAn

Almost Paintshop Pro

I'm talking about Krita.

Web page can be found here;
Krita Web Page

I've used Gimp even during my Windows days in tandem with Paintshop Pro but one thing that always annoyed me with the Gimp was the multiple windows I had to contend with.
And the interface was a bit clunky but I put up with it.

But tonight I read about Krita and decided to download it and try it.
Wow! Deja-Vu! It looked and acted almost like Paintshop Pro.
There are some differences but it felt more comfortable.

Krita is a painting and image editing application for KOffice but doesn't require you to install the complete office suite.
Heck! It doesn't even require you to have KDE installed.

I'm using Gutsy Gibbon with the Gnome desktop manager and all I had to do was open Synaptic, put krita in the search box and check the boxes to install it.
I also check the box to add the optional filters.

The list of filters contain the standard fare but with the add-ons you also get dodge and burn.
There is also a filter preview window that shows you what each filter will do to your image before you apply it. Makes it easy to find the right filter for the effect you want.

Just wish the Alien Skin filters were available for Linux.
Grin!

So if you are looking for a graphics program that feels better then the Gimp try Krita.
You may be pleasantly surprised.

TaZMAn