5 Years on Linux

[@eldamar]

This video was a blast. I remember the time that I was exploring Linux and how much fun I had just trying different things. Today i don’t do any distrohopping but I still have great use of all the experience I gathered and the different tools Linux has to offer.

[@linuxmench2118]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for the positive feedback and kind words. It's greatly appreciated.

[@1pcfred]

That's some pretty sophisticated stuff for only 5 years experience. Good on you for accomplishing all you have so far.

[@linuxmench2118]

Thank you for the kind words. I appreciate it.

[@1pcfred]

@@linuxmench2118 you've done things I never have and I've been running Linux for almost 3 decades now. Linux has changed a lot in that time but I haven't really.

[@linuxmench2118]

I like playing and tinkering with things. Unfortunately, since starting my KZbin channel, I have less time to experiment. Between my full time job at the office and making videos, I only have time to eat and sleep. lol

[@1pcfred]

@@linuxmench2118 life is about balance. Here's to hoping you strike yours.

[@linuxmench2118]

Thanks!

[@timstephens1922]

Congratulations to you learning Linux. I'm learning it as well. Love it. Keep up the good work.

[@linuxmench2118]

Thank you for the kind words, I appreciate it.

[@bitterseeds]

I enjoyed the video. I've been using EndeavorOS with KDE for the last couple years, but I've been a Linux guy since 1996. Keep going, a lot of wonderful software out there and some really good people in the community. :)

[@linuxmench2118]

You're an old timer and your knowledge probably far exceeds mine. Thanks for the kind words.🙂

[@JohnMiller-mmuldoor]

Damn, you really are the Linux Mench! Also, RIP Steve😢

[@linuxmench2118]

Thank you for the kind words. 🙂

[@thesaigoneer]

Great vid! I had a similar journey, starting out with Mint and later moving on to the WM's. Appreciate the shoutout to OTB (Steve) as well; i learned so much from his videos, especially those about Slackware and his journey into the windowmanagers (dwm). And you've revived my interest in awesomewm, one of my first tryouts at the time. What did I know ;-) Funny you mention this re-evaluating of Gnome; being an avid KDE user I recently found Gnome refereshingly straightforward as well, especially on a laptop. Keep them coming!

[@linuxmench2118]

Thanks for the kind words and positive feedback. Yes, I learned a lot from Steve and really enjoyed his videos. I have a few Slackware videos on my channel, thanks to OTB. Your journey sounds similar to mine. Even though I like all the window managers I have tried, there's a reason why my first is called Awesome.

[@trinitykb29]

Congrats to you! I'm with you on your journey with Linux. Thx for your work and time.

[@linuxmench2118]

You're welcome. Thanks for the kind words.

[@igorek_belarus7552]

Very interesting story, I like it. Congratulation on learning Linux and finding the thing that you like to use. Not gonna lie, I kinda like this home-made like content without any fancy stuff going on the screen.

[@linuxmench2118]

Thank you for the positive feedback and kind words. I really appreciate it.

[@keikogaming]

Congratulations, the Linux community needs more people like you! ❤

[@linuxmench2118]

Thank you for the positive feedback and kind words, I really appreciate it. 🙂

[@Marcelo-rj3ll]

RIP Steve, was fan of him. I was using Linux (Suse Linux at the time and Ubuntu), than, because of work, got back to Windows. December 2019 i returned with Arch Linux, never got back to Windows and usind Debian today. Thanks for posting. Cheers from Brazil.

[@linuxmench2118]

You're welcome. Thanks for posting. Cheers from Canada.

[@BernardoHenriquez]

My last windows was Windows 2000, then I meet Linux, and never look back

[@1pcfred]

My last Windows was Windows 95. I had so many troubles with Windows. I was like a crash test dummy. Then I started running Linux and it was so stable. I've been running Linux ever since.

[@linuxmench2118]

You have been using Linux for a long time. What distribution are you using?

[@kiwicol9699]

I was using Windows NT 4/5 then 2000 Pro until Windows 8 was released. Updated till Windows 10 was released but then an update bricked my system so I decided to give Linux a try to see how viable it was as a replacement. Well started with Manjaro and now do my own manual install of Arch. Would never move to any other OS now and there is nothing compelling I have found for me to move from Arch to another Linux distro.

[@linuxmench2118]

@@kiwicol9699 That's great. Good to know your story. Thanks for sharing.

[@JMBalaguer]

Congratulations on your Linux journey!!! I also installed virt-manager thanks to DT 😊

[@linuxmench2118]

Thank you!

[@linuxmench2118]

Yes, his channel is great!

[@joachimurmersbach2343]

Hello, it's really very interesting to hear your story. I'm 59 years old, and computers have been my hobby since the Sinclair ZX81, and even earlier with the Sharp 1211 at school. Just like you, I’ve gone through all DOS versions and all Windows versions. On a 386DX40, I once tried to install OS/2 but failed miserably. Unfortunately, due to my profession, Windows has been an unavoidable part of my life as a physician. However, I've grown tired of those endless updates, the time they waste, and especially the spying. About a year ago, I decided I’d had enough and started experimenting with Linux on my current machine. I started with LMDE 5 and 6, then switched to Mint 22. But I ran into issues with my dual-monitor setup. Only Cinnamon allowed me to manage two different monitors effectively. However, I became really drawn to KDE, and a hardware upgrade was on the horizon. So, I got myself an RTX 4060 Ti and began considering a rolling-release distro-mainly because installing and updating NVIDIA drivers was always a hassle. I ended up with CachyOS (Arch btw...), and everything runs very smoothly here. Perhaps this might be interesting for others switching to Linux: I probably only managed to set up my systems to my satisfaction and solve issues with the help of ChatGPT. While searching for Arch-related videos, I discovered your channel and became a fan. I’m really looking forward to your upcoming videos. So, cheers from Germany and a happy new year!

[@linuxmench2118]

Hello, your story is very interesting. Thanks for sharing. I never tried CachyOS, but I'm pleased it's working for you. Have you tried using window managers? You may want to give Awesome Window Manager a try. It's available in every distribution. It works out of the box or you can download my configuration file from my Gitlab repository. First install it and then download my configuration from the Arch folder in my repository. It's light on system resources, using about 400g of Ram. Dual monitor works out of the box giving you 18 separate work spaces, 9 on each monitor. You can still keep the desktop you are currently using: Cinnamon, Kde, etc. After installing it, just log out of your desktop to the display manager (login screen) and select Awesome, type your password and login. I have several videos on Awesome. Just type Awesome in the search field of my channel. I may also make a new video on it since the others are kind of old. You could copy the awesome folder into your the .config folder of your home directory: gitlab.com/artibus1/mench/-/tree/main/arch?ref_type=heads Cheers from Canada and Happy New Year!

[@rimenahi]

Just about to do my switch. Thanks for the video.

[@Hallinwar]

Transitioned this Thursday after 18 years of Windows, many things seem peculiar, but fun

[@linuxmench2118]

@Hallinwar: You will get used to it after some time. What distribution did you install?

[@linuxmench2118]

@rimenahi: You're welcome. What distribution are you planning to install? Let me know if you need help.

[@Hallinwar]

@@linuxmench2118 it's Pop OS that is Ubuntu that is Debian, with Gnome environment and with Nvidia drivers packaged (since I have Nvidia GPU). It has a lot preinstalled, but as a newbie I think it works fine. Just didn't want to search for a perfect distro too long since I need my PC up for remote work

[@linuxmench2118]

@Hallinwar I always recommend making the switch on a spare computer or a virtual machine. Pop OS is good. Everything just works. NVIDIA can be troublesome with Linux. It's great that your system is up and running okay.

[@Leahi84]

I just started my Linux journey in October. I was using Windows 10 and did not want to upgrade to Windows 11 later this year when they EOL Win10. I had always wanted to try Linux since I was 15 in 1999 when I bought a boxed copy of a distro called Storm Linux at CompUSA (RIP). I couldn't get it to work because back then Linux was A LOT harder to install. Anyway, I'm using Fedora and I absolutely love it and wish I had switched sooner. Congrats on five years!

[@linuxmench2118]

I'm glad it all worked out for you. Thanks for sharing your story.

[@Hiram8866]

I didn't know that about Steve OTB, I used to like his videos. Sad to hear about his passing.

[@linuxmench2118]

I never had contact with him. I really enjoyed his videos and calm way of explain things. I was sad when I heard of his passing. I took "now let's get to it" from him.

[@robertdavis5664]

Right on. I fun trip down memory lane. XP was my start. It was a great OS. Windows 7 was awesome too. I'm learning arch now. A couple months now and many installs later I'm starting to get it. I'm lucky enough to have 2 desktops and a laptop. My last install was recent enough that the power management bug is active. Thanks for posting the fix video. I haven't applied it yet. But I will soon. Great videos. Thanks man.

[@linuxmench2118]

You're welcome. Thanks for the positive feedback and kind words. I appreciate it. Linux, especially, Arch is a journey of learning. It's great that you have extra computers to play with.

[@tom-hy1kn]

I started using Linux about the same time as you, maybe a little earlier. I too started using Linux mint and in that time I made the big jump from Linux mint to LMDE.

[@linuxmench2118]

Yes, LMDE is my favourite Linux Mint even though I started on the one based on Ubuntu. Thanks for sharing.

[@rmchayes]

Way to go!🥳

[@linuxmench2118]

Thank you!

[@johanb.7869]

7 years on Linux. It started in 2017 with Peppermint 8. Currently MX Linux Xfce on a refurbished Dell optiplex 5050 mini with 16G of RAM and 256G Sata SSD.

[@linuxmench2118]

Ah, you're more experienced than I am. Peppermint got rid of their Ubuntu base and are now based on Debian. I think that was a good move. MX, also based on Debian, is good too. Thanks for sharing.

[@greybeard5774]

You are on the right track, my son 😉

[@linuxmench2118]

Thank you for the kind words, I appreciate it 🙂

[@andreafrancesca2986]

Fantastico.

[@linuxmench2118]

Thank you!

[@Dennis-Earl-Smiley]

I'm hoping I can get my Mom to switch.

[@linuxmench2118]

It's probably best to start her on Linux Mint.

[@BsktImp]

I've only got as far as having a quick play of Linux Mint 22 Cinnamon in Virtual Box which is better than I had feared (i.e. I expected frequent crashes and error messages). My next step will probably be to run it off an external SSD as lots of vids say Win10 doesn't like dual boots and can wipe out sectors. Perhaps I wasn't listening closely enough, but _why_ did you move to Arch, i.e. can you explain _why_ exactly you say you liked one distro over another specifically (apart from speed)?

[@linuxmench2118]

Linux Mint is a great distribution, especially for people coming from Windows. But there are experienced Linux users who love Mint too. Regardless of whether you install Mint in Virtual Box or on bare metal, you shouldn't experience crashes. I never ran any distribution on an external SSD, so I can't speak about it. If your SSD is plugged in with the proper connector, it should be okay. However, if it's plugged in to your USB slot, it might run slow and it may not run properly. But, I'm just talking off the top of my head. I could be wrong. The reason why dual boot is not recommended is a Windows update might mess up your boot drive and you will be unable to access your Linux partition. It's fixable, but it may not be easy. I prefer Arch because it's lighter, faster, has greater selection of software, the software and kernel are up to date. In Debian, for instance, some packages are 3 years old even though there are current versions of them. Downloading packages and updating them in Arch is really fast. I also prefer doing things in the terminal which goes hand in hand with Arch. I find the commands for doing terminal things in Arch are much easier than Debian. Arch is great for people who like to get under the hood and tinker with their operating system.

[@BsktImp]

@@linuxmench2118 👍

[@PC4USE1]

I toyed with Linux pre 2020 but when Windows 7 support ended in 2020,I switched Linux. Win 10,which I have used,is not to my liking with it's telemetry and I do not even plan on touching a system with Windows 11. Vista after the SP was fine but was beyond the requirements of the average PC. Mint and Linux Lite are the most Win like Linux distros I have found. By the way,my first PC ran MS DOS 3.1.

[@linuxmench2118]

I think DOS 3.1 was also in my first computer. I always recommend Mint for newbies. Thanks for sharing.

[@jakobw135]

Since you're using the Gnome desktop, maybe you know how to do the following: Can you make all of the icons and search box DISAPPEAR and leave only the background image? Can you put a DIFFERENT background in each of the workspaces that are displayed as small windows near the top?

[@linuxmench2118]

What distribution are you using? My wife's computer is using Arch (pure Arch) with the Gnome Desktop. Gnome is modified and themed differently in many distributions. Arch doesn't modify the desktops and window managers. They install they way the developers give them to Arch. The search box and icons are always hidden unless I click the icon button in the top left corner. As far as I can see your selected wallpaper will be on all the work spaces. One thing people don't like about Gnome is the lack of ability to configure it. I like it because it's easy for my wife to use and the ability to easily remote into the system from another computer. Sorry if that doesn't help.

[@jakobw135]

@linuxmench2118 I'm using Garuda Linux - a version of Arch. I'm talking about a CLEAN DESKTOP, with only the BACKGROUND IMAGE visible. ☺️

[@linuxmench2118]

@@jakobw135 In Arch Linux, Gnome default is clean background image with no icons or search field. I never used Garuda, but as I mentioned, in my previous post, most distributions don't use the default DE & WM the way they are shipped. But they modify and theme them according to their preferences and tastes.🙂

[@jakobw135]

@linuxmench2118 Actually, NOT; because you have the task bar at the top, with an image of a disk drive on the extreme left, and perhaps some other icons on the extreme right - I don't remember now I'm talking about a COMPLETELY CLEAN desktop with ONLY the background image, NOTHING ELSE. ☺️

[@linuxmench2118]

As far as I know, there is no way to get rid of or hide the task bar on the top. As I mentioned, some people don't like Gnome because it has limited configuration options. Check out the following link to my video at 5 minutes and 52 seconds. Does this look like the Gnome you are thinking of? This is stalk Gnome in pure Arch Linux. The thin line above the clock and date is only there because I logged into another computer from my main production computer through remote desktop. So you can ignore that line. Here is the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmOmpYdnidV7ra8 Cheers🙂

[@tubeDude48]

What ZSH plugin are you using?

[@linuxmench2118]

I installed zsh and zsh-syntax-highlighting from the Arch repository. My configuration file is in my Arch folder in my Gitlab repository. I have a modified one in my Mint and Debian folders where I took out all the alias commands which included pacman. gitlab.com/artibus1/mench.git

[@tubeDude48]

@@linuxmench2118 - When people start putting lots of commands in .bashrc, the hair on my back raises! .bash_aliases was created to be used for aliases and functions. In fact, .bashrc looks for it, and loads whatever is in it. Helps keep .bashrc clean. I have 88 aliases and 19 functions.

[@linuxmench2118]

That's great. I think I have about 20 aliases in my zshrc file. I'm just guessing at the top of my head. I'm not actually looking at it. I think my file if kind of messy.

[@tubeDude48]

@@linuxmench2118 - I actually have a function called: ub() When I executed it from the command line, it does a nano .bash_aliases. Once open I have assign an integer number with the total aliases I have, and I change it if I add/delete an alias. I also do the same thing in my function section. When I close the program through nano, it then finishes by executing the rest of the ub() do the source command which updates the aliases functions, and display the current number of aliases & functions now in the .bash_aliases file!

[@tubeDude48]

@@linuxmench2118 - Wanted to send you the way I edit all of my aliases & functions with one command, but as usual- KZbin DELETED my comment!!! So I tried to send you any email, but you don't have one listed.

[@fabricio4794]

I have only linux 10 years,Mint btw

[@linuxmench2118]

That's great. Thanks for sharing.

[@ArnoldPost]

I guess I have my 30th anniversary. You had youtube, I had nothing to figure it out. And the installers that came with the early distros were quite complicated to use. With trial and error I figured it out,.Debian was my favorite back then simply because it had the easiest to use installer. And I still dislike Red Hat today, what a garbage it was in the early days. I also liked Suse/Opensuse Mandrake/Mandriva. I used Arch but never really liked it. I'm on debian sid right now, it is still my favorite distro.

[@linuxmench2118]

You're far more experienced than I am. I heard it was much more difficult in those days. Debian is great too. If I ever leave Arch, I'll probably go with Debian and not a distro based on it.

[@tubeDude48]

I was a UNIX user at SCO in the 90's, and went to Linux in 2002. Never looked back! 👍 Helped people with there windoz machines, but HATED it ! --- I use Linux Mint; and I'm sticking to it! For aliases & functions, put them in *.bash_aliases* that way you won't screw-up your *.bashrc* file. windoz 7 is the only version that was any good! Me, Vista and 8.x on were/are a joke!! --- Arch will not run some programs that Mint will. So I stay away from that Distro. Ubuntu has become a memory hog, and has gotten clunky and slow! --- Run Steam in place of Wine. I'm not a gamer either.

[@linuxmench2118]

Wow, you have been on Linux much longer than I have. Even though I prefer Arch, Linux Mint is a great distribution that just works out of the box. I never liked Ubuntu and even with Mint, I prefer LMDE, because it bypasses Ubuntu and is based solely on Debian. I'm surprised by your comment "Arch will not run some programs that Mint will." I think it's the other way around, with Arch, one has the ability to install almost anything using the AUR. Thanks for sharing and contributing to my channel, I appreciate it.

[@tubeDude48]

@@linuxmench2118 - Give and take- Right!

[@linuxmench2118]

Yes, that's true!

[@vaggelisbasoukas7928]

5 YEARS OF WASTED TIME video ! EU pc users laugh on a new joke !

[@bitterseeds]

No need to be that person. Do better.