Any fellow Linux users on here?

[Judge]

The beauty of Linux. That there's a distro out there for everyone. It's just a matter of choosing to experimenting to discovering the one you like the most, that is most tailored to your wants and needs.

A big reason why I cherish using removable SSDs on my desktop system.

The complete opposite of what Microsoft is presently forcing on all their users with a single horribly flawed operating system.

 

[Judge]

Took the plunge and upgraded Linux Mint 22.2 to 22.3 using the update manager. The upgrade was fast and flawless. The best of it being that it didn't interfere at all with all my customization and use of "Plank Reloaded" or "Cinnamenu". I was pleasantly surprised.

My only gripe was noticing that it reinstalled the following hidden fonts I previously deleted given their redundancy to existing fonts I already have:

* All nine "Tex Gyre" (Adventor, Bonum, Chorus,Cursor, Heroes, Pagella, Schola and Termes)
* Google Fonts- Caladea, Cantarell and Carlito
* Free Mono, Free Sans and Free Serif
* Liberation Fonts (Libre Office) Sans, Mono and Serif

While Libre Office applications default to their "Liberation" fonts, I always go into all their "Office" applications and simply redefine the default fonts before deleting the Liberation fonts.

Nothing more irritating to me to using any word processor and scrolling through the font section to see massive numbers of redundant fonts with identical or similar typefaces. And yes, there are many more besides those mentioned above that don't have any serious dependencies.

 

[Judge]

One minor observation I have to mention about the latest update of Wine to version 11.0.

In using my ancient version of Photoshop 5.5, I have noticed that the opacity slider control no longer moves. That you can still control the opacity, but that you have to input the number as a percentage from 1% to 100%.

I know with Windows 7 on up I had problems with Photoshop's sliders, particularly in the event I wanted to retard the degree of various features and filters by a certain amount less than 100%. A problem that could cause Photoshop to crash,

So this doesn't really come as a surprise, provided it was a conscious programming decision rather than just something to add to a glitch list. But then I also long ago surmised that Wine developers don't really give much interest in this app as it simply is too old to bother with, so there's probably no point in reporting it. Just hope nothing else gets rendered unusable, but then I figure I may be running out of time with operating such an old application on general principle as far as developers are concerned. Time will tell....

 

[Outdated]

But then I also long ago surmised that Wine developers don't really give much interest in this app as it simply is too old to bother with, so there's probably no point in reporting it.

Start learning your way around Gimp just in case...

 

[Judge]

Start learning your way around Gimp just in case...

I've used Gimp since I went to Linux, but exclusively for one thing- printing images/photographs.

Recently I downloaded version 3 on my other SSD with Mint 22.3. It was a "ho-hum" experience. Some improvements, but overall the same busy and confusing interface. In a nutshell, I don't like it.

A definite "maybe", in the event I can not use my ancient Photoshop 5.5. Though there are other alternatives out there as well, however sadly none of them compares to the real thing.

I might even start to look at Canva's website, since they acquired Affinity for use through any browser. The one program that so many professionals feel is usable in the absence of Photoshop.

 

[Outdated]

Some improvements, but overall the same busy and confusing interface. In a nutshell, I don't like it.

I loved Gimp up until version 2.6. Up until then it was very easy to use and I preferred it greatly to Photoshop, especially for photo editing. I was looking forward to version 2.8 coming out because it would include support for 16 bits per pixel, but when it came out it was such a disappointment. Since then they've kept going backwards.

 

[Judge]

I loved Gimp up until version 2.6. Up until then it was very easy to use and I preferred it greatly to Photoshop, especially for photo editing. I was looking forward to version 2.8 coming out because it would include support for 16 bits per pixel, but when it came out it was such a disappointment. Since then they've kept going backwards.

Interesting. With Mint's repository Gimp never seemed to go past version 2.10 which I have used since first installing Mint a few years ago.

Took a long time to correct the page size feature in Gimp, only to find that it wasn't a Gimp problem, but rather a CUPS driver problem. With my notes I now know what modifications I have to make the CUPS program to show accurate information regarding printing in Gimp.

Makes me wonder just how different experiences users may get with Gimp using different Linux distros. Hmmmm. (I don't think I ever used printing with Pop!OS22.04).

I suppose I could get used to Gimp if I had to.

- Much like the laxative commercial that comments, "It works, but it's gritty".

 

[Outdated]

Interesting. With Mint the repository never seemed to go past version 2.10 which I have used since first installing Mint a few years ago.

Canon did something funky with their raw image format so that only Canon software knows how to correctly interpret them.

The trick - Canon raw images are in 4 layers - red, blue, green, and the transparency layer. And each of those layers is at 12 bits per pixel. So a standard 8 bit image rendering software can't translate them properly and neither can the newer 16 bit software.

That was why I was so much looking forward to Gimp 2.8, in the hope that I'd no longer need the Canon software, but that turned out not to be the case and instead the Gimp became more complex and difficult to use whilst at the same time supporting less features.

Interesting about Mint - Gimp 2.8 was released in May 2012.

 

[Judge]

Canon did something funky with their raw image format so that only Canon software knows how to correctly interpret them.

The trick - Canon raw images are in 4 layers - red, blue, green, and the transparency layer. And each of those layers is at 12 bits per pixel. So a standard 8 bit image rendering software can't translate them properly and neither can the newer 16 bit software.

That was why I was so much looking forward to Gimp 2.8, in the hope that I'd no longer need the Canon software. but that turned out not to be the case and instead the Gimp became more complex and difficult to use whilst at the same time supporting less features.

Interesting about Mint - Gimp 2.8 was released in May 2012.

ROTFL....that sounds like Canon. The first few years I got my DSLR I was married to their proprietary software (Windows/Mac only), making the most in using the RAW format.

Until the day I realized at the time just how rare it was to find any third-party software to read RAW file format back then. Ironic as well to find a few professional photographers who prefer to use .JPG with the least compression rather than to routinely archive RAW format files.

LOL...plus it took me a bit to realize that I didn't need any of their software. Just removing the SD card and transferring the photo files in .JPG using a USB adapter. Been doing it that way ever since, without any need for software. Though of course, I edit all images through Photoshop.

I did see something interesting about Canon recently. That while they are phasing out mirrored cameras, they are going to open the market back up to third-party lens manufacturers.

 

[Judge]

Interesting about Mint - Gimp 2.8 was released in May 2012.

It's one area that Mint may have the bulk of their detractors. That they are very conservative when it comes to what they want to see in their repository. Of course one can always go outside the repository to download something. Though Mint takes a dim view of doing such things...though they seemed to have softened that mentality just a bit.

Overly conservative to many in the Linux community. Which may also reflect that they simply take their damn time about such things.

 

[Outdated]

Until the day I realized at the time just how rare it was to find any third-party software to read RAW file format back then. Ironic as well to find a few professional photographers who prefer to use .JPG with the least compression rather than to routinely archive RAW format files.

I had to go down the same path. I preferred having the raw format files because in a copyright dispute the owner of the raw files is the owner of the image. Proof that it was taken by my camera and no other, where as any .jpg is an edit.

The in camera image conversion is pretty good though and only uses 3% compression so there's very little information missing from the file yet a 24 megapixel picture is still only 10 Mb in size.

I did see something interesting about Canon recently. That while they are phasing out mirrored cameras, they are going to open the market back up to third-party lens manufacturers.

This was what always gave Canon the leading edge over Nikon. They needed to do something because in comparison to the older Canon lenses that I used to have what they produce these days is rubbish.

If I can find some pre 2008 Canon lenses in good condition I'll probably buy them, the newer ones really are crap.

 

[Judge]

If I can find some pre 2008 Canon lenses in good condition I'll probably buy them, the newer ones really are crap.

Agreed. Though I never thought it was a secret that Canon wanted to push their most expensive lenses on everyone, while shutting out those third-party manufacturers. Too expensive for me!

Considering they have elected to abandon that marketing strategy, I have to assume they came to the obvious conclusion that it was likely impacting sales.

I think the initial third party will be Sigma to launch their line of Canon lenses, though I'm not sure if it extends to their DSLR line that Canon intends to phase out..

 

[Outdated]

As it stands at the moment I wouldn't recommend anyone buy a Canon. They used to be very good, they could be very good again one day, but that is not today.

What I really want to have again one day is some nice Rubinar lenses but as they're made in Ukraine it's uncertain as to whether or not we'll ever see them again. That same factory also made all the lenses for Leica cameras so I imagine no one's buying them at the moment either, no one in the world has ever produced lenses as good as Ukraine's.

 

[Judge]

As it stands at the moment I wouldn't recommend anyone buy a Canon. They used to be very good, they could be very good again one day, but that is not today.

What I really want to have again one day is some nice Rubinar lenses but as they're made in Ukraine it's uncertain as to whether or not we'll ever see them again. That same factory also made all the lenses for Leica cameras so I imagine no one's buying them at the moment either, no one in the world has ever produced lenses as good as Ukraine's.

Seems that Rubinar is available in Ukraine, but not produced there. Manufactured in Russia by JSC Lytkarino Plant of Optical Glass.

Right now if I were to buy a new camera I'd probably take a lot of time looking at Fuji. Both cameras and their lenses.

 

[Outdated]

Seems that Rubinar is available in Ukraine, but not produced there. Manufactured in Russia by JSC Lytkarino Plant of Optical Glass.

Strange. The company name is correct but last time I bought one the address given was in Ukraine. It took months to arrive too, for a long while I thought I'd been ripped off. When the lens finally did arrive I realised why it took so long - it was hand made. All the markings around the lens casing were obviously hand engraved.

This picture isn't mine, I had the 500 mm lens.

 

[Judge]

Strange. The company name is correct but last time I bought one the address given was in Ukraine. It took months to arrive too, for a long while I thought I'd been ripped off. When the lens finally did arrive I realised why it took so long - it was hand made. All the markings around the lens casing were obviously hand engraved.

This picture isn't mine, I had the 500 mm lens.

View attachment 148571

It may have been distributed in Ukraine at the time, but never actually produced there. After all, the commercial relationship between Ukraine and Russia has uh...."deteriorated" a bit.

 

[Crabcore]

Does anyone have any tips for getting any Linux distro to work on a stubborn setup?

I've got a cheap desktop that I wanted to dual-boot with while I'm learning x64 ASM, and even after changing all of the 'fast boot' and windows-oriented settings in the bios (I also tried everything on UEFI, then legacy when that failed, flipped settings one way, flipped them back, etc), I still can't boot either Ubuntu or Mint from USB. GRUB shows up, I see the distro's logo, and after a good ~5 minutes, the PC reboots, and the cycle continues.

I've literally never had this happen on any other setup in my life; even simply live-booting doesn't work, since it never fully boots into Linux in the first place. Any tips are appreciated, and I figured this might actually be the best place to ask, since everyone here is so kind and knowledgeable. If anyone can offer any tips, thank you so much in advance!

I can also offer more details if need be; there are way too many settings on here. It seems like I've gone through all of them already, but there might be a secret ingredient I'm not thinking of.

 

[Outdated]

I can also offer more details if need be; there are way too many settings on here. It seems like I've gone through all of them already, but there might be a secret ingredient I'm not thinking of.

Without knowing exactly what motherboard you have I can only give you generalisations but hopefully it helps.

Most motherboards have Boot From External Devices disabled. That will cripple you right from the start.

You should also be able to enable the built it Boot Menu. With that enabled you can tap tap tap on the F12 key during boot to get the boot menu.

There should also be a setting to decide between Windows and Non Windows OS. When switched to Non Windows you should still be able to run Windows but without the aid of BIOS Windows will be slower and clunkier.

 

[Judge]

Found a decent, objective assessment of migrating from Windows to Linux from a Windows expert, Chris Titus. Offering an unvarnished assessment in dealing with the good and bad of moving out of Windows into the Linux distribution of choice.

 

[fattymeatysardine]

Does anyone have any tips for getting any Linux distro to work on a stubborn setup?

In GRUB, press E to edit on the OS you want then add nomodeset to the linux parameters like this

linux /boot/vmlinuz-6.17.6 root=UUID=4917a2b6-0290-4093-88cc-20c60ef8d988 ro splash [ADD NOMODESET HERE]