Best products from r/linuxmint

You just have to jump in and do stuff. Using it as your primary OS or always for a particular task (e.g. always use it for internet browsing) is a good way to become familiar with a linux desktop environment.

As for the command, whenever you want to:

• check process usage (Task Manager in Windows)
  
• see how much memory is free ( 'free' command, 'df' for disk usage -- it stands for -disk free-)
  
• make a new directory ('mkdir')
  
• change file permissions ('chmod')
  
• edit a text file (Vi Improved, aka Vim -- http://www.vim.org/, cheat sheet )
  
• listen to music (http://www.tuxarena.com/2011/12/10-console-music-players-for-linux/)
  
• other general tasks
  
  Try to make all of that happen in a command-line/terminal. If you can't figure out a command/program's parameters, check the man (manual) file using the 'man' command ('man <command name>).
  
  For some command command references:
  https://files.fosswire.com/2007/08/fwunixref.pdf
  http://cc.iiti.ac.in/lcommands.pdf
  http://www.pixelbeat.org/cmdline.html
  http://www.computervillage.org/articles/CommandLine.pdf
  
  It may seem silly and retro/outdate, but PRINT out a reference sheet. If it's less than 10 pages it's hardly an environmental crisis.
  
  http://linuxcommand.org/index.php
  
  [ Do some basic software development: hello world, a calculator, a text adventure game, dice roller ]
  
  Also install some software development tools and write some basic C/C++ programs and learn about make files. Most of the times installing new software from source is as simple as downloading the source, extracting it, and then running a number of tasks via the make file (e.g. configure, make, make install, etc).
  
  Learning how to compile basic programs on the command line will make compiling other programs from source a little less opaque. The compiler produces object files from source code and links them to produce an executable file.
  
  [ Install some software from source ]
  
  http://www.thegeekstuff.com/2012/06/install-from-source/
  https://www.linux.com/learn/intro-to-linux/2017/3/how-install-packages-source-linux
  
  Sticking to simpler software with fewer dependencies (libraries and other software that your new software depends* upon to function properly) is recommended as you should encounter fewer errors if any.
  
  You can always skip this stuff and use a package manager (command line or GUI) if that suits you more.
  https://help.ubuntu.com/community/AptGet/Howto
  https://www.lifewire.com/guide-to-synaptic-package-manager-2205707
  
  [ Reading ]
  
  If you can tolerate reading books and are willing to spend some money, these may be of use to you:
  
  Linux Pocket Guide, 3rd Edition: Essential Commands (By: Daniel Barrett)
  O'Reilly Media
  http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920040927.do
  
  Linux in a Nutshell, 6th Edition: A Desktop Quick Reference (By Stephen Figgins, Arnold Robbins, Ellen Siever, Robert Love)
  O'Reilly Media
  http://shop.oreilly.com/product/9780596154493.do
  
  If the price is an issue, shop on amazon and search ebay for a used copy. For the pocket reference at least a lot of stuff is likely to very much the same even in a previous revision/edition.
  
  https://www.amazon.com/Linux-Pocket-Guide-Essential-Commands/dp/1491927577/
  ^ currently ~$10 on Amazon
  
  https://www.amazon.com/Linux-Nutshell-Desktop-Quick-Reference/dp/0596154488/
  ^ currently ~$28 on Amazon
  
  I'd strongly recommend the pocket guide and the other reference may be of some use as well.
  
  P.S.
  If you aren't sure what Linux "distribution" you should install and use I'd strongly recommend a Debian derivative (a version or variant of Linux that's based on the Debian distribution) or another popular one so you will be able to benefit from common tutorials and the familiarity with it that others users have when you end up needing help.
  
  Debian
  Ubuntu
  Linux Mint
  
  You can search for other Linux distributions, debian-based and not, using the search tool at https://distrowatch.com/

You might have better luck with physical converter from one of your dvi-i outputs down to VGA and then a converter for VGA to S-video.

Something like this to convert digital to analogue, and also something like this to get your TV output.

No idea about linux working with this seeing the TV resolution or anything at all really might have to manually set it. No driver ready fixes I could find. Good Luck though :)

Some devices of the same class work better than others. A N300 adapter should be able to max out at around 30MB per second, which is plenty and probably higher than your internet bandwidth. If you transfer large files on a local network an AC wifi adaptor might be better.
I don't know any good Linux compatible ones off hand, but this N300 one might have better range.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JDVRCI0?m=A1K5RDMQ6V4659

Anyways good luck.

I don't have any recommendations for wireless keyboards but I bought two of these these wired keyboards recently and I love them. The always-on backlight was more important for me than wireless. No issues with Mint compatibility and the eight macro keys are fantastic for quick, repetitive tasks. They're the kind of loud clicker type switches which I sort of like.

As for mice, I still use my old wired Logitech mouse with my primary Linux desktop... with one modification. I opened it and put lead fishing weights inside with hot glue to keep them from rattling around. I prefer heavier mice so the tension of the cable doesn't slide it around when you let go.

For various other systems where I need wireless, I got several of these mice. They have an odd power saving feature that shuts off the mouse after ten or fifteen minutes of use and turns it back on when you press a button. That was odd getting used to but it doesn't bother me. Compatibility seems to be great on all systems I have used them on.

I wouldn't bother with a machine that old, I've got many Dell Mini 9 netbooks and even with a fast SSD they are still absolutely painful with modern websites. This was the very first atom and it is a dog, and also 32-bit only.

You could get a vastly better machine for not much money. I found this Acer Chromebook when it was on sale for $250 and it runs Mint very well (& Win10, and CloudReady). It's got a speedy i3 cpu, a nice 1080p screen, great speakers, a really nice keyboard, a big touchpad, etc.

i had the same issue back when i was dual booting, no idea why. I blame it more on windows than mint though :D

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try a different kernel. My broadcom is now fine and reliable in 4.4, but totally unreliable in 4.15

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as for dongle, back when i was having issues i tried a load, a lot didnt work great. the one that did is a cheap dongle from plugable. and they have good linux support on their website as well. but this model was fine as soon as plugged it in.

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amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Plugable-USB-BT4LE-Bluetooth-Energy-Adapter/dp/B009ZIILLI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1538618744&sr=8-3&keywords=Plugable+USB+Bluetooth+4.0+adapter

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ebay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Plugable-Bluetooth-4-0-Adapter-for-Windows-10-8-1-8-7-Raspberry-Pi-Linux/113256735899?hash=item1a5ea0a49b:g:KG0AAOSwofFboLR1

I've had pretty good luck with this guy as well (~$14)

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B009ZIILLI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If you really want to go light look at the ASUS Zenbook 305. I just got one and installed Linux on it with almost no issue. It was a little bit of work to get the wi-fi working during the install, but that's only because I was putting Debian on it and they don't include any non-free components on their standard install media so I had to figure out how to get it to load the binary firmware. A less stringent distro like Mint shouldn't even have that problem.

It's very lightweight, very thin, very powerful & has a beautiful screen.

I recently got this Monoprice tablet via Amazon ($40: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H4LAF9O) to make lecture videos. It works really well on Mint 17.3 with at least Krita and Pinta. I would expect it to work with Gimp as well. I didn't have to install any special drivers - it just worked out of the box.

If you plug it in before starting Krita, it will do a nice job with the pressure-sensitivity.

I had a few issues with 3Com cards not working at gigabit speeds, so I bought an Intel PRO/1000 GT and it worked perfectly without any troubles.

Amazon UK link

Maybe I'm misunderstanding but if you don't use windows 10 why don't you just delete it? Here's a great deal: Samsung BAR Plus 64GB - 200MB/s USB 3.1 Flash Drive Champagne Silver (MUF-64BE3/AM) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BPHN7LV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_XkorDbXWS0QR1

I have a Zbox Nano like this one except it is a 5th gen i5. It runs mint like a champ and worked right out of the box.

https://www.amazon.com/ZOTAC-i5-6200U-Bluetooth-Barebones-ZBOX-CI543NANO-U/dp/B01GOK0KKE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1494207334&sr=8-2&keywords=zbox+nano

This is the mouse i am using now..

https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Professional-Computer-Ergonomic-Precision/dp/B01N2X7IK9/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1501817201&sr=8-3&keywords=wireless+gaming+mouse

But ACTUALLY!!! - i prefer to have a bluetooth mouse. to free up the usb port on my laptop.

So if you recommend a bluetooth mouse, i am open ears.

As a general starting point for linux in general, this is usually a good starting point, especially for the linux geek who might not have a structured education in Systems Administration. It also includes some tips that might be helpful should you wish to try to get a job in the area

If you want a book, Sobell's Linux series is good. I learned a lot about the command line from it.

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https://www.amazon.com/Practical-Guide-Ubuntu-Linux-4th/dp/0133927318/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=3Y9DFAJJD3SNS3ESCPCA

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I recently got this off amazon and it works perfectly.

I have a decent realtek card in the machine and spent days researching how to make it work but it just wouldn't. But this Panda product was just plug in and instantly, wifi.

Thanks for your reply! So I'm looking at this model now, but when I try to use the "Hardware Devices" page on the Mint website it's difficult to tell what works and what doesn't:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KWG73RQ/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza

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Anyone using this with Mint 19? I did see that it does not have Nvidia for graphics.

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Thanks.

re linux, see this:

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=amazon-2-laptops&num=1

Cdn or US? US is $355
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LX0KIGB/ref=twister_B01M3TYFDD?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Canadian price is a bit more $460

you can also get open box on amazon for a bit cheaper $430

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/offer-listing/B011KFQASE/ref=dp_olp_used?ie=UTF8&condition=used


edit: here is a chart of the price over time
http://ca.camelcamelcamel.com/F555LA-Full-HD-Laptop-500GB-Windows/product/B011KFQASE

Pluggable works... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009ZIILLI/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1