It's about that time to upgrade and reinstall Linux again
This is not a history lesson on Linux or a history lesson about my experience in Linux and what distribution (if you know what that is) , and if you have no idea what I am talking about then you can either Google it or just skip this post all together. This post is not about me in that sense, as that is what the "about the Seth Izenzon collective" page is for when I ever get that finished. Which would include for those whom are curious the specs of my current computers etc., and I know some people are because them knowing whom I am, I get asked that allot.
I dual boot my main machine with Windows XP Pro and Linux. I built my main machine when Windows XP was the version of windows available. Since then there has been Vista and 7, now 8 is on the way soon. My computer is just to old and even though XP is outdated, it is current enough that it is fine. But this is not about that.
I have been using Linux for the past 10 years and slowly have been using Windows less and less. Now I still unfortunately have some hardware, computer games I play, and software for music and movie creation and editing, and other utilities or business or personal related software that either won't run on Linux at all, and there is no good Linux equivalent (this applies to software only), or I can't get the software/game, or HW to work well or at all under Wine (look it up if you have no idea what it is in regards to Linux or Mac OS). So I keep Windows around for that, and if the same software like Firefox, Thunderbird, Libreoffice, or Gimp as examples that run well on both operating systems natively then that is cool because I can sort of sync between the two and use them sort of seamlessly. Again I am only in Windows for the above reasons which is unfortunately allot but the day to day I stay in Linux.
Now for those who know Linux, new full versions not just updates that either require a reinstall or a full upgrade. Like upgrading from Windows XP to Vista (now whether you do it as a fresh install or an upgrade is up to you as far as windows goes if you are just upgrading to the next version up). Some Linux distro's allow such upgrades and some it is not feasible to do or it can be done but it is a whole and a half to take care of it. I have been using the same distribution for a while and as those who know Linux there are so many to choose from it can get overwhelming. This includes the list of dead and dormant ones as well. Some release new versions all the time (every 6 months approx. or less), some every year or 2 to 3 years or longer. But definitely there no matter what new versions in Linux or definitely released more frequently than versions of Windows are.
Which brings me to the title of this blog. My current install of whatever distro I am using has been installed as a fresh install sort of (I am using the same home directory), since it was released maybe a year or so ago. Now it is old and outdated. Yes it is still somewhat supported and some people are still making some updated packages (Libraries, apps, and games) for it, but it is so outdated, and for me to build stuff for myself because there is no package available, forget it. Because libraries are so outdated and can not be upgraded without breaking to much stuff. So it is time to upgrade. Every time this comes around I have two options. Keep the same distro I have which or go with something else whatever it is. The distro that I am using every time a new version is released minus my home directory does require a complete reinstall. Which is not the end of the world, but still. When I stared using this distro there wasn't much out there that I liked, and I was still new to Linux that I needed a (someone coming from Windows and never used Linux before) kind of distro. Now, I am no expert at all but I am definitely over the beginning distro. Now the Linux distro lineup has changed since I started using the distro I am currently using. Some have gone to the graveyard and new ones have cropped up. There is one in particular I am considering switching to. Which again would mean a fresh install minus my home directory. But if I just upgrade to the latest version of the distro I am using, I would need to perform a fresh install anyway minus my home directory, so there. But I don't plan to do this twice so if this new distro doesn't work for me or i don't like it then we shall see. I have friends whom are convincing me to switch. Now everybody says something different, but i think it is time to move on. I like that my new distro is not a one man show with a community behind it, but a company with a community behind it. I also like that it is updated and unlike my current distro with no release schedule meaning a new version could be 6 months or 1.5 years away, this new one is every 6 months without delay. This new distro was not around or it was to new for me to try it back when I chose what I am using now. I love the distro I am using and I would hate to leave the community that I help and support and post on and even make packages for and share them. I have even made some acquaintances there that I really talk Linux with whom has offered to help me learn and grow. But I need something more. A bigger community and something that more people are using and more updated. So I have made the decision to switch.
Notice throughout this whole post I did not mention any distro names. That is on purpose. If you are curious to know what distros I have used and the two distros I am referring to here, contact me in whatever way you want to and I will be happy to say. Of course when I post my current main computer specs in the about page I will say what distro of Linux and it's version number that I have installed and I will keep that updated as I keep Linux updated as long as I have Linux installed in a partition/s which I don't even know why I am saying that because unless something drastic happens as of right now, I will always use Linux in some form.
Now as far as when, I was supposed to do this tonight. I have a cd downloaded and ready to go, but timing just didn't work out. I'll see how my week goes, but it may not be till one of my days off next week. So one more week of this old, mostly outdated distro installed maybe. Once completely installed and customized and I have everything reinstalled again how I want it, then I will blog about this again. I have recruited a friend whom is familiar with such things to help me with this transition because this is a bit different than just going to a new version of the distro I am currently using. This friend knows whom he is (his name is left out not on purpose but whatever as he says). He also knows I appreciate his help and this was sort of partially his idea so when complete, he will be so happy. Because using what I sue now was his idea as well but again back then what was available was different.
Until my next blog post, whether it be about my Linux upgrade or anything else, as my dad would say: "Keep on keeping on."
I dual boot my main machine with Windows XP Pro and Linux. I built my main machine when Windows XP was the version of windows available. Since then there has been Vista and 7, now 8 is on the way soon. My computer is just to old and even though XP is outdated, it is current enough that it is fine. But this is not about that.
I have been using Linux for the past 10 years and slowly have been using Windows less and less. Now I still unfortunately have some hardware, computer games I play, and software for music and movie creation and editing, and other utilities or business or personal related software that either won't run on Linux at all, and there is no good Linux equivalent (this applies to software only), or I can't get the software/game, or HW to work well or at all under Wine (look it up if you have no idea what it is in regards to Linux or Mac OS). So I keep Windows around for that, and if the same software like Firefox, Thunderbird, Libreoffice, or Gimp as examples that run well on both operating systems natively then that is cool because I can sort of sync between the two and use them sort of seamlessly. Again I am only in Windows for the above reasons which is unfortunately allot but the day to day I stay in Linux.
Now for those who know Linux, new full versions not just updates that either require a reinstall or a full upgrade. Like upgrading from Windows XP to Vista (now whether you do it as a fresh install or an upgrade is up to you as far as windows goes if you are just upgrading to the next version up). Some Linux distro's allow such upgrades and some it is not feasible to do or it can be done but it is a whole and a half to take care of it. I have been using the same distribution for a while and as those who know Linux there are so many to choose from it can get overwhelming. This includes the list of dead and dormant ones as well. Some release new versions all the time (every 6 months approx. or less), some every year or 2 to 3 years or longer. But definitely there no matter what new versions in Linux or definitely released more frequently than versions of Windows are.
Which brings me to the title of this blog. My current install of whatever distro I am using has been installed as a fresh install sort of (I am using the same home directory), since it was released maybe a year or so ago. Now it is old and outdated. Yes it is still somewhat supported and some people are still making some updated packages (Libraries, apps, and games) for it, but it is so outdated, and for me to build stuff for myself because there is no package available, forget it. Because libraries are so outdated and can not be upgraded without breaking to much stuff. So it is time to upgrade. Every time this comes around I have two options. Keep the same distro I have which or go with something else whatever it is. The distro that I am using every time a new version is released minus my home directory does require a complete reinstall. Which is not the end of the world, but still. When I stared using this distro there wasn't much out there that I liked, and I was still new to Linux that I needed a (someone coming from Windows and never used Linux before) kind of distro. Now, I am no expert at all but I am definitely over the beginning distro. Now the Linux distro lineup has changed since I started using the distro I am currently using. Some have gone to the graveyard and new ones have cropped up. There is one in particular I am considering switching to. Which again would mean a fresh install minus my home directory. But if I just upgrade to the latest version of the distro I am using, I would need to perform a fresh install anyway minus my home directory, so there. But I don't plan to do this twice so if this new distro doesn't work for me or i don't like it then we shall see. I have friends whom are convincing me to switch. Now everybody says something different, but i think it is time to move on. I like that my new distro is not a one man show with a community behind it, but a company with a community behind it. I also like that it is updated and unlike my current distro with no release schedule meaning a new version could be 6 months or 1.5 years away, this new one is every 6 months without delay. This new distro was not around or it was to new for me to try it back when I chose what I am using now. I love the distro I am using and I would hate to leave the community that I help and support and post on and even make packages for and share them. I have even made some acquaintances there that I really talk Linux with whom has offered to help me learn and grow. But I need something more. A bigger community and something that more people are using and more updated. So I have made the decision to switch.
Notice throughout this whole post I did not mention any distro names. That is on purpose. If you are curious to know what distros I have used and the two distros I am referring to here, contact me in whatever way you want to and I will be happy to say. Of course when I post my current main computer specs in the about page I will say what distro of Linux and it's version number that I have installed and I will keep that updated as I keep Linux updated as long as I have Linux installed in a partition/s which I don't even know why I am saying that because unless something drastic happens as of right now, I will always use Linux in some form.
Now as far as when, I was supposed to do this tonight. I have a cd downloaded and ready to go, but timing just didn't work out. I'll see how my week goes, but it may not be till one of my days off next week. So one more week of this old, mostly outdated distro installed maybe. Once completely installed and customized and I have everything reinstalled again how I want it, then I will blog about this again. I have recruited a friend whom is familiar with such things to help me with this transition because this is a bit different than just going to a new version of the distro I am currently using. This friend knows whom he is (his name is left out not on purpose but whatever as he says). He also knows I appreciate his help and this was sort of partially his idea so when complete, he will be so happy. Because using what I sue now was his idea as well but again back then what was available was different.
Until my next blog post, whether it be about my Linux upgrade or anything else, as my dad would say: "Keep on keeping on."
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