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  • EADD Moderators: Pissed_and_messed | Shinji Ikari

Platform-Independent Technical Gibberings - hardware and "Internet"

I say "Gmail runs on a web server", that's stretching the truth a bit, it actually runs on many servers. Linux servers! Google has a huge cluster of servers, literally thousands. They used to have them as just naked motherboards sitting on shelves, no cases. They may have moved on from that.
 
i suppose it makes sense to not bother with cases (apart from dust protection) if only technichians that know what they are doing have access, it makes it quicker to swap out faulty parts should that ever need doing, and saves money on cases. Maybe it lessens overheating probelms too. :\
 
knock said:
The default install of Xubuntu is probably a bit lighter weight than Mint. But that's because XFCE is lighter than Cinnamon, XFCE is the default desktop environment of Xubuntu.

You can install XFCE on Mint and use that instead of Cinnamon, so it's not as if you're stuck with your choice.

So why not take a look at Cinnamon and if you like the look of it go with Mint. If it's too slow install xfce, reboot and select that at the login screen.

For a really lightweight install, crunchbang and archbang are excellent choices using Openbox. I've used both. They're highly configurable but the default installs are completely fine. These are, respectively, Debian and Arch with some configuration to make them more immediately suitable for general desktop use, as vanilla Debian and Arch installs usually need a bit of tweaking to get them just right. "Just right" is subjective! They're just right for me though.
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That has put my mind at rest, I've loaded Cinnamon and apart from a bit of a faf with the wireless driver all is well and it seems zippy enough so far and the load pack comes with all the main applications I wanted already there.
 
Really shouldn't be in here, but just wanted to say I've been running on linux mint with cinnamon for over 2 years now and it's fabby. I get quite annoyed when I move over to the devil for work though.
 
I've just switched back to Ubuntu to give Unity another chance, after a good 12 months on Mint. For such a minor reason too. There's a bug in Mint (possibly just with my brand of laptop I can't remember) where it doesn't automatically lock the screen when you close the lid. I keep the laptop on 24/7 and was fed up with the 2 extra clicks to lock the screen before I put it down!

I run crunchbang on a rarely used ancient netbook I have lying around and it's ace for old hardware, really snappy. (it's the Trigger's broom of netbooks, I've replaced the screen, keyboard, battery and the wifi module as well as upgrading the RAM. The touchpad buttons are dead now but they're soldered to the motherboard and it doesn't seem worth replacing that...)
 
kate said:
Really shouldn't be in here, but just wanted to say I've been running on linux mint with cinnamon for over 2 years now and it's fabby. I get quite annoyed when I move over to the devil for work though.
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Ahhh Ms Kate please take it as done that I have offered all appropriate seasonal greetings<3

I have no issue with Windows and like many have to use it at work where I'm still suffering XP, although I have to maintain knowledge of such things for my core work as well as 'orrible stuff like OS2 and CE so think yourself lucky.

I run Windows 7 on the big laptop and both desktop machines and find it more than aceptable on a well speced device, I'm no coder but it's clear Windows is very heavy on resources compared to Linux but for the average user that does a bit of surfing, email, word processing and maybe some audio and video indulgence I think Windows 7 is a decent enough OS.
 
Windows 8 is ok too, once you get rid of all that Metro shit (although that might be alright on a touch device I dunno), like you say you have to have the specs for it though.

Like you, I run Windows on my dev PC and big laptop, linux for portable and media centre devices (I have too many computers in here...), Windows 7 at work, has to be that way because of the software I use (3D artist). Would love it if Autodesk were to release Max for linux though! I fear we're in too deep with MicroSoft for that to ever happen now though :(
 
An update having lived with Mint a few weeks now, it is a world away from my low end Ubuntu install and makes this little netbook run like a dream compared to XP (support now extended till July 2015)
I have to say as a browsing machine a prefer it to Windows 7. the install has everything I need given I'd always use a windows machine for more techy stuff for work reasons and familiarity but Im reconsidering even that given Gimp servs me just as well as photoshop and open office is just fine.
Although I have found out OS/2 warp lives on as eStation, I'm tempted to give it a go just for its exotic cache.
V impressed with the encryption options on loading with Mint, Ive been looking at HD encryption of late for work, shame no vendors have used LINUX for my field as MS is proving a pain in a number of ways.....check out the Ploutus Malware for a bit of entertainment on how sloppy people can be
 
What do most folk pay for their broadband?
We are thinking of having it installed into our flat but have no idea of what a good monthly cost should be.
Would mainly be used for surfing internet but would also like to be able to download films and watch documentaries online etc.
Any idea of what a good price would be?
 
I pay £25 a month for 16Mb ADSL but that's at the high end, I get specific technical features like a static IP address, IPV6, guaranteed "no filtering". I use Andrews & Arnold, they are a small company with a focus on reliability and no gimmicks. Also it's a short contract, 6 months. Many companies tie you in for a year or more on their cheaper packages, which could be expensive if you have to move house unexpectedly.

It's made complicated by all the phone/TV/broadband packages you can get and the varying contract durations.

The big household names tend to be cheaper but I reckon the service is worse. Also if you go with a mainstream company you are more likely to be monitored and have torrent sites etc. blocked.

Check out uswitch. Also think broadband.
 
bethere always used to have the best reviews of the 'big names', not sure if they still provide the same kinda service.

Just got my first VPS. 12 core xeon, 64GB ram and 1Gbit uplink link, soooo nice! Bloody cheap too, especially after deducting the crypto it's managing to mine. And although being over the other side of the atlantic it still consistently has a ping below 100ms, shame about the limited hard disk space but can't really complain for the price/speed. Got my upload to 200GB in under two weeks on empornium just seeding freeleech shit, time to go get some good porn :D
 
We pay £24 a month for Virgin cable which is pretty reliable and fast, but I agree with knock about smaller companies being preferable in terms of monitoring/not being cunts. The main benefit to having cable is that we don't need to pay for a separate phone line. Though I'm thinking of switching soon because the price has steadily crept up from about £16 a month. :sus:
 
£25 a month for Virgin cable here, but it's 30MBps and I get all of it. VPN to get around all the shaping / blocking rubbish.
 
yeah worth adding that your choice is going to be affected by local factors :) Do you have cable in your street? It could well be the best choice. Anyone with a phone line can get ADSL but the speed will vary according to distance from the exchange and type of cabling between your house and the exchange. Some exchanges are enabled for Fiber to the Cabinet. A few are enabled for Fiber to the Premises, which would be the fastest of all.

Unfortunately the only way is to do some research, but if you post your phone number and postcode then we can do it for you :D
 
knock said:
yeah worth adding that your choice is going to be affected by local factors :) Do you have cable in your street? It could well be the best choice. Anyone with a phone line can get ADSL but the speed will vary according to distance from the exchange and type of cabling between your house and the exchange. Some exchanges are enabled for Fiber to the Cabinet. A few are enabled for Fiber to the Premises, which would be the fastest of all.

Unfortunately the only way is to do some research, but if you post your phone number and postcode then we can do it for you :D
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Yeah we have fibre to cabinet and co-ax to home, 100MB for £70 including all my housemates sports channels. Usually get over 5000KBps and the max I've seen is 9850 but the uptime is extremely shoddy, we get disconnected for a few minutes at least once every few days, might be something to do with the 6 phones, 4 xboxes, 5 laptops, TV box, printer and three desktops connected to it but still...
 
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