XPost: alt.os.linux.mint

Has anyone seen the web site that lets you test distros online, without
having to install anything. It's pretty neat!

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XPost: alt.os.linux.mint

Dr. Noah Bodie wrote:

Has anyone seen the web site that lets you test distros online, without having to install anything. It's pretty neat!

I read a discussion about the DistroSea experience in a forum (Puppy
Linux of all places) and it has limitations.

IMO, the best way to sample linux distro/s is live; and the most
'efficient' way to do that is to have some storage space, dl the .iso/s, preferably by torrent if both available and speedy, directly if not, and
then write them to a Ventoy stick, either USB 3 or SATA SSD, but even
USB2 if not the faster.

Some .iso/s won't boot properly on Ventoy, in which case they may need
to be written 'independently' using linux or Win tools (the Win Rufus is
nice) or alternatively booted as a VM which I consider to have more disadvantages than a Ventoy or direct live boot.

The .iso/s can be checked by their hash; some also like to check the
.sig if available.

There was a previous site distrotest.net which is now dead; and
DistroSea is allegedly better.


--
Mike Easter

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XPost: alt.os.linux.mint

On 2/16/25 06:22 PM, Mike Easter wrote:

Dr. Noah Bodie wrote:

Has anyone seen the web site that lets you test distros online, without having to
install anything. It's pretty neat!

I read a discussion about the DistroSea experience in a forum (Puppy Linux of all places)
and it has limitations.

IMO, the best way to sample linux distro/s is live; and the most 'efficient' way to do
that is to have some storage space, dl the .iso/s, preferably by torrent if both available
and speedy, directly if not, and then write them to a Ventoy stick, either USB 3 or SATA
SSD, but even USB2 if not the faster.

Some .iso/s won't boot properly on Ventoy, in which case they may need to be written
'independently' using linux or Win tools (the Win Rufus is nice) or alternatively booted
as a VM which I consider to have more disadvantages than a Ventoy or direct live boot.

The .iso/s can be checked by their hash; some also like to check the .sig if available.

There was a previous site distrotest.net which is now dead; and DistroSea is allegedly
better.

I had to use Etcher once to make a usb. IIRC it was something about byte order when
writing the USB. All I know is it worked.
I've used Ventoy reliably for quite a while lately. I too think it's a great way to test
distros. You also test the distro with your hardware, a very profitable test.

--
Linux Mint 22.1, Cinnamon 6.4.7, Kernel 6.8.0-53-generic
Thunderbird 128.7.0esr, Mozilla Firefox 135.0
Alan K.

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XPost: alt.os.linux.mint

Alan K. wrote:

I had to use Etcher once to make a usb.  IIRC it was something about
byte order when writing the USB.   All I know is it worked.

Etcher is very 'flexible' in that it is cross-platform Win, linux, & Mac including some 32 bit for Win & linux and ARM for Mac -- and it can
handle .img format and SD cards. It can't do Win .iso/s but Ventoy can,
except the old legacy Hiren's XP .iso isn't fully functional off Ventoy,
but the newer PEs for 10 & 11 are. Etcher does dd style.

Etcher also has a lot of docs.

--
Mike Easter

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XPost: alt.os.linux.mint

I have not heard of it, but it seems to me you are not testing different Distro's, only different DE's and the particular distro's associated
software.

The only way you can really test a distro is run it on your own computer.

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XPost: alt.os.linux.mint

On Sun, 16 Feb 2025 18:32:05 -0400, Dr. Noah Bodie wrote:

Has anyone seen the web site that lets you test distros online, without having to install anything. It's pretty neat!

Tnx for sharing that URL!

--
s|b

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XPost: alt.os.linux.mint

On 2025-02-17 01:45 AM, azigni wrote:

I have not heard of it, but it seems to me you are not testing different Distro's, only different DE's and the particular distro's associated software.

The only way you can really test a distro is run it on your own computer.

The testing is limited to what one can do online, but it does give a
brief look into what each distro offers.

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XPost: alt.os.linux.mint

On 2/16/25 23:32, Dr. Noah Bodie wrote:

Has anyone seen the web site that lets you test distros online, without having to install anything. It's pretty neat!

Great!

How do you like your linux meal sir?
Without salt?
Without pepper?
Without a plate?
Without a fork?

Freedom of choice, we have more choices then you have years left to live.

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XPost: alt.os.linux.mint

So do reviews, both would be equally valuable. Linux ix linux is linux,
only the DE and the apps you want make a difference.

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XPost: alt.os.linux.mint

On 2/17/25 02:07 PM, azigni wrote:

So do reviews, both would be equally valuable. Linux ix linux is linux,
only the DE and the apps you want make a difference.

Really? Arch linux seems to be another animal.

Yes, ultimately 'cd' and 'ls' etc are linux, but in reading about installing Arch, it
seems as if that system isn't wrapped up at all and you have to manually install it 'your'
way not Mint's way or Ubuntu's way.

--
Linux Mint 22.1, Cinnamon 6.4.7, Kernel 6.8.0-53-generic
Thunderbird 128.7.0esr, Mozilla Firefox 135.0
Alan K.

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XPost: alt.os.linux.mint

On 2025-02-17 11:30 AM, Edmund wrote:

On 2/16/25 23:32, Dr. Noah Bodie wrote:

Has anyone seen the web site that lets you test distros online,
without having to install anything. It's pretty neat!

Great!

How do you like your linux meal sir?
Without salt?
Without pepper?
Without a plate?
Without a fork?

Freedom of choice, we have more choices then you have years left to live.

I'm okay with my current linux but I will have to switch/upgrade someday.
Being able to test different options without having to download anything is
a help.

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XPost: alt.os.linux.mint

On 2/17/25 04:26 PM, Dr. Noah Bodie wrote:

On 2025-02-17 11:30 AM, Edmund wrote:

On 2/16/25 23:32, Dr. Noah Bodie wrote:

Has anyone seen the web site that lets you test distros online,
without having to install anything. It's pretty neat!

Great!

How do you like your linux meal sir?
Without salt?
Without pepper?
Without a plate?
Without a fork?

Freedom of choice, we have more choices then you have years left to live.

I'm okay with my current linux but I will have to switch/upgrade someday. Being able to test different options without having to download anything is
a help.

Why do you think switching is an option.
I'm not distro hopping but I have been testing different ones now and then. I have a
small 40G extra partition and I plant one there now and then.

--
Linux Mint 22.1, Cinnamon 6.4.7, Kernel 6.8.0-53-generic
Thunderbird 128.7.0esr, Mozilla Firefox 135.0
Alan K.

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XPost: alt.os.linux.mint

On 2025-02-17 05:45 PM, Alan K. wrote:

On 2/17/25 04:26 PM, Dr. Noah Bodie wrote:

On 2025-02-17 11:30 AM, Edmund wrote:

On 2/16/25 23:32, Dr. Noah Bodie wrote:

Has anyone seen the web site that lets you test distros online,
without having to install anything. It's pretty neat!

Great!

How do you like your linux meal sir?
Without salt?
Without pepper?
Without a plate?
Without a fork?

Freedom of choice, we have more choices then you have years left to
live.

I'm okay with my current linux but I will have to switch/upgrade someday.
Being able to test different options without having to download
anything is a help.

Why do you think switching is an option.
I'm not distro hopping but I have been testing different ones now and
then. I have a small 40G extra partition and I plant one there now and
then.

Eventually my current system will be too old to keep up with the newer
apps.
I had trouble running the latest version of FireFox so I went back to an earlier release.
I think the problem was caused by my older setup.

When I can no longer access web sites due to my browser version being no
longer supported then I will have to upgrade the OS in order to use the
latest FireFox.

I did not upgrade to the latest version of my distro because some apps
were discontinued and are only available on the older version. For
example, ClipIt was dropped and is only available on the earlier release.

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XPost: alt.os.linux.mint

On 2/17/25 05:03 PM, Dr. Noah Bodie wrote:

On 2025-02-17 05:45 PM, Alan K. wrote:

On 2/17/25 04:26 PM, Dr. Noah Bodie wrote:

On 2025-02-17 11:30 AM, Edmund wrote:

On 2/16/25 23:32, Dr. Noah Bodie wrote:

Has anyone seen the web site that lets you test distros online,
without having to install anything. It's pretty neat!

Great!

How do you like your linux meal sir?
Without salt?
Without pepper?
Without a plate?
Without a fork?

Freedom of choice, we have more choices then you have years left to
live.

I'm okay with my current linux but I will have to switch/upgrade someday. >>> Being able to test different options without having to download
anything is a help.

Why do you think switching is an option.
I'm not distro hopping but I have been testing different ones now and
then.  I have a small 40G extra partition and I plant one there now and
then.

Eventually my current system will be too old to keep up with the newer apps. I had trouble running the latest version of FireFox so I went back to an earlier release.
I think the problem was caused by my older setup.

When I can no longer access web sites due to my browser version being no longer supported
then I will have to upgrade the OS in order to use the latest FireFox.

I did not upgrade to the latest version of my distro because some apps were discontinued
and are only available on the older version. For example, ClipIt was dropped and is only
available on the earlier release.

You ought to try copyq. For what I do, I can't imaging not having it. Actually any
clipboard manager, I cut and copy tons of things every day. I had to increase copyq
history to 300 items and I might go to 400.

--
Linux Mint 22.1, Cinnamon 6.4.7, Kernel 6.8.0-53-generic
Thunderbird 128.7.0esr, Mozilla Firefox 135.0
Alan K.

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XPost: alt.os.linux.mint

On 2025-02-17, Dr. Noah Bodie wrote:

On 2025-02-17 05:45 PM, Alan K. wrote:

On 2/17/25 04:26 PM, Dr. Noah Bodie wrote:

On 2025-02-17 11:30 AM, Edmund wrote:

On 2/16/25 23:32, Dr. Noah Bodie wrote:

Has anyone seen the web site that lets you test distros online,
without having to install anything. It's pretty neat!

Great!

How do you like your linux meal sir?
Without salt?
Without pepper?
Without a plate?
Without a fork?

Freedom of choice, we have more choices then you have years left to
live.

I'm okay with my current linux but I will have to switch/upgrade someday. >>> Being able to test different options without having to download
anything is a help.

Why do you think switching is an option.
I'm not distro hopping but I have been testing different ones now and
then. I have a small 40G extra partition and I plant one there now and
then.

Eventually my current system will be too old to keep up with the newer
apps.

As in "the hardware is too old/slow for a newer release" ?

I did not upgrade to the latest version of my distro because some apps
were discontinued and are only available on the older version. For
example, ClipIt was dropped and is only available on the earlier release.

Well, yeah, the project was discontinued 4 years ago ... it's not that
the distro had much choice in terms of "keeping it around".

It was a fork of Parcellite (which is still maintained), or other
alternatives can be found here:

https://alternativeto.net/software/clipit/?platform=linux


--
|_|O|_|
|_|_|O| Github: https://github.com/dpurgert
|O|O|O| PGP: DDAB 23FB 19FA 7D85 1CC1 E067 6D65 70E5 4CE7 2860

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XPost: alt.os.linux.mint

On Mon, 17 Feb 2025 14:20:54 -0500, Alan K. wrote:

Really? Arch linux seems to be another animal.

Yes, ultimately 'cd' and 'ls' etc are linux, but in reading about
installing Arch, it seems as if that system isn't wrapped up at all and
you have to manually install it 'your'
way not Mint's way or Ubuntu's way.

You're thinking of the difference in installation, not in Linux itself.
Linux on a high level is a kernel with applications to make it more
usable. Your news reader for example is the same in any distro you want to
use that supports it. Only the version numbers may be different.

Nntp (newreaders) standards are fairly stable and do not often change, so
any version changes in your newsreader are most cosmetic, unless there is
a bug fix. So, depending on the Linux Distro you use, one version of your
news reader may be newer, as in Arch compared to Debian, but they are the
same base newsreader.

If you build a Linux system using, Linux from Scratch or install Linux
Mint, they both share the same basic files and builds depending on your
needs.

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XPost: alt.os.linux.mint

On 2025-02-17 08:06 PM, Dan Purgert wrote:

On 2025-02-17, Dr. Noah Bodie wrote:

On 2025-02-17 05:45 PM, Alan K. wrote:

On 2/17/25 04:26 PM, Dr. Noah Bodie wrote:

On 2025-02-17 11:30 AM, Edmund wrote:

On 2/16/25 23:32, Dr. Noah Bodie wrote:

Has anyone seen the web site that lets you test distros online,
without having to install anything. It's pretty neat!

Great!

How do you like your linux meal sir?
Without salt?
Without pepper?
Without a plate?
Without a fork?

Freedom of choice, we have more choices then you have years left to
live.

I'm okay with my current linux but I will have to switch/upgrade someday. >>>> Being able to test different options without having to download
anything is a help.

Why do you think switching is an option.
I'm not distro hopping but I have been testing different ones now and
then. I have a small 40G extra partition and I plant one there now and
then.

Eventually my current system will be too old to keep up with the newer apps.

As in "the hardware is too old/slow for a newer release" ?

No, as in there will be apps that I want to run but my OS will be too
outdated to support them. I'm already running into that now and it will
likely get worse.

For example there are some AI apps that I want to run locally but they
require libraries that are only available to users who are running the
latest versions of Linux.

I'm also having an issue getting the latest FireFox to run and I think
it *might* be due to my OS using outdated libraries but I don't know for certain what the cause is. The latest WaterFox works fine, tho.

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XPost: alt.os.linux.mint

On 2025-02-17 06:28 PM, Alan K. wrote:

On 2/17/25 05:03 PM, Dr. Noah Bodie wrote:

On 2025-02-17 05:45 PM, Alan K. wrote:

On 2/17/25 04:26 PM, Dr. Noah Bodie wrote:

On 2025-02-17 11:30 AM, Edmund wrote:

On 2/16/25 23:32, Dr. Noah Bodie wrote:

Has anyone seen the web site that lets you test distros online,
without having to install anything. It's pretty neat!

Great!

How do you like your linux meal sir?
Without salt?
Without pepper?
Without a plate?
Without a fork?

Freedom of choice, we have more choices then you have years left to
live.

I'm okay with my current linux but I will have to switch/upgrade
someday.
Being able to test different options without having to download
anything is a help.

Why do you think switching is an option.
I'm not distro hopping but I have been testing different ones now and
then. I have a small 40G extra partition and I plant one there now and
then.

Eventually my current system will be too old to keep up with the newer
apps.
I had trouble running the latest version of FireFox so I went back to
an earlier release.
I think the problem was caused by my older setup.

When I can no longer access web sites due to my browser version being
no longer supported then I will have to upgrade the OS in order to use
the latest FireFox.

I did not upgrade to the latest version of my distro because some apps
were discontinued and are only available on the older version. For
example, ClipIt was dropped and is only available on the earlier release.

You ought to try copyq. For what I do, I can't imaging not having it. Actually any clipboard manager, I cut and copy tons of things every
day. I had to increase copyq history to 300 items and I might go to 400.

I primarily use Gpaste. ClipIt is only a backup program I use, so I'm
not too concerned over clipboard apps. There are other apps that are
more of a concern for me because I
do not want to lose them.

When it comes to Linux, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" is my motto... :-D

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XPost: alt.os.linux.mint

azigni <azigni@yahoo.com> writes:

On Mon, 17 Feb 2025 14:20:54 -0500, Alan K. wrote:

Really? Arch linux seems to be another animal.

Yes, ultimately 'cd' and 'ls' etc are linux, but in reading about
installing Arch, it seems as if that system isn't wrapped up at all and
you have to manually install it 'your'
way not Mint's way or Ubuntu's way.

You're thinking of the difference in installation, not in Linux itself.
Linux on a high level is a kernel with applications to make it more
usable. Your news reader for example is the same in any distro you want to use that supports it. Only the version numbers may be different.

There are also differences in the way distros are put together and the
ways they're managed. Yes, there are many commonalities between distros,
or even UNIX or the *BSDs. A good unix skillset will help with all of
these, but I think that the user experience can be quite different
between some distros, and it's not just the default apps they supply or
the DE.

I can make my way amongst many different Linux distros, but I'm by far
more familiar with Debian/Ubuntu. I think I started using it with Buzz
or Rex. At that time I chose Debian over Red Hat because I preferred the
way Debian was designed. All these years later I still don't really like
RHEL. (SuSE, although it is RPM-based and is more or less a descendant
of Red Hat, is more comfortable to me than RHEL, but I haven't done much
with it in the past 15 years or so because it isn't as commonly used in
the US.)

So, yeah, Linux is Linux, but the way various distros implement it can
be different. You'll have to decide for yourself which one you prefer.

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XPost: alt.os.linux.mint

"Alan K." <alan@invalid.com> writes:

On 2/17/25 02:07 PM, azigni wrote:

So do reviews, both would be equally valuable. Linux ix linux is linux,
only the DE and the apps you want make a difference.

Really? Arch linux seems to be another animal.

Yes, ultimately 'cd' and 'ls' etc are linux, but in reading about
installing Arch, it seems as if that system isn't wrapped up at all
and you have to manually install it 'your' way not Mint's way or
Ubuntu's way.

You could use something like EndeavourOS. It provides more help with installation and initial setup than Vanilla Arch does. Once installed,
it's the same as using Arch though and it uses Arch's software repos and
AUR AFAIK.

There are plenty of distros to try, and plenty that people can be happy
with.

I tend to recommend that people start out with something like Mint or
Ubuntu. They help you get started and become comfortable with the
Unix/Linux experience.

These distros also have large user communities and plenty of
documentation and people discussing them on the web. I feel that this
kind of support is vital when you're just starting out.

Later on after you've learned more, maybe you will decide that you have
reasons for wanting some other distro. But you'll be doing it based on knowledge, not just picking something at random or distro-hopping.

Now, if you have some friends that all use a certain distro, you might
be well-served by starting with the same distro. Your friends can be a
close support system for you. There will be a good chance that any issue
you run into will already have been solved by one of your friends, so
the overall experience will be smoother.

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