Open Source and Free Software

eppur_se_muova

(39,142 posts)

8. Thanks for the comments. I was more or less "defaulting" to Ubuntu as it is ...

Wed Apr 9, 2014, 11:56 AM

Apr 2014

and Mint has been the one alternative about which I have heard the most positive reactions, though I haven't waded through all the details.

One of the biggest concerns for me is that I want my files to be readable 20, 30, 40 years from now, so I want all my data to be in interchangable formats. I still use data that I collected during my grad school days. Fortunately a lot of it is in ASCII or PDF format, but some of the old Word files might be a problem.

I'd even like old apps to be usable for as long as possible. It's not uncommon for me to suddenly need to check something using an app I have'nt used in years, and the only version I ever had (maybe the only one ever made) is for the old MacOS, which Apple doesn't support anymore. Finding a machine running OS 8.6 is easier than finding a newer, "equivalent" application that runs under current OS's.

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Ubuntu vs Mint vs um, Other ... recommendations ? [View all] eppur_se_muova Apr 2014 OP

I recently installed xubuntu on a system similar to the one you describe. lumberjack_jeff Apr 2014 #1

Thanks. As a sometimes X Windows user, I might have been tempted to try that. nt eppur_se_muova Apr 2014 #2

FWIW dixiegrrrrl Apr 2014 #3

Nice comments and I agree. defacto7 Apr 2014 #5

Hmmm...I will take a look at Libre Office. dixiegrrrrl Apr 2014 #7

Thanks for that info. I have used both OpenOffice and LibreOffice (in Windows) ... eppur_se_muova Apr 2014 #9

LibreOffice comes installed with Linux Mint. That was a bonus. nt eppur_se_muova Apr 2014 #15

Thanks for the comments. I was more or less "defaulting" to Ubuntu as it is ... eppur_se_muova Apr 2014 #8

Ubuntu 12.04 LTS has a great track record. L0oniX Apr 2014 #4

12.04 won't run on these CPU's, apparently. But 13.04 does (w/problems). eppur_se_muova Apr 2014 #16

Tomorrow 14.04 comes out madokie Apr 2014 #19

I'd go with LTS ...long term support. I'm having fun right now running WindowsXP in Virtualbox. L0oniX Apr 2014 #20

I think both Mint and Ubuntu sound right defacto7 Apr 2014 #6

Well, I'm not in love with Windows ... actually prefer a Mac look-and-feel. eppur_se_muova Apr 2014 #10

You may like the default Ubuntu Unity desktop then... defacto7 Apr 2014 #11

Thanks for pointing me to distrowatch. Sounds like what I need. nt eppur_se_muova Apr 2014 #12

I recommend Elementary Adelante Apr 2014 #13

Thanks. I'm running Linux Mint Cinnamon now and am planning to keep it for a while ... eppur_se_muova Apr 2014 #14

Your mom Adelante Apr 2014 #17

Good for them ! My mom and her sisters all *need* to use computers ... eppur_se_muova Apr 2014 #18