Linux – The perfect OS as long as you don’t need to actually DO anything

[FulmenParticipant @fulmen]

Christ, why do I never learn? I’ve tried Linux a dozen times over the years, and it always ends up the same way.

My windows computer suddenly decided to freeze when I run the 3D printer. I’m fresh out of working SD cards, so I thought I could use the linux laptop for this. Installing Cura from the software app was a breeze, but it won’t discover the printer. So I thought I would look at Octoprint, which is also available. But while it will install, I can’t actually make it DO anything.

Fine, this needs a bit of work. Perhaps install VNC so I can work from my workstation? Easy, except that I can only find viewers/clients in the software center…

 

Every.

Single.

Time.

 

 

[FulmenParticipant @fulmen]

And let’s not forget the “solution” I get when I ask a linux-capable friend: Another distro. It doesn’t matter what I’m using or what I’m trying to do, I always manage to pick the wrong one.

[VicParticipant @vic]

Many years ago I used to fiddle about with the OS just for fun. Except it wasn’t most of the time! I have been slightly tempted by Linux in the past, particularly *Pear OS but I’m well aware of the paucity of software and the trials and tribulations of searching out drivers etc which other OS’s seem to deal with without my intervention.

I saw this the other day which I thought was interesting.

https://medium.com/@olateju202/linux-vs-mac-for-developers-in-2025-the-reality-check-e34d248c9654

* Pear OS when I last looked at it some years ago, apparently looked and operated similarly to Apple OSX.

[FulmenParticipant @fulmen]

Seems like I’m a bit of a masochist, for every few years I test linux just to see what it’s like. And I long ago concluded that linux is for people who like to play with linux. If you just want to get shit done, use something else.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Dunno what poor old linux did to get the blame when it’s the only component in this tale of woe that works!  Windows froze, blame that.  Cura and Octorprint are applications, not “linux”.

Try to identify root-cause.  What’s been tried so far is haphazard. No SD card so jump to network.  Windows fails, so jump to Linux.  Cura fails so jump to Octoprint, a rather different tool.  Octoprint fails so jump to VNC.  For gawd’s sake don’t jump to another distro!

Q:, what do Windows and Linux have in common?  A. The network and the printer. I suggest looking at them before doing anything else.

Is the printer connected to the network?  (Password and acceptable signal etc.)  Login to the router and check the printer is listed.  If it isn’t, then nothing else has a hope…

If debugging a broken network/printer is too hard, buy some more SD cards!  Cura on Linux writes them no problem…

Not sure what Vic’s problem was – linux doesn’t use device drivers!

Dave

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Funny how Linux is the principle OS used in much of the world’s web infrastructure then.

[Mark RandParticipant @markrand96270]

Oh ferchrissakes! did you bother to note what the ip address of the printer was?

I despair of people “blaming the tools”.

[FulmenParticipant @fulmen]

It’s USB, so no IP address. And that wouldn’t cause the computer to freeze. Anyway I never really cared for the SD cards, so I have been thinking about a better setup using the laptop for a while. But as long as things were working right I had better things to do.

 

[southernchapParticipant @southernchap]

Those who say Linux isn’t the problem here are absolutely technically correct…

But in terms of that one vital element of usability…transparency, I’m afraid they’re wrong, or rather missing an important point, at least.

If you have no specific interest in PCs or OSes or ‘IT’ generally, you just want to achieve your goal.

Sure, if you get good advice, you can do anything on Linux you can do on Windows, and oftentimes better. However, many don’t want to diagnose and debug their software, even with good advice.  They want to just achieve their goal.

In that regard Linux is still lacking.  Windows has many flaws, and Linux is, from most standpoints, the far superior OS, but as far as transparency goes, it still has a ways to go.

[Fulmen]

On Fulmen Said:

It’s USB, so no IP address. And that wouldn’t cause the computer to freeze. Anyway I never really cared for the SD cards, so I have been thinking about a better setup using the laptop for a while. But as long as things were working right I had better things to do.

 

In Linux just type lsusb in a terminal and it will give you a list of all devices connected by usb.

Russell

 

[John Haine]

On John Haine Said:

Funny how Linux is the principle OS used in much of the world’s web infrastructure then.

…. and over 70% of the world’s mobile phones.

Russell

[southernchap]

On southernchap Said:

if you get good advice, you can do anything on Linux you can do on Windows, and oftentimes better.

That’s simply not correct. Functionality in some mainstream software products can’t be matched by Linux products, eg Adobe Lightroom or Blackmagic’s Resolve Studio to name but two.

Linux is powerful and vital for backroom applications like web hosting etc, but end users have FAR better experiences and options with the two mainstream OSs.

[FulmenParticipant @fulmen]

In Linux just type …

That’s always the answer, isn’t it? Anything you want to do requires the command prompt and some incomprehensible incantation.

Luckily I had the laptop set up as a dual boot, so now I have both tightVNC and Octoprint running under Win10 without any issues.

 

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

I have a Linux OS (dual boot with win11 that I don’t use) for mundane everyday stuff like email, internet, messaging (WhatsApp) and office programs but have my win10 laptop as well for CAD and other machining and CNC processes. I went to Linux so I don’t need to have my now out of support win10 laptop online most of the time. I know most malware is planted via email or macros in documents or embedded in online software so I just don’t use win10 for that any more. My biggest gripe with win11 (possibly Linux as well) is that it will not run virtual machines which is what I use for some of my tasks such as my XP only flatbed scanner.

Martin C

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Ive been using linux mint since 2019 which I use daily with one exception I also have a win 10 machine which I use to maintain my club’s website. Last weekend I had for the first time the linux ‘pink screen of death’ and I was very surprised how simple it was to fix, but Fulman it’s alone I  have a friend who when trying to run linux encounters every problem in the book.

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

if the flatbed scanner is the only reason for running an old windoze then have a look at Vuescan from http://www.hamrick.com – I bought a copy some years ago and it has worked on all scanners I have including a film scanner which the manufacturer abandoned post XP – they seem now to have move to a subscription model but with a try before you buy arrangement I run under Linux (which I realize gets a poor press on this board – possibly other users  like myself find it is pointless to argue with those who cannot bother to read the documentation)

[FulmenParticipant @fulmen]

I don’t know why linux chafes me so much when i actually agree with the fundamental principles behind it. I would like nothing more than to be a user, there is a reason why I repeat this every few years. I think the first time was with Smoothwall back in 2000 or so.

Anyway I got Octoprint up and running complete with a webcam. Very nice solution for an old and simple printer. At least now I can print while I figure out what’s wrong with the work station.

It started about a week ago (perhaps two), the darn thing freezes at random. The screen locks up, won’t respond to ctrl-alt-delete or anything but if youtube is running in the background the audio can continue for several minutes.
I believe plugging in the printer via USB triggers it fairly reliable, but I haven’t had the patience to test it further. But either way it also happens without any obvious trigger. I’m logging temperatures now to see if it’s due to overheating.

[paul1956]

On paul1956 Said:

On southernchap Said:

if you get good advice, you can do anything on Linux you can do on Windows, and oftentimes better.

That’s simply not correct. Functionality in some mainstream software products can’t be matched by Linux products, eg Adobe Lightroom or Blackmagic’s Resolve Studio to name but two.

Linux is powerful and vital for backroom applications like web hosting etc, but end users have FAR better experiences and options with the two mainstream OSs.

Congratulations on cherry picking one small part of my post, and utterly missing the overall point of my post, which was substantially identical to the last part of your post. 🙄

[FulmenParticipant @fulmen]

I wish I could say it has been smooth sailing on windows, but that would be an obvious lie. First print failed at 90% or so as the computer suddenly had to install some updates. There is a reason why I looked at linux first. But I’m sure I can neuter windows enough to behave in due time.

It’s actually a blessing in disguise as my back is acting up and I need some light work.

[Mike HurleyParticipant @mikehurley60381]

Horses for courses as they used to say.

Win / Apple very user – orientated

Linux – not so, but increadibly fliexible & configurable (if you know what you are doing) but very much at its best in the background doing all the ‘grunt’ work.

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

Sorry to say Frances but my Canon scanner is not in the list of supported scanners.

Martin C

[TomfileryParticipant @tomfilery]

Martin,

You might like to investigate running VirtualBox under Linux and loading Windows as a virtual machine.  You will need to load a legitimate copy of the Windows OS into VirtualBox.

I run my laptop dual boot, but rarely use Windows these days.  The main exception is when I run TurboCad under Vista, through VirtualBox from Ubuntu.  I use it for all my CAD drawing and 3D modelling.

Tom

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

Thanks for the suggestion, I might have a go with VirtualBox, I know that the Windows virtual machine I use for XP and checking out Linux distros does not have a Version for Linux.

Martin C

 

[FulmenParticipant @fulmen]

Silly me figured I would give Mint a chance, hoping it would install over Ubuntu without too much fuss.

Guess what? There is fuss. For some mysterious reason it did not totally destroy the dual boot, but Mint stops the boot with an “initramfs” error that I can’t make heads or tails of. I’ll try to reinstall it before I start reformatting the darn thing by feeding it to the snow blower.

[Another JohnSParticipant @anotherjohns]

Interesting; out of the 9 computers in the house, 6 run Linux, the other 3 run MacOS; all the real stuff is done on Linux, 1 MacOS machine is for YouTube watching, another is for email and spreadsheeting, and the third is a 9 year old MacBook laptop that likely will go Linux once the apple SW update stuff ends in a year.

I did have Win-10 installed because the client wanted a UI for a linux-based project so that people who were issued laptops; app ported to Win10. I did have that 3D program ME was raving about, but I changed the CPU, the software froze (David Jupp did “get it unlocked) but to be honest, booting it just to do CAD, and finding that it decided to spend hours “updating” the OS, I ended one day just turning it off and it has never been turned back on. (it’s actually been recycled).

With the EU now deciding that getting away from US-based SW (where, everything is sent “to the cloud”), we might find more and more push away from US-centric SW.

Anyway, just a thought!

JohnS.

 

 

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