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    (Learning) Linux on my M17x R1

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by cookinwitdiesel, Jul 8, 2010.

  1. cookinwitdiesel

    cookinwitdiesel Retired Bencher

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    As the title says, I have an M17x and would like to use it to learn Linux. I have zero linux experience but have a good foundation in programming and am extremely competent using Windows (not a computer tard).

    So I am looking for suggestions and ideas on what I should do.

    Things I can guess I will need:
    Linux Distro to use - what is the recommended one to go for? Does it matter?
    Video Card drivers - I know this can cause some issues and that getting CF to work may not happen
    All other drivers
    --webcam
    --audio
    --card reader
    --wireless
    --ethernet
    --Alienware sutff (OSD and command center)(know this is probably not likely to happen)

    Again, I have NO experience but need to learn Linux to help at work (or getting work :( ) so any help is greatly appreciated!
     
    cookinwitdiesel, Jul 8, 2010
    #1
  2. stamatisx

    stamatisx T|I

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    stamatisx, Jul 8, 2010
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  3. alienwolf

    alienwolf Notebook Deity

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    Ubuntu or Mint linux two good ones
    :cool:
     
    alienwolf, Jul 8, 2010
    #3
  4. cleverpseudonym

    cleverpseudonym PG RATED

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    i cant imagine a world where you have to learn linux to get work, yuck. i endured this endeavor a year or so back and thankfully i talked the owner back into using windows based workstations. looks like you go t a decent start from Stamatisx though, Good Luck!
     
    cleverpseudonym, Jul 8, 2010
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  5. cookinwitdiesel

    cookinwitdiesel Retired Bencher

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    Well the employer let me know they use fedora so I will give that a try. They make network testing hardware and use Linux for the control plane making the hardware very versatile and adaptable to customers needs.
     
    cookinwitdiesel, Jul 8, 2010
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  6. Sirhcz0r

    Sirhcz0r Notebook Deity

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    I really like the latest Ubuntu now that I've used it a bit. It was the Netbook Edition, but that's really just a user interface difference.

    The only video drivers I've needed were for my M1530, and the Nvidia driver for the 8600m GT installed fine.

    No idea on anything webcam related, as I don't ever use them.

    Audio worked fine after plugins were automatically detected and installed to play specific file types.

    I haven't used the card reader yet.

    Wireless was easy to get, even with a Broadcom card it was supported both with proprietary and non-proprietary drivers. They installed easily and work perfectly.

    Ethernet worked without doing anything.

    I wouldn't give up on the On Screen Display and Command Center just yet. Get Wine and try to run them through that. The last time I tried Wine, I successfully (not with full functionality, but still) ran a Windows game.

    Also, the On Screen Display may not even be desirable once you see the one Ubuntu comes with by default.
     
    Sirhcz0r, Jul 9, 2010
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  7. stamatisx

    stamatisx T|I

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    Sirhcz0r, the third link I posted is similar to CC, no need for wine
     
    stamatisx, Jul 9, 2010
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  8. BatBoy

    BatBoy Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Get with Aikimox. He worked on this quite a bit with his system (along with StamatisX ;) ).
     
    BatBoy, Jul 9, 2010
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  9. Sirhcz0r

    Sirhcz0r Notebook Deity

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    I misread that while thinking about something unrelated to what it really was. I remember seeing threads about a Winamp plugin that communicates with the lights, and seeing the word AlienFX made me blow by that. :rolleyes:

    So I checked out that program and it seems neat! But my post is also somewhat general in saying: don't give up on Windows application running in Linux, it's often possible.
     
    Sirhcz0r, Jul 9, 2010
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  10. cookinwitdiesel

    cookinwitdiesel Retired Bencher

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    Real silly question now, but is the install process similar to windows where I will have an ISO I burn to disk and run or is it more of a copy and paste into a partition thing?
     
    cookinwitdiesel, Jul 9, 2010
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  11. stamatisx

    stamatisx T|I

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    Scook use this program, it saved me lots of times.
    UNetbootin - Homepage and Downloads
    You can either load your own ISO or let the program download it for you
    You do an installation of the Linux distribution that you prefer following the instructions.
     
    stamatisx, Jul 9, 2010
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  12. cookinwitdiesel

    cookinwitdiesel Retired Bencher

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    That looks like it will help a ton, thanks!

    and +rep!
     
    cookinwitdiesel, Jul 9, 2010
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  13. cookinwitdiesel

    cookinwitdiesel Retired Bencher

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    I have seen mention of wine a few different times, what is this? An emulator for windows or something like it?
     
    cookinwitdiesel, Jul 9, 2010
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  14. stamatisx

    stamatisx T|I

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    stamatisx, Jul 9, 2010
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  15. Sirhcz0r

    Sirhcz0r Notebook Deity

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    Sirhcz0r, Jul 9, 2010
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  16. stamatisx

    stamatisx T|I

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    stamatisx, Jul 9, 2010
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  17. Sirhcz0r

    Sirhcz0r Notebook Deity

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    I was also going to add this from the Wine site for more clarification (from the "Debunking Wine Myths" page):

     
    Sirhcz0r, Jul 9, 2010
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  18. cookinwitdiesel

    cookinwitdiesel Retired Bencher

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    Would wine allow something like blu-ray playback within Linux?
     
    cookinwitdiesel, Jul 9, 2010
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  19. stamatisx

    stamatisx T|I

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    stamatisx, Jul 9, 2010
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