[mdlug] New Machine OS/Window Manager Recommendation Please

[Jeff Hanson]

I use Xubuntu 16.04 but the next stable LTS release will be at the end of
April.

I stopped using Mint years ago due to the haphazard way they handled repos
and package overrides (stupid things like clobbering files on boot via an
init script instead of using dpkg-divert, etc.)

Setting up encrypted LVM with Live Ubuntu images is difficult because the
installer doesn't support it well.  I use md-raid > dm-crypt > lvm2,
sometimes with a separate boot USB flash drive, and normally have to
configure the partitions in a terminal before running the installer.  The
installer often fails to install grub properly afterwards so I have to
remount the new partitions and do it manually.  If you want this kind of
partition configuration I suggest using the text-based alternate installer
which works better.  IIRC this is available on the minimal and server ISOs
and the Lubuntu alternate ISO.



On Sun, Apr 1, 2018 at 12:54 PM, Peter Bart <peterbart.ch at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi All,
>         I've just bought a refurb Panasonic Toughbook and am looking
>         for recommendations. I currently use a CF-19 core 2 duo U9300
>         1.2Ghz w/GPS, Bluetooth, wifi and 4gb ram, and have since 2011
>         with Linux Mint installed. My new to me machine is a CF-19
>         i5-3340M 2.70GHz with TPM 1.2, 16gb ram, dual pass wifi,
>         bluetooth, GPS.
>
>         I'm in the fortunate place to be able to use my existing
>         machine as I set up my new machine. That does not mean I have
>         unlimited time, I have neglected my old machine and as a result
>         am not able to easily update software and am slowly losing
>         functionality. I have never been able to easily use the package
>         manager to update, bluetooth has never worked, and the
>         touchpad has only basic functionality no scrolling etc. It is
>         however an essential machine I use in day to day business.
>
>         I have experience using openSUSE, Ubuntu and of course Mint. To
>         a lesser degree other distro's live CD such as Knoppix and
>         Gparted. I currently use Gnome, but have experimented with xfce.
>         I don't care for KDE, likewise all the eyecandy in Gnome.
>
>         I have allways manually partitioned my installs, and would like
>         to finally start using LVM. I would like to encrypt as much of
>         the drive as is possible, and this machine will be my first
>         with TPM. I'm thinking of going back to openSUSE stable; not so
>         much Tumbleweed; and use xfce or Mate instead Gnome. Not that
>         I'm unhappy with Mint, my plan is to wipe my current machine
>         and install a current version of Mint, Debian or derivative
>         once my new machine has been set up. When I got my current
>         machine TPM was just starting to show up and I do not have any
>         experience with it. Is it evil or good? Is LVM still a good
>         option instead of ???. Are there any gotchas I need to be aware
>         of? Since getting my first Toughbook I have been spoiled by not
>         having to buy a new machine every year or two, of course this
>         means I have not installed an operating system in those years.
>         Any comments, suggestions, etc are welcome!
> --
> Peter Bart
> <peterbart.ch at gmail.com>
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