A Windows user tries out Linux Mint

The project is to build a Linux Mint machine to have the identical functionality and ergonomics as the existing Windows 10 machine. This stage relates to Google Earth. Environment Google Earth needs to be used on the following machines: The Linux Mint Xfce laptop " Gandalf "; The Windows 10 laptop " Legolas "; Another Windows 10 machine, " Albertsquare ", used exclusively by another user. The synchronisation agent is Google Drive in Windows 10, and grive2 in Linux Mint. Because of the known limitation in scope, another Linux Mint machine was created, named " Gimli ".  Gimli is a Linux Mint Xfce 18.3 Sylvia 32-bit virtual machine running in Oracle VirtualBox on Gandalf. Required functionality Google Earth is a useful desktop-based tool by which to design walking routes, to capture results of the pilot walk and to document required changes to the route's design. The routes range from 6 miles to 12 miles and use  public rights ...

An unexpected result! My internet service went down yesterday, so I ended up facing the prospect of going internet cold turkey for a night, getting close to the desperate level of giving up and reading a book. At the last minute, it occurred to me to test whether the Linux Mint machine ("Gandalf") would connect seamlessly to a new wifi device (an Android hot spot).  And, because the device is metered, it gave me the chance to have a feel for Gandalf's data consumption. Findings Gandalf connected seamlessly to the new wifi device. Upon checking the wifi useage meter the following day, I saw that in the month to end 29 June 2018, the total data transmitted was 0.31Gb (of an allowance of 2Gb). Obviously, there's no useful comparable.  The Android normally connects to a wifi connection, so is  seldom on the mobile data network.  This means that the bulk of the 0.31Gb was consumed by Gandalf. The use of Gandalf was to grive data twice, with ten internet sessi...

Whereas Windows 10 assumes auto-detection of a secondary monitor to be on, Linux Mint Xfce assumes that it is off. In Linux Mint Xfce, menu > display > "configure new displays when connected" = on .  Plug in the monitor, follow the screen.  Dead easy. Completed Jun2018.

Two prior tests ( first and second ) found that Calc 6.0.3.2 and Excel 2016 would damage data during each other's export/import processes, thus substantially crippling the ability of the cross-platform user to use either app as a substitute for its respective platform. This third test sought to test a different export/methodology. Environment & required functionality Excel and Calc both need to be used on the following machines: The Linux Mint Xfce 18.3 laptop " Gandalf "; The Windows 10 laptop " Legolas "; Potentially another Windows 10 machine, name withheld to protect the guilty. The synchronisation agent is Google Drive in Windows 10, and grive2 in Linux Mint. Actions On Legolas, the two files were opened and updated in line with normal practice.  This time, Excel saved a backup copy in format ODS. After the normal sync process (Google Drive/Grive2), Calc opened the ODS files, for updating in line with normal practice. Calc then saved ...

The project is to build a Linux Mint machine to have the identical functionality and ergonomics as the existing Windows 10 machine. This stage relates to data synchronisation over the local area network ( now that, at last, a useful network connection has been established !) Environment & required functionality The network should be a local network - to share files and folders - between the following machines: The Linux Mint Xfce 18.3 laptop " Gandalf "; The Windows 10 laptop " Legolas ". The network is a local area network from a domestic router, the usual 192.168.x.x thing. Alternatives Peer-to-peer networking (file sharing, simple two-way server-and-client relationship) is the most efficient way for bulk data transfers, so if the network doesn’t work, then the test has failed. One alternative is already successfully tested and in use: Google Drive (via Backup & Sync for Windows and grive2 for Linux Mint) .  However, this is limited to th...

The project is to build a Linux Mint machine to have the identical functionality and ergonomics as the existing Windows 10 machine.  This stage relates to networking the Windows 10 machine to the Linux Mint machine. Environment & required functionality The network should be a local network - to share files and folders - between the following machines: The Linux Mint Xfce 18.3 laptop " Gandalf "; The Windows 10 laptop " Legolas ". The network is a local area network from a domestic router, the usual 192.168.x.x thing. This is the third attempt to share files and folders between Windows and Linux Mint.  This third attempt reversed the relationship between the two machines.  Whereas the first two attempts had Windows as the client to Linux's server, this attempt made Windows the server and Linux the client. This test failed to meet its core objectives. Alternatives Peer-to-peer networking (file sharing, simple two-way server-and-client relatio...

The project is to build a Linux Mint machine to have the identical functionality and ergonomics as the existing Windows 10 machine.  This stage relates to networking the Windows 10 machine to the Linux Mint machine. Environment & required functionality The network should be a local network - to share files and folders - between the following machines: The Linux Mint Xfce 18.3 laptop " Gandalf "; The Windows 10 laptop " Legolas ". The network is a local area network from a domestic router, the usual 192.168.x.x thing. This is the second attempt to share files and folders between Windows and Linux Mint. Thankfully, this attempt met the core objectives. Alternatives As with the first (failed) attempt , peer-to-peer networking (file sharing, simple two-way server-and-client relationship) is the most efficient way for bulk data transfers, so if the network doesn’t work, then the test has failed. Software selection Both machines needed to have ne...