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 Drive. Environment & required functionality Google Drive needs to be used on the following machines: The Linux Mint Xfce 18.3 laptop " Gandalf "; The Windows 10 laptop " Legolas "; The Linux Mint Xfce 19 virtual machine " Bilbo ", on host Windows 10 laptop " Saruman " (that's the employer's laptop, by the way; the clue's in the name). The Linux Mint Xfce 18.3 virtual machine " Gimli ", on host "Legolas". Another Windows 10 machine, name withheld to protect the guilty. The synchronisation agent is Google Drive in Windows 10.  In a prior test , the sync agent has been grive2. But grive2's functionality was too limited: files held in more than one folder in Google Drive cloud are symbolic links to the synchronisation agents installed on...

The project is to build a Linux Mint machine to have the identical functionality and ergonomics as the existing Windows 10 machine. This is a case-in-use study.  The case-in-use relates to the online filing of a UK tax return. Environment & required functionality This case-in-use study featured the following machines: The Linux Mint Xfce 18.3 laptop " Gandalf "; The Windows 10 laptop " Legolas "; A Linux Mint Xfce 18.3 virtual machine " Gimli " running within VirtualBox on Legolas. The synchronisation agent is Google Drive in Windows 10, and grive2 in Linux Mint. This case-in-use study featured the following apps: Chromium internet browser (on Gimli); Google Chrome internet browser (on Gandalf and Legolas); FoxIT PDF browser (on Gandalf and Legolas); Xreader document viewer (on Gimli, pre-installed in Linux Mint); GIMP image editor (on Gandalf, pre-installed in Linux Mint); the printer service. Alternatives The sole alternati...

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 re-filing files. Environment & required functionality Re-filing needs to happen on the following machines: The Linux Mint Xfce 18.3 laptop " Gandalf "; The Windows 10 laptop " Legolas ". The synchronisation agent is Google Drive in Windows 10, and grive2 in Linux Mint. Alternatives There is no useful alternative to filing. Some hardcore IT bods file nothing, in the vague hope that they'll find it anyway.  This is the digital equivalent of the "heap" approach to paperwork. In the real world, normal people tend to structure their paperwork - and e-paperwork - into some sort of order.  The most common method is typically to group documents with a common purpose into a single folder. Software selection Whilst there is a tonne of utilities for both Linux and Windows that rename fil...