Going Linux

Support for high-resolution computer displays (HiDPI or 4K displays) is still being perfected. Not all Linux distributions provide settings that behave well in high-resolution mode -- and most are somewhat clunky. With the 18.04 release, the Ubuntu MATE team is releasing a utility for the MATE desktop that automatically can detect your 4K display and set the appropriate screen scaling for you. Episode 343 Time Stamps 00:00 Going Linux #343 · HiDPI Auto-detection in Ubuntu MATE 00:15 Introduction 00:50 Alone again, naturally. 01:52 Adjusting for 4K on Linux 02:54 High-resolution scaling limitations 04:15 The best HiDPI Linux Desktops (until now) 04:40 Ubuntu MATE's auto-detection and auto-adjust settings 05:26 Choosing a HiDPI resolution 06:56 Adjusting Ubuntu MATE's new HiDPI settings 08:32 Hope for the future of high-resolution support on Linux 09:01 goinglinux.com, goinglinux@gmail.com, +1-904-468-7889, @g

Serge provides multiple suggestions for replacing Skype. Jim describes some mobile AntennaPod issues, Greg discusses powering off by force, Norm suggests Mail-In-A-Box, Emilio asks about a portable VeraCrypt for Linux, Simohamed offers a suggestion and Jack describes how he has Gone Linux. Episode 342 Time Stamps 00:00 Going Linux #342 · Listener Feedback 00:15 Introduction 00:59 Serge: Multiple suggestions for Skype replacement 02:31 Jim: AntennaPod issues on mobile 05:53 Greg: Power off - by force 08:33 Norm: Mail-In-A-Box 11:50 Simohamed: Episode suggestion 12:31 Emilio: Portable VeraCrypt for Linux? 14:58 Jack: Gone Linux 15:57 goinglinux.com, goinglinux@gmail.com, +1-904-468-7889, @goinglinux, feedback, listen, subscribe 18:57 End

Bill takes on a top secret special project. Jeremy recommends a backup solution, Greg removes cruft, George recommends Synology, Daniel asks about our Skype replacement, and more! Episode 341 Time Stamps 00:00 Going Linux #341 · Listener Feedback 00:15 Introduction 00:54 Internet problems resolved (we hope) 02:06 Jeremy: Backups recommendation 04:44 Greg: Autoremoving cruft 06:19 Greg: That's not an old computer. This is an old computer! 09:34 Scott: FSLint 15:07 Serge: Configuration management suggestion 16:01 Daniel: Replacement for Skype 17:47 George: Synology 19:57 Nigel: Installing Linux applications 22:44 Bill's next project 23:59 goinglinux.com, goinglinux@gmail.com, +1-904-468-7889, @goinglinux, feedback, listen, subscribe 25:06 End

We discuss security on Linux and provide basic Linux security guidelines. We discuss in more detail, backups, automated software updates and upgrades, and the uncomplicated firewall. Episode 340 Time Stamps 00:00 Going Linux #340 · Security on Linux 00:15 Introduction 00:45 Just you and me 02:04 Overview 03:55 Basic Linux security guidelines 05:39 Backups 07:45 What and where to back-up 11:20 Automating disaster recovery 12:26 Software Updater 15:44 Firewalls 17:01 goinglinux.com, goinglinux@gmail.com, +1-904-468-7889, @goinglinux, feedback, listen, subscribe 18:49 End

In this episode, we have a lot of interest in Internet filtering and wiping hard drives for privacy. Also, we answer questions about the Linux screen reader, Orca, make recommendations on hardware, and discuss a multiple screen issue. Episode 339 Time Stamps 00:00 Going Linux #339 · Listener Feedback 00:15 Introduction 00:56 Welcome to the podcast, Bear! 02:14 Daniel: Is Orca included with Linux Mint 06:34 Daniel: New or used limited-budget computer for Linux? 10:43 Alan: Ubuntu 16.04 issue with multiple screens 14:53 Kevin: Command-line access to network-attached storage 19:08 George: Answers for listener questions 25:57 Tony: Privacy on the Internet 26:39 Nathan: Contacting Ikey 28:00 Jim: Ubuntu MATE desktop options and a rant 33:01 Jim: Filtering out adult sites 41:35 Eldon: Fdupes to get rid of duplicate files 42:46 Craig: Hardware for Internet filtering 45:17 Paul: Wi

Although you can do some basic tweaking out of the box with other operating systems, Linux is infinitely more configurable than macOS or Windows. Sure you can get add-on software to personalize your Windows desktop quite a bit, but most Linux distributions provide the customization tools built right in, with additional utilities just a few clicks away in the software repositories. This episode gives you some ideas as to what can be done with Linux, an operating system that is designed to be customizable. Episode 338 Time Stamps 00:00 Going Linux #338 · Personalizing Your Linux Desktop 00:15 Introduction 00:54 Show notes include screenshots and details 01:20 Personalizing the Desktop on Linux 02:50 Ubuntu MATE offers pre-configured panel layouts 04:27 Traditional layout 05:17 Contemparary layout 06:41 Redmond layout 07:34 Cupertino layout 08:32 Pantheon layout 09:07 Mutiny layout 09:48 Netbook layout

At the request of our listeners, we provide a few recommendations on various subjects ranging from distributions for a low-powered computer to software to wipe a hard drive. Episode 337 Time Stamps 00:00 Going Linux #337 · Listener Feedback 00:15 Introduction 01:41 Mike: Comparing files 06:08 Paul: Why the ThinkPad Wifi was not working 08:17 Paul: Wiping a hard drive 10:31 Craig: Recommendation for cheap computer for content filtering 15:49 Ken: Recommendation for Ubuntu MATE vs. Mint 19:10 Chris: Recommendation for configuration management 22:30 Jeff: Back channel connections to Solus 24:41 Justin: Recommendation on a light-weight distribution 38:56 goinglinux.com, goinglinux@gmail.com, +1-904-468-7889, @goinglinux, feedback, listen, subscribe 40:48 End

In the Going Linux holiday tradition, Bill and Larry review some of the significant happenings during the past year. Episode 336 Time Stamps 00:00 Going Linux #336 · 2017 Year End Review 00:15 Introduction 02:01 Highlights of 2017 02:57 Ubuntu MATE: Two books and a guide within the distribution. 10:19 Goodbye net neutrality 19:32 The Minion Network begins 22:58 Linux takes over the world! 24:33 Goodbye Linux Journal 28:14 Goodbye AIM 30:01 City of Munich goes back to Windows 35:13 Containers 36:25 Linux malware 39:00 Distrowatch top 10 47:48 Ubuntu leaves Unity for Gnome 51:27 goinglinux.com, goinglinux@gmail.com, +1-904-468-7889, @goinglinux, feedback, listen, subscribe 52:29 End

The minion network grows! After our break for US Thanksgiving, we get more feedback on popular topics like progress when using the dd command, disk cloning, snap packages, and backups. In addition we get a suggestion on using info, and an alternative link to grsync instructions. Episode 335 Time Stamps 00:00 Going Linux #335 · Listener Feedback 00:15 Introduction 00:59 Holiday break 01:24 How to join the Minion Network 04:53 Andrei: One installation file alternative 07:51 Greg: Zoneminder 11:33 Greg: Getting help with Linux 13:04 Rai: Snaps and the like 15:29 Craig: DD progress 16:54 Heath: More on DD progress... and minions 18:27 Göran: Even more DD progress 19:19 Ken: Another volunteer minion 20:57 Jeff: Disk cloning 26:53 Ali: A question about Snaps 29:55 Greg: Another minion! 31:10 Mike: Grsync documentation link 31:56 Michael: An alternative link 32:43 Ad

This month's feedback includes a lot of commentary on why 64-bit Linux download files are sometimes labeled 'AMD64,' and Whole disk cloning. These appear to be very popular topics. We hear from another hardware hoarder... er... uh... collector. Adrian suggests a 'Minion Network.' There's more. You'll have to listen to get it all! Episode 334 Time Stamps 00:00 Going Linux #334 · Listener Feedback 00:15 Introduction 00:55 Bill is connected again! 03:48 Logan: Why a 64-bit Linux download is sometimes labeled AMD64 04:10 Ken: Explains AMD64 as well 05:47 Daniel: Explained Intel vs. AMD even more 08:09 Heath: Explains from an instruction set perspective 10:53 Rick: Grsync link is broken 12:04 Barbara: Cloning a drive with dd 15:36 Adrian: Cloning and the 'minion network' 26:14 Adrian: Another hardware hoarder 30:11 Dave: Confused 36:22 Jan: Thanks for the time stamps 36:52 Brune: Using Discord

At a listener's suggestion, we describe three new solutions that try to answer the age-old question, 'Why can Linux distributions not agree on how to install and application?' We describe Snap, AppImage and FlatPak. Episode 333 Time Stamps 00:00 Going Linux #333 · One Installation File - Many Linux Distributions 00:15 Introduction 00:47 New Book: Using Ubuntu MATE and Its Applications 01:42 Why can Linux distributions not agree on how to install and application? 03:59 Snaps: Intro 05:31 FlatPaks: Intro 06:14 AppImages: Intro 07:02 Snap 08:58 AppImage 11:06 FlatPak 11:55 More details and how to create packages 12:07 Which should I use? 13:57 goinglinux.com, goinglinux@gmail.com, +1-904-468-7889, @goinglinux, feedback, listen, subscribe 14:54 End

An excerpt on accessibility on boot from our new book, 'Using Ubuntu MATE and Its Applications.' Feedback on whole disk cloning, passwords, encryption, BleachBit on Linux, restarting after a freeze, and drivers. We also have a 'gone Linux' story from Craig. Episode 332 Time Stamps 00:00 Going Linux #332 · Listener Feedback 00:15 Introduction 00:55 Fun with phones 03:00 Scott: GPartEd for whole disk cloning 05:06 Michael: Which distribution is best for using the Orca screen reader? 19:33 Greg: Linux beta of Password Safe 20:46 Mike: Should I encrypt my backups 27:14 Tom: Recommendations for slide show creation and DVD burning 34:12 John: Bleachbit and autoremove for Linux maintenance 35:58 Paul: Skype alternative and restaring the computer 39:45 Craig: High performance graphics on Linux 45:22 Gone Linux: Craig a 'curiosity' since 1990's has now switched to Linux 49:55 goinglinux.com, goinglinux@gmail.com, +1-904-468-7889, @goinglinux, feedback, listen, subscribe 51:2

We discuss backup and disaster recovery options that involve cloning your computer's entire hard drive. We discuss five Linux-based options for cloning hard drives. We make our recommendations of which to use, but we don't quite agree. Episode 331 Time Stamps 00:00 Going Linux #331 · Whole Disk Cloning on Linux 00:15 Introduction 00:51 Podcast 'guests' 03:07 Backup Strategies 04:34 Cloning a hard drive on Linux 06:01 G4L 09:06 dd: Native Linux cloning tool 16:10 Partimage 20:09 Partclone 23:31 Clonezilla 27:20 Our recommendations 28:42 Bye bye Skype 29:30 Hello Discord 34:35 goinglinux.com, goinglinux@gmail.com, +1-904-468-7889, @goinglinux, feedback, listen, subscribe 35:31 End

Our listeners are the BEST! David solves his hard drive issue. Greg wants to know about really old computers. We get show suggestions and questions about such things as secure browsing. Episode 330 Time Stamps 00:00 Going Linux #330 · Listener Feedback 00:15 Introduction 01:02 David: Hard drive issue was hardware 07:44 Greg: Really REALLY old computers 14:03 Roger: Telegram? 14:46 Kevin: Advice on maintenence on Linux 19:05 Ken: Some show suggestions 21:00 Sean: Linux game review: Xonotic 21:57 Tom: Comments on the podcast 24:02 Greg: Secure browsing on Linux 29:06 goinglinux.com, goinglinux@gmail.com, +1-904-468-7889, @goinglinux, feedback, listen, subscribe 30:09 End

If you have a HiDPI screen, like the one on the Dell XPS 13, you may find that it has tiny icons and fonts that make it difficult to use. You can certainly change the resolution on your display to 1920x1080 (1080P) and simply not use its full capabilities but this podcast episode walks you through adjusting the settings to take full advantage of the full resolution of your beautiful 4K display. Episode 329 Time Stamps 00:00 Going Linux #329 · Using 4K Monitors on Linux 00:15 Introduction 00:50 Bill buys the book 02:45 HiDPI (4K) monitors 07:30 Display settings 09:14 Change the font size 10:43 Change the icon size 12:49 Change the pointer size 13:49 Modify the greeter 15:50 Why you might not want to use the 4K settings 17:57 A wish for the future 20:24 Some thoughts on why you might use 4K 24:58 We switch from Skype to Discord 26:35 goinglinux.com, goinglinux@gmail.com, +1-904-468-7889, @goinglinux, feedback, listen, subscribe 27:32 End

We get feedback on stickers, books and Skype alternatives. We get questions on screen resolution, AppImages, network drives and issues, mouse buttons and more. Episode 328 Time Stamps 00:00 Going Linux #328 · Listener Feedback 00:15 Introduction 00:51 Technology adventures 02:02 Bill's new gaming laptop 05:08 Tony: Needs help with screen resolution 08:13 Roy: Asks about App Images 14:03 SkywardAbyss: System76 Stickers 16:21 Serge: Recommended Skype alternatives 20:13 Nancy: About her new book, and ours, 'Your Data, Your Devices, and You' 24:58 Mike: Creating a network drive 28:22 Bob: Mouse button thanks for the offer to help 29:27 Tony: Where do I contribute pictures for network diagrams? 32:41 David: Hardware? Firmware? Software? Bill wins! 38:25 Troy: Learned something new 44:02 Bob: Here's HOW he solved his mouse configuration problems 46:35 Bob: A strange network problem 55:41 Tips on listening to music while you work 58:35 goinglinux.com, goinglin

This time we talk about several of the common things you may be familiar with in Windows and describe how you do those same things while using Linux. Sometimes the process the same, and sometimes it's different. Click the show notes links to find even more than we can cover in this short episode. Episode 327 Time Stamps 00:00 Going Linux #327 · Things You Can Do In Windows And How To Do Them In Linux 00:15 Introduction 01:53 This topic is revisited and updated 02:32 Co-hosts revisited 06:41 The Super Key defined 08:53 Display system information (graphical) 11:42 Display system information (command line) 15:54 Shut down or reboot 20:09 How to control the drag and drop action 22:07 Use a dialog box to open an application or a URL 23:10 Lock your computer quickly 26:05 Bill tries Netrunner 31:56 goinglinux.com, goinglinux@gmail.com, +1-904-468-7889, @goinglinux, feedback, listen, subscribe 32:55 End

Larry has published a book: 'Ubuntu MATE: Upgrading from Windows or OSX.' Sebastien solves his problem with the filled-up hard drive. We find out how, and some other things to consider. We find there is no magic key for installing Linux on Apple hardware. Much more! Episode 326 Time Stamps 00:00 Going Linux #326 · Listener Feedback 00:15 Introduction 00:58 Ubuntu MATE: Upgrading from Windows or OSX 02:45 Greg: Servers for home use 06:08 Sebastien: The community found the problem! 07:26 George: "Magic Key" to installing Linux on a Mac 09:00 Orion: Refind 09:34 Steve: Mouse button mapping with Pystromo 10:38 Malte: Backup files created in the future! 11:18 Jim: Problems with Skype 14:02 John: Ethernet unplugged in Virtualbox 15:56 Paul: Where does a command-line installation get its applications? 18:03 David: The steps for clearing a filled hard drive 19:54 Heath: Other filled hard drive possibilities 22:40 Greg: Any update on Thinkpad T420? 24:39 Göran: File s

Inspired by an exchange between our community members in our 'Going Linux Podcast' Google+ community, we discuss how Windows, OSX and Linux all leave stuff behind after an upgrade, and what you can do to minimize or eliminate this on Linux. We provide several points of view on the concpets of Nuke and Pave vs. Rolling Release, and the differences between the 'remove' and 'purge' options for the command 'apt-get'. We also describe how to keep your preferences and settings for all of you Linux applications after an OS upgrade and after a nuke and pave. Episode 325 Time Stamps 00:00 Going Linux #325 · Getting Rid of 'Cruft' After An Upgrade 00:15 Introduction 01:02 It all started innocently enough... 01:34 Rolling release vs. nuke and pave 04:10 Our experiences 16:04 Limitations of upgrades and rolling releases 18:13 Uninstalling applications via the command line 19:03 Remove vs. purge 19:23 man apt-get 21:19 Additional insights 21:39 debOrphan 24:35 Configuration files

We have several suggestions from our listeners for Sebastien on his filled hard drive, a request for a recommendation on a screen recorder for Linux and a story about dual booting. Chard has a recommendation for Bill's next computer. Episode 324 Time Stamps 00:00 Going Linux #324 · Listener Feedback 00:15 Introduction 00:57 New processors have Bill drooling 05:10 Voice Mail: On requirement specs in reviews 13:04 Marian: Use 'du' to find out why hard drive is filling up; Linux isn't always easier 18:39 Miguel: A solute and a suggestion to use 'du' or 'ncdu' 19:32 Eldon: Also suggests 'ncdu' 20:48 Small Box Admin: Another vote for 'du' 22:56 Chris: Screen recorders for Linux 26:37 Richard: You will only boot Windows or else! 29:55 Chard: A suggestion for Bill 32:25 goinglinux.com, goinglinux@gmail.com, +1-904-468-7889, @goinglinux, feedback, listen, subscribe 33:52 End