2006
11.10
11.10
So, over the last 3 days I have install Gentoo a total of 5 times, on 3 computers. I’ve built a headless server system out of my old desktop, and rebuilt my desktop and laptap twice each. I have learnt a few things from my mass Gentoo installing:
- I can now do a Gentoo install pretty much blindfold.
- Having your /home directory on a sperate partition makes wiping the system without loosing setting/data really easy.
- Getting to usable base system takes about an hour. Getting to a usable Gnome system takes about 6 hours.
- My laptop is faster than my desktop when compiling packages.
- Re-building both your desktop and laptop at the same time leaves you without the ability to browe the web (at least graphically). Don’t do them at the same time…
Ah, Gentoo, oh how I love you :)
On a similar note, I have begun moving over to Linux. Not having quite the same level of dedication as Chris (I have a job to go to ;) I am moving to the ever popular Ubuntu. I got things set up the other day and, to my surprise, it feels a hell of a lot quicker than Windows… :|
Gonna keep having a fiddle with it on a seperate partition until I know I can run everything I need to. Only thing I haven’t looked into yet is DVD-Ripping (to Xvid – very important to me!).
Don’t get me wrong, Ubuntu is excellent. Anyone who asks me about Linux as a beginner I point towards Ubuntu.
I use Gentoo because it’s what I’m used to and I like the level of customisation it allows over a system. You simply cannot replicate this on Ubuntu. Of course, I’m prepared to sacrifice some things: ease of use, speed of installation (try compiling OpenOffice in a hurry :).
Do you need to use Xvid? It’s still a proprietry format so I’ve stopped using it now, unless I absolutely have to.
Personally, I use Thoggen – a simple DVD ripper/encoder which produces Ogg/Theora videos. It’s a piece of piss to use, but you don’t have a massive amount of control over the details of the process. Works for me though.