I finally got round to making a Linux on a Stick a couple days ago (almost a week at this stage, actually) with one of my spare flashdrives. I decided on Linux Mint 22 Xfce because I figured that was as good a starting place as any. Unlike some other Linux distros, like Arch, Mint comes with its own graphical user interface and device drivers; you don't have to install them from a terminal before you can get the thing working. Obviously, Mint is intended as a replacement for Microsoft Windows by people who've been using it for years and are becoming disenchanted by Microsoft's incessant profit-focused behaviour with regard to its users. Microsoft has been treating its customers like idiots since Windows Vista and is now locking users out of basic decisions about their system; and, well, the truth is, people are sick of it. Enter Linux Mint. While those roving IT technicians are probably going to be using Arch because they don't have to wait for visual elements to load in order to run their diagnostic software, the average schmo wants to use the computer like they've been doing since 2013.
So far, I'm impressed by the amount of useful software that's been included in Mint. LibreOffice is here by default, so is Firefox (though I had to install the Privacy Trifecta and change some analytics settings myself). There's a basic drawing program called, appropriately enough, Drawing, which I tested by drawing a new foxgirl character (who looks a little too much like Fenna still, but I'm working on it). There's some very limited errata relative to Windows 7, such as the mousewheel doing nothing, which I'm sure is just a skill issue on my part. Also, since I'm using a live session as opposed to actually having Mint installed on my C Drive, I'm not able to install new software.
At this stage, I'm feeling confident enough in Mint's abilities that I'm going to overwrite Windows 10 with it on my TV computer later today or tomorrow. The only problem I might run into with that is my USB WiFi dongle might not be compatible, but of course I'll check before I do anything rash. It sure will be nice not to have Windows Defender's service executable running full-bore all the time, which will extend the life of the RAM. I'm also not sure about the DVD copying software I've been using, but again, I'll check on that.
In the short term, live-session Mint is definitely the solution to the problem of Firefox ending support for Windows 7. I can carry on using Win7 on my main computers for everything except internet access, which I'll use Mint for. Anyway, my Linux boot drive is definitely going on my lanyard! Right next to the drive with all the games on it.
--29 July 2024--