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Questions before LL install -- considering many distros. - Printable Version

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Questions before LL install -- considering many distros. - jimmypants - 12-03-2016

Hello, my name is Jimmy and I am considering to install Linux Lite and I would like more information before making any decisions.

I have a newer computer:
  • Housing = Lenovo ThinkPad T530 (laptop).
  • CPU = Intel Core i7-3520M CPU @ 2.90GHz. Cores = 2. Enabled cores = 2. Threads = 4.
  • Graphics = NVIDIA GF108M [NVS 5400M], 33 MHz.
  • BIOS = Lenovo G4ETA6WW (2.66, UEFI), which is NVIDIA Optimus enabled (can do integrated, discrete or hybrid graphics).
  • SSD:  System = 250 GB.  Data = 500 GB.

History:
Old PC is simply too slow to deal with my (rather large) Google spreadsheets and JavaScript calculations, plus 2/3 USB ports have now died.
New PC came with Win10, but I hated Win10 (and do not like Win8).  (In my opinion, Win7 was peak Windows.)  Uninstalled Win10 and then tried Ubuntu Unity but hated Unity.  Tried Ubuntu Studio, but its bugs turn me off.

Goals & Uses, in no particular order except for identification in conversation:
  1. I want this computer to last me at least the next decade, as has my old computer (WinXP on Compaq Presario laptop, bought in 2005).
  2. Professional audio, video and lighting control softwares for professional event & studio technology equipment, such as digital audio mixers, video mixers, lighting mixers, etc.
  3. Multi-track digital audio recording, editing, mixing and playback (DAW/digital audio workstation).
  4. Spreadsheet & Google Apps Script programming for large calculations that use iterative mathematical functions to find answers.  (The computer sits there spinning for a minute before finally coming up with an answer.)
  5. Android app creation.
  6. Video conferencing.
  7. Run WinXP or Win7 in a virtual machine.


Questions...
  1. Does Linux Lite support NVIDIA Optimus out of the box?
  2. Does LL support low-latency kernels for professional audio software environments, such as JACK?
  3. Is it possible to reliably use JACK audio software (for realtime patching with low-latency) on LL?
  4. Once the OS is set up, what risks are there regarding compatibility with future audio softwares and drivers?  (Can I just continue to use the OS for 10 years straight, like I did with XP, even after support ended?)
  5. Can I reliably install professional audio, video and lighting control softwares which are not listed in the LL repository?  ...without the process being too complicated?


So far, I have been considering all of the following, using XFCE desktop:
  • Ubuntu Studio (LTS, based upon Xubuntu >> Ubuntu).  https://ubuntustudio.org/  My first choice, but unfortunately, this distro has several system bugs that really bother me (wifi fails when system errors occur, mouse disappears, software center crashes upon open rendering it unusable, etc.).
  • Xubuntu (LTS, based upon Ubuntu).  Concerned about more of the same here, as Ubuntu Studio is based upon this.
  • Manjaro (rolling releases, based upon Arch).  https://manjaro.org/  Very appealing, but concerned about 5+ years down the road...  Will this OS become too advanced for my computer?
  • Linux Lite (LTS, based upon Ubuntu).  Can this actually do everything I want it to do?


I am new to Linux, so any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
~ jimmy

Re: Questions before LL install -- considering many distros. - rokytnji - 12-03-2016

Linux Lite will support it since it is based on Ubuntu. Just a newer kernel is all that is needed.
I run a touchscreen with a wacom pen on a older touchscreen Dell laptop than yours.

I run a minimalistic distro on this IBM T430 . But with a modern kernel.

Code:
$ uname -a
Linux biker 4.8.10-antix.1-686-smp-pae #2 SMP Fri Nov 25 22:09:32 EET 2016 i686 GNU/Linux

My advice. If not as skilled as me dialing in a operating system to your laptop like I do. Test drive them all till you find your sweet spot.

Re: Questions before LL install -- considering many distros. - jimmypants - 12-06-2016

Thank you, @rokytnji.  And thanks for the code to see what is running.  I looked up the command.  Here is my info:

Code:
Linux Linux-TP-T530 4.4.0-51-lowlatency #72-Ubuntu SMP PREEMPT Thu Nov 24 19:43:02 UTC 2016 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

AND, thank you for helping me to learn about kernal ops!  "Preempt" refers to...  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kernel_preemption

As I mentioned earlier, I hope this PC will last me at least the next decade, like my last PC did.  I am planning for the long-haul.

I do really appreciate what Linux Lite is doing, but due to my specialization in audio (and some video), I think Ubuntu Studio is the main direction I should explore right now.

Eventually, I plan to install Linux Lite in another partition so I can see if it does any better with my hardware (which is not on the "good" list for Ubuntu).  Currently using workarounds for a few things in Ubuntu Studio...  Have to restart network manager service via CLI after waking from suspend because wifi GUI breaks upon wake.  Have to connect external monitor after startup or wake, or else the system does not apply the correct settings (wrong resolution, screen tearing).  Among other things...