The migration begins...?

[vakkotaur]

As Windows is..well, Windows and Microsoft is..unethical and trying to horn in way too much on things it has no business being into, I'm seeing about making the switch to Linux.

To this end a KVM was purchased so that I could set up a Linux box next to the Win2k box and share keyboard & monitor & trackball. This works, sort of. As one machine is older and has a serial rather than PS/2 trackball two are needed - the KVM doesn't do translation. Also, oddly, I have to use an AT keyboard since the PS/2 keyboard didn't work with the other machine. Weird because the keyboards are supposed to be electrically the same and the switch should handle it nicely.

But now that is taken care of (though I may get a different keyboard yet, this one has bit too much key resistance and is tiring to use) and I can use both systems now.

So now I get to decide which Linux apps I like and such.

Comments

[yakko.livejournal.com]

My Linksys KVM switch does PS/2 and AT/serial type devices at the same time. For a good while, I had basement hooked in on the serial mouse, and was able to drive it with my PS/2 trackman marble. Of course, my ZDS 101 (AT) keyboard and I will part right after I'm doing Rigor Mortis.

I haven't met a recent KVM that didn't do the serial/PS2 thing, tho they've been leaving off the serial as of late.

As for Linux apps, if you're real heavy into using the keyboard and expecting keys to work the way they do in Windows, you'll most likely have some configuration ahead of you. These days, I believe all the important keyboard accels are handled at the window manager, so at least you can teach these tricks in one place. Also, the apps are much more robust these days, so finding a suitable sub for that nifty Windows program is more reality.

Apps

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

I'm not too concerned, the keyboard stuff doesn't seem to affect me much, so long as I can copy & paste - and most copying is done by trackball.

Oh, the KVM is an older Belkin F1D066. The keyboard thing surprised me, but after another keyboard swap I'm doing fine. And now I get to use a keybaord without the Windows keys and with a nice big spacebar. Yay!

I'm already using a couple cross-platform apps on Windows so that should ease things somewhat. My two concerns are the IRC client, and the web browser. I think x-chat will do nicely, though I'll need to do some work (one thing I want is a certain sound file to play on a certain notify... and another for some highlights). I'm still looking at the browsers, and if i don't find one I really like, I can always get Opera again.