Linux users

[wasp]

Afternoon all!

Hope you are all enjoying the volatility?!

I have become a recent convert to the world of linux and thought a thread on it would be useful for moi, and others to get better grips of this much superior OS.

Just loading and trying to partition 'ubuntu' onto an old system and also downloading 'puppy' too.

Many other users here? How does it work with varying trading platforms and chart providers? How do you find it generally?

 

[0007]

Afternoon all!

Hope you are all enjoying the volatility?!

I have become a recent convert to the world of linux and thought a thread on it would be useful for moi, and others to get better grips of this much superior OS.

Just loading and trying to partition 'ubuntu' onto an old system and also downloading 'puppy' too.

Many other users here? How does it work with varying trading platforms and chart providers? How do you find it generally?

Is a good system but one snag is if you install to a partition on your hard drive with Win on the other, it is not a trivial matter to remove Linux & retain the use of Win (though you would think it should be) - see Google for loads of threads covering this.

I've been running Ubuntu (which seems like a decent implementation with plenty of info / help online) experimentally from a "live CD". All standard type office progs available for linux but it gets more difficult for the specialised financial stuff. Eg Can load Capital Spreads but can't actually make it work (yet). Also, can't yet get my Vodafone Mobile Broadband dongle to work - though there are people who have.

I'm looking at Linux mainly from the point of view of a netbook PC where Linux's lesser overheads can compensate for less powerful hardware.

At the end of the day Windows is a bit like a Ford Escort - you can get it fixed anywhere and it'll do most things. I am reasonably computer literate (MSc) but Linux in the non-pro / amateur domain is still for those who like gadgets IMHO.

 

[wasp]

Is a good system but one snag is if you install to a partition on your hard drive with Win on the other, it is not a trivial matter to remove Linux & retain the use of Win (though you would think it should be) - see Google for loads of threads covering this.

I've been running Ubuntu (which seems like a decent implementation with plenty of info / help online) experimentally from a "live CD". All standard type office progs available for linux but it gets more difficult for the specialised financial stuff. Eg Can load Capital Spreads but can't actually make it work (yet). Also, can't yet get my Vodafone Mobile Broadband dongle to work - though there are people who have.

I'm looking at Linux mainly from the point of view of a netbook PC where Linux's lesser overheads can compensate for less powerful hardware.

At the end of the day Windows is a bit like a Ford Escort - you can get it fixed anywhere and it'll do most things. I am reasonably computer literate (MSc) but Linux in the non-pro / amateur domain is still for those who like gadgets IMHO.

Cheers 0007,

Not really what I was hoping to hear but better be prepared. I don't use capital spreads nor mobile dongles but not to say useage is only going to be limited to them obviously.

Loading up with the intent of trying puppy predominately and been chatting to a local shop nerd (whose similarities to comic book man were uncanny!) and he said most sites he has tried work, but not being a trader, never had to try metatrader etc. He did say that most programs do work or there is the alternative (ie openoffice for microsoft word) but some things you must have.

I'm hoping I won't want to remove once partioned but using an old laptop just in case!

Once puppy booted I shall post regards how the various sites perform.......

 

[MrGecko]

(not really anything to do with Linux, but I'll try my luck)...

I have been looking at these netBook things... I have a query about their capabilities: Sure they are not going to run the lasest software, but can they handle, say, Office 2000 or summit?

I mean, 8 years ago, PC Spec's cant have been much different from the specs of these netbooks - in fact, I have an old laptop lying around with 256mb and 30Gb hard drive (unsure chip speed) - that ran it Ok, so these netbooks should be able to, right? I would probably just use the internet and outlook, thats is.

 

[RedGreenBen]

Many other users here? How does it work with varying trading platforms and chart providers? How do you find it generally?

I've been using Ubuntu on a laptop for the past 6 months or so without any problems.

(This may be a bit weird but...) I use it in the garden when combining trading with growing veg. The advantage is the much better implementation of multiple workspaces when trying to manage charts etc on the single screen of an old, muddy laptop.

I haven't found it to be any more stable than Vista but that may be due to the antique hardware it is on (and the parsnip seeds in the CD tray).

Ben

 

[0007]

(not really anything to do with Linux, but I'll try my luck)...

I have been looking at these netBook things... I have a query about their capabilities: Sure they are not going to run the lasest software, but can they handle, say, Office 2000 or summit?

I mean, 8 years ago, PC Spec's cant have been much different from the specs of these netbooks - in fact, I have an old laptop lying around with 256mb and 30Gb hard drive (unsure chip speed) - that ran it Ok, so these netbooks should be able to, right? I would probably just use the internet and outlook, thats is.

They all use the Intel Atom processor which is perfectly adequate for normal office apps. One of its advantages is a low power consumption. I've played with a Toshiba netbook whioch is a top of the range model - about £300 and it seemed fine and very convenient running XP Home with 1Gb ram and 120gb hard drive. Suspect not much cop for gaming but I get all my fun off the markets!

Other cheaper offerings have less ram, storage (sometimes flash - ie mem card type hardware) and Linux OS - this all keeps the cost down - cheap as £180. However, for trading your prime requirement is workability which you get with XP. Why save a few hundred £ when you could lose shedloads because you're not trading?

I intend to get a net-book to carry with me (not much worse than a filofax) - I find my IPAQ was ok in its day but the small screen is limiting.

It's all toys for men isn't it? (only difference between men & boys is the price of their toys - or so Mrs 007 says!)

 

[0007]

I've been using Ubuntu on a laptop for the past 6 months or so without any problems.

(This may be a bit weird but...) I use it in the garden when combining trading with growing veg. The advantage is the much better implementation of multiple workspaces when trying to manage charts etc on the single screen of an old, muddy laptop.

I haven't found it to be any more stable than Vista but that may be due to the antique hardware it is on (and the parsnip seeds in the CD tray).

Ben

Agree. Ubuntu nice interface.

 

[rainman2]

Try WUBI - Wubi - Ubuntu Installer for Windows...I was fooling around with it a couple of weeks ago but I couldn't get compiz fusion to work, so I uninstalled.I don't know what charting software you use but they have a program called wine that uses windows api to run windows based software.Ubuntu is pretty cool but imo, not ready for prime time yet.

 

[dcraig1]

I use Linux (and only Linux) specifically Kubutu - Ubuntu but with the KDE desktop. I have many years of experience as a Unix developer on many different variants of Unix. The fact that Unix dates back to the early 70s and is still going strong must tell us something.

First the bad news. The only trading software you are likely to be able to run natively out of the box are Java based products. IB's TWS works fine, I've read that ThinkOrSwim works, I tried Oanda at one stage and it worked. Most Java software should work unless the developers have done something stupid - it does happen.

To run Windows software there are a couple of options:

1. Use Wine. Wine implements the Win32 API - the set of services provided by the Windows operating system to Windows applications. Many Windows apps will run under Wine but quite a number will not. Wine is still a work in progress. Wine can be tricky to set up and you need to test each Windows application you want to use individually. Some may work right away, some might be made to work with some fiddling and some may never work.

2. Use a virtualization product. In this setup Windows is installed as a guest operating system with Linux as the host. In a virtualization setup, Windows is fooled by the hardware and software into believing that it is in control of the machince. In fact it runs in its own virtual machine (VM).

This is a very good solution with excellent compatability will almost all Windows apps (except perhaps games). As the user you see a familiar Windows desktop running in it's own window on the Linux desktop. Alteratively you can use Windows full screen - just as in an ordinary Windows PC.

The VM option has some big advantages:

1. You can backup (and restore) the Windows VM very easily or even move it to another machine - all without reinstalling Windows.

2. Memory permitting, you can run two copies of Windows if you want or if you want to try another Linux distro you can run that in a VM. In general you can run any number of VMs at once (memory permitting).

3. You really are running Windows so compatibity is not an issue.

There are a number of VM products - VMWare (the original), VirtualBox (free from Sun), Xen and others. VirtualBox has had some good reviews recently and VMWare is tried and tested and very successfull.

You need a box with plently of memory, if you are going the vitualization route.

 

[wasp]

Cheers dcraig, I've lots to learn I think!

To parade my ignorance further, I have downloaded puppy knowing it is a smaller version and found myself stumped before I get past even the first hurdle! (see att)

 

[dcraig1]

Cheers dcraig, I've lots to learn I think!

To parade my ignorance further, I have downloaded puppy knowing it is a smaller version and found myself stumped before I get past even the first hurdle! (see att)

I'm not familiar with puppy.

Just stick it in the CD drive and reboot ?????

If it won't boot off CD check the boot device search sequence in BIOS.

 

[nine]

I am inspired. After markets today I'm going to try the OzOS distribution.

OzOS | apt:foo

It looks clean (based on debian/xubuntu) and easy to use. Also not being 64 bit (I've got a Ultimate Edition Ubuntu disk that I haven't installed) there should be maximium ease and compatibility for a learner. Any thought dcraig?

 

[dcraig1]

I am inspired. After markets today I'm going to try the OzOS distribution.

OzOS | apt:foo

It looks clean (based on debian/xubuntu) and easy to use. Also not being 64 bit (I've got a Ultimate Edition Ubuntu disk that I haven't installed) there should be maximium ease and compatibility for a learner. Any thought dcraig?

Looks interesting. I haven't used Enlightenment. I tend to stick with what I know. Bit of a luddite in that respect.

One thing I would like to have a look at is the Compviz / Beryl stuff on the desktop - lots of eye candy and 3D rendering including the ability to have rotatable cube with different desktops on each face - eg KDE on one face, Windows (via VMWare or suchlike) on another, play a movie "full screen" on another etc etc. You need a decent machine and 3D graphics card (ie NVidia or ATI gaming type cards) to make it practical. There are some demo videos on youtube for anybody interested.

The Linux desktop has kind of split into 2 camps - KDE vs Gnome, Enlightenment etc. The latter claim to be the simplicity/elegant lot. KDE tends towards easy and very flexible configurability with perhaps a little more complexity. KDE is C++ based and most of the rest are C based. Interestingly Torvalds uses KDE, while the American manufactures - Sun, IBM etc - have backed Gnome. There is of course a good case to be made for both approaches. Software written for either in general runs on all the enviroments.

As for what the base is behind any distribution, I don't think you can go wrong by choosing Debian - they have always been sticklers for correctness.

Let us know how you go with OzOS.

 

[wasp]

I'm not familiar with puppy.

Just stick it in the CD drive and reboot ?????

If it won't boot off CD check the boot device search sequence in BIOS.

Ahh well, just downloaded it and downloaded isobuster and got to the stage as shown above thinking I may be able to save it without burning to disc :whistling

So do I just need to now burn (via nero or similar) to disc and then boot?

 

[dcraig1]

Ahh well, just downloaded it and downloaded isobuster and got to the stage as shown above thinking I may be able to save it without burning to disc :whistling

So do I just need to now burn (via nero or similar) to disc and then boot?

Yes, most probably will do the trick.

 

[JTrader]

this is an ambitious project for a none pc wizard. thought abt linux miself but then had 2nd thoughts...