On 03/03/13 16:09, Mark Rogers wrote:
On 2 March 2013 18:41, Wayne Stallwood ALUGlist@digimatic.co.uk wrote:
Actually that is a lot less true now than it used to be...particularly if you do it properly and boot the image on the original hardware and run sysprep with the right options before moving it
Which is fine when the original hardware still works...
But I agree, it can be done. However this is one area where with Linux it generally "just works" and with Windows it doesn't without planning. This, I am sure, is closely related to the fact that I can boot a Linux CD and everything will just work, where with a fresh Windows install a lot doesn't work (either at all or at least not properly) until you work your way through driver disks. Particularly annoying when you don't have them, and the network card needs drivers to get you online. Also, tools like lspci help you to work out what hardware you have, where with Windows even that can be a chore.
Bel-something-or-other (Belarc?) Advisor is the answer there - tells you all your hardware, makes, models etc, capacities, configuration of box, your software, versions of it, oh, and lots more.
All I use Windows for now is Irfanview and occasionally Photoshop and Paintshop Pro.
Windows is built to be installed by an OEM not an end user, Linux is built for after-market installs, and it shows. On the other hand, on the rare occassions when Linux doesn't "just work", finding drivers is far, far more difficult...
Even Vodafone internet dongles 'just work' now in Mint. Even the Vodafone Tech Team weren't able to sort out one for the Asus Eee.